Sports Skills

Last Thrusday, I took Alex to a sports skills class at The Little Gym. The class focuses on several different sports...soccer, football, basketball, baseball & golf i think... each one for a couple of weeks in a row. And it also incorporates some gymnastic activities in the last 30 minutes of the class.

Alex was super excited to go. We got to The Little Gym & he high fived the instructor & took his socks & shoes off. We were waiting for the class before his to finish up & he kept asking "Can I go in now? Can I go in now?" And then when it was time, he went in with the instructor & was ready to play.

And then another little boy showed up. And another. And another.

I was sitting in the observation/waiting room & to me, he looked like he was still doing great. But then the teacher told the boys to all go sit by the wall so she could show them a few soccer kicks. The 3 other boys ran over to the wall but Alex didn't move. He just sat there.

The teacher started talking to him & then he stood up. I wasn't exactly sure what was going on. I thought maybe she was going to have him kick the ball. Until I saw the look on his face. He was holding back the tears.

I opened the door to check on him & the instructor walked him over to me. She said he was so upset that he was literally shaking & as soon as he was in my arms, he broke down & cried.

He said he didn't want to go back in to the class. So I carried him into the room & he sat in my lap against the wall.

As the other boys were kicking soccer balls, one of them rolled over near us. So I grabbed it & let Alex play with it. I got him to kick it & dribble it, but he would only do it right in front of me. He wouldn't get back on the mat.
 

 

The class does 30 minutes of group activities on the big mat & then 30 minutes of 'stations.' The boys went to the first station & Alex was very interested in watching what they were doing, but still didn't want to participate just yet.

 

When they went to the second station, we had to move closer to the boys to be able to see what they were doing. Nicki, the instructor, asked Alex if he wanted to kick his soccer ball to her. He told her "No" but that he would kick it to me.

 

And so at this point, Alex began to participate.

 

He worked on kicking the ball to me & stopping the ball with his foot when I kicked it to him.

 

 

 He crawled on the obstacle course.

 

He did some sommersaults (with assistance.)

 

He hung from the bar.

 

He walked on the balance beam.

 

And he hung on the uneven bars. (The instructor had to raise the bar for him since he's so tall.)

 

He ended up participating for about the last 20 minutes of the class. And during that time, he had a lot of fun. Even though he was "too nervous" (his words) this time, I definitely plan on bringing him back. I think it'll be good for him to be around other little boys his age & to have a little bit of time away from mommy & to find out which sport he likes the best. I think it'll probably take a couple of classes (hopefully not all 40) before he is completely okay with going, but he's already saying he wants to go back. We didn't go this week since he was sick, but you better bet he'll be there next week!

 

 

Insta Friday

It's Friday again & this week I'm actually posting this on time! What!!! (I'm sure it's only because I have 2 sick kids that are both napping right now. So don't expect it to happen again, lol.)

 

Here is what has been going on in our home this week...

 

The kids played a lot of dress up...

Addy was a nurse. She's wearing a nurse hat & has a basket of rags, soap & band aids. Everything a nurse would need!

 

She also pretended to be a puppy. She put on puppy paw mittens, winter boots for furry legs & then made herself bowls of food & water.

 

And I'm not sure what this outfit is supposed to be, but it's definitely awesome!!!

 

Alex & I took a trip to Hobby Lobby to get a few supplies to make this.

 

And while we were there, we browsed the Christmas aisles. Aren't these stockings adorable!

 

Alex & I were playing hide-n-seek. It was his turn to hide. He found a great spot inside my shirt, lol!

 

The school nurse called me Thursday & said that Addy was running a low grade fever and complaining that her throat hurt.

 

She's still feeling bad today.

 

Alex was sick Wednesday & Thursday & then woke up today covered in hives. Literally from head to toe.

 

I finally got him to take some Benadryl. (We made a compromise. He wanted to mop the kitchen & I told him he could after he took his medicine.That's a win win for me!) It knocked him out & hopefully when he wakes up he'll look better.

 

As you can see, with 2 sick kids it's been a pretty low key week. I'm sure next week when they are feeling better we'll be back to our on the GO GO GO selves!

Insta-Friday (Ok, it's really Insta-Sunday)

I'm a day (ok 2) late on this post, but I guess it's better late than never, right!

Addy picked out her clothes on Sunday. I love her sense of style!

 

Alex has been sad that Addy is back in school. On Tuesday he cried when we dropped her off. And when we got home, he refused to get out of the car. So I rolled down the windows & let him play for a few minutes. He leaned out the window & told me "Hand over your keys Mommy, I'm going to get Addy!"

 

Someone got another haircut. And he did great this time. No crying. No refusing. Just sat in the chair & let the lady cut his hair.

 

After his haircut, we went & ate lunch at Don Julios, the new Mexican restaurant in Sienna. It was our first time to try it & it was good. Which is great news because there are not a lot of good Mexican restaurants that are close to us & you guys know I love Mexican food!!!

 

Addy was laying on the couch watching TV. Alex told her he wanted to "jump in." So Addy scooted over & Alex laid down beside her. It was so cute to see them laying together.

 

On Thursday I took Alex to the Little Gym to try out their Sports Skills class. It did NOT go great, but I'll do a separate post on that & let you know all about it.

 

 After Sports Skills, we met a friend at Pei Wei for lunch. It was Alex's first time to ever use chopsticks & he was able to pick up rice & get it in his mouth! How 'bout that form though, lol!

 

Thursday evening, Addy got some ranch dressing on her shirt. So she took it off & went & put it in the washer. And then she started the washer! I was shocked she knew how to do it! Are all kids this appliance savvy or is it just mine?

 

Addy wanted some popcorn, so Alex said he would make it for her. He got out the step stool & put the bag in the microwave. I showed him the popcorn button & he pushed it. I had to help him when it was done though, because the bag was too hot for him. What a sweet brother to make his sister a snack.

 

Check out that cool Jake & the Neverland Pirates tattoo.

 

Nick bought a bowflex & Alex loves it. He says he needs to excercise so that he can be strong & healthy. It's pretty cute to watch him, but also good to know that Nick & I are being good examples to our children.

 

On Friday, Nick went to lunch with me & Alex. Alex wanted to go back to Don Julios because they have a soft serve ice cream machine! (OK, who am I kidding, I wanted to go back too because they have yummy chicken fajitas!)

 

Friday night, we headed to Beaumont for the weekend.

Nick & I went on our monthly date. (We just squeaked it in on August 31st!) We ate dinner at Outback & debated over which movie to see. Since we couldn't come to an agreement, we decided to just go to Toys R Us & get birthday presents for Boone & Charlie. (I know, a little last minute.) And guess what, we still had a lot of fun on our date, because it's not what we do, it's that we're doing it together!

 

And you know I can't take a trip to the Golden Triangle & not eat at Carmela's! So on Saturday, Nick & I went there for lunch. An early lunch. Like we pulled in the parking lot at 10:50 & I made us wait til 11 to go in because I was embarrassed that we were there so early, lol.

 

Saturday afternoon, the kids & I went to Boone & Charlie's birthday party. Be on the look out for a separate post on this too.

 

And Saturday night, Nick, his brother & I went to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch Alabama's season opener. It was a great game & Bama won by a lot! Roll Tide!

Pearland Splash Park

Last week we went to the splashpark in Pearland for our weekly playdate.

 

 

Addy, Alex & Maddi on the seesaw. 

These 2 boys (who we do not know) were playing & Addy ran right over to them. She started talking to them & playing with them. I have no idea what she said, but I know that is major progress for her & I couldn't have been prouder! Bravo Addy, Bravo!!!

 

Addy, Alex & Carson on the playground

 

Addy & Maddi

As you can see, Addy & Alex had a great time at the splashpark. And I have to admit, I did too! It was a beautiful day & the water felt great. Now that we have found this place, we definitely plan on going back. And soon!

First Day of School

Today was the Addy's first day of her second year of Kindergarten. She was so excited to to be going back to school that she woke up at 3am!

A few pictures before school...

Lol, I told her to smile & this is what she did. What a silly girl!

 

 

Her classroom door is decorated in zoo animals. Perfect for Addy!

 

 

Sitting at her desk

 

Addy & Mrs. Jalifi...Addy was to busy coloring to look for a picture.

 

When I picked Addy up from school, Mrs. Barry (the special ed aide) said that Addy had a great day. (I'm so thankful for that because I was worried after the 3 am wakeup.) She had an awesome year last school year & I just know that this year is going to be even better!

 

As you can see, the first day back to school + a 3am wakeup = a very tired little girl who took a nap after school.

 

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Last Tuesday was Meet the Teacher night for Addy. Look what I made for her teachers...

 

a school supply cake

 

I saw this idea on Pinterest around Christmas & immediately thought it would be a great back to school teacher gift. Thankfully, I remembered to make them this year.

 

 I looked at the links on Pinterest but decided to do it my own way.

 

For the bottom tier, I took a box of tissues & covered it in a piece of school themed scrapbook paper. Then I used packing tape to secure 10 boxes of crayons around the box of tissues. I also taped a glue stick in each of the 4 corners.

 

For the middle tier, I covered a pack of baby wipes in a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper. And once again, I used packing tape to secure 2 bottles of glue to the 2 sides & a pack of markers to the front. I didn't add anything to the back.

 

For the top tier, I bought a small striped cardboard basket & filled it with an assortment of supplies such as sharpies, paper clips & stickers.

 

For the decorations, I bought a pack of bulletin board border & wrapped it around the bottom 2 tiers. And I used my cricut to cut the apple & the school bus from cardstock. 

 

I think they turned out super cute & both her teachers loved them!