Kaden goes to school and much, much more!

My goodness!  This past week has flown by, at the same time, it feels like ages ago that it was Monday for the Nutt House.  Weeks that contradict themselves are usually busy and fun, so no complaints here.  The weather in Phoenix while still hot is not as unbearable as it has been and this past week, among other things, the Nutt House started to take advantage of the temperature change.

Post church picture time
I love that the weather is allowing for this to happen again
Even more, I love the unique poses from both little Nutts

 

First off though, Kaden.  What a big week for my Little Man as he has started preschool this week.   Monday evening Kaden received his first going to school father’s blessing, what a tender and special moment it was.  Prior to school Tuesday morning as per his request, I made Mickey Mouse shaped huckleberry pancakes to commemorate Kaden’s first day of school.  After enjoying his breakfast Kaden indulged his Nutt-y mom for a picture request before collecting his backpack and nonchalantly heading toward the car for school.  This moment.  This first day of school.  First sign of separation from my baby.  First major sign of independence and he nonchalantly headed up toward the door where he’d have his first day of joy school.  While I held it together on the outside, on the inside I wept buckets as I’m not ready for my baby to be a big boy.  I’m not ready for him not to need me as much as he did a couple weeks ago.  I’m not ready for my happy-go-lucky, ball of energy, 100% little boy to be in school and that’s what it all comes down to.  However, he is ready and in true Kaden fashion doesn’t see what the big deal is, after all, his sister has been going to school for a year.  Kaden did enjoy his first day and then his first week of school.  He learned about animals, apples and the letter A and had a great time.  I can tell already getting any sort of detail about his days at school will take all the investigative/interrogation skills that I may possess.  After his first day of school as we did with Kara’s we went for frozen yogurt where I hoped to hear all about school.  Instead, Kaden was just interested in the fro-yo and all of its yummy goodness.

First day of school Mickey pancake

My little man

Off he goes

Post school fro-yo

As the weather has cooled off ever so slightly we captured an hour on an evening where we did not feel as if we’d melt by being outdoors and went for a walk around the neighborhood with Kara and Kaden treasuring some bike riding time.  Kara, who has been asking about bike riding for months now finally got her wish and enjoyed pedaling away on “Sparky” (the name she has given her bike from a cartoon she enjoys where the main character Sheriff Callie has a horse named Sparky).  Kaden got to try out his new bike for the first time.  Where it was his first time on the bike and the neighborhood had him either climbing hills or going down them we’d all agree his first time on a big was a big success!  Now, to practice at the church or a park with a flatter surface!

Big rider!  Watch him go!

Balance beam walking at his little sports class

One of the things we are focusing on this year in school for Kara is sight words.  The first words one learns to read.  With this in mind, as I read to Kara now I point out words she has learned and she reads them to me.  While reading to Kara earlier this week I had an epiphany, while reading books I recalled the Dick and Jane books that we were given.  After opening that one, which I’ve read to Kara once between the limited picture detail, her memory, and the simpler words she was able to read several chapters of the book with limited help.  I was in such awe of Kara’s abilities once again!  She continually surprises me with not just what she is capable of but what she is able to do, now, at the age of 4. 

Dick and Jane today... tomorrow - the entire library!

Kara’s dreams of becoming a dance teacher are alive and well.  She understands that first she needs to be a dance student and as is normal, she had fun at dance class this past week.  Kara’s career plan is pretty specific – be a dance student, perform, then become not just a dance teacher but a Ms. Carolyn dance teacher.  During Kara’s private dance lesson I watched as she soaked in every word and mannerism Kara’s dance teacher emulates.  While she may not apply everything she hears(at least as much as I'd like her to do) she definitely takes it in. 

Ready for the music to start

Practicing a new routine

Walking in her footsteps

As a special treat this week, Kara’s dance teacher invited Kara and the rest of the Nutt House to watch her daughter play volleyball.  In her mind, since the law of averages indicate that Kara will be tall when she grows up dance won’t be the best fit long term but volleyball could be.  While Kara was not interested in the full match she did pay attention for a little over a third of the match and considering her lack of understanding in regards to the sport and how tired she was I was pretty proud of her for watching that long.  Kaden did not watch the full match either and maybe paid attention for a fourth of the match, but when he was watching he was completely fixated on the volleyball players.  Again, my little man is all boy – girls and sports, that right there is half of everything to a guy, right?  (just kidding… kind of)  Anyway, after the match was over we had a few minutes to kill before Brent was done at scouting Roundtable so our little Nutts were treated to a banana split.

Let's go Saints!!

Mesmerized by the players

Thank heavens for tablets when the fun of the game wears off.
*Saints won the night!

mmm... banana split (thankfully they each only ate 5-6 bites)

Of course, as the Nutt House, together and family time is hugely important to us and this week we managed to slip in several family time moments that we are grateful for.  Monday, for Family Home Evening we ventured to the new Bahama Bucks for shaved ice treats for our FHE treats.  Where Bahama Bucks is new and it was their soft opening – all our shaved ice treats were free that night!  And the little Nutts were treated to face painting and balloon art while we waited in the long line.  Face painting, a balloon sword, and free shaved ice for the family – totally worth the time spent in line. 

Face painting and Balloon swords = happy kids!

Loves his sword

Shaved ice - so yum!

caught mid brain freeze

yummy to her tummy

Saturday in between other activities we joined some friends of Brent’s for an end of summer barbeque and swim party.  Three Nutt-y fish were very excited to spend multiple hours pruning up in the pool.  A day with friends, making new friends, good food and swimming – makes for a satisfying Saturday afternoon. 

This little fish hasn't forgotten how to swim!

Kaden loves being in the water as much as his dad

Dads make great flotation devices

She swam the length of the pool!

While we appreciated our busy week we also found time to have fun in more mundane Nutt House activities – such as story time at the library, creative play time at home (this week building with straws and marshmallows), reading time at home, play time (in Kaden’s case building train tracks that wrap around the bedroom), play dates with friends, and even a trip to the splash pad.  As summer wraps down and we welcome autumn with open arms we celebrate all that fall will bring us, but are working to enjoy all the summer fun activities we can still sneak in before it's too late.   So, one last splash pad trip with friends made for some happy Nutts on a Friday morning.

Kaden really enjoys participating with the story time leaders

BUBBLES!

Marshmallow creations

In Kaden's case, a straw creation held together by marshmallows

Splash pads are more fun with friends

Empty buckets make the water even more fun

Snack time in the shade

All of that wraps up our week.  As I look over the calendar, all the dots that account for activities, meetings, or such my heart is full that we are so blessed as a family to have such full lives – full of activities we enjoy, full of family and friends that we treasure and full of each other and the love and time we have for one another.  At the same time, I am thankful for the gaps between activities.  Though those gaps may be smaller and fewer in between than they were a year ago – those open times for game, play, fun and rest are valued and treasured as much as every activity that we do have planned. 

Here’s to another week full of both!