Practicing Tennis

Our kids have shown interest in tennis since last year so we promised them that we would enrol them this year.  The Spring season was opened  last week so we went there to see if they would like to play.  As it turned out, they are both interested.  However, it is only opened for 4th and upper grades  so we can only enrol  our daughter.  The coaches   were nice to  have our son practice though.  

We went to Starvaggi tennis court last Saturday and practice with them.  We have two old tennis rackets here that my husband called "vintage" and we used it.  

I love that  they are starting to find the sports that they like.  I told my son that it is okay that he is not  officially  registered this year because of his grade but the good thing is, he will be prepared next year as  he practices with his sister this year.

Rylie and her friend will have tennis matches next month do they  have practices every Wednesday.   They are nervous about it as they have never played before but  we told them to just enjoy the experience.  They will get better as they get older.

The weather is getting warmer so both kids goes in the school parking lot and practices  hitting the ball there.  They even met two kids from the neighborhood who  played with them the other day.  

We went to Dick's and bought the kids some #tennis #balls and #rackets

A photo posted by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Apr 22, 2016 at 5:00pm PDT

Even though, it is an added expense to play in sports, we don't really mind as it is a great physical exercise and development for them. Teamwork and camaraderie are the biggest lessons they are learning by playing sports like this with other kids.  This is better for them rather than staying at home and playing with their gadgets.  

Music Room

We went to our new home yesterday and brought some stuff. We are slowly bringing some small things there so that during our big move, all we have to bring is the big stuff. My daughter have asked us where are we putting the piano and keyboard that they have. She suggested to put it in the room where I am setting up my office but that room is not  big enough for an office and music room.   We  don't really have a  specific room to  use as a music room but I was thinking of  putting it in the living room  We will see how it goes when we move.  Looking at these jbl vrx at Music's Friend, I am thinking of replacing our speakers but  since it  is not on the budget yet, we can still use the old ones that we have.  Maybe in a year or two, we can  buy new ones.  

Anti Bullying Poster Contest Winner

The Weirton-Wellsburgh Chapter of Credit Union  hosts the annual   Anti-Bullying Poster Contest for 5th graders.  Since my daughter is in fifth grade this year, she entered the said poster making contest.  She combined her passion for baking and  arts  and came up  with this  design.  

I love that the  principal and the  fifth grade student's teacher   also attended the event.  It goes to show how supportive they are to their students.  

 IN my  daughter's school, her  design was the winner but there were also great entries that the board couldn't pass on so they chose four of them to be runners-up.

 Only St. Joseph has 5 winners.    The public schools has one winner and other catholic school has one winner and a runner up.

 We went early so we had the chance to take some pictures.

 We decided to sit in one table  along with the other parents and students from St. Joe's.

 The awarding ceremony was held in Holiday Inn and they served a buffet dinner.

The kids had so much fun while we were waiting for the ceremony to start.

 The  city mayor was also there and gave a speech.

 The principal to  the other catholic school was also there and a representative to the  Hancock public school was also present.

 The kids in the front row are the winners from 6 different schools and the kids at the back are the runners-up.

 A pose with the mayor and the  head for the credit union.

With their teacher, Mrs. Fuscardo.

 

A photo taken at the Holiday Inn lobby.

Rylie received $100 cash gift and a certificate.  The runners-up also received a certificate and $25 cash gift.   I am not really sure if this is a certificate as I have never seen a certificate without a signature but it is something she can  add to her  personal  accomplishment.

This campaign is very dear to my heart because I experienced bullying when I was a kid and that's something I don't want my kids to experience.  

Letting Kids be KIDS!

I am sure I am not the only with kids who think like they are an adult.  Our daughter is 10 years old but most of the times, she likes to think that she's 20, that she knows  things more than we do.  I always remind her that it is not the case, that what she knows is  way far from what we know.  It is for this reason that the guidance of parents is very crucial during the children's formative years.  

 Although I love the fact that she thinks  mature than her age, it is still important  to let kids be KIDS!  I don't want them to  say  later on that they didn't have a good childhood.  I want them to enjoy the joy of being kids.  It's fun to be kids!  I wish I could be a kid again.

 Letting kids be KIDS is important.  Let them experience the beauty of life as a kid.  Their adulthood will  come  so there's no rush of letting them grow old.  I am  blessed to have been by my kids side every step of the way.  I get to  witness  their development, their  sadness, their joys, and everything.  Giving up a career to raise kids is  the best thing.

 Once in a while, I miss being inthe  workforce but then when I look how my  kids, I would immediately tell myself, "You did the right thing!"

Rewards for Kids

Kids will always be kids no matter how strict you impose rules  inside the house.  Hubby and I don't give our children material rewards very often but there are  certain instances that we do such as  when they behave well  in public or  when they volunteer to help us around the house.  I used to give them stickers then at the end of the year, they count their stickers and  we convert it into cash.  Now that they are bigger, one of the   favorite  rewards they  ask is go to Dunkin Donuts and have some  donuts.  This does not happen very often  but it is always a treat  when they get it.

 Play date with their friends is also a great reward for them.  They get to be with their friends and do things that they love.  I don't let my kids go on sleep over  but  we do  play date once in a while.  Today was EJ's second play date.

His sister always go on a play date  so he is kind of jealous about that so we made sure that he has some as well.  Glad  he had a great time with his friends at the park today.  When we got home, he took a long nap after he showered.  

Special Day for Fifth Graders

Every  grade at St. Joseph has their own saint.  They celebrate their saint day by  learning  everything about the extra ordinary   deeds that the person did in the past which led them to become a saint.  The fifth graders had their Saint Day celebration  last April 6th.  I always attend the mass during their saint day because it makes   my kids feel  very important when  my husband and I  are there.  Most of the times, my  husband is at work so I tried my best  to be there for them.  

Having this kind of activities in school  teachers the kids so many things.  They learn  to speak in public as they  participate in the readings and it help them  conquer their  stage fright.  It also teaches them the religious aspect of life.

She read the responsorial psalm.

They also played the bell.  Rylie joined the bell choir last year and she likes it.

I am glad that  music is a big part of St. Joseph because that's where my  daughter's interest  is.  She is not much into sports but she  loves participating in  arts and music activities.

Come June, our parish priest will be leaving.  We will have a new priest.

I like it that we  are given the chance to take pictures after the mass.

With Fr. Manny and their religion class teacher, Ms. Granato.

Spartan's First Volleyball Win

The SJS volleybal team had their first game  last April 5th at Bishop John King Mussio Central.  Their opponent was the BJKM's volleyball team.  Rylie was very  nervous as it was her first game.  Unlike most of her  classmates, this is the   only game that she play so she doesn't have much expierience when it comes to sports.  She is the  smallest and the shortest  among her team so she find it hard to serve but she tried her very best during the practices.

 Entrance fee was $3 for addults and $2 for students.  I was surprised that most of the audience was from our school.  That's  probably why the morale of our  players were pretty high.

 After we   signed in and paid our fees, the players had the chance to warm up.

 I am so glad that  our Baby Girl have found a sport that she likes.  She never wanted ti  try sports but I kind of talked her into trying volleyball as I love the  sports.  I played volleyball in high school and college although I wasn't very good at it lol.  I even played with my  co-workers when I was already working in school.  We used to   get together during the weekend and played volleyvball.

 I think that's one of the convinxing factor  why my daughter tried it.  She used to say she doesn't want to try sports because she is so little.  I told her that being little is not an excuse if you want to try  sports, it is in your will and determination.

 So glad that she tried it because now she really loves it.  She look forward for every practice.

 Aside from the physical aspect of the sport, I think the valuable lesson she will learn on playing with teams is the ability to work with other people.  Teamwork is crucial to success when you are playing this kind of sports.

 We were so ikpressed of how  all the girls played so well  on their first game.  Being a guest on other school can be intimidating sometimes but  it didn't seem to affect them.

 Even the  siblings were big supporters of their sisters.

 I was very surprised that  Rylie served so well compared to what I've seen during the practices.  I think she is getting better each time.

 I love that they were communicaing with each other really well.

 In this picture, she called  it "Mine!" which made me so proud.

 Here's Lizzy, she hits  the ball really hard.  I've seen her do it during the practices that it would topuch the ceiling lol.

 During the game, it was no different.  LIzzy hit the ball and went up and never came down lol.  It was awesome!

 All of them were laughing like "What just happen?"

 Here's our little one  serving.  I was very proud when the ball  went over the net, yeah!  I was worried about it because during the practices, she was getting so frustrated because she couldn't get the ball to go over the net.  But during the  actual game, she was able to do it  many times  wich boosted her confidence.

 

For some reason, the  scorers mislabeled the scores.  The 25 should be the guest and  home should be 14 but it's okay, we won!

 Chilling out after the game and  savoring the victory with one of her BFFs.

Spartans won four games that day.  Their next games will be next week  at the same school  and will play against the same  teams, the BJKM.  Hopefully, they would do  well again.  That is it for now, it's time to practice again.  Go Spartans, congratulations on the first win of the season.