Swim Team

Can you see Freddie in the blue goggles on the left?

Parents aren't allowed on the deck, so I don't really have any photos from swim team.  I decided to take my big camera and try to get a few, but they really aren't very interesting.

Freddie has been working on freestyle, backstroke, and he's also just started learning breaststroke.

His biggest challenge is general endurance and keeping up with the older and bigger kids.

Oh, and kicking.  He cannot seem to kick and move his arms at the same time.  Smile.  I'm sure his coaches are telling him to kick in this photo...

Someone is typically walking the lane with him either yelling to kick or giving him a sig that he needs to kick and kick harder.

He has made a great deal of improvement in the 2 months he's been swimming with the bigger crowd.  I'm impressed he's stuck with it and continues to press on.

He can manage to pass his buddies on backstroke.

Hans is also making considerable progress during his practice.  His teacher always talks about his amazing focus and really working to execute the skill as instructed.

He has been working on freestyle and backstroke, with a lot of emphasis being on building up strength for kicking and breathing techniques.

Hans is also gaining a whole new group of friends from swimming.  Some of the kids are friends of Freddie's from school and others are just neighborhood kids we see around.  It's nice for him to know some kids that have nothing to do with Freddie.

I'm thankful for the pool and swimming three times a week as we enter the dark days of winter where we don't want to leave the house and no one is getting enough physical activity.  Swimming is great exercise for these guys and they are both learning about hard work, sportsmanship, and listening to a coach.

Lovin'

• Snuggles
• Sweaters
• Lego building sessions
• Chapter books
• A new reader
• A new writer who can spell H-A-N-S
• Holiday shopping
• Holiday activity planning
• Summer Camp planning (Can you believe we are registering BOTH boys now for summer camps?!?)
• Thoughts of a trip with no plans next week

Fish

The boys swim three times a week with the swim team, but they still want to get in the pool on the weekends.  They love the water, and crave a little unstructured time to splash and zoom back and forth with their flippers.  Hans is now able to complete a lap with his flippers on.  He's nonstop in the pool.

Tis the season

The parkas are out and in daily use, and the outdoor ice rinks are open.

We got the skate bag out and headed to Bryant Park for our first skate of the season.

What a difference a year makes!  The boys were so interested in skating and wanted to stay on the ice for hours.

We went around and around and around.  All of us!  Even Hans wanted to continue to challenge himself to balance on his own.

Last year we would manage a few laps before the boys were ready for cocoa.  This year no one was ready to leave.  After a few hours Freddie was shuffling in and out of people, passing folks up, and pulling me along.

I think the "mild" temperature helped their enthusiasm this trip.  Hopefully they build up their skills and confidence before the 20 and 30 degree mornings arrive.

The favorite of ice skating is always the zamboni. We could not leave before seeing the zamboni take to the ice.  Hans had to watch it the entire time.

After skating we spent some time in Bryant Park, visiting the little mobile book cart to read for a bit and then take a whirl on the carousel.

Bring on winter.  We're ready!

Hans's Parent Teacher Conference

We had our fall conference for Hans this week.  Some notes:

• All development within normal ranges.  
• His gross motor skills are exceptional.  His fine motor skills are developing and he's in this stage of wanting to draw and write a lot.  
• His focus is exceptional.  I notice this at swimming and gymnastics.
• He's emerged from his shyness in the classroom.  The first month or so he was rather quiet, but now he'll speak up.  And evidently speaks a lot.
• His teacher said she expected to have "another Freddie" but she said he is anything but another Freddie.  Yes, they are so different!
• Unlike Freddie who would scan the room to check out the social happenings before choosing an activity, Hans decides what to do based on the activity and not who is there.  He will interact with whomever is already there but he is not swayed by who is doing what.  
• He is also eager to interact with the teachers, unlike Freddie.  Although Freddie was polite and declined the one on one activities (usually more structured academic experiences) with his teachers, Hans is always on board and enjoys it.  I think this is my introvert who is happy to have a one on one experience with someone rather than having to deal with interacting with so many people at once.
• He talks.  He likes to talk.  He talks a lot.  He wants to talk more.  The kid shares at every opportunity.  He raises his hand at circle and during story time.  His teacher says he shares everything, and she relayed how he was looking forward to getting new shoes in the mail (yep).
• He interacts well with all of the kids.  He avoids conflict and doesn't get involved with the drama in the room. This IS like Freddie.
• His behaviors and emotions are controlled in the classroom.  We see frustrations at home but apparently he is able to deal with this better in the classroom setting...perhaps because his #1 frustration in life (Freddie) is not there.  
• He's happy, engaged, and progressing at school.
• The conference ended with Miss J saying they're totally pleased with his development, there are no concerns, and she loves having him.

Influence

Guess who sat down with the book first? Didn't take long for Freddie to dig his out and find a seat.

Final Kick

Hans' group ends each practice with "the final kick." All of the kids like this part of practice, being cheered for and cheering for their friends.

Civics Lesson

The flags of the countries represented at Freddie's school, 81 different countries.

I took the boys to vote, again, this year.  They love going into the school building when school's not in session as though they are somehow getting away with something, breaking the rules.

"I Voted"

The boys participated in an "election" at the library, voting for a the #1 Sesame Street character so their frame of reference is expanding somewhat.  My explanation continues to be that we are trying to pick a person who we feel will do the best job working for our neighborhood.

The view the kids have from the cafeteria at school

This year I've added to the discussion the idea of varied governments around the world and how not everyone gets a say in who their leaders are.  Living in such a global society makes this a bit more tangible, being able to talk about friends from countries where they might not have the privilege (responsibility) to vote.

Hansie always is curious about the "taxi cow" we can see from outside the building
so he HAD to have a photo with it today from inside the building!

I'm thankful for my right to vote.  I'm also thankful for the poll workers who were ever so patient with the boys helping to explain each step of the process from finding my name in the poll book to how to fill out the ballot.  The boys got to submit our ballot into the machine, and were quite proud to get their "I Voted" sticker.  

Halloween

Freddie's school wrapped up "spirit week" on Friday and it was conveniently "costume day."  He opted to wear his pirate costume so as to not reveal his official Halloween costume.  He wasn't too thrilled about my taking his picture (what's new) especially since he was trying to get into school with his buddies.

Later that day I got to join his class for a craft and treat.  It was rather tame Halloween celebration but the kids seemed thrilled to have a few moms in the room helping out with a craft.

After school we headed to Hans' preschool for their Halloween parade.  The school does a lap around the small cluster of buildings we live in before heading back to the classrooms for a party.

I tried to get some pictures before we headed down, but again neither boy was into taking pictures.  Sigh.

We headed down with Thor and the Dark Knight to preschool.  Freddie was thrilled to be in his old classroom and Hans was thrilled to have him along.

I liked getting to see Hansie with his class, raising his hand to answer questions and share as the teacher read a story.

His confidence in school has grown tremendously.

It was a quick lap outside, thankfully, because it was cold and grey.

The boys were warm and snug in their costumes.  This southern girl now understand why children's Halloween costumes are thick and furry.  Too bad we really don't need them since the boys just walk the halls in our building to trick or treat.

Back in the classroom it was fun to see both the boys mingle.

Freddie's friend was there since his brother is also in preschool.

I most loved Hans having a conversation that lasted forever.  I don't even know what they were talking about but it was so cute to watch.

When we finally left school it was up to the 16th floor to begin trick or treating.  Charlie stayed home to hand out candy.

We worked our way down, mostly taking the stairs since it was hard to get an elevator.  Around the 9th floor Hans started complaining about his bag being too heavy and asking to go home.

After a few more floors Freddie was ready to call it quits as well.  It was the same situation last year and I am still surprised by this.  I suppose the call of the candy is strong, but I also think they were genuinely worn out and ready to wind down.

After examining their loot and stripping down to their undies the boys handed out some candy and called it a night.  Whew.