Kenny's end of 2nd grade play

Kenny played the part of the Narrator in his second grade play called Life Cycles. He's got great inflection in his voice, if I could get him to face the audience instead of the other characters he'd be on his way to Hollywood. Not too bad for an eight year old. There are a lot of clips here, but I wanted to share as much as I could with those of you out of town.

Ice Skating in the Sunshine

While I stayed at home to nurse my cold and horrible laryngitis, Rick took the kids to the temporary ice skating rink in Folsom. Both kids loved it and want to go back before it closes for the season. Hopefully, I can join them next time.

I was impressed that Rick thought to take photos (even if it was with his Treo cell phone). He even took some video.... sideways!! Enjoy.

Merry Merry Christmas!

A Visit From Grandma Judy

Rick's mom left this afternoon after a week long visit. I had to work during half the visit, but the time I got to spend with her was really nice.

While I was working my long term sub job, Judy, Rick and the kids did crafts and played games at the house.

Friday day, Judy and Katie made mini pumpkin pudding pies for Katie to take to her Girl Scout Feast. It was a special time for Katie and her Grandma to just be together.

Friday evening the kids went to their friends house (and Girl Scouts) and the three of us grown ups went Christmas shopping. It was a successful trip and now Judy doesn't have to ship gifts to us and the kids will be getting things they put on their wish lists.

Saturday I got out my jewelry making supplies and made more lanyards and fixed a few broken ones. Judy helped me while Katie worked on her scrapbook. Kenny played Wii games and Rick worked on his truck bumper.

Oh - did I forget to mention Rick backed into a pole? Yup. His truck is only two years old and he whacked it good! With the help of a neighbor he was able to pound out the bumper to Rick's satisfaction (yeah we don't have to buy a $300 new bumper). Now all he needs to do is get color matched paint to touch up some places where the paint cracked.

Later on Saturday Judy got to see Katie NOT play in another soccer game. Katie was freaking out about her breathing problems and didn't play (more on that later). She also got to see how Rick turned into Dumbhead Coach who forgets how to be dear ol dad. We're all human, but it's aggrivating for me being in the middle of the stress.

Sunday night Katie, Judy and I went to see a local production of Annie. Katie and Judy had never seen it before. Of course, I had to refrain from standing up and singing all the songs. It brought back great memories for me. My parents took me to see Annie in Hollywood/L.A. when I was around Katie's age. I bought the song book and memorized all the songs. It was a fun evening for all three of us.

We all enjoyed her visit, but Kenny was the most emotional about having to say goodbye. He cried when she left and moped around the rest of the day. He is excited about being able to email with her using our Wii email system (Katie is too).

Nervous Ned goes Independent on us

Rick and I were bugging the kids all day today to get out and play in the beautiful weather. This is the one of the two months a year the weather is gorgeous in Sacramento (the other month occurring sometime in Spring). They spent most of the day playing computer games and pretending things inside the house.

The kids finally went out and played a little basketball around 3:30.

Then at 4:30. Ken declared that he was going to go on a bike ride by himself! Rick looks at me. I look at Rick. We both know that we were off riding our bikes for hours at a time at seven years old. ... but in this day and age, should we let our baby boy out on a bike by himself?

I say, "Ok." Rick is as apprehensive as I am. I loaded up the 2-way radios with batteries so Ken could keep in touch with us. Rick called our neighbor where Ken's would be riding to (Our neighbor's daughter did the same thing and rode to our house when she was 7). He would be riding a total of 1.25 miles (there and back). Rick even made him wear a whistle around his neck to blow if the radios didn't work.

... and off he went. Now, I thought for sure Mr. Nervous-Ned-I-Hate-Anything-New (aka KEN) would get five houses down the street and turn around - but nope. He checked in with us when he had gotten around the big curve in our street and checked in a second time when he got to his destination.

You should've seen Rick and I standing in the middle of our street - just waiting for Ken. Like being in the middle of the street somehow made us closer and more able to help him... but independence must be gained by oneself.

Now, don't think we're going to make this a habit. Cause I'm not really ok with it... but I had to let Ken sprout some little wings.

Ken was all grins when he got home. Katie was still in shock that Ken did that. She won't even stay home by herself for five minutes. I am sure she'll be sprouting wings before we know it too.

Soccer Saturday (again)

It was another EARLY Saturday morning for the Carter family this weekend. All of Ken's games start either at 8am or 9am. This Sat. it was 8 (blech).

The morning was really cool and damp. Ken loved playing in the cooler weather. He said it helped him run harder and longer. His team, The Bears, won by a large margin (something like 11 t0 2). Ken scored two of the goals. Here are some pictures of him working hard and having fun.


Ken's shoots his first goal. Picture above & Video (shot by Katie) below.


Katie's game was late in the afternoon. Her field is HUGE. Her team, The Cardinals, is not the most talented bunch of girls, and a good number of them are just not very eager to play hard.

Katie did her best however and said she had fun despite the 0 to 6 score. For the first 40 minutes (1st half) she played back and helped protect the goal. She has a natural ability to know where to put herself in relation to the ball and the goal. Most girls her age don't have this skill. After a 10 minute half time break, Katie played the rest of the game in the goalie position. She let a few balls get by (heck I would too, that goal zone is HUGE), but stopped quite a few too.


Her drop-kicks are getting really good. I am glad she is enjoying herself, despite the score. Her teams has only scored one goal in three games.

Rick is beside-himself in frustration about how to coach these girls and get them to improve. He literally has been mulling it over in his head all weekend.

Fred Astaire in the Making

Kenny spent Saturday with Rick. First playing hard (and winning) in his team's soccer game (Go Bears!). Then doing daddy/son things.

Sunday found us sleeping in and then Ken and I went to his best friend, Abigail's 7th birthday party. It was a dancing themed party held at a local dance studio. Ken was the only boy there and took a good 20 minutes of cajoling and tough love to get him to participate. Once he got up and was moving he was happy as a clam. The kids were learning a dance routine from the teenie-bopper movie High School Musical 2. The song was called, What Time is It? Since Ken was the only boy in attendance the dance teachers gave him special attention. They named him Troy, after the lead male in the movie. When the girls had to do a "diva walk". Ken was asked to have an attitude walk and walk with his arms crossed. When the girls put their hands on their hips, Ken was asked to strike a pose with his muscles showing. Too cute and very fun.



In all honesty, I think Ken did an exceptional job of keeping time and remembering the steps. Dancing might be something he persues when he gets older. Someone needs to lift and twirl the girls.

My favorite part of the day was watching Kenny in the cake room flirting with the teenage dance teachers. ... a sign of things to come *grin*.

Growing our Flock

With money burning a hole in his pocket and Rick's blessing, our family headed down to Sacramento to get Kenny a parakeet to love. Katie had decided she wanted one too (and she had enough money to get one - so Rick caved, yet again).

The requirements for the bird (to make it the best pet it could be) was that it be a baby (less than 3 months old & hadn't had it's first molt) and hopefully a male (it's hard to determine the gender when it's a baby). Katie found the bird she wanted at The Bird Shop and a nice size cage. It was a very very hard decision for her to make. She waffled once the clerk caught the bird and Rick held it. BUT when she heard Kenny wanted the bird if she didn't --- she changed her mind and decided it was hers.

Kenny was so torn up over deciding at The Bird Shop he actually got a stomach ache. With a little convincing that we could come back on Sunday if needed, we left that store and headed to another. Kenny found his little sweetie at Petco (just down the road from the bird shop). His bird is much younger.

On the way home we stopped at PetSmart to get Ken's bird its cage. Rick and I felt like we sprinkled the kids' money all over Sacramento County in this venture.

Once home we set up their cage locations with seed and water. Both kids kept a close eye on the new members of our flock. The little birds were (and still are) so scared. They've been taken from their bird siblings and put into a new environment with very large creatures (us) that might eat them at any minute.

This will be a long lesson in being rewarded for patience and hard work for each of the kids.

Neither little feathered friend has been named yet. Katie's bird has a pale yellow face and turquoise blue body. Ken's bird is mostly white with a sky blue color on it's lower half.

1st Game & a Goal

Kenny played his first game of the soccer season. He played goalie and stopped a few goals (even taking a hit to his privates). Then in the second half he scored a goal! - a great start to a fun season.

Katie didn't play because she has an upper respiratory virus that's kicking her energy in to super low gear.

Ken's team, The Bears, won the game by a large margin. We'll keep you updated on both kids (and Coach Rick's) game play by plays as each week in the season progresses.

Earning a Pet

Kenny's been craving a pet of his own for a VERY long time. He's finally got Rick to agree to getting a parakeet (Budgie)... the only catch is - Ken must pay for all of it (bird, cage, food) himself. Ken doesn't have enough money right now, but is doing more chores to earn money. Recently he's been wiggling his loose tooth a little extra hoping the Tooth Fairy will help put more money in the pot. Last night Ken was successful (with Dad's help) in getting his tooth out. This morning he discovered the Tooth Fairy had left him $2 (a gold presidential coin & a bicentennial silver dollar). Then, when stashing the money away he found a baggie of money from his Easter eggs. He can't stand himself. He now has enough money for a parakeet and a cage.