Todd likes picking up the mail every evening on our way home. It's part of his daily chore assignment, and we mark it on his "good deeds" sheet for karate class. He also likes examining the mailing labels on letters and packages, and then divvying up the mail according to recipient (a belated THANK YOU to Grandma for sending those letters to him-- it really makes his day, and he is so excited when he sees that the something is addressed to him! He especially likes the personal letters, and asks us to read it for him as soon as he opens the envelope)
Today, there was only one letter (amongst the usual advertisements) and it was addressed to "Allan H. Knight". Todd read: "Allan H. Knight. It's for Daddy. The 'H' stands for Harvey!"
Thinking I would try to trick him a bit, I asked him: "Do you have an 'H' in your name?", fully expecting him to say no.
Instead, he thought for a few seconds, and then piped up, "Yes!"
I asked him where.
He was not to be fooled, for he replied: "In 'Knight'!"
More karate excellence
Last week Todd got a sticker for good behavior. Today he got a stripe on his white karate belt! Stripes, it seems, are sort of in-between levels between each color belt. One girl who is Todd's age and has been taking lessons for a year, has 4 stripes on her white belt and is testing for her yellow belt promotion this month. So it's a nice way of charting progress at a particular belt color. Todd's really taking well to karate, not only the techniques, but the behavior aspects of it!
Report Cards
The schoolchildren got their report cards today. Todd is doing well. Not only is he keeping up academically, but he's also getting good marks for behavior. The written portion indicated that he's really starting to come out of his shell and interact with others. And just like Sensei mentioned in karate, the report card made mention of Todd setting a good example to the other kids, helping them maintain "self control". Good to hear that Todd's thriving and not being so shy anymore!
Stickers in karate
Todd got an "awesome" sticker today in karate class. Sensei said it was for not only doing good deeds that week (helped out with lots of chores at home, and played quietly while Mommy was sick) but for doing well in class and always setting the example for the other kids. He proudly wore the sticker home to show to Daddy, and we snapped a picture for posterity, before taking it off so I could launder the uniform. I'll be sure to post the pic as soon as I've uploaded it from my camera!
Karate pics
The first batch. I took these in January (where you can tell I had not yet learned how to properly tie the belt!) and am just now getting around to uploading them off my camera and posting them. I will have to take more pics that show Todd in action!
Daddy's psychic!
After I got up from a nap, groggy and still contemplating the household chores ahead of me, Todd clamored to go to the playground. Poor little man had been cooped up indoors most of the day, he needed a refreshing break. But I had so much to do!
Knowing that Daddy was due to come home from work soon, I got on my computer and IMd him to confirm the exact time, and ask if he could take Todd to the playground. While we were making the arrangements, Todd watched quietly as we typed back and forth. Curious, he asked what Daddy was saying. I told him that Daddy would be coming home soon and taking him to the playground.
Todd's response was three-fold:
1. "Ohhhh, I thought YOU were gonna take me there!"
2. He then leaped around excitedly, yelling "Yahoo!" and smacking his forehead with glee and gusto.
3. When he settled down a bit from the initial excitement, he thought some more and then queried: "How did Daddy know I want to go to the playground?"
I had to laugh and explain that I told Daddy about it on IM :-)
Knowing that Daddy was due to come home from work soon, I got on my computer and IMd him to confirm the exact time, and ask if he could take Todd to the playground. While we were making the arrangements, Todd watched quietly as we typed back and forth. Curious, he asked what Daddy was saying. I told him that Daddy would be coming home soon and taking him to the playground.
Todd's response was three-fold:
1. "Ohhhh, I thought YOU were gonna take me there!"
2. He then leaped around excitedly, yelling "Yahoo!" and smacking his forehead with glee and gusto.
3. When he settled down a bit from the initial excitement, he thought some more and then queried: "How did Daddy know I want to go to the playground?"
I had to laugh and explain that I told Daddy about it on IM :-)
