Ninjas!

 With the winter weather and COVID the boys have been going stir crazy. Around Christmas Alex found out (I don't know where) that you could take Parkour classes in Topeka. He bugged me non stop to get the information. So I found some Ninja classes at a local gymnastics studio and he and Daryl both wanted to sign up! 

They have being doing it for a month now and Wednesday nights are now Ninja nights. They get to run, climb, dangle and jump. It is good for them! I asked the gym if I could put them in the same class so I wouldn't have to run them there two different nights a week. They agreed and it has been awesome. Every time I catch them being sweet to each other, when no one is looking they do love each other! Yay! 

Alex was struggling to climb the slanted wall, Daryl noticed immediately and came over. 

He showed Alex where to put his foot to help and gave him a little push! 

Going with mom to the office on the weekend is better now that there is a cat! 

This is progress, Cheese usually runs away from Alex. He was
so surprised! 

Truth about Reading Time at Home

 When I try new things and it works, I don't want anyone to think it was easy. We all know when dealing with other people, a battle of the wills is exhausting. 

Last month I made a reading goal for both Daryl and Alex. Mom is going to read 20 books this year and you are both going to read 12. You would have thought I told them I'm cancelling the WiFi. The whining and complaining was full force. 

I also need to note here that they are both fantastic readers. They have good vocabularies and comprehend very well. I don't understand why they act like our 22 minutes of reading at night is painful but they do EVERY NIGHT. Lindsey can testify to this, they get bent out of shape about it even with the bribe of ice cream or a weekend treat. 

I did say this strategy is working and I believe it is. Daryl read two books in January and Alex read one. They have both started their February books and when reading time is over they have to tell me about what they read. They laugh while they are reading and they get caught up in the stories. But the biggest win was when they were packing up for dad's house on Sunday afternoon, they BOTH took their books with them. Alex said he would probably read once or twice and Daryl said he just couldn't wait a week to read more. 

Now, I have to tell you what rebellion is starting to look like with Daryl. Alex's Feb. book is about mutant goldfish and Daryl's book is "One Vote Away" by Ted Cruz. He bought it on Amazon and he smirks at me every time he pulls it out to read. Really Daryl? 12 years old reading a book by Ted Cruz? I know what you are doing young man! (Note to my dad Daryl, I know you think this is funny from heaven, I know you are just laughing so loud!) 

The book Daryl finished for January. 
I think this was a better pick than his Feb. book...
Ghost by Reynolds 

Alex's January book. He really loved it! 
Me, Mop and the Moondance Kid by Myers