Category: Chase Adventures

Joy was thinking about putting Chase into ice skating class in the winter. In order to test him and see if he liked it, we went on Saturday. It wasn’t too busy, and Chase tried both figure skates and hockey skates. He preffered the figure skates b/c of the spikes on the front that helped him run. Even with all the supreme coaching from his Dad and GG, he kept resulting back to running then sliding and spinning. So eventually, we stopped coaching and just enjoyed ourselves. I’m thinking he’s not yet ready. I’m gonna put al the video evidence up here and you can decide for yourselves.

Preschool and soccer have brought a new element of excitement into our lives! Chase started both of those activities last week. He’s the type of kid that needs action and movement most of the day, so we’re glad he at least has these activities going on.

I checked out a couple of preschools in our city (I didn’t want to drive far or pay a ton), and this one out of someone’s home was the best one I found! Mostly, I just love the teacher’s imagination and her loving, bubbly personality– so perfect for guiding these little kids. Also, this is her 12th or 13th year teaching preschool, so I figure she’s got it down pretty well!

Pace volunteered to coach Chase’s cub soccer team, so he’s officially their coach for the season! When my mom was here, she had the brilliant idea of highlighting all our team’s games on the schedules for each family, and assigning the snacks for each game from the get-go. So far, this has worked out really well! We liked pretending to be organized little soccer moms and getting all the papers ready to hand out at the first practice.

The first game was a challenge, because the kids didn’t really know what was going on, and everyone was getting used to the whole idea.

But the second game was awesome, because everyone knew the drill, the kids (including Chase) were more excited to play, and our highly energetic bro-in-law came to help coach (which was especially helpful, because Pace had rolled his ankle the previous day). Chase played well, and we were very proud of him. I tried to take a video, but I’d forgotten to put the battery back in the camera after charging. Next time, though!

Here are a couple more riveting photos of Chase checking out his new preschool.

Chase really likes to do all sorts of flips off the couches, tables, etc. When you hear of kids bouncing off the walls, you can take it literally in this case. There are times when he doesn’t watch where he’s going, and he lands on top of Little Sister, which is no fun for her.

Our growing boy has been a challenge to keep entertained lately. Thank goodness for Joy School and having friends over a lot! I often get worn out starting around 3:30 or 4pm, finding more things for him to do that day and trying not to feel “fried.” I might have to find some good, structured summer activities for him to do (so we don’t all go crazy).

One thing that’s fun is that he really likes to help bake or do anything in the kitchen. I have to try to be really patient with him! Last time we made scone biscuit things from a kids’ cookbook. After we pulled the cookie sheet out of the oven, he leaned forward to smell the scones and burned his chin! So he has a red line on his chin that is healing.

Speaking of getting burned, last night we had a ward potluck night at the church, and as I was dishing us up some hot soup from a crock pot, my bowl tipped and spilled all down Chase’s back! He was screaming and crying, “Ow Mommy Ow ow ow!!!!” I quickly pulled off his shirt, saw that his back was really red. I just sat there hugging him, not really knowing what to do, and of course I started to cry. I didn’t want to make a scene, but too late. Fortunately, we have a very loving ward and a few people rushed up to help out. Someone even went and got him some clean clothes from their house. I had already been having a rough day with Chase, so my emotional tears would not stop… After we had iced his back and cleaned him up, everything was fine and it actually turned out to be an enjoyable evening. His back looks totally fine today!

One more thing, Chase is such a waterbug! He has started swimming lessons at the nearby indoor pool, and he’s loving it. He just had his first class, and he didn’t even look up at me on the bleachers the whole time, which was great because he was enjoying it so much. It kinda made me sad, because he seems to be getting older. It’s like every day he gets older or something!!!! At least he still calls me “Mommy” and blows kisses to me when I’m dropping him off at Joy School.

Lately, Chase has been obsessed with his upcoming birthday. I guess that since Christmas is over with, he has to focus on the next major life-changing event. Yesterday he insisted that I write up a guest list for his birthday party. (I guess he gets to have a friend party again this year?) So he started naming every kid he knows, even kids who I know would have zero desire to attend (such as the cute 10-year-old girl next door). But I jotted down every name he came up with, and when all was said and done, 29 names made up that guest list. Hm, luckily we have time to narrow it down quite a bit! Especially because his birthday is not until April 14th.

This funny little guy has been more bored now that it’s colder outside, and because we’ve been sick (but we’re not anymore! I’m grateful for that).

This is how I found Chase one morning after my shower– sandwiched between the mattress and the bedframe while watching tv in our room. Comfy!

To help pass the time at home, we’ve done the usual cooking and baking, which I almost always let Chase help me with. It’s a lot messier this way, but it’s something we can do together! I have to take a deep breath, though, when spills like this happen:

Recently, Chase was hammering and drilling some toys on the table and I asked him (from upstairs) what he was up to. He called back to me, “You know how Santa does it? That’s what I’m doing.” And he proceeded to hammer out the beat of Jingle Bells. He really loves Christmas music.

He helped out one morning by taking my blush away from Charlotte, who had snatched it out of the bathroom. He’s usually really helpful with such things, but this time he decided to scrape the blush out onto the carpet in his room. “I’m making a collection!” he insisted. Whatever THAT means! I still haven’t gotten the stain out. Any suggestions on that?

This boy’s current obsession is to make forts with lots and lots of pillows from around the house.

On this particular day, he also dumped out all the laundry I had just sorted. But I paused before reacting, and didn’t get mad. I’m not always so perfect, but it was one of those times when I remembered that you’re only a kid once in your life!

Last week we took the kids to Pumpkinland for Joy School. I was wondering why it cost $3 to go in and pick out pumpkins, but we soon found that there was a lot of fun stuff for kids to do there! Climbing structures, animals, playground, light alley, etc. Chase ended up picking out a white pumpkin that he wants to paint, and an orange one to carve. It was an enjoyable field trip!

When we went back to the car, though, I had a HUGE scare (a real one, not just a “Halloweeny” one). See, I had an extra kid with me, whose mom couldn’t come with us, and I instructed him and Chase to stay right with me on the sidewalk so I could unload Charlotte from the stroller. Well all of a sudden, Chase darted out behind the van, straight onto the busy Geneva Road. I almost had a heart attack, screamed his name in the most shrill voice I’ve ever heard escape my mouth, and ran to the other side of the van to pull him back to the sidewalk. I lectured him and told him I had been scared that he was going to be hit by a car. He cried, “I was just hiding from you on the other side of the van! You’re a mean mommy!” (He loves to say that these days. But also I apparently had hurt his back when I pulled him to the sidewalk.) Everything was okay, but I was pretty flustered and definitely ready to go home!

This is such a fun time of year. The red and orange autumn leaves are gorgeous and remind me of my elementary school days and Halloween! I am so excited to take Chase trick-or-treating (I love it as much if not MORE than he does)! Let’s just hope it doesn’t snow…. The weather says tomorrow is the first day of snow—boo.

Chase is now a “real” preschooler! See how hardcore he is??? haha. After failing to find a nearby, quality preschool for 3-year-olds, I joined with two moms from church to do our own little preschool for the kids.

We rotate teaching them out of our homes, twice a week. 2/3 of us follow the classic Joy School lessons (which are great)! Chase absolutely loves going to “school,” and I love it just as much as he does! Chase’s behavior & obedience have drastically improved recently, which could be a mere coincidence, but I think not. (He still likes picking his nose for the camera!) I will post more action-packed “school” photos soon.