Talent Show

Sometime at the end of January the kids brought home information about the school talent show. Connor has refused in the past, and I knew it wasn't something he would even consider, but I thought Isabel might like to participate. So I asked her. She immediately said no. I asked again, a few days later. No again. A few more asks, a few more subsequent and emphatic negative responses. I gave it one more push (because she loves to sing and perform). This time I threw in some enticement.

"Isabel," I told her, "I'll give you a whole candy bar if you do the talent show (imagine that, one whole candy bar! We roll with the big boys, I'm telling you)." Anther no. I told her that's fine, I'm dropping it.

Maybe 30 minutes later she came to me and said, "so... I've decided to be in the talent show, but it's not because of the candy. It's because I realized I have a talent to share with others." Sold! And for a mere 75 cents or thereabouts! How 'bout them apples?

She decided to sing "You're a Grand Old Flag," because she loves patriotic songs. She rehearsed with a few motions that she made up on her own, got a cute outfit, auditioned, made it through the dress rehearsal, and did a fabulous job in the talent show on Friday night. She even had a few teachers comment on her amazing pitch and timing! I do think she has a decent voice, although she battled some nerves during the actual show. But seriously, it takes decent confidence for a kindergartner to get up and sing a solo in front of hundreds of people! We are so very proud of her.

Afterward, I asked her how she felt when she saw how many people were there. "Well," said said, "I was nervous, but I also knew I could do it." Major life lesson: check!

Ready for the show:

With her good friend Bryn, who was in a rock band for the show:
Hallelujah for the iPhone/earbuds/Elmo video to help Mason stay quiet during the show-


In addition to our little family, Isabel was fortunate to have Brian's parents, her two uncles and an aunt there to support her. She was thrilled with the balloons and candy from Uncle Nate and Aunt Alli!

The show went really late, so we saved our celebratory banana split party for the next day (I upgraded from a candy bar). A well-earned reward!

Mason is clearly yummier than any treat ever could be-

And the performance! Sorry for the sideways video, I keep rotating it but it still uploads sideways. FYI, every time they changed the mic setup they did a sound check. She performed in the middle of the show.

President's Day

The children have breathed a life of their own into holiday celebrations. Hey, if they are interested, engaged and willing, I surely can't deny them.

It was a fairly nice, warm day. Isabel spent the morning at her friend's house, so I took the boys on a big walk. The boys love to give me a hard time when I am "boy trapped," as in surrounded by boys with no Isabel to help me out. What they don't know is that secretly I love being boy trapped. I love spending time with my boys. But come to think of it, they probably already know that.

When we all regrouped, here's what we did: Lucas made a George Washington wig (aka a paper painter's hat covered in cotton balls); Connor made an Abraham Lincoln hat and beard; Isabel made a Lincoln log cabin.

Then we read some books about some of the presidents, including one written by Brian. Speaking of our author husband/dad, did you know he has had something like 20 or 21 books published? Thus far they have all been children's educational books on sports or history for this one publishing company. (He just turned in the manuscript for a book geared toward adults, about the Broncos, to a new publishing company. It was 89,000 words. 100 short chapters - because the book is called 100 Things Every Broncos Fan Should Know and Do Before They Die. Months of interviews, research and writing. I think it is awesome, I hope you will too. It will be published this fall. :)

Anyways, it was fun to use one of his books for our presidents' day activities. And for dinner we had mac and cheese, because rumor has it that Thomas Jefferson introduced it to the U.S., or at least was a very big fan of the dish.

Dancing queen, reading queen

Isabel's first kindergarten report was a glowing success. In almost every area she was graded as above grade and either mastery or advanced. I find it interesting, though, that this was the comment on her report card: "Isabel is a model for behavior. But please remind her that she doesn't need to be so serious. She never smiles when she is trying to do what's right."

I really need to do post sometime about the infinite number of ways in which she and I are the same. And perfectionist overachiever is just one of the ways. When I was younger my friends used to gently tease me about how seriously I took things like school and dance. I totally understand her because she is a mini me. Not so much in looks - although there's some resemblance - but in personality and behavior. I am seriously talking CLONES!

Her teacher is considering moving her to a first grade reading group because she said not only is Isabel the top reader in her class, but by a long shot. We are looking into this, and if the principal agrees to it, it will start after Christmas break. I thinks she just came into kindy with a really strong grasp of language, which developed at a really early age (like full-on adult conversations at 18 months, thus astounding speech therapists and developmental pediatricians). Kindergarteners come into school at such a variety of levels, I suspect she will begin to blend in more as time progresses. Although I certainly would like for her to always remain top of the class. She simply loves words and school in general. Like her mama.

She always has been excelling in dance. She started the year as a 2nd year Shining Star (primarily 5 and 6 year olds), and last month her teacher asked me for permission to move her to the Dance II class (mostly 7 and 8 year olds) because she said her ability to listen and perform far exceeded the rest of her class and she spent most of her time waiting for everyone to catch up). So I agreed, and it has been a good move. Isabel seems to enjoy dance a lot more since the move and is definitely more challenged. And she likes that she is now learning jazz in addition to tap and ballet.

It is just interesting how children are all driven in different ways and by different things. She definitely likes to please her teachers and challenge herself and achieve the uppermost level in her pursuits. I know, because I do too.

Anyways, her Dance II observation week was last week, so here are some pics and video of her new class. Very proud of her!

Lucas' new adventures

Lucas started preschool this week (he missed last week b/c he was so sick). He was so excited!

His teacher is the fabulous Ms. Wendy, whom we have heard amazing things about; and she lives only 5 minutes from us - even better! Most of her students are reading by kindergarten. And she is fun, energetic and passionate about teaching.

Lucas is excited about field trips, making new friends, learning new things, carrying a backpack, having snack and bringing home a folder, as he's been watching his siblings do. I cannot -CANNOT! - believe he starts kindergarten next year. This child has a very special place in my heart. I am so proud of him, and excited for him to have these new adventures that are all his. He was so excited on his first day to come home and practice writing "B" and "b" that he learned that morning...
... which apparently is very serious work!

Lucas also started soccer last week! He's been asking for two years when he can start playing soccer. They don't do games for his age, just practice and scrimmages, which is perfect. He's happy with it. Go Lucas!

Connor's newest adventures

With turning 8, Connor has started Cub Scouts! He's really excited about it. I think it will be good for him. We just won't talk about the pain and frustration that comes with sewing patches on his shirt, namely the sleeve. Moving on...

He is awfully cute in his shirt-

His first meeting was pack meeting last week. He already earned his Bobcat Award. He had to pin the bobcat pin on me, and then everyone did a cheer for him and his award.

In addition to running track this summer, he is also taking private swim lessons. He loves the water and is pretty fearless, just needs to get the basics figured out and he'll be great. I thought lessons at the rec center last year were pretty pointless, so we're ramping it up. His teacher is our friend and Primary president, who also lives about 2 minutes from us. She's fantabulous. Throw in a kiddie pool for the other kiddos to play in during the lesson, and ding ding ding, we have ourselves a winner.

Track stars

Connor and Isabel joined our local CARA (Colorado Association of Recreation Athletics) track team this summer. It's for kids ages 5 through 16, and it's AWESOME! Shall we discuss the pros for this new endeavor?

1. It gets them out of the house every T and Th morning for an hour and a half and gives them great exercise as they have fun and learn the basics of track and field (and gives me some nice quiet time).

2. They get to compete in 5 track and field meets throughout June and July, along with hundreds of kids from the Front Range (there are 17 CARA track teams in the area). The meets are well organized (albeit somewhat chaotic with so many kiddos), and they earn a ribbon for every event they participate in. They have to do a minimum of 2 events per meet, and a maximum of 4. For each race/event, the kids are organized by age and usually gender into random groups of 8 (in most cases; sometimes it's a little more or less), so everyone earns a 1st through 8th place ribbon each time they compete. Genius.

3. The final meet is a state meet, which has qualifying heats and medals.

4. They are having a great time, love it, and as it turns out, are rather good at it!

The only con might be that the meets are rather long; at our first one on Saturday, we had to be there at 7:45 a.m., and we had to drive 45 minutes to get there, so do the math. Yeah, we had to get up at o'ridiculous hour on Saturday, which is why the boys didn't spend the night at the father/son campout. The meet started at 8, and we rolled out of there at 1:30 p.m. Mason and Lucas were champs, but it still got to be a long day for them.

The only other con might be that the coach is a young, fun, cute, talented college track star, on whom Connor has developed a serious crush. Geez, what IS it with him and older girls?

Connor decided that for years his dad has written about other peoples' kids, and it was about time he write about his own kids. So he did. Interviewed 'em and the whole shebang, then cranked out this article in about 5 minutes. Might be the best piece of sports journalism he's produced:
*************************************************************************************
By Brian Howell

AURORA — Facing some of the top grade-school talent in the Denver metro area didn't faze Connor Howell during his track and field debut on Saturday.

"I didn't care," the eight-year-old said of his competition.

It showed.

Competing in a meet for the first time in their young lives, Howell and his five-year-old sister Isabel looked like seasoned veterans at the first CARA track and field meet of the season, held at Aurora Central High School.

"It was very great, and I think it was very great exercise," Isabel said. "I'm so tired, so I had lots of chocolate and lots of water."

Both well deserved.

Connor and Isabel both came away with five ribbons — a remarkable feat considering each competitor is allowed to enter just four events.

Isabel earned a first-place blue ribbon in the standing long-jump, dusting her competition in the first event of her career.

"I was so happy that I got a blue ribbon," she said.

Isabel and Connor both considered the long jump to be their favorite event of the day. Connor placed fourth while going up against remarkable competition.

Asked why the jumping was his favorite event, Connor said, "Because I got fourth place, and that's not bad. It's good."

Isabel also flashed her speed. She helped her team win a second-place ribbon in the shuttle run. The team was in first place after Isabel's first leg of the race. Later in the day, Isabel ran the 50-meter dash. She wound up with another second-place ribbon, but only because she stopped a few meters before the finish line, thinking she was done with the race. She wrapped up the day with a fourth-place ribbon in the grueling 200-meter run. (Prior to her second-place finish in the 50, Isabel won a seventh-place ribbon for the 50. Because she got a late start, however, she was allowed to run again).

Connor, meanwhile, proved he may have a distance running career in store.

During the 800-meter run — the longest race for his age group — Connor showed no signs of fatigue in a solid sixth-place finish (out of eleven runners). In fact, he felt so good that he ran the race again.

"I thought it was the 50," he said of his second 800, "and then I just decided the run the whole (800)."

Despite starting his second 800 after everyone else, he finished seventh — earning his second ribbon in that event. The ribbons weren't the best part of Connor's double, however. Two 800s adds up to a full 1,600-meter (one mile) run.

"It was good, because I had never ran a mile before," he said.

Connor also took home a second-place ribbon in the shuttle run and an eighth-place ribbon in the 50 meters.

After a full day of jumping, running, drinking water, and eating graham crackers and watermelon, Connor and Isabel — along with 4-year-old brother Lucas — capped the day with a Wendy's frosty. And with that, the Howells were hooked. First track meet down, many more to go.

It was a great start, but Connor and Isabel are eager for meet No. 2.

"Oh yes!," Isabel said.

Like his sister, Connor knows he can do better.

"Yep," he said.

How?

"Winning."

*************************************************************************************

And the meet in pictures. I'll have to get some video next time.