Monday Fun

While I was at teacher inservice all day last Monday (boring!!) the kids spent the night with my parents on Sunday night and stayed all day Monday having a good ole' time.  My dad took the day off to be with them too.  They made pizza, cookies, rice crispy treats, swam next door at Mrs. Olga's, played with Maggie, played in the sand box, built towers and towns with all of the blocks, read books, Emerson went to her reading class, and much more.  Below are the descriptions from my mom of the fun that was had:

 Dad found packets of pizza dough at HEB and he made it by adding water.  Then each kid got their own dough and they pressed it out into a circle on cookie sheets. Instructions were to flour fingers and spread.  That meant to them to load up their hands with flour.  Then we gave them pizza sauce to spread out on top of the dough. Next, they added their own cheese, of course they loaded it on.  They wanted it to be real cheesey.  Emerson being the tactile person pushed the cheese into the sauce. They watched anxiously as it cooked, and kept checking on the pizza by turning the oven light on and off.  Landon wanted to cut his own pizza, so I held the pan and he cut away with the pizza wheel.  He is real interested in cooking lately.  Each kid gave the seal of approval and loved their pizza.

As usual we made the cookies. This time they got to pick their color of food coloring and mixed it into the dough. Notice that now Landon stands and doesn't need a chair.  They have done this so many times they know exactly what to do, they each love to roll out the dough and add LOTS of flour. Cutting out the different shapes is old hat for them and do a great job. They want to load on the sprinkles, sometimes too much.

At bedtime Emerson wanted Maggie to be with her.  She stayed there while I read her bedtime stories and then I kicked her out. The next morning after we swam at Olga's they played in the sandbox.  Notice the stick dividing the sandbox in half? Dad had to do that because they kept fighting over the space.  After that, no more arguments.

This is Landon's Lizard City, named because of the 2 big lizards. He and I had built the bridge when he was here before and I left it standing because I knew he was coming back. While Emerson and I were gone to reading class he finished his city. Of course, when we got back they fought over the animals and who could drive over what road.  Very good imagination on his part on building the roads, and the city.

Proud Mama

I've been so proud of my kiddos lately!  Landon has had a fear of water and swimming since he was little, like 18 months old.  This summer is his 5th summer in a row of professional swim lessons.  Half way through last summer we made him stop wearing a life jacket and only let him use a noodle.  The life jacket became a crutch for him and I felt like he was too used to it and needed to learn to swim.  He made progress last year and wouldn't scream when going under the water and was more willing to do things with Ms. Morgan, even doggy paddling some.  Although he did death grip her most of the time and whined when he was fearful.  This summer we used Ms. Morgan again but for private lessons.  We lucked out and had her the past two years in group lessons and she is VERY patient, loving, knows just how to work with my kiddos and how to push them, and just overall does very well with the kids.  She makes them do things and doesn't "baby" them.  I've been SO impressed with Landon's progress this summer!  He started the summer off a little fearful but began making strides.  About 1-1 1/2 months ago he started swimming like a little fish all on his own, but ONLY in water that he knew he could stand in.  He wouldn't go near water deeper than 3 ft. 6 in. unless Ms. Morgan was holding him.  He was then fearful.  Even at Sea World he freaked out a few times in the wave pool as he is so afraid he will get tired and can't swim.  She even commented on how he is very fast and is "swim team" material if he would just go in the deeper water.  She called him a torpedo.  She said he doesn't really need lessons anymore but just needs the confidence.  We couldn't figure him out.  So, a few weeks ago he began jumping into deep water, water that he couldn't stand in, at Mrs. Olga's house all on his own (wearing goggles has helped him) and would swim after jumping in.  He always jumped into shallower water.  And from then on out he jumps into deep water, doing so next door each time since.  He was swimming over there on 2 Saturday's ago and the grandma was so excited she yelled over the fence for Jason to come watch because she was so proud of him and excited.  They have witnessed his fear and struggle the past 2 summers.  This week at swim lessons he told Ms. Morgan he wanted to jump in on his own and swim to the side in 5+ ft. water.  First time ever!  For the past 3 summers he either wouldn't jump in, would cry, or have to be pushed/thrown in.  It was a huge ordeal at every lesson.  I can gladly say we are beyond that and he is a swimmer!!!!!  He's SO fast and for the last few lessons they have worked on his breathing to the side because he wastes a lot of energy coming up for a breath.  But, I'll take it!  He finally has the confidence.  Guess it took almost 8 years, but Landon does everything on his own time table.  Now, Emerson is a whole different story.  We are working on her and she still wears her Puddle Jumpers which will be gone after this summer.  The past 2 lessons Ms. Morgan has just made Emerson swim.  She just pushes her and lets go and at our lesson on Friday she actually swam for the first time ever.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  Emerson is just stubborn and lazy so I know she will be swimming next summer and we will have some dates with Ms. Morgan.  Any fear that Emerson has I believe she picked up and learned from Landon because she wasn't that way 2 years ago.  She's now jumping in and trying to swim when forced, but she still whines and doesn't want to go under water, but Ms. Morgan just does it anyway.  :)  We are well on our way...

Now, Emerson's niche is in horse riding.  She is so confident with them and commands them around the arena.  And, loves every minute of it.  I just love watching her enjoy riding and having a passion about something.  She knows what to do and learns more each Saturday.  She is doing well with trotting and posting.  But, her instructor is going to college on August 17th and I'm very sad because she is so sweet, kind, and patient.  Not sure who will be our instructor now.  Emerson is learning how to groom the horses, put on the saddle and other equipment, and a few weeks ago she even got to bathe Stormy which she loved so much.  Her favorite horse, Peppermint, which is very slow and lazy in my opinion went home to her owner.  She apparently was being playful during a lesson and went crazy and bucked off a little girl and broke/sprain her back and had to go to the ER, so Peppermint was booted.  I'm sad but so glad that it wasn't Emerson.  I never would of thought she would of done that.  Scary!  Guess you forget they are still wild animals and are unpredictable.  Stormy is the owner's daughter's horse and he is something else.  Ms. Madison warned us that he had the most attitude that she has ever seen in a horse and boy was she right.  He nipped at me 2 weeks ago when I tried petting him and doesn't listen to Emerson very well.  He thinks he's the boss.  Then, when he stands he props one foot up (you can see in the picture) and when you walk behind him or are about to do so he will kick his leg straight back like he is stretching and would kick you if you happened to be walking past.  He flinches a lot when leading him and making him do what you want to do.  THEN, on Saturday when Jason took Emerson to lessons Stormy tried biting her when she kicked him to make him trot.  Jason caught it on video too.  Emerson does tend to kick VERY hard and no other horse minded, but not Stormy.  She learned to kick hard because Peppermint was so lazy.  So funny!  I'm so proud of Emerson and can't wait to see where this will lead her.  She is only 5 so she has many years ahead of her and is doing so well given her age and length of experience.  I feel like she is a natural and has the personality to command an arena and the horse.  I sure have enjoyed it too, even if it does mean getting up at 8am on a Saturday and being around the animals that I am now allergic to.

Getting ready to kick.  Stinker!

Bath time for muddy Stormy

This is progress too as Landon would never float on his back and resisted it and tensed up each time

Oh this child!  Keeps me busy and frazzled!

 

 

Catching Up is Hard to Do.....

I have tons of pictures and things to post about from the past 2 busy weeks.  More posts coming after this hodge podge post with a little bit of everything.  There is a lot packed into this post, so you might want to grab a glass of wine. :)   Let's get this party started.....

While we were in San Antonio my dad had his 62nd birthday.  On Sunday afternoon after our trip we headed over to their house for lunch and cake and for the kids to play.  They sure love their grandpa, or as Emerson still says, "bampa".  I secretly hope she keeps mispronouncing words in her own way for a little bit longer.  I don't correct her because I want her to stay my baby.  :)

The whole week the kids had Geology Rocks Science Camp at our church.  They went Monday-Friday and Emerson's camp was 9-12 and Landon's camp was 9-3.  The focus was on geology including rocks/minerals, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and more.  All of Landon's favorite topics these days.  They had an INCREDIBLE time!  They both came home each day FULL of information and stories and TONS of stuff that they made and even all kinds of labeled rocks and minerals.  They even got binders full of activities and stuff that they completed as well as stuff that they didn't have time to get to that we can do at home.  I was blown away by the amount of work and dedication that the volunteers put into the camp.  Emerson's class was all boys and her and one other girl.  But, she did know some of the boys from her Sunday school class.  Landon was in a group with one of his friends, Gus, from school and baseball so he was super happy about that.  This camp will definitely be in our summer plans every year!  And, the price wasn't bad since its at our church and they obviously aren't making a profit.  Landon's camp collected spare change the whole week to help buy kitchen utensils for families in Moore, Oklahoma that the church adopted.  Our church also went on a mission trip there to help clean up after the devastating tornado.  They collected almost $600 in just change!  Landon was excited to help out.  Most of the week, except for Monday because Emerson had reading class, my mom picked up Emerson for me at 12pm since she lives right by the church and then I met her at church at 3pm to get Landon.  Saved me lots of miles and gas!  On Wednesday afternoon Jason and I had an appointment with Landon's neuropsychologist so my parents kept the kids after camp and then met us for dinner later that evening after our appointment.  The kids had a surprise in the car....a live butterfly.  My mom helped the kids catch it and put it in the butterfly habitat.  Emerson was beside herself excited.  My little animal and bug girl!  When we got home they were ready to release it and Emerson did so with patience and ease and watched it in the tree for a while.  She was so excited.  Later while the kids were outside playing we spotted it flying past us, 30-45 minutes later.

Love the expression on her face!

It went right to the tree

Their volcanoes that they made at camp

Completing one of the experiments at home

Showing off his dinosaur diorama

On Saturday we headed to Emerson's friend Anzley's 5th birthday party.  Emerson had a ball with all of her girlfriends.  Landon only jumped for a few minutes and then decided he was bored because there weren't many boys so he sat with Jason playing on his iPod while I chatted with my friends.  After the party we met Jason's parents for dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

On Monday I was gone from 7:30-4:30 for a teacher inservice day.  Talk about boring!  I sure haven't missed those the past 7 years!  Now, since I'm a full blown part-time teacher (I will be a ".5 Title I Reading Support Teacher") this next school year I'm back to doing all of the same stuff I hated before....lesson plans, inservice, training, observations, walk-thrus, etc.  But, at my inservice I did meet up with an old friend from 13 years ago that is new to CFISD and we were in the same class together and went to lunch quickly in between classes.  It was so enjoyable!  The kids spent the night at my parents house Sunday night and played all day Monday at their house while I was gone and they took Emerson to reading class....a post on that coming soon.  I had a girls night out dinner on Monday AND Tuesday night with two separate groups of friends and got home both nights around 11pm.  And then still did my new T25 workout.  Whew, it was tough with a full tummy of food and wine and late at night.  But, I did it!  5 nights in a row and now I'm recovering today and tomorrow.  I've been extremely sore 24/7 since.  We have been so busy that we haven't even had a weekday open at a good time to go see Monsters University yet.  The kids have been begging for weeks.  I decided to get my money back for Emerson's art camp at church (which I know she would of loved!) that was suppose to be for Tuesday-Thursday 9-12pm so we could get some things done.  So we finally went to see Monsters University on Tuesday and we all loved it.   We actually sat by some of our friends from Cub Scouts and baseball that were there too.  I personally thought it was better than Monsters Inc.  After the movie we went for a late lunch at Chickfila and then to Color Me Mine to paint some pottery.  We had swim lessons on Wednesday and Friday, Landon had Gus' birthday party at Laser X on Thursday night, and the kids went to play at grandma and grandpa's house on Friday while I went to my allergist, chiropractor, and to the grocery store. 

Movie time!

On Thursday Landon had his appointment with the geneticist at TCH.  I'll post about that later too.  While we were in the medical center Emerson went to her sweet friend Blair's house to play.  We dropped her off at 10am and my friend Halle, Blair's mom, texted me in the afternoon asking if Emerson could spend the night because they were having such a great time, all 4 girls.  I dropped off her stuff that evening with Bradley while they were at Chickfila and tumbling and went to run some errands while Landon and Jason were at the birthday party.  I didn't pick Emerson up until 10am on Friday.  She had an amazing time!  They played, swam, played with their new guinea pig, pet the dogs, went to play at Chickfila, watched the girls tumble, watched movies, etc.  She was in heaven with all of the animals.  Halle said she was so good with the dogs and was in love with them.  I sure hope she behaved herself and used her manners!  She did have a hard time falling asleep that night so Halle texted me saying that she was very restless.  She said the girls were wired with excitement even after reading books.  Halle laid in bed with them and finally around 10:30 she fell asleep.  Whew, I didn't want to have to go pick her up!

Notice her hand on the dog!