kilt klassic and fun run

Yesterday we participated in the 5K run and Fun Run in Caledonia. My nephew Taylor and I ran the 5K run. Taylor ran the race in just over 21 minutes, finishing first in his age division and won a gold medal. I finished in 25:03 and took second in my age division, bringing home a silver medal!










Koby also participated in the running festivities by doing the Fun Run for the very first time. He ran the 75m, 100m, and 200m sprints, taking first place in ALL THREE races!








He was whipped after those events, but we encouraged him to try the mile run (despite the fact that he has never just ran a mile). Taylor offered to run it with Koby, despite having just finished his 5K run, to help him pace himself and to encourage him along the way. Koby got a side cramp into the second of four laps, but pushed through it and finished his first mile run! We were so proud of him!

last day of first grade

Today is Koby's last day of first grade. Wow! This has been such an amazing year. He was blessed with a wonderful teacher, Mrs. VanderLaan, and had a great group of classmates.

I really think that first grade is a year of tremendous growth. Koby has become an excellent reader, not only decoding the words on the page, but reading with fluency and expression, which is not always an easy thing at this age. He became a very good speller, acing almost every pretest and being allowed to choose bonus words each week as a result. Math is a favorite. It's natural, it's easy and it's fun for him. Not many kiddos can say that! Art and Gym were also amongst his favorites this year (and the numerous cardboard creations under his bed can attest to that!) He made new friends and hung on to some old ones as well. He is a leader among peers. He is kind and compassionate and a hard worker. He is determined. He makes us proud!




August 11, 2009 - first day of first grade




June 15, 2010 - last day of first grade

field day

Koby's class managed to get in a few field day events before the rain this morning. Here are some pics from the day.

a simple question. a simple answer.

Dinner time is always an interesting time. Between reviewing the basics each night:
1. fold you hands to pray and don't start eating until we pray
2. use a napkin, not your shirt
3. sit at the table until we have all finished eating

to listening to our seven year old explain why each and every day manages to become "the worst day of my life", our dinners are never dull.

Tonight was no exception. As I sat back and listened to why today was, yet again, "the worst day of my life", or as I watched my napkin being absconded from my lap because Koby had already thrown his away and needed a new one (apparently going to get a new one for himself would have been asking WAY too much!), or listening to Ky complain of a belly ache and his inability to eat his dinner (until Dad excused him with the understanding that no dinner means no snack. Upon which Ky quickly returned to slurp down his noodles), I thought to myself, if I were being given grade on my parenting skills based this, I would definitely fail!

Yet it is in our darkest moments that we are often given a glimmer of hope. A moment. A moment that can make all the crud just disappear. Tonight was one of those moments. It began with a simple question and ended with a simple answer.

As we read through the devotional at the table, it prompted me to ask the boys, "Who sees and hears everything we say and do?" To which Ky responded without a moments hesitation, "Jesus and Obama!"

I love my kids! Moments like this help me to forget all that other stuff and just laugh!

so long chipmunks!

Today was Ky's last day as a Chipmunk, last day of 3-year old preschool, and last day at KCDC.



first day of Preschool 9.8.09



last day of Preschool 6.2.10

He has grown a lot this year. He can write many of his ABC's, count to 100, and add and subtract basic facts. He loves to sing and loves to build. He loved being asked to be a helper at school so he could make a special stop by Aunt Shel's classroom for a quick "hello" or to try and get some candy from her. He made some new friends, went of some special field trips, and for the most part, enjoyed his time at school. He is looking forward to starting a new Preschool next year, but for now is excited to just have a little time off.



Samuel, Kyle and Ky

2 wheeling

He did it. He has been asking for about a week now to have his training wheels taken off. I tried to buy time, "remind me when dad gets home and we will ask him to take them off." He'd forget. The next day he would ask again. "Remind me when dad gets home and we will ask him to take them off."

The squeaky wheel gets the oil, and today, Ky got his training wheels taken off.

Kev took Ky outside and they practiced a few times in the grass, for safety purposes, and after about 10-15 minutes the boy was ready to ride!









As I type, Kev and Ky are on his first official two-wheeling bike ride down the street. I don't hear any cries for help, so at this point I am assuming the ride is going well. Hopefully my next post will not be titled "hospital"!




I think I am safe.

four

Ky celebrated his fourth birthday a few weeks ago and today went to the doctor for his 4 year well child appointment. I was so excited to find out his "stats" today, as the child has been growing like a weed and is currently wearing clothes that Koby wore in Kindergarten! People are often surprised when they ask him his age because he looks so much older than he really is.

With that being said, here are his four year old stats:

height: 45 1/4 inches...he is greater, greater than the 95 percentile
(koby was 42 inches at 4, he was 45 in. at age 5!)

weight: 45.2 lbs....he is greater than the 95 percentile
(koby was 37.4 lbs at age 4)

vision: 20/20 (left eye) 20/30 (right eye)


Dr. Rauwerda predicted that based on today's stats Ky could reach a height of 6'4". When kids are between 2-3 they try to estimate their adult height by a mathematical equation that is based on the height of the child's mom and dad. That estimation a few years ago was 6'3" and Dr. said it could vary by 2 inches. Therefore, we think Ky could end up in the 6'1" to 6'5" range. Wow!

Like Big Papa Chicago said, "I knew on the day Ky was born that this kid was going to be big just by looking at the size of his feet!"

Ky also received a whopping 5 shots today! We did not know there would be shots today, but once he heard the news, he was very brave. They administered two at a time and he did well with the first set (saying ouch, ouch, ouch) with the second set came a longer and louder ouch followed by the tears. The final shot was all tears. The nurse gave him a couple of band aids and a yo-yo for his bravery. That seemed to ease the pain a bit.

Right now he is napping, and growing!