Broken cub-promise already?

In TKD, the youngsters earn a stripe by learning (and repeating) the Tiger-Cub promise.  The promise is pretty much pointing out that they are to use their TKD powers for good and not evil. 

Story...

Caroline came home last week with a gnarly skinned-up knee.  When I asked her what happened, she informed me that she fell at the Y...then added that she was pushed by some boy.  She was not upset, so I figured it was not a big deal.  We bought some super cool 'special' bandages, doctored it up and she was able to hold her own (some favoring by the end) in TKD class that night.  The next morning (with the super-cool bandage) she was off and back to school the next day.  I go to pick her up from the Y and she pointed out that she fell on the same knee again- yep, she mentioned the- now infamous- 'pusher' who played a role.  Come Thursday, I am picking her up from gymnastics and before I could get to her, she comes hauling ass (I have never seen her run so hard) towards me and...yep, you guess it...trips and falls on the same darned knee.  This stage in the game it was kind of ridiculous how much her poor little knee had been subjected to.  She was in pain, and we opted out of TKD that evening as I had to carry her (note, Samantha was in her car seat on my other arm...my arms will be cut!) to the car.  TKD classes were cancelled for the holiday, so she ws able to recover nicely this past weekend and her little knee is back to normal.  Well, when I picked her up from the Y yesterday, as we were walking out, she totally called out the little punk who knocked her over twice.  By calling him out, I mean she said "mommy that's him!" as she pointed (I told her it was not nice to point...then I realized she was just highlighting the perp) to this little man-child sitting in the hall.  I believe he really did do it, because the look on his face was the "oh S%*^, I am in trouble" punk look he had (ok, he is a sweet-faced - probably only - 6 year old, but he hurt my baby so he is a punk:))  and he started squirming.  I distracted her from getting all worked up and out the door we went.  While walking to the car and I asked her what she would do if he pushed her again.  Please note, the answer I am looking for here is 'tell my teacher' or something along the right thing to do.  She thought about it for a second and told me that she would grab him 'like this' (she showed grabbing him by the head with both hands) and then proceeded to demonstrate a fantastic ‘head-butt’ wrestling move.   I reminded her of the TKD tiger-cub promise, and she said “well, I know I can’t do it, but if I could…that’s what I’d do.” 

 I think if she did not already have her green stripe, it would have been on.

To change, or not to change...

So, I am thinking of a new way to become a more interesting blogger.  I realized that I really do not have a centralized 'subject' for said blog..other than just the craziness that is my life...so, I am throwing some ideas out there. I am hopeful one will be appealing, one will jump out at me, or I will realize that I am not published or getting paid for it, so I will just keep it as is. 

1- Dear '________'- this could be broken down into a variety of subjects such as 'Dear (jackass in the white truck)' or 'Dear (woman who invaded my personal space in the check-out line)' kind of format.

2- A Caroline blog.  Seriously, she is the most entertaining, so maybe I just need to be able to chronicle her funnies in a blog that she can look back and reference when she is in therapy talking about what a crazy lady her mother is?

3- Dear Caroline. :)

Karate Kid

Caroline is an awesome child whom I adore and love more than life itself.  She makes me happy, grey-haired, and keeps me laughing all of the time- she truly is FUNNY as all get out.  While I laugh with her daily, recently I was given even more reasons for belly aches.

There is a relatively new tae kwon do center near our home and Caroline started inquiring about classes. I am not one to sign her up for everything she asks for the first time around -if I was like that, she would already be partaking in aligator wrestling, clown college, monkey training and getting certified to be a commercial fisherman- but, Miss Sassy Pants asked about 100 times so we stopped by. We thought karate would be good for her as it would teach her self-control and discipline- both things that would be greatly appreciated by all- twenty minutes later she had a new shirt and three 'trial' classes to see if she liked it. I figured it was the best $20 I spent that week.  We go to the first class and I only wish the instructors informed me to wear a diaper.  Caroline was ready to break a board and karate chop a brother.  She did very well, and after saying 'Yes Sir!' 50+ times she was psyched for this new adventure.  I knew she loved it (and that it sunk in) when on the way home I asked if she wanted to go back for another class.  She replied "MA'AM, YES MA'AM!"  I wasn't sure if she thought she was in TKD or the army, but I was basking in it. 

Three classes passed and she became officially enrolled in their program.  I must thank her grandparents as they are helping with this, as they are beyond supportive- and have always been too good to us.  Caroline can go as many times a week as she wants and besides the big part of it, they also take her to the classes that conflict with our work schedules.  Luckily, the center realizes that some mommies have to work, so there are 3 classes we can make it to with her...love that!  Her manners have improved and she seems to be paying better attention to things.  She hasn't lost her sense of humor in class though...that just wouldn't be my daughter and I think I would cancel if she started to lose her personality.   I am that mom who sits to the side and who laughs(out loud) throughout the entire class. With that said, I think I have found a new mommy-friend to make.  Another little girl recently started, and her mom and I sat by each other during a class.  She laughed the entire time through and shed tears...yep, that is my kind of mommy-friend.  So, we both sit and laugh at our children and each others, and I think we will get along just fine. Luckily, the other parents do not seem too serious at this stage that I can tell, but we shall see.  Lots of giggles, snickers and belly laughs so they have to be great peeps, right?

I hope to share photos soon, but I am usually laughing to hard to hold the camera steady.  With that said, the Funky Monkey has a pretty darn good kick and her 'chop' is improving. 


Following up with another 'with that said' I think all of the men in the family will be getting a protective cup for Christmas.

HI-YA!

I'm back...for real this time

DANG, where does the time go...and did I really have any more of it before now?  So, to catch anyone (reading, or who cares) up to speed, there has been a lot going on.  I am now the mommy of a 2 month old--yep, little Sammie Loo is already 2 months old ...I cannot believe it!  I am back at work (officially, and full-time...another story not for blogging) and in a routine.  Both of my children kick ass, and speaking of kicking ass Caroline is now taking Tae Kwon Do classes.  Yes, my friends, I have such blog-worthy material and stuff going on in my life I am ready to pick this back up. 

First and foremost: Caroline + TKD = AWESOME! 

I'm back....

So, it's been a while but I'm back to blogging....well, as best I can keep up with it for the time being. A lot has happened since I last posted. Yes, I have been AWOL, but it with good cause, see, I pushed a human out of my body so I haven't really had time to share crazy stories of the chaos that is my life. Ok, first and foremost, I would like to share that I have been blessed with another perfectly healthy baby girl who I am madly in love with. I am so proud to have been chosen as the mother to these two amazing girls I get to call my daughters- I still cannot figure out what I have done to be this blessed. Caroline is an amazing big sister and I love watching her interact with in her new role..she kicks ass. Our place is still crazy and the critters are too. The dogs are handling the new addition well..well, almost too well. Genga, AKA "wonder dog" is amazing. She loves the baby and has slobbered her with kisses. She is also the best feeding partner I could ask for...yep, she gets up with me for every feeding and sits by the rocker as I feed Samantha. Genga actually will wake me up if I do not get up as soon as the baby cries, yep, she is that dog. Life is good in the Knight household. I am blessed beyond measure and am just so very grateful. With that said, my life is still crazy and will be even crazier now I shall predict. I will have more to share and hoe you enjoy. Kerri

Nights like these...

After thinking Caroline was going to have a hard time bouncing back from what was a really bad day, yesterday turned out to be epic for us.  Yes, I said it...EPIC!  Caroline showed her tail in class, I got "the" call, and was able to talk to her and see if I could help her get it together.  Well, little one apparently listened, took it down a notch, and was able to salvage the rest of the day ending it on a good note.  I got a sweet follow-up email from her teachers and was looking forward to picking her up as soon as I could after work.  We talked in the car - and more at home- and she was honest with telling me why she was having a bad day and we got through it.  I told her while it was wrong that she acted ugly to her teachers and classmates, we were all guilty of having bad days and as long as we apologize to those we hurt, and work to correct the bad behavior, life will still go on--ok, our talk was better than that, but you get the gist of it.  We made a pinky promise and moved on to having some fun family time.  We started out taking care of the critters.  Caroline is a good little farm girl and a big help.  She let Genga out of her pen and helped fill the feed bucket for the rest of the crew.   The entire time it was "yes, mam" this and yes, m'am that.  She was OVERLY sweet (made me a little suspicious at times) and even threw the hay out to the horses.  She watered all of the plants and wrapped up the hose on her own. We played on the swingset and sang the silly-poo-poo-swinging songs that we like to sing, and just had fun.  After a while it was time to make dinner and she asked if could help.  Ok, strike that...she TOLD me she was good and would help me.  I told her that was perfect as I was not that good, so we agreed to tag team the meal (she did say, "mommy you are good, but you just need my help").  I have NEVER had as much fun putting together a meal as I did last night.  Caroline picked out aprons for us and the ingredients for our beef and veggie stew.  She was a ROCK STAR!  She opened all of the cans, poured all of the items in the pot, sirred it up and talked the entire time.  We had some music in the background and little bit was shaking her hiney the whole time too.  We laughed, danced and chatted.  It is a moment and memory that is forever burned in my mind.  I didn't cry, but I smiled and got excited knowing that it was a moment I will look back on for years to come and be able to remember what we were cooking, wearing and laughing about.  I want more nights like this with her and her soon-to-be little sister. 


While dinner cooked, she asked...yes, the 5-year old ASKED me...if she could help me clean the house.  So we swept the floors and scrubbed the "Genga can poop out of her mouth" spots in the rug while the stew...well, stewed on the stove.  She pushed the buttons on the washing machine- her "favorite" part- and fed the dogs.  She was delightful and super helpful in a genuinely kind way.  We never turned the TV on last night---something that will be happening a lot more from here on--and just listened to music, sat and talked and of course ate our yummy dinner.  And yes, dinner was GOOD!  I cannot believe at my age that it was the first time I really attempted to make a stew, but we are a good team and it would not have worked had Caroline not been involved.  Gigi stopped by so we had some sweet grammy time too. 


From there on, our night just kept getting better.  We read a book about being a big sibling and talked about the new baby.  I think my child (of course I am partial) is wise beyond her years, but we had a very "grown-up" talk about the baby.  When I asked her if she wanted to tell me how she was really feeling, she looked at me and said "well, mommy...I am scared."  She told me she was scared about me going in the hospital and she was scared about having to share, but was still excited about being a big sister.  I asked her if I could share something with her too...and told her that I was scared also.  The "you are???" reaction was priceless, but I told her that mommies got scared too and that I worried I wouldn't be able to "keep it all together" to which she replied with "yes you can...you are my mommy and I will help you, ok?"  We did our secret handshake and prepped for bed.  We read more, talked more...had one last dance-party-session and she went to sleep like an angel. 


I have been a parent for a little over 5-years now, but last night I felt like a "real" parent.   Not sure if that makes sense, but it was just a wonderful feeling.  I love that little monkey with all of my heart.  In the good times and bad, she will always be my favorite person on this planet.  She makes me laugh til my belly hurts and makes me cry at times too, but she is my partner in crime and I would be so very jealous if she was someone else's child.  If Samantha (new bambino arriving soon) is half as sassy and fabulous as Caroline is, I will be beyond lucky to be the mom of the most kick-ass daughters on the planet. 

Material...

Apparently, this is the week (and its only Wednesday) that is supplying me with enough material to blog like I should.  Here are just a few items to mention, that I may just have to tackle with my opinons...


1. The dreaded phone call from school today about Caroline showing out.  First of all, I had NO idea they had phones in the classroom and yes, I got to talk to her and all I can say is "poor little monkey"


2. Genga can apparently shit through her mouth


3. Dance party (Knight household style) was in full effect last night with some wicked interpretive dance moves


4. The handicap-parking spot abuser was spotted once again in violation of the law!!!

5. Old people with kick-ass bumper stickers

6. Drive-through divas


7. And, Snooki is pregnant...