Super Crime Fighter

Karson participated in WKU's Fall Super Saturdays again. Last year she did an acting class called Molding Magic with Monsters and based on the book "Where the Wild Things Are". This year I encouraged her to take a class that had to do with problem solving. She and I are completely addicted to Big Fish hidden puzzle/mystery games. She also loves Scooby Doo and whodunit types of activities. SO, when a class called Junior Crime Fighters was offered, I thought that would be right up her alley. I have to say that I wasn't as impressed this year as I was last year. Her teacher was nice but didn't seem as engaged (never smiled, wasn't friendly, simply didn't seem happy to be there) as I would've liked. I guess Karson enjoyed her time but getting her to talk about anything academic related is a nightmare.

The classes are four weeks and during the last class, the kids make a presentation. I was excited to see Karson showcase her crime fighting skills. Again, not impressed. The kids were in three different groups and acted like they didn't know what to do. Karson's group was shy and hiding under their jackets when all the parents came.

All the groups had worked on different posters of things they covered. I believe Karson did her entire poster because she was covered in green marker (as evidence suggested). Two girls in her group read quickly and sat down and Karson read the rest of the poster.

When all the groups were done presenting, the teacher said okay you can take your kids now. She never once talked about what was covered or what they had been going over the past four weeks in class. It was quite strange. I understand that not everyone is cut out to be a teacher, but Super Saturdays are pricey and I expected a little bit more. Regardless, Karson had fun and was always excited about going to class. AND, we have played the game Clue A LOT in our house the past few weeks. Who knows, I may have a future detective in my house???

Dance Central

Paul and Shannon recently purchased an Xbox 360 Kinect~very fun! I had to post this video of Karson and Elizabeth "Evacuate the Dancefloor"ing it up.

I especially love watching Elizabeth's head bob and Karson's facial expressions. I also like when Karson says, "We finally did one double diggin' right?" All the dances have different moves, and that was, hands down, a hard move. She's going to have to enroll in some Zumba classes to get hip movements like those! I know you can't see the TV but there is a period of time where you freestyle dance (when the girls start shaking their booties and going crazy) and then you get to watch yourself dancing. THEY LOVE THAT PART but go right back into form when it's time--so funny!

This is what the video should look like. I can't really tell a difference, can you? Maybe if the girls had "slinky" outfits and stiletto heels on, they could move better?

Quirks and Perks

What can I say, I'm FALLING behind on my November blogging. I did want to post a picture of our Halloween pumpkins this year. Isaac wanted an alien look and Karson wanted a traditional one. I wish the weather would have been warm like this week. The day we carved, it was about 50 degrees, windy and chilly. We lasted about 10 minutes outside and carved quickly. Isaac and Karson's pumpkins came from Jackson's Orchard. I made the mistake of buying a pie pumpkin for Miles from Wal-Mart not knowing that they are IMPOSSIBLE to hack in to. We almost broke our carving tools on it and eventually got out a butcher knife which didn't even make a dent. I'm sure a chainsaw would've worked, but we were to cold to try it. Miles didn't seem to mind and didn't even come outside for our carving time.

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I titled this post QUIRKS and PERKS to highlight some of the interesting things my kids do. I'll start with my baby Miles. QUIRKs: I believe he has eaten a PB & J everyday for the past...shoot, I can't even think that far back. He's already had one for breakfast and lunch just today. He loves them.

I met Matt at the park yesterday for lunch. He picked up some burgers for lunch, and Miles fussed because he wanted a PBJ. Really? A PBJ over a burger??? I do believe he'd had one for breakfast that morning too. Miles also LOVES hiding. He must hide in the van every single time he gets in. He hides right behind the passenger seat and peeks out. I have to say "Where's Miles, has anybody seen him?" and he pops out and says "Right here." If we play hide-n-seek in the house, he always hides under his bed covers, EVERY time. I have to pretend to look around the house everywhere. He actually thinks that's how the game is played--you pretend to look around even though you know where the person is hiding. It's so cute.

PERK: my handsome son's 3 year old preschool picture. As hard as it is, I try my best not to compare my kids because they truly are different in so many ways. Karson and Miles seem to favor each other more than they favor Isaac. Miles was born in October like Karson and is quite a bit older than his preschool friends. This tends to work to a child's advantage because they are older when they begin school and a bit more "mature". Karson picked up things so quickly. In fact, I believe she knew her entire alphabet during 3 year old preschool. Miles, on the other hand, would rather do flips on the couch or play video games than to sit down and learn something academic related. Karson simply took to it. I don't remember pushing anything on her (and Isaac was the same way--learning came/comes naturally to them). Miles is little more resistant and has LOUD opinions about the way he feels. He's a wee bit dramatic--he may be an actor??? His current loves are the Wii, DSi and iPad. I decided to take away those privileges for small bits of time for him to learn his numbers. I FORCED it on him. I have a feeling he is going to respond better to being FORCED. It wasn't pretty any of those times--lots of yelling, hitting, and pouty lips (not from me, of course). I'm happy to report that after about three weeks of this torture, he knows numbers 1-5.

Yeah, a great victory indeed. I'm not looking forward to beginning 6-10 or the alphabet, sheesh. BUT, I want him to be prepared for kindergarten, and I feel like I neglect him more in that arena because I'm simply worn out. It's much easier to let him do whatever he wants to instead of "forcing" him to learn the academic basics.

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Isaac honestly has to many quirks to count: besides eating a sausage biscuit for breakfast, lunch and dinner almost everyday, he's one the most interesting children I've ever met. There is never a dull moment with Isaac around. He's constantly going, going, going. He's writing books, making movies, setting up elaborate toy schemes in his room, etc. He's got the most vivid imagination of anyone I've ever met. His stuffed animals don't have basic names like most kids give their animals like fluffy or bear, or doggy. His animals have names like Jerry and Clouds. My point, he's simply a quirky child, you never know what he'll say, do or create.

Last night he came home with this big box and said it was a home for his bouncy ball. He's carried this SWEATER box around everywhere with that ball in it.

PERK: Isaac is passionate when it comes to loving me and Matt. He wants affection all the time. I love that about Matt. He's a very passionate and affectionate person, and it's obvious to me that Isaac possesses this trait. He wants to snuggle, cuddle, be near to us especially at night. He kisses me on the lips even on his SCHOOL field trip and has no reservations about sitting in my lap and canoodling. He never wants to go to bed and always asks to sleep with us. It's sweet and makes me happy. I sure hope he continues to be that affectionate as he gets older.

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QUIRKs: Karson has never been one to open up and talk about much especially when it involves school or anything we would like to hear MORE about. If you lay in bed with her at night, she becomes a chatty-cathy and tells you all kinds of random things. I don't know if she doesn't like to talk about important things because she JUST doesn't or wants to leave school work (social stuff) at school, etc. She's taking a Super Saturday class called Junior Crime Fighters but won't tell us ANYTHING about it or the teacher. I've pried out some information but very little at that. She does, however, tell me things on paper. For instance, one day last week she put a Build A Bear coupon by my bedroom door. I think that means, here's a coupon for BABW, maybe we'll go one day soon but I don't want to talk to you about it??? And yesterday, I received this piece of paper by the door

It says, Mom! I wanna ride my bike without training wheels. This is major for her. Karson and I are totally TOXIC in that kind of enviroment so I asked to Matt to work with her on it. SO, she's been practicing this week and wants to again today after school. Isn't it funny though that she told me on paper instead of telling me? Funny. I'm hoping to get one SOON that says Mom! I wanna get my ears pierced--love me some Claire's boutique.

Perk: Karson is a doll. I know her brothers can push her buttons, but in general, she is very tolerant of them and helps them out. She has the most kind heart. This week she made all her uncles Christmas cards and wanted to put money in them. I mean, seriously, how sweet is that. I love how kind and generous she is (and innocent in so many ways). I want to bottle up this year in her life and save it. I can't tell you how many moms tell me the teenage girl years are JUST THE WORST. I hope this isn't true. I pray that my daughter will continue to be mature beyond her age and loving to me and others. She's a sweetheart!

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I'm very blessed with my kids quirks and perks. I wouldn't have enough blog space to post all of my quirks. Matt talked about change in his sermon on Sunday. I've really been meditating on that this week and trying my best to change those areas of my life that need tending to. I don't know if it's simple holiday busyness, the time change, the weather change, hormonal changes, or WHAT, but I seem to get easily discouraged these days. I don't want to feel that way, and I know God doesn't want me to feel that way. SO, change is order...and prayers as always are appreciated.