Parent Teacher Conferences, Halloween and Sports Oh My!

Zoe had her first parent-teacher conferences at school. It was a good visit and Zoe is doing really well considering she has been in the United States for approximately a year and five months.  Her vocabulary is expanding, she is learning to print her letters and is very participatory.  One area for improvement is it appears our little Zoe is a social butterfly and likes to talk....talk a lot! For the most part she gets a long with the other kids but on occasion struggles with sharing.  The teacher has been very encouraging and said Zoe is making a lot of progress. Both of her parents let out a sigh of relief...

Zoe's 2012 Kindergarten Picture

Zoe's gymnastics has started back up again and she is doing very well.  This year she moved up a level and is beginning to learn more difficult exercises.  She looks forward to gymnastics and appears to have the right body type.  We are thinking to enroll her in dance. We are being told that gymnastics and dance really compliment each other. Another activity that I know nothing about....but am ready to learn.  Call me a "dance dad!" Wouldn't Abby Lee from Abby Lee Dance Company just love that!

 

Last Friday I took Zoe to my office to go trick or treating and she made out like a bandit. All of my coworkers loved her "good" Witch outfit and thought she was a doll. She did very well but struggled at times to say Trick-or-treat! But did remember to say thank you or Happy Halloween.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2012

         What a difference a Year makes!!!







Zoe has been a real trooper during Nathaniel's High school sports.  She has to endure both very hot and very cold days.  Nathaniel just finished fall baseball and his last games were in blow 50 degrees very windy weather.  She does pretty well, after about the second or third inning she starts getting bored and asks when the game will be over.  She does the same thing in football around the second quarter.  Not bad for a 5 year old.

 

Nathaniel has been really busy at school.  His JV football team finished 7-1 and his Varsity football team is 8-1 and made it to the state playoffs. The picture below is one of the varsity games against Roncalli High school that he got in and played we were so excited. He is number 38 in orange and white. There first Varsity game in the Nebraska State Tournament is this Friday and they are the fifth seed playing the 12th seed so we are hoping for a victory.  As soon as football is over Nathaniel will need to focus on his weight and wrestling season.  Oh boy....cannot wait for that.

 

Nathaniel also participated in a college baseball exposure camp for high school students.  It was great for him to hear from the coaches and to compare his skills with other high school baseball players across the state. As a sophomore he did very well.  The coaches liked his hitting and pitching.  He was easily in the top 20% of the 150 plus kids who attended the camp.

 

Finally, Nathaniel also attended his Homecoming dance. Not sure he really likes the dances much...but he goes!  I ask him if he actually dances and he says "heck no" I just like hanging with the guys. At least he goes I guess. So all is well at home.  The trees are turning and it is getting colder. 

Nathaniel is to the right (White Tie and White Suspenders)

So all is well...for now.  Happy Halloween!!!

Everyone is my Best friend!!! Nate and I go to a Football game!

Well school is in full swing. Zoe is now getting settled and has made a number of new friends. On my way to school to drop Zoe off, I asked her if she had any friends. She started to rattle the names off. I asked her if she had any “best” friends and she said, “all of them!” Today, when talking to the in school day care teacher, she commented how nice and sweet Zoe is and also indicated that she gets along with everyone. I was really excited to hear that, she always has at least one girl waiting for her. The other day Sonja received an e-mail to set up a play date. I told Sonja, what in the world is a play date. Needless to say, I realized I am completely out of my comfort zone. I told Sonja, I will let her make any “playdate” arrangements. So the good news is that Zoe is transitioning well with her schoolmates and the teachers really like her. On the academic front her teacher is somewhat concerned that Zoe does not or has difficulty with instructions often times not understanding what the teacher wants her to do. The teacher has arranged specialists to come in to help her and to also get her hearing checked. Overall, she loves school and cannot wait to see her teachers and her new friends.

 

Princess Zoe...cute isn't she!

 

As far as extracurricular activities, Zoe has started back into gymnastics and Sonja is looking to get her enrolled in Dance. Sonja is going to be a Dance Mon…Look out “Abbie Lee Dance Company” So, she will be a busy little girl…the only drawback is that these activities get in the way of her ability to watch both Nick Jr. and Disney Jr. on TV.

Nathaniel who? I rarely see Nathaniel now he drives to and from school. Yesterday he went in early to talk to his math teacher about a few math problems, then after school he had football practice and then had to play pep band for the girls’ volleyball team. So he did not get home until 9:30 pm. Only to finish up the night by working on homework.

Last weekend I left the girls at home and Nathaniel and I drove from Omaha to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the Alabama/Arkansas football game. It was his first time and for me it had been more than 15 years since I went back to the University of Arkansas campus. Although the game was a bust…Alabama just destroyed Arkansas on a cold and rainy afternoon we had a great time. However we were on the top row (nose bleed section) with a bunch of crazy bama fans!!! Oh well...there is always next week! Go Hogs!!!

 

It was a wet day and our team lost..bad..but we had a great time!

 

 

On the top row of Arkansas' Razorbacks Stadium

 

Brand New Screen...as of today the largest screen in College Football

Up high but still had a great view!

 

On the way down, we stopped at Gates Barbecue, in a bad part of Kansas City. Many of the businesses had bars over the doors and windows and the restaurant had an armed security guard there if that tells you anything. However the BBQ was off the hook! We both just loved what we ordered and the service was excellent.

 

Gates BBQ in Kansas City....It was awesome! Nothing better!

 

Also while in Fayetteville we picked up some razorbacks gear at the Campus bookstore and of all places Wal-Mart who had a great selection. Right after the game, approximately 6:30 pm we got on the road and drove home…to us about 6 hours or so…so not that bad of a drive but would have been better if we traveled in the daylight. We had to get back so Nathaniel could play his double header baseball game at 10:00 am Sunday morning. So it was an eventful weekend.

All is good…hope all is well with all of you!