Sean's Basketball Season

This was a first for Sean.  He has been waiting and waiting to be on a team and this fall he got the chance.  We started with the Boys & Girls Club league and at the first practice he cried, and sat by me on the bench, watching.  I wasn't sure if he would ever join the fun, but since he had two friends playing along with him, the shyness wore off and the fun began by the next practice.  He loved every second of playing and looked forward to each game.  He played hard, and most of the time, played the entire game.   Below is a video of his first basket. 

The best part of the season was the last game, played full court, and the trophy that came after.  Honestly, I was worried there wouldn't be a trophy at the end and so relieved.  Sean made it very clear in the car before the last game, if there wasn't a trophy, I would have to go buy him one at the store.  The trophy has been a big hit, going every where that we go, and being held and worshiped at all time.  I have never seen a kid so excited about a trophy before, and I am glad he got one.  

I have a feeling this will be the first trophy of many for this kid.  Andrew is motivated by Money, Sean is motivated by Trophies. 

Getting the Trophy.

Allergies

There are certainly worse things in the world to have to deal with, but allergies are a bit of on inconvenience.  I am glad we figured out why this boy has not been able to breath well since birth, and we are taking the steps to make our house more Sean friendly.  So far, we have discovered that he is allergic to dust mites, not just a little, but like a lot.  We have been removing what we can in our home that may contain dust mites, as well covering his bed with the right allergy proof bedding.  He is also allergic to cats, dogs, all grass and weeds, cockroaches (thankfully we have none of those) and walnuts.  For now, we have accepted it will be a life of daily Allegra, and I will be doing a lot of hot water laundry.  It is annoying, but I have already seen a difference with just some small changes. 

The biggest change was to our sofa downstairs (yes Jeff, your old one).  We discovered it was high in dust mites and almost sent Sean into an Asma attack every time he sat on the couch to play the Wii.  Now in it's place is an empty room perfect for baseball, football, and anything else the boys want to do in there.  In a few weeks they will be disappointed when a new sofa arrives and interferes with their "ball field". 

Yep, Sean is 5.

September 22, Sean turned 5.  I feel like we got off a little easy as it fell on a Sunday this year.  We took cake pops to primary, then came home to pizza, presents and cup cakes.  Our neighbor friend Patrick came over and played with Sean all afternoon, and it seemed it was just what this 5 year old needed to feel special.  I was worried as we headed out the door for church, when I heard Sean exclaim, "I can do whatever I want today," but I didn't get any bad news about behavior so I think it all went fine. 

 

It is hard to believe it is 5 already, but at the same time he is only 5.  We have many years to go with this kid under our roof.  I sat with my friend Nancy at a football game hearing of her quieter life, and perhaps more trips with her husband, now that her kids are getting older.  I cringed with a bit of jealousy, but then perhaps I will just send Sean to her house to shake things up over there.   We don't want things getting too quiet over at the Hanaike's.

BYU Library

Who knew the BYU library would be stocked with Avengers books?  

Perfect place for some tired young boys.

While in Utah, we got to spend lot's of time with my old college friend Meggan and also with her children.  Here is Sean with her son Bucky who seems to be just as excited about Avengers as Sean.  So glad to have friends in the Avenger loving clan. 

Proud Moment

There are those moments in life when you are so proud of your kids that you want to squeeze their guts out.  For me it has always been when my kids have learned to right their bikes without training wheels.  I remember Kira and Andrew's first experiences so well, and we have been working hard with Sean so we could have the same experience.  For all three of them it started at Oceana High School, high on the hill in the empty parking lot.  We always choose a sunny preferably less windy day, and the magic always seems to happen.  It happened for Sean on the 7th of April after a trip home from Tahoe.  He mastered the stop and start on his own and even mastered the speed bumps.  I am sure I was a little teary when I took this shot and I will remember it forever. 

After he got going on his own, we got him new larger bike and have been doing rides to the beach to perfect his skills.  It is fun time, watching him cruise down the sea wall.  It wasn't too long ago he was riding with me on my bike on these same rides.   Now he is solo, one more thing to help him spread his wings, until he crashes and needs his mom.

Comfort after this came from his brother Andrew who told him a story of his first wipe out and let him see the scar on his elbow.  It was also helpful that Andrew's wipe out was also on a red bike, just like the one Sean was riding for his. 

The good news is he did get back on and now you can find Sean and I riding to the frog pond after school and hopefully avoid another wipe out.  Next up, learning to swim this summer then I will really feel like an accomplished mother. 

Our Quarterback

He finally allowed me to be on his team, and these were my instructions in our huddle.  Just wanted to be sure you got all the instructions because I only got, "...and get a touch down."

Best Buds

 

It has never been a secret that Tom is the favorite with our kids.  Kira and Andrew have both preferred to hang out with Tom over me, any day.  Sean is turning out to be no different.  

It is like the day doesn't really begin for this kid until 5:30 pm when Tom walks in the door.  Usually from the time he arrives Sean is at his side until bedtime.  If Tom is lifting weights Sean is jumping on the couch along side, if he is watching football Sean is there as well.  Usually they are playing "guys" on the floor or throwing the football in the living room (which has to stop soon now that Sean can really throw). 

My children are lucky they have such a fun loving father, and even if they do prefer him, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Santa

Along with trains, he fears Santa.

This year at least he got close with out screaming.  Notice how Tom is pushing him closer and he is leaning back.

And Now he Rocks Out

While on the phone with a client Alice & Chains started blaring from our upstairs.  I was a little confused as Sean was the only other person home.  I went up to find this.  Stick with it, he really starts to rock a few seconds into the video and wait until you see the splits.

His choice of music as matured and apparently he prefers Rock over Pop.  I thought I had a few more years before I had to deal with blaring music in my house.  Perhaps next he will be sneaking out at night?

Zombies Yes, Trains No!

We have been to the California State Railroad Museum a few times with the kids as they have been growing.  We have only taken Sean twice and both times we have taken him shaking, and very nervous.   This last time, he literally made a break for the exit after being inside for 5 minutes and Tom had to chase him down before he left the building.  Something about trains do no settle well with my little tough kid.  I first noticed it during a stop at Casa De Fruita when Sean was about 18 months.  Andrew was climbing all over a parked train and Sean was screaming and yelling the entire time for him to get off.  He was screaming and shaking so much I finally had to make Andrew get off just so he would stop.  

I was starting to think he had out grown this fear, but this last trip proved he is still just as terrified of trains as before.  We did get him to tour some trains this trip as you can see in the picture below.  Can you see his excitement of being inside the mail train?  

Finally we made our way upstairs where he played for an hour with the train sets.  Apparently small trains are fine, big trains are scary.  My son has no problem with zombies, but trains?  Funny kid.  

If you want to know more about the museum, go here.  It is located in Old Town Sacramento and makes for a great day trip from our house. 

Daylight Savings

It does a number on this kid.  With the clocks moved back, he is now waking up at 5am and probably will all week until he adjusts.  It took him 2 weeks to recover from the spring forward and I am sure it will be the same for the fall back.  Ugh. 

Can we add getting rid of Day Light Savings to the ballots tomorrow? 

Yes, that is a sucker in his mouth, a dentist nightmare I am sure.  I removed it after taking a photo.  

Band Season

Yep, it has started again, in fact the Terra Nova Band has been practicing since July of this year.  Last weekend was their first competition and they placed FIRST in parade and in Field Show.  It was a big win for the band and made for one happy 15 year old in our house.  

If you want to watch the show, check it out here.

 As for the rest of us, you will find us in the stands on Friday nights at the football games cheering on the football team and the band's half time show.

My favorite last weekend was watching Sean continually photo bomb these girls pictures in front of us. They kept moving the angle of the phone and he would move to get in their picture.  Nothing like doing duck lips with a 4 year old peeping in. 

Sean Loves...

His brother and Dad, but apparently not my singing. 

Normally Sean loves to have Tom sing to him before he goes to bed.  The other night I was requested to do the singing (2 songs) so I quickly jumped in to my version of ABC's with a few added lines of my own.  When finished with that song, Sean looked at me and said, "It's ok mom, you can sing just one song, good night."  Well there you go, I guess Tom will be doing the singing from now on. 

The above photo was from Andrew's bridging over recently.  Sean was happy to get to have Andrew's blue shirt and he has now graduated to the brown shirt. 

Sean's Birthday

 As of yesterday, Sean became a 4 year old.
I am thrilled this kid is now 4 and becoming more independent.  Yesterday, he told me, "Mom, now that I am 4, I will stay in my bed...I won't let you down."  So far, he has held true to his word, maybe he is growing up?  I was starting to worry this kid would be eight and still getting up at night.

He is lucky to have a friend, also named Sean, who has a birthday very close to his. This year we did a joint party at the park and these two were super cute.   I have never seen chocolate cake and ice cream consumed so quickly and happily.

Happy Birthday to Sean and Sean!

Duh Mom?

Apparently it is cool to Velcro your shoes in the shape of an X.  

Not sure why I didn't know that.  

Sean has been doing this for some time now and has even made a point to show his friends at pre-school. He just might be a trend setter?

Nothing Better...

then good times with cousins.  

Sean's Perspective

"Rhinos Who Snowboard" is a favorite book of Sean's, we read it often. The last page shows a group of rhinos lounging in a living room after a fun day of snowboarding and they are surrounded by food. After reading the book yet again last night, Sean pointed to this page and explained,

"Their mom is in the kitchen getting them more food."

Honestly, I was speechless.

I think Sean has Met His Match

We made it to Napa for the day last week to hang out with the Hisermans (don't fall off your chair to hear I left the Peninsula.  I am branching out a bit.)  Their son Jackson is 6 months older then Sean, and I have to say they are two peas in a pod, or as I like to call them, the Angry Elves.  They are smiling in this picture, but don't let that fool you.  This photo was taken only minutes after I had to intervene in a football struggle where neither was going to give up.  I jumped in just in time before one of them threw a punch (probably would have been Sean).  These boys refused to be friends.  If you ask them, they don't want to play to together, but both want to catch the football or make the tackle.  Whether they want it or not, I think they will eventually be friends...I hope. 

Mecca

One day while taking Kira to school I asked her where she wanted me to drop her off.  Her reply was, "Duh, the band room."  She explained that the band room is like Mecca, and everything leads to the band room.

Sean arriving to play.

This got me thinking.  Sean recently decided he did not want to go to Primary on Sundays.  He would throw a loud fit that included me dragging him into the primary room and leaving him screaming and crying.  I wondered what would be Sean's Mecca and concluded that to Sean there is no better place to be then the Hanaike's house.  He and I made a deal that Sunday's with no crying, meant an hour of play at the Hanaike's and it has worked like a charm.  He now goes right in and sits down with out any tears, then as reward we go spend an hour playing at the Hanaike's and pulling out all of Luke's toys.  On the way there yesterday, I heard Sean claim, "I don't like my toys, I love Luke's toys."  

Thanks to the Hanaike's for being Sean's reward and letting him come play.  It is the highlight of his week.

Memorial Day

We spent our Memorial Day at the beach, getting some sun, and sharpening the boys football skills.  All three men in my house are the happiest playing ball of some sort.  

Tom's best parenting moments happen during a huddle. 

My mini-football stud.