Recent kids' activities

For the past several months, Brett has been taking Tae Kwon Do classes one afternoon a week. He is really doing well and enjoying learning the different moves, punches, and kicks. A few weeks ago (I know, I'm a bit late on posting this), Brett took his test to move from a white belt to a yellow belt in his class. Brett did well with all of his moves. It is very difficult for us to even understand what in the world he is even supposed to be doing as the teacher, Master Kurtz, counts and speaks in Korean during a good portion of the class. Following the portion of the test where Brett needed to complete the various moves, he was then told to go get his "board". I had panic attack as I leaned over and told Mike that Brett hadn't ever even attempted to try to break a board during his classes -- let alone attempt to break a board in front of a room full of people. Of course, out of the 3 children that were taking the test that day, Brett was the first one called to complete the task (never fails). Anyway, he did a back-kick (I know, not the correct terminology for the move but I have no idea what it is) towards the board -- and on his third attempt, he snapped the board in half. Whew -- such a relief (for him and for us)! We are extremely proud of his accomplishment of receiving his yellow belt and look very forward to him continuing the classes and moving up to even higher belts.






On Saturday, March 6, Brett and Mike had their last basketball game for this season. Brett enjoyed playing this year and Mike enjoying co-coaching. We had a great group of boys on the team and enjoyed getting to know each of them as well as their families. On the Tuesday following the game, we hosted a pizza party (along with the other coach) for the families on our team and then went back to the elementary school for a parents versus kids game. We all had fun playing with the boys and were exhausted by the end of the night! ;o)


Kendall and Kameron are continuing to take their ballet class one night a week. They are working very hard to memorize the steps and words for their routine. The recital is going to be held in May. The routine is very cute -- and I was able to talk them into performing a portion of it for me after we returned home one night from class. (Unfortunately, Blogger wouldn't let me upload a video -- so I'm going to keep trying.) ;o(

Practices for the soccer season will begin by the end of March and then we will be having games during April and May. Kendall and Kameron decided they would like to give soccer a shot this year. Following soccer, we will then start up with both baseball and t-ball. Mike has signed up to coach (or co-coach in some cases) the girls' soccer team, Brett's baseball team, and the girls' t-ball team. ;o) While we seem to always be on the move, we absolutely love that the kids are enjoying being active in all of the activities. Wouldn't change it for the world...

January and February updates

I honestly don't know where all of the time goes. I can't believe it is the middle of February and we've been back in the U.S. for almost one entire year! Here's an update on what we've been up to the past throughout January and most of February...

In the middle of January we went towards Chicago to celebrate a belated Christmas with Mike's grandparents. We hadn't seen them in quite awhile and we all really had a nice visit.

Brett continues to take Tae Kwon Do classes every week. He took his yellow belt test today and did awesome! Will make another post for this one specifically. In addition to Tae Kwon Do, he is also keeping busy with basketball. There are 3 more games this season, then we will be taking a short break (as he isn't that interested in soccer), and then it is on to his favorite sport -- baseball. ;o)

The kids had Spirit Week at school towards the end of January. For $.50 each day (all proceeds were donated to Easter Seals), each child could participate in the activity of the day. The week consisted of Crazy Hair Day (Kami was sick on this day -- so we put her hair up in a crazy manner a few days later while we were at home), Twin Day (the girls didn't have to do much for this since I always dress them alike anyway), Mismatch Day, Favorite Sports Team Day, and finally Warrior Day (the Germatown Hills mascot). In addition to all of the activities this week, Brett was also selected at Student of the Week. All 3 of the kids had a blast participating in the daily events.

My dad's birthday was at the end of January so we celebrated both his birthday as well as his retirement. It just so happened that his birthday and his last official day of work were on the same day (January 29). So happy that he is retired and can do whatever he wishes now. ;o)

The kids all had their Valentine's parties at school on February 10. Since I helped with the girls' Christmas party, I volunteered to "coordinate" Brett's class Valentine party. The kids all had a good time at the party -- and unfortunately, I was so preoccupied by ensuring that everything at the party was going as I had planned, I didn't take my camera out of my purse to take any pictures. With 5 other parents in attendance, I would have thought that someone would have taken a few pictures -- but no such luck. ;o( I was extremely upset (an understatement) about the whole thing...so Brett and I posed for a picture after we returned home. ;o)

After the Valentine's party on February 10, the kids were off school for parent/teacher conferences as well as President's Day. I went to the parent/teacher conferences on Thursday while my dad came over to stay with the kids. Brett, Kendall and Kameron are all enjoying school and getting very good grades. ;o) Then on Friday to keep the children busy, we decided to take Mike to lunch and then the four of us went bowling.

Kendall and Kameron are continuing with their ballet class every week. They are learning a routine that they will perform at a recital in the middle of May. (I tried to post a video of part of their recital routine; however Blogger is acting up and not letting me post any videos. If I can get it to work, I'll post for all to see.) In addition to ballet, they are getting ready for soccer season and then teeball as they want to participate in both this year.

A few weeks ago, the girls joined the Daisy troop in our area. They have had several meetings and they seem to really be enjoying themselves. I registered (background check, etc.) to volunteer to assist with the troop and am enjoying attending the meetings as well as the other activities with them. The most recent activity that the troop had was a Movie and Popcorn Night. Lots of fun for all of the girls (plus it was nice for Brett and Mike to have a night to themselves). ;o)

London continues to keep us busy. She is fitting in very well with our family and she is doing pretty good with the whole house-training bit. She is growing like a weed -- when we got her she was about 3.5 pounds and now she is up to almost 6! She is great with the kids and we love her to pieces...

Time flies and we are busy having fun! ;o)

Wow! How in the world did the last few months go by so fast?! I looked at our blog and realized that I haven't updated since Halloween. Oops!

To bring everyone up-to-date on our lives from the beginning of November...

• the kids continue to do well in school and are really enjoying it. We are definitely keeping busy with homework in the afternoons/evenings.
• Brett continues to take a Tae Kwon Do class on Tuesday nights. He is finally getting the hang of it and really likes it. Over the past few weeks, Brett completed several different exercises that Master Kurtz had assigned and was able to get his initials written in Korean on his outfit (I know the outfit has a special name but I don't have a clue what it is). ;o) It is a very big deal to have this done and we are very proud of him!
• In the girls' Kindergarten class, each week there is a new Student of the Week. At the beginning of November, Kameron was selected as the Student of the Week and at the beginning of December, Kendall was selected. When they are the Student of the Week, they help the teacher out with various activities/projects, get the opportunity to each lunch with the principal, Dr. Nafziger, and also get an "award" which consists of getting a free item from McDonald's. Both of the girls are doing well in writing and learning to read and we are very proud of them!
  
• Kendall & Kameron are still taking ballet classes on Wednesday nights. They learn a new dance just about every week and are really enjoying the class. I am excited to see their recital in May!
• Brett is playing basketball this year. Mike is the assistant coach on Brett's team. It is really neat to watch both of them at the games. They practice on Thursday nights with games being held on Saturdays through March.
  
• I signed up to be a Room Parent for both Kendall & Kameron's class as well as Brett's class. For Christmas, I helped at the girls' party. I volunteered to make the cookies for all of the children to then decorate at the party. After baking 60 cookies, I was extremely happy that the children were going to decorate their own cookies at the party and I didn't have to. ;o) The party was really a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed watching our girls as well as their classmates play games, sing songs, and just enjoy themselves prior to the holiday break. For Brett's class, I have "volunteered" to be the coordinator for the Valentine's Day party. I'm a hoping that the planning will be easy and will hopefully fall into place. Keeping fingers crossed. ;o)
  
  Enjoying decorating their Christmas cookies.
  
• During the holiday season, I worked at Bath & Body Works (at Northwoods Mall). I absolutely love it! Besides the fact that the pay is almost non-existent, I really love interacting with people, helping them shop, working a few days a week on Mondays through Fridays during the hours the kids are in school (if they need me), and having no work stress. When I leave work, I am honestly leaving and don't have to worry at all about it. ;o) They have asked me to stay on staff and since Cat hasn't called me back, I accepted and will continue working there one to two days a week.
• On Thursday afternoons, I continue to volunteer in Kendall & Kameron's class for their Center Time. I love going in and working with not only our girls but also all of the other children in the class. I also volunteer with the parent helpers and assist in the elementary school and intermediate school offices when they need me. We have been lucky this year as many parents signed up to help, so I have only been going into each office about one time a month to help out.
• Over the holiday break, we all enjoyed sleeping in a spending lots of time together. Playing games, sledding, and just enjoying each other's company was absolutely wonderful! I was very sad when the break was over and Mike had to go back to work and the kids had to go back to school. ;o( Here's hoping the next vacation/break arrives quickly...
  
• We were lucky enough to be able to spend time with just about everyone in our family (except for Keri, Chris, Taylor and Pyper -- missed you all this year!) over the Christmas holiday. Fun times were had and memories were made that will last a lifetime!
  
  
• And last but not least, Mike and I decided to get the kids a puppy for Christmas. We fretted for several weeks (okay -- I fretted) on what type of puppy to get. I didn't want one that shed much and we had to be very careful as we weren't sure how allergic Kendall would be to the little one. We decided on a Cairn Terrier (just like Toto in the Wizard of Oz). On Christmas Eve morning, we took her up to the kids' rooms so she could wake them up. They were very surprised and extremely excited! ;o) We named her London in an attempt to help the kids remember all of our great times in England. So far so good... ;o)
  
  
  Crazy hair was had by all of the kids as we had just woken them up with the new puppy. ;o)
  

Well, I keep thinking that I am forgetting something...but I guess if I am, I'll create another post. Our 2009 turned out to be a wonderful year and we are looking very forward to a phenomenal 2010! We are truly blessed...