Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started eight weeks ago doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. I'll see how long I can keep it up.

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. It may or may not include words. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

When I was younger Mr. Rodgers was one of my favorites. I just loved how it seemed like he was talking directly to me.

I didn't know until I was older that he did almost all the voices on the show. All the puppets were him.

The song I'm featuring this week is a Mister Rogers remixed by Symphony of Science's John Boswell for PBS Digital Studios.

Butterfly Snack

I've been really good about using cloth sandwich bags. Then I got an email from Daddy's Aunt; showing me how to make snack butterflies.

The boys got really into this project! Mica couldn't wait to get started.

Step 1: First you get one or more wooden clothes pins. You can use the square kind, but I thought this kind looked more like a butterflies body. 

Paint it, color it with markers, whatever works. I drilled 2 very small holes for the antenna pipe cleaners to fit.
 

Step 2: Pick out two snacks and fill each side with something different. 

Step 3: Bunk the sandwich bag together in the center with the clothes pin.

Step 4: Leave it, or add some more to the butterflies body.

We added googly eyes and pom poms to some.

 What do you think?

Movin' on Up

I'm happy to say that both boys are moving up in swimming lessons. I felt like they were ready to last time. Since we take our boys swimming with us; I saw improvements that their coaches weren't seeing. It's nice that they will be challenged a little more.

WW: Graduation {Linky}

I got dressed up last weekend to go to a graduation for my students.

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To Run or Not to Run?

The boys were picking on each other and running around the house. I thought while we went out for an errand I'd take them to a track nearby to run off their energy.

We get there. Mica ran.

I ran. I don't have a photo of me. I don't think you'd want to see me running anyhow.

Isaak sat. He pouted about how I wouldn't stay with him. I told him to run with me. He would rather sit and pout.

He is the main reason why we were there in the first place. Mr. Isaak picks on Mica. Lately he's been telling Mica, "Mica kick me." Well last week Mica kicked Isaak. Then Isaak got a mark under his eye. They both got talked to. In some ways I don't blame Mica. I would never tell Mica that though. Isaak's kind of asking for it lately. They all go through stages.

Isaak's the type of kid that's hard to convince to do something he doesn't want to do. He didn't want to run, so he just sat there. He's not always going to be able to pick and choose what he wants to do.

When it was time to leave, Isaak wanted to just keep sitting there. I told the boys to come with me. Isaak sat and sat. Mica and I just walked off. Isaak went crazy crying and ran to us. So I did get him to run a little bit.

Hookers

I was in taking a shower. Isaak decided to hang some stuff on the bathroom door.

After I was done I heard him say, "There are all my hookers." Daddy said, "What Isaak?" Isaak said, "Daddy I said, 'There are all my hookers!'"

Here are Isaak's hookers:

Sing, SIng a Song Saturday

I started seven weeks ago doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. I'll see how long I can keep it up.

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. It may or may not include words. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

The boy's favorite band is They Might Be Giants. One of my favorite videos they have is from their song called Electric Car. They started out singing songs for adults and now write, sing songs for both adults and kids. They sing the theme song for Mikey Mouse Club House. The one that's on now.

The Tale of a Little Old Lady

One night we went to Kohls for Daddy and I to get some new clothes. It's been awhile since we've bought anything for ourselves.

Mica went with me. Isaak went with Daddy. They really were pretty good. Sometimes boys and shopping don't mix. They pick on each other, one runs around a clothing rack, while the other hides in it. Mica runs ahead, while Isaak lags behind.

When Daddy and I met back up, an elderly lady stopped us. She went on and on about how cute and good the boys were. She reminded me of Mrs Dobtfire, except a true female. The boys kept talking to her and she listened and kept telling them how cute and good they are.

I was thinking in my head, I wounder what Mica is thinking? He knows he's good looking. When I tell him he's handsome, he says, "I know Mommy." He's not a kid that needs an ego boost. LOL

She was an Ex-Kindergarten teacher.

I think it really made her night to talk with me and the boys for 10 to 15 minutes.

Jiu Jitsu

Mica's now in Jiu Jitsu. We're waiting to buy him a robe, uniform, whatever you call it until he's done with one class. We wanted to know if he was really into it, or if it's just a passing phase.

For the meantime he's the one in the middle, with the blue shirt.

I have to say that he does love it. He is learning. The kid sucks at doing the monkey roll. Come on he's an apel, apes are in his genes right? He sticks his little butt up in the air and just has a hard time going into a roll. Maybe it's his forever long torso that he has trouble flipping over. I'm thinking it's fear.

If this were a college class, I think I'd make a prerequisite to Jiu Jitsu, a tumbling course for sure.

Now that Mica's in Jiu Jitsu, he thinks he knows his stuff. HA HA - NOT! Isaak thinks he's ready to take this class because he's four now. It is for ages 4 to 11. I'm thinking he'll start with tumbling.

I do have to say it's pretty cute watching Mica punch, kick and count to 10 in Japanese. He'll get the monkey roll down soon enough, I hope.

New Shoes

I'm lucky that Mica's feet do not grow fast. Cousin Evan and Elijah's feet grow very quickly! With that I often forget to check Mica's shoes. His toes had a little room in his tennis shoes, but very little.

What to look for in a kids shoes? 

• They need room to grow, but not so big they are floppy when they walk or run. We had him walk, run and jump in the store. Usually the last two things are a HUGE no no.
• For kids ages 5 and up they really should have mostly tie shoes. They need to learn to tie shoes and practice their fine motor skills. I know velcro is easier, but kids need to learn and practice.
• Treads are important. Many stylish shoes have very little traction. I've made mistakes buying shoes like this before. Converse and skate shoes are the worst for traction. They slip around in them. I've slipped (pun) and bought trendy shoes before. It was a bad idea.
• For sandals I try and get ones that cover their little toes. They to should have good traction for running, jumping and walking in the rain.

Last night we all went to Kohl's to get some shoes for Mica man.

I have to say the older they get, the more the selection goes down. Especially in sandal area. Come on stores, it's not even officially summer yet! Let's wait until my birthday June 21st before taking away the summer selection! I look over at the girl's section and they have a lot of options! :( Plus the older they get the more expensive their shoes are!

We ended up getting him 3 pairs.

Standard tennis shoes. I bought 1 size up, so they will fit him in the fall. He's in big kid sizes now!  We got him a pair of size 2.

These Fila Sport Shoes were originally $54.99 and on sale for $39.99. They had just as much treads as the Nike shoes he tried on.

We got him shoes that could be used for dress up, but would still pass for gym class. Again 1 size up, size 2. Hey if I can get shoes that will work with dressy, casual and the gym I can't go wrong.

These Sonoma Shoes were $39.99.

Tennis shoes are a must! We go to the Y a lot. We signed Mica up for a summer fun program at a local community center. I know they want him in tennis shoes. In school if your child doesn't have tennis shoes they can't participate in gym class.

Then we got him one of the last pair of sandals that were on the shelf, that were his size 1. Luckily they were a kind that were supportive and on sale! They are not even on their site anymore.

Shoe shopping is hard! Much of the time I get hung up in what's "Cute" and forget about the true function of what a shoe is for.  It's only been since I've had feet problems that I started to be really conscious of the function of a shoe. Daddy's actually helped a lot with shoe shopping! He's very particular, which is a great thing!

I'm lucky I had an extra 15% off card to use. These shoes can get used a second time with Isaak and maybe third time with Emerson. I love handing down things.