Wrestlemania

Geremu is my child that is constantly on the go...  He is always looking for action and likes to stay busy.  Before the holidays he brought home a sign-up form for wrestling and begged to join.  He's already in basketball and swimming so I was a little hesitant.  Needless to say I've got a wrestler...

 And he is loving it...

Before the meet I held up his uniform for him to get in and he looked at me and said, "NO WAY, I'm not wearing that baby outfit!"  I busted up laughing.  I explained that everyone would be wearing them on his team.  He looked at me skeptically then as he started to get in said, "This is soooo embarrassing!"

 Geremu smiled the entire time despite the embarrassing uniform.

 The highlight of his night came around 9pm during a forfeit match.  The guy he was suppose to wrestle didn't show up.  So the ref said to Geremu, "I can just hold your hand up or you can wrestle me?"  I'm not sure it was really a question (the ref was just joking around) but Geremu looked right at him and said, "I'll wrestle you."   Needless to say...

When Geremu pinned the ref he even hit the mat with his hand to signal the end of the match since there was no ref around.  It was a real crowd pleasing performance.

You Pick the Title: A Chip Off the Old Block or Funny $hit

When I was younger I LOVED to wrap gifts.  I started at a young age and would wrap every and anything.  My mother would limit my scotch tape use because I would use it all up in one sitting.  For my birthday I would ask for scotch tape.  When I was gifted with a 4-pack it was like a dream come true.  In my eyes gifts are were all about the presentation.  Fast forward, now that I have 3 kids so when it comes to wrapping gifts I find I'm usually in a rush.  I still think of wrapping gifts as an art but I just don't have the time to be Picasso anymore. 

A few weeks ago, on Nick's birthday, Nasuuna wrapped her first gift.  It was like love at first wrap, she was/is hooked.  I have found empty rolls of scotch tape sitting around the house, bits and pieces of wrapping paper stuck to the carpet, and rolls of wrapping paper (that I was always so careful to cut straight) in odd shapes.   The boys have even been spotted opening gifts of toys that were theirs in the first place.  Best of all she is so proud of herself and her wrapping. 

Yesterday Nasuuna spent a lot of time wrapping gifts for her teachers.

 Won't they be surprised when they find out they are the proud owner of a plate of...

I sure do wish I was at her school to watch the gift opening.

Coatless Kid

Pretty much every single day regardless of the weather 

Nasuuna comes home from school looking like this...

Do you see that grin she is sporting?

I swear she is now doing it just to piss me off...  

Serenity Now

Cullen's Tile

In the kids school they have these tiles of students and former students all over the school.  They are above all the drinking fountains, in the hallways, the library, etc.  Cullen made his and we had the chance to see the unveiling.  He told me I wouldn't miss it because "It looks just like me, Mom!"  

We went to the school... He knew roughly where it was but it still took us forever to find it.  Cullen stayed enthusiastic the entire time we were searching.  He was so proud to show us his work.  Finally we spotted it on the E of the school name.  Can you see it?

Of course you can because it looks just like Cullen!

Love my little Artist!

Another One Bites the Dust...

This year Cullen's school picture looked a little something like this...

  He refused to smile with his mouth open because according to him he was the only 2nd grader in his school that had not lost a tooth.  (Don't ask me why he appears to be falling or tipping forward- he couldn't explain that to me.)  He has watched while his younger brother and sister have both lost several teeth, silently and not so silently begging for his turn.  He made me take nightly pictures of him because he was sure every night was the night he was going to lose a tooth.  He just knew it would change his whole appearance.  Then right before Christmas he lost his first tooth.  It called for a BIG celebration- we had a tooth party!  

I assumed the nightly picture taking would stop...  Not so much.  

You're lucky I'm just posting one because they all basically look the same.

 Last night, after the Littles were already in bed, Cullen lost another tooth!   

This morning he woke up extra early to show me his Tooth Fairy goods.  Then asked me not to tell his siblings that he lost a tooth.  Guess what...  They never even noticed.  Cullen began prompting them asking if he looked different.  They NEVER. EVEN. NOTICED!  Cullen ended up finally tell them.  Of course they were happy and excited for him but Cullen was shocked they didn't notice.

When he came home from school he told me, "No one in my class even noticed that I lost a tooth."

Tonight before bed Cullen didn't ask me to take his picture...

Happy Birthday Nick!

Today was Nick's 33rd Birthday.  

I told the kids how old Nick was then snapped a picture...

Adisa is the only one not shocked that Nick is so old!  

I encouraged the kids to pick out or make something to give Nick for his birthday.  Cullen heard Nick tell me he wanted something for Christmas that I hadn't remembered to get him.  So I helped point out some backpacks that would work for Nick and Cullen picked the colors.  I tried to steer Geremu and Nasuuna to gifts that Nick needed so I took them to a sports store.  Geremu picked out a pair of pants that Nick loved but weren't long enough, I've since ordered them online in longs.  Nasuuna picked out a running jacket...  That is totally Nasuuna's style.  It's bright blue and fits him good- after Nasuuna left the room Nick asked me if it came in more subtle colors.  I told him it did...  Then Nasuuna walked back into the room wearing the new jacket- as a dress.  Nasuuna loves the jacket so much it will not be returned for a different color.  If you see a tall, thin guy running down the street in a bright turquoise jacket remember he got it from his daughter. 

Tonight I'll leave you with a video of Nasuuna singing Jingle Bells with some cute back-up singers.  This is pretty much how she sings all songs, including her schools winter concert songs.  I've caught Geremu trying to teach her songs slowly, word by word but she always resorts back to her own method as soon as the pace picks up....

At least she has the name and the beat/rhythm correct, right?

Our Cheerleader

Last night we went to an inner-city basketball game.  

Nasuuna wore her cheerleading outfit and did her thang...  

The picture above was pulled off of our local newspapers website.  I'm not sure when it was taken. Towards the end of the game when she was too tired to cheer (or stand by the cheerleaders and stare at them occasionally mimicking their moves a few beats behind) she was sitting on my lap.  The photographer came to ask her some questions.  His last question to her was, "When you grow-up do you want to be a cheerleader?"  

To which she responded, "I be a cheerleader now."