Tag Archives: Kids

Great Time At the School Christmas Concert

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My son is a 5th grader this year, and all the 5th graders have the option of being in either the band or choir.  Well, my son chose the band and selected to play the trombone as his instrument.

I’ve heard my son practice, and although he has definitely improved, I didn’t expect much from the concert!  Boy was I wrong!  Yeah, there were a few off sounds from the group occasionally, but overall it was great.

This may be one of the first concerts where I actually enjoyed it thoroughly!  And unlike past times, I actually enjoyed all of the kids in the group, not just mine!?!  I actually looked at both of the music teachers (a man and woman), and admired their work!

I can honestly say that I was saddened by the fact that the concert ended!  Of all my expectations, this was quite the surprise!

At first, I though that I was just being a proud dad, and listening with dad ears.  But we got my wife’s parent to come to the event too.  And both of them said it was a great concert too, especially considering how new the kids were to playing the instruments!

Unlike the grade school talent show, this event was only open to parents and family members.  The building was packed, and the show was awesome!  My one regret was that I had to leave instead of hearing the 5th grade choir sing too.  I really wonder if there were as good as the band, I have a feeling that they most likely were!

Have you ever been surprised by a free event that just blown you away?

-MR

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Recycling Aluminum Cans Update, A New Center

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Getting Paid for recycling

Getting Paid for recycling

My son started recycling Aluminum Cans as part of a school fundraiser so his 4th grade class could go on a special annual road trip to our capital.

Starting the Recycling Process

After the school fundraiser was over, my son realize that there was money to be had. and it helped the planet.  So showing off his budding entrepreneurial skills, he wanted to continue the recycling aluminum can activity.

So we collected cans for a few months, both my son and I crushed the cans, but I did the majority of the crushing.  My son didn’t get to experience the bagging of the cans, the transportation of the cans to the recycling center, the weighing of the cans, and finally the money received for delivering the crushed cans.  It was an interesting experience going to the recycling center, and not what I imagined it would look like.

Expanding the Experience

While driving about doing Christmas activities, my wife unintentionally discovered a recycling center in out local city near the edge of town.  Knowing that my son didn’t get to experience much of the recycling experience, she suggested next that I go there and take him along too.

This was a fabulous idea!  My only concern would be that this company is a middleman company that’s going to pay us a lower rate, but even if my fear is true, that could be a great learning opportunity for my son!  I could explain to my son how this middleman company just collects the cans paying the people a lower payout than the payout that we received when I took them to the larger recycler up where I work at.

Conclusion

I’m excited about the local recycling center that my wife found!  This will broaden my son’s experience with the entire aluminum can recycling process!  Once we get the next bag full ready, I think I will let him do the talking with the people at the new center.  I will just be backup in case something isn’t clear.

I’m look forward to seeing my son expand his business experience with this small venture!

-MR

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Things That Make Us Happy!

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Things That Make Us Happy, are often the simple things in life!

When I was a kid, I use to think that a sports car and a big fancy house with lots of property would bring me the most happiness!

I was the guy that would give irritated “How annoying” looks to couples with babies who would be crying in a restaurant.

But now I’m a dad, and those crying babies in restaurants are now just white noise to me.  If fact, sometimes hearing those babies cry makes me smile for a split second… At least at first!

Okay, I digress…

Things That Make Me Happy:

  • When my son laughs!  It’s a great hardy laugh that makes me feel great inside!
  • When my daughter learns something new quickly, or creates something original and cool!
  • Reading to either of my kids.  I like the idea of me helping any way that I can.
  • Receiving earnest hugs from either of my kids, obviously it’s a great feeling.
  • When my 6-year-old daughter wants to snuggle with her daddy…, she is a truly wonderful little girl.
  • Watching family movie night at home, while having popcorn, drinks and snacks.
  • Playing my son in a game of chess.  He’s really gotten a lot better at the game, and even though I mostly beat him (so far), it’s make me feel great that he’s improving.
  • Getting stomped by my daughter in the memory matching games.  Lately, she destroys me in those type of games.
  • Going on family vacations with my entire family, including my parents and sister’s family.
  • Writing this blog…

So you see, for me I really don’t need fancy stuff!  Just the love of a great family is enough for me!

What thing makes you the most happy?

-MR

Losing Control of Christmas Traditions

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Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree

Yesterday, we did a two for oner!   We did both of our biggest Christmas Traditions on the same day!

We cut down our Christmas Tree, and we did our big pre-Christmas dinner!

We normally don’t do this because both events are big enough that they should be separate, but we are pressed for time this year.

This time, I decided to do something different with the decision-making process around both traditions!  Instead of picking which tree for our house and where to go for Christmas Dinner, I decided to open it up to the kids (my wife and I both have made the decisions in the past).  So I let my son pick out the tree this year and my daughter decided where to go for Christmas dinner!

While the tree my son choose wasn’t one that I would have picked, it still was decent enough, and was a fine choice!   He had the privilege of cutting it down (lucky him)!  However, he chose to cut it down about 6 inches too high, so when we got home, the tree will be the smallest one we ever had (lol).  Hopefully, he nor my daughter will notice!

We lucked out with my daughter, she whittled down her choice for the Christmas dinner to the “Fighter Group” restaurant and “Red Lobster“.  In the end she decided to stick with tradition and go with the “Fighter Group” restaurant.

So with both Christmas Traditions, I let the kids make the decision as to the direction of the traditions!  I think this will be better for their involvement in the process, and help them feel more important!

If you have kids, do you try to promote leadership and decision-making qualities?

-MR

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