Another milestone passed...

What's missing in this picture??


Ben says, "One tooth gone, 19 to go!"

The tooth has been really loose the last couple of days. Ben actually said yesterday that he thought the tooth would come out today!

So it was after supper - I was in the kitchen, cleaning up a bit, and Ben came to me and asked if he could be done. I looked at him and said, "Ben, your tooth! It's gone!" I immediately thought that he had swallowed it, eating his supper, but nope, there it was, on his plate. And he didn't even notice!

He's excited for the tooth fairy to come tonight - he said, "Maybe she'll leave me a quarter! Or a washer!"

We have ourselves a comedian!

Saturday night, during supper, we were watching “Cash Cab”. (If you haven’t seen it, it’s a gameshow where a cabbie asks trivia questions for money – and if you make it to your destination without getting 3 wrong, you can opt to double your money by correctly answering a bonus question; if you get it wrong, you lose it all.)

First there was a group of 4 guys that did very well and ended up getting their (very easy) bonus question correct to double up to over $800. Then a second group of guys get to the bonus question, and decided not to risk their winnings. But they got to hear the question and guess anyway (better tv, right?). So it was very easy as well, and I remarked to Gord that the bonus questions seemed a lot easier than before. But I couldn’t remember the previous group’s question/answer, and neither could Gord (the memory is the first thing to go!). So Ben piped up with the answer – “Lionfish. It was Lionfish.” (They showed a videoclip with some voice-over facts and asked what this fish was more commonly called.) We thanked him and said that he had a good memory, and he said, “Do I get cash?” Does he know how the game works or what?!?! LOL We laughed pretty hard at our witty son!

A dry spell!

So, my last post was about Ben's school year finishing, and now we're practically at the start of the next one. I'm a terrible blogger!

I don't know that I have a lot to write about today though...hmm, let me start with a run-down of each kid's favorite things:

Ben:
- loves zucchini bread (which reminds me that we should make some more!), Grandpa's steak, water (good!), cream soda (meh, not so healthy) and coke slurpees (bad!)
- loves watching Pokemon
- can now call up Pokemon episodes on our PVR
- loves to rewind things on the PVR - I swear, if we watch America's Funniest Videos, he will rewind a funny clip 10 times
- he will laugh every single time
- reads like crazy - anything, anywhere
- still likes to give hugs
- loves playing the Wii - specifically Super Mario Galaxy 2, as Gord's "co-star"
- also likes Lego Batman
- kicks butt at "Guess Who"
- has been using his manners so well lately
- loves to boss his little sister around
- can swim like nobody's business
- can ride his two-wheeler really well
- loves the monkey bars, but has yet to master swinging across them

Ella:
- likes to have her hair put in ponytails or pigtails or braids, but only if she gets a candy
- loves to hit her brother when he bugs her
- spends a lot of time in her room, alone, in a time out for hitting her brother
- loves to eat
- asks for a snack as soon as she's done supper
- asks for another snack when she's done the first snack
- requests a song before bed
- knows her letters and is pretty good at counting to 30, with only a few missed numbers, or switched numbers
- knows some letter sounds
- loves Grandpa's steak, berries of any kind, tomatoes, cheese
- loves to watch Ben & Gord play video games
- can swim without water wings, and loves to swim with a snorkel & goggles
- loves to draw and write words and cut paper to make "flags"
- likes purple

OK, that took me like all afternoon to come up with. Maybe I should post a few pics later??

The end is near...

Tomorrow, Ben graduates from kindergarten. I can't believe it! This year has gone by so quickly - that is very scary! I don't like thinking about how quickly the next 15 years will go by...

There is a celebration of learning at the school - I plan to take lots of pictures and video, and a box of kleenex! Then we're having a little luncheon afterwards. It will be so cute - Ben keeps telling me that they're going to sing for us. I can't wait!

What else can I say about Ben right now - he is turning into a genuinely funny, sweet kid. His laugh is infectious and he can be so silly that you can't help but laugh along with him.

He is full-out reading now - yesterday we went for breakfast, and I was telling Ella what the options were, and I glanced over at him - to see if he was listening - but he was reading the menu himself. I could see his lips moving as he read through the list of food. I smiled to myself, but was also caught off-guard. He put the menu down and announced, "I'm going to have french toast. And a side order of bacon!"

Ben's current obsession is Pokemon. And holy mackerel, is it an obsession! I swear, it's all he thinks about. We constantly hear, "Did you know that such-and-such is the last evolve of so-and-so?" "Mommy, do you remember the differences between a male and female zubat?" Etc. etc. etc.

He played baseball this spring, and we think he really enjoyed it. He definitely improved from the beginning of the season, both in skill and in ability to focus on the game! In some ways, baseball was a good choice for him - less running around (like in soccer) but then again, he tended to goof around in the field as he waited for the batter to hit the ball. Ah well, he had a great time and learned a new sport!

I will post some pictures - of graduation and everything else that's been going on - tomorrow!

Olympic fever

I'll admit it - we are tuning into the Olympics all the time. I don't think we've let the kids watch one of their shows in a week! We are totally hooked and I seriously cry every day, watching clips and seeing the emotion these athletes show. I have never been so tuned in to an Olympic games as I am now. I check the CTV olympics site multiple times a day (sshhh!). We're even watching hockey! I just can't get enough!

The teachers must be talking up the games at school - Ben says that every day, the sport he picks is speed skating. 'Cause Cindy Klassen is a speed skater. :) And he was saying, "Vas-y tous les amis de Canada!" Translated as: "Let's go all of the friends of Canada!" Too cute!

Short and sweet

I just don't want to forget these!

- Ben got his first phone call from a friend tonight. A boy named C from his class. He had actually left a message for Ben after school, so Ben called him back. Now, this boy can really talk, so Ben didn't say a whole lot - they talked about Nintendo DS games mostly. During their first conversation, C had to go, but he called Ben back later, while we were finishing supper. They talked for a bit, and then I had Ben tell him that he had to finish eating and that they would see each other tomorrow. It was just so cute, and I can't believe my baby is almost 6.

- I just went in to check on Ella, and she's laid her babies on the floor, sharing a doll bassinet, and covered up, not with a blanket, but her pink fluffy princess skirt. The one she wears all the time - her favorite. How adorable is that????

Obsession: Star Wars

Ben has been just a tad interested in - actually, downright obsessed with - Star Wars since Christmas. We got him this awesome book, and I think that kick-started his obsession. And now? All he "sings" is the Emperor's theme. ALL THE TIME. He thinks it's hilarious when we pretend (or is it "pretend"?) that we are sick of hearing it. Last night, I had him giggling so hard with my reactions, he got a wicked case of hiccups.

Anyways, he sings or hums that song anywhere and everywhere. Home. School. Music class. Bathtub. Car. He's not picky.

It is pretty cute though.

Munscha Meeya

Today, we took the kids to see "Munscha Meeya" at the Prairie Theatre Exchange. This is becoming an annual treat for us over the winter break - last year was the first year, and I was amazed at how the kids sat so well, intent on the show. Today was no different - Ella's face was so cute, watching the characters act out the stories. Though we were only familiar with one of the stories, they were all very good. Ben & Ella love to read Munsch stories, and we have books on CD as well (read by Robert Munsch himself) that are the most requested in the car.

And as we were leaving the theatre, Gord pointed out a poster for a Robert Munsch reading at the Centennial Concert Hall on June 9th. I bought the tickets when we got home...the kids will be beside themselves to hear him read in person!

Not prepared

This school thing is really not what I bargained for.

I don’t mean the actual schoolwork – Ben’s report card and student conference went very well – his teacher is very impressed with his progress and his interest in French. He loves to tell us all the French words and phrases he knows, sings us all the songs they learn, and quiz us on how much French we know.

It’s the social aspect. The other kids. The kids who are a bit older and wiser. The kids who wrestle and watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The kids who make farting sounds with their mouths. The kids who use words that we don’t use.

I don’t blame Ben. It must be confusing to do stuff at school and then go home to parents who don’t let him do those things.

But what I’m finding hard is how we balance it all to make sure he’s allowed to be a kid, ya know?

I mean, let’s take the farting noise, for example. He farts. Everyone farts. It’s nature. And fart noises can be funny (c’mon, admit it). But when he constantly makes the farting noise with his mouth, say at the dinner table, spreading germs all over the place, yeah, he has to stop.

And though no one’s gotten hurt YET wrestling/TMNT-ing/karate/Star Wars-ing on the playground after school, it’s only a matter of time. (And my kid has the glasses that will get broken. 5 year old with glasses = mucho $$$$)

We’ve just been going through a transition, I guess, and he’s learning about boundaries and expectations. It’s just hard right now, when we’re frustrated, not to take all his privileges away.

Or then there’s the conversation we had on Sunday night that started like this: “T’s brother so-and-so said that the Santa Claus at the Santa Claus parade was fake.”

Yeah, so not prepared.

Whoosh!

Did you hear that? That was the last month or so, flying by.

School, dance, swimming, music, music practice (which isn’t as often as it should be!), holidays, work, renos, etc. etc. etc. It feels like days pass whenever I blink. Suddenly, it’s the last half of October and Halloween is coming, and you all know what comes after that…

And I’m totally obsessing over Christmas shopping.

I’m having trouble, as usual, thinking of ideas for Ella. Despite being a girl myself, I just can’t come up with new gifts for her! She likes what her brother likes. Which is fine – I mean, she can name lots of different Transformers – but geez, she needs some stuff of her own! She likes to dress up in one of her princess dresses and begs to play “Sleeping Beauty” – she lies on the couch with her eyes closed, and the “prince” (a.k.a. Mommy) comes along and kisses her, and then they go back to his castle and dance; repeat x infinity. She loves coins and marbles and scattering them all over the house. She also likes to play “restaurant” and take your order. And then add her own special things to your order – she told me I needed a toy and a book too, and then said I could have Jazz (a Transformer) and for a book, Scaredy Squirrel.

So I don’t know if I should maybe get her a doll (though she has a few already) or doll accessories (which she also has, so I guess I’m answering my own questions there). Or something to do with imaginary play? We already have a kitchen…and a shopping cart, and a cash register. Sigh.

Ben is easy – Transformers! No, not really. He has quite a few already, for a 5 year old boy! I have several ideas for him – he is just easier to buy for. I don’t know why, but he is.

Hopefully I’ll be able to keep the number of presents and toys down to a minimum this year. Three, maybe four, things is what I’m aiming for. We’ll see!

It's going to be a long school year...

So, not even a week into the school environment (and today is only his 2nd day of kindergarten!) and Ben has a cold. And with the H1N1 on everyone's radar screens, I feel a little guilty for having sent him to school today. But seriously, he has a stuffy nose. He was a little warm yesterday and this morning, but he hasn't had an "official" fever - by that, I mean a fever high enough to make our thermometer beep a warning. I took his temp this morning because he felt warm, and it was 36.8 C.

So yeah, I'm not going to keep him out of school, when he knows he gets to go to kindergarten this afternoon, for a stuffy nose. It's not usually the flu when the symptoms are above your shoulders. He's not achy or tired. He's not feverish. He's not vomiting.

Sigh. And so it begins.

It's official...

Ben is a kindergartener!



We *may* have been a minute or two late, and we *may* have had a miscommunication with the teacher as to where he was supposed to go after dismissal, but all in all, it was a good day. Ben loved it, which is of absolutely no surprise to us at all. I asked what they did, and he said that "Madame __________ read us stories...IN FRENCH!" I asked if he understood the books, and he said, "Nope!" :)

Tomorrow is the big day

Kindergarten. How did we get here so fast? Why can't I slow this train down? What I wouldn't give to have a bit time back, to relive some of the past 5 1/2 years. Or all of them.



I cannot put into words how much that sweet little boy means to me...but I still miss my baby.

This weekend...

...was an exercise in patience. And I have run out.

Friday night was enjoyable enough – we went to the mall to eat supper (I know, fan-cay!) and then to see “Up”. (Highly recommended, BTW.) Ben was stressed out the whole movie – he’s sensitive (I don’t know where he gets that from) – and he carried on about how scary the movie was, all in his regular voice. I’m surprised the people around us weren’t pelting him with popcorn. But it was hard to stay mad at him for being noisy when you watched him cry throughout the movie. And he’d cry over silly things (which I can’t tell you about or I’d ruin the story). It’s heartbreaking to watch him try to control his emotions sometimes… Anyways, it was overall a great night, a great birthday night!

Saturday and Sunday went downhill (see “exercise in patience” above). Ella seriously peed her pants six times this weekend. And Ben was moody and belligerent and just ignored any request we made of him. But he’s fighting the sniffles, so I’m hoping that that’s the reason behind his behavior. As for Ella…I hope it’s a phase…there was a full moon, after all.

On the bright side, the week can’t get worse! Uh-oh, was that lightning that just struck me?

A visit with GG

Sunday, we took a little road trip to Morden. We owed my parents a visit, and GG (my Grandma Lil) was there. Since we don’t see her very often, we try to jump at the chance to see her whenever it presents itself.

I think it’s really important for the kids to have a relationship with their great-grandparents. I have snippets of memories from visits to my great-grandma’s house. The smell, that of an old person’s home. Her ceramics. Playing in her yard.

Ben is always happy to bestow hugs and kisses on GG, no matter how long it’s been since we’ve last seen her. He is so outgoing and friendly and loving. He was on her lap and they were taking turns blowing into each other’s ears. Ben was giggling, and so was GG. They were so stinkin’ cute together.



Ella, on the other hand, likes to play shy with GG. Part of the reason she does this is to drive us crazy; she’s the second child you know, and she’s three and stubborn and moody – she tests us non-stop. Before we left home that morning, Gord asked Ella if she was going to give GG a hug when we got there, and she said “No. I’m going to be shy with GG.” Seriously people, she’s got attitude. Sure enough, she wouldn’t even look at GG when we got there, but after a while she was fine. I know that GG pushing her on the swing is what cleared it all up – push Ella on the swing and she’s your friend for life. And after supper, when it was time to go, Ella did give GG a hug and a kiss.

Hopefully, next time we see GG, Ella will remember that she pushed her on the swing and will be ready to shower her with hugs and kisses, like Ben does. I know that it means the world to GG. And to me.

Reading

So Ben is making headway on the reading front. It is hard to teach him when I don't even remember what the rules are...but every once in a while, my memory kicks in and I can explain why a letter makes the sound it does. Although, I often feel like I'm talking out of my a$$.

However, I wonder if Ben has a photographic memory - I bought him a Cars easy reader book almost 2 weeks ago. We read through it once (1/2 one night, 1/2 the next). I suggested we read that one last night, and he read almost all of it by memory. Seriously, is that normal? Could you tell already if he has a photographic memory?

I find it so frustrating because it's hard to teach him phonics when he just looks at the picture and spouts the words from memory. Gord suggested that I just accept the fact that maybe he won't learn phonics and will learn by recognition. I suppose he's right...much as I hate to admit it. But I still want to get Ben to learn phonics - and he does know all the letter sounds and he does a super job sounding out words. Last night, when he would recall the words from memory, I would then track my finger along the words and we'd say them/sound them out together.

Anyways, all this to say that Ben is doing great on the reading front and we're so proud of him (despite my small amount of frustration)!

Tales from the toilette

If you were standing outside our bathroom this morning, you would have heard the following:

“Ben, get your hands out of your pants!”
“But Mom, I like to scratch my BUTT!”

The Big 5

What to say about Ben’s 5th birthday…I don’t know where to start. Ben was very excited about his birthday – excited to have cake and open presents. I was up early on his birthday to make him pancakes (his favorite) and bacon. He went to daycare as usual, and when we got home that night, I told him he could have whatever he wanted for supper. His choice? Peanut butter & jam. Yep, he REALLY went out on a limb with that one! Ben got a Nintendo DS for his birthday and a game for it, as well as some great gifts from Ottawa (thanks K, G, R & F!).









Saturday, the 14th, was his birthday party – and he had requested a secret agent party! So I did invitations with the text reversed, so you had to read it in a mirror. And we set up a scavenger hunt, and did a fingerprinting game. The kids had a really good time, and most importantly, so did Ben! Although it was touch and go when he didn’t win the scavenger hunt…he calmed down though, and loved opening up all the presents he was given! A Webkinz, a Build-A-Bear, remote control cars, games, books, clothes, a watch…it was great, and a big thank you to everyone!

Madagascar morning:

Ben climbed into bed with me a couple days ago, and started softly talking. I couldn't make it out at first, but about 3 lines in, I figured out what he was saying:

"I like to move it, move it,
You like to move it, move it,
He likes to move it, move it,
We like to... MOVE IT!"

"Which one of you is attracted to me?

"Seriously, call first!"

Utter randomness:

"What tha hett?" - What the heck? She gets this from her big brother (only the beginning, I'm sure!) and will say this when something doesn't go the way she thought it would. At least she's clear on the context!

"Anowa bear" - polar bear, although I think the true translation would be "granola bear"

Ella is doing pretty good on the talking front. She will talk and talk and talk, sometimes you really have to pay attention to understand her, but there isn't much that we don't understand these days.

I'm really craving a Starbucks right now. Bad, bad, bad.

Gord really loves his new tv. Or the gargantuan monster, as I like to call it. We've ordered a shelf thing from IKEA to house all the assorted crap we have to hook up to it, and I ordered a few other things, to make the shipping worthwhile (like I need an excuse!). Hopefully it will get here soon and we can set up the living room/dining room properly! Then we will post pictures of the finished product...

Ben is 5 years old in 6 days. I know it's inevitable, but I just can't help but want time to just stop so that I can catch my breath. Oy.