International Dribbles and Hoops

Sorry for delays in posting, but we’ve had some busy weeks and the end of the year approaches quickly.  On top of that, the weather has been great and so we’ve been doing more on weekends and I’ve been out and walking and doing during the week again.  

The big news and event was International Day at school.  Each class is assigned a country and the decorate the classrooms based on that country.  Then, they have info and a performance or dance based on that country.  Sorry none of Kiddo, but the faces of her classmates were clearly visible in all, so take my word for it that it was amazing.  If you want to see, email or message me privately and I will pass that along for you to see.  I don’t want to post other kids on a public blog though.  Safety and being considerate and all that.  But, the dancing is GREAT!  Kiddo just nails it and she’s (imho) cute as a button doing it.  The class country was Puerto Rico.  Kiddo learned a lot and when I went for my parent time, I was lucky enough to be there with J’s class, so J and I got to experience Kiddo together.  

I also got to visit J’s class for Denmark.  Amazing performance by her group.  Lots of info.  It was cool and fun.  She’s got a bunch this year that are just energetic, but also pretty good.  She’s got a good rapport with them and they listen and follow along well.  She introduced me as a guest and I even took a question or two.  They really are sweet.

The exciting new is that Kiddo was chosen to be the Flag Bearer for her class and country.  I know, I know…. It’s a 1 in 22 chance, but she was picked to be in the flag parade and fly the country flag.  She’s so proud!  And then she was chilling with her class in the class parade, rocking the class costume and just loving life.  

Besides that, we’ve had some park time.  Some play time.  Lots of bike riding.  The newest thing, however, is basketball and hula hoop.  She’s loving that and loves showing off as well.  That has lead us to check out some summer activities for her.  We found an animal camp, where she gets to spend a week learning about animals, how to care for them, what their natural habitats are, etc etc, and she loves animals.  She says she wants to be a vet, as I’ve mentioned, so this is right up her alley.  It ends with a trip to the zoo.  Another summer camp is debate, but it highlights earth care and protection.  Greta Thunberg is a hero of Kiddo’s, so she’s thrilled to learn how to speak and address issues “just like Greta does.”  Lastly, we found a basketball camp and Kiddo will get a week of learning hoops and skills, playing, meeting friends, and just being the best 8 year old she can be.  

We’ve also got the Avatar Mountain trip booked, so that will be another week away.  Not quite as crazy as last summer, but it will be filled enough to keep Kiddo busy and not just sitting at home bored and attached to a screen.  Plus, it gives J and I a little down time to do our things, have a lunch date, or just NOT living in Kiddo world for 3-6 hours a day for a week here and a week there.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Kiddo, but with the temps being too hot to get out and play until the sun starts going down, that’s a lot of hours in the house making up things to do or living in Kiddoland with Poley and Friends and doing that.  Plus, it’ll be nice for her to branch out and make some new friends outside of her class; even if it’s just a week here and week there.

Her passport is in the process of being renewed and so we’ll be good for another 5 years once that’s done.  And once it comes up again, it’ll be time for J and I to renew as well, so that’s a nice perk.  J and I have decided that next renew, we’re gonna get the Big Book as well.  We travel enough and plan on traveling more, so the more pages the better.

Kiddo makes the train her home and just gets comfy and does her thing.  So nice to have a kid that can roll with public transit and loves books.  Makes it pretty easy.

She also took some time this last weekend to teach J how to do art.  I can’t remember the artist they are working in the style of, but Kiddo learned it in school and is loving it, so she wanted to pass it on to J.  I’m not the artist in the family, so it was great of J to give her the time and learn from her.

Also, Kiddo is into picture taking.  These are all her shots, save the one, where you can see her framing and imagining the photo.  She didn’t take much to the GoPro this last summer, but I’m glad we got it as I think Kiddo is going to get into photography and come to love that pretty soon.

Let’s go, Kiddo… There is less than three weeks left and a week of those are half days, so the end is nigh.  Then it’s a summer of being lazy, going to day camps, having some Mumma and Dada time, seeing the mountains, and just being you.  Second Grade was a beast at times, but you’ve made it and the next adventures come.