Zachary - 1st Awana Grand Prix

Tonight was the night!  The first time Zachary had a car in the Grand Prix car races.  Zachary helped paint a few more coats and mom did a lot of the touch up work.  We wanted to add some racing stripes, but Z insisted the only thing the car needed was Batman driving it.  Art found some Batman stickers at Target, and soon, the Batmobile was piloted by Batman and even Robin.

Zachary's car with the blue ribbon (for participation, not winning)

Here is Zachary getting to sit in the "starter box", where he would get to push the button releasing all the cars on their gravity-fed downhill race.

Zachary and Wyatt cheering on the cars

There were some great cars in the race, many vying for "best design" car. An air hockey table design, one that looked like bacon, a killer whale, an Egyptian sphinx, a rocket, etc

Zachary's car in last place.  Sadly, Zachary's car got last place every time.  Next year we will do a better job on the wheels.  He was very disappointed that 1) he never won (every car races at least 4 times, once in each lane) and 2) he came in last every time.  He said he wished he had not made a car, which of course was heartbreaking.  We'll see what happens next year.  All we know is that we were there FOREVER because both Zachary and Wyatt wanted to wait for the end so they could get cake.  I was tempted to just go buy some cake for them so we could just go home.  It was easily after 9pm when we went home.  Sigh.

Awana -Grand Prix Car time!

This year at Awana, Zachary is in Sparks.  This means, among other things, that he is old enough now to participate in the Grand Prix car races.  For $10, you get a nifty block of wood, 2 axles, and 4 wheels.  It is up to you to make the thing awesome.  The night we got the car was the night I took him to Awana.  It was the first night you could get your car cut out into shape by the volunteer woodworking guys.  But first you had to DESIGN your car.  And what does Zach want...the Batmobile of course.  And he is looking at ME to draw where the necessary cuts should be, showing the men with the saws, where to cut.  Yikes.  After consulting wikipedia's site for Batmobiles on my phone, I did the best I could.  Thank the Lord that the guy cutting out the cars was a Batmobile freak and cut it out from memory which was very different from what I had drawn.  WHEW!

The race is at the end of the month, so Zachary needed to get started painting it.  We looked up hundreds of batmobiles online, and finally found what we wanted.  Here he is getting started.  Sadly, he got bored pretty quickly, and mommy ended up painting the 2nd and 3rd coats.

I also love that he is spiderman while he paints Batman's car.  Seems wrong somehow.

Basketball!!

Zachary has started winter basketball.  This is the first year they are allowing 3yr olds in their preschool team, BUT Wyatt, who went as a basketball player for Halloween when he was 2, has opted NOT to play.  So crazy.  His reasoning "kids won't pass me the ball, so I don't want to play".  Good point.  He probably would be the youngest on the team.  Fine with us for him to wait until he is older so he can "dominate" (Art's word).

So just Zachary this go round.  This works great for us, because in Zach's age bracket, he plays other teams in a round robin fashion, so his game time is different every week, whereas if Wyatt played it would be at 9am every week.  So we would have had some days with a 9am game, and a 12pm game. Ick.  So it worked out just fine.  We are also able to time our visits to Ms. Beanie's to be bf or after the game, which also works out great.

A big plus for Zachary is that his best buddy David is on his team, as is another kid, Alex, who is in his class at school.  I look at Alex and think, that's us in 4 years.  Alex is the youngest of 3 boys, all spaced the same as our boys (2yrs apart, then 3yrs apart).  Scary.

Here's is some of Z's practice.

The boy on the left in the red shorts is David; he is holding hands with Zachary

Zach was also pumped that he is #1 (on his jersey).

A little passing practice

Zachary T-ball

There are times when you are painfully aware that you are lacking in parenting skills.  Today was one of those days.

Many months ago, we signed Zachary up for summer t-ball lessons.  Today was his first practice.  I was proud that we got there on time and that Zach was dressed for success: athletic shorts, t-shirt w/ a picture of a baseball on it, and a ball cap (thought of last second). I also remembered to bring sports chairs for the adults, and snacks for the kids. Clearly Aced Mom 101. What was NOT remembered, however, was that Zach might need a BASEBALL GLOVE!!!  Sheesh.  Never occurred to us actually that we should go buy him a glove, or that he might need one.  Double sheesh.  I played softball for HOW MANY  years and it never once occurred to me that Zachary would need a glove to play t-ball.  Sigh.  Good thing Poppi was with us.  He saved the day by making a Target run right after practice to ensure Zach would not be in that situation again.   Grandparents saving the day!  For the record, there were about 10 kids there, and I think 3 did not have gloves, so we weren't the ONLY loser parents.  I had to call Art at his conf to let him know we are terrible parents an he had forgotten about t-ball completely!

OH YES, I also forgot the camera.  Parent of the year awards not coming my way.  Luckily, Poppi had his. Here are some videos of Zach's batting practice.

He can crush the ball

5 years of Zachary

Read about this tradition in a magazine bf Zach was born and decided I wanted to do it.  So far I've been successful.  I hope I can for another 13 years with Zachary.

1st bday

2nd

3rd (age Wyatt is now)

4th

5th

When he is 18, I'll make a stop-motion movie of all 18 years.  Short movie. :)

Happy 5th birthday Zachary!

Our baby boy is turning 5! FIVE! It seems so old! How did it go so fast?

Zachary's birthday starts the same every year - with having balloons dumped on him  in his bed while we sing happy birthday.  This year instead of just dumping them, Art tried to use a fan and blow them into the room.

Here Zachary is kicking all the balloons in the air

Wyatt not wanting to wait until his own bday balloon dump in 4 days

 

Then off to breakfast where his chair is decorated

He opened a present at breakfast - Dash from the Incredibles

At dinner it was time for cake, candles and the rest of the presents!

Opening presents

Excited about the Incredibles book (thanks Ebay for all the Incredibles toys!)

Then, to top off the evening Art did a sleepover with the boys, which they ADORE!

Art reading to Zach & Wyatt on Art's "bed"

Special birthday memories!

Nana arrives & End of school / Summer Birthdays Party

Poor Nana.  Her flight was delayed and delayed and delayed.  Art finally was able to get her from the airport around 1am or so.  But she did finally make it.  Just in time, because today is Zachary's very last day of preschool.  For his WHOLE LIFE! :)  There was a little party in his class to celebrate the summer birthdays (including Zach's).  Nana got to go to that party, but spent most of her time there doing this:

Nana taking care of "Baby Nick" and giving him a bottle so I could enjoy Zach's class party

Wyatt, as always, making himself at home in Zach's class

Zachary (in blue) sitting at the table for snacks and water

Here, the kids with summer birthdays got to hit the pinata 4 times to try and break it.  It just would NOT break until Ms. Meredith finally went to town on it.  Here's Zachary giving his all for his 4 whacks

Zach's class grabbing for candy and treats out of the pinata

Zachary Graduates!

Today is a momentous day.  Zachary graduates from preschool.  He is released into the world where he will have to attend kindergarten in the fall (which I am ALREADY dreading).  The YMCA makes a big deal out of preschool graduation.  All three classes (one part-day~Zach's, and two full-day) learn two songs, wear graduation caps, and receive a "diploma".  A big night. 

Poppi and MeMa brought the big boys back into town just in time for Zachary to be able to graduate.  It was a busy day.  First, after preschool, the class met at Charlie's house for pizza and playing.  Poppi and MeMa were able to go, as was DaU, who took his lunch hour then to be able to attend the festivities (and eat pizza!).

Later that evening, we drove Z to the Y by 5:30 and got ready for a 6pm graduation.  So so cute!  I was near tears it was all so cute!  After the ceremony, they showed a slide show of pictures of all the kids, and Zachary was in a few of them which was nice.  After the slide show, everyone met downstairs for a potluck dinner.

Here's the pictorial record of our evening.

Here we are, excitedly watching Zach's class come onto the stage: MeMa, Shayna, Art, Wyatt, and Yannick asleep in the carseat

Zachary looking for us, sitting next to Clara - an old favorite (we always tried to "beat" Clara to school, she was always there first)

They smartly turned on the house lights so the kids on the stage could locate their families, and here Zachary is spotting us!  My heart swelling like a cheesy Hallmark card!

Wyatt supporting his brother

Zachary's Diploma

Proud parents

Our graduate!

I am certain we'll have many more of these little graduations, prob from Kindergarten, then from elementary school, then middle school, then finally high school before we get to any higher education ceremonies!

Safety Swimming!

Today, during Zachary's preschool swim class, he got to learn how to swim in his clothes and how to make a life vest out of his pants.  Not exactly mastered by the 4 and 5yr olds, but it was fun to watch them try!

Zachary in the middle with the blue shirt on - the kids learning how to swim w/ clothes, in case they ever fall in

Z sitting w/ blue shirt on, preparing to enter water

Zach getting ready to swim across the pool

The interesting thing was I was a bit nervous during this, afraid that Zach would struggle too much. At one point, no teacher was looking at him, and it appeared he was having a hard time, and I wanted to yell down at them to help him, but he of course did not need any help.  He did great, despite the loads of extra weight from the clothes.

Zach swimming in clothes

The whole thing was fun to watch. The swim instructors had the kids take off their pants, attempt to tie a knot in the pants legs, hit them on the water hard, which made them fill with air. Very interesting thing to know. None of the kids could actually do it, but maybe the lesson will stick with them.

Zachary's Swimming Success

Zachary came home from preschool yesterday and told us that during swimming (he swims 2x/week w/ preschool) Ms. Lindsay took his floaty belt off (he was down to just 1 float pack) and he did the entire time w/ NO FLOATY BELT.  This is HUGE news for us.  So huge in fact that I did not know if I should believe him at first.  He has come such a long way.  When he started swimming with the Y, last year in preschool (1x/week), he wore a 3 float pack floaty belt and refused to put his face in the water or be put on his back.  This year, he started out w/ 2 floaty pack belt, quickly moved to 1, and got moved to the highest proficiency swim group.  Last year he was in the lowest proficiency swim group.  Just amazing.  He would do things for Ms. Michelle last year and Ms. Lindsey this year, in the water, that he refused to do with us when we went swimming on the weekends.  Art and I were both shocked at this news, and wanted to see if for ourselves right away.  So tonight we took advantage of Family Swim time at the Y, and went swimming.  I expected Zach to start off w/ no swim belt, get tired, and ask for one, but he never did!  Just amazing to see him jumping in the pool and swimming with no assistance.  He is officially an independent swimmer.  Shocking.  Here's some of the proof:

Zachary swimming around w/ no assistance

Zach, in the middle, Art with Wyatt on the left

Zachary swimming, with no floats, to the side of the pool


Zachary jumping into the pool and then swimming over to DaU


More swimming with no assistance

Just an amazing thing for us to watch.  We are grateful to the YMCA for all they have done in getting Zach to this point!  He is now VERY excited to take the swim test (swimming the width of the deep end, then treading water for 1 minute) this summer that would allow him to jump off the diving board.  I can't imagine he'll really jump off the diving board, but he's been talking about it for over a year.  Very big deal!

Zach new favorite pullover

Nana found this pullover at the thrift store, and despite it being a size 6, Zachary had to have it right away.  I'm glad he did though, because at the moment he loves Scooby Doo, and who knows if he will in a few years.