What to Do This Summer

Henry and I haven't decided on what we will have Keisha do for this summer. Last summer, she took up Taekwondo, and this summer, she's thinking of badminton or maybe swimming classes.

She's also thinking about learning the guitar or maybe take up piano or voice lessons instead. And up to now, with only one week of school left, we still haven't decided on anything yet, lol!

A Lot of Things Have Happened

For starters, I have to apologize to my eldest daughter Keisha for obviously not upholding our goal for this blog, which it would be the way for us to document the things that have happened to her as she grows up. It is an understatement to say that a lot of things have happened, as it is the truth. We've moved houses, we had new baby puppies, and both Keisha and Nicole are now enrolled in different schools.

Currently, Keisha is taking up a beginner's course in Taekwondo. The course is only 10 days long, and she will be on her 4th day tomorrow. So far, she is enjoying every bit of it. I think from there, that's where I'll start updating this blog and hopefully, I can catch up on every tiny bit that has happened to her.

Scolded by Daddy

Keisha got scolded by her dad last night, and I just hate seeing her dad mad and Keisha crying as well. Our daughter has proven to be really hardheaded at times, and I knew she had to be reprimanded. I couldn't help but feel sad for the both of them though.

Daddy's Girl

No matter how Keisha teases and argues with her dad, she is really daddy's little girl. I snapped a picture of the two of them sleeping one night, and as you can see, my eldest daughter has her dad in an embrace. Hahaha Keisha, I have evidence!

Finally!

I can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Keisha's 3rd quarter exams are finally over. Her exams started on Monday and today was her last day. I'm glad she doesn't have to go through reviews with me and her dad anymore, hahaha!

I found reviewing her to be a labor of love, literally. It was hard reviewing her for her Filipino subject as I had already forgotten her lessons, not to mention the fact that it was hard explaining the past, present, and future tenses of verbs with her in Filipino. I found reviewing her for her Reading and her Language subjects a lot easier, though.

A Wacky Picture

Just wanted to share this wacky picture that I snapped on my cellphone. Nicole was sitting on my lap while I was sitting beside Henry. Keisha was sitting in between us. When I took out my phone, everyone just went into this funny pose.

Coming Home

Keisha's over at my mom's place since yesterday and she's scheduled to come home today. I miss her already, but I used yesterday to do the laundry and other stuff so that I'd have today entirely with her.

I'm also excited to take pictures with her with the new digicam, since I haven't taken pictures of her yet. I'm also excited to take pictures with her, Nicole, Henry, my mom in law, and me. I guess something sort of like an informal family picture of sorts.

Her dad is also busy finishing chores like cleaning our electric fans, so that when she comes here she can rest for a little while and then we can go to the church for the Sunday mass.

I guess being away from Keisha just made me miss her terribly.

On Coughing and Ice Cream

Keisha's beginning to show signs she'll be having a cough, well, she already has a slight cough right now. But one of her godfathers gave her ice cream and Henry was having a hard time dissuading her from eating it. I understand that Henry just doesn't want her cough to get worse, but kids will be kids.

Keisha still had her way and ate her strawberry ice cream. She just ate a small portion, which I said was fine. I'm not a medical professional or whatever, but I just hate the look Keisha gives us when she feels upset. It makes me feel we're depriving her of things, when it's the other way around. My husband and I go on days without seeing each other just so we can give the kids what they need and what they want.

All I can say is, I hope when Keisha grows up, she'll come to understand that we are only thinking of her and what's best for her. If she didn't have a cough I'd let her eat the whole can of ice cream.

A Gift from Mom

Leslie bought these doggies from an officemate of hers and she bought them for Keisha and Nicole. Keisha took the dog on the left, the one that's light colored, and Nicole well, she obviously had the other one.

The kids are using them every now and then. It's actually a bolster pillow with doggie heads. They're still fairly clean up to now, and they look nice, don't you think?

An Email from TabUp

I got an email from Mike Sasaki from TabUp, and I just wanted to share it with you all. The email goes:

Hi Henry,

I found your blog "A Day in the Life of a Four Year Old" while looking for parent bloggers. Wanted to tell you about TabUp

, which helps to organize and prioritize routine activities and keep tabs on groups, people and activities. With TabUp, you can organize your daily activities better, strengthen group interaction, and make sharing information fun and easy.

TabUp helps to stay organized and to keep track of a child's school activities including their studies, assignments, exams, projects and so on thereby helping parents. Whatever grade the child might be in, TabUp takes care that parents are well prepared to meet their challenges. With TabUp parents can help their child in their science project work, solving mathematical problems, homework assignments etc.

Parents can hone their child's skills and discover their hidden talents and skills, be it photography, sewing, gardening, knitting, jewelry making or cooking. TabUp also provides ample information on parenting, children's health, a healthy lifestyle and more. Get healthy recipes, exercise tips, medical advice; you name it and TabUp has it. We'd love to hear what you think about TabUp. A mention in your blog would be great.

Thanks,
Mike
www.tabup.com

Yes, we swore off of sponsored posts on this site and I just wanted everyone to know that this is not a sponsored post. I just wanted to share this email with all of you guys and I also hope that maybe a fellow parent blogger would drop by and find TabUp interesting.

Happy 5th Birthday Keisha!

Happy birthday Keisha!

I know you may often think that I don't have time to spend with you as I'm always away at work. I eve missed your program at school when you danced at your school's 24th Foundation Day. But I want you to know that you're always on mind and I love you more than life itself. We're going to make your 5th birthday a memorable one. Although we weren't able to celebrate your birthday at school as you initially wanted since it's already your semestral break, I know you'll still have a great time with us.

Love, Daddy.

10 Days Before Keisha's 5th Birthday

Keisha's turning 5 in just 10 days from now. Another thing I'm happy about is the fact that her second quarterly exams are over and she's free to play around this weekend. Too bad she wasn't able to go to her aunt Elena's house this weekend as my mom and my sister are both sick. They didn't want Keisha to be infected with cough and colds so they didn't invite her over this weekend.

Right now Keisha is busy playing a game on her PSP. Since Nicole wanted to see what the game is, she kept snatching the PSP from Keisha and as a result, the kids are at war again. Henry took Nicole outside as she wouldn't stop crying. Keisha's sulking in a corner and won't talk. *Sigh* I don't know what to do with these kids. I guess it's too much to ask from a four year old to extend her patience towards her younger sister.

Keisha and Daddy

Henry and I took a picture of us with this heart frame on his cellphone. When Keisha saw it, she got jealous and said she should also have one with her dad. So there, they have their own picture with the same heart frame and I'm posting it here.

They really look alike, don't you think so?

Keisha and Nicole Asleep

I woke up today and found my kids sleeping like this, and I just couldn't help but take pictures.

Keisha Right after her Bath Before School

Away for a Week

I decided to stay off the computer for a week as it was my birthday and I wanted to have time for myself and the kids. Henry's also away on a long trip to Ilocos and won't be back by the 20th.

Keisha doesn't have school today as it's a holiday, and will be having her first quarter exams this week. My mother in law has been reviewing her daily to make her prepared for the exam. She's already learned a lot about Math, shapes, and her other lessons.

I was laughing to myself yesterday as I suggested to my mom in law that she let Keisha actually taste bitter, sweet, sour, and salty stuff as this was part of their lessons. For sweet, we had her taste sugar, sour we let her sip vinegar, for salty we let her taste salt, and for bitter, we had her taste a granule of coffee.

I'm glad that Keisha understands what the taste actually is, but I guess she was a bit confused about the names of the things she's tasting , not to mention the fact that she has to learn them both in English and Filipino.

Missing Daddy

Keisha is beginning to miss her dad whether she admits it or not. I know my kid so much to the point that I can tell what she's thinking or feeling just by the way she looks, acts, and moves. Now, her appetite isn't that well when on other days she can eat a whole bag of bread and cheese on her own. She just had about 5 spoonfuls of rice earlier at lunch, and also slept really late last night.

OK, so it's was a Friday and all and there's no school yesterday, but she's tired from school and is usually out like a light on weekdays, but last night was different. It was already past midnight - the time I leave for work - and she was still up!

To be honest, I don't know how I can comfort her when I miss her dad so much as well.

Mid-Quarter Exams

Keisha will be having her first ever Mid-Quarter exams on July 23 - 25. I'm not sure yet what the exam will cover, but my mom has been extensively reviewing her daily lessons at school. I know Keisha will do well, as I have complete faith in my daughter's academic skills. But since this being her first school and technically speaking, her first ever mid-quarter exam, I just can't help but be nervous and excited at the same time.

On a side note, Leslie also has some things of her own going. She's applying for a higher position at work, which I am also keeping my fingers crossed for. There's just so much going on lately. Whew. I think I need to sit back and relax. These girls are making me tense. Lol.

Behavior at School

This post was intended for June 13th, but I ended up writing it on a piece of paper at work as I didn't have the time to blog the whole week.

When my mom in law and I arrived at Keisha's school, we peeked at her classroom door and saw Keisha standing on a chair and reaching for the wall fan. She was really happy to see us, and on the ride home she confided with her grandma that she'd like for us to wait on her outside.

We also spoke with her teacher and looked at one of her artworks. Although she did not have two stars again, her artwork yesterday was not hung on the wall. Her teacher had asked them to paste cut-out circles on a piece of paper. But what she did was to paste different shapes and ended up tearing them when the teacher told her what she did was wrong.

My dilemma is how to manage our time going to the gym, waiting for Keisha at school, and our other chores. I guess I'll have to talk it over with Henry later today.

Summer Classes or Not

If there's a parent reading this, please do shed some light on my concern.

Our daugther Keisha as you all know, turned 4 last October 2007. We're going to enroll her in preschool this June. She knows how to identify colors, write her first name, and can also write some letters that you ask her to write. But like every child, school seems a bit daunting to her.

My husband and I are thinking about enrolling her for summer classes in the same school. We thought about it so that she'd be familiar with her school surroundings, and also so that she'd get a head start in learning. I guess bottom line is that, we just want her to be as prepared as possible for June.

Do you think we should enroll her for summer classes or should we let her just enjoy the rest of the summer?