Noah

Progress and Pride

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Yesterday the kids had their first ice-skating lessons.  I was looking forward to it, but was also a bit apprehensive.  We don’t have the best track record with ice skating.  Which is sad because my mom and brother run an ice-skating rink.  Noah has never been able to skate.  The first year we took him (2008) he cried the entire time he was on the skates.  We forced him to be on the ice and his uncle’s held his hands, so that I could get a picture–but really he hated it.

The next year, we tried again and I held him up and he hated it–we made it about 10 yards before he started crying and wanted to be done.

Last year, both of them got on skates without tears, but were both completely unable to stand much and not at all able to skate.  Again we made it about 10 yards before they were both done.  But at least there weren’t tears.

So, it was progress.  But I really want my kids to be able to ice skate.  I never got to take lessons as a kid and I can sort of ice skate–enough to get around the rink and have some fun (and by fun I mean not fall on my ass–because no matter how much “cushion” one has, it still hurts to fall).

I was talking to my mom about signing the kids up for ice skating lessons.  My mom’s rink has lessons, but only for kids 5 and older so Zoë wouldn’t be able to take them and she gets short changed enough with activities that I wanted her to be able to take lessons too.  So, my mom asked one of her skating instructors to give my kiddos private lessons and my mom is going to pay for them–which is awesome.

The lesson was awesome.  Noah was a bit worried before we went and was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to stand up on skates.  As you can see that was not a problem at all.  He was up right away and did amazing.  Zoë held on to the instructor the entire time.  She had a few moments of solo walking on the ice–but very few.  Noah fell down a lot but he got right back up and never asked to be done.  I was amazed and couldn’t have been happier and more proud.

I have a lot more pics that I took with my camera, but I haven’t transferred them to my computer yet.  But what you see in those pictures is a little boy who is having a blast and so clearly proud of himself and what he was able to do.

Awesome.  I can’t wait until next week.

Apparently The Celestial Reigns Supreme

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments
At the kids’ school there is a parent portal where the teachers post weekly updates in Kindergarten (daily in Zoë’s class).  This week they posted an update the centered on being thankful.  Each student shared what they were thankful for.  The ego in me, immediately searched for Noah’s name on the list to see how he was thankful for me…
Teachers: We are all thankful for many things.  Can you tell us what are you thankful for?

H:  My pet.
W:  I am thankful for my dog and my family.
E:  I am thankful for my teachers.
Noah:  I am thankful for the moon.
K:  My teachers.
W:  My mom.
M:  This class.
L: My brother, Lucas and my sister, Lina.
H:  I am thankful for my two teachers in this class.
R:  I am thankful for nature, my mom and dad, my dog and my skills.
D:  I am thankful for my baby brother.
El:  I am thankful that I have such a happy, healthy family. I am thankful for the sun.
B: God.
C:  My fish and God.
A: My fish.
I: Nature.
Q:  I am thankful for many things.  My mom, my dad, my sister and my cousin.
S:  I am thankful for Jesus and my baby cousins.
T:  I am thankful for my and Isaac’s friendship.
B:  I am thankful for my kitty.
S: I am thankful for Uchenna and Andrea.
C:  For my uncle who died.
J: I am thankful for Andrea and Uchenna.
S:  I am thankful for my kitty who died. I am thankful for tulips and trees, because I am thankful for the earth.
L: My sister P, and K and E.
E:  I am thankful for L.

Not so much–Noah is thankful for the Moon.  The moon?  Really?

I have so much more work to do with this one.  At least he has a soul mate–one of his best girl friends is thankful for the sun.  Won’t they be happy together.

Learning Confidence

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

Noah started taking Judo and Tae Kwon Do two weeks ago–okay maybe three weeks ago.  I have to say he absolutely loves it and I love how much he loves it.  It is so great to see him blossoming and voicing his own likes and dislikes.  I have tried really hard not to pressure him into doing things and have let him decide what he wants to do–even if I know he won’t like it (flag football for one).  But I think it is important that the kids get to decide and have a say in their own activities.  But they also know that if they commit to something they have to see it through for a period of time.

I knew Noah would love martial arts and he’s been asking to do it since he was three.  I made him wait until he was 5.  I made him wait because I wanted him to be old enough to pay attention and get the most out of it as he could.  I made that mistake with Zoë and ballet right when she turned 3.  So, I’m learning from my mistakes.  But I wish I would have let Noah start sooner, only because of how much he loves it.  He has had 10 classes now and he goes 3x per week–which is a lot, but he wants to do it.  And it’s close to home and it gets him active and it is teaching him discipline and confidence.

He is a pretty outgoing kid–but he also pretty reserved in new situations as he observes people, etc.  He is also a sponge–I can just see his mind working as he is trying to figure it all out.  He is contemplative and tactical.  He is learning to “think” less and just do.  That is great to see.  It’s important to have both skills.

He is learning to count in Japanese and Korean as he has to be able to do both for his yellow belt test–which is still about 7 or so weeks away at the earliest.  He isn’t in any real rush–okay I take that back–I’m not in any rush for him to test for his yellow belt.  I don’t want to put the pressure on him, but he is already learning that you just do the bet you can–you do what you can and as long as you are trying your hardest it’s okay.  I am hoping that he will be able to apply that insight in marital arts to his other things–like piano, etc.  But he is growing and not just older but as a person.  It’s a beautiful thing to witness and be part of as a parent.

Here is a from his first TKD practice match at class (this was his 8th class)

How 60-Months Flies By

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

Aug. 23, 2006

It still seems like yesterday that we were in Ethiopia, clinging to hope that Noah would survive to be our son.  He was so sick when we arrived.  It still scares me to think about to this day–how many other children aren’t lucky like Noah to have had access to medical care.

60-Months ago this little man turned a couple into a family.  An amazing family.  A family that is perfect.

Aug. 21, 2006 (he went back to the hospital for another full day after this–not quite ours yet)

If only I knew 5 years ago what I know today.  I had no idea what it would be like to be a parent.  The joys and the struggles.  But I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.  It has been an amazing ride so far.  Tomorrow we start a new phase with Noah.  He starts kindergarten.  KINDERGARTEN.  I can hardly believe it.  It isn’t a big transition for us, as he has been in school for two full years now–but there is something momentous about this moment.  This moment that 5-years-ago we weren’t sure could be possible.  I have enjoyed every single day (regardless of the whining and tantrums).  I’m looking forward to this next phase.