Live from Boston

Noah and I are on our first trip of just the two of us. So far his living the dream on the plan. No brother to compete with. Non-stop six hours of cartoon network and Momma handing him food to sustain him. He has hardly said a peep. So different from Eric who asks questions about everything going on and how much longer.

Noah became a big kid on his birthday. He turned five. When Eric was fiver years he got to go on a work trip with Momma too, also around the time of the Boston marathon.

This will be a brand new experience for Noah. He will have undivided attention of both me and Grandma, not to mention Nana and Auntie Janice who he last visited at nine months old. Younger siblings don't really even know that undivided attention exists.

I am heading to work at the Boston Marathon. Grandma is meeting to hang with Noah while I work. It is going to an adventure for all of us. Clif Bar is the official organic sports nutrition food of the Boston marathon for the first time ever and it is a huge activation.

Noah is really ready for something new other than pre-school. His frustration with learning  and trying to do things like write letters, numbers, and read without yet having been taught is just like when he was learning to articulate with words he didn't yet have to express what he wanted to say.

I know he senses the transition to kindergarten is near and he has no hesitation but it probably not soon enough.

Soooo good time for his first big kid work trip with Mom! It will be interesting because Eric is such a good big brother, Always watching out for Noah and giving him direction and answering for him before he gets a chance to speak. Sometimes I think this makes Noah a little less outgoing because brother is always there to lead the way.

Let's not forgot to mention that "Mom-of-the-Year" is sitting two rows behind us on the plan with two little boys who we have not heard a peep out of the entire flight. I just keep hearing her bitch, swear, scold, put down, and ridicule these poor little boys who are doing nothing than being 2 and maybe 4 year olds on the plan. Very well behaved. The ask her lots of questions and have a lot of needs and I get that she has been traveling with them on vacation for a week and is desperate for a break but that doesn't make up for the fact that she puts them down. Listening to her reminds me that even on my worst day I am never that bad and that my worst days will now have me thinking back to how hurtful her parenting was to her children and how I don't even want to come close to that!

Marching through Mt Denali

March 2015 » Oh, the Places We Went in March!

This month, we got to celebrate an honorary friend's birthday, Dr. Suess! Very familiar with his work, the children were excited to explore and celebrate literacy by reading a few classics and adding a few new stories to our collection. Among one of our favorites was “Ten Apples On Top” where the children were given the opportunity to integrate both literacy and math into an art and gross-motor activity. Warming up our fingers and working on fine-motor skills, the children practiced signing numbers 1-10 in ASL. Curious how someone could possibly balance ten apples on top of their heads, we decided to test out the theory and see how many different types of objects we could balance on our heads. Using various books from our library, each friend took turns making predictions and estimating how far they could walk before the book fell off their heads. Realizing we needed to come up with a strategy, it didn’t take long to discover that the slower we walked, the farther we got before the book fell. This challenge was harder than we thought! Afterwards, we decided to step into the illustrator’s shoes and create our own representation of the story. Using imagination and creativity, each friend drew their own Dr. Seuss character and using one-to-one correspondence, we counted and numbered 10 apples. Then using basic math skills, we practiced numbered sequencing and glued 10 apples on top!

Of course, we couldn’t celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday without dressing for the occasion! After reading “Fox in Socks” and noticing all the crazy clothing and antics the characters were up to in the book, we decided to experiment with mixing colors and dye socks! Using a homemade recipe, teachers mixed together three colored packets of koolaid with vinegar to create three bowls of red, purple, and yellow dye. Once the koolaid packets had dissolved, the children practiced using fine motor skills by pinching droppers into the dye and releasing drops onto theirsocks. Curious how well this homemade recipe would work, the children were excited to see what colors the dye made once they mixed together. Then we bagged up our socks, laid them to dry in the sun and washed them to see if the dye would stick. Sadly, once all the pairs of socks were bundled and mixed in water, the red dye dominated the mixture and turned all our socks a pinkish red. Here, the children were able to make predictions about cause and effect observing what would happen once we dyed and washed our socks. On the bright side, the koolaid made our socks smell great!

As we move closer to the end of the year and taking that next step into Kindergarten, Dr. Suess provided us with some helpful advice for the future in "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Here's a look at where to find us in the distant future as each child was asked what they want to be when they grow up:

Colt: "I want to be a garbage man!"

Noah: "I want to be a football coach."

Owen: "I want to be a veterinarian."

Eli: "I want to be a garbage man too!"

Reza: "I want to be Lightning Man!"

Silas: I want to be a dump truck driver!"

Lilian: "I want to be a mom."

Taavi: "I want to be a football coach too!"

Cruz: "I want to be a motorcycle race driver."

Jackson: "I want to be a garbage truck driver."

A little bummed that St. Patrick's Day was on a Tuesday, we decided to go ahead and get into the holiday spirit by exploring leprechauns, shamrocks, gold, and Irish culture. Discovering mysterious footprints all over our classroom, Denali detectivesjumped right on the case and grabbed their magnifying glasses to search for clues in the classroom and figure out who could’ve left them. Noticing clover-like footprints, we realized it could only be one thing, a leprechaun! Not only did the leprechaun leave behind footprints, but he also left behind some gold coins on his way out of Base Camp. Decorating pots of gold to use on our hunt, each friend took turns hunting for treasure outside on the yard. Once there were no more traces of gold, we counted how many gold coins we found using one-to-one correspondence and discovered the leprocaun left behind 50 pieces! Good thing we were there to clean up after him!

Among some of our favorite green day activities was exploring shamrocks through the use of beads and green bell peppers. Practicing fine-motor skills and basic math skills to create patterns, the children prepared themselves for the “tickles” coming their way in case they forgot to wear green on the big day. While creating patterns, we noticed that even though all the beads were in the shape of a shamrock, they were also all different colors and sizes. So, to help classify the beads, each friend worked in pairs to sort by color and size using our sorting trays. Afterwards, we made a surprising discovery when we noticed that slicing a green bell pepper in half created a shamrock shape, and were even more surprised when we realized that we could use a bell pepper for a new art medium! Dipping each half in green paint, the children made shamrock prints and added a stem by finger painting with one finger.

Curious to learn more about Irish culture and food common to the region, we decided to make our own Irish Soda Bread to share with families for Family Picnic. Working together as a team, the class helped one another label and list ingredients, identify measurements, and mix together all the dry ingredients to make the bread. Developing both fine and gross motor skills, the biggest challenge was being able to knead the bread and shape it into a loaf. But, three loaves later we had our very own Irish Soda Bread! We hope you all enjoyed it as well!

Happy March!

With Love,

Ms. Lisa and Ms. Keri

February 2015 » Love in Mt. Denali

February 2015 » Love in Mt. Denali

Boy, could we feel the love in the air this February! Ready for some Valentine’s Day fun, the children wasted no time getting their hands dirty in art projects, planning secret surprise gifts for moms and dads, baking yummy treats, and of course, tracking down those mysterious footprints all over our classroom! Love wasn’t all we brought to the classroom, a mysterious “love bug” seemed to be playing in our classroom, leaving red heart footprints all over our tables, floors, and furniture! We never were able to catch the love bug in action, but it sure prompted questions regarding its identity. While we tried to unravel the mystery, we got to workspreading our own love by creating “long-distance hugs” to share with friends and family. With moms and dads often leaving on work trips or heading to the office for the day, we realized they must miss us like crazy. To help fill their bucket, we painted our hands and made two red handprints on white paper. Once the paint dried, teachers helped cut them out and use our fine motor skills to tie strings between each hand. Suddenly, hugs were being given out left and right! We hope you all got one of your own!

Afterwards, we began working on our TOP SECRET surprise gifts for moms and dads. Wanting to show them just how much we love them, what better way than to give them our hearts! Figuratively, we mean. Decorating heart shaped keepsake boxes with heart foam stickers andsequins, we decided a long distance hug just wasn’t enough, we wanted to make something our moms and dads could take with them everywhere, our hearts on a keychain! Using special shrink film, each friend traced a heart shaped stencil and decorated it with sharpie markers. Once their drawings were complete, we took each heart and baked it in the oven for approximately two minutes on 350 degrees. To our surprise, the shrink film shrunk to more than half its original size and now our hearts were the size of the palms of our hands! Attached onto keychain rings, we were able to decorate two hearts, one for mom and dad, and place them inside our heart keepsake box as a special surprise. We hope you loved them!

Of course, we couldn’t end the week without baking someyummy treats and passing out our valentines! Working on recognizing ingredients and identifying measurements, each friend was responsible for one ingredient. Using basic math skills and fine motor skills to handle measuring cups and spoons, we used a basic recipe to make delicious Valentine’s Day sugar cookies. Visualizing cause and effect as certain ingredients were added to our mixture, we tested the dough periodically to see if it was ready to be molded. Once “doughy” enough, we took turns rolling the dough into balls and flattening it to be able to use our heart shaped cookie cutter. Once placed onto the cookie tray and baked, we made our own frosting from scratch and added pink food coloring to turn it pink. With frosting ready to go, we began decorating our cookies, adding sprinkles to add to our sea of frosting, occasionally having to lick the frosting that kept getting on our fingers. Looking too good to pass up, we decided to dive in and “test” our cookies. Just to make sure they were safe. Hopefully you all got to “test” them too! And if you didn’t get to hear all about our Valentine’s Day at school, here are a few pictures to get you caught up!

For you, Noah!Who's ready to pass out valentines? Me!

 A valentine for you!And you, too!

Check out this cool valentine!Look, I made something for you! 

Thank you Taavi!Whoa, how awesome!

Along with all the love going on in Mt. Denali, we decided to integrate kindness into our curriculum and revamp our kindness heart concept. Creating new kindness heart buckets to resemble heart pouches, we reintroduced kindness hearts and ways we can earn them. Hanging them up in our circle area, we will take a moment each day during morning circle to highlight kind acts our friend have earned, hoping to encourage more kind acts to follow. At the end of each week, our friend will be able to check their buckets and take home all the hearts they earned that week to show moms and dads. For each kindness heart earned, Ms. Keri and I will write what kind act that friend initiated or was a part of. Our goal is to build positivity both inside and outside the classroom and encourage kindness in any way we can. From the simplest acts such as grabbing a pencil for a friend to helping a friend in need. Let the kindness begin!

Happy February!

With Love,

Ms. Lisa and Ms. Keri

Happy Birthday to Our Noah

Today Noah is five years old. Yesterday we discovered his two lower, front teeth are loose. He was so surprised. It is a true stepping stone of growing up. He has watched his older brother loose teeth all the time with extreme curiosity. Now it is his turn and he is fascinated. He reminds of when he started walking the day before his first birthday. He took this first two or three steps and had the same big eyes and surprised look as he does now looking at himself in the mirror making many various "Noah Expressions" while wiggling the teeth. The tooth fairy will be coming and this time for Noah's teeth because he is now five.

Thinking about writing this post I thought it would start by saying "oh, I can't believe he his five already", but the truth is I do believe it. My baby is five. Don't tell him I called him a baby. He hates that but of course our children are always our babies in our hearts.

For some crazy reason, I have been awaking every morning at 5am for the last month. My guess is that my need to write is waking me up. This morning I woke up and my first thought was today Noah wakes up and is five years old and he is going to be so excited.

Now Noah is five. He has a tender heart and a mind of his own. He is stern and direct with his feelings and willing to speak the unspoken feelings for the whole house. He loves to be held close and snuggle up. Even fifty-pounds heavy, Noah prefers to be carried, but understands when he can't be. He trusts his brother to teach him well, but doesn't let him rule his world. His best friend since they were five months old is Taavi , whose parents are wonderful and now also friends.

Noah is a child that has forced me to face many fears in order to better parent. This has helped me grow as a person. He challenges me in ways only Noah can, and while this does wear me down, each time I learn from it. He has opened my eyes to a tenderness that I believe all grown men have, some just have no idea how to express it because they didn't have the confidence or were never shown how. Noah you are a sweet, strong, and beautifully blonde boy. I love you and promise to always give you hundreds of big, wet, and sloppy kisses and some good back scratches.

Five cousins skiing

Stayed tuned.....five kids, two days, four adults one day, Aaron and I solo the next. May the force be with us.

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Erics

Today is my Grandpa Eric's birthday, Eric's namesake. He would have been 100 years old today. As far as I can tell there is no one sweeter or more content with his life than he was. He will always be a very special human who had more love and silliness to give than he seemed to realize.

 December 10th will  also always be 98 days after my labor day. Yet this day will never pass by without specially noting it as Eric's second birthday. No, not second as in two years old, but rather the day we came home from the hospital and walked through our front door together as a new family.

Eric, you embody the kind and happy nature of your great grandpa. Your smile, your bright eyes, your deep-belly chuckle bring daily joy into this world. You, my baby, have grown so much in eight years and the person you are becoming has me in awe every day. You are growing into a bold, confident, determined, and exceptionally enthusiastic young man. You wake up with sun wearing a huge smile on your face and strong bouncy steps underfoot. Although I struggle to wipe the sleep out of my eyes and say "good morning sunshine", I love your eagerness to start the day! Mostly though, I love you and as the trauma of our early days getting to know each other fades further behind us, I will remain forever grateful.

Eric soccer

Eric's soccer coach said he was the player with the best  sportsmanship and biggest smile all the time. His smile glows and lights up. His highlight move was passing and assistang in the goal which is what they c were working von all season as a team!

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Three buddies

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These 24, 26, 25 weeker NICU grads celebrating together their 8th birthdays. #sweetestboysever

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Fave travel companions

Montana summer here we come.

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Noah completed his summit of Mt. Whitney

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Best quotes from Father's day camping at Cisco Grove

"Noah do you have to go potty?" "No, I am just holding it for fun."

Eric after slipping into the creek crossing with one foot and sobbing, "Now my shoe will be wet for one hour"! Man, was he mad.

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Biscuits, breakfast, boys

Breakfast at Kali's with my boys. Love Fridays!

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New room

For the last 2 months we have been remodeling Eric and Noah's room. They have been sleeping on mattresses on the floor in the living room with toys and clothes lining the walls. Noah never actually realized that he has been sleeping in a toddler bed. Today we welcomed the final touch and moving back into their new room. Here you see their new bunk beds.  Each of them now has there on private place.  Eric even posted a sign. It reads "Privacy please.  Please go away".  Older siblings have to spell things out for their younger ones. At least he said please.

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Keeping up

Keeping up, let alone staying ahead of things is hard to do these days. The boys are always ten steps ahead of me leaving me scrambling to catch up with the next activity before someone breaks something, punches something or someone, gets hurt, or simply makes a mess that will require my immediate attention for the next 60 minutes.

We are days away from completing a remodel over their room and painting of our downstairs. This activity, taking place in 1300 sq ft house doesn't leave much room to live in. Needless to say we are all feeling a bit "jarred and unsettled" with the displacement of EVERYTHING. Getting ready in the morning goes something like that.

"Time to get dressed"!

"Eric put can you please put your dirty jammies in the hamper."

"Where's the hamper?"

Oh, uhhh, I think it is in the living room or maybe on the back porch

" Eric, can you please get dressed (second request)."

" I can't find any underwear.!"

"Oh, yeah. I think they are all folded downstairs, sitting on daddy's desk."

" Please get you backpack and shoes"

"Where are they".......

You get the picture.

Meanwhile we have had some lovely time getting away from the chaos with a unforgettable trip to Lego Land and San Diego, Santa Monica for Daddy's birthday, and a Mother's day camping trip!

Over the course of these activities Eric has mastered reading books with complete sentences, chapters, and stories! He love to read to Momma and beams when provided with the reassurance that he is doing a great job.

Noah has learned to ride his bike. He can't start on his own yet so Momma olds on to the seat until I hear my queue, "Let off, let off I side." which is means "let go NOW" mom.

Eric's baseball season is wrapping up and I wish I wasn't so excited about but it has been a trying season wrought with discontent between parents and coach. The coach would be better suited for 14 year olds and doesn't understand the point of baseball at this age or know how to communicate very well. Oh well, dealing with difficult people is a good lesson for all and only a few more weeks left.

On that note...kids need breakfast, Momma's needs a long run, and Daddy needs to be woken up (we let him sleep in).

PS Daddy is sleeping in Eric's bed, mattress on the floor.

Happy Easter

Easter is a celebration of coming out of darkness and into the light.  It is a celebration of gratitude.

Happy Easter to all!

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Satisfying training run in the hills

Fun morning on Mt Diablo! Missed first in my age group by 20 seconds. Alas, Eric will be disappointed in my finish. He wants me to bring home a first place metal for him to wear. We are working on teaching him the joys of personal victories,  but seven year olds like to win.

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Let's go number one

Great hit and speedy wheels to first base got him around the bases!

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Lunch date at Kali's

Such a treat!

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A few great one liners

Momma says, " I have no energy left for mini golf". Noah responds "POOF....I gave you some of mine [energy]. Now you have some".

Noah demands a snack after school  to which Momma reminds him she needs to hear those respectful magic words. Noah replies in his most tired and whiny voice, " I don't have any magic left today."

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Last week, Noah's pre-school celebrated International Day of Happiness and the letter "U".  Among all the joyous activities, they explored the fantastical world of unicorns by making horns;  practiced writing U's by making happy faces; and even re-purposed our pvc pipes by making upside down U's for the garden, which will be used as a support system for their plants/vines to grow around. They also kept up with  energetic 3/4 year olds by having a dance party where were they had a robot dance off and congo'd all around the classroom to "Happy" by Pharell (clearly a new favorite song). 

Here's a gist of what was said during one of our Happy vs.Unhappy circle times..

What makes you happy? 

Reza: Valentine's Day

Noah G.: When I go with my mom and go see firetrucks and see astronauts when it flies.

Noah T.: Toys!

Taavi: When I get to ride trains...and climbing on a firetruck connected on a play structure at a park.

Lily: Daddy

Silas: Firetruck that takes away the park. That's crazy!

Colt: When I go on trips. It makes me happy.

Jax: I love firetrucks, backhoes and dump trucks!

Eli: Superhero, my birthday day!

What makes you unhappy?

Reza: First robot day makes me unhappy.

Noah G. When you fall down you might get a boo boo.

Noah T. Blood.

Taavi: When my baseball team doesn't win. My team is the Giants.

Lily: Nothing...never!

Silas: When trucks take away the park and dumps it on the ambulance and goes boing boing!

Colt: When I don't get to go on pretend firetrucks a little bit.

Jax: When I'm burning on smoke and fire!

Eli: Firetrucks, well actually...