The Climb

The shirt didn't seem to help the Huskies on Saturday. Unfortunately, nor did it when Kellan & Zoe dawned it in previous years....

Dexter does some serious raiding of the cupboards these days. He used to be satisfied with simply crushing the chips in the chip bags, smashing granola bars, unwrapping small pieces of old Halloween candy - but now he's helping himself to things. We've moved most things out of his reach, but he managed to indulge in his first graham cracker the other day. I knew he was in the cupboard, but he got real quiet, which is never a good sign with Dexter since he's typically competing to be heard. I looked over and he was savoring a graham cracker, not shoving it in his mouth, just taking small little bites. He took one look at me, got up, and ran.

He manages to entertain daily. He tries so hard to climb up the rope ladder of the treehouse to go down the slide. I end up having to climb down, carry him up, let him go down the slide and repeat hundred times. I'm waiting for the day when he tries to get out of his crib. Zoe was never inclined. I'll never forget the day Kellan did. I came home from work and Jim said I have bad news and more bad news; the bad news is we got a full offer for our house today (back when we were half-heartedly selling our house in CA) and the other bad news is Kellan "climbed" out of his crib...he was 18 months old. Dexter is still only 14, so hopefully we have at least 4 more months.

Kellan started a one day a week after school baseball camp. I think it's a national program. It opened this week by our house - The Sandlot. He was there for an hour and a half today. One coach, seven kids learning baseball principles, doing drills and hitting. It's all indoor in an old warehouse. I showed up at the end and they were sitting around talking about the "C" in "Champs" - Coachable. Which is exactly what Jim's trying to get across to the team (especially Kellan) to no avail. Don't get me wrong, we know Kellan is a typical seven year old boy, but I was pretty pumped about him potentially learning how to pay attention in an activity he really loves.

We had some new neighbors move in on the block this past month. The kids couldn't be more excited. A 9 yr old girl and 5 and 4 year old boys. They've been playing non-stop and the weather has been gorgeous. All the other neighborhood kids are still out too playing with all the smaller kids - on a given day they'll be 14 kids out shooting each other with guns, it's just wonderful. The bigger kids shoot the guns while the little kids are spies...I think Kellan is borderline big kid now, however he has no interest in shooting the guns since if you have a gun you get shot at. Glad he's still afraid of things.

Zoe has been wanting me to do her hair every morning. Most days I'm gone before anyone is awake, though lately I haven't been sleeping much, so Zoe has been getting up early just to make sure I am still home to braid her hair. Daddy needs to take some lessons from Uncle Cam.

It's not every day I quote the following singer, but Zoe is a huge fan. Zoe loves to entertain, shouting a.k.a. singing at the top of her lungs. I've tried to get it on video, but no justice has been done to date. How pathetic am I that it brings tears to my eyes every time she sings it? Between the lyrics she's singing as a 4.5 yr old and the pure passion she sings the song with, I wonder if she's really relating? Jeez, I hope not. I will blast the song in my car and she rolls her window down all the way, needless to say some interesting looks. Get Inspired! and try to sing it as Zoe would w/ her Brooklyn accent.

"The Climb"

I can almost see it.
That dream I'm dreaming, but
There's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm takin'
Every move I make
Feels lost with no direction,
My faith is shakin'
But I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
I've just gotta keep goin', and
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, but

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep faith baby
It's all about, it's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, woah

--Hannah Montana

Just because...

Happy 7th Birthday Kellan!

I'm a little late on this one. We let Kellan have a birthday party this year. We were going to have it at the house, but when we took him to check out a local water park (on the small side), there was no going back. Lucky we didn't have to go to the back-up plan due to weather becuase there wasn't one. The attendee list was also cut back, again fortunate for us becuase I don't what we were thinking with doing a b-day at a water park with Jim, Zoe, Dexter and I and a dozen 7 yr olds. We were rescued though. Uncle Cam and Phoebe flew out and a bunch of parents joined us. I think everyone had a great time, Kellan definitely did. I can't believe my little boy is seven. I keep telling him he will always be my baby and he keeps telling me he's not a baby. He's had a lot of smart ass comments lately. He also talks in these little voices that I can only cringe at sometimes because they remind me of his Uncle Mike when I was growing up. Especially when he talks through his butt. Lovely.

It's been awhile since I've talked Legos...they are still most definitely in Kellan's life. I need to find a new system for organizing them since it's just too overwhelming for him to even consider re-building anything. In my "spare" time I try and go back and organize all the pieces by set. I think I've done 1 of close to 100.

Most mornings this week have been in the 50's and then hot during the day. I still can't help but think fall is right around the corner. NOOOO! With that said, we're trying to spend as much time as possible outside.

Kellan had his first fall baseball game last weekend. They got killed. Watching seven/eight year olds pitch makes for a slow game. They basically lost on walks. Kellan only got to hit once. We'll see what the rest of the season brings.

Little daredevil. Watching the big kids ride their bikes.