The Bad Mood Buster

When we are too stressed or too grumpy, what do we do? We build a fort. It's the ultimate in bad mood busting.

When I Grow Up... 2013

Last Friday was Career Day at Clark's school. The kids dress up as what they want to be when they grow up. Clark was a police officer. They also ask for volunteers to come and talk to the kids about their careers. Clark asked Jason if he would come talk to his class about HVAC. Jason was a little reluctant at first but agreed to do it since Clark had asked. His enthusiasm gradually increased as he put his presentation together. He had a picture slideshow, goodies to hand out, and a little guy made out of all the different types of pipe that he uses!

Now he plans on being a Career Day speaker every year!

To see last year's Career Day photo, click here.

Guest Reader, Mother's Day Tea, and Spring Concert

We've been spending a lot of time at Clark's school lately. It's been wonderful! I first signed up to be a guest reader to share a book with his class. Clark asked me to read What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? 

Then we went in for his Spring Music Concert. He has been talking about this for weeks. He would draw me maps all the time about how to get there and where we are supposed to sit and where he is going to be. Finally the day came and we all were there to clap as he sang his little heart out. Pay no attention to the scabs on his face. He had a run in with the monkey bars.

One of my favorite songs they sang was this Wiggly Worm Song. I just love when he wiggles. He gets distracted mid-song then comes back, wiggles, gives the family a little hello and then gives himself a nice round of applause. Too funny.

And finally I was invited to a Mother's Day Tea where my boy had created a portrait of me, gave me this vase of flowers, a rice rainbow, a flower to plant in the yard, and some yummy treats. He was such a gentleman as he served me my water, cookies and muffins. What a fun way to start my day! Even if my portrait had a big streak of gray hair... :)

Kent Conquers the Potty!

We decided that we would start potty training Kent in January. After two days of Potty Boot Camp, he was set going number one. It would be another 2 weeks before we would have success with number two. Our big incentive for him to go number 2 on the potty was to go to Build a Bear Workshop and make a best friend. What a beautiful day it was when we all finally got to go!

Kent and his new best friend...both sporting big boy undies!

Picking out which bear would become his new best friend.

Giving his new bear a big, loud ROAR!

Fill him up with stuffing

Making a wish and giving him a heart.

Cleaning him up and drying him off. He really did actually need the cleaning after being hauled through the store on the floor.

Picking out the perfect outfit and dressing the bear. I love Clark in the background playing hockey with a bear sized stick and puck.

 Kent teaching his bear how to play hockey.

 Finally giving the bear a name - Skates, of course.

All done and ready to take Skates home!

It's now been 4 weeks since we've changed a diaper and Kent is a champ at going on the potty. He's even been 2 weeks without an accident. Atta big boy, Kent! What a milestone!

A Childhood Rite of Passage - not yet

We told Clark that after Canada we would be taking the training wheels off of his bike. He said it was fine, but I knew that it was going to be a bigger ordeal when the day actually came. Keep your hands on the handlebars, keep pedaling and look straight ahead.

Keep your hands on the handlebars!! Keep pedaling!! Clark kept grabbing on to Jason when he felt like he was going to fall off. And the feet were definitely not moving.

Kent was there to help every step of the way.

After Clark's handful of major meltdowns and a few frustrating episodes from Jason, they are going to try a different approach. Clark will now teach himself how to ride a two wheeler - and he's not doing too bad. But he still hasn't earned his wheels. We'll let you know when he does.

Clark - Class of 2025!

Check it out...it was Clark's first day of kindergarten today! Hip, hip hooray! I'm so excited for him to be starting this next phase of his life. I was a little nervous for him too even though I know he is going to do just fine. It's less about the first day of kindergarten and more about how I feel like I'm handing my son over to the big, bad world and I'm not sure if he is going to make it.

But one look at this face this morning and I knew that I could just throw my worries out the window. What a stud!

Is he mocking me? Or is this genuine? I just can't tell anymore.

He's showing me how heavy his backpack is and how it is making him fall over. He had almost all of his school supplies in there. Maybe I should have staggered them out a bit. He has a male kindergarten teacher - Mr. K. I'm so excited about it. I think he's really going to love having a guy teacher. But at the same time, I'm a little bummed because now I have no idea what to do for teacher gifts...as if it isn't hard enough trying to buy for guys that I know...now I have to buy for one that I don't really know. I mean I can't just pick up a Bath and Body Works set. Ok, I wouldn't have bought one for a girl teacher either. Ramble, ramble, ramble...

He picked out each piece of his ensemble on his own (minus the khakis). I don't really get much say anymore. But I insisted on the khakis. Otherwise it would have been lounge pants for sure. We live for comfies over here. As he was going to bed tonight, he asked why I made him wear those shorts. I told him because they looked nice. He told me they were stupid. Whatever. Just wait until he sees what I make him wear tomorrow, mwahahahaha!

My big boy...CLASS OF 2025!

He didn't want to be the first one on the bus. He made his friends (the neighbors) go on first so he wouldn't be the first one.

Here he is after his first full day of school. I can't imagine how long the day felt for him since he's never been to school and now he is in all day kindergarten. He bolted off the bus without so much as a hi or hello and went straight to playing with his friends. We forced him to come in and talk to us for a few minutes, but he really needed to get out and play.

What he remembered from the first day...
1. He played a pop the balloon game and he popped the balloon on his first try. It had a marble inside.
2. He sat next to a boy named Corbin at lunch. (He ate his PB&J, cookies and pez. The rest came back. Hooray for tomorrow's lunch already being packed!)
3. His teacher taught him about lizards or maybe it was a coral snake. (This one is a little sketchy because he started talking about it and it sounded more like he was making stuff up. One point for creativity, I guess?)
4. He didn't sing any songs.
5. He gave all his school supplies to Mr. K.

I was hoping for a little more, but I'll cling to these five little facts with all my might.


The verdict - he is excited to go back tomorrow!

Nerd Alert

...or you-are-what-you-put-in-your-ears!

We spent out Family Home Evening this week in the ER with Clark digging Nerds out of his ears. Let's just say he will NEVER put anything in his ears again! or at least he better not...

Mary's 30 Second Shred

I cleaned out my file cabinet last week and finished my yearly shredding. I thought it might be fun for the boys to bury their toys in the paper. So we got a box and we filled it up with shreds and toys. It didn't take long for them to figure out that burying toys wasn't nearly as fun as making it snow inside.

I love how Clark learns the lesson early that you shouldn't keep your drink near the snowing shreds.

Clark got rid of his drink and really got into the action which made Kent GIDDY with excitement!

They kept finding new ways to make each other laugh and smile with teeny tiny shreds of paper that I'll be picking up for weeks!

The aftermath.

And what's a box if you don't get inside?

Will I do this again next year....hmmmm....probably!

Some Favorite YA Novels

I love reading Young Adult fiction. Many times they are cleaner and the stories are just as captivating. I also love that I can usually finish them rather quickly!!

When you get done with the crappy vampire reads, you can pick up one of these!

Here are some of my favorites...
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Milkweed by Jerry Spinnelli

Books of Bayern Series by Shannon Hale

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

Any suggestions for my ever growing reading list?

Some Favorite Chapter Books (Elementary/Middle School Age)

Yay! More books! Today I want to share some of my favorite chapter books from my days as an elementary school teacher...they were short lived, but they were well read.

Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Each Little Bird that Sings by Deborah Wiles

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (The Underland Chronicles)

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach

The Last Treasure by Janet Anderson

Jackie's Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs

Any others you would add to the list?