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August 2008 Journal
Summer is almost
over! Not a lazy summer
for us this year, we have been busy, busy, busy! Why does Mom
feel like she has gotten nothing done, then?
School starts soon, not so sure how I feel about that!
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Grandma & PaPa
Camp!
August 2 -
10 ,
2008 |
I got to spend a
week at my Grandparent Proper's house! They came down to our
house on a Thursday to get me, they stayed a few days so they could
take me to a karate class and see how much I have been learning.
Mom and Dad had a big conference to go to - so it was good timing
for my visit. I like when I travel with the grandparents to
and from my house, we always stop for ice cream! Yum! I
am an ice cream junkie - I could eat it every day for every meal if
I was allowed to!
Anyway, we had a fun week of playing Lego's, helping with some
outside chores, yard sale shopping with Grandma and her friend
Polly, building campfires, we turned a giant freezer box into "The
Temple of Doom" with trap doors, boobie-traps and snakes! Just
like in the movie! I ate up all of Grandma's gooseberries and
currants too! Well, not the red ones, the birds can have those
- yuck! We even picked some apples off of an old apple tree in
the back that just started to get some fruit on it, they were pretty
sour, I could handle eating about half of one before Pa Pa told me
to throw it for the ground hogs to get.
Mom and Dad came up on Friday night to get me and relax a bit.
I missed them so much, I didn't really say it, but I am pretty sure
they could tell by how I was acting. They actually got greeted
with a run to the car and a big hug. If you all know me, I'm
not a hugger. Anyway, we had a very relaxing Saturday - the
weather was nice and cool. Grandma's backyard is so pretty in
the summer, her gardens are in full bloom and look great! I
have no idea why we didn't get pictures...oops. We had a
nice thunderstorm that prevented us from having a fire over the
weekend, but that's okay.
Sunday we hit the road early, so we could get home and unwind.
Whew, it has been a full summer of travelling...I think we are
finally done!
Thanks Grandma & PaPa for letting me visit. It was fun!
I hope I was good enough and not too much work, that you want me to
come back! :)
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Cole's 7-Year Old
Check-Up
August 13, 2008 |
My check-up I
was to have in July had to be rescheduled so today was the dreaded
day. All went well...other than the stinkin' shot I had to get
at the end! I cried, ugh.
The doctor asked me all kinds of questions, but I just don't like to
talk, especially to people I do not know. I answered her for
the most part, I guess. I get kind of silly when I am nervous
too. I did get my height and weight measured and I am inch for
pound. I weigh 47.5 pounds and am 47.8 inches tall. This
puts me in the 50th percentile for my weight and the 25th for my
height. Mom found some kind of calculator that estimates how
tall I will be as a grown-up and we got anywhere between 5'9" and
5'11". Time will tell!
Ms. Pat - I saw the Nurse Practitioner this time. talked to Mom and
Dad a long time about the medicine I am on for my allergies -
Singulair. Apparently there are some disturbing side effects
being discovered in some children. Most cases have been found
in children taking a much higher dose than I am. The symptoms
are aggression and depression some as severe as suicidal thoughts.
She was making us aware, and did feel that if they thought I really
needed the medicine , and if I was showing no signs of major
behavioral issues, that I would be okay on such a low dosage of the
meds. Mom and Dad talked about it....and they have decided to
stop the medicine tomorrow! Mom is going to pay close
attention to me, I guess :) to see if she notices any
major changes, in both my allergies and behavior.
I've been on this medicine since 2006 and Mom said that she has
always felt kind of funny giving me a pill every day when she wasn't
really sure that I needed it. We do know that it works to
clear up my stuffy nose I have in the AM but we can honestly say,
that we don't really know how I do without it either. We
aren't exactly sure if my allergies are seasonal or not, I've never
been tested either. I don't think Mom and Dad want to go there
if they don't have too...but this will be a year of observing and
seeing how things go, I guess. I was not ill at all last
school year and Mom thinks the medicine probably helped with that.
Let's hope I don't catch everything under the sun this year.
Also, it's hard to compare, since I will be in school all day this
year and that is going to be a big difference when it comes to germ
exposure as well!
Anyway, I did well for my check-up - other than that whole shot
thing. Ms. Pat couldn't even assure me that I wouldn't be
getting one next year and then I think she said when I am nine I
have to get this thing called a Tetanus shot! Geez, this day
and age and they can't give these things in oral form yet?!
Ugh!
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My First Trip to
the Driving Range
August 13, 2008 |
After my
check-up Dad took me to the driving range! I was excited to
go. The Pro Shop actually gave me a club to use that more my
size! I did pretty good. I really wanted to hit balls
from the top level but Dad was afraid I would fall off! Mom
watched, since we didn't have a left-handed club. Guess next
time we'll ask if they have one for her to use. Dad and me got
a JUMBO basket of balls. I was actually excited to get
started. Dad showed me how to stand and how to hold the club.
I listened for the most part but probably not as well as I should
have. I just wanted to get swingin'. I did okay, it will
take a few more times I guess. I wanted Dad to hit balls with
me at the same time and see who could do it the farthest. He
beat me every time but that was okay. I did take a little
break, Mom thought I was done. I can tend to be like
that...but nope, I got back up and finished off the basket of balls,
being sure to count out and share what was left with my Dad.
Mom thinks I did a pretty good job for my first time. I want
to do it again, so that is a plus. Dad wishes I would listen
more and want to learn how to do it right. He remained patient
and calm with me...so I guess you can say we all had fun.
Dad said about looking around to get me a cheap practice club and
some plastic balls I can hit in the backyard. Who knows, by
Christmas time, I may be wanting my own real set! We'll keep
you posted.
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Star Wars - The
Clone Wars (animated movie)
August 15, 2008 |
Dad and I went
to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie! I have been waiting
for this to come out all summer, ever since I saw the trailer months
ago!
Although, this movie has gotten horrible reviews from the critics, I
really liked it! Dad said he didn't care for it much but had
fun taking me!
It was all about Jabba the Hut and him fighting the Jedi's because
he believed that they had stolen his kid.
I liked the big battle in the beginning and the "Roger-Roger" guys. I
will want this movie to complete our Star Wars Collection....AND
even better news that I have just learned, there is supposed to be a
new animated series starting in the Fall! YAY!
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Karate Class #40
August 16, 2008 |
It's been a busy
summer and I have been playing "catch-up" with my karate lessons for
the last two months. I've been able to keep my attendance up,
so I hope I will get another gray star for my Gi when the time
comes. Anyway, can you believe that I have already had 40
lessons?!
I'm not sure yet what color stripe I am working for this month - we
think it is either going to be green or red. I do know what my
take home theme and worksheet is on - honesty. I understand
this concept much better than last months lesson on self-discipline,
but Mom says I am tons better at that now. She made me my very
own chart for my room, with all of my "routine" responsibilities for
the morning. I have to make my bed, clean up my clothes, my
room, brush my hair, brush my teeth, practice my reading, practice
my karate, feed my fish, and get my bath. I can do all of this
now on my own without the 250 reminders (well, Mom said it felt like
that many!) that Mom would have to give to me. Mom said she is
kicking herself for not doing it sooner!
Anyway, we are working on perfecting our punches and kicks. We
practiced jumping high today. I have to get my knees up as
high as I can. Sensei Nate stacked the foam bats we use -
starting with only 2 and all the way up to 6. I did pretty
well, until he got to 5 bats. So all night I piled up the
pillows in the living room and have been practicing my jumps.
We are learning the Universal Number 2 and I actually know some of
Number 3 too, just from watching the older kids.
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Mt. Gretna Craft
Show
August 16, 2008 |
Mom took Dad and
me to the craft show today, we headed over there after my karate
class. I should say, Dad and me took Mom to the craft show
today but ...well, that would not be the truth...heehee! She
said we can pretend it's Mother's Day since we didn't really do
anything on that day this year!
Wow, that craft show is quite the production for the little town of
Mt. Gretna, we had to park pretty far away, Mom knew this, Dad kept
making the comments about how far away we were going. Anyway,
we parked in a nice big field and they had shuttle school buses
picking everyone up. They really have it down to quite a
science, as we didn't wait at all. The ride to the show was
kind of long, but I enjoyed riding. There is an Art Show as
well, but you have to pay to get into it.
I actually enjoy looking at stuff, sometimes I want to stay in there
looking longer than Mommy does! I got myself a few things,
this cool wooden frog that you rub on the back of him with a stick
and he "ribbits". I also got myself a starter Marble set and
picked out some fancy marbles. Did you know that there are
only 2 marble makers in the US? We learned that from the lady.
She makes all her marbles from recycled glass. Dad and I had a
good time eating up some yummy food and drinks, while Mom shopped
around. She got some collage picture frames that she wants to
put in the hallway or up the stairs or something like that.
It was quite the popular booth, so Dad stood in the line and Mom and
me finished looking at all the stuff. We spent a few hours
there, we really think we got there just in time, shortly after the
show opened for the day. Things were getting much more crowded
as we were leaving.
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Karate Class #41
August 18, 2008 |
I did a pretty
good job today. Sensei Bill was our teacher and we talked
about our stripe test for this month. It will be a
GREEN
stripe for Accuracy - which means doing things correctly.
We practiced our Round Kicks, getting our legs up and in the right
position for a nice kick. We also practiced our punches and
kicks with a partner. I got to hold the pads so my partner
could punch and kick them, then we traded and it was my turn to
punch/kick. We practiced our Star Block too! It was a
busy and fun class!
At least now, I know what I will be testing for next week!
It will not be long until I get my next level belt either! One
more month to go and then I test for my yellow/white belt.
Oh - and I got my star for completing my worksheet on
self-discipline last month!
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A New Car!
August 19, 2008 |
Well, we thought
after having Dad's car for 12 years, it was about time to get a new
one! Dad's car was to be inspected this month and he figured
it would cost more to have it pass that then we would get for a
trade in on it. Daddy did all the hard work of narrowing down
what he and mom wanted to just a few cars. We really only test
drove what we bought....a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Well, we test
drove the Sport model and ended up buying a LE...it was cheaper, and
just a few bells and whistles short of the Sport version.
Nothing that we really cared about. Dad liked the sport model
better but it only came with a black interior and Mom said, NO!
So, we got the Silver with the Ash Gray interior. I like it,
it's nice. I wanted a blue car but we didn't like the color of
blue they had, and since Dad will be using this mostly for work, he
wanted something that looked a bit more professional.
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A Night at Hershey
Park
August 21, 2008 |
Dad got home
early from his work travels today so we decided to do Hershey Park.
Mom and me have passes, so we've been a few times already this
summer but I have been wanting Dad to come along a few of those
times. So, we went over for the after hour deal, 5 to 10PM and
it was cheaper for him to get in.
It was kind of busy and the line was pretty long, Mom and I stood
with Dad for about as long as we could handle it, and then we got
out and zipped thru the season pass holder line - lickety-split.
We met up with Dad at the fountain, it really wasn't that long of a
wait.
We had perfect weather, and it was more busy than other times Mom
and I were over but it was not bad at all. We rode all kinds
of rides that I have ridden on before. This time I braved TWO
new ones. One being
The
Comet! A wooden roller coaster and well...I hated it.
It was just too bumpy for me. Mom said that she had been on
that ride in years, and was not a big fan herself. I am also
big enough for the Sooper-Dooper-Looper that they tried to get me to
ride. Dad thinks if the word "looper" wouldn't have been in
the title, they may have gotten me on it. Mom tried explaining
that a steel coaster is a much smoother ride versus a wooden coaster
but I was only hearing "looper" which means UPSIDE DOWN....are you
nuts?! Anyway, the other ride we got on was the last one
before we headed home. We road the Coal Cracker (which is a
water log ride). I'd been on one of these when I was very
young but I don't remember it much. It was fun, we got a
little wet and it only had one big hill, which was perfect for me.
It did fake us out a few times though...which was funny because Mom,
Dad and I screamed anyways.
It was a fun night, I liked getting to ride with Dad too. We
really got the Tilt-A-Whirl spinning this time! We ate lots of
junk - corn dogs, funnel cake and cotton candy! Seriously, did
you think I would leave without my cotton candy?!
We closed the park and left when it was dark.
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Cole Meets His
Teacher
August 22, 2008 |
My school was
having an open house today so everyone and their parents could meet
their new teachers. I knew right where to go...I remembered
that the 1st grade classes were upstairs!
It didn't take me long to find my room. I said a shy "hello"
to my teacher and she told me to find my name tag and pick a seat.
I chose one right up front - right by her desk! Dad thought
that was perfect for me! I had a paper to fill out, well, we
think maybe my parents were supposed to do it, but I completed it
just fine!
We walked around and checked out all the areas of the room, it was
similar to kindergarten but not as big. I recognized some of
the names in my new class but only one from my class last year, but
that's okay. I will see them at recess.
I really didn't want to hang out long...Mom looked at everything!
On our way out, we decided to check out my "specials" classrooms, so
I showed off the art room, the gym, and the music room and we
met the teachers there.
The place was a buzz with excitement - I'm nervous but anxious for
school to begin, even though I told Mom that I don't like school
because "it's a waste of time"!
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First Day of 1st
Grade
August 25, 2008 |
I can't believe
that summer is over already, it sure did go fast! We did have
a week less off - only because we had gotten out of school so late,
since we started late last year. The High School was under
construction and that is finished now, so everything is back to
normal.
Anyway....my first day of first grade went really well. I was
nervous and quiet at the bus stop, wouldn't talk to any of my
friends. I was glad to sit with someone I knew - a neighbor -
on the bus, so that helped me to feel better.
I think my teacher is nice, I like her so far. Today, we had
gym class. Last year this was my favorite "special" - but I
felt it was too short. I have my gym class with another 1st
grade class so it's pretty big.
It was kind of weird being at school all day and riding the bus home
with all the big kids, it's a lot more noisy in the afternoons than
it is in the mornings! Mom was thrilled to see me come
bounding off of the bus with a big smile on my face and a hug!
I said I had a great day! I had also gotten a bee sticker for
"bee-ing good"!
So, I guess that 1st grade seems okay so far, Mom says it's just too
soon to say how it's going for me, but so far, so good. A few
new things for me this year: I get to eat lunch at school.
I can pack or buy it. We could get pizza on the first day so I
had that! Yummy! I felt all grown up "buying" my own
lunch! Another thing is I have "specials" (meaning gym, music,
art, and library) every day of the week now. I have gym and
music twice. Also, I will be getting "grades" in them where I
hadn't last year.
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Karate Class #45
GREEN STRIPE
Testing (Accuracy)
August 27, 2008 |
Karate class was
fun today! Sensei Justin started out with one of my favorite
games. I don't know what it's called but he stands in the
middle, well he lays on the floor and swings around a ball on a rope
and we have to jump over it when it gets to us. I was HORRIBLE
as this when I first started going, but I sometimes get mom and dad
to do it with me (using a jump rope) so I can practice. It's
really all about timing and focus. I sometimes don't actually
get in close enough to really have it "count" as a jump but I was
last man standing this class...so I thought I had won and Sensei
Justin said, "oh no, not yet, you have to survive the gauntlet".
I had to stand and do it 10 times in a row - and I DID IT!
Woo-Hoo!
Anyway, we had a nice class...talking a lot about honesty AND
accuracy. We practiced accuracy of our reverse punches by
hitting the pads into a target. We also practiced kicking the
target - using a front kick and for me, a round kick.
We also practice our self-defense moves that we have been learning
this month. It's a move we have learned if someone were to
come up to me and grab me on the shoulders.
We all earned our stripe at the end of class! Soon, very soon,
I will be graduating to the next belt level which is
Yellow-White!
I
will move to a different class too.
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Cole and Mom's
Rainy Day at the Zoo
August 29, 2008 |
I survived my
first week of first grade and we have today off to begin the holiday
weekend.
Mom and I were home thinking of something to do. We decided to
go to the zoo. I hadn't been there since I went to zoo camp.
It was kind of rainy but we didn't care. Plus, it was "free"
because of our passes, so if it was too stormy or crowded (which we
didn't figure it would be) - we could just come home! HA!
I took Mom all thru the parts of the zoo that we visited and told
her all about the stuff the zoo keepers taught us. I told her
what was in the cage and what that animal was doing the last time I
was there.
It was a nice day at the zoo...just very raining, but we able to get
under enough cover during our walk around to not have become very
soaked. The animals were out, they didn't seem to mind the
rain at all. As a matter of fact we had fun watching the new
baby Bobcats (Kit-Kat, Hershey and Reese) playing around in their
den. The otters were having a blast in the rain, we always
like watching the otters. The 3 bears were out and about.
I thought it was the funniest thing ever when Mom tried to take the
ones picture and he turned so all we got was a butt shot!
I told Mom all about the time during zoo camp when the bears were
swimming in the water. She said she's never been there when
they've done that!
Mom and me hung out in the Nocturnal section of the zoo for quite
awhile too. I had to show her all the animals we learned about
when we were at zoo camp for our Creatures of the Night Bonfire
thing...when we had our flashlights they could reach all the way to
the Cocoa Bean Silos of Hershey Chocolate Factory! That's some
powerful lighting!
Too bad it was so rainy but we still had fun and it only cost us 25
cents! Mom said she's not counting gas, since that was already
paid for. 25 cents, you ask? Well...we HAD to feed the
ducks!
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A Hike, A Cache, A
Picnic - ooh, and a Snake!
August 31, 2008 |
Enjoying our
Labor Day weekend and we got an early call from Darrin & Jen -
wanting to know if we wanted to hang out and do something fun
today?! SURE! The weather was great and we had no plans.
How about a nice hike to a geocache near a waterfall and have a
picnic?! Everyone was game. Off we headed about 30 miles
North of here. We did this cache last year (in December of all
things) but the Hartley's had not been there yet. We enjoyed a
nice 30 minute hike on easy terrain to the waterfall...and well, uhm....no
water coming down. Guess the lack of rain this summer played a
toll on the nice stream, it was very dry. Too bad. It
was still a nice hike in a pretty woods. We crossed the
"stream" and walked up to the top - while on our way - Mom says "uh,
is THAT a snake?" We see (from a bit of a distance) a very
long and wide piece of black something laying on the rocks, it kind
of looked as though it could be a piece of rubber tire (it's obvious
that this area is frequented with visitors that don't really care
about Keeping America Beautiful) or maybe a twisted fallen tree
branch. Well, Dad got closer - Yup, it's a snake. Just a
black snake, won't hurt us - lets keep walking....right passed it.
Ms. Jen was not excited to see this guy. I got a closer look -
Dad took some pics - he was huge! Then he climbed UP the rocks
- we watched in awe, didn't know snakes could get that vertical.
Like Darrin said, thought they would need some sort of digit to get
that up & down. Apparently not! We found ourselves with
a nice spot to eat and then ventured back to the trail. Kind
of bummed that the waterfall was disappointing, since we had
traveled so far to see it, but that okay, the day was about spending
time with friends and getting some exercise...oh, and for the
Hartley's to get a smiley for their geocaching page!
We decided to stop at another place on the way home - it was an old
foundation where a Coal Crusher once stood. The area we were
in was once home to the booming coal industry. This cache was
cleverly hidden...we were literally standing on it at one time!
HA! I like ones like that.
We all went back to our house, cooked up a little picnic dinner and
played some dodge ball outside. I also taught Grey how to
fight with light sabers!
It was a fun day!
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