Volunteering

In September I got to volunteer in Kyler's classroom a couple times. It is very complicated for me to arrange that due to Caden's extremely hectic schedule, especially with his feedings. So I was really glad to be able to do it twice.

It is a lot of fun for me to see what kind of things they do in Kindergarten vs. what he did in preschool. Every day when I pick Kyler up from school, I always ask him what his three favorite things from the day were. This helps me get a better idea of what he likes.

Very often he tells me that math is his favorite thing. But there are some days when they don't do math. On Fridays, he almost always tells me that Chapel is one of his favorites. Every Friday, the whole school meets in the church for chapel where they sing, pray and have fellowship/worship time. It truly touches my heart that he loves that time.

And, if they had time to work on the computer that day, that is usually in the list of favorites for the day also. His school has an awesome computer learning program which allows the kids to work at their own pace on several different categories and work through different levels. The teacher can then review reports on how each child is doing and it helps her identify areas in which they might be struggling so she can work with them one-on-one in that area. It is very cool and I love it! Kyler was a little skeptical at first but as soon as he completed his first level and he could see his progress being measured he got really excited and motivated to keep doing more. :)

Have I mentioned how much I love his school and his teacher? If not, I will say it now. His school is phenomenal and his teacher is absolutely amazing! She really helped Kyler work through some behavior issues in the first few weeks of school and he is doing so much better now. She has a very special talent for working with these kids and I am so grateful to have Kyler in her class.

Kyler and two of his classmates focusing hard on the work at hand

Kyler and another student working on the computer learning program with a little help from their teacher

Playing "firemen" at recess with their teacher

Using cubes to measure length - Kyler loves this kind of thing!

Sunday Funday!

On Sunday, September 25, we took the kids to a local park where they held their annual “Sunday Funday” event. It is put on by the city and they offer lots of free activities for kids and families. It was fun to do with the boys this year. The last time we went was two years ago and Caden was too little to do much of anything. But this year both kids had a blast!

I stood in line forever for them to do a jumping thing in a harness and bungee cords (I know, very technical term). But it was so worth it. Both the boys loved it. Kyler was able to do more actual jumping and get more air. But Caden thought his turn was great fun also.

The boys did a few other bouncey things while I waited in line for this jumping one. It was by far the longest line and the slowest line. They had such a great time doing all the activities and it was a very fun family day. :)

Kyler all harnessed up and ready to go

There's Kyler flying high in the sky!

Caden's turn to get harnessed up

He absolutely loved it although you can't really tell from this pic

Soccer

In September, I signed Kyler up for an 8-week soccer program through his school. I wanted to get him involved in something active and challenge him to do something new. He was very concerned about it because he said he didn't know how to play soccer. I kept telling him that neither did half the other kids that were there and that was why they were playing... so they can learn how. But as I have mentioned before, Kyler is a bit of a perfectionist and is resistant to trying anything new.

The first day was more than a challenge! It was downright awful because Kyler refused to participate at all (this involved rolling around on the ground and kicking and screaming very loudly!). After that I wasn't sure I ever wanted to take him back. The next week I was unable to take him to the game due to a previous commitment, but thankfully he went with a friend of mine. I think that was the best thing I could have done. Without me there, he actually got out on the field and participated. That is really all I want from him. I want him to get out there and try his best.

So we have continued going every Wednesday night for practice and every Sunday morning for a game and it is going really well. He has really improved from the beginning and actually seems to enjoy it. I am so proud of him for overcoming his fears and just doing it. I hope I am teaching him some life lessons in the process.

Kyler kicking the ball in practice - he looks so adorable!

During the game, Kyler is ready to kick the ball down the field

He's taking his turn as goalie. Most of the time he does circles in the goal box and doesn't pay too much attention. :)

At the end of the game. Way to go Ky!

New Birthday

An amazing thing happened as I was driving Kyler to school on Thursday, September 22. He had a small American flag he was playing with and I told him it reminded me of the song “There is a flag flying high in the castle of my heart”. He didn't know the song, so I sang it to him. Here are the words in case you haven't heard the song before:

There's a flag flying high in the castle of my heart

In the castle of my heart

In the castle of my heart

There's a flag flying high in the castle of my heart

For the King is in residence there

Let it fly in the sky let the whole world know

Let the whole world know

Let the whole world know

Let it fly in the sky let the whole world know

That the King is in residence there

When I finished the song it prompted an amazing conversation with Kyler. I told him that Jesus is the King and he lives in our heart. He asked me what “residence” meant so I told him that is where someone lives. I also explained that in countries where they have kings/queens, they fly a flag at the place where the king/queen is staying so everyone knows they are there. That helped him understand the meaning of the song more.

So I told him that when we have Christ in our heart, we need to fly our flag high so people know we are Christian and that we love God. We can do this by the way we act and how we treat others. He asked me if I had Jesus in my heart and I told him I did. Then he asked if Greg had Jesus in his heart and I told him he did too. Then, he asked if he had Jesus in his heart. I asked him if he had ever prayed and asked Jesus to come in his heart and he said he didn't remember. Then I asked if he wanted to do it right then and he said yes.

As I drove, we prayed together and he invited Jesus to come live in his heart. It was the most incredible moment for me as a Mom! I cried the rest of the way to school I was so happy. Knowing that Kyler loves Jesus and wants to have Him live within him means more to me than I can express. What a beautiful amazing day!  Kyler has a new birthday for us to celebrate!  

Fire Station

On Tuesday, September 20, Kyler's Kindergarten class took a field trip to the fire station. Unfortunately I was unable to go but another mom was kind enough to give me copies of her pictures. Kyler told me how much fun he had. He loved getting to spray water on the grass with the big hose and to get inside the driver's seat. By the looks of the pictures and the report I got from Kyler, everyone had a great time! I love Kyler's school! :)

Kyler's class with the fireman (L-R): Jasmine (Wesley's little sister), Nate, Kyler, Wesley, Emily, Simon, and Immanuel

Listening to the fireman teach them something

The highlight for Kyler: getting to spray the big hose!

He looks so grown up in the cab of the huge fire truck

All the kids with their incredible teacher, Mrs. Altman!

Roller Skating

On Friday, September 16, Kyler got to go roller skating with his whole school for the morning. Several times a year, the principal and the teachers take the kids to a roller skating rink instead of having school in the morning. For Kyler that meant no school for the day since he only has class in the morning. But I think the other kids come back and have a short day of classes before going home.

This was the first time Kyler ever went roller skating and he was a little nervous about it. I wasn't able to be there that day due to a doctor's appointment for Caden. But his teacher, Mrs. Altman, and a couple other moms made sure to give him extra attention and help build his confidence. Thanks to them, he was willing to get out there and try.

I am so proud of Kyler for doing his best. Sometimes he has a little difficulty trying new things because he wants to do them perfectly the first time and gets frustrated when he can't. So we have a lot of conversations about not needing to be perfect and just doing our best. But I do want him to at least participate and try things. I guess it's my way of pushing him a little to do things that are out of his comfort zone. The only way we learn how to do things is by practicing them.

Turns out he loved roller skating! He made it all the way around the rink a couple times holding onto the wall. It was a good morning and he really enjoyed himself. :) I'm just proud of him for trying!

Optometrist

On Tuesday, September 13, I took Kyler to the Optometrist. I wasn't overly concerned about his vision, but I figured it had been a couple years since he had his eyes checked and I wanted to get it done since he's now in Kindergarten and wanted to address any potential problems right away.

He had a bit of a hard time staying focused and paying attention to the questions being asked and identifying the letters and pictures. But in the end, the doctor managed to get good information. His eyes are great! So far he has not been afflicted by the far-sighted vision from me, or the near-sighted vision from Greg. I hope for Kyler's sake that his vision stays like it is but we'll see.

Dentist

On Wednesday, September 7, I took both the boys to the dental office. We are fortunate to have a friend from church who is a pediatric dentist. This makes the whole dental office experience much less scary because they see him at church and have been to his house.

Kyler has been a few times now and usually does really well, after all, he gets to watch a movie while the hygienist is cleaning his teeth. For him it doesn't get much better than that!

Caden on the other hand had never had a dental exam before. I have been putting it off for a long time due to all the oral aversion issues he has. The last thing I wanted to do was make his oral issues worse! So instead of scheduling a cleaning and exam, I just had him scheduled for an exam. I figured that would be a good place to start. That being said, he actually likes to have his teeth brushed but I didn't know how he would feel with someone other than me doing it.

During Kyler's turn, Caden stood by and watched everything that was going on. I talked to him about what they were doing to Kyler to help him feel more comfortable. Then when it came time for Caden's exam, Dr. Chris had me hold Caden on my lap and then lean him back onto a pillow he had on his lap. That way he had the security of being with me yet Dr. Chris could still see in his mouth.

I couldn't believe how well Caden did with the exam. He didn't cry, complain or clamp his mouth closed tight. He lay very still and opened his mouth wide so the dentist could look inside.

Overall both boys did great. I am very proud of both of them! :)

Kyler having his teeth cleaned

Caden watching everything going on around him

Dr. Chris checking Kyler's teeth

Caden with Dr. Chris after his exam (I couldn't take a picture of the exam because I was holding Caden) He was still smiling so I would call that a success!

Boys Campout

On September 2-3, Greg took Kyler camping. They went with Greg's best friend, Ryan and his son, Brayden (Kyler's best friend). They had such a great time! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have approved of the choices of food, lack of sleep, and lack of supervision, if I had been there. However, everyone came home alive and happy! I think it is good for the boys to have time away with the dads to do what boys do best and what we moms don't always allow! :)

The boys had a really hard time settling down to go to sleep that night because they were so wound up. But once they were asleep, things went fairly smoothly. In the morning, they were up early and ready to get going on a fun day of exploring and rafting down the river.

What great memories they made that weekend. :)

Brayden & Kyler getting ready for bed

Ryan enjoying a warm beverage while he makes breakfast

The boys enjoying the campsite

Ryan with Kyler & Brayden

Rafting down the river, I guess Brayden jumped in :)

Greg with the boys after rafting down the river

Blessing Food

At the beginning of September, Caden started blessing his own food at the beginning of each meal. Prior to that, we would either do it entirely, or we could prompt him for each word and he would repeat after us. However, he started doing the whole thing on his own. It doesn't get much more adorable than this:

Dear Jesus, thank you for this food, Amen.

Park Play Date

There are a couple friends who we have been getting together with since our older kids were just babies. Kyler and his friend Ben have been friends since they are less than 2 months old. Unfortunately due to busy schedules we don't get to see each other very often. But, when the boys get together they have a lot of fun!

We enjoyed getting together for a play date at the park on August 31. All four of the boys had so much fun.

Here they are from L-R: Caden (2), Jon (3), Kyler (5), and Ben (5)