PreSchool at GrandMa’s House

My Mom started a preschool program at her in-home daycare, GrandMa’s House, this year. Her oldest kid is Preston and he is 4 then there is Cooper and Bryce who are 3. She worked very hard all Summer to research state requirements for preschools and to buy workbooks and create games that fit a preschool curriculum. I already knew how amazing Cooper was doing at her house anyway… she has been really “teaching” them since they were babies, but this focused preschool plan is really exciting. Here are just two of the twelveish worksheets that Cooper came home with this week. I am so impressed at his progress, I am literally beside myself. I am especially proud of the first sheet where he is trying to write the word “one” at the bottom. All that with no help!! We are so blessed, especially Cooper, to have the benefit of such a wonderful environment to grow and learn too.

Pay The Toll Please

Recently, thanks to a certain episode of Team Umi Zumi, Cooper learned the concept of paying a toll to pass. This has given life to a nightly ritual where Cooper uses his sword to block the door so we can’t leave until we have paid the toll. The first time he did it to me, he demanded 10 dollars and I was able to negotiate down to 5. But he has since learned that he doesn't have to negotiate. So here‘s is how it goes…

Cooper: Ten dollars please.
Me: I only have 5 dollars.
Cooper: No, I think you have 10.
Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. That is all I have.
Cooper: Nope.

Normally we spread his blanket over the top of the bed to make a tent and leave it there. So, it makes us laugh to head for the door and see this sword slowly slip out followed by a little hand asking for money.

And this picture really cracked me up. It makes me think that he was just laying there with his sword up, just on the off chance that we might come back in to his room. :) Too cute.

Halloween in September

A week or so ago, Cooper and I were going to be hanging out on our own one night and I remembered a great little catalog I had received in the mail with Halloween costumes for infants all the way up to adults. So, I thought it would be fun to show it to him and pick out what he wanted to be.

First I explained the concept of a catalog: “You look at the pictures, see what you like, call the people and they mail it to you.” Pretty simplistic, but he got the point.

We went through the whole thing and stopped to look at Star Wars (really just because of the “swords”), firefighter and policemen, scary masks, but I couldn't pry him away form the super heroes. He picked the Spider Man costume with built in muscles. Once we settled it he ran around hollering to “call them Mommy!”

 

That weekend I had to run up to Target and happened to the same costume. I went ahead and picked it up for him and surprised him when we got home. He was so thrilled! We put it on a least a couple times a week and twice now have had dinner in it. At least we are getting our moneys worth.

(and the spider man slippers really make the outfit!)

Summer Swim Lessons

Cooper has had a great summer of swim lessons. He did a total of 5 sessions at 6 nights each (over a two week period) so that was a total of 30 session plus the 4 day session in June. That is a LOT of swimming to cram into 2 1/2 months. But his swimming has really improved. He can swim pretty well, but hasnt quite worked up the core and leg strength to get himself above the water for air. So he can swim the whole pool, but you have to give him a little lift for air.

He is so comfortable in the water… maybe too much. Coach Jeri thinks he is a natural. Unfortunately, because he is so comfortable, he also gets bored easily. While the other kids are swimming, he is playing/splashing, going underwater and gliding along the steps in the shallow end. It can be a little distracting for the other kids who are usually pretty patient. Add to that the fact that he thinks Coach Jeri is his best buddy and he wants to talk to her constantly. It is really cute, but at the same time, I cant imagine how Jeri puts up with it! She is a saint!

We are not going to do swim lessons this Fall. I think that he has all the skills that he can get for now without additional coordination and muscle control that will come with time and age. But we will be swimming with Coach Jeri again next Summer. She is the BEST!! http://www.swforlife.com/

Rookie Soccer Camp

Since soccer will be starting in the next month or so, I jumped at the chance to put Cooper into a soccer mini-camp. It is Monday – Thursday this week from 9am – 10am and is taught by Town North YMCA Rookie soccer Ref, Doc Lawson (former professional player and Dallas Sidekick). The timing is kind of tough for Danny and I since it is at a busy work time, but that is a benefit of working at home, right?

Today was the second day of camp and was much better than yesterday where we had a flash backs to the Spring season including lots of crying. However, Cooper was still interested and excited because he came into our room at 2:30 am announcing that he was ready to go to soccer camp. So, not a tear was shed today.  (all the pics here)

 

Doc is really amazing with the kids and since Danny is co-coaching the team this Fall, I have been trying to take notes. Those kids listen to every word he says and every single one of them participates. He talks to them with a very strong and authoritative voice, but he shows interest in every thing they say to him. Every day of camp (and every game he refs too) starts with exercises. They touch their toes, swing their arms, and run the field to get ready.

   

  

They do several drills each day. Today’s new skill was “braking” the ball.

 

Also, even though camp is only an hour, each day has a snack time ad story time. On Monday, when Doc said he was going to ask for a volunteer (didn’t even get to what if was for), Cooper immediately had his hand in the air. So, he was selected to bring the book for story time today. Harry The Dirty Dog was read by Doc to the kids in a VERY animated fashion in which Doc was sure to remind all the kids to take baths after soccer camp.

  

The final drill of the day is touching the cones then kicking the ball. I am thrilled to see Cooper participate. He was so scared of it all last season and would pout during the games. But with this little camp (and some follow up from Daddy and Mommy), I am hopeful that he will have more fun in the Fall.

   

A short rest, a final run and they are done!

 

  

1-2-3 SOCCER!!

 

Saturday At The Circus

We took Cooper to the circus over the weekend and we went with his best buddy Ellie Bright and her Daddy. We got there a little early and they were letting people come down on the floor and watch some of the performers do a “pre-show” in the three rings. We stationed ourselves at the first ring next to the curtain and were treated to see some of the animals up close and personal. This is Asia the elephant and she is 42 years old. And she paints. Cooper and Ellie were as close as they could get, on the very front row of spectators. Very exciting.

Here is Ellie and Cooper during intermission. We bought them these spinning light thingies at the very beginning so they would be able to have them when the lights went down. They we lit up pretty much the whole time. Very entertaining. Note the cotton candy that Cooper has. It was huge a bag that cost $12 and they ate about 4 bites. But, whatever! It was all about the circus experience!

There were lots of interesting things to see at the circus including high wire acts, tumbling, fire, shooting people out of cannons, etc. However, the animals were the coolest part for me and I think for the kids too. The elephants were really cool.

The tigers were pretty amazing too. The tiger in the center of the picture below with his back to us was very grumpy! None of them seemed very happy, but this guy was down right belligerent.

Daddies and Kiddos

The spinning lights were going off all over the auditorium at the beginning and it was noticeably darker by the end of the show when presumably everyone’s batteries had run out.