No Training Wheels

Here is Andy with no training wheels on his new bike.  Video to follow. 

He was a little frustrated at first but had now figured it out and Martin and Andy are at the park trying out riding, turning and starting.

Breaking a Board

This is a video from Andy's yellow stripe belt test. Andy broke his first board using step in side kick.

Last Ski Lesson

Andy had a great two lessons with Lawson and we saw real improvement in his skiing. Here is a video of Andy and his great skiing.

Taekwondo Video

More Taekwondo

Andy has gotten a yellow tab and a red tab on his white belt - for know his blocks and his kicks.  Now he must learn his self-defense moves so that he can try for his yellow belt.  Here are some photos from Thursday's class.

His teachers think that he can try his yellow belt in April so that will be very exciting.  

Tae Kwon Do

Andy started Tae Kwon Do last week and is absolutely loving it. More photos to come from Tiger Tae Kwon Do but here is Andy in his outfit.

Learning to Read

It has been really fun watching Andy learn his letters, start to learn his letter sounds and to "read" the books that come home each day for home reading. Two weeks ago, Andy started reading more difficult books and last week Andy chose a book from the library that he was able to read almost independently.

Here is Andy reading, I'm the Biggest thing in the Ocean.

Valentine's Day Poem

Thanks to Andy's great kindergarten teacher, he has a new poem to share.

Bath tub toy from Japan

Andy got a wonderful new toy from Japan from Kishi and Sarina.  He loves playing with it and experimenting with the fire truck that changes colour in hot and cold water.

Here are some photos.

More snow today

 It is snowing again today in Edmonton.

This is Andy wearing a new coat - he looks great in orange - and a new hat.

He is getting so tall.  Almost 116 centimetres as of the other day.

Quad Chair Lift and Down the Hill

First Ride on the Quad Chair Lift

Here is Andy's first time on the lift and his first run down the "big" hill.

"It was so funnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!"

On the Lift

On the top of the hill

Coming down the hill

At the bottom on the hill

Success on the Small Hill

Onto the Carpet Lift

Up the Lift

 Lots of fun yesterday and today on the slopes.

Andy has become so confident on his skiis and has such great balance. 

Yesterday he did a couple of runs down the bigger carpet hill because of large school groups at the small hill.

Today he was able to do a lot of runs independently down the small hill and then, as you will see in the next post, he went to the big hill on the quad chair lift with Martin.
 

All on my own

Some more lessons are in order to get him ready to go down on his own all the time.

Skiing right past Mama

Lots of Snow and Lots of Fun

Funky Munky enjoying the snow mountain

Andy is probably one of the few people in Edmonton who is really enjoying all the snow that we have had over the past few weeks.

We have created a large snow mountain in the back yard perfect for sliding.

Martin worked really hard to get some of the snow off the roof - using a borrowed snow rake.

Sir Edmund Hilary

The snow mountain in all its glory

Tricked You!

"That laughed me up!"

"Let me explain how kids' brains work, Mom.  When we see the treat in our lunch it is hard to focus on the real food."

Christmas Holidays

"Santa brought me for Christmas the LEGO Gallatic Enforcer and the LEGO Hyperspeed Pursuit.  I also got lots of other LEGO from Uncle Doug, Grammi and Grampi, Oma and Opa, Tante Nate and Onkel Herbert and Tante Lis.  I have become a really good builder.  I can build with instructions and without."

We had a lot of fun over the holidays including tobogganing with Janice, Israel, Diego, and Mateo on Christmas Day.  Andy and Jennifer went to see two movies - Alpha and Omega and Yogi Bear - both in 3D.  We had a fun day going to Calgary to Chinook Mall to the LEGOStore. 

Now we are back into the regular routine. 

Andy is back at school now and is going to be busy learning the alphabet.  It is going to be an exciting time as he begins to recognize beginning and ending consonant sounds.

Cruise to Mexico

Here are some photos of our cruise holiday to Mexico. 

Here are some words from Andy.

"I loved swimming and the restaurants that were on the ship.  There was a school on the boat that was a learning school and an art project school.  We made art.  We played video games and we watched movies."

"I liked going to the beach.  The ship was big.  It had lots of boats on it that were emergency boats or boats you could ride on to go to places - like in Cabo San Lucas.  There were lots of pools and hot tubs.  I liked to eat macaroni and cheese, pizza, rice and soya sauce and ice cream."

"I would go on a cruise again."

Martin and Andy enjoying a evening dip in a small pool at the back of the ship.

Andy on his bunk bed in our cabin.

Andy and Martin were the only ones in the main outdoor pool one afternoon as the sun was setting.

Andy dressed as a pirate after Pirate Night in the Fun Zone.

Andy enjoying the beach in Puerto Vallarta.

Andy exploring a Christmas Tree made from bottles in Mazatlan.

Mom and Andy enjoying the hot tub.

Andy doing some kung fu into the pool.

Taking the tender from the ship (behind) into Cabo San Lucas.

The tip of the Baja Peninsula.