To Be A Kid Again

This has been yet another crazy week in America with the Boston Marathon and MIT explosions and the explosion of the plant in Waco, TX and all the Media crap that goes along with tragic events.  Another senseless death of a child left me wanting nothing more than to turn off all TV, unplug from social media and just play with my kids.  Today was a great day in San Diego.  The weather was in the 80's and not a cloud in the sky.  We started with a play date with one of Nathan's friends from school, which ended up a playdate for Kira as well because when we got to the park one of her classmates was there, as well. We came home for lunch and nap time, which never occurred, so the kids put on their swimsuits and launched water balloons and had a water fight.  We went out for ice cream and then we played outside some more riding bikes, playing baseball and just having fun. It was just what I needed after this horrific week.  

Nathan Turns 6

And just like that my baby boy is in the second half of his first decade.  This has been such a big year for him.  He left the comforting walls of his small preschool and started kindergarten.  I was worried because many times last year in pre-k he would cry when I dropped him off and my mommy heart worried that kindergarten would be much the same, especially since 100% of his instruction is in Spanish.  However, Nathan went off to kindergarten and never looked back.  He has taken the bull by the horns and surprises us daily with what he has learned.  Nathan has a math brain that he most certainly did not inherit from me, but it must come from the Davies, since his Aunt Julie is a math teacher after all.  One of Nathan's favorite things about school is the morning running club.  To date he has run over 50 miles!  Our year is much like others with lots of trips to the beach, river, desert and mountains.  Nathan and Brian did their annual father/son/cousin "man camp" camping trip. They also did an all guy Southern California skatepark/camp trip together.  As usual we did our many river trips, but have not yet convinced Nathan to get up on a wakeboard.  He did enjoy a lot of SUP (stand up paddling), though.  We did many trips to the beach this past summer and having his friends Tobin and Nathan with him most weekends, really helped to make him comfortable in the water.  He became a pretty good boogie boarder and eventually at the end of the summer popped up to standing on the board, so hopefully surfing comes this summer.  Nathan continued to love riding his quad at the desert, as well.  Although his daring demeanor out there does scare me a bit.  We were lucky enough to squeeze in two snowboarding trips this year, as well.  Nathan tends to be shaky then first day on the mountain and then by the end of a trip he is off and running (which makes me happy, since this is my favorite of all the sports). Its been a fun year and I look forward to what year 7 has in store for this little guy.

My Three Year Old Kira

Kira Turns 3

(Click Link For Video)

Today we celebrate 3 years of Kira Nicole!  Seriously how have three years gone by since we first met this little girl.  Who is 3-year old Kira?  She is a gigantic paradox, this girl.  Kira is one of the funniest little people I know.  She has a sense of humor that goes beyond her years.  Yet, she is so serious for such a little girl.  Kira is fiercely independent in some regards (which make her mama proud), yet at other times, she clings to me and won't let go.  She enjoys clothes and sparkly shoes, but is content to run barefoot in the yard and doesn't mind getting dirty.  However, she will freakout if her hands are dirty.  Kira loves all things girly (obviously this did not come from me.  We joke it skips a generation since her grandma always longed for a pink loving girly girl), but will climb, jump and run right alongside Nathan.  Although she enjoys pretend play, princesses and baby dolls, she will also spend time kicking a ball in the backyard, playing with all of Nathan's toys and do whatever he does.  This year Kira started preschool and really enjoys it.  She has made friends and has become (mostly) potty trained, though after our winter break has regressed a bit.  She still enjoys swimming, coloring and reading books.  After a recent trip to Mammoth, she decided she wants to learn to ski...we'll see come March when we go to the local mountain resorts.  Although she still needs us in so many way, she has grown a lot this year too.  Although she often hangs back (and clings) in new situations, it is often not long before she is off and running with all the rest of the kids.  We all looking forward to what year 4 has in store for her. 

One Week Later

It has been one week since the shootings in Newtown, CT. One week since the world lost 18 precious first graders, teachers, a principal and a school psychologist. I have seen many tragic events in my 36-years on this earth, but this for me has been particularly hard to understand. I think because what happened in Newtown could happen anywhere, but more particularly because several people effected in Newtown play roles that I play daily. For instance, Mary Sherlach was the school psychologist, a role that I play on a daily basis. She went to work doing what all school psychologists do on a daily basis, she protected those kids, which is what any one of us in the field would do given the situation. Just two days before the shootings, my school had its annual disaster drill and we like to complain that it takes away from the time we have to get so much other stuff done, but as I think back, I am glad to have given those forty-five minutes up to practice keeping the students and staff safe and I am happy to know that my school has a safety procedure in place. Secondly, I work with so many amazing teachers on a daily basis. Any one of them would have given their lives the way that Victoria Soto did protecting her students. For those anti-teachers, you really have no idea how teaching is more than just a job. People these days seem to blame all of the worlds problems on teachers, but we do little as a society to bolster education. Funny how now these same people are considered hero's. Well to me they always have been. They live and breathe their work and noone seems to get that unless you have the pleasure of working with them. I am saddened for the loss of a principal who so obviously loved her work. It is rare to find that quality, for it seems most principals have forgotten what it is to work directly with children. I am grateful that I get to work with a principal who really puts forth the effort to get to know her students and who does put children first. Thirdly, and what I think rings true for many is the loss of precious 6 and 7 year olds. Since Nathan is nearly six, I think this why it has been particularly hard to take. Especially because he loves school so much. I hate that elementary school has suddenly become such a scary place for parents. I think we need to try as hard as we can to maintain some semblance of normalcy for our youngest learners and not take that away from them. I am glad that I had this week off so that I could spend time on Nathan's school campus, getting to know staff and enjoying the kids because it made this all seem almost like a bad nightmare. Kids are still kids and are having a great time at school, not cowering in fear of what could happen. That has helped me be less nervous over the course of the week. It has made me realize that despite the horrific event that happened last Friday, there is still good in the world and we need to focus on that and maybe just squeeze our little ones a little tighter at the beginning and the end of the day because we can.

Super Student

Nathan was chosen as one of the five students at the first awards assembly this year who exhibits the character trait of responsibility! So proud of that little guy!

Thanksgiving Celebrations

Today both Nathan and Kira had Thanksgiving celebrations at their schools. I was unable to go to the luncheon at Kira's preschool but Brian's mom sent a couple pictures. Due to a presentation at work,I was done early today so I was able to get to Nathan's school. The kids sang songs and had a little spread of fruit, crackers and cornbread muffins. It was cute to hear them singing in Spanish and to listen to them tell what they are thankful for in Spanish. I am so glad both kids are liking where they are at in life right now.

Preschool

On November 1 Kira started preschool at St. David's Preschool, which is right across the street from Nathan's school. She seems to really like it. She has made friends and likes her teacher and the other teachers. Kira talks about the things they do there, which includes a lot of songs. Or maybe she just really likes music. I can't wait to see and hear all the things she learns this year.