Ethan was being really sweet last night and wrote a little note to Courtney on a Doodle Pro. So this morning they have been writing notes back and forth on it. It's been fun to see them try to sneak into each other's rooms without being seen. I'm glad they are in such a good mood...the only fights have been about not looking while they are trying to sneak a sweet note in. ;)
It's a good morning!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
"The BEST morning ever!!"
That is what Ethan said this morning as he ran out the door to the bus. Let me explain...
Ethan is a kid who is very concerned about being late. He doesn't like to be late and doesn't like to miss things and really doesn't like to be rushed. Just like me! So when the two of us feel rushed it makes for a HORRIBLE morning.
Last week Ethan had some pretty late nights so he kept sleeping in until 7:30. This normally isn't a problem if he just gets up, eats breakfast, practices the piano and gets ready to go. But he loves to read the comics and spend time eating before he has to practice. And, with our new chore system going, he has to plan time to do his morning chores or he won't get the tokens. So he had some added stress and I didn't help any by being stressed about getting him to do things.
So...last night we decided to set his alarm for 7 a.m. We tested it out to make sure it had a tone he liked and a volume that was okay with him. He decided that when he got up at 7, he would go out, eat breakfast and read the comics until 7:30. Then, at 7:30, he would begin to practice the piano and I would help him but wouldn't ever rush him or tell him to hurry because we would be late. I agreed and we decided to try it.
At 7 a.m. I was reading in my room and in walked a very grumpy looking Ethan. I instantly thought this wasn't going to work. He climbed in my just made bed and burrowed under the covers. When he came up 5 minutes later he asked for breakfast. He read the comics and ate at his own pace for 30 minutes and then noticed the time and got up, cleaned up his breakfast dishes (one of his morning chores) and walked to the piano to begin practicing.
When he began he told me that there was "no way I'm ever going to be able to practice for 30 minutes, but I'll do what I can." Because in order to get the maximum amount of tokens he has to be engaged in practicing for 30 minutes. He did awesome and...practiced for 30 minutes. Of course, about 10 was spent playing "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater" that someone (ahem) decided to teach him to let him have fun for a few minutes. He wasn't always completely engaged, he fidgeted and sometimes would break off to tell me a story, but not once did I tell him to hurry or have to get after him for not being good. When he finished up he looked at the clock and was shocked to see that he had been playing for 30 minutes. He gave me a great big hug, ran to change clothes, clean up his room, say his prayers and then move all his marbles on the chore chart.
He then walked around the house saying with a great family he has and how wonderful the morning was. His good mood was contagious because Courtney had an awesome morning too and went to preschool without even a peep. I guess, after 7 years with him, I am finally learning that I have to schedule an extra 30 minutes into our lives to keep the peace. I think it's worth it!
Great job Ethan!!!
Ethan is a kid who is very concerned about being late. He doesn't like to be late and doesn't like to miss things and really doesn't like to be rushed. Just like me! So when the two of us feel rushed it makes for a HORRIBLE morning.
Last week Ethan had some pretty late nights so he kept sleeping in until 7:30. This normally isn't a problem if he just gets up, eats breakfast, practices the piano and gets ready to go. But he loves to read the comics and spend time eating before he has to practice. And, with our new chore system going, he has to plan time to do his morning chores or he won't get the tokens. So he had some added stress and I didn't help any by being stressed about getting him to do things.
So...last night we decided to set his alarm for 7 a.m. We tested it out to make sure it had a tone he liked and a volume that was okay with him. He decided that when he got up at 7, he would go out, eat breakfast and read the comics until 7:30. Then, at 7:30, he would begin to practice the piano and I would help him but wouldn't ever rush him or tell him to hurry because we would be late. I agreed and we decided to try it.
At 7 a.m. I was reading in my room and in walked a very grumpy looking Ethan. I instantly thought this wasn't going to work. He climbed in my just made bed and burrowed under the covers. When he came up 5 minutes later he asked for breakfast. He read the comics and ate at his own pace for 30 minutes and then noticed the time and got up, cleaned up his breakfast dishes (one of his morning chores) and walked to the piano to begin practicing.
When he began he told me that there was "no way I'm ever going to be able to practice for 30 minutes, but I'll do what I can." Because in order to get the maximum amount of tokens he has to be engaged in practicing for 30 minutes. He did awesome and...practiced for 30 minutes. Of course, about 10 was spent playing "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater" that someone (ahem) decided to teach him to let him have fun for a few minutes. He wasn't always completely engaged, he fidgeted and sometimes would break off to tell me a story, but not once did I tell him to hurry or have to get after him for not being good. When he finished up he looked at the clock and was shocked to see that he had been playing for 30 minutes. He gave me a great big hug, ran to change clothes, clean up his room, say his prayers and then move all his marbles on the chore chart.
He then walked around the house saying with a great family he has and how wonderful the morning was. His good mood was contagious because Courtney had an awesome morning too and went to preschool without even a peep. I guess, after 7 years with him, I am finally learning that I have to schedule an extra 30 minutes into our lives to keep the peace. I think it's worth it!
Great job Ethan!!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Family Math Night and Ethan's Basketball Game
Last night was busy. Ethan's school held a Family Math Night and Ethan was so excited about going. It was from 6-7 p.m. but he had a basketball game at 6:30 so we only went for about 20 minutes. It was raining hard and we had to sprint from the car, but they had the cafeteria set up with a bunch of different math games, chess, computers with programs on them and guessing/counting games. Ethan went straight to the table his teacher was manning and began doing a puzzle with shapes that they have been learning about in his class.
Here he is working on the game:
When it was time to go we grabbed a cookie for the kids (the refreshments) and sprinted back to the car. It was really raining! We drove to the Intermediate School by our house where the games are played and sprinted in the gym. Then the boys all warmed up and the game began.
I was a bit amazed by how much taller Ethan was than some of the boys on the other team. This is a 1st and 2nd grade team and some of the boys only came up to his chest. But he did a great job. He is number 10. Our team is pretty big and we have some great shooters...to the point where Bryan had to ask those who shoot well to only take one shot in the 2nd half because they were taking all the ball time. One little boy who is a great player and makes tons of baskets, passed to the only girl on our team and she made a basket! It was great. Ethan almost had one in, the arc was right, but it was a bit off and he missed. But he played the best he has so far and, although they don't keep score, our team would have won. Ethan loves the game! Their team name is the Super Sharks. Cute!!
Here's a slide show. Ethan is #10 and they are the white team.
Here he is working on the game:
When it was time to go we grabbed a cookie for the kids (the refreshments) and sprinted back to the car. It was really raining! We drove to the Intermediate School by our house where the games are played and sprinted in the gym. Then the boys all warmed up and the game began.
I was a bit amazed by how much taller Ethan was than some of the boys on the other team. This is a 1st and 2nd grade team and some of the boys only came up to his chest. But he did a great job. He is number 10. Our team is pretty big and we have some great shooters...to the point where Bryan had to ask those who shoot well to only take one shot in the 2nd half because they were taking all the ball time. One little boy who is a great player and makes tons of baskets, passed to the only girl on our team and she made a basket! It was great. Ethan almost had one in, the arc was right, but it was a bit off and he missed. But he played the best he has so far and, although they don't keep score, our team would have won. Ethan loves the game! Their team name is the Super Sharks. Cute!!
Here's a slide show. Ethan is #10 and they are the white team.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Happy Birthday Grandpa Pack...a day late
Bryan's Grandpa Pack turned 90 years old yesterday. They planned a party for him in Brigham City and all of Bryan's family was coming in for the celebration. Bryan had a hearing set for Wednesday morning and a meeting set for Thursday morning, so there wouldn't be time for us to drive up but we didn't want him to miss it. So we got Bryan a plane ticket to fly to Salt Lake City on Wednesday (the hearing ended up being canceled so he caught an earlier flight) morning, rented a car to drive to Brigham City, had a great time at the party, spent the night in a hotel with his family, drove back to Salt Lake, and flew home this morning. His plane landed at 9:15 this morning. It was a quick trip but Bryan is so glad that he was able to go. The kids and I missed it, but we were thinking about Grandpa!
This is one of my favorite pictures. At the Pack Family Reunion last summer Courtney really bonded with Great-Grandpa Pack. She would talk to him all the time and search him out to give him a hug. They would sit on the porch swing and Courtney would just talk and talk and Great-Grandpa would listen! It's a cute one!
This is one of my favorite pictures. At the Pack Family Reunion last summer Courtney really bonded with Great-Grandpa Pack. She would talk to him all the time and search him out to give him a hug. They would sit on the porch swing and Courtney would just talk and talk and Great-Grandpa would listen! It's a cute one!
Cute Big Brother
Courtney was a bit upset to be left at home when Ethan went to the game last night but she got over it quickly when I started playing with her and reading her stories. But when it was time to go to bed she really missed her big brother. I promised to send him in when he got home and she went to bed happy.
When Ethan finally got home and was ready for bed, we both went into Courtney's room so he could give her a hug and a kiss. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the hand (she was laying on the far side of her bed and we didn't want to wake her up), a small hug and then he pulled her covers up on her and put her doll next to her. I thought it was so cute. When he turned around he had huge tears rolling down his cheeks. We walked out and I asked him what was wrong and he said, "I just love her so much and she is just so cute lying there asleep. I just love being part of this family and I love her so much."
I gave him a big hug and told him I was glad he is in our family too. What a sweet kid.
When Ethan finally got home and was ready for bed, we both went into Courtney's room so he could give her a hug and a kiss. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the hand (she was laying on the far side of her bed and we didn't want to wake her up), a small hug and then he pulled her covers up on her and put her doll next to her. I thought it was so cute. When he turned around he had huge tears rolling down his cheeks. We walked out and I asked him what was wrong and he said, "I just love her so much and she is just so cute lying there asleep. I just love being part of this family and I love her so much."
I gave him a big hug and told him I was glad he is in our family too. What a sweet kid.
SC Warriors!
Last night was the big Snow Canyon vs Dixie High basketball game. I didn't realize this and Bryan was out of town so we obviously weren't planning on going. Now, this is a huge rivalry (like Emery and Carbon) so it was a huge game. The phone rang at about 5:45 and it was Ethan's best friend, Brennon (whose dad is the basketball coach at Snow Canyon), asking if we were going to the game. When Ethan told him we weren't, Brennon promptly invited Ethan to go with them. Ethan was so excited!
He hurried and changed into a jersey one of the young men in our ward who plays fot the team had given him last year and was off to the Brown's house. They gave Ethan beads to wear and offered to paint his face, but he isn't into that.
They had a great time at the game. At about 9:15 the phone rang (I had expected them home much earlier) from the mom who took them, who is my good friend. Snow Canyon won!!! Which meant that they had to go out for their traditional ice cream after the game. Ethan finally got home about 9:45 p.m.
Ethan said it was packed and there was "so much excitement!" He even gave me a report on how the game was played, "They were free throw masters!" And he even said it was like the closing scene in High School Musical 1 when the team wins and all the fans rush onto the court. He was in heaven.
He got ready for bed and I read him a page in a book then turned out his light. About 5 minutes later I kept hearing a bonk, bonk, bonk sound. I went into his room and he was laying on his bed with his light on throwing the basketball into the air and practicing shooting. It was cute, but it was also 10:00 at night! So he went right to bed but he had a great time!!
Here is a pose Ethan said he saw the players do after the game:
He hurried and changed into a jersey one of the young men in our ward who plays fot the team had given him last year and was off to the Brown's house. They gave Ethan beads to wear and offered to paint his face, but he isn't into that.
They had a great time at the game. At about 9:15 the phone rang (I had expected them home much earlier) from the mom who took them, who is my good friend. Snow Canyon won!!! Which meant that they had to go out for their traditional ice cream after the game. Ethan finally got home about 9:45 p.m.
Ethan said it was packed and there was "so much excitement!" He even gave me a report on how the game was played, "They were free throw masters!" And he even said it was like the closing scene in High School Musical 1 when the team wins and all the fans rush onto the court. He was in heaven.
He got ready for bed and I read him a page in a book then turned out his light. About 5 minutes later I kept hearing a bonk, bonk, bonk sound. I went into his room and he was laying on his bed with his light on throwing the basketball into the air and practicing shooting. It was cute, but it was also 10:00 at night! So he went right to bed but he had a great time!!
Here is a pose Ethan said he saw the players do after the game:
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Ethan Loves His Family
Here is another video that I found on the camera today from Ethan. He made it last night while I was at my Relief Society meeting. It's cute!
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