The boys are both getting so big.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A visit with Santa!
After enjoying the Parade of Lights last night to kick off our holiday season, it was time to meet with Santa. Josh and Lucas were both very excited. We didn't have to wait very long, and Santa knew exactly which toy the boys were describing as their wish for Christmas.
The boys are both getting so big.
The boys are both getting so big.
Parade of Lights
We attended Fort Worth's Parade of Lights for the third year running. The boys enjoy seeing all the lighted floats and hearing the marching bands. But Lucas thinks there are entirely too many loud sirens!
The Rangers' float was Lucas's favorite.
Josh loved his light-up hat. The red stars light up and blink, and he received many compliments on his hat.
And everyone's favorite, of course, is Santa Claus!
The Rangers' float was Lucas's favorite.
Josh loved his light-up hat. The red stars light up and blink, and he received many compliments on his hat.
And everyone's favorite, of course, is Santa Claus!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Nash Elementary Turkey Trot
Friday, Josh's school held its annual Turkey Trot. The race length varies by grade: the pre-K and kindergarten students run 600 ft or so; 1st and 2nd grade run a half-mile; 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade run a mile. This year they also added a parents' race (1 mile), which I had planned to run, but instead I sat with the class so Josh's teacher could run the race. The students were very proud of her! Here is Ms. Mitchell's second grade class:
It was a beautiful day for the races. Here are the 1st and 2nd graders lining up for the start of their heat. Josh made sure to get a prime position.
It was an out-and-back course, so we got to cheer the kids on as they left, and then we had to wait until we saw them crest the hill again on their return (there were volunteers and police all along the course to make sure everyone was safe and made the turn). I was pleasantly surprised to see Josh returning all alone in 1st place (with a parent helper running alongside him):
Winner!
He was very proud of himself. In fact, he had been full of nervous energy all day, even though this race is just for fun. The first thing he said when he woke up Friday morning was, "I'm so nervous about my race." He kept saying his tummy hurt on the way to school. He was doing push-ups and jumping jacks during the other races as an outlet for all of his nervous energy. I'm going to have to work with him on managing his anxiety and the pressure to perform (a feeling I know well).
Post-race downtime:
And last but definitely not least, the medal ceremony! With my proud son earning his first-place medal. (If you use your imagination, you can almost hear the national anthem playing.)
Congratulations Josh!
It was a beautiful day for the races. Here are the 1st and 2nd graders lining up for the start of their heat. Josh made sure to get a prime position.
It was an out-and-back course, so we got to cheer the kids on as they left, and then we had to wait until we saw them crest the hill again on their return (there were volunteers and police all along the course to make sure everyone was safe and made the turn). I was pleasantly surprised to see Josh returning all alone in 1st place (with a parent helper running alongside him):
Winner!
He was very proud of himself. In fact, he had been full of nervous energy all day, even though this race is just for fun. The first thing he said when he woke up Friday morning was, "I'm so nervous about my race." He kept saying his tummy hurt on the way to school. He was doing push-ups and jumping jacks during the other races as an outlet for all of his nervous energy. I'm going to have to work with him on managing his anxiety and the pressure to perform (a feeling I know well).
Post-race downtime:
And last but definitely not least, the medal ceremony! With my proud son earning his first-place medal. (If you use your imagination, you can almost hear the national anthem playing.)
Congratulations Josh!
Next up, the Jingle Bell Jog on December 10!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Lucas's first spelling test
Lucas just moved up to a new classroom at his preschool. His last class mainly played all day. His new class follows a pre-kindergarten curriculum, learning their letters, numbers, shapes, and colors, to get ready for school next year.
Lucas knows all of the shapes and colors. He can count to 20, but he is still learning to identify each number in print (i.e., to recognize that "13" is the number thirteen). He can sing the "ABC" song, but he is still learning to recognize the letters in print and to know which sound each letter makes.
As for writing, he can write his name with help. That's about it. Up until now, all of his crayon or pencil time was spent drawing and coloring pictures. He doesn't know how to write letters yet.
Nevertheless, he had to take today's spelling test in his new classroom. They had five words this week: girl, boy, eight, sip, and purple. (If you ask me, "eight" is way too advanced for 4-year-olds. Maybe "purple" too.)
Here's how he did. Lucas's words are the first ones on each line; his teacher's corrections are in the parentheses.
(You can click on the picture to open a larger version in a new window.)
I love this! Even though he had no idea of how to write any of these words, he tried his best! And he got a "G" into "girl," I think that swirly thing at the beginning of line 2 is an attempt at a "B", he has letters with downward flags for both the "y" in "boy" and the "p" in sip, he made an "E", "i" and "g" in "eight" (even though this seemed to me to be the hardest word), and he has a backwards "P" for purple. Hey, it's something!
Lucas knows all of the shapes and colors. He can count to 20, but he is still learning to identify each number in print (i.e., to recognize that "13" is the number thirteen). He can sing the "ABC" song, but he is still learning to recognize the letters in print and to know which sound each letter makes.
As for writing, he can write his name with help. That's about it. Up until now, all of his crayon or pencil time was spent drawing and coloring pictures. He doesn't know how to write letters yet.
Nevertheless, he had to take today's spelling test in his new classroom. They had five words this week: girl, boy, eight, sip, and purple. (If you ask me, "eight" is way too advanced for 4-year-olds. Maybe "purple" too.)
Here's how he did. Lucas's words are the first ones on each line; his teacher's corrections are in the parentheses.
(You can click on the picture to open a larger version in a new window.)
I love this! Even though he had no idea of how to write any of these words, he tried his best! And he got a "G" into "girl," I think that swirly thing at the beginning of line 2 is an attempt at a "B", he has letters with downward flags for both the "y" in "boy" and the "p" in sip, he made an "E", "i" and "g" in "eight" (even though this seemed to me to be the hardest word), and he has a backwards "P" for purple. Hey, it's something!
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Rollerworld!
Josh learned to in-line skate during PE this year, and he has been wanting to visit the roller rink ever since. Today, we made our inaugural visit to Rollerworld.
Josh was ready.
Lucas was less sure about all this.
But then, we happened upon the greatest thing ever for a 4-year old in a roller rink. The SKATE MATE! I had never heard of this. It's basically a walker on wheels. It changed everything.
After warming up on the carpet, Lucas was (mostly) ready to hit the rink.
After every lap, he told me emphatically that he was "quitting skating!" We'd go sit down for a rest, but I wouldn't take his skates off. After 5 minutes or so, he'd just get up and start skating again. I think he enjoyed it, even though it's really hard work the first time.
Despite some falls, we'll be back!
Josh was ready.
Lucas was less sure about all this.
But then, we happened upon the greatest thing ever for a 4-year old in a roller rink. The SKATE MATE! I had never heard of this. It's basically a walker on wheels. It changed everything.
After warming up on the carpet, Lucas was (mostly) ready to hit the rink.
After every lap, he told me emphatically that he was "quitting skating!" We'd go sit down for a rest, but I wouldn't take his skates off. After 5 minutes or so, he'd just get up and start skating again. I think he enjoyed it, even though it's really hard work the first time.
Meanwhile, Josh was zooming around. He was so awesome. Especially considering he'd never even been in a rink before, which is quite a different environment than an elementary school gym full of other kids who don't know how to skate.
Despite some falls, we'll be back!
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