Sydney Fuller

Gymnastics Show

Another year of gymnastics in the books. As always, the year ends with a program for the parents and the presentations of the medals.

The photos of the event weren’t great so I am going with video alone this time. Enjoy!

My Desk

Sydney’s new desk arrived! You can now find her there making crafts, making invitations for shows, or designing the latest Pixo fashions.

Oops

So we went to the carnival — twice. Started raining the first time so we left and came back later. Sydney was so excited. Running from ride to ride. She had done some work for me during our break so I gave her some money. Fully knowing she would be itching to spend it when we went back to the carnival. She wanted to throw darts to pop balloons but Kim figured she wouldn’t hit so talked her into the duck pond game. So Syd went over, paid the $3, and started playing. I was trying to figure out the rules. The carnie was not advising. Sydney was just picking ducks non-stop. You had to put them on this platform in the duck pond. The platform was a 5 gallon bucket with a carpeted board on top. So Syd keep working it and leans over and puts some weight on the board to help her reach. SPLASH! Syd goes into the duck pond! What just happened? Slow motion — pulling Syd out of the water as she is crying and soaking wet. I turned to her mother — she is about falling over laughing. Nice, Mom. Sydney pauses the crying for a second, “I think I peed my pants.”

Kindergarten Graduation

When we started the school year, we went to a parent’s orientation night. The headmaster explained that our kids would transform before our eyes in kindergarten. Ok, whatever dude. Well, tonight was the graduation and I have to take back my sarcasm. What a change! Kindergarten was a big transition for Sydney and she handled it with flying colors. We were so proud of all the big things and some of the little things that she did this year. Hopefully, I have done a decent job of documenting some of those things here.

Syd’s school does a graduation for kindergarten. Then not again until 8th grade. So this was a big deal. They got all dressed up in cap and gown and did the procession. Here is Syd with her friend Clara pre-ceremony, ready to go!

Time for the big show!

The Class of 2009 had a few songs for us.

Sydney gets her diploma!

Sydney picked up some post-ceremony loot as well!

Sydney really will miss her teachers. She had such a wonderful set of them.

Sydney and her friend Madison after the robes came off! Ready to go out and enjoy summer!

Wanna see the ceremony? I added a little something at the end as a tribute! I know Sydney will appreciate it.

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The Circus

It is on the seemingly short list of things that the kids have not done yet — go the circus. So we went. And sat in the front row on the floor.

Frankly, I sat next to Reagan and spent most of the time dealing with her. She can’t sit still. Sydney enjoyed the show — mostly the acrobatics. Wondering how they were going to teach her that stuff at gymnastics next week. After the show, I asked her just how they do some of that stuff. She calmly responded, “Dad, they practice a lot.” Oh, duh. I guess I thought it was magic. How do they get a cat to disco like this?

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Colorado Kids Race 2009

As you may recall, Sydney ran her first race last year. She had so much fun that for the last year, she had been talking about doing it again. When is my race, Dad? We didn’t get the training in that we did last year. Been busy. Plus, the race program changed a bit for 2009. You had to get involved in a training program to qualify for the mile race. So we opted for the half-mile race instead. Less distance = more fun!

On the way to the race, we stopped at Starbucks so the girls could all get their morning jolt. Sydney went into the bathroom and dropped a deuce pre-race. You can’t teach that. She is a natural! So we arrived to the race to cool conditions. Great for running however my runner was getting cold. Pants and sweatshirt went on. While in the bib pick-up line, Sydney said she had to go again. She proceeded to hit the port-o-pot and drop another one. Why is this interesting? Because this is exactly how my body behaves pre-race. Two drops. Can’t figure it out. But this is my kid — no doubts.

Reagan was also slotted to run today too. Sydney’s race was second so she played spectator during the first race with Reagan. I imagined it gave her a sense of the course and what to expect. Not. I think she was just busy cheering for Reagan. Ok, pre-race briefing! Front of the pack. Ready to run!

The start!

Hey mom!

The turn for the half mile was a lot further down. I ran part of the way and then decided to wait for them to loop back. It isn’t my race! Sydney ran right past me without even noticing me. It was fun to see her in the moment. Ok, back into the chute.

The prize was this goofy ribbon but she thought it was awesome.

I may not have any boys, but who cares. I have two of the cutest racers on the planet!

Get your popcorn and enjoy the live action!

We were so proud of you, Sydney! Keep it up and Daddy won’t have to pay for college.

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A Day With The Butterflies

Happy 6th Birthday

After the party last weekend, the birthday party continued. Sydney was “special person of the week” in school so she got to do fun stuff everyday at school. She had to do show-and-tell and bring in things that she wanted to show the kids. She decided that she wanted to show them some coins — so she took in proof sets from the year she was born as well as her Mom’s to compare.

She also got to take home Miss Chicken — who is apparently very important. Each special kid gets to take her home on the special week. Sydney had her dancing from the minute they got it in the car.

Kim also scheduled her volunteer day this week so she could be in the classroom and facilitate the birthday snack time. Kim made homemade pumpkin muffins that the kids all enjoyed. I didn’t get why we couldn’t buy a thing of cookies at the store and call it a day. When mentioning my idea, I got the look from the girls like I don’t really belong here.

For dinner, Sydney wore a crown so everyone would know it was her birthday she said.

Ok…you can have a few presents, I guess.

What was in all those? Wizard of Oz dolls done by Barbie. She was so excited! Remember the Dorothy party? Guess the theme carried through.

And then finally, a gift from her best friend.

Six is like so old. Can’t believe she made it this far!

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Birthday Dinner #1

So we went out tonight for dinner and Sydney wanted to say it was her birthday. Its only a day early?!? I bet she will make us go out tomorrow night to some other spot. How many times can she pull this off?

6th Birthday Party

Sydney had her choice and decided that she wanted a “Dorothy” party at her gymnastics establishment. Dorothy — the one from Wizard of Oz. Go figure. Party room is ready to go!

They started in the gym doing stretches. The gymnastics folks love to stretch. Boring! Let’s do something crazy!

We had the rock wall all to ourselves as well with a dude doing all the roping for us. Each kid got to take a turn — and some did many. Here is the birthday girl on the move.

This guy got the highest for the day and was able to touch the ceiling!

Having fun yet, showoff?

They did several circuit courses that gave them a chance to try out all the equipment. But after, they always came back into a circle to discuss the next activity. Not sure how the leader got the kids to be so quiet in between.

They finished up by having an all out war in the foam pit. Can’t go wrong there!

Oddly (ha!), Kim couldn’t locate a Dorothy cake. So she improvised — she ordered a Care Bear cake minus the Care Bears. So you are left with a rainbow — as in “somewhere over the …”. Genius.

Blow, blow, blow! 6 candles appeared to be difficult. Spread all out. Took 3 tries.

We finished up by opening gifts. The girls sat quietly looking at each thing Sydney opened. Making comments, etc. Very nice. In the back, the boys started standing on chairs and then proceeded to go to the back of the room and create a dojo where some ninja battle began. Kim and I looked at them like…what are they doing? We don’t have boys. The other moms of boys just nodded and said, “that is what they do.” Might be just a girl party next year!

I think Sydney had a great time showing all her classmates and friends what gymnastics is all about.

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Magic Show