Derby Day

Another Pinewood Derby has come and gone.

I'm super proud of Nolan's performance this year. For starters, this was his most detailed design so far. Also, each year he does more and more of the work himself. He did a lot of the cutting and sanding on his own this year -- and I think it came out great.

The maximum weight for a Pinewood Derby car is 5 oz. With some tinkering -- and bit of luck -- we were abble to get it to be exactly 5 oz. That, combined with some other design tricks we had up our sleeve, had us hoping for a strong finish.

He won three of the six heats his car raced in. But in the end he placed eighth overall (out of 25 cars). He was hoping to be closer to the top, but still I was very impressed he made it into the top 10.

The scouts also get to vote on which cars they like in various categories. He had his heart set on winning the "Most Scout-Like" award. Unfortunately, he placed a close second in the voting.

So he was pretty disappointed in not coming home with a big trophy for speed or design. But Kris and I were still very proud. He seems to be over it today and is already talking about next year's race!

Growing Up

Yesterday, Thomas and I cleaned the car inside and out in the beautiful sunshine. We cleaned the inside and then went in for lunch. I told him we would go back after lunch to do the outside. He said he might be too tired to do that. So I said he could always take a nap. His response? Men don't take naps. He cracks me up.

Matchbox 20

I heard a song on the radio this morning from this group called, Closing Time. I always loved this song and one of the lines in it. "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." That is so true. When something ends, it frees us for new possibilities. And with the snow finally melting away and the yard inching its way back, the warmer temperatures are freeing us to have some new opportunities too.

I was marveling at Thomas' social schedule today. I was wondering what was making this week so busy, and partly it's because I'm bringing Thomas to so many friends' houses or having them here. He had 4 play dates this week! We will cut back, but it's cute that he's becoming so close to this one boy in his class. He's definately getting older. His swim lessons are going better now that all of us are going to watch him. I think he likes us as his personal cheering crew! I'm happy to oblige when I see him swimming such strong strokes. He is still a little hesitant, but he's getting there.

Nolan has his Pinewood Derby this weekend. He participated a lot more in making his car this year, and this year he got it to be exactly 5 oz (the maximum and best weight to be for speed). So we are hoping he'll be a winner this year. He decorated it with Cub Scout decals, so he could win an award for Most Scout-like too. We shall see--cross your fingers! He also has a baseball clinic to start getting tuned up for the season. So another beginning coming up soon.

We've been having a lot of half days to accommodate parent-teacher conferences. I don't remember them cutting the days like this when I was little for conferences. I think the teachers just stayed late one night and parents could come in to talk to them then. Now they have 4 half days twice in the school year. It seems like a lot of time off. it must be a nightmare for working parents. Thankfully, I'm not one of them!

We've also been absorbed in reading a lot. I just finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the boys (I highly recommend reading this during Lent.) and they are watching the movie of it as I write now. Now we've started Harry Potter. They are really getting into it, and I love spending the time doing it with them. Sometimes Thomas gets ants in his pants, but he's still listening. I hope they always love reading.

I actually opened the sandbox for Thomas today! So another new beginning, although the sand was still pretty frozen. He played in it anyway. I think we all want spring.

February's End

I am blogging with a headlamp on my head while the boys watch a movie, The Nutty Professor. They wanted complete darkness, so this is our compromise! February sure is short and sweet. I can't believe March is almost here already. March is my least favorite month--no holidays worthy of a day off, the weather is usually unpredictable and the waiting for spring gets hard. But I'm hoping to change my tune. There is St. Pat's Day, after all, lots of early dismissals because of school conferences and I'm hoping to get an early start on a garden by starting some plants indoors. Nolan has a baseball clinic and a trip to Massachusetts to sleep on a battleship with Cub Scouts in March. So there...March is looking up!

We had a great time in Syracuse. The driving was a little hairy getting there with the lake effect, but we made it to McDonalds where I got to visit with school friends Shawn and Stephanie. It was really neat to catch up after 20 YEARS (yes, I'm that old)! We're hoping to meet up again in the spring at a park. Then we got my sister and hit the MOST, a children's science museum in Syracuse. That place was cool. There was a toothpick man there that builds these elaborate sculptures out of--you got it--toothpicks. He's going to be there for a year, and you can ask him questions while he works. Thomas' favorite thing was a brain in a jar. Nolan liked this game where you could be on television playing basketball. I liked the big, 3 story play gym with tunnels, slides and shooting balls. The kids went in and we really didn't see them again for an hour! Actually, Kim and I did go in a little too. It was mayhem in there, but fun to see so many happy kids. We went back to her house, had dinner and vegged on the couch with a movie until we called it a day. The next day was another highlight of the kids' trip: the flying helicopter! It's this 10 cent toy John brought out, and when you roll the stick between your hands, the helicopter on the top makes it fly in the air. The kids loved it. We headed home early afternoon so we could get Chester from the kennel in time. What a blast we had--thanks Kim and John!

So back to school this week. Nolan had a pack meeting where he finally got his prize for selling popcorn--a lego toy. He was very happy to finally get it. Lent started this week, so we've been following a calendar that has good deeds the kids are supposed to do every day. After-school programs started this week too: Thomas is taking Computer Fun and Nolan is taking Tai Kwon Do. Both are loving it. This weekend we have to get moving on Nolan's Pinewood Derby car. The first weigh-in is in a week.

It's been harder to keep up with this blog lately, but I'll keep trying!

Winter Break

We have had a great winter break so far. It got kicked off with great report cards from both kids. All the hard work Nolan has been doing paid off because he is really doing great, especially in reading and math. The handwriting still needs work but it's coming along. Thomas is also doing great in those same subjects (as much as they do in kindergarten anyway). He still needs work in his speech and listening, especially sound spelling. We treated them to IHOP to celebrate. We don't recommend that place--slow, poor service that's over-priced.

On Tuesday, our friends the Reeds came and have helped us speed the week away. We had so much fun playing games, sledding, and going to the NYS Museum. What was cool about the museum is they are showing an exhibit of Rockwell Kent's work from SUNY Plattsburgh where we went to school. It brought back memories of me hanging out with Mike while he sat at the desk of the museum in Plattsburgh. Of course, now we practically ran through that exhibit, hoping none of our kids would touch anything! Everybody played great and I was sorry to see them leave. An hour later, my boys were fighting again and asking what to do.

Tomorrow we leave for Syracuse to visit my sister and her husband. I'm also getting to see an old high school friend Shawn who I haven't seen in maybe 20 years. This is thanks to Facebook. We are going to check out the science museum in Syracuse too. By the time we get back, I should be exhausted and ready for a vacation from this vacation!

Winter Fun

I was right...the boys wanted no part in the square dance! I did go into Thomas' gym class to help out and I thought it was cool. Of course, Thomas wouldn't have any part of it while I was there, but he did participate another day when I wasn't there. I will ever understand why he has a hard time doing things when Chris or I are around. We don't pressure him or anything. Maybe just our being there makes him self-conscious. Anyway, he and Nolan still weren't impressed enough to want to go to the dance. They went to a high school basketball game with Chris that night instead.

I still try all the time to encourage the boys to go out and play. Last weekend, I started making a tunnel in a snowbank in the front yard to entice them to come out. It worked for all of 20 minutes when suddenly I realized I was missing a kid ...and another soon followed..into the warmth of the house. Yesterday we found a new hill to sled down, and that was a blast. We went to the Schenectady Municipal golf course. What was cool about the hill was it had several levels. I got some air a couple times! It was really icy, so Thomas enjoyed just sliding down on his bum. My favorite part was when Nolan and I went down together. When we finally stopped, he laid back against me and we just listened to the quiet of the snowy stillness. Nolan's getting to the age where he doesn't like to show his affection very often, so when he does it is awesome. I always tell him he's never too old for a hug.

On Tuesday, Chris is taking the Cub Scouts to Lowe's for a Pinewood Derby Clinic. The Derby is in March, so Nolan will need to start working on his car soon. Valentine's Day and report cards this Friday. Then a whole week off-yeah!

January Blah

I haven't written much lately because there hasn't been a lot to write about. January always seems a little long and draggy. The weather has been hard, school has been tough and not a lot of exciting events happening. But now February is here! Nice and short, a week of vacation and a holiday for chocolate and love to boot! We had a fun day today. We made a tunnel in a snowbank, made our own kettle corn and now all the boys are squished on the couch to watch the Super Bowl. So I'm blogging, having no interest in all that testosterone!

Nolan is the one having the tough time in school. They are writing short essays now in school, and he just isn't a fan of writing. His handwriting needs a lot of work. And math is another tough subject, especially the tests. So, he's doing some extra stuff to keep up. All of this has created a bad attitude about school, compounded by not being good friends with anyone in his class. He really is shy underneath it all, especially with adults. It gets him self conscious I think. Anyway, he's turned a corner. He's getting more positive about school and we're having different friends come over to hang out. I think report cards come on Friday. His teacher and I are talking about other ideas to help him out. So again, I think February is looking up for him. He loves basketball and often makes several points for his team. He's really good at dribbling and passing the ball. Next week is the final tournament. Cub Scouts is also going great. We went on a fun outing to Saratoga Battlefield to learn about colonial times and go tubing. They saw a cannon shoot off.

Thomas has also been making strides this month. He can read a little now, mostly 3-4 letter words. He started swim lessons again but this time we're taking them at the high school. It was an adjustment the first day because it's a bigger pool, new instructors and he's never been there before. But today he did great and even asked to stay in the pool longer to swim. He's becoming good friends with a little boy Will in his class. He even went to the last Cub Scout meeting with Nolan and Chris. He's excited to join next year and wants me to be his Den Leader (ugh!). We are slowly being consumed by scouting! Also, he just signed up for baseball. We had no intention of him playing this year since last year was a bust, but he desperately wants to try it again. He's getting older.

This week, all the kids in their school are going to learn square dancing in gym and show off their new skill at a dance on Friday. I'm really curious what they're going to think of it. I have a feeling they will want nothing to do with going to the dance, but we shall see! Lots of other little adventures this month too. I'm helping in Thomas' classroom tomorrow with a groundhog project. Thomas ushers in church (That will be interesting. He signed up for it himself!). Valentine's Day. The Reeds are coming to visit over break and we're going to visit my sister. The boys are also going to start some after school programs once a week--Nolan will do Tae Kwon Do and Thomas is going to do Computer Fun. I think it's funny that Thomas is Korean but he wants nothing to do with Tae Kwon Do. So we are passing the winter by keeping busy. We seem to be staying inside a lot; I'm hoping ot get us out sledding and walking on some trails more.