Today was the official first day of school for Emma and Ian. It was a big one because they were both starting a new school. The opening was delayed a little bit because of construction, and I was a bit worried that they still wouldn’t be ready, but they made it. The school still looks like a big construction zone, but the classrooms are done and look nice.

Ian started first grade with Mrs. Johnson and Emma started third grade with Ms. Taylor.

Emma was the first one up. She was all dressed and ready when I got up. She couldn’t wait to wear her new dress! Ian was a little later and I had to wake him to start getting ready. We took a few quick photos at home and then we were off to school.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they both have a great day!

I took Ian out for a mini photo shoot this morning. Tomorrow it is Emma’s turn

This past week Ian has been attending Karate camp at Bobby Lawrence Karate. Earlier in the summer he moved up from Little Ninja’s and became a Junior. When he did that he earned his solid yellow belt. Earning belts as a junior is quite a bit harder than earning them as a Little Ninja. There is a lot more to learn, and they seem to focus more on what you know rather than how many classes you have attended.

Summer camp is a great way to learn a lot all at once and to try to earn a new belt. When he attended the first week of camp earlier in the summer, he had just become a yellow belt. When he earned his yellow belt he skipped 2 Little Ninja striped belts. It was a big jump for him. I figured that at the end of the camp week, he wouldn’t be ready to promote. Turns out, he wasn’t quite ready. Since then he has been going to class twice a week and this week he attended camp again. I was really impressed with how much he learned this week at camp.

Today was promotion, and he was ready to promote to an orange belt. He worked hard at camp this week and he was really proud of himself.

Here he is getting his new belt.

Today was Ian’s last day of kindergarten. In some ways the last six years have seemed to last forever and in other ways they have flown by. It seems like yesterday that Scott was driving me down the canyon to the birth center. I was doing everything I could not to deliver him in the car! He came flying into this world as soon as I got to the birth center. His birth was a whirlwind and his life since has been a whirlwind too.

Ian does everything he does with energy. He started school at Little Miners Montessori when he was three. They were not sure quite how to deal with him. He was so full of energy and he had a hard time focusing. He moved to Soaring Wings Montessori when he was four, and that is where he has been for the last two years. Moving him was the best decision we ever made. At Soaring Wings he found a teacher that knew just how to handle him. Kim and her assistant Sara appreciated all of the wonderful things about Ian and knew how to lovingly redirect him when he needed it. He bloomed under their direction. I have felt so lucky to have them as Ian’s teachers the past two years. It was so nice to leave him in the care of people who truly cared about him. I think they loved him as much as he loved them!

The things Ian learned about at school this year were amazing. The things he remembered and told me about just blew me away. He even taught me a thing or two this year. He has the most amazing memory. When someone tells him a story or teaches him a lesson he remembers every detail. Sometimes I am astounded at the little details that he remembers.

I am so proud of him and everything that he has accomplished in his short time in school. Soaring Wings has been such a great start for him. I can’t wait to see what great things he will accomplish next year at the Weilenman School of Discovery.

Congratulations, little buddy!

This was the scene at our house at 4:55am this morning.

Emma and Ian got up at the crack of dawn and made me breakfast for Mother’s Day. They had first gotten up at midnight, but Scott chased them back to bed. They got up again around 4:00am and started my breakfast of cereal, waffles, and cinnamon toast.

They came in to wake me up about 4:45am. I was so tired I didn’t want to get out of bed. I didn’t realize at first what they had done, but as soon as I did I knew I had to get up!

They were so cute. Emma had made me all kinds of cards and crafts. Ian was so proud of himself for making my waffle all by himself.

I sat with them and ate my breakfast while I read all of my cards. They made me feel so special. It was so sweet that they went to so much trouble to make my Mother’s Day breakfast.

Ian has been taking karate at Bobby Lawrence Karate since last fall. This year he decided he wanted to enter the Bobby Lawrence Karate tournament. I thought it sounded like fun and I was excited that he wanted to do it. I took him to a few extra karate classes so he could prepare. He entered in two divisions–forms and self defense. For forms he had to perform Taikyoku Shodan, and for self defense he had to do Halting Ram. He has practiced both of these over and over again in class. But getting up and doing it on his own in front of the judges is a whole different ballgame.

When we got to the tournament we watched the team competitions. Ian was totally entertained by them. He loved all the jumping and especially the weapons! As soon as he saw them he talked non-stop about how he wanted to do that. When the competitions were over, though, I could see another side of Ian. I saw him get very calm and start to get worried. He was thinking about what he had to perform and he couldn’t remember a few parts. Luckily my friend Vicky was there. Since Vicky takes karate herself, she was able to help Ian, and I think it helped to calm him down.

Right after that they called him to the ring and I went to watch from the stands. I was excited for him. I was happy that he was so enthusiastic about the team competitions and I was excited to see him perform. When they called his name for forms he was great. He went running to the front like he was supposed to, and did great with his speech.

“Hello Judges. My name is Ian. My style is Kwon Shu. Today I will be performing Taikyoku Shodan. May I begin judges?”

He started out strong, but then he got to one spot and he got confused. He started asking the judges to help him. When they couldn’t, he just turned his back to them, put his head down and started crying. I could see him from the stands and I just wanted to run out there and hug him. It was so sad. Luckily, one of his regular teachers just happened to be one of his judges. Mr. Markus went out there and put his arm around Ian and started talking to him. He helped him remember what to do and Ian decided to give it another go. I was so proud of him for starting over and trying again.

When he went up the second time it went much better. Except for the part where his partner didn’t know what to do. He had to stop in the middle and teach her what to do so that he didn’t hurt her. It was cute! Here he is getting his self defense scores.

After everyone in his ring finished, the kids waited while they gave out the medals. I loved watching Ian’s anticipation and then seeing him so excited when they called his name and said he had tied for second place in self defense!

He came running up to the stands to show me his medals. I gave him a hug and told him how proud I was of him for starting over, even when he was scared and it was hard. He just hugged me and gave me the cutest little smile. Then Mr. Markus came up with a second medal. Apparently they had made a mistake and Ian also got second in forms. She he ended up getting second place in both of the events he entered.

I think Ian’s first karate tournament was a success!

Ian recently learned how to blow bubbles with his gum. We were loving the weather outside today in North Carolina, so I decided to have some fun with the kids and the camera. Here are some photos of our fun afternoon.

Ian lost his first tooth today at 6 years and 2 months old!

One of his front bottom teeth has been loose for quite a while. A few weeks ago I asked him if I could check to see if he had any loose teeth. Emma lost her first tooth right around this same time, so I thought I’d see if he was close. Sure enough, one of his bottom front teeth was a little bit loose.

We ordered him a pirate tooth pillow so that we would be prepared.

Today was the day. When he came home from school it was literally hanging by a thread. He couldn’t keep his hands–or his tongue–off of it. During karate he came running out and he had it in his hand.

He is really excited for his first visit from the tooth fairy!

A new bowling alley just opened up in Park City. We decided it would be a fun place to have Ian’s birthday party. We had a small party, and he just invited some of his best friends. It was the first time any of my kids had been bowling and they really had a great time. It was a perfect place for a party!

Check out Ian’s bowling style. I love how he is totally off the ground in the last photo!

The kids had lots of fun bowling, eating chips and candy, and then we finished off with pizza and cake.

I can’t believe that Ian turned 6 this week!

His birthday was on a Friday this year, and he doesn’t have school on Friday’s. I decided to make him a nice breakfast for his birthday. A few months ago I painted a birthday plate at Color Me Mine. I wanted to start a new tradition of having a special plate for the birthday child to use. Ian was the first one to get to use it, and he was really excited about it.

One of our favorite things to do in Maui, is to go to the Gazebo for breakfast. They have the most amazing pancakes. This year we asked about their recipe and they actually told us. They said the delicious topping was Dream Whip, butterscotch, and maple syrup. We decided to try to make them to celebrate Ian’s birthday. I think we did a pretty good job. They turned out delicious.

I really don’t know where the time has gone, and I can’t believe that Ian is 6. As we put him to bed Scott and I told him the story of his birth, and how we almost didn’t make it to the birth center on time. He was really interested and he asked a lot of questions. He was pretty amazed!

Here are a few things about Ian as he turns six:
-He is in Kindergarten at Soaring Wings Montessori School. He has a wonderful teacher named Kim who we all adore.
-He is still a ball of energy.
-He is an orange belt in karate at Bobby Lawrence Karate.
-He loves to practice his karate moves…..all the time, even ones he makes up
-He started playing hockey this year and he loves it.
-He likes ski racing and he won a bronze medal in Nastar this week.
-He learned to really swim this year and he was totally self sufficient in the pool in Maui
-He is still a little sweetheart. He looks at me all the time and says “I love you, Mom” and gives me the best hugs! I hope that never changes.
-He loves to play Wii.
-He loves Legos and anything Star Wars.

We are so lucky to have such a smart, charming, sweet little boy. I am savoring these moments while he is still a little boy. He is turning into a big boy before my eyes. Happy birthday, big guy!