All Iowa Attack season ending

The AIA season has come to an end.  As a parent, and a parent that's not a fan of basketball - I'm not sad about this!  :)

But it's been a really interesting and eventful season.  I'm soooo proud of Kayson for trying out for this competitive team and making the team.  That's huge.  It took a lot of guts and braveness to do that - to not make the team the year before, and just try again.  Super proud of him.

Unfortunately, the season wasn't a huge winning season.  Which for the team, the kids and even parents - that's not a ton of fun, right?  We have to be honest!  But I can say, I want to find the positive in the situation --- and there were several positives:

• spending some pretty damn good quality time with his Dad.  Now I know Ryan is a huge basketball fan and wants K to be a great player...  I get that.  So Ryan may not have been a ton of fun all the time for Kayson, but they definitely had some solid time together.  :)  And they won't get that time back. 
• Kayson made some good friends.  Some of these kids were kids he already knew, but with the season, I feel like they've become better friends.  They've done some things together outside of basketball practices/games, etc.  That's always nice to see. 
• He was coached by some good guys.  I'm a fan of one of the coaches - even tho K didn't get him as a coach all the time, but when he did - that coach was a huge fan of Kayson, and I appreciate that.  

Sports in general are tough.  Unfortunately there is pressure to do your best - I get that, of course I want my kid to do his best...  and he does.  He tries hard and he is a good kid.  I've realized that Ryan and I are not raising a professional athlete - we are raising a 13 year old to be a respectful kid and a teammate and a kid that can grow into a responsible adult.  That's all I really want. 

This & That

 

2022 Revolution Talent Competition

First competition is in the books for 2022.

This year, things are a little different from last year.  Last year we did 'block' schedule (due to COVID), this year, they switched back to 'general' schedule.  I'm unsure how I feel about it - I really did enjoy watching other studios/dances, and actually seeing some of our friends from other studios.  Very cool, and special.  BUT - it does make for a long day!  ha.  I think regardless, it's going to be long days/weekends.  I just need to get back into the swing of things.

So...  We needed to be downtown by 7:30 Saturday morning.  Man that's early for us!  ha.  But Cora did awesome.  Then we were 'off' - her with her girls and me with the moms.  Cora's three dances were great - I thought.  They really nailed their tap trio, and I thought Little Birds was spot on too.   It was a fun morning!

We ended up staying around for the next session... Cora wanted to see her friend Quinn dance, as well as neighbor Olivia.  So we stuck around... 

Results:

Level Up (large group hip hop) - Platinum, 2nd overall in highest score

Little Birds (large group jazz) - Elite Gold, 1st overall in their category, and 3rd overall in highest score

Clap Snap (tap trio) - Elite Gold, 1st overall in their category, and 6th place in highest score

A little confusing, but I'd say pretty darn good for the first competition!

Pictures:

Kayson - 13 year old stats

It was that time for Kayson's well check...  he was excited - no shots and could finally see 'officially' how tall he was!

Stats -

96.4 lbs - 38% = SKINNY! 

5' 4" - 78%

It's so impressive how much the kids will talk with the doctor - how they get older, and they are just comfortable there. I always just sit back and listen/watch - it's pretty satisfying.  Glad they can talk to adults. 

Busy & Emotional Saturday

We were busy Saturday... able to sleep in first, which was amazing.  Kids slept til almost 9:00.  I tell you what, there is something real special about that!

Kayson had basketball up in Ames again, State tournament.  Cora had a birthday party to attend and of course didn't want to do the basketball thing, so thankfully one of the dance Mom's offered to take Cora, literally all day and into the night.  SO NICE.  

She had a great day - birthday party, fun with friends.  She was golden. 

Kayson's team did ok.  I say ok, because that's just how they are.  We are well aware, 7th grade boys (who aren't very big), make it hard for a great day of ball!  The team went 2 and 1, which seems great... but they weren't very happy about it.  

Kayson and Ryan got home, after I did - I left a little early to get Cora from the friends...  we got home, settled, and it was late.  Before we knew it, it was after 10:00.   I found Kayson in his room... which is becoming a little more common...  but asked him to come sit with me in my room.  Soon enough, we were chatting a little about basketball...  Ryan had expressed earlier that he was going to take a break from going to the game on Sunday.  So I let Kayson know that... and instantly he had tears rolling down his face.  Wow, that really breaks my heart.  We talked some more and cried together...  Ryan and I expressed that it's not that he doesn't want to be there, it's just frustrating. I get it.  But to a 13 year old, that's hard.  We talked... and soon K says "I'm just not that great and Dad wants me to be."  True.  Unfortunately.  It's hard... wow, that's hard.  He's not the strongest player, but that's ok.  He tries and he tries hard.  Sometimes things go really well, sometimes they don't.  

It was a tough evening just sitting together crying.  I apparently needed a good cry, cuz I let my tears flow and flow! Kayson did too.  We were both exhausted... soon it was bed. 

Sunday morning was good...  Kayson got a good nights sleep - and seemed happier.  I took him to the last game on Sunday... and it was a win.  He had two great shots (yes, only 2) but they were good and were points on the board.  

So this is "real life" I like to say.  Recently, real life has really hit us/me hard.  Having a 13 year old is hard... navigating life and navigating him is tough.  He's a great kid too... so I can't even imagine if we had trouble with school or anything else.  It's just hard.  I pray so hard that this is 'normal' and I can just be the best Mom to him through everything. 

A few pics.

Kayson 7th Grade Winter Conference

We opted out of meeting in person or virtual with Kayson's teachers.  We decided just reaching out to them through email to see if they had concerns... if they did, then we would have talked with them.  

With that - all of this four main core class teachers all had great things to say about Kayson, no concerns. 

Such a joy to hear that. 

Mr. Sink, Social Studies

Kayson is such a great kid and nice young man. I've got zero concerns with him. He works hard and does what he is asked to do. He is a really smart kid too, he participates in class.  He is knowledgeable, I never have to worry about his work. Just a good guy that is here to do his job and be nice to people. 

Thanks for checking in and thanks for sending him to South!  :)

Mr. Pollock, Science

Thanks for reaching out - I do not have any concerns with Kayson. He has been Secure or Exceeds on all standards so far this year.  We do have an assessment today, so you can check in with him tonight!

I have really enjoyed having Kayson this year, and behavior has not been an issue in my class or from what I have seen during passing periods. Again, thanks for checking in.

Mr. Willman, Math

I appreciate you reaching out. I think that Kayson is a great young man and is doing well in math class. Kayson seems to enjoy math (for the most part!) and does well whenever we check for his understanding in class. He will participate in class, and put forth extra effort when needed. He is pretty organized too, which is a skill that will be essential as an 8th grader and beyond. 

Mrs. Sklenicka, English/Advisory

Academically, Kayson continues to work hard and focuses on seeking feedback and really putting forth great effort. Proud of him for that. He is secure with our latest standards and will continue to have opportunities to work on text structure and informational writing, an area of growth. We continue to work in advisory about leading and displaying the right behaviors. Students are wrapping up a few projects that will hopefully come into fruition, he can tell you about this!

I appreciate Kayson's humor and always willing to share a story. He is totally aware of when he needs to re-engage and focus - he knows my look!  :)  But this is nothing out of the ordinary. I really enjoy starting my day and ending my day with him and look forward to continued growth and season of baseball season!  :)

Cora - COVID vaccine #2

Cora is officially vaccinated (fully in a couple weeks).  I'm so stinking proud of this girl, and just how much she's changed over the past 6 months or so.  She's growing up.  She understands things, and doesn't fight back (too much!)

Updating things in the house

So we have lived here for about 12 years...  it's a great house, it works well for our family of 4.  Would we like something newer/bigger?  Sure...  but not quite yet. 

So over the past year or so, I've been wanting to do some updating...  and not really anything 'big' like floors or cabinets (maybe down the road), but more just freshening up things.  We have a very dark bedroom - dark furniture, dark walls...  so I have updated that a little.  We didn't change the furniture or walls (probably should, but again, don't want to spend a fortune)...  so I updated the bedding and some decoration.  It's really much better... and really pretty. 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Then our furniture in the living room.  Ryan had this black leather couch and chair before we even met - so like 2004, I think he said.  We have gotten our use out of that!!!  It's honestly been awesome for us, especially with littles... but now that the kids are older (and maybe a little more responsible!), we needed an upgrade.  We got new couch and chair from Coen Furniture in Creston - buy local, right?!  We ordered it back in April of 2021...  and here it is!!

BEFORE:

AFTER: