Kayson - Behavior

It's crazy that I'm writing this post out...  as Kayson is a good kid, smart and knows what's wrong/what's right.  Unfortunately, over the past week or so, Kayson has had trouble in class at school.  Last week he got in trouble for blurting out...  basically that meant that him and some friends were probably wound up and just being rude - interrupting and blurting out, rather than raising their hands.  (Yes, I know they are in 1st Grade - it's almost summer - he's one of the popular kids, so I'm sure other friends are causing some of this - and they are probably just 'over' school).  I'm not dumb, the teacher isn't dumb either (she's actually awesome). 

So...  he was warned last week... and then yesterday (Monday) he was warned several times and continued to be disrespectful and distracting to others.  

We do not stand for this... it's not a choice, it's not what we expect out of him.  Last night we had a talk with him - as he cried (because he's our sensitive one, and he KNOWS he was in the wrong).  We've taken the iPad away for 2 weeks, he will be reading more at bedtime (cuz he kind of slacks at that), and we expect great behavior at school (and home).  

Today he is expected to have a great day - as well as we've taken recess away from him.  (That one stung a little for him).  

Again, we know this is probably 'common', but when our kid is SO good and we only hear positive things...  then we have a week of bad, it hurts and it's NO fun.  It just broke my heart last night having to have that talk with him.  

I pray that we can get through the next 5-6 weeks with positive rewards and days.  

Weekend

Friday:
Cora and I stayed home Friday.  Friday morning, she woke up and just wasn't acting like herself... very clingy and seemed very tired.  She ate breakfast, but within minutes of eating, she looked pale (like the blue lips and just out of it).  It freaked me out.  She said her tummy hurt and she was cold...  She seemed like she wanted to throw up, but she never did...  we just sat with her and eventually she got color back.  It was Sooooo weird.  No fever, but just definitely not herself.  Ryan needed to be in the office, so I ran downtown and got my laptop, back home to be with her.  

She was definitely quiet most of the day... just moped around, but also played really well.  I was actually able to work about 6 hours, so that was SUPER.  She had some crackers mid-morning... that stayed down, and she again, perked up a little.  She ate a little for lunch, then was super tired.  She layed down for about 2 hours, which is pretty good...  then she really was back to her normal self by 4:00.  I still think it's really weird... and we'll watch that again.  But she seems ok. 

Friday night we just stayed in... ordered yummy pizza and hung out. 

Saturday:
Ryan attended a men's church gathering in the morning - breakfast and brainstorming for some activities through the year.  He had a nice time.  Kids and I just hung out... 

After lunch, I headed up to Clarion.  Eden had been asked to Prom, so I took the afternoon and evening to just do that by myself.  I had a really good time spending time with my sisters and the girls... Hope brought her roommate home and her twin, so we had fun with them.  It was just a super nice day.  As much as I love my kiddos - it was nice to just have me time.  However, the drives were so quiet it actually made me crazy!!  ha.  Figures.

Anyway, Ryan had a good day with the kids.  Kayson had a little birthday party to attend, so he was busy for a couple hours.  Cora rested.  They went for a walk.  They planted some flowers out back.  They got ice cream.  They watched a movie.  Good job Daddy.  :)

Sunday:
Church... then a quick run to the mall.  Kayson needed ANOTHER pair of shoes.  That kid.  He got shoes, sliders and some sandels.  He should be set.  Good grief. 

Groceries, laundry, fresh air, quiet time and random stuff this afternoon.  It's been a nice day.  

Here are a few pics from the weekend. 

She looks 12.

My beauty of a niece - Eden.  She looks awesome.

Derick and Eden

Goofy kids.

Kayson - Lost 5th Tooth

and Kayson's first top (big) tooth is out.  It's been dangling there for about a week.  Finally, Ryan just took a Kleenex and pulled.  OUT!  

Love it.  He looks adorable.

My struggles with Cora

Cora is a little over 3 1/2 years old.  I've said several times over the past month (in my posts) that she has been a challenge for me.  Only me.  I sometimes struggle and worry that I'm just not doing a good job.  I know I am, but in the moment when there is something every minute with her, it becomes daunting and very frustrating.  I love this girl so damn much it hurts.

Some of the things she does are only for me.  If Ryan is around, she's typically pretty good (but don't get me wrong, she can be pretty bad when Ryan's home too).  She can listen to him.  She does not listen to me.  Period.

Here are some examples of the things she does.

• She talks like a baby sometimes... or most nights.  She does a lot of baby talk - like a little extra whine in her voice.  She'll talk this way, and say that she's a baby.  I find this super annoying. 
• Talking back.  This is really new actually (been going on for a couple months maybe?), but I feel that it's heavy.  It's constant.  Everything I say, she has a response and typically it's "No".  I can say that the sky is blue and she'll have a remark, and it's typically a remark in a bratty tone. Last night she argued with me that tomorrow isn't Tuesday... she got mad and said "it's Friday and it's pizza day!"  I know these are little things, but after awhile of this being non-stop, I get completely worked up.
• Eating.  This is always hit or miss... typically we do well for about a week, then the next week she won't eat.  I get it - that's her routine.  Anyway, we fight at the dinner table nearly every night.  Again, very frustrating. 
• She yells at me.  Most of the time she's yelling "Stop" or "No" to me.  Typically it's when we are trying to have a conversation or I'm asking her to do something... like eat, or pick up her toys, or get ready for bath.  "Stop" is one of her favorite words.  

I have found that I could easily just let her get away with all of this stuff... but I don't want to.  I have people tell me to 'pick your battles' with her.  I feel like I do... but when most of this stuff is dis-respectful and hurtful, I am going to be a Mom and stand my ground.  Maybe that's not right... maybe I should just step away...  I don't know.  I've never had a 3 1/2 year old like this.  Yes, Kayson had his moments, but he was not like this at all. 

and she's a girl.  

More to come on this I'm sure.  When I re-read this, I'm sure this is all normal for her age, and other children, but ugh... I don't have to like it.  :)

Weekend

Friday:
Kayson had his first baseball game of the season!  It was a beautiful night (a little windy), but not cold!  Kayson did awesome... the whole team did.  K hit all three times he was up to bat (which is THE most nerve-racking part in my opinion!)   This year they play for an hour and 15 minutes... and it's funny cuz a little before the hour mark, you could tell the kids started getting distracted/spacing off.  So they'll need to work on that a bit.  Otherwise, all was good.

Hope, Logan and JeanAnn came to watch which was super nice.  JeanAnn headed home after the game, but Hope and Logan and us grabbed a bite to eat after wards.  We had a great supper, and great laughs.  Such good kids.

I'll have lots of pictures throughout this season I'm sure.

Saturday:
Kids were up early, unfortunately.   K and I went out to Lacey's to get his hair buzzed.  Ryan and Cora went out to church to work on finances.  According to Ryan, Cora was great - figures.  She's terrible for me.  Anyway, we all got home... I started some laundry, then we headed out to watch Kyle (Ryan's cousin) play a basketball game.  His AAU traveling team is in here DSM for a tournament, so I'm glad it worked out for us to go watch and visit with Todd.  We grabbed lunch afterwards with them and Grandma Janis.  By the time lunch was done, Cora was done for too.  Home for a rest.

Unfortunately, her rest was not long...  overtired I'm sure.  We just kinda hung out this afternoon for a bit, then Ryan and Eric (neighbor) headed out to do some craft beer tasting.   The kids and I made a trip to the park at the school.  I knew I had to get them out of the house, or we would have had trouble!  Jess, Lex and their kids were there too (along with tons of other families), so we played for a bit...  they did really well, until it was time to come home. 

We attempted supper... and then watched a movie.  Kayson watched the whole thing... Cora was easily distracted, and just played.  She stayed pretty quiet.

Sunday:
Church...
Then home to do random, Sunday stuff.  Ryan mowed.  I fought with Cora (more to come with that... I've trying to find the words to write about Cora and the way she behaves...)  We got the patio furniture out and cleaned up.  We played outside.  I got groceries.  It was a pretty nice afternoon and evening.  

Pics are only from Friday night.

This & That

• The big girl bed looks great...  I love it.  I think Cora loves it too... however, she's been having a terrible time falling asleep at night.  She lays in there, very restless like.  The last two nights it's taken her about an hour to fall asleep.  That's NOT normal.  So...  I'm hoping she's just getting used to the feel of the sheets/comforter.  I mean, it is all different.  So... more to come on that. 
• With the new bed/bedding... I'm going to do some other updates to her room.  I've removed the uppercase living decal on her wall (it was a baby saying).  I'm looking into getting some paper garland to hang on her quilt rack (as I removed her baby quilt!)  More to come on that!
• It seems as if this has been the longest.week.ever.  It's only Wednesday.  REALLY!?
• We have a lot going on... coming up.  
• Baseball games start this Friday, then no real rhyme or reason to the schedule, but getting practices in in between the games.
• Ryan will be doing some heavy commuting the next couple three weeks.  
• Graduation parties and Open Houses coming up for Ryan's two cousins.  We are just trying to plan things out, and figure out how/if we can make it to everything.  
• Planning swim lessons for Kayson this summer.  I'm still waiting to hear back on this.  Insert anxiety.  I want this on the schedule!!
• Going to book Cora for a week long tumbling class in June.  
• Random play dates for the kids.
• And just getting ready for summer... K will be out of school!!  It seems unreal.  I really want to have a fun summer, even tho we still work, but I want to do some fun, random things with the kids. I want to take a few days off here and there to do stuff.    
• The Iowa weather is going to warm up, effective today!  I'm excited.  I need the sun, I need a little boost.
• One of my best friends, Colleen, has taken a new job... at not at Principal.  I miss her terribly.  She's not just here to message at random times of the day, she's not here to have spontaneous lunches with.  Enter sad face!!!  (but super happy for her too!)

Weekend

Friday:
Dinner out... and big girl bed setup!  That was it for our evening. 

Saturday:
Ryan worked...  Kids and I hung out.  For the first time in a long time (on Saturday mornings), the kids were pretty good for me.  We've struggled a lot lately - a lot of talking back, a lot of disrespect, but Saturday morning was good.  (Sunday afternoon was a different story unfortunately).
Kayson had another birthday party to attend.  Cora took a rest.  I just hung out in between dropping him off and picking him up.  

Saturday night we got together with Heidi, Chris and their boy, Brady.  We did dinner out, then they wanted to see our basement.  They came over for a bit... kids played great, and the adults visited.  We had a really good time.  Heidi and Chris are just good people, fun people...  we need to try to do more with them.  

Sunday:
Church, and this afternoon we enjoyed the decent weather!  Finally some sun... and some rain in between, but it wasn't brutally windy and cold!  I'd call that a plus.  In between the rain, we did lots inside.  Lots of playing, lots of fighting.  ...Mostly Cora and me.  She just is doing some very frustrating things and only to me.  It hurts my feelings and gets me worked up as well.  I just have to pray that this is a terrible stage, and someday she won't act this way.  

I made a nice supper... and then really we just all enjoyed a decent evening.  Some random phone pictures below.  Nothing too exciting.

Doctors are in the house!

Big Girl Bed!

We got Cora's big girl bed set up (ALMOST) Friday evening.  
We grabbed a bite to eat, then home to tear the toddler bed apart, and put the 'new' one together.  I think it went well... ha - I didn't do a darn thing.  Thank God for Ryan.  
Kayson helped a little, so that was nice...  I tried to keep Cora out of the way, and happy.  It took a little longer than I thought it would, so she was soon up past her bedtime, and she was tired.  BUT... in the end, it was great and she was ready to sleep in her new bed. 

HOWEVER, it wasn't really done. 

The 'kit' didn't provide us the wood boards that go under the box-spring/mattress.  So...  Friday night, she literally just slept on the mattress that was laying somewhat inside the bed frame.  Weird, but it worked.  Saturday morning Ryan got the boards, and we got it all set up Saturday afternoon.  We are still waiting on her official bed comforter/set, but it's working out great... and she's adjusted well.  (Now we just hope she never falls out... like Kayson hasn't!)

Here are the pictures of the process.  I'll post her final look later... as I'd still like to make some other adjustments to her decor.  More to come!

Kayson - Star Student

The end of March (March 28-April 1), Kayson was Star Student of the Week!  Every child in the class gets a week where it's all about them... 

Each day of the week was something different for Kayson to bring or talk about.  
Monday:  Color and present the "All About Me" poster - this included some questions about him, and then he just got the opportunity to make it his own.  He did an awesome job!

Tuesday:  Take 3-5 pictures of himself (from being a baby, through growing up, to now).  I chose some pics, he chose some.

Wednesday:  Show a special talent.  Now this one we had different ideas on... I thought it meant showing something he can do really well (like talk!)  I joke.  But he insisted on taking a medal from his i9 Sports game.  

Thursday:  Ryan and I had to write a letter to Kayson explaining to him how special he is to us.  This was such a neat project for us... I loved writing a letter to Kayson, as we obviously don't do that at all!  Mrs. Turner then read that letter in front of the class.  K seemed to like it, as he told me it was nice!

Friday:  Take your favorite book.  He chose a new book we had gotten - it's about the White House.  

So overall, he had a great week of fun with this project.  I thought it was super cool.  Here are a few pics of his poster.

This & That - Weekend

• Kayson had TWO birthday parties this weekend.  The kid has a busier social schedule than his parents.  One was a movie - private screening, which I thought was cool.  Then the other was a kick ball party.  Yep, exhausting if you ask me.  
• We got some of the landscaping cleaned up this afternoon.  I mean, Ryan did most of it, but it's cleaned up and looks nice!  We'll probably need to replace a few of the bushes, but that's ok.  
• We purchased Cora's 'big' girl bed this weekend.  We'll be able to pick it up this coming Friday.  I'm excited.  She's ready, and I'm ready too.  I'll start looking for some sheets and a comforter this week.  
• It's been nice weather here this weekend... minus the gusty Iowa winds.  YUK.  Seriously, hate the wind. 
• I did a little more cleaning out of the storage room.  I have the piles for the garage sale... and a small load for Goodwill.  The rest is me deciding if I should try to sell it --- clothes, after clothes.  I just don't know it people will buy them.  Plus there's SOOOO much... is it worth the time?
• That's about it... :)

Kayson trying on Daddy's old glasses - from 30 years ago!!!

Windy pic!