My Skater Boy

Our Kai Bear passed levels 1 and 2 of skating and we are sooooo proud of him. I'm mostly proud of his determination. It is so great to see that although he isn't blessed with the greatest coordination, he will give 110%. So, level 1 and 2 means basically that he can walk from one end of the rink to the other (ya, not so much gliding going on yet), turn in a circle, skate and touch his toes, fall down and get up. Pretty much it!

You can see by his sweaty face how hard he works! We went for a family walk afterwards to go to Starbucks to get a kids hot chocolate. I told him he could get whatever he wanted, and you know what he said? `Do they have apples?'. Crazy kid. Koen and Kai ended up having cake pops and hot chocolate:). Next up? Swimming lessons! I have a feeling that won't go as well but he we will see!

Kai is so into school it is driving me crazy. He asks me all day long what he will learn in grade 1, grade 5, grade 7, grade 11 etc. He wants to talk about everything he is learning, which is good, and I'm learning in the process. Right now in preschool, he is learning about the classification of instruments and the artist Kandinsky (he goes to a Wind and Tide preschool which we LOVE). I wonder if Koen will be as nerdy as him? (*Note: it is cool to be nerdy*). The boys continue to play so well together and Koen totally knows how to push Kai's buttons, it makes me laugh...and then tell him to stop:) Kai is now into computer games and Gary is in charge of that one. I have no idea what upgrades he is talking about, I just say `that's interesting'.

Just found this picture while going into our archives (2007/2008). Oh Mexico, it was a great trip with Kai bear and a bunch of friends! Just getting excited about our spring break and hoping we don't have to pack snowsuits to Tofino. Trying to figure out some business stuff. Trying to continue to work out the kinks in running a business with your spouse (don't know if I'd recommend it and I mean that in a nice way).

Gary and I are doing okay. We both had pulled muscles in our backs. I saw a massage therapist after dealing with a sore back for 2.5 months and now I feel fantastic. I just read `Room' by Emma Donaghue and it was a gooder. Gary just seems to be tired and understandably so. He works all day and then does the full out dad thing and then tries to fix our ridiculous computer. I am not buying a 4th computer but we might have to if I beat his computer up. DRIVING. US. CRAZY. Our 5D is also on the fritz. I think it's a battery connection type issue and I always have a back up camera on me just in case.....Gary wants to buy another 5D. Seriously, 4 cameras? Yikes. I guess that's what happens though when you have two photographers in the house!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Ours consists of photographing a wedding (very fun just doing one per month!!) and my niece, Sami's, first birthday!

Love, Louise

Oil of Oregano

Please give me your best tips for fighting a cold! Kokies has had a cold since the beginning of December. I think they have been three separate ones. The antibiotics might have helped with the first infection but I'm not putting him back on those again, especially since I think this one is viral (clear mucus). I'm going to get some Oil of Oregano today and see if that works. He is just super, super, super stuffed up. I've been wiping his nose all day long, for about 8 weeks (minus the two days he was healthy). I am so incredibly thankful that they haven't turned into ear infections, I think the chiropractor really helped him last year.

{big flakes this morning!}

The other day I said to Koen, `Another boogie? How many boogies do you have?' Koen said, `Nine boogies':) When I saw the big mess he made in the living room I said, `Who made this mess?' and Koen said, `Ellen (Degeneres) did it.'.

Kai had skating yesterday and even managed to skate (walk) backwards. When he got off the ice he said, `Mommy, could you believe your eyes?'. He did so well again and probably only fell five times this week...mostly because he is determined to be the fastest in his class which makes me laugh:) Gary was able to make it to his lesson again this week so that was awesome. Gary is usually gone at least 4 nights a week so I'm glad that the last two weeks it's been Wednesday nights that he's been home!

Reminder: tips on how to help a kid fight a cold!!!

Love, Louise

Go Kai Go!

Kai had his first skating lesson today. I am so glad that for two things:

1. That we took him last week so he was familiar with the rink and how difficult skating can actually be.

2. That we bought a helmet with a cage (great idea, Terri!!). I feel like he would've knocked out every tooth today.

I was nervous all day. I didn't let him know. He wasn't loving skating after we went last time but we talked about how he wasn't good at riding his bike at first, and then he got better. How he couldn't dress himself, but with some practice, he's now an expert. I talked about how I didn't love skating lessons but I was so thankful I had them because now I can skate. Kai is very good about talking through things and I know what works well with him.

The lesson was good. Phew! They all started on chairs and then the teacher had them get on their knees and practice standing up. Hilarious! Sort of, also a bit sad. They all looked like fish out of water. I can't imagine teaching that class! Basically 3 of the kids got up right away and the rest seriously flailed around. I wish I had it on video. Twelve kids flailing all over the ice. Kai tried getting up once or twice and then just stayed on his knees until a teacher helped him up.

Then, they were allowed to use the chairs to try to move from one line to another. They were kind of teaching them to take steps instead of pushing and Kai seriously moved his feet back and forth 100 times and moved 1 inch. He didn't lift his feet off the ice:) I wish they had given him a little tip....I can't even imagine the calories he was burning! I wanted to yell `lift your feet' or `push!' but I'm guessing that wouldn't be cool.

I saw him fall a lot. And often he would look towards me in the bleachers and I gave him the thumbs up and cheered him on (I know, I'm so dorky and I knew it) and he kept trying over and over. I was so proud of him for not giving up. He didn't move far and he collided with a million kids but he didn't give up.

Afterwards he said he didn't like skating at all but I said there are only 9 more lessons and he was okay with that. I asked him what his favourite part was and he said, `Smashing chairs into other peoples chairs'. I don't think he was doing it purposely but I'm glad he found some fun in it:)

And to finish the day off...look who got the listening award today! This is the major thing we are stressing with him as he may have had to be removed from circle time before Christmas. He was removed for not listening and being silly with a friend. This was my largest frustration as a teacher so Kai will definitely get a reminder or two about this over his academic career:)

Goodnight from the proud momma of a Kai Bear.

Louise