Happy Halloween from Batman and Catwoman

A Few Recent Pictures

I recently took a few pictures of the kids for a project, and I thought I'd share them.

 

Daddy's Great Report Card Plan

Thanks to technology we were able to see Allison's grades before report cards came home last Friday. On Wednesday night at the dinner table we were discussing with her what her reward should be for all A's. There are now only four grading periods for elementary students in Katy, so every nine weeks we'll see a report card.

My suggestion - Allison chooses a restaurant for dinner one night. (Choosing restaurants is always a tricky thing for us with Daddy being very particular.)

Tyler came up with a different plan. Get ready...

For each A she receives she will get $5. (There are five subjects that receive numerical grades.)

She must save that money until the end of the school year. Upon receipt of the final report card, Tyler will give her the lump sum she has earned throughout the year. - His reasoning here is that it will teach her to save.

If she gets all A's, she will receive a double-up spot bonus. Meaning $25. She may spend this bonus upon receipt.

Now, as I'm listening to him tell her this I'm thinking, "He has lost his mind." #1 - That is a ton of money! #2 - What first grader can comprehend this wacko plan?

Here was Allison's response when he finished laying it all out, "Can I just save it all and have $200 at the end of the year to spend?"

I guess I was wrong. Those two are cut from the same mold. Remember this...

Intense Bingo Strategizing

The grades came home on Friday, and they were as follows:

Math 94

Reading 94

Language 91

Science 98

Social Studies 98

Tyler pulled out the cash, took half to put into her "savings", and she took the other $25 and put it in her piggy bank. He even offered to take her to spend it on Saturday, and she said, "No thank you. I'm saving for Olivia's House." (Olivia's House is a pricy Lego Friends set.) I'm still in shock over this whole thing. I guess it's a great plan for her though.

Zoo Boo

Today Aidan and I went to the zoo for Zoo Boo and had so much fun. It was super busy, but Aidan loved seeing all of the kids in costumes. He also received many smiles and compliments on his Batman attire.

Making a Stop at the first Candy Corner

Mommy and Batman

Aidan had a very specific order he wanted to go in at the zoo. First on the list - Chimps!

This was the first time we've seen one on this seat so close. It was really neat.

Mapping Out His Next Stop

Heading Into His "Bat Cave"

As Always - A Quick Ride on the Giraffe

We really missed having Allison along this year. Last year I let her play hookie and come along. Since she's missing a week for Disney in December, I really didn't think that was a good idea. Also, today is her first report card day. I'll let you in on Daddy's report card reward system in another post. Hint: It is VERY Tyler-esque.

First Grade Field Day

This morning Allison participated in field day. I'm so glad I get to go and see all of these things she does at school. The kids and I really do benefit from Tyler working so hard! Hee hee. (In all seriousness, we truly are fortunate and very grateful to him.) Allison did wonderfully in all of her events, and Aidan and I had a blast watching and cheering for Allison and all of the Tang's Tigers.

Before the Events Started

Jumping Hurdles

Running in the "Long Track Run"

Running in 50-yard Dash

Potato Sack Relay

Cheering on Her Teammates

Horse Relay

Mr. Cool Cheering on the Tang's Tigers

Today's Red Ribbon Week Dress was 'Wear a Tie'

The Final Event

Aidan Screaming, "GO SASSY" During the Final Event

Babe Ruth is Improving

Aidan has had four baseball games now, and he is starting to get the hang of it all. This past Saturday he was catching grounders more consistently, and he even played first base. It is still completely hilarious!

 Catching in Practice

 Throwing in Practice

Running to Third

Running Home

Playing Third Base - He likes to turn his cap around when he's not batting. So funny!

Up to Bat

Tyler has been helping the coaches quite a bit. I have really enjoyed watching him get involved with this little sporting adventure. Aidan has fun once he gets out there playing, but he isn't too thrilled to get out the door. Baseball might not end up being his thing in the long run, but I do see many smiles while he's playing. Who knows.

Camp Out

This past Friday night I had a great master plan. Christina and I were going to take Allison and Tye to bingo at the club. In order to distract Aidan, and make sure he had something special going on also, I told him Friday was "boys night" with just him and Daddy. He asked if there would be a tent at boy's night, so of course I obliged.

Daddy and Aidan Inside the Tent

Christina had a conflict and couldn't make it to bingo. I really didn't want to go alone, and once Allison saw the tent she went bonkers. Aidan loved the idea of the girls playing in the tent also, so plans changed quickly. 

Allison, Tye, and Aidan Watching The Lorax and Eating Popcorn

The girls got a little wild in the tent with their water bottles, so we moved the party inside. Aidan finished up the movie while the girls went upstairs to blast One Direction at volume too-loud and dance on the bed. Those two are so crazy!

We missed out on bingo this time around, but I don't think anyone minded. Tyler and I just chilled in the living room, and all three kids were very happy. Allison and Tye ask for a sleep-over every night, even on school nights. Tyler and I say all the time how neat it is that she has her best friend two doors down. They really are attached at the hip.

Slowing Down

This morning has been very cathartic so far. Aidan and I are still in our pjs, and I have not accomplished a single productive task.

We have, however, spent a little time painting dinosaurs. We mixed the plaster, waited for it to dry in the molds, and then painted.

This house needs a little slowing down. This is what our weeks look like:

Mondays - Work at Aidan's school, Aidan in MDO, Gymnastics in the evenings
Tuesdays - just piano lessons at home at 7 (I like Tuesdays) - Allison does all of her homework for the week
Wednesdays - Work at Aidan's school, Aidan at MDO, leave MDO to sit in car rider line for 30-40 minutes in order to ensure being one of the first in line to pick Allison up to get her to a 4 pm tumbling class, get home at 5:20, bathe kids, feed kids, dress Allison for WAM, WAM from 6:30 - 7:30 (I do not like Wednesdays)
Thursdays - Aidan at MDO, volunteer at Pattison, work on cotillion, Allison ballet in the evenings - being Thursday used to be hh day for me when I worked, I just want a glass of wine and a dinner out after ballet
Fridays - NOTHING!

Between cotillion (we have over 250 students this year, plus we run two pre-cotillions for the little ones per year), volunteering at Pattison (I'm JA coordinator this year for the PTA, bigger job than I imagined), running Allison's taxi service, and working at Aidan's school, something had to give.

I asked the director of his school if they could work on finding a replacement for me. Since they really do spend a while training the teachers through inservices before the year begins and throughout the year, they prefer to not hire anyone new during the school year. I get that, I do. Fortunately, they are over-staffed on Mondays! So, for the remainder of the year I will work on only Wednesdays. Next year I doubt I will work there at all. I underestimated the value of my time alone to get things done for cotillion. I forget that it is a "job" and requires a certain amount of devoted time. When Aidan was an infant and toddler that still took naps it worked out fine. Now, the non-napping pre-schooler makes it much more difficult for me to stay focused on a task for more than a few minutes.

I do feel a little disappointment in myself over all of this, but I need to just get over it. I need a couple of days a week with five hours free to work on cotillion, go to HEB, run other errands, do the dreaded laundry, etc. My two days a week with Aidan at home are for the two of us to enjoy. So, today...we play!

Boosterthon Fun Run

Today Allison ran in her school's Boosterthon Fun Run. All of the grandparents sponsored her, so she was very excited to make them proud. The maximum number of laps she could run was 35, and she did it. This was a great fund raiser. For the past week and a half the Boosterthon people have been talking about being a leader, healthy choices, etc. I was much happier with this versus selling wrapping paper, candles, or cookie dough.

Aidan and I had a great time watching and cheering for her, and she had a smile on her face and loved participating.

Aidan stretching with the kids.

The principal had to dress up like a chicken since the school received pledges from all 50 states!

Allison on her first lap coming through the inflatable tunnel.

Water Break

Still Running

Having Her Laps Marked

High Five on the Last Lap

Allison is Seven!

Yesterday Allison turned seven! Before school she opened a new outfit and a Merida doll. Here she is before heading to the bus. Papa Jerry and Nai Nai sent her this easel since she loves art.

I made and took cupcakes up to Pattison for she and her friends to enjoy at recess. She said they were a huge hit.

Wednesdays are busy days. I teach at Aidan's school, then Aidan and I go and sit in the car-rider line for 30+ minutes until Allison gets out so that we can make a 4:00 tumbling class. That is followed by a quick bath, dinner, and homework before WAM at 6:30. She insisted on doing WAM last night even though I gave her the option to skip.

So, after WAM we partied. She opened gifts first and then we had cupcakes.

Her new golf club set. (Notice the cupcake sneak in the background.)

Opening a mask kit from Grandma Renee and Papa Denis. She loved it!

Aidan really enjoyed the filler from the mask kit.

"Happy Birthday"

Ready for bed in her new pjs and trying on her golf bag.

This little miss is one fortunate girl. She also received a new Barbie birthday set from Aunt Stacie, Uncle Gregory, and Makayla, an iPod nano from Daddy, and a new golf shirt. Nai Nai even sent her a t-shirt and tutu from a performance at the New York City Ballet. She had a smile all day!