Choices

Sometimes in Life... There are just so many wonderful beautiful choices

Big kid basketball

 

Alex has really been enjoying basketball – and this is a tough sport to learn.  Dribbling, shooting baskets, passing, guarding/defense…. it’s tough.  But, he’s really got a good idea of the game now.  In his second game last weekend – he shot and made a basket – he was absolutely beaming with happiness.  He dribbles, he passes, he shoots, he guards, he knows what defense is… all a part of the game. 

 

Who knows where it will lead – but I know one thing – we are having fun and his coaches (Lance is one of them, all Dads of kids on the boys kindergarten YMCA team) all have the same idea – fun and learning.  Not about winning and competition. 

 

He has always been so athletic that we’ve thrown everything we can at him to 1). get the wiggles out of him and 2). to have fun.  When he gets frustrated that the other team scored a basket or he didn’t make a basket or whatever else comes up, I’ve learned that being consistent with my answer has really helped.  It just takes practice.  Then, when I notice something he’s been practicing a long time and suddenly its way easier than it used to be (scooter, bike, soccer, anything really) – I notice.  I say how much I can see he’s been practicing and how much improvement he has made.  He realizes too in this moment, and gets a little half smile.  It’s good to recognize these achievements, because then he does believe me when I say that it just takes practice. 

 

Go Cobras!

 

 

 

 

 

Clinks

Sara has figured out that her her cups from her kitchen can be used to “clink” other glasses and you say “cheers” when you do this.  This is so fun she has found out.  Of course, Sara likes hers filled with what everyone else is filling theirs with – beer and wine.  She is the ONLY kid I know – that actually likes it!  She doesn’t wrinkle up her nose when she tastes beer or wine, but instead says….more.  She perks up when she sees one of us have beer or wine and goes to get her (tablespoon sized) cup.  And to her – the cup is called a “clink”.  Because that is the sound it makes when the cups clink together. 

 

IPhone pics

I got a new iPhone5 and I've been having fun taking photos, since I think it's so funny that it's actually a phone, computer and has 3x more megapixels than my first digital camera!

All bundled up and Basketball

 

It’s been cold here lately – in the 30’s.  We were outside to shake some of our cabin fever and the kids had to bundle up.  They are not used to this.  It was a fleece coat, with another coat on top, a hat and gloves.  The gloves really helped us all stay outside longer, as well as the whole ensemble.  Trust me – Alex tried to just wear his zipper hoodie – not going to cut it in the 30’s buddy. 

 

Sara looked so bright and cute – I snapped a picture.  She was loving how each finger matched another finger and all the colors.  We played outside for a long time and worked up quite the appetite.  The gloves really helped her hands stay warmer, otherwise we would’ve had some frozen digits!  She can recognize numbers now and can even count to ~10.  It’s so amazing to me that we show her a picture of a 7 and she says seven.  She even knows that a 6 is a six, but if you turn it upside down it’s a nine! 

 

 

 

And Alex has started basketball.  He loves it and wants to dribble like people he sees do it.  They have lowered baskets and he really works hard at making baskets.  He’s so excited when he does.  It will be fun to watch – he’s been practicing for ~ 1 month now and his first game is next Saturday.  I’m nervous/excited/proud/everything for that first game.  He’s wearing size 1 1/2 shoes, that are slightly big right now (Mickey’s shoes!) at 5 3/4 yrs old. 

 

Oh – and Alex’s new phrase – “Mommy – what’s your New Years solution?”  “Mine is to make money this year, lots of money so I can buy toys”.   He heard about New Years Resolutions from kindergarten and they must have talked about what it meant.  I can tell he really thought about it.  He is working really hard on figuring out money.  He wants to know how Daddy and I get it and how he can get more of it.  Why do we use credit cards and why can’t he have a credit card.  Money these days is almost non-existent for a kid his age.  He has a card that he uses to get lunch at school one day a week – but there is no money exchanged (at least that he sees, we send a check).  We use either credit cards or debit cards almost everywhere, gas, groceries, etc.  It’s been fun, but yet challenging to talk about money since it’s everywhere, but nowhere at the same time.  He turned in some coins to a coinstar machine and was really upset that it didn’t immediately spit out “paper money” on the spot.  Lance had to calm him down and take him over to the registers to get the “paper money”.  He’s getting it more and more though.  He figured out he had enough money for a remote control helicopter and he is about the happiest (and most frustrated) 5 year olds that ever was. 

 

2013

Happy New Year!

We spent as much time outside today as we could, but it was downright cold! But the sunshine was glorious!

Nieghbors, friends, kids laughing and riding many forms of bikes - good times.

I used my Hipstamatic app on my new iPhone5. Yeah baby! Still sorting out what I like and what I don't. But it sure is fun to take the photo, edit it, save it, and post it to my blog all on my "phone". Or is it my camera that also makes calls?