Friday, September 26, 2014

Check Us Out!!

 
Almost three years after this kindergarten teacher taught her class a very "common core" math lesson, we are still making an impression (even if it is a little one)!
The How To Be a Dad blog shared our pregnancy announcement on his blog. Sooo fun!
Looking back at this blog post makes me a bit weepy. It's hard to believe Hendircks is already two and a half, and I will never be pregnant again (insert tears)!





 

Monday, September 22, 2014

Go Team Go!

 
 



 
 

Lilly decided she was through with dance classes after her last recital.  With a sigh and a silent good bye to that little girl who was so excited to be a vallerina, I signed her up for soccer at her request. Summer soccer camp was not all it was cracked up to be. BOYS were there! One in particular decided to kick his ball at the back of her calves daily and splash water on her. It was hot and there was a lot of running involved. When we told Lilly she would be starting on a soccer team in the fall, she was mad... really mad.
I never thought of myself as a pushy parent who needs to have her children be well rounded with athletic teams, piano lessons, music or drawing classes. I figured they would love something and that's what they would do. Problem solved.
I was not prepared for her to give up before she really started. We told her, she made a commitment to her new team (and her parents couldn't get their money back) and had to uphold that commitment until the season was over. At that time, if she still hated soccer, she wouldn't have to sign up for another season.
Lilly being Lilly, kept a record in her journal of days she liked soccer and days she hated it. She complained for the first few practices and even cheered a resounding, "YES!" with a fist pump when her coach put someone else in for her at her first game. She has been hit in the face with the ball, lost every game so far, and been kicked in the shins, but after what has seemed like a small miracle, she has more tallies under the like side of her soccer record sheet! Whew. We are so glad we had her stick to it. It has been a great lesson for our self taught reader at age four to realize that not everything comes easily, and sometimes we still have things to learn.


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Frozen Sing-a-Long










 






We took the kids to the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles last weekend. It was so much fun! Elsa came out on stage, it snowed bubbles, and we all sang along loudly. I got a bit weepy a few times. These moments make me realize just how precious time is. Since the kids were so well-behaved, and we never get downtown, Dan and I decided to visit the Grove after walking over to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. We ate lunch at the old Farmer's Market LA and the girls and I wanted to show Daddy just how magical the American Girl store is. I don't think he (or Henry) were very enchanted, but at least he got to see what all of the fuss is about. The girls showed him some things they want him to make for their dolls. On the way out, we picked up some famous Sprinkles cupcakes to enjoy after dinner that night. The day was a bit too much for the two littles, who passed out before we even got on the freeway. I call that a successful trip!