The winter storm that was......

Teacher Conference

So, apparently we have the cutest, sweetest, happiest child in the world. (of course!) He makes everyone happier....He is never in a bad mood. (umm, no, he saves that for mom) He makes it fun to teach because he loves to learn everything. (but that curiosity can be used for evil also! lol!). So on, and on we discussed and ended up crying because they wanted to know some details of his adoption journey. Needless to say, I love his teachers. But, I still don't know what to do about Kindergarten. They said he would probably do fine to wait or to go. They felt they couldn't really push one way or the other. He does really well with the things he "wants" to do, the concern would be that if he doesn't like or want to do some things that in K you have to do, he would be a problem. Now, we can't predict this especially because we have 7 more months until school would start. He could jump in activity at any minute. I talked to them about how I was concerned that if he stayed with the much younger ones that he would not be pushed to act appropriately by "peer" pressure or imitation. They agreed and said they really thought he would be OK if he went on. They said usually the fear is later in middle school or even high school some parents regret sending the "boys" on. They said no parent has ever said we regret holding him back but many have regretted sending them a tad early. (which Nick will not be) I think it is a teacher mantra....a good one but a hard one when the child is so on the line. I think we will definitely register him for public school (he already attends speech there) kindergarten and continue to look around at the other programs....transitional K, half-day K and full day K while doing alot of praying.


IKEA

We had our first Ikea experience this weekend in another short winter storm. The roads were fine but it was like a blizzard up in Cinci. We met our friends, Mrs. Dana and Emma at the riverfront shopping area and ate at Johnny Rockets...not impressed based on the price of the hamburger. Steak and Shake much much better. But, I digress, Nick continues his hat obsession and will wear any other hat over the "star" hat. Emma and Nick were fascinated with the "jukebox" .....I hope it still works.






We arrived at Ikea and wow, big place. The kids went to the childcare center (woo,hoo) but then we only had an hour before we had to pick them up. An hour? in this place? So we basically did reconnaissance for bookshelves and organizers for the toys and left with only 3 dollars out of our pocket (a blue elephant and snack bowls)......nobody told us about the food....good thing! It could have been a sugarfest from what I have heard.


SNOW DAY?

The schools have been off all week. Monday was a mystery day. Roads good, weather moderate....maybe they were just anxious for the "storm of the century".....we have pretty dramatic weather guys around here. Regardless, we got to play with our friend Riley since he was out of school. They are both turning 5 in Feb and Nick went to school with Riley last year. They play so well together. We stood at the bottom of the stairs and listened to them talking at one point. Priceless. They sounded so grown up. They both have great imaginations. They had their Handy Manny tool boxes working overtime. Apparently plumbing may be in Nick's future...hey, they make alot more than most entry level jobs for college educated newbies. I say plunge away.





THE STORM!

My Snowbird in-laws in Florida requested "storm of the century" pics so here they are.....I know you wish you were here don't ya!


Nick the plowboy......with the ice layer underneath, the "plow" actually worked pretty well! ;)






I think our 2003 ice storm (the real storm of the century) must have pruned up our trees well because we didn't lose too many limbs in the front.....the back not so lucky. You can usually see up the street quite well but the limbs were hanging so low that it was like a winter wonderland....eerie and beautiful.




It was hard to get the right angle on the next pic. Pat was trying to get my car out from under all the stuff and had started on the roof and the ice layer and snow layer was so obvious....it was cool! Easier to see in person but interesting none-the-less.



The next pic is out our kitchen window so the screen put a bad light on the pic but these are the limbs that were constantly falling on our roof and windows ALL night. And then you hear the hmmm and flash of transformers going off as limbs fall on the power lines. Yikes is all I can say.


This was probably our thickest and biggest limb break. Amigo had quite the obstacle course to do his business. I might say before the snow came, we were having quite a good chuckle watching him try to squat on the ice layer without losing his footing but I won't say that because that would make us mean, wouldn't it.

Just another shot showing how low the limbs were.....I hope we don't lose anymore. I love our big ol' trees.

So, that's the storm of the century for us.....Western Ky got hit much much worse as well as south of here. Pat is excited to borrow the chainsaw and get busy.....he is from Wisconsin after all.

I keep forgetting to tell a few quick Nick-isms of late........

He loves his one-on-one time with each of us and has no qualms in shooing the other away. For example:

---We made the rule that Nick could not get in our bed unless Daddy was already gone to work. He follows this rule very well but if he happens to come in and Daddy is still there, his usual comment is "Daddy, go to work" (so smart)

---He loves to snuggle with me after daddy goes to work but lately (since the weather turned cold) he tells me to move over because he wants the warm spot AND the warm pillow! If I scoot over just a little (trying to give him the clue to go to the other side), he will still crawl in and say "little room here!" It cracks me up most days!

---I go to Bunco once a month or out with my friends sometimes for dinner. He knows that this means big one-on-one time with dad so one day after we had a hard day of conflict, he said, "Mom you go out with your mom friends and I play with daddy". Or, my favorite is when they are in the midst of big play downstairs and I come down to see what is going on, Nick says, "Mom you go work on your computer, go, go! "

I have also left out mentioning Nick's newest friend and go to guy....Croaky. He told us that he is a pretend friend. It seems that Croaky knows all of the right things to do but sometimes chooses not to do them and sometimes he does do the right thing and Croaky's mom and dad are so happy!. It is so sweet to watch Nick work thru all of his issues using Croaky. Croaky has a mom and dad and a dog too. We hear about Croaky all of the time and his "real" friend Mikey even included him in a prayer one day.....PRICELESS. Now, they (Mikey and Nick) both talk about Croaky on the way to school in the morning. It is a great way to talk about behaviour though and maybe less intimidating if we are talking about what Croaky did.....

OK, that's all I got for now. I always remember 10 more things that I should have mentioned after I post.....maybe I should just keep a list. Bye for now.

Oh, where o where has my little blog gone, oh where o where can it be......


I guess I have had picture block, writer's block or maybe even facebook block (yes, I am addicted). Who knows....but it has been far too long since I have mused about my sweet Krazy Kazakh and life in general.


We have had a busy New Year getting back on schedule and as expected the post holiday re-adjustments that are present as one little boy gets back to our routine and I guess "boring" life with mom and dad...... a vast array of cousins are WAY cooler.



We had our SECOND post adoption interview at the beginning of the month. I can't believe we will be hitting our 2 year anniversary for "meetcha day" in just a few weeks! It really can't be so! Although our Gotcha day was many weeks later and homecoming many more after that......I still can't believe that we are back to when we left for Kaz...2 whole years later!



Nick is just the most hilarious and obstinate/stubborn/strong-willed child I have ever met. He makes us laugh and cry more than Braveheart and Hitch put together! We have to constantly stay on our toes with discipline, creativity, and patience but he gives back in love, laughter, joy and the best hugs ever!



Today, after a particularly trying time in the car, he came inside and finally made an attitude adjustment and proclaimed to me " Mom, I turned my frown upside down, and you want some more good news?" (me)what is that ? " I love you"


OK, how cute is that....he comes up with these kind of things all of the time....I think that is why pictures are far and few between because you really can't capture his magic right now in pics....its got to be video.



Earlier this month, he was running around alot saying "undergod" like how you would yell "Underdog" super hero style....yes, I am that old to remember that show! We were just at a loss to figure out the context.....I even went so far as to give him a lecture about being careful about how we use the Lord's name. One day it finally hit me, duh!, Under God in the Pledge of Allegiance. I knew they learned it in Bible Study but I also found out they were learning it at preschool. So, I started the Pledge off and he would finish all my sentences.....Pat and I were speechless. So cute.....so we had to share........Not perfect but oh,so cute! Please excuse the Bob the Builder set up...not sure why he had to belt it out but this is his usual volume.....yes, it is painful, I know! I thought this video was quite appropriate for tomorrow. Maybe that is why Nick sang "can we fix it, yes, we can!" and we are very proud to be Americans. I didn't vote for him but I will pray for him that he will be safe and that his family will be safe and that he will lead with integrity and character and that we as Americans will take responsibility for this mess we are in.......










Nick is taking swim lessons again. I think this might be our last for awhile. He really cannot focus well when he WANTS to be IN the water not sitting on the side. I feel for the teacher but I have gone over and over the "listening" rules but he sees that water and just has to be under it. First week, he sat at the side of the pool while she was talking or doing something with the other kids and just put his head under the water. Looked like an Ostrich! I was trying to give him the MOM look across the pool but he would only come up for air! Weird kid I tell you....I think diving class will be better. He could care less about learning proper stroke technique. Tonight, I was kind of stressed watching him not sit and listen. Does that mean he won't be ready for Kindergarten next year? Will he be so distracted in class? He can't focus...what does that mean? ugh!





He has his mid-year preschool eval on Thursday. I am so afraid that they will say that he should not go to Kindergarten. Now, I am not one of those parents who won't hold them back but he matured so much these last few months that I had a little hope that we could send him on since he is a Feb birthday. If he had a summer birthday, I would have no problems holding him back but he really seems to act young with the young and older with the older. Does that make sense? I want him to be with kids his age so he can rise to the occasion not linger in the toddler world. But, I will wait and see and try not to get too anxious. We can do K twice and I definitely think he needs the social aspect of school everyday so we shall see. Another option is transitional K but everyday.





Nick current interests and joys.....

1. Signs-he wants to know what each one says and loves the ones with a circle and line thru it which he knows always means "do not". Our only problem is if we don't see the one he is pointing to before we pass it.....he will want you to turn the car around.


2. "whips" style yogurt - I haven't really allowed him to have too many yogurt products because you might as well give them candy with the sugar in them. No, I won't give him the fake sugar kind...that is a whole different issue to me. I have tried the organic, non-sugar types like they had in Kaz but he will not eat them...it is either texture or sugar...can't decide. But, he loves the Whips so they count as a treat.....not an everyday thing. He loves them so.



3. flashlights -- he got two for Christmas. OBSESSED. He wants all of the lights in the house off all of the time. He is always "looking" for someone or something. Pat is getting him ready for camping and I think he is going to be all for it! All day, I get...Mommy, will you come downstairs and be my campin' buddy?



4. Friends and a social life -- the reason I really want to send him to K is so he can get his "social" fill for the day....it is torture when your son says mom, will you play with me all day and then when there are times you have to say no, he says "but playing alone is no fun?" with the biggest pout, sweetsie face ever. We have started incorporating Nick in our family chores (he had difficulty with this in the early days) so this helps a little on the weekend. He helps me make the bed in the morning so I am learning new ways to include him that don't involve "rescue heroes" or camping for me all of the time.

Our not too great things to finish off 2008 are....

1. Sassie, Sassie mouth! ..... his discipline is swift and sure and sometimes really spicy hot!

2. Still loves to be in control....he now calls me Boss instead of Mom....thus the reason for #1.

3. Inability to control his "curiosity" while I am in the shower (NO, I am not taking one at night or before he wakes up....this would be about O dark thirty) This week he decided to see what sound his comb makes while scratching up and down on our dresser.....

I present Exhibit A...the dresser

And, Exhibit B....the comb minus some teeth now.

We still have baby locks and things up way high and he is almost Five...does it ever end? He grabbed some lotion that I had out (up high) by scaling the laundry baskets and climbing the dresser drawers! I just want a shower where I am not saying, Nick are you sitting on the bed watching your show....I can hear you!

There are probably some more but I cannot write further......FB withdrawals....LOL!

I will try to get some more pics this week and a teacher eval update too. If you start missing the posts...just get on FB and then you can shame me into an update! ;) Until then, I am going back to the 80's and all my high school friends!!!