Monday, September 19, 2011

Happy 2nd Birthday AJ

I don't know why I didn't post this in March of 2010! Here is is anyway.

Last week you turned 2. I get a sweet, warm and fuzzy feeling inside when I think about you son. 
Each day you make me smile over and over. 
Each day you grow a little and say new things.
Each day you get closer to my heart.
You have blessed our family and filled our lives with joy and giggles!
And last week you ate cupcakes!
 

  

  

  


Each day you

Busy week

We were so busy last week! The events kept us in suspense and smiling. It began Monday and Tuesday as we were awaiting the grand opening of Aiyana's new school, Old Town Academy. It was originally postponed to open a week late on Monday then to Tuesday then finally to Wednesday. After all the anticipation, the first day was a success! Aiyana thinks her teacher is great and she has plenty of friends in class. She seems to thrive in the small school atmosphere. There is only one class for each grade.
Here are some first day photos.

                                                                 Leaving the house

                                                                       Balloon fun

                                                  She can't believe she is actually a first grader!

                                We were completing her first grade scavenger hunt to find all
                                                    of the important places in the school.

                                                      She was happy to see us picking her up!

Immediately after we picked up Aiyana from school we headed to AJ's karate class. Aiyana is an aid in the class. AJ was given his first promotion. He now has a yellow tape on his white belt. He is on his way!
                                                                 Serious samurai

                                                                    Silly samurai


                                                                   Blue Steel Samurai

                                                                     He just kept going...

Thursday was another great day at school for Aiyana. The morning was a little rough before she had her oatmeal. She told me that she "wished school didn't exist" and she said she wanted to stay with us all day. Once she was fed and dressed it was all good. She had wonderful things to say when she got home despite the apprehensive start to the day. She was happy to be the teachers messenger and deliver any necessary communication to the office or the kinder teacher.

                                                                    As cute as can be

                                                    Yana is trying to push AJ out of the shot.

                                                               Now this is more like it!

                                                                     


That afternoon after school was Aiyana's big test day in karate. She has been a purple belt for several months now and was ready to show that she could advance. She was very nervous but her tendency to come through in the clutch showed through! Sensei tested her basics (kicks, punches, stances, and blocks), sparring, and Kata (form). She passed her test and is now a purple belt with a white stripe.

                                                 Just before the test began her nerves were apparent.

           Here the Master Sensei is adding a white tape to her purple belt signifying her promotion
  
                                                         
                   Job well done Yaya!! I am so proud of you and all your hard work and dedication!

Finally it was Friday after a long week! We had a great morning and Aiyana felt so sassy and ready to get to school. I mean just look at the knee socks! Shut up right?



After all the school kids went up to class, AJ and I hung out with the construction crew as they dumped piles of dirt over the soon-to-be turf field.

                           AJ was sitting on the digger the tractor would later use to smooth out the dirt.


                                                 Look at his morning puffy face! So cute!
 After the dirt was dumped, AJ insisted we stay and watch the bobcat spread it out. We hung out for an hour and chatted and learned. One of the crewman gave AJ a pile of dirt and in his awesome deep big daddy voice he told the man, "I am going to keep this forever." It was a moment. I cherish these times with my kids. I know it is just a blink and they are grown up.

Whew!! What a week!






Saturday, July 23, 2011

Ages and Stages

Aiyana is now 6 and questions all authority. Long gone are the days where Mommy is the Queen and whatever I say is the end all. She wants to know why I said "Get in the car quickly." She wants to know why AJ is on timeout because what he did "really wasn't that bad." She disagrees with pretty much everything and at the same time says "right mama?" after most of her statements. "I get to go first, right mama?" "I don't have to take a nap today, right mama?" "This trick is the best, right mama?" How does she need my confirmation, yet disagree with me anyway?! So funny!


Aiyana is truly a bright little girl. She is reading better each day. She can complete several books a day and fully comprehend the story. Taking the time to read with her hours each day when she was a baby has truly paid off.


She is also training to compete in her first karate tournament. We will go to Disneyland and she will perform her kata and spar against other kids her age and skill level. She is a purple belt now and is helping out with AJ's little dragons class.


She will begin first grade this September. I look forward to this school year. Last year was rough because AJ got so many ear infections and colds and pneumonia. Now that he is a bit bigger, and hopefully a stronger immune system, we have high hopes for getting through this year healthy.

AJ is 3 now and is at the stage where Mommy is the best! At the park yesterday he was observing the felt lining from the bottom of the sand box. "Maam, excuse me, what is this stuff?" he asked another mom. She said she didn't know, so I told him it was the lining. He then continued on with the other mom, "My mother said it's the lining." So sweet! AJ plays cars and trucks and planes and motorcycles and boats all day long. He loves to define a bad guy and a good guy and set up scenarios of the bad guy getting beat. He is fairly self sufficient when it comes to play time.


When he hugs me my heart just melts down in seconds. Life is truly precious.

This September we will enter AJ into the parent participation indoor preschool Aiyana attended. We call it "college" because it is through a local community college. AJ attended the class with Aiyana a year ago and he remembers Teacher Marina and that she is "nice because she lets them play play-dough everyday if they want."

The Curry kids have blessed us beyond imagination. They are both growing and changing so quickly.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sea World Flashback


Wow!! I just ran across this photo from May 2007 as I was going to shut the computer down! Those days were so sweet! And...that hair was quick and easy! Long gone are the days of spray and run!
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Friday, May 6, 2011

Bye bye tooth #5!!

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Yaya lost her fifth tooth on April 18!! It came out while she was brushing.
Now evewysing szoundzs wike zisss!

AJ wanted in on the photo shoot. Silky smooth.

Tuesday morning at Balboa Park


Tuesday we took a stroll through Balboa Park to enjoy the amazing weather we have been having. We went to the Model Railroad Museum and then the kids played around the beautiful architecture. AJ asks to take a tour through Balboa Park at least twice a week, so he was satisfied to get his wish!


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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Starting Kinder

Aiyana started Kindergarten on Sept. 7. We all made it without crying! I came close... real close. As the students were gathering on the rug Aiyana asked me why I only stayed for such a short time. I almost lost it. I wanted to trample the other little ones and swoop her up and carry her out of there. Instead I just took a deep breath and shot her a kiss and moved towards the door. We watched for a moment and took a couple more photos before leaving. Whew! That was the first time Aiyana had ever been left in someones care other than close family. Well, there was one time when she was 1 and I trialed a "preschool" for 3 hours. I hated it and never went back. Other than that we have been doing parent participation preschool classes since she was 1 1/2. Anyway, this was truly her first day of school.









 AJ was enjoying the desks while the students were getting settled in at the front.

 She conquered the first day!



We decided to put Aiyana in a school that isn't in our neighborhood. We are very happy with our choice so far! The Kinder system is very organized and Aiyana comes home from school happy each day. The first thing she usually tells me is that they "learned MORE stuff she already knows"! She has really showed lots of independence the past few weeks with her new found freedom. She even asked me to drop her off at the front of the school and she could find her own way to her classroom. Not a chance!