Ralph: 1st Kindergarten Music Program

(these posts are getting a little back-logged)

The Kindergarten classes at Kahoa had a music program back on Friday, December 13 in the multi-purpose room (aka the lunchroom).  I was warned to get there early.  Sure enough, the parents and grandparents of Kindergarteners are anxious to see their little ones on stage and by the time I arrived the room was 90% full.  Luckily grandma and grandpa arrived early to get a spot.

Ralph's class was the first to parade down the aisle and go on stage.  The students waved as they walked and were instructed to give one last wave once they were on stage to get all the waves out of their system.  Unfortunately at the angle we were sitting Ralph was blocked most of the time by one of his peers who was dressed like a penguin.  Four students in each class had a speaking part.  The students in Ralph's class who spoke were dressed like penguins; and appropriately they were introducing the song "penguin polka".  All the classes sang all the songs.

Of course, it was fun to watch Ralph on stage.   I do miss not knowing more of the students and their personalities (like watching a program at Fingerprints where we know more of the kids).

There will be another program in May.

Henry: 4-year Well-Child Check-up!

Henry had his 4-yr check up on the afternoon of Friday, December 28 - a week later than originally scheduled due to getting hit with the flu the day of his first appointment.

Henry is remaining consistent and continues to remain on the low end of the curve.  He weighed in at 30.8 lbs (8%).  At this time I was reminiscing about when he was younger and we'd try to get him full of milk before taking him to give him a few more ounces . . . on this day he had not used the restroom since he laid down for a nap and he didn't want to go when I picked him up from daycare so chances are that gave him a few more ounces.  He measured 38.5" (13%).  His BMI was 14.64 . . .in the 10-25%.

Dr. Reynolds asked a few questions and I let Henry answer them . .basic questions about what he likes to play with, Christmas gifts, if he likes to color on color pages or make his own pictures, basic questions to gage his development.  It's always fun to listen to his answers to see if they are the same answers I would give.  She did ask him if he still wears pull-ups at night . .maybe a normal question for a 4-year old appointment, I am not sure but we never did pull-ups and the diaper stage seems so long ago already.  He checked out fine on the other areas.  In hindsight there may have been other questions I could have asked but nothing that is urgent - just things to get her opinion/thoughts on.  We did discuss his stubbornness a bit but we didn't leave with any new ideas; just reinforcement on what we have been doing and that we may not always be as consistent as we should be.

Turning 4 means getting 4 shots are our place.  Christa was quick.  Somewhere around shot 3, Henry started to cry but composed himself soon after she was done.  Four shots also means you get to pick out something from the prize bucket.  

All in all, a good appointment.

Candyhouse Creations!

Last Sunday we had our annual Candyhouse decorating party.  We got together with Leighton and Turner, along with Tyler and Talon - friends we met through Leighton and Turner.  This year everyone brought their own house and frosting.

The #1 lesson to remember for next year . . .the houses would be sufficient if they were only 5".  It was just too much to frost and decorate.  Henry only decorated a side and a half of his house.

This is an early shot of Ralph's house.  He was the last one done; taking time to get everything just right!

 The budding artists with their creations!

A little post-candyhouse decorating game of Chutes & Ladders.

The candyhouses survived the trip home!

Henry: 4th Birthday Party Celebration!

Last Sunday, we woke up on the morning of Henry's birthday party with snow on the ground, a bit similar to the day Henry was released for the hospital four years ago . . luckily not as bad.  The snow did affect our attendance a bit but the four of us, grandma & grandpa, and Uncle Larry forged ahead and had a small but fun party.

Henry chose the theme of Spiderman.  I'm not entirely sure why other than last year's theme was Henry the Train from Thomas and Friends so that wasn't an option and Spiderman was his costume for Halloween the year before the most recent Halloween.  The boys do "shoot webs" but they do not "play" Spiderman much.

Spiderman table cover, plates, napkins, wrapping paper . . . .we had it all!

 Henry was pretty subdued in the morning but started winding up minutes before the party started.  Henry did a few obligatory photos with the cake and unopened presents then proceeded to open the presents.  He could be heard saying "look what we got" over and over.  I do not think there is one present he does not like, we are still getting around to opening all the boxes and discovering what everything does or what we do with a gift.  He got plenty of Thomas the Train "stuff",  . . .

After opening gifts and playing with a few, we ate lunch then lit the birthday candles and had some cake!

Henry: Celebrating 4 years!

For some reason every time I think about Henry turning 4 years old, I convert it to 48 months.   48 months.  There are times it seems like the longest 48 months and other times it seems like just yesterday we met for the first time.  He will always be known as the kid who hardly slept for the first 18 months of his life.

What an amazing little person he has turned out to be.  From the kid who would not sleep to the kid who tries every trick in the book to stall going to sleep BUT at least he sleeps.  Not too long ago I challenged him to stay in bed at bedtime for 7 nights in a row to earn a new Mobigo game.  He did it without a lot of challenges but has started to revert.

Henry was VERY excited to turn 4 yesterday so much so he had a hard time going to sleep last night.  I tried to let him know at lights out that 4-year-olds stay in bed at bedtime.  He was going to take every advantage of NOT being 4 yet.  Like most nights, I thought he was being quiet in bed and after while I get called to come upstairs to help him put socks on (they were almost inside out).  Got socks on and sent him back to bed and close to 9:20 he is frustrated because he can't find a match to another pair of socks so I convince him I really do not know where it is.  We typically check on the boys when we go to bed - I checked on them around 10 and Henry is still awake!  Yikes!

Henry's smile is like none other . . .so his is stubborn/strong willed attitude.  He also has more energy than anyone should have no matter the time - he will run between the back of his bedroom and our bedframe like he is in a sprint race just before bedtime.  He likes talking nonsense in both making up sounds/words and clearly talking but saying things that do not make sense, sometimes while making odd facial expressions and moving his arms about.

Henry plays well by himself and is really into the Thomas and Friends train sets.  He sets up track that leads to no where all across the living room and gives life to the trains as he pushes them along or watches the battery powered ones move and adds narration between the trains. Some of the re-enactment could could be from watching just a bit too much of Thomas on youtube during breathing treatments.

Some of his most recent antics is "Cowabunga" - a phrase borrowed from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Henry will crotch down and say Cowabonga then he'll run under someone's legs like a tunnel.  He also takes broken bars of soap to form a train on the ledge of the bathtub.  He does have a Thomas engine for a bathtime toy but turning the soap into carriages is a recent addition.

"Not quite" is probably one of his newest phrases - especially in response to "time to turn off the computer" or "time to get out of the bathtub".    "In a minute" is another one used to delay time.

He is still doing gymnastics but has had a few issues with his desire (or lack of) to go.  I think some of it is that are just so rushed to get there; there's not any down time.  The teacher says he is a riot . . .which is okay as long as he is not distracting the other kids too much!

Henry does enjoy keeping tabs on people and tattling when things are not quite right or someone is not doing what they are supposed to be doing.


Daycare claims he can write his name.  I know he can write an H, an E, and an N. . .though not always willingly.

Henry just started wearing 4T pants and shirts.  He is wearing 8.5T shoes.   There's something about switching him from 3T pants to 4T that make him seem just a bit taller.  It's a bit of an optical illusion.  He does not like his clothing to be wet or get stained with food.  He dislikes it so much he will take his shirt or pants off and go without.

He is still somewhat picky on what he eats and can take forever to eat.  He also likes to use the "I gotta go potty" or "I'm full" excuses to be done with eating.

He is still doing breathing treatments twice a day in attempt to prevent colds from settling into his lungs.  He is also taking Singular at suppertime and refers to it as "sugar (because it is in granule form) and sauce (because it is mixed in with applesauce).  He has another follow up appointment in March.  Keep your fingers crossed for a healthy winter! 

A few months back he coughed for a few days and extra breathing treatments didn't seem to help.  Finally thought to look in his mouth and a back tooth was coming through.

Henry was allowed to open one present tonight, the rest will wait until his birthday party on Sunday.

The official 4-year-old stats will have to wait for a few weeks as his well child check up isn't until December 19.