kindergym olympics.

last weekend, marcus and i wrapped up this season's kindergym with his fave buddies and my fave moms. we will definitely be back for kindergym again next winter and we definitely went out on a high note.
i bring you: a photo-heavy, totally indulgent visual of our kindergym olympics last weekend:

bottom left: yes, that is his personal toddler-size olympic torch and yes, there were opening ceremonies and the toddlers marched around the gym with their mini torches in the air. and yes, there were closing ceremonies with certificates awarded atop a playmat podium.

things we learned about each other at the kindergym olympics:

1. marcus can do a toddler lay-up.

2. he does not like to be 'silver' or 'bronze' on the podium. only gold. right up top. we may need to work on not always winning. but we'll save that for next season.

3. he would rather throw himself off the balance beam dramatically and make action-movie noises instead of actually walking. on. the. balance. beam. he also finds this very funny and laughs at himself after each go at it.

4. marcus likes to re-fuel mid-game. organic fruit and vegetable squeezies are the fuel of choice.

5. mommy may not be invited back to kindergym because she socializes too much on the side of the mats with deb and melissa and was asked three times to get out of the way of the pint-sized olympians. listen, parks and rec: marcus loves kindergym and running like a wild animal and getting silly with his buddies. mom loves to giggle and socialize and joke about whose kid put the empty roll of wrapping paper on which body part. we all have 2-3 year old boys. do the math. that's funny.

6. even on the rare days where marcus has to be reminded to 'turn on his ears' a handful of times and is even more excited than the norm- the kid makes me smile. like from the inside out.

[who makes a list of 6 things? eh, it's friday.]

-kare

readers are leaders.

it's common sense that reading to your child is good stuff. the earlier, the better. the more, the better. we started reading together before he turned a day old. now we have [at least] two solid 'windows' a day that are cut out for reading time. we spend half of it reading independantly, and half of it reading out loud together. yes, he is two and a half and can read a number of his books on his own. don't believe me?

we even have a book nook:

if reading isn't a regular part of your day, i won't go opening my big mama mouth :) just read this:

- early reading encourages early language development. according to research, babies who were read to regularly starting at 6 months developed almost twice the receptive language by 18 months as those who weren't.
- reading sparks imagination
- early reading increases attention span
- reading boosts memory
- incredible bonding opportunity between parent and kiddo:

you read your book. i'll read mine.

- encourages creative development and musicality
- screen watching makes a child a follower and a consumer. books exist because of the power of human ideas. readers are leaders and producers.
- it creates an awesome legacy. if more kids were conditionned to LOVE to read, the world would be smarter.

now, in my humble opinion i'd say you're a step ahead already for reading this blog right this minute ... but for real - especially if you do have a pint sized co-pilot around your ankles - get reading!

-kare

bad boys for life.

i could not help but share these shots on facebook.

these guys are ridic.

about a week ago, marcus moved from this cute and smiley dance face to a pretty hardcore 'rapper' expression when he's on the move [dance move specifically].

it cracks me up. i may need to re-name the blog 'saga of a stage mom' if he keeps this show up:

also you might note the scrape on his forehead. aka yet another boo boo for my one-speed-only-and-i-like-to-look-behind-me-while-running-forward-at-full-tilt son.

he runs at ridiculous speeds while rubbernecking to see if we are anywhere close to catching up. last night he was out for his pre-bedtime sprint and literally just wiped out forehead-first on the concrete path. he took it like a champ but i totes wish he would be more careful.

for now, he is just a bad boy for life.

-kare