Tree Climbing & Swimming

We all went to the the "Home and Garden" show the other night and they had a tree climbing dispay that the kids got to try out. NEAT! Jo went up and got to swing just a bit and also got to let herself down using the pully. Both kids had a good time doing this as you can see the smile on Jo's face!
We have been hitting the pool lately as well, both kids having a blast on the slide and swimming in the warm water. Cole loves the fact that he gets to run and jump in off the diving board as well.

Proud Parents!

Jo’s ice skating class was broken up into two groups, one that would walk and move across the ice and the other group who would stand there and not move much. Jo was part of the second group. It just brings a smile to our faces knowing our child is just like so many other children…normal in their own way.

In Jo’s group one of the teachers threw out rubber ducks and cars for the kids to skate to and pick up. All of a sudden Jo had a purpose and goal to skate and off she went! First one duck and then back to the bucket…then it was two…then it was two at a time. She was finally moving on the ice alone and had a smile on her face! Whooohooo! We have a skater! Or rather a walker on ice.

Cole earned his white belt in Kenpo, having to remember part of the creed, doing an unselfish act during the week and then remembering the kick and punches that he was taught the week before. He did very well and we were told he would fit in easily with the “Little Dragons” 4 – 6 year olds. With his private lesson over we headed down stairs and he joined his first class with Little Dragons.

Wow, large class but he just jumped right in and did what he could to keep up. He did his best at watching the teacher and other kids to do what they were doing. He was impressive to watch his attention to detail and trying to “get it,” even when they were yelling things he yelled along…not what they were saying but it always sounded close. ha ha He also seems excited so we will be seeing him kick it up for at least another month.

Karate – Ice Skating – Beds

Well, this week the kids started some new activities that they both seem to love so far. And like good parents we did not take the camera to the activities and document their first classes. So like us, you all can just imagine what they looked like and how they did.

Cole has had one private lesson of Kenpo-Karate, with one more private lesson to go to earn his white belt. Then he will be able to join in regular classes, which could be up to six days a week. We are shooting for twice a week, hoping he learns some self-control and better listening skills along the way. It’s just a one-month free trial at this point but if he seems to enjoy it enough and we think it’s worth it he may just be a Karate Kid some day.

Jo was very excited about ice skating after a trip we took with Oma’s school, we could hardly get her off the ice and she has asked to go again ever since. So to ice skating school she goes, once a week for eight weeks. The first class they learned to fall correctly and then get back up. She fought to get up but finally did it on her own after quite some time, it’s a big class so the teachers did get around to helping her much. We both SMILED when she did it herself. After class is an open skate so Mom had to lace up a pair and skate a few laps with her before we switched with Oma and Cole, giving them a spin. We are just excited that Jo has found a physical activity that she wants to do, and to see her persevere while doing it!

We tried to tackle the kid’s bedroom the other night and found that they just have too much stuff and not enough room. After cleaning and organizing a bit we went to fit it all back in and it was just “full” (even with several bags and lots of blankets taken out). So out the door we ran, and back with a bunk bed we came. As you can see they both love it! They slept on the floor last night on their new mattresses, with both sleeping all night. No one joined us in our bed so maybe it was just time for “big beds”. Guess we will see in the coming weeks. In the meantime they have much more floor space; now maybe they will actually play in their room more.

X-mas Gifts and New Years Football…Myrtle Creek Style

We want to Thank ALL our Family and Friends for making our Christmas once again very special!

The kids got quite a few gifts this year from family and friends. Here is Jo holding her personalized music cd from Mandy, and then posing with her dress from Hawaii, the only time we got her to wear it so far. Miss Hollywood with her furry pink vest from the Young/Conkey family and her Princess dress from Gma/Gpa Belmont. She is now styling with her pink baseball glove and matching ball and will stay warm in her bright pink winter jacket both from Rachelle/Connie. There seems to be a common theme here…I’m guessing…Pink…reminds me of Mandy at this age.

Cole seems to be easy to shop for as well, action figures and sports seem to be his thing! Here he is showing off his Darth Vedar helmet from Gma/Gpa Belmont and then his New England jersey from the Young/Conkey family! (he just can’t get enough of the jerseys) Then onto the west coast team…Seahawks uniform along with a new Spiderman sweatshirt from Rachelle/Connie. The batmobile from Gma/Gpa and a cool light up Batman from Andrew, just right for the car by the way!

We spent New Years Eve in Myrtle Creek and had a very good time. The kids got lots of play time with the Clack Clan and then on New Years Day we all got together and played a little touch football. Well, we all played touch except when it came to Cole, he wanted to be tackled and so that is what we all did whether he had the ball or not. If you ran by him you took him out and got him muddy…He LOVED IT.

Jo even got into the action at first, hiking the ball and even ran it a few times. Then she went onto one of her favorite pastimes, playing in the mud and day dreaming. We just kept playing around her, I don’t think she ever noticed us running and throwing around her. A good time and a fun way to start the New Year.