40 Degrees and Sunny

After being deprived of sunny skies and warm{er} weather for many months, we took full opportunity of a beautiful Sunday afternoon and dressed appropriately. Shorts, short sleeved shirts, flip flops by a couple of us, and of course Super Hero costumes!  

Too bad this only lasted for a few hours and now we are back in the midst of Winter with snow, gray skies, and cooler temperatures.  

Maddie has decided she is going to learn how to skateboard this year.....which means already scraped up knees and elbows

M has been trying to a toe stretch for quite some time and is still upset that she can't do it without holding onto something.  I love her concentration face in this picture

Kindergarten Photos

At Mt Lebanon Elementary School, each teacher has their very own "page" and Robby's teacher is FANTASTIC at updating hers with pictures of the children.  I cherish these pictures; I feel like it gives me some insight and peace of mind as to what my child is doing while he is away from me.  One of the things I worry the most about my kids, is whether they are happy at school.  Do they get along with others? Are other children nice to them?  Do they feel included?  Does anyone make fun of them?  Are they lonely? Bored? Do they listen to their teachers?  Are they respectful?  Are they loved by their teachers and staff members at the school?  Are they treated with respect in turn?  Do the teachers really work with their unique needs or are they unflexible?  The list clearly goes on and on. 

 I like to think that every parent feels that way.  I tend to especially worry about Robby.  Maddie is so couragous and strong, she radiates personality and happiness, she's friendly and makes friends easily, she easily adapts to new situations, and she always comes home bubbling with excitement about the fun things she has done at school.  Robby on the other hand, tends to be much more rigid, he doesn't like change, he has a harder time making friends, he keeps to himself about what he does at school and rarely will tell me about his day, and can sometimes be a bit of a loner.  I worry myself to death about how well he's adapting.  I just want him to be healthy and happy in body and spirit.  I yearn for a confirmation that public school is the best option for him.

So for me these precious photos mean the world.  They show me that he is growing and learning.  They show me that he is thriving, despite all of my worries.  They show me that he is listening to his teachers.  But overall, my favorite part is seeing him smiling and playing with friends.  To me that is number one to see him interacting with others and enjoying his school friends.

  I have had the pleasure to volunteer a few times a month in Robby's school class this year.  I love hearing other children call his name when they are told to pick a partner.  I love how all the children crowd around Robby and I when I read stories out loud during reading time {after snacks}.  

So although there have been several rough days of Kindergarten this year, I am happy to say that Robby is growing and thriving at school.  He is learning that he is not "running the show", that he can be brave during new situations, that he can use his "brave writing" during journal time, and that even when he has a hard day he can start over the next day and make it a great day.

I sure love this little {big} boy of mine.  He makes me worry, cry, laugh, sing, be silly, and smile.  He brings me so much joy.  He is so tender and loving with others.  He is not afraid to hug and kiss me in front of friends.  He is compassionate and is the first one to tell me he loves me when I need it the most.  My heart is bursting with love for my oldest son.  I couldn't imagine my life without him.   

Robby and Anja

Robby with his buddy J

Apple picking at Riverview Farm: Robby was pretty proud of his huge apple he picked. He was so excited that he saved the apple and brought it home to me.

Making paper Corn on the Cobs for "Fall Festival", ie Halloween

Thanksgiving turkeys....pretty creative if you ask me

Robby and Maddie's class performing at Morning Sing right before Christmas.  I was a total slacker and didn't go.  This picture is courtesy of a good friend.

{M is the shorty on the top, middle row wearing a short-sleeved green shirt, R is front and center wearing a maroon long sleeved shirt}

I am waiting to get the actual digital copy of this one.....but this is Robby and I on the day they celebrated his birthday.  We had a blast bringing blueberry muffins and getting to read "Zoomer", one of my boys faves at home "because it's so funny" per Mr R.

The kindergarten puppet shows are a riot!  These little kiddos have the funniest things to say.

FINALLY working on penmanship.  We {I} have waiting all year long to see academics pushed in kindergarten.  I am very pleased to hear they are finally working on reading, writing, and mathematics.  They have just started working on sight words as well (even though Robby is still way ahead of them).  I love seeing his handwriting slowly develop, I love seeing him begin to master books.  I cannot wait for the future with this kid.

This was such a cute idea that their classroom did.  In honor of the 100th day of school, they worked on performing 100 acts of kindness by V-day.  Robby came home with a stack of kindness hearts that listed all the cute things he did for others around him.



Winter Carnival "Ice Skating"

Every year for Tuck's Winter Carnival they have this fabulous ice skating party on Occom Pond. We have always elected not to attend the actual Winter Carnival festivities beyond this party because it is expensive, full of alcohol, we have three children, etc.  We were excited to once again attend the skating party on Friday after school with the blue skies and warmer temperatures.  Too bad it was a little too warm.  So warm, that it was no longer an ice skating sort of day.  Instead everyone ditched their skates and ran around on the slushy ice to play hockey.  Maddie was not deterred.  She still put on her white ice skates and proudly walk-skated around the ice.  The boys elected to play in the igloo and by the ice sculptures.  

Acts of Kindness

Seriously the cutest idea EVER that tied in Valentines Day with the 100th day of school for Kindergarten.  

In Robby's class they set a goal to perform 100 acts of kindness by the 100th day of school, which was right around V-day.  I loved hearing about it, and then I loved having him come home with a stack of hearts showing the nice things he did in his classroom.  I think that next year I may have to come up with something similar at home.

Here is what is written on each of those hearts:

*Made Mom happy by helping with the chores: Feb 7

*Helped clean up after Chinese New Year celebration: Feb 14

*Shared Mr. Wynkoop's lap with Jennifer: Feb 11

*Vacuumed at home even those it was sister Maddie's job: Feb 13

*Helped by pushing in chairs (at school): Feb 5

*Helped Mommy and Daddy shovel: Feb 11

This slightly deranged looking heart was Robby's art project showing his family.  In case you cannot tell; Eli, Maddie and Robby are in the center of the heart.  Below them are two smaller figures: Mom and Dad.  What are we doing?  Why mopping and vacuuming per Robby :)

Ice Skating in PE

One of the huge advantages to living in cold weather and a small community is the quirky extra amenities offered for the kids.  One of those is the infamous "Friday Morning Sing", but another equally entertaining feature at Mt Lebanon Elementary School is their PE unit of "ice skating".  

Every winter the PE teacher builds a ice skating rink with a plastic liner, boards, lots of water, and a wire fence around the area.  Normally this is built sometime in December.  By January it is completely frozen and ready for the children to enjoy.  They take turns wearing the protective gear and skates each week and on average get to skate 1-2 times a week.  

On Valentines Day I happened to stop by the school at the exact time that Robby's class was out on the ice. It was hilarious to watch a whole group of 5/6 year olds skating around.  Some were quite good and had obviously taken lessons before and there were others who could barely move without falling. Robby fell somewhere in the middle of those two groups.

The best part of all was the big grin I spotted on Robby's face.  He was having the time of his life and then his whole face just lit up when he saw me.  I snapped a few pictures {including one just as he fell down}, waved goodbye and headed back home.

(Never mind the ratty old mittens he is wearing....he has basically lost the match to every pair of gloves he owns, except for his heavy duty ski ones. I refuse to buy more and thus he either doesn't go to school with mittens or wears mismatched gloves.  These nasty ones in the photo are an extra pair he borrowed from the school)

Number SIX: Robby through the Years

I got kind of teary as I looked back through pictures of the last six years of my oldest son's life.  So far, I have experienced the hardest, most emotional, best, most hilarious, tearful, exhilarating, rewarding experiences of my own life during this time.  I have grown as a Mother in ways I could have never imagined. Robby has taught me how to unconditionally love another human being and we have become closer than I ever thought we would be.  He is the first to give me a hug when he sees me and the last to request kisses at bedtime.  I love how at the bus stop he will miss his turn at being first if I am not standing right there to hug and kiss him goodbye.  He is always excited to see me and continually reminds how much he loves me.  He may not have the easiest time in social situations but to me he is number one in love.  He is sometimes not pleased about following certain rules but he is never sassy.

At six years old, some of his favorites are monster trucks, legos, hot wheels, electronic games on the kindle, Disney Junior on the computer, basketball, skiing, pretending, reading Magic Treehouse books with Mom, and treats at bedtime.  He is great at cleaning his room, making his bed, dressing himself in Sunday clothes, vacuuming, and washing dishes.  He hates cleaning the bathrooms!

Robby's favorite color is red (again), he is starting to read small books and getting so good at it.  He probably has over 100 sight words down----we have kind of let those take a back seat and have been focusing more on reading books, he still needs to work on his penmanship but that will be something to work on this Spring.  He is very good at math.  He is already starting to do subtraction at home and has gotten very good at addition.  He loves to count and could probably go up to 300 or so if I let him.

He has been taking basketball lessons on Saturday mornings and ski lessons Wednesday after school.  I am so proud of how hard he has been working at listening.  He gets a little distracted sometimes at basketball with all the children running around, but can now dribble a ball one handed with each hand.  He is learning how to pass and make a shot!  He can't wait until next year when he can join a team and play in actual games.  With skiing, he has now been down a lift several times and gets so excited about doing things like this.  He has gotten much more proficient at snow plowing and turning.  We are all excited for Winter break in a few weeks when we can practice a bit more as a family.

February 3, 2007: His Birthday!

September 2007: 7 months old

February 3, 2008: 1 years old

June 2007: 16 months old

February 3, 2009: 2 years old

Summer 2009: 2.5 years old

March 2010: 3 years old

Summer 2010: 3.5 years old

Early Spring 2011: 4 years old

Summer 2011: 4.5 years old

February 2012: 5 years old

October 2012: 5.5 years old

February 3, 2013: 6 years old

Happy birthday Bubba!  We love you so much and are so glad that Heavenly Father chose to send you to our family.  You have such a special place in our family and we love how hard you are working at choosing the right.  We love how you like to wear your CTR ring to remind you to "choose the right"

Robert's nicknames thus far:

Rubba

Rubba Dubba

Rubba (s)

Rob

Robby-most popular

Bubba (s)

Brother

Bro

Little Buddy

Bubba Louie

Sunday

This is what a Sunday afternoon looks like at our house now.

We are loving 9 am church

Family Pictures

This post is WAY overdue. My good friend in our neighborhood, Jen, took these fantastic family pictures for us at Joe's Farm Grill back in JUNE. They turned out so cute, despite both my kids inability to hold still for one second. Jen was game to chase them around and have the camera out to catch the moment when they would decide to cooperate. I just fell in love with so many pictures and had a difficult time narrowing down. Robby at 18 months old (roughly)
Madison at 2 years old (almost three)