Legoland, Date Knight and Dance

Another week has passed for the Nutt House.  Another week that as I look back on the events from the beginning of the week I have to take an extra second to ponder if those activities were truly less than 7 days ago.  Usually this means that we’ve had a good week and for that, I am grateful.

Monday started with Kaden earning the last white stripe on his grey and white Jiu Jitsu belt.  Over the course of the next 7 months, he should earn four red stripes and black stripes after which if he passes the required tests he will promote up to a grey belt.  When Kaden’s coach called his name for his promotion, he was elated.  Kaden looks up to his Jiu Jitsu Professor and Coaches so much and desires to have the Jiu Jitsu career he sees them having when he grows up (that and being a fireman). 

Over the moon to receive his promotion

Holding on to Professor for dear life

His smile says it all

While Monday started off on a high note for Kaden it was less than a thrilling start to the week for Kara.  You see, last Sunday evening Kara and I spent some time at Urgent Care having her eye looked at after it became red and extremely swollen over the course of a couple hours.  The doctor at Urgent Care determined that Kara had pink eye, which was no good.  Of course this happened very late in the evening (we got back home close to 10pm) so other than sending Brent out to find an open pharmacy that could fill the prescription there wasn’t much we could do.  With a diagnosis of pink eye, Kara didn’t go to school Monday morning but we weren’t as convinced that Kara really had pink eye.  So, after an early morning phone call to the eye doctor Kara and I were in his office within a couple of hours.  After his examination he informed us that the eye allergies Kara had a few weeks prior were back and with a vengeance, luckily though, there was no pink eye.  Having received the positive news and a sample of medication to help with her eye Kara was back at school for the last couple of hours in the day.  The late night Sunday evening and medicine did catch up to Kara however, and Tuesday she barely made it through the school day before needing to zonk out for a good recovery type nap. 

Poor allergy infested little girl

Tuesday also brought us what I want to dub Treat Tuesday.  Is Treat Tuesday a thing, like Throwback Thursday or Taco Tuesday?  Because it should be.  Where we don’t have any after school activities on Tuesdays the little Nutts and I worked to make muddy buddies together that have been a weeklong tasty treat.  The more I think about Treat Tuesday the more I think I like it and think Treat Tuesday is here to stay at the Nutt House, so the kiddos and I have time to spend together in the kitchen creating something together – both of the yummy kind and the memory make kind of creation.  So…  Treat Tuesday it is!  **Until someone starts having something on Tuesdays and Treat Tuesday needs to be moved to who knows when our schedules will allow it…

Muddy Buddies with 2 of my favorite buddies!

Thursday evening brought a highlight of the week for me, Chick Fil A’s Mother Son Date Knight Event.  Kaden was so excited for the date!  However, I think his enthusiasm was geared more towards getting to dress up like a knight, see the cow knight and the bounce house than the time it gave him with his mom.  That aside, the time with my favorite little man was the highpoint for me.  I utilized the suggested mother son questions more so than we have in the past and gained greater insight into the ever-intriguing world that is Kaden.  Observing the never still, never fully focused on me little guy exude such happiness at getting to dress up, to design and color a paper shield, to get his picture taken with the cow knight… all which brought out the genuine smile that melts my heart.

The brave Sir Kaden

His helmet masked the smile being in this picture

My ever so handsome date!

Love, love this lil'  man!

Saturday brought the Nutt House a packed day.  Starting with Kara having dance activities first thing in the morning.  The first of which was a private session with Ms. Ashley to work on her flexibility, stretching and lifts.  To watch the improvement that Kara was able to make in just 90 minutes was incredible!  Her leg lifts became straighter with her legs lifting higher up and her back became more flexible, something that has been a challenge for our tiny dancer.  Ms. Ashley commented that Kara is one of the hardest working dancers she has worked with.  I have to agree with that.  The skills and techniques needed to be a dancer have not come easy for Kara.  To be honest, her mom and dad haven’t done her any favors with our lack of coordination and flexibility.  This has never stopped her though; it has just inspired Kara to work even harder to be the best dancer she can.  The joy that Kara radiates when she accomplishes something new at dance or when it is competition season is nothing short of invigorating and inspiring.  When I witness how hard Kara works at dance it inspires me to work hard at my own goals, to not give up and to strive to be the best I can be.  Kara’s dance day didn’t end with Ms. Ashley though, after a short break she was back at it with her trio group cleaning up their dance and working on a new lift that was added toward the end of the dance.  Where Kara is the shortest of the trio, it is Kara that is lifted during the dance.  It is my heart that stops beating and my breath that is stuck in my throat as I view Kara being lifted up off the ground, her head flinging back all while being supported by her friends.  I’m not sure if the tumbling tricks are going to do me in or if dance moves like this will do it, either way, days like Saturday remind me that being a dance mom is not for the faint of heart!

Stretching

Not shocked to say she was sore by evening and still sore tonight!

She was so happy with her progress!

Stretching as far as she can

Fast shot of the new lift... yeah, not afraid of this one at all

Once dance was over for the day, the kiddos rushed off to a birthday party for a neighbor friend of Kara’s.  Juggling dance and the rest of the activities going on in Kara’s life isn’t always an easy task but one that I think we do the best at that we can. 

Fast forward a couple hours later and the party was over and the Nutt House was on our way for a long overdue trip to the Legoland Discovery Center.  Going to Legoland on a Saturday is never ideal, as there are more people there than we experience when going during the week.  We haven’t made it to Legoland for so long though that the crowds were nothing more than a blur to the kiddos, especially Kaden and nothing was going to keep him from enjoying his happy place.  The place that breathes life and Zen into Kaden’s little body.  After a quick walk through of the Miniland it didn’t take Kaden long to find a table available to start building Legos at.  Kara made a dash for the ride first.  Since she is now tall enough to go by herself and she can control how high up she goes by pedaling the car she’s in Kara thinks the Merlin’s Apprentice Ride is the bees’ knees.  Following the initial shot of Lego fun, we went as a family over to the newly opened Dino Explorer area where we investigated crates containing dinosaurs, worked on creating dinosaurs of our own, and even had a photo op with a dinosaur.  Once we concluded our time in the Dino Explorer area, it was time to mosey over to the Creative Workshop for our first of two trips, the first where we built mini houses for Lego cows to hang out inside of.  Later we came back for a second build of a car with a mini gas pump.  In between the two builds, the kiddos just went off and did their own things.  Kara headed for the play center while Kaden opted to head toward the Lego Racers: Build and Test area.  After quite a bit of Lego playtime throughout the entire discovery center it was time to call it a day (plus they were getting ready to shut down, and dinner was waiting in the oven for us to eat so it really was time to call it).  On our way out, we spotted the Renaissance Festival inspired Lego build area in the Miniland. Mad props to the Master Builder, who so expertly created so many of the key elements of the festival that we felt as if we had been transported to the festival, which fueled the anticipation of our own Nutt-y visit to the Renaissance Festival planned for next weekend.

Miniland

Dinosaur building area, with an instruction monitor

Lego building is serious business

Ahhhh!

So much to explore

It's building time

My favorite Master Builder of all time

Her completed house

His trying to give me a smile, smile

Building a heavy race car

And it's off

It won!

Car building time

He's got this... easy peasey

Finished product

Completed!

Someone kept pulling funny faces at Legoland
Including on the Merlin's Apprentice Ride
For once, I can't even say it was Kaden with all the funny faces! 

A couple years later and I still I still chuckle at how some parts of this are uncanningly accurate!

Kaden and I were master trophy builders!

Miniland Renaissance Festival Display

Our week ended with choir practice for Brent and Kara, church services today, feeding the missionaries and some family game time.  A perfect way to end a Sabbath day. 

Skipbo!

Kaden won for the 1st time at Skipbo tonight
Saying he was ecstatic would be an understatement

Our Nutt-y lives are anything but perfect, and all too often, the Nutt-yness is more chaotic than the vision in my head of our lives would like, but I do adore being the Nutt House and all that is entailed with it. 

Kara and Kaden are now on spring break, which means this is going to be one of the best weeks of the year!  We have so many wonderful activities planned and cannot wait to soak up as much together time as possible!