Monday started out with Tiny Tots soccer class for Tyler. It's only a 4 week course through the City of Irvine and is an introduction to the sport. The class is for 3-5 year olds and was perfect for Tyler. I did get annoyed watching the younger kids though, especially the ones who were horrible listeners. I'm sure Tyler was one of those kids before though! He loves his soccer class and is always so excited to go. He's also super focused during class and runs as fast as he can and does everything to the max. Maybe we'll put him in AYSO Soccer this Fall...
This week Tyler's ATA TaeKwonDo studio came to their school for a self-defense seminar. What a difference a year makes! When they came last year, Tyler was just a volunteer, eager to participate and clueless about what Taekwondo was. After the seminar we enrolled him into the program. Come to think of it, last year, when he was 3 1/2 was when we started enrolling him in actual activities like TKD and Kumon. It seems like he's been doing these things forever, but it's really only been a little over a year! Tyler was very excited to wear his TKD uniform and show his friends his moves. He told me afterward that his friends were looking at him because they thought he was "really cool" up there in his uniform. Heehee.
The demonstration was in the Big Yard at ICDC and meant for Pre1 to Pre4 kids. When I got there, Katelyn immediately saw me and started yelling "mama! mama! Guh-guh (big brother in Chinese) haiyahh!!". She was standing at the gate that separates the toddler yard from the big yard watching the demonstration. The teachers told me that she had been standing watching intently, wanting to join in. Lucky for her I had come to watch as well and she got to join the bigger kids. She is totally ready for the big yard and joined in with the kids and hung out with the teachers happily.
Video of Tyler demonstrating TKD at school:
She excitedly participated in the punching. It was so cute watching Tyler help her too.
Striking a pose with one of her older friends. She's showing us her high block!
On Thursday Tyler had his tennis class. This is also another one of those 4 week courses through the city of Irvine. Tyler's the youngest kid in there, he's 4 and the class is for 5-9 year olds. He did a great job focusing and trying to hit the ball! We definitely need to practice on our own though, but its hard to find time. The class starts out all together and then divides up by age/level for more concentrated drills. The head coach had all the young kids (Tyler included) and then moved Tyler and another girl up to the next level after seeing how they were focused and good at listening. The other girl that moved up with Tyler was 9 years old! I was happy that he moved up since the rest of the kids in the youngest group were really bad at focusing and the coach spent a good deal of time just trying to get them to follow directions. The next level though, was much more difficult! Tyler kept trying though!
That evening we had dinner with the Garners at Woodbury, and the kids were very excited to have frozen yogurt afterward.
Friday was dress up day for the toddler room. Perfect opportunity for the kids to wear their Halloween costumes before they outgrew them! I put Katelyn in a princess fairy costume that I was just barely able to squeeze her into. She loved it!
We also had taekwondo practice where Tyler prepared for his TKD competition the next day. He really does well when the attention is on him - he loves the spotlight!
Tyler is always saying that he wants to play in the playground of our local Chik-Fil-A, but we always take it to-go. That evening we actually ate there! It's quite a family friendly place and almost feels like full service. The people that work there are so accommodating and come by your table constantly getting refills and whatever you may need. Doesn't even feel like a fast food restaurant! The kids were happy to play in the playground too. And of course, mini cones for dessert!
Saturday morning we dropped Katelyn off at my in-laws and drove to (a very hot) Ontario for Tyler's TKD competition. At this stage he's still in the Tiny Tigers age group, which means that they basically get a trophy for participation. Tyler loves his trophies (this is his 3rd one), and we pretty much drove out there and paid the $35 so he could get his trophy. Haha! I do think that it does help him build character and focus since he still has to perform his Songham form in front of a large group.
Video of Tyler at his 3rd TKD competition:
Tyler and Mr. Do!
After the competition we had a quick lunch at Fuddruckers (been ages since we've been there!) before heading back to Irvine. Katelyn will still napping when we got back (long story short - the in-laws hadn't been very successful in getting her down at noon as we had instructed..) so we went first to a friend's 4th birthday party. Boy, was it hot! The main attraction was a Firetruck where they made pizzas on top. There was also a "digital photo booth" for the kids to take photos in!
Here comes the pizza from the top of the firetruck!
Here's Tyler and the birthday boy Sterling!
Another fun attraction was the trackless train ride! The kids LOVED it and I'm surprised how many times in a row they wanted to ride it!
Here's a picture of me, Amy (Sterling's mom) and Paula. We all met through Kumon. They are both late 30s but really, does it even matter once we all have kids? Paula's youngest daughter will be starting Kindergarten at the same school as Tyler in July - maybe they'll even be in the same class! Morgan is almost a full year older than Tyler though, she turns 6 at the end of the year while Tyler is just turning 5 in July.
Group picture in front of the firetruck! Amy passed out sunglasses to all the kids. Will had left by this time to pick up a just-awakened Katelyn from his parents' place.
Good thing they got there just in time for some train rides! Loving Katelyn's new little sunglasses. She's just too cool for school. :)
Unbeknownst to me, Will let Katelyn climb the rope climber in the playground. I almost had a heart attack when I saw these pictures!
Enjoying some see-saw fun...
Katelyn seriously is so super friendly. This was her first time meeting Paula and she didn't have a problem with being held by her! My mom always warns me that I need to keep a close eye on Katelyn, she is such a little social butterfly that she likes to talk to and be friendly with everyone!
And the last main attraction - a jumbo fire engine bounce house! This thing was huge! Much larger than the ones we usually rent. The kids had a great time in there.
After the party we were all pretty drained. Well at least Will and I were. We went back home and took naps while the kids played. Then we headed over to the grandparents' place for dinner. KK sure had her grandpa wrapped around her little finger! He'll let her get away with anything. Apparently for naptime that day, he held her and rocked her in the rocking chair in her room until she fell asleep. Unbelievable! Haha! Usually I'd be a bit upset since I don't want her thinking she can get away with that at home, but she's clever/sneaky enough to not even try it. I figure the grandparents are allowed to spoil their grandkids!
Sunday morning I headed up to Hacienda Heights and then carpooled with Tiff's little brother out to Burbank for her wedding rehearsal. Burbank is far! Afterward we had lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Excited and stressed about the wedding next weekend! Not like it's my wedding but her other bridesmaids are such skinny gals that I'm terrified of looking like a cow next to them!
Tiff and her bridesmaids!
On the way home I stopped by to hang out for my mom for a bit as well. I actually had stopped by at my brother's place in Rowland Heights that morning for a quick visit as well! It's amazing how fast I can get in and out of places without lugging two kids around!
Meanwhile, Will took the kids to a birthday party back in Irvine. I am pretty bummed that I missed it since it was a huge birthday party and it seemed like everyone was there! The highlight was making wuggle pets. It was kind of like Build-A-Bear where the kids pick a little stuff animal, stuff it and put it on a keychain. Here's Katelyn making her little unicorn which she refers to as "corn". Hah.
The kids had a great time since all their friends were there, plus the house is huge so there was a ton of room and toys to play with!
Here's Katelyn with one of the ICDC teachers Ashley.
My friend Jen with Katelyn and her daughter Kylee!
Ring toss!
Katelyn and Ashley and Vanessa.
Katelyn had a lot of fun wearing the birthday girl Arden's princess high heels.
Here's Katelyn and my friend Lisa. Lisa has two boys and always likes to play with Katelyn.
Whew, that was another fun filled week! Next weekend will be pretty chill since Will and I will be busy with the wedding all Saturday while the kids are with the grandparents. I'm looking forward to a whole day with Will! :)
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