Happy Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving Day with the Arnhold/Johnson side.  I had get an annual picture of Gigi and Gpa with the kids!

Pops chose to wear Hudson's turkey hat as he carved!

Gigi snuck whip cream to Hannah.  She made a new best friend!

Mmm!  Jam!

Since Pops was sick earlier in the week on his b-day, we celebrated at Thanksgiving.  Happy 60th Pops!

One of my favorite things is how Hannah loves my brother's teddy bear from when he was little.  His name was beary.  Just love this pic!

And of course, playing in the ottoman/toy box!

We spent Thanksgiving night at Nana & Pops so we could get a Christmas tree!  Hud and I went with Pops down to the woods to get one.  

We took it home later that day and Jared set up the lights.  The kids loved laying under it.  

Then, after some fun family cleaning, we headed down to Sunnyside with the Haaks.  Hudson and Hannah were so excited to see their cousins!  Here's Hud and Raylee snuggling:).  

Hannah kept asking for her toes to be painted so Aunt Lissa brought some nail polish over.  

She is all smiles!

Annual Haak Thanksgiving Pic

Hudson and Hannah loved baby Brynlee.  Hudson would often choose to play with her.  So sweet.

Reading time!

The girls were too funny loving their coloring time.  Notice Hudson isn't choosing to color...I think he's playing with Brynlee:).

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving, both times, spent with family and great food!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're so thankful for our families!

Karate

We put Hudson in gymnastics to help be aware of his body, learn balance, and have fun!  While at gymnastics, a mom recommended karate for Hudson.  He was promoted to Level 1 in gymnastics but I don't think it was a skill promotion but rather an age promotion:).  So I bought a Warhorse groupon this summer and he started this fall.

The groupon came with 6 weeks worth of classes and the karate outfit which is called a gi.  

Sitting like a black belt

One of my favorite parts of karate is that they go over skills, balance, sequences but they also teach to character.  Each month there is a a new character trait they focus on.  They have a group huddle and talk about what that trait is, what it isn't, and how to have good character.  The kids earn blue stripes for character and black for their belt advancement.  I'm VERY impressed with their program. 

Daddy and Hudson practicing Block Set at Grandma & Grandpas.

At Warhorse, they were doing a ticket incentive.  For each ticket earned, they and to write their name on the back.  This was great "real life" examples for Hudson to learn to write his first and last name.  He's had lots of practice:).

I love how my little guy does push ups:).

One thing I don't love about karate is there really isn't a place for siblings.  At gymnastics we had an above "observation deck" where there were toys and the kids could play/roam.  Here Hannah has to sit on my lap or the floor with barely enough walk space.  Some nights it's easier than others to keep her entertained and happy.  Thank goodness the Franz bakery outlet is next door, we visit it almost weekly!

He recently had to buy sparring gear.  

 It's 2 nights a week, which is tough on this mamma, but he truly loves it!   Jared practices with him during the weekends and we talk about staying "focused" at karate.  He tends to get a bit silly...

Overall his skills and abilities have grown by leaps and bounds.  He has learned multiple sets: block set, stance set, etc and is now starting with sparring gear.  I love his excitement for karate!  For now we will keep doing it!  Keep up the good work Hud!

A Typical Day

A typical day in the Haak house involves:

Weapons

Closet forts

Dress Up

Princesses

And sparring!

These kids are such a delight!  I love my time with them!  

Truly Blessed!

Kindergarten

Here's our handsome little man in kindergarten.  

Hudson
5 Years Old

I love picking up this cute face on my Wednesdays!  Here he is with his teacher:).

We now have weekly homework.  Hudson has "packets" to do.  We work on them on our days off, Monday and Tuesdays.  There is quite a bit of work and high expectations but luckily I've taught this so I know what to do.  Daddy, not so much.  He was a bit confused on the homework already but says he can handle the math:).

Here are some examples of his first packet of homework.  I wanted to compare the difference from the beginning of kindergarten to the end.

My favorite is his "be" sentence. 

Favorite sentence ever!

I love this kid's heart!

His we sentence isn't bad either!  We do like football:).  

This is how we have to get Hudson's homework done.  He works hard and sis has a "project" as well!

Hudson's "How to cook a turkey"...

Apparently I'm the boss but in all fairness dad is the king of the house.  Hmm, almost convincing.  

We had his first conference this fall.  He is doing well in all areas but has a few things to work on!  His stamina/perseverance (especially when it comes to letter writing and coloring!),  upper vs. lower case letters, and simple sentences.  

He can read all his sight words and basic books.  He doesn't LOVE to read but he can do it:).  He did read the color copper the other day.  I was impressed!  

Here's an example of his numbers below:

We have loved his weekly homework.  I love the time with him and we really work on what MRs. Termath has asked us to work on.  For his Bb drawings, we looked up "How to draw___" a bat and a bow and arrow.  He loves learning how to draw them.  He is starting to almost like drawing!

Overall he is doing really well!  Not a huge surprise since I know what he needs to know, being a former kindergarten teacher.  Writing is still a struggle.  The other day he started a homework packet, but we had to ask his teacher for another one because he didn't do his best job.  He was in tears the whole way.  I'm trying not to be too strict but he has to try!  He often comes home with scribbling on his papers.  Coloring is not his favorite activity!  Fine motor is still a struggle but we are working on it:).   He can count to 109, knows simple addition, and all his shapes/patterns.  

The best part is he loves school!  I love that he's with my friend and that she's fostering his love for learning.  Often times I hear "Teacher says..." lol.  It's nice that I can email her when there are friend troubles at school.  Recently a girl was telling Hudson to sit by her and play with her at recess.  Being the obedient/respectful boy he is, he did.  She told him he could play for 5 minutes at recess but then had to come back immediately next to her side.  So I explained that he doesn't need to be with her all the time and he can politely say "No thank you" and play with someone else.  So Mrs. Termath addressed this issue with both kids.  It seems to be better now!  

He loves learning and tells me promptly when there is something in his backpack that I need to look at!  "Teacher says..." you need to read this tonight!  Love it!  He seems to be listening pretty well but I know how silly he can get. 

Thankful for my Hud's first year at Summit and that it's going well.  Can't wait to see what he looks like at the end of kindergarten!