Christmas 2012

I am so glad the world kept spinning a few days ago because, and even though I say this every year, this has been my favorite Christmas. Ashton rarely gets excited about anything we do (year 11 is upon us. According to my mother in law I have about 5 months left before all hell breaks loose and my pre-pre teen is amplified into a fire breathing pre-teen. I've been trying to enjoy year 10 as much as I can so I can remember the rare moments of joy when they start to disappear.), Talan is so overly into Santa that he nearly came unglued with excitement when Santa sent him a special video message, or that Syphr said that every present was his favorite thing and just about beamed with excitement until he crashed. Mostly this Christmas is great because Brad is here to celebrate with us. I know someday there will be another Christmas that he has to be away, so we try to always enjoy him as much as we can. 

This year Santa's family gift was several Wii and Playstation 3 games. Santa can never go wrong when video games and boys are paired up. 

 I think Talan makes the absolute best excited faces.

Even though Santa brought video games, if you are a 10 year old two extras might be the icing on the cake.

Talan might have nearly died of excitement when he pulled a sprite out of his stocking.

 "What! I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED THIS! I KNEW I WOULD GET THIS! WAHOOO!" Once again, best excited face ever!

Two of Syphr's most favorite things are backpacks and Mario. That makes this his most favorite present:

These are apparently not stacking blocks, but Syphr has been making towers with them all morning. All three boys are pretty sure they have the best aunt ever, and also, that toys from Thailand are the best.

After much excitement, we found Syphr curled up in an empty box with his two Mario guys pretending to sleep. 

The two big boys rigged a Mario kart track (can you guess we like Mario in this house?) with the train tracks. Pretty awesome actually.

Merry Christmas! 

Love, B.R.A.T.S.

In case that wasn't enough of us, Talan insisted on singing for 8 minutes. His teacher told him he had a beautiful singing voice. It has gone to his head. Enjoy.

I think it is awesome that Raphael fights with a sai, or "two forks" as Sy calls them

Every day Syphr is obsessed with one of the three following things: 

Lightening McQueen

Mario

Ninja Turtles

I just never know before I go to bed if I should find the ninja turtle dvd, locate his red car that he thinks is Lightening McQueen, or have his mario costume ready for the day. It is always a mystery and heaven help me if I am not prepared.

Today, we watched 5 episodes of TMNT on Hulu to feed the addiction, dug the Michelangelo mask out of the abyss that is Talan and Syphr's room, devised a holster for Donatello's bo staff so he would stop sticking the pool noodle in his underwear, fought a million bad guys that looked a lot like Ashton and Talan minding their own business, and Syphr made me call him Raph for most of the day. Today we were the ultimate Ninja Turtles.

Overflowing with awesomeness

I'm not sure if it is possible for Ashton to contain any more academic awesomeness. 

A few weeks ago Ashton was re-routed to the gifted math class. He was insanely bored, and could multiply decimals in his sleep so his teacher kicked him out to give him a new challenge. In a matter of three days he went from doing fifth grade math to sixth grade honors math. All I can say is I am so glad Brad is home to help with math homework, and I do not have enough patience to be a teacher.

Other than Ashton's huge excitement over being introduced to graph paper, and extreme fractions and decimals, he is also thrilled about his new seat in All City Band. All City Band is basically like honors band. It is comprised of kids fifth through eighth grade who audition, and if accepted, meet once a week for a 90 minute practice, and several concerts throughout the year. It is kind of a big deal, and he is so excited he was sitting at the door 2 hours before his first practice started. 

I hope the academic/musical awesomeness always continues!

Talan's Christmas list

Mrs. Cox is encouraging all the kids to try to spell words themselves by sounding them out. Talan loves to do this more at school then he does at home, but I figured he wouldn't complain if he was having to sound out words for his Christmas list. I was wrong. He complained, took several days, and even more breaks, and might have added more to his list if he didn't have to write it.

In the end, I think he pretty much did a great job.

Talans Christmas List

remote control car

hex bug

remote control helicopter 

poke-bol and guy

toy story claw

vet medicine bag

stuffed spiderman

After writing 'hex bug' Talan stared at his paper for a bit and got a discouraged look on his face and said, 

"Santa is just not even going to read this because my letters are so good he will think it is from an adult."

I assured him this was not the case and I would even send Santa an email to let him know that the author of this Christmas list is 5, not 25. 

Thanksgiving Kindergarten style

Right before school started I found out Talan was not in the class with the teacher I requested I was livid. I felt like I had a really good reason for requesting this certain teacher. I wasn't just requesting her because she and Talan both have blue eyes. I wanted her because I knew she had experience with allergies in the past.

Three months later, I am so glad I didn't pitch a fit with the principal about it. I am so in love with Talan's teacher. She, not only, can handle Talan's allergy, and take it seriously even when the principal doesn't, but you can just tell she loves what she does. If you have been doing the same thing every day for 33 years and still love it and go the extra mile, you know you're in the right profession. 

Mrs. Cox not only planned a fantastic Thanksgiving program, which included running up to the middle school to bring her own teenage son back to play keyboard so the kids could have some music to their songs, but also planned and I'm sure purchased with her own money refreshments for after the program. She even had the class make their own butter to serve. She is seriously amazing, and the only teacher to do this. 

Sometimes I can't believe this guy is in Kindergarten which is already almost half over:

Happy Turkey-Day

Happy Halloween!

This year we met up with good friends for some trick or treating fun.  Things are always more fun when you do them with friends. 

I can't really remember the last time Brad was able to go trick or treating with us. It was such a relief to have him watch out for the older kids who go at a completely different pace than the younger ones. The older kids only want to get as much candy as they possibly can. They sprint from house to house as fast as they can go. Mario (he makes us call him that when he wears his costume) on the other hand, waddles to the door, knocks, says a mario catch phrase in a high pitch Mario voice such as: "It's a me! Mario!" or "Lets go!" followed by "Trick or Treat" or "Happy Halloween", then fumbles to get his bag open, then a "thank you", 2 minutes to get back down the steps, and we are waddling to the next house. Much different pace than the big kids, but by the end of the night they were all dragging their very full bags all the way home. And we are very happy to have achieved one more year of safety on the holiday most likely to kill Talan.

In other news, Ashton would like to share his joke:

Oh what fun it is to have a 10 year old. We are overloaded with sarcasm, one liners, fake british accents, and scientific facts.

Character Counts

Character counts is a monthly award at the elementary school given by each teacher to one student in each class. It is also the same award Ashton received last year, and "forgot" to tell me about. I found it, completely crushed, at the bottom of his backpack on the end of the year clean out your backpack day. Apparently he was unaware parents like to attend the ceremony for their good charactered child. 

This year, since Talan has a folder required to be checked every night I was able to read the newsletter which contained the names of the Character Counts award members. Mrs. Thornton's class: Ashton Coates. Last year I wasn't even aware there were regular monthly newsletters available because they had been lost in the abyss of Ashton's backpack. 

 Last week was the ceremony. As we walked into the school Ashton was walking to the ceremony. We made eye contact and Ashton quickly turned his head as if he had not seen us. He thought he had avoided the worst of the embarrassment, but he didn't take into account Syphr. As soon as Syphr saw him he pointed and yelled, "hey mommy! That's Ashton!!""hey mommy! Look! Its Ashton!!' Ashton responded to this by picking up his pace. Like that would solve the situation. 

Once seated, Syphr began to wave and yell, "HI ASHTON!" A slightly mortified Ashton quickly waved and turned his head. As the ceremony went on I noticed Ashton is just really annoyed to be there. He had a 'I can't believe you took me out of my class for this' face. Actually a lot of kids had that face:

Once most of the kids cleared he permitted me to take one photo of him smiling.

Love having a 10 year old boy who is worthy of an award for being caring and understanding. Those two words and 10 year old boy don't always go hand in hand.

That letter F is trouble

This week Talan's kindergarten homework is focusing on the letter F. Talan had to think of five words that begin with the letter F and then make a sentence using one of those words with the added challenge of also using the words I and am. 

Since Talan is five, the very first word without hesitation was fat. He then giggled that he was able to write the word fat on his homework and we moved on. Then we got to the sentence writing and this is what Talan came up with. 

"I am going to visit my fat grandpa."

Also note that Talan now draws stick figures wearing underwear and pants.

Hey, I am just glad his writing is great, and he came up with his own sentence. 

That is some spot on fake sleeping!

Basically this is what happens if I flip the camera around on my phone so Syphr can see himself while taking a video. 

another milestone

Being a military brat means when you turn 10 the military deems you old enough to shop at the PX(the on base version of Walmart, but tax free), the Commissary (the on base grocery store which is also tax free, but is overstaffed with baggers who insist they need to take your groceries to the car and put them in, but also demand a tip), and work out at the on base gym. Not that we have been to the PX or Commissary more than once in the past year, but if we were to do all those things you need a military ID. Ashton is now in the system, and it might be one of the most exciting days of his year for the pre-pre teen. 

Maybe his excitement had something to do with the fact he was allowed to miss a slight chunk of the morning at school:

 But mostly I think it is because he has one just like his dad, and his brothers can't get one.

 Here is hoping he will be responsible with his new found military freedom. Use it wisely Ashton.

Houston, we have a photo

Meet Diana, Talans first love(in the pink shirt)...

Lock your doors! Board your windows!

"The zombies are going to come. It will be scary for 3 days."
--Syphr

He also told me he saw a zombie driving a Lightening McQueen car, so I'm not sure how credible he is on information about the zombie apocalypse. Either way, I would rather be prepared. Wouldn't you?

Apple Camp

Over the summer, Ashton attended a 3 day camp at the Apple Store. It was pretty much the most fun thing he did all summer. The kids were taught how to edit a movie, and make their own soundtrack. At the end of the week all the kids got together for a mini film festival to see all the masterpieces. They were all slightly painful to watch, but hey, for a bunch of 8-12 year olds, they didn't do half bad. 

That said, here is Ashton's masterpiece. It contains a very fast story set up so get your speed reading eyes on, as well as only two lines in the entire movie. 

Ashton has added movie producer to his list of jobs he would be awesome at. 

Oh, yes he did just say that.

Me: Talan I have to ask you a serious question about Kindergarten.

Talan: Okay

Me: Are there any pretty girls in your class?

Talan: Yes, the big fat girl with the fat head.


Thinking we were going to have to talk about not referring to people by their body or head size, I quizzed him further and found he is not joking. He does have eyes for this specific girl in his class. Although, he has no idea what her name is, he could tell me she has white skin and brown hair, and...he loves her.

Science Rules

Ashton has deemed today the best day of school EVER!!!

Not only did Ashton learn his teacher loves Bill Nye and his many science videos, but she is also a very big science lover herself. They spent most of the morning learning about the periodic table of elements, how to calculate how many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in an atom. He is in science heaven, and spent a good chunk of the evening picking a random element on his periodic table and correctly drawing it up. 

Today is my best day of Ashton's school life ever because this is the most information I have ever gotten from the kid about his day. I'm glad to know after 5 years of school, he has finally admitted to learning something!

Pre-Pre school

This is the very early beginning of the class of 2028. 

the many skills of Talan

Upon arriving at the kindergarten door today I was not only greeted by Talan running out, but also his teacher close behind. Usually this means your kid did something he wasn't supposed to. They are big on telling the parents every little thing. Needless to say I was slightly worried that two days into school there was already an issue. 

Instead, I was greeted by a giggling teacher who said, "Talan is doing great, he even gave me a flower today!" 

And, we have a brown-noser.

After walking away I asked Talan if he had given Mrs. Cox a flower today at recess and he said, 

"Yes. That is because I love her so much, and because it was yellow like her shirt."

I'm glad Talan loves Kindergarten just as much as I'm loving all the things I can get done in the six hours he is away, and securing a spot on the teachers good side. Well played Talan.

In the big leagues

We have come to the golden day in September when kids head back to school, and the house goes from constant chaos to quiet. I was on the fence, until about a month ago if Talan would be going to Kindergarten this year. Ultimately we made the decision to send him, knowing he just might have to do Kindergarten twice, which is not a big deal at all. Today we might find out if Kindergarten is ready for a Talan. 

Syphr didn't even finish his breakfast before he sat in the stroller  ready to go. I'm not sure if this means he really needs a big brother break, or he was excited at the thought of an early morning walk. 

Not only is Talan in Kindergarten, but today marks Ashton's last first day of elementary school. He is now king of the school as a big time fifth grader. How time flies. 

Take note: I took both boys out and said, "pick whatever you want to wear on the first day of school." While Ashton had to go to several different stores to find just the right shirt, Talan put his together in about 10 minutes. It completely captures Talan's style. Just be glad they didn't have his size in the florescent green print shorts he really wanted. His teacher told him on friday she really likes green too, and the brown noser went all out. 

Representing their grade

Syphr must not have understood that taking a ride in the stroller means you ride in the stroller instead of walk. 

Notice the feet! Guess what his feet have grown into!!

Now I sit at home in a quiet house and find myself counting down until 2:30 when just yesterday I couldn't wait another minute for them to go. 

Glide, young grasshopper, glide.

At the beginning of the summer I thought it would be an amazing idea to get young danger a glide bike. He will be gliding as fast as I can run by the end of the summer is what I thought. That was not the case. A few months ago he would have lost a race to a snail he went so slow. It took him a very good 20-30 minutes to get all the way around the courtyard out front. But he would keep trucking along until he had made it all the way around. It was most excruciating for me, probably about as painful as playing the animals talking game, to walk behind him for those 20-30 minutes since he would gently lay his bike on the ground at any hint of falling, and send out a very loud distress call for help. 

Now, I can say, we have improvement. What I once thought might have been the worst idea I have ever had, is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only would he now beat a snail at a race around the courtyard, but he might also beat a turtle. He has cut his courtyard lap time in half, and has learned how to pick his bike up after a very slow motion fall.

The best part of all this might be the adorableness beaming from that oversized helmet, which you obviously saw in the video he totally needs from that brutal fall. 

'Oh yeah, I did it'

Five years old

Talan has been looking forward to turning five for at least six months now. According to Talan, being five means you are a big kid like Ashton, not a baby like Syphr. He has already tried to negotiate his bed time with me, and I'm sure more negotiations will happen. 

This year Talan woke up way too early beaming with excitement that the day he had been waiting for, for so long was finally here! We dined on cinnamon rolls with chocolate frosting for breakfast, he put on his most fancy birthday outfit, and tore into some presents. Even with all the excitement he still made time to remind Syphr it was not his birthday. 

We had a fun day of Kindergarten readiness tutoring with Mrs. Rivera in the morning, a trip to Toys R Us, a requested Wendy's lunch, and tons of new toy playtime. A perfect day in the eyes of a five year old guy, and made even better by ending it with a donut stack.

Five year old birthday interview:

what is your favorite color?
green

what is your favorite thing to eat?
uh...pop tarts. wait, a pop tart with a booger on it.

that's disgusting.
yeah, but it is good to me. I feel like I need one right now.

what is your whole name?
Talan Pre Coates

is pre your middle name?
no....wait yeah

isn't Pre Syphr's middle name?
yeah....I just forgot. what was my whole name again?

if you could be any animal what animal would you be?
uh...I would be a turtle or a zebra

why a turtle?
because I like turtles. but I would be a big turtle because the small ones don't know how to play wii.

why a zebra?
because I could poop all day

what is your favorite thing to play?
my favorite thing is to play the animals talking game

what do you want to be when you grow up?
um...a...um...a robot

what will your robot name be?
robot. and I would play wii all day and when it is time for bed I will brush my teeth, put on my jamas, and stay up all night and play wii in my room.

won't you get tired?
no because I can charge myself when I am playing wii. then I will not sleep.

how old are you?
five

when is your birthday?
when I got lots of presents. that's when my birthday is

what is your favorite movie?
Mickey Mouse (said in an opera tone)

where is your favorite place to visit?
Dax's house

who is your best friend?
Benson...but I have two. Dax and Edin. I have 3 friends

what is your favorite thing to do with daddy?
ummm. play wii. I want to play mario brothers with 3 people or 4

what is your favorite thing to do with mommy?
ummm. hug sweetie mama and kiss her all day
 (whispers: isn't that sweet of me?)

what is your favorite thing to do with ashton?
ummm. fly paper airplanes with him

what is your favorite thing to do with syphr?
annoy him because he is so cute I can not contain myself.

what is something cool you get to do when you're 5?
make paper airplanes.

couldn't you do that when you were 4?
no. I couldn't. things were a lot harder when I was four. weren't the things harder for me?

what chore do you love most?
cleaning the mirrors

what would you like to say to the world at five years old?
I love you.

what is your favorite toy?
a turtle. I like all my stuffed animals. and I like all my toys even my toy turtle. right, I have one of those.

what makes you happy?
getting a hug from sweetie mama

what makes you sad?
someone taking away a thing that I'm playing with

what is your favorite animal?
a turtle.



This year we've seen Talan grow so much. He has learned so much in the last few months, and it makes me excited to see how much different he is going to be at six with a year of Kindergarden behind him. He is hilarious, opinionated, completely sweet, and has such a fun and unique way of looking at everything. We love our Talan, and are seriously the luckiest that he joined our family five years ago as a squawking 7 pound tiny guy.