Today the YMCA began the first day of their Kids In Motion summer program. It offers different activity classes for kids to participate in while their parents are working out, and my kiddos went to it last summer as well. Noah has really been looking forward to it.....Katie, not so much. Last year she spent some time in tears over it. After all, it's intended for kids ages 7-12 and she was.....well....5.
Her main problem with it is that it is full of little competitive games - relay races, Red Rover, hula hoop contests, things like that. While she did LOVE the yoga class they offered, she hated those little games. Because she has an older brother who is INCREDIBLY competitive and athletic, she has been losing every competition she's ever been in for her entire life. She has NO confidence in herself, and refuses to compete....EVER. It makes me crazy. It breaks my heart to see her put herself down and not even try just because she doesn't want to lose. But I'm on a bit of a tangent here.....
Anyhow, she was dreading it a bit. I told her to give it a try for just 30 minutes today, and if she hated it, we would just not go on Mondays. So, she begrudgingly gave it a shot. She admitted to crying just a little (though she tried her best to fight the tears) when they started playing Red Rover, but the nice college girl told her she didn't have to play, so she was happy then.
Now I'm finally getting around to the whole point of this blog!
When I went to pick her up, the sweet college intern told me that Katie did great, and that "Wow! She is fast!" This came as no surprise to me because we've been watching her run down the soccer field for a couple of years now. Katie was beaming with pride, and she and Noah excitedly told me about how she had run a relay race against an 11 year old boy who had a head start on her, and Katie still beat him! Noah said more kids were chanting "Katie" than for any other kid out there!
In her pride, Katie, the girl who HATES it when I tell stories about her, informed me that this is a story she doesn't mind if I "put on the internet." So, there you have it!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
D - Land Run & Mother's Day Tea
I just want to quickly highlight a couple of fun days the kids had at school this year. They both had awesome years full of great grades, good friends, and wonderful teachers. Noah's teacher, Mrs. Crampton, was one of my favorite that either kid has ever had, and Katie just loved Mrs. Carter. Thanks for the great year, Washington Irving!
Now, if these pictures don't bring back memories for you, you weren't raised in Oklahoma.
Funny thing is, he didn't get to help build it because he was at LTC, yet he still wound up being the one pulling it. How did that happen, you ask? Because he was the 2nd fastest kid in the family. The fastest kid ran ahead and claimed their land while Noah got the wagon there as quickly as he could. ;)
This day was the highlight of their year-long study of Oklahoma history, and they loved it!
Katie's special day was special for me too - her Mother's Day Tea. I was greeted at her classroom door where I walked a red butcher-paper-carpet and was announced by my beautiful daughter over a microphone and handed a carnation by that same cutie.
She melts my heart!
They also did a little program where they sang songs and did a poem, but I have no pics of that. I pulled out the video camera for that one, and I can't possibly be expected to do both!!!
It was a really special day for both of us. I love you, Katie Elisabeth!!!
Now, if these pictures don't bring back memories for you, you weren't raised in Oklahoma.
That's right, it's Land Run time!!! Noah got to participate in this year's 3rd grade run back in April. His "family" of all boys got together and built this wagon.
Once there, they were able to feast on their sack lunches.
Katie's special day was special for me too - her Mother's Day Tea. I was greeted at her classroom door where I walked a red butcher-paper-carpet and was announced by my beautiful daughter over a microphone and handed a carnation by that same cutie.
She melts my heart!
Then she escorted me to my table where I found all sorts of cards and crafts that she had made for me. So precious! Next, she went through the food line and served me cookies and fruit and punch. She was so sweet and smiling from ear to ear the whole time and was so anxious to do everything right and make sure I had a wonderful time.
They also did a little program where they sang songs and did a poem, but I have no pics of that. I pulled out the video camera for that one, and I can't possibly be expected to do both!!!
It was a really special day for both of us. I love you, Katie Elisabeth!!!
D - LTCEaster Weekend
This year marked a huge turning point for us as a family with our first LTC experience. Easter weekend as we have known them shall be no more. (Moment of silence as I mourn the loss of favorite holiday traditions) That said, I really am excited about this new stage of life as we start to grow our babies into teenagers and then adults who will someday be the leaders in their churches. (Sniff, Sniff)
Because I am really reluctant to change my routines and do anything new (Surprise!), I tried to talk my gung-ho son into easing us into LTC by not being in too terribly many activities. So, Noah ONLY participated in Bible Quiz, Small Chorus, Service Challenge and Puppets this year.
He started out in February(?) really fired up, but soon the tears started flowing every Sunday as he "never had ANY free time to do what he wanted to do!" His main complaint every week came from Bible Quiz. He just HATED it! Truth be told, I thought it was way too much to ask of a 3rd grader to prepare for a 200 question quiz over the book of Revelation with no study guide, but we decided not to let him drop out because he was committed to a team. So.....he stuck with it. I wound up joining the coaching team and became more familiar with what was expected of him, and he and I worked hard every day those last couple of weeks before LTC.
Fast forward to LTC weekend...... As we entered the ballroom for Bible Quiz, Noah's first event, a massive storm was forming outside. Not 10 minutes before the event was to begin, the entirety of LTC as well as all of the guests of the hotel where the event was held were encouraged to file into the ballroom as it was the storm shelter, and a tornado was likely. Yikes! It was crazy crowded in there! The whole group (I've heard 2,000) sang praises for about 45 minutes as the storm passed us by. It was beautiful.....and mildly frightening!
Once given the "all clear," we began the test. I was a judge at another table and was able to see Noah throughout the competition. It was so fun to watch. I could see the energy and enthusiasm in his body language and just knew he was loving it. Was I ever right! After the 4th test, he came running over to my table and told me that he had just taken the multiple choice section for his team and hadn't missed any of them. He was so pumped and yelled as he ran back to his table that he was DEFINITELY doing Bible Quiz again next year. Oh.....Yay????!?????!
Turns out, his team got 96 out of 200 correct. Maybe not the best percentage, but they were proud. His coach and I were so disappointed for them though because we think they were only 4 questions away from getting a bronze medal. As it is, they got absolutely nothing for all that hard work. So sad! BUT, Noah had a wonderful first experience.
His Small Chorus sang beautifully and got a gold...
And his puppet team got a silver. Noah really loved puppets and did a great job as a sports announcer ("NB") interviewing a basketball team. He was also very proud that a picture of him and his puppet wound up in the Christian Chronicle for all the world to see!
We got really lucky on Noah's schedule and were able to leave Arkansas early afternoon on Saturday. We hustled home so we would have time to dye some Easter eggs.
Fun, as always!
On Easter morning, the kids endured having pictures made before diving into their Easter baskets. Isn't she pretty???
They've learned to be pretty good sports about that.
At church that morning, Noah's puppet team did their show during bible hour, and then we headed home for a quick lunch. While there, the kids decided that they weren't interested in going to the church's egg hunt that we always attend. I was a little disappointed because I like traditions, but it was awfully nice to have a little down time on such a busy weekend. Because it was rainy and cold outside, we had to do our own egg hunt in the house. Odd.
We did manage to slip outside for a family pic because that is what we do.....
And we finished off the weekend by going to the LTC awards ceremony and then watching Noah's chorus perform after church. It was such a busy time but so very important. Noah, of course, ended up loving it all, so I have no doubt there will be many crazy weekends like this in our future.
Because I am really reluctant to change my routines and do anything new (Surprise!), I tried to talk my gung-ho son into easing us into LTC by not being in too terribly many activities. So, Noah ONLY participated in Bible Quiz, Small Chorus, Service Challenge and Puppets this year.
He started out in February(?) really fired up, but soon the tears started flowing every Sunday as he "never had ANY free time to do what he wanted to do!" His main complaint every week came from Bible Quiz. He just HATED it! Truth be told, I thought it was way too much to ask of a 3rd grader to prepare for a 200 question quiz over the book of Revelation with no study guide, but we decided not to let him drop out because he was committed to a team. So.....he stuck with it. I wound up joining the coaching team and became more familiar with what was expected of him, and he and I worked hard every day those last couple of weeks before LTC.
Fast forward to LTC weekend...... As we entered the ballroom for Bible Quiz, Noah's first event, a massive storm was forming outside. Not 10 minutes before the event was to begin, the entirety of LTC as well as all of the guests of the hotel where the event was held were encouraged to file into the ballroom as it was the storm shelter, and a tornado was likely. Yikes! It was crazy crowded in there! The whole group (I've heard 2,000) sang praises for about 45 minutes as the storm passed us by. It was beautiful.....and mildly frightening!
Once given the "all clear," we began the test. I was a judge at another table and was able to see Noah throughout the competition. It was so fun to watch. I could see the energy and enthusiasm in his body language and just knew he was loving it. Was I ever right! After the 4th test, he came running over to my table and told me that he had just taken the multiple choice section for his team and hadn't missed any of them. He was so pumped and yelled as he ran back to his table that he was DEFINITELY doing Bible Quiz again next year. Oh.....Yay????!?????!
Turns out, his team got 96 out of 200 correct. Maybe not the best percentage, but they were proud. His coach and I were so disappointed for them though because we think they were only 4 questions away from getting a bronze medal. As it is, they got absolutely nothing for all that hard work. So sad! BUT, Noah had a wonderful first experience.
His Small Chorus sang beautifully and got a gold...
And his puppet team got a silver. Noah really loved puppets and did a great job as a sports announcer ("NB") interviewing a basketball team. He was also very proud that a picture of him and his puppet wound up in the Christian Chronicle for all the world to see!
We got really lucky on Noah's schedule and were able to leave Arkansas early afternoon on Saturday. We hustled home so we would have time to dye some Easter eggs.
Fun, as always!
On Easter morning, the kids endured having pictures made before diving into their Easter baskets. Isn't she pretty???
They've learned to be pretty good sports about that.
At church that morning, Noah's puppet team did their show during bible hour, and then we headed home for a quick lunch. While there, the kids decided that they weren't interested in going to the church's egg hunt that we always attend. I was a little disappointed because I like traditions, but it was awfully nice to have a little down time on such a busy weekend. Because it was rainy and cold outside, we had to do our own egg hunt in the house. Odd.
We did manage to slip outside for a family pic because that is what we do.....
And we finished off the weekend by going to the LTC awards ceremony and then watching Noah's chorus perform after church. It was such a busy time but so very important. Noah, of course, ended up loving it all, so I have no doubt there will be many crazy weekends like this in our future.
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