February Festivities

A cold day in February calls for beard beanies - 

Collin was "star of the week" in February, and he had to make a poster of himself.  When trying to select photos, he was recommending 30+ pictures.  So I decided a collage was in order.  I got a little carried away, and the project did not look like a six-year-old completed it.  But then he wrote down parts about himself - like he lost a tooth and received a gold coin.  And my beautiful creation evolved into a kindergarten project with his handwriting, some backwards letters, and arrows all over the place!  We had talked about what he was going to share with his class, and had planned to explain 5-7 pictures.  But when I picked him up from school, he told me that he walked his class through every single picture.  I had to send his teacher an apology email (to which she sweetly responded that he was so excited she couldn't bare to cut him off)!

Our hundred-day of school shirt - we started the day with one hundred googly eyes, though I don't think they all made it home at the end of the day -

Valentine's Day meant new clothes from Grammy and posing before parties at school -

I had a work conference in town on the Friday before Valentine's, so I added a pink belt and hopped in for a picture -

On Valentine's eve, Collin and I had a double date with my two grandmas.  We brought them flowers that he had selected -

We went to Collin's first (and my second) orchestra performance.  Thankfully, they left the lights on and we brought a coloring book, so Collin enjoyed the background music while creating masterpieces.  I don't have an especially strong appreciation for classical music and wished I had a coloring book too!  Near the end, they were coming to their last piece.  We told Collin, "last one and we can go get dinner."  But the orchestra surprised us with a bonus selection.  I did not view this as a positive thing.  I'm pretty sure Collin was the only child in the downstairs section and though he was squirmy, he was quiet and respectful.    

We headed for dinner after the orchestra.  But on the Saturday night before Valentine's Day, every place was crowded.  We snatched a table meant for two, and crammed the four of us into it, with my grandmas sharing a narrow bench -

 And we wrapped up the night at Dessert Gallery -

A successful evening.  Some culture, some yummy food, and some chocolate.  No one was escorted out of the orchestra show, we didn't lose my grandmother with Alzheimer's.  Four happy family members!

The Hardens Kindergarten Basketball

A few days before the registration deadline, a mom in Collin's kinder class let us know of a great basketball league where there's one or two pre-season practices and then just one-hour Saturday commitments.  They were looking for a coach and after a slew of emails, one was found.  We registered Collin, and I sent Cas to the "mandatory" team formation morning in December.  

On the website, the team formation was the time to make sure Collin ended up on the team with other kids from his elementary school.  What happened was Cas was the only parent who showed up who had registered on time, so he became the defacto coach for eleven kindergarten boys.  

Despite watching his son dribble by slapping at the ball, Cas planned to teach around the back ball handling moves at the first practice.  He came home from the first practice, asked me to find him an assistant coach, and took a three-hour nap!

But the next practice, with an extra father lending a hand and lower expectations, went better, and over the course of the 6 week season, the team won more than they lost.  They were team #13, so Collin and Cas decided they'd be the Hardens, after their favorite Rocket with the same jersey number.

Before our last game, I snapped some photos of Collin and cheerleader, Maya - 

With Coach Cas -

The league was perfect, and it was the first time playing for at least half the boys on our team.  The goals were only six feet, and at the end of each 8-minute half, each kid had the chance to shoot a free-throw (from a half-way point, not the regulation free throw line).  This was how Collin scored his first basket.  Watching the boys line up to shoot free throws was entertaining - they'd be piled on top of each other, bumping into the person shooting, not at all trying to help them be focused on the basket.

At the end of each game, Cas awarded the one or two players who had done something special a beard.  After the last game, everyone had "earned" a beard and took team photos -

The Hardens - God bless the kindergarten teachers of these silly boys -

Cas was sharing how proud he was of the team's progress over the season, and Maya joined the team circle, confidently plopping down in Collin's lap -

Everyone won a trophy for something - most fast breaks, best rebounder.  Collin was most improved.

With a low-key party at a park, coach Cas became the favorite target of tag -

Collin showing off his monkey bar skills -

Maya showing off her strength in carrying both my mom's and my purse -

We had a fun first season, and for now, basketball is Collin's favorite sport!

Collin's Spider-Man Sixth Birthday

Within a few weeks of starting kindergarten, we had been invited to almost one birthday party each weekend, as many of the children in Collin's class invited the whole class.  It was a great way for me to meet the kids I'd hear Collin talking about and their parents.  With one birthday party scheduled for Saturday, we invited our friends over on a Sunday night of a three-day-weekend to celebrate Collin's sixth birthday.  

Thankfully we were once again gifted with nice weather, so we ushered everyone outside to bounce houses, trampoline, and our new swing.  I think Collin spent much more time on the swing then he did on the bounce houses we paid to rent.  

Our ladies man swinging with girls from his kinder class - 

Maya spent the party hopping from one activity to the next.  She believed she was one of the 5/6 year olds, joining the swing and somersaulting down the bounce house slide -

She needed Grammy's help to make it up one section of the bigger bounce house - Super Grammy to the rescue to propel herself and Maya up the incline in socks was not an easy task!

Pinata time.  I didn't get a photo of Collin's attempt.  But within two kids we were already ripping the thing, with a line of 20 kids ready for their turn.  I ran inside for a blindfold, but I'm pretty sure our fourth or fifth kid tore it open -

No one stayed disappointed about missing a turn with the bat when there's candy to collect!

Our happy birthday boy -

It was fun to watch friends from our church and friends from our school play so well together!

It has been a joy to parent this boy for the last six years, and fun to watch his development in the last sixth months since entering kindergarten.  We love that he'll read his books to Maya and us in the evenings.  We love seeing him develop brand new friendships.  We love watching his imagination with anything from a plastic action figure to a stick in the backyard.  We love our six year old son - happy birthday, Collin!

A few days after his birthday, we conducted our annual birthday interview:
1.  What makes you happy?  Going to Dave & Busters
2.  What is your favorite animal?  hyena
3.  What is your favorite toy?  Kindle Fire table
4.  What is your favorite thing to eat?  peanut butter & jelly, Reese's
5.  What is your favorite thing to drink? apple juice
6.  What is your favorite thing to do?  go eat ice cream
7.  What is your favorite movie?  Home Alone
8.  What is your favorite game?  Power Ranger fighting game on Uncle Bobby's ipad, Candyland
9.  What are you really good at doing? writing the letter B ("it's so fun to write, it's my favorite letter to write"), running
10.  What is your favorite part of being a big brother?  getting to have my sweet, cute little sister
11.  What is your favorite color?  green
12.  What is your favorite song?  One Direction's "Steal My Girl"
13.  Who is your best friend?  Finn & Cooper G. 
14.  What do you and your mommy do together?  read books, play matching game and Hoot, Hoot Owl game
15.  What do you and your daddy do together?  Swing, be silly, go places
16.  What is your favorite sport?  Basketball
17.  Where is your favorite place to go?  Schlitterbahn
18.  What is your favorite book?  superhero book
19.  What is your favorite restaurant?  Chick fil A 
20.  What did you do on your birthday? Went to church, had friends over, jumped on the bounce houses and trampoline, ate pizza
21.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  wrestler, artist, astronaught
22.  What is your favorite part of school?  spending time with friends and going on field trips
23.  What do you know about God and Jesus?  Jesus fed 5,000 people with bread and fish; they made the world and all of us

Fun and Games with Cousins

On a Sunday afternoon, we were able to make it just in time to shout "surprise" to Cas' uncle Carlos on his 60th birthday.  Then the kids were shuffled outside, where they thoroughly entertained themselves with a soccer ball, races, and hide and seek.  Collin took on his leadership role as eldest cousin, directing the backyard activities.  

Maya loves Lorenzo.  Jury's still out on Lorenzo's feelings towards Maya (and can you blame him?)

Happy to receive hugs from great-grandma Lita -

Lita with her four great grandchildren -

Collin tried all afternoon to escape the click of my camera, hiding his face anytime he'd see it -

Maya giving a ferocious hug -

My crazies -

Back outside and back to showering Lorenzo with too much love -

When Grandma Libia arrived, she was attacked with grandchildren hugs (Lorenzo is in there somewhere!) -

Taking a break from running, Lorenzo with Uncle Cas -

Maya is becoming more and more of a daddy's girl.  This week, Cas was out of town and she was in trouble for disobeying me as we got in the car from her pre-school.  She knew a punishment awaited her at home, and she whined all the way to our house, "I want Daddy!"  She loves to cuddle with him in the morning and before bed, loves to cook him food in her play kitchen, and loves when she can talk him into giving her access to his phone.

Cas got the better photo, but I couldn't resist posting one with my girl -

Maya had a blast playing with sweet cousin John -

She also enjoyed some kisses and cuddles from Grandma Libia -

As did Collin -

As we wrapped up the party, we couldn't leave without some whip-nae-nae dancing, with my kids teaching Nico and Lorenzo the moves -

We had a great afternoon celebrating Cas' uncle and hanging out with the family.  It is so much fun that my kids have cousins close in location and age!