Almost

Since Memorial Day Keith has been quizzing me each day about his status.  "Am I a first grader now?"  We are now one step closer to his dream of being in the first grade!  Today was his Kindergarten performance and I didn't cry! 

That's because I cried when he brought this home last week.  He volunteered for a (small) solo part in the performance.  "I don't know but I've been told!"

I wasn't sure why it was emotional for me (still is) until I finally realized what it meant, this kid who used to ask his brother to speak on his behalf volunteered to talk in front of everyone!  I am so proud of him.  His confidence isn't always the best so it is awesome to see him volunteer and perform. 

Also, he is just a really great kid.  Today was our annual meeting for his Individual Education Plan for Speech and he has just come so far.  It is easy to loss sight of the growth when you are entrenched in the dailiness of life.

He has worked really hard this year on speech and in school so it is great to see his team give him praise.  His speech teacher thinks that he might be done after next year. 

I am so proud of him and his hard work.  And I love the fact that he is a true original (he has a drum and he can hear the beat).

 His memory book.  We are so blessed to have an amazing Kinder Team!  One more Callahan kid to go!  And she is READY.

He's going to miss his BFF Cameron this summer.

To Keith on your Sixth Birthday

Dear Keithy,

I am almost certain that every year I reflect on how enthusiastic you are about life.  I continue to be amazed by the way you light up the world. The minute you came into this world everything changed.  Even as a newborn baby, you were a beautiful being.  Your soul radiates through your smile and your eyes.  You are an incredibly handsome and charming boy.

This year has been an amazing year for you in so many ways.  When anyone comments on your growth and size you always attribute it to your time in Iowa last summer.  And boy that is the truth.  You are my rock, my brick.....  And you are learning to read.  Like a tidal wave you are suddenly there reading, writing, adding, and drawing.  Doing all of the things that seemed so far away last year.  You are a very smart little boy.

You love to love and you love to be loved.  Even on the roughest and toughest days when you and I never see eye-to-eye, after it is all said and done you whisper that you love me.  And I of course tell you I love you.  Because I do, no matter how frustrating and defiant you are, I love you with my entire being.

We've been talking a lot about 6.  You've been excited for your birthday for months. Perhaps it was that excitement that lead you to lose everything from your room and the privilege of having a birthday party.  You are exuberant and stubborn,  you know your way is right and you want to win.  I appreciate that quality in you but it makes parenting tough.  The amazing thing is that for all of our struggles, you have worked really hard to improve and do better.  You are ruled by your emotions (happy, sad, mad, whatever) and you are finally figuring out how to best express them.  YAY Keith!  I am so proud of you because you have come so far.

I've realized something about you this year.  No, I've finally owned something about you.  It's my much professed lament that you are so much like your daddy.  You look like him, you eat like him, you sleep like him, you joke like him, you obsess like him, you pout like him, you even memorize movie lines like him, you are just like him.    You are my little Kevin.  I finally realize what that means for me and I hope it will make me a better parent.  I will be your safe and happy place for as long as you ever want.

I love you Keith Fox.  Happy Birthday!  I know that this year will bring more amazing things your way. 

Love,
Mama Lou

The rhythm of relationships

Keith and I have had a rough few weeks.  I'm struggling, he's struggling and yesterday it all blew up.   This morning as he quizzed me about what he could touch (i.e. play with and the answer was pretty much NOTHING), I realized that this is our tail end.  Suddenly we are closer to the end of kindergarten.  Our morning struggles and afternoon battles and lunchtime war of the wills are all going to come to an end.  The rhythm of our relationship is going to change.  I am relieved and scared to death.  I fear that I haven't done enough and I'm just not ready.  But I know he needs to be in school all day.  It is a structured place where he really does thrive.  I'm his crutch and his safe place.  He pushes and I pull.  We butt heads and we love each other.  That's the rhythm of our relationship. 

These two have their own rhythm.  Where he goes she goes.  He dotes on her, she squawks at him.  And they argue like this at least once every hour:
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: YES
Lauren: yes (jedi mind trick)

 Mommy sigh.

Keith's Laugh

I am so thankful for people who remind me how awesome my kid is and what a wonderfully intoxicating laugh he has.  He laughs and you can't help but smile and laugh too.  I've been in the classroom and seen a room full of kids fall out because Keith started laughing.  He's not laughing in this picture, he's totally pouting.  He's pouting in the way that only he can pout.

Mom, you made me the middle child because you love me the most?

I agreed before I really understood his question.  Keith, our middle child.... sigh.  He needs to be loved in a whole different way.  I'm not always good at it.  I'm tired and can't field another question or listen to another argument.  I beg for quiet and get a tidal wave of noise in return.

Mom, there are cross-country kids. They go across the whole country and back.

And I create my own noise.  I ask him to make his bed three times and the fourth request is a (loud) command and he still doesn't do it.  I give him complicated instructions and wonder why he doesn't complete a task.  My voice is white noise. My voice is mostly ignored for his flights of fancy.

Mom, I was laying in bed, did you hear me talking to myself.  I made a really good "ch" sound CH-CH-CH-CH-CH

People wonder how he is doing in school and I totally get what they are really saying.  There were moments this summer when  we wondered how Keith would possibly survive Kindergarten.  He's surviving, he's thriving.  He holds on for 3 and a half hours and reserves his worst for me.  But I get his best too.  I'm his soft place to land, his respite after a long day, his scratching post, his book buddy, his mom.  We unwind and laugh and dance and sing.  I slow down and stare into the eyes of the baby boy in the pictures on my wall.  Yesterday I was ready to give him away, today I will keep him.  He is a part of me, the laughter of my heart and for that I am thankful.

Homework Confessions

Welcome to the fourth week of school.  For my third grader (who was brought to tears on a regular basis by second grade homework), it is a breeze.  Time consuming (30 minutes plus math facts plus reading), but he hearts his binder and works independently 98% of the time. 

For my Kindergartener, the 10 (pshaw) minutes of homework is like nothing that can be described in the English language.  I've worked in his class so I know he isn't at the bottom but somewhere in the middle lurks my boy.  He knows all of his phonics, recognizes letters and numbers, and can add simple numbers.  His motors skills are ATROCIOUS (he can't hold a pencil, he can't cut with scissors, he can't write his name....the kindergarten way).   I know that he's a boy and these skills will come and all that but it is still crazy intense.  And I know that I am a crazy intense mom.  His 10 minutes (again PSHAW!) of homework this week: Writing the numbers 1-2-3 five times, Writing the sight words (is-I-See) five times, Naming the five senses, Reviewing the three letters he wasn't able to identify or create the correct sound for, Writing his name the kindergarten way (because he writes in ALL CAPS).  Last week it was about the same.  AND. IT. WAS. PAINFUL. 

Here's the thing, I push my kids pretty hard and turn 10 minutes of homework into 40 minutes of homework BUT by the end of last week Keith was writing his name correctly.  HUGE.  I was just about ready to give up and back off and find another hobby.  And then he conquered it.   He really is a rockstar (with a healthy pre-paid therapy account, thanks to me).  He even got the Character Counts award for responsibility and a lollipop to go along with it because candy also counts.

And then there is LoLos.  Most days she is content to park herself at (or on) the table with her brother and scribble in her notebook.  Some days, she is in need of the newly minted time-out (lauren style).

In my world there isn't anything that is harder than watching my children struggle.  I want it to be easy!  It isn't.  It is easy for Patrick right now but I know that I will have my own (count to ten and breathe) moments with him.  I hate that I can't just feed them the knowledge, skills, and everything they need like I feed them dinner.  But the struggle makes their success so much sweeter.  Keith's development in four short weeks has been AMAZING.  Patrick's level of focus and responsibility has improved so much.  I am lucky to have these kids and I hope that I am doing enough things right to make up for my mistakes.

Kindergarten Readiness and Final Jeopardy

Why the heck do I have a blog if I can't brag about my kids?!?!

First of all, Patrick got Final Jeopardy this week.  Not on the celebrity show.  Not the college show.  Not the kids show.  For real Final Jeopardy that only 1 of 3 contestants got correct...  See if you know the answer/ question (It's at the end of this post)

A 2005 study reported that this animal named for an island has, pound-for-pound, the most powerful bite of any mammal

Second, Keith is very aware of numbers.  We play a complicated game of Slug Bug (without the violence) that includes double points, minus points, and restarts.  He keeps a running score all day.  The other day he was sitting at the counter randomly counting.  I wasn't paying attention to the numbers but he seemed to be repeating numbers.  Eventually, he declared, "Someone doesn't know how to count!"  I thought he was talking about one of his friends.  Turns out he was reading the numbers on the coffee maker 2-4-6-8-10-12 I get the biggest kick out of this kid.  I am so very excited that he is starting Kindergarten in 11 weeks.  I will miss him but I am happy for him because he is so incredibly excited about it.

And Lauren!  Well she is studying for the SATs and making her way through Tolstoy (audio of course, she can't read).  She says "Mama," for everything but seems to know how to run a household.  And next week she wants to start violin lessons. 

So, how much did you win in Final Jeopardy?  I didn't......



Tasmanian Devil

Adventures in Fondant

When Keith decided that he wanted a Ninjago party, I was planning on making it really simple and easy.  And then I started planning and Keith had his input and the next thing you know.... I'm. Making. Fondant.

My original plan was to order a sheet cake from Von's and putting the Lego Ninjagos on top.  Add candles and fire and VIOLA!  Keith requested a Mom-made cake instead.  So down the path we went and here is the finished product.

As it turns out, marshmallow fondant is really easy to make.  And you can make it in advance.  I made a three layer chocolate cake (from scratch) and chocolate frosting.  Covered it with fondant and you have a Ninjago.  Jay the Blue Ninjago.  Keith's former favorite Ninjago, prior to the information that Jay likes the girl Ninjago Nya.  At which time Keith ditched Jay for Cole (the black ninjago).  He was still happy with his cake, wrong Ninjago and everything.
For my first adventure in fondant I thought it turned out pretty well. 
 
While I was making a cake I decided to go ahead and make some Lego topped cupcakes.  You can buy a mold but I did them by hand.  I used a cookie cutter to shape the squares and rectangles and made the tiny circles with my icing tip. Labor intensive but appealing.

 I also made Rice Krispie Sushi for the goodie bags.  Cute and easy.

 Here's our set-up.

 Patrick made the pictures of the Ninjagos for his brother.  I printed 5x7 at Costco.

 A super happy boy!

Keith, My Five Year Old Wonder

Dear Keith,
Mama is a bit late with your birthday post, but she is kind of glad that she is.  Today, a mere four days after your 5th birthday, you learned how to ride your bike without training wheels.  You had your doubts, you had your complaints, but you couldn't fight your will and ability.  I may have had to force you a bit, bribing you with lemonade and high fives but you did it.  That's the thing about you my son, you are always surprising. 

You drift through your day asking a million questions and telling me the same thing a million times.  That's why I love you, you have a passion for life.  You are excited to live 99% of the time and (much to our chagrin at times) you live loud! 

As we spend our last months together before Kindergarten I pray that it isn't rushed.  I pray that I get a chance to enjoy you during this time.  You know why?  Because Mom might tell you that you are a big boy but you are still my baby.  Until further notice, one of my top five favorite things to do is still cuddling with you on the couch. 

I love you my Keithy.  Happy Birthday.
Love,
Mama Lou

Keith and his 5 year old hair cut

High expectations

Keith's birthday is a frequent topic around our house.  He asks if it is his birthday at least once every day.  He also let's everyone who we meet know that he is turning 5 soon (and he's going to kindergarten).

This morning we had this birthday related conversation:
Keith: Mom, can Justin Beiber come to my birthday party?
Me: Sure, we can invite him.  I don't know if he will be able to make it though.
Keith: Why not?
Me: Well, he's probably a pretty busy guy.  I don't know how we would get him there.
Keith: Well, how did you get Darth Vader to my other party?.......
Me: That was an extra special thing.
Keith: Did he come on his ship?

My advice for parents: cupcakes and a pinata.

My Keithy

Here's your moment of KFC for today.

There will be a time when Keith doesn't dress like Tom Cruise on Top Gun or wear his new motorcycle pants for four days straight (including church).  Right now I can't imagine that day.  My best guess is that he will in fact become a police officer (probably a motorcycle cop because he wants those boots) and dress up every day.

The other day we were going to take our taxes to the accountant and he was asking me about taxes.  I explained that any time we make money we have to give some of it to the government.  "Pffft. That's no good."

Keith: Mom, why do you and Dad get the Masterpiece Bedroom?
Me: Because we pay for the house.  When you move out, get a job and buy your own house you can have the Master Bedroom in your house.
Keith: I'm going to have bunkbeds in my Masterpiece Bedroom.
Me: How do you think your wife will feel about that.
Keith: Fine.  I'm getting the top bunk though because I bought the house.

Love him!

Funny things my kids do

 The transition back to school was a little rough on the boys.   After two weeks of playing together hour after hour, four days of separation was hard.  When they did have a few minutes together they alternated between enemies and BFFs.  Case in point, a few minutes to play before homework time and they start constructing Legos.... on the same chair, even though we have six, they share a chair. 

 Lauren rarely gets juice and if she does it's prune juice (no further explanation needed.).  This morning the baby also needs her prune juice.

All three kids are currently having a wild rumpus in Patrick's room.  At some point I need to break it up and get the day going.  For now I'm laughing at their interactions and happy that they all love being in the same place at the same time.

Keith: Halloween 2011 

Last night Keith and I were snuggling on the coach playing his Leapster and I had a realization, he FINALLY knows his letters!  He's on the tip of the reading iceberg!  He's identifying letters more and more.  Unlike Patrick, he can also memorize books.  His most recent book is Go, Dog, Go.  "Do you like my hat?" 

267 Days and 22 Hours until Kindergarten!

Yoga Pants

I swear my kids don't watch that much tv but it seems that the commercials stick with them.  In Keith's case he blends two commercials....

He then proceeds to tell me the following (in Keith volume *which is loud* in the middle of JoAnns on a Saturday): MOM, YOU NEED YOGA PANTS.  CUZ THEY DON'T RIDE UP!  YOU NEED THEM MOM, I THINK THEY DON'T RIDE UP.  (SINGING) THEY DON'T RIDE UP, THEY DON'T RIDE UP!  YOGA YOGA YOGA.  THEY DON'T RIDE UP!
YOU REALLY SHOULD GET THOSE YOGA PANTS THAT DON'T RIDE UP....... MOM, WHAT ARE YOGA PANTS?

Today we went to the library

It was Keith's first trip.  I have a vague memory of taking Keith and Patrick a few years ago.... it wasn't fun.

This morning when I announced that today was (finally) library day, Patrick was excited.  Keith? Not so much.

In the car ride there Keith made up a song about not wanting to go to the library.  It was a catchy tune.  The chorus was "let's just go home, let's just go home."

Once we got there he started to warm up to the idea of picking out his own books.  And then he found not one but TWO Star Wars books.  How does he do that? 

Things got a bit dicey when I wanted to look for books for myself.  There was quite a bit of loud SHUSHing.  I shushed Keith once and he proceeded to shush himself, his sister, and pretty much any other noise.  Do you still have to be quiet in the library?  Because we weren't.  Then he announced that he had to go to the bathroom... AGAIN.

Then it was time for the best part of the trip: Keith got his very own library card! 

"Keith, do you want to go back to the library?"
"YEAH!......no."

Keith's Star Wars Party

Keith has been talking about having a Star Wars party for a long long time.  We finally got to make his dream come true.

In the past we have always hosted our "friend parties" at an all-inclusive party location such as Pump it Up.  For Keith's 4th birthday I just wasn't feeling it.  There are lots of great party locations in town, but he wanted a Star Wars party... so that's what he got.  At our house. For the very first time.  I was feeling very brave, Kevin humored me and did most of the heavy lifting.

There are lots and lots of great ideas for Jedi Parties.  Tip Junkie has some great ideas and printables.  Make and Takes had Jedi robes for each party guest!  And Vesna named her son Aniken so of course she had a fab party for him featured on My Little Jedi.

So, first things first.... The invites.  Keith loves the invite I ordered for him.  I'm not sure why people don't send pretty little invitations anymore.  These were super fun and totally affordable.  I ordered them from an ebay shop called Makaty Designs and you can print them yourself.  She printed them for me, included the envelopes and got them delivered quickly.  When Patrick had his Star Wars party I made some pretty cute invites but I just didn't have time for that this time.

 The final determining factor to have the party at home was finding A Wish Your Heart Makes because what is a Star Wars party without Jedi Training?  The company provides characters for an hour and a half.  The Jedi Training package includes light saber training, music and games, face painting and an appearance by Darth Vader.  If you have ever seen the Jedi Training at Disneyland it is a lot like that.  Super fun and cool.  The other two actors are Princess Leia and a Jedi Master.  They really have fun with the kids and are in character the entire time.  Keith had no idea they were coming to his party so he was very surprised.

 

After a bit of training.....

Lord Vader showed up.

Keith used the force.

And summoned the courage to fight him.

And pose for a picture.

So that was the entertainment.... The food and the decor:
The whole theme was a light vs. dark theme.  Green and blue for the Jedi kids and black with red for the Dark Side.

The kids had Jedi Dogs, Chewbacca Cheetos, Yoda Ears (edamame) and Fruit Sabers (that were the last thing on my list and were put in a bowl instead).

 This is the Dark Side.  The adults had Dark Side Dogs, Light vs. Dark Salsa, Vader Sabers (red vines), Sarlacc Dip (red pepper hummus), and Sith Strawberry and Spinach Salad. 

The cake was the best cake we have ever had.  Donut cake!!!!  Keith isn't a big cake or ice cream kid but he loves candy, marshmallows and donuts.  So I "made" him a donut cake.  Again the Jedi and Dark Side theme.  I wanted the Dark Side donuts to be chocolate but their was a bit of a language barrier and he was a little befuddled that I was asking about red sprinkles.  I made the stars and his name on the Silhouette.  The C3-P0 was from our Easter Decorating set.  Best cake.




The tables were decorated with Star Wars toys from our personal stash.  The kids were welcome to play with them.

Each guest received their very own light saber.  I found a couple of websites that carry decent light sabers. 

I also wanted to give them a little something more (because I'm crazy like that).  So I made Hoth Pops.  If you haven't heard of them that's because I made it up.  They were large marshmallows dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with sugar crystals.  Because Hoth is the icy planet. 

 I had so much fun planning the party for Keith.  He was lucky enough to receive some really nice presents from his friends.  Lucky boy. 

I wish I had got Lauren a little Star Wars onesie.  I found one in my endless searching for ideas that said: "This is not the baby you are looking for." 

Oh and one more thing.  You saw the Darth Vader picture for the Dark Side Buffet.  That was a photo my father in law took in Disneyland.  Cheap and easy... Costco.  And I like decorations that come from our existing belongings or can be reused.   Keith and I also found this poster
and it is his new obsession!  He loves it.