Johnathan brought home a baby Douglasfir tree from first grade. He wanted to plant it so that is what we had to do. Mark Jr. also has been learning iMovie so I decided to make a family education project out of it. Johnathan would help me plant the tree and Mark Jr. would document the event and add all the photos to a montage with captions. He spent a fair amount of time with a computer based training on iMovie to learn the important parts to put it all together. This was his opportunity to put all that learning to good use. I went to buy a pair of sneakers and figured when I came back we would work on the project together. When I came back, he told me he had it almost all done. It was 90% done and I just had to help with the finer details that he would have gotten eventually. I was surprised and very impressed on what he did. Not only was it well done, but it was funny. I think he has my sense of humor… God bless him…
Archive for the ‘Mark Jr.’ Category
Arbor Day 2009
Monday, April 27th, 2009Emmaus Halloween Parade with Leading Edge Karate
Saturday, October 20th, 2007We, as a family, are marching with Leading Edge Karate at the Emmaus Halloween parade. Considering I had flag football with Mark Jr. early this morning, the Halloween party at Leading Edge Karate and now we are going to march its a busy day.
We all bundle up warm because its a bit chilly and we have to wear our Karate uniforms. Well all except Millie since she decided to wash her and my uniform 5 minutes before we are about to need them. I had bought a spare uniform so I was able to wear that one. Was it an accident? Probably. Subconsciously though it was probably on purpose 
We park our car a few blocks from where we are supposed to meet up with everyone. We get there just in time – or so I thought. It turns out we are waiting a little over an hour until its our turn to start going down the parade route. Its now like 8:00 and Johnathan, Mark Jr. and Millie are all beat. I have to be in the front holding the banner. So we start marching and I’m holding the banner. On paper the route seems like its not that big. Boy I should have checked the scale of how that route was drawn. This march took about 1:20 minutes. Along the way Johnathan got piggy back rides from Lance and Melissa. Then they put him in the wagon after they ran out of candy.
I figured thank goodness we are done! No we aren’t, Millie promised the kids ice cream somewhere along the way. So off to Friendly’s we go. I just wanted to go home and sleep. The kids shared a meal and Millie and I got burgers. Then Johnathan got his usual, the Candy Shop. Mark Jr. got a double scoop cone. Millie got a soft serve sundae with caramel. I ate whatever Millie left me.
Halloween party at Leading Edge Karate
Saturday, October 20th, 2007I took the kids to the Halloween party at Leading Edge Karate. Johnathan was dressed in his Picachu costume and Mark Jr. was dressed in his Darth Vader costume. Since they are someone popular and store bought costumes I expected there to be others with the same costumes. There was 1 other Picachu and 2 other Darth Vaders. Sensei was Darth Mall. Lance was a Dr or was he an intern? Melissa was an officer. I was paparazzi running around taking pictures.
The kids played dodgeball, sensei says, the clapping game and just had a great time. The got a bag of candy on their way out. I later found the candy they didn’t like in the back of my car 
Vikings win again!
Saturday, October 20th, 2007Mark Jr. won once again in flag football. The team is really starting to come together. We are now 4-2-1. We started out the season 0-2-1 and have been on a 4 game winning streak. Considering our team last year went 0-8 this is a huge deal for us.
The confidence is paying off for Mark Jr. He had a huge run play. Since he generally is the center when he is playing, I designed a play for him. We call it the delayed center. Basically he snaps the ball to the QB then drops back behind him. He just waits there scanning the field for where its open. He counts to about 5 then the QB turns and hands him the ball. Invariably one side is open and that is the side he is to run on. So the play is done, he starts running and gets by a few guys and goes 3/4 of the way down the field. Considering Mark Jr. isn’t a very fast runner this was a huge run.
At the end of the day we won 14-6. Mark Jr. got 3 flags and that huge run. He had one very bad penalty. He isn’t used to being a wide receiver and he lined up offsides. Naturally he did this on a play where we ran the entire length of the field for a touch down but it was called back. Since he wasn’t used to playing WR I kind of understood his mistake. We learn from our mistakes and that is why they are playing – to learn.
Mark Jr. Yellow Belt Board Breaking
Saturday, October 13th, 2007Mark Jr. had board breaking for the 1st time in karate. Getting him to understand about getting “in the zone” has been working very well for him. He was maybe the 5th or 6th kid to go up and break a board. Its a bit scary going up to the board when you haven’t seen a bunch of other kids do it a few times. He saw maybe 4 or 5 kids then it was his turn.
His 1st board break was to be done with a hammer fist. This is basically when you make a fist and swing down. Kind of like you were going to hit someone on the head with the bottom of your fist. You get 2 preparation swings to help with aiming and concentration. Then you just go for it. This is when all the parents hold their breath and hope their kid doesn’t hurt their hands. He winds up and swings!!! CRACK the board breaks!!! He did it!!! He broke his 1st board. He was so excited and I was so proud of him. We saved the 1st board he broke so we could mount it on the wall.
He then had to break board with a palm strike, a knee, then another palm strike but this time with the boards set between 2 concrete blocks – so they could strike straight down this time. When he did the palm strike he didn’t break it the 1st time. He kind of missed it with his palm and instead struck it with his finger tips. He tried again and got it. I had been taking pictures of all of it. When we reviewed the pictures I realized why he missed. He has been closing his eyes on each strike. I guess you gotta see your target to hit it
Another win in Flag Football
Saturday, October 6th, 2007Today was picture day in flag football. We were 2 minutes from the fields when Mark Jr. realized he forgot his jersey. So we race back home, get the jersey and head back to the fields. We made it just in time for our pictures.
I’m trying to get Mark Jr. to understand about competitiveness. He enjoys playing football but has been treating it like a backyard game instead of a competitive game. Mom’s don’t understand this sometimes and Dad’s try to explain it to them. There is no smile as your running or catching or playing (most of the time). Its concentration and aggression. You celebrate good things, you get upset at things that don’t go your way. That is getting “in the zone.” He has a problem getting in the zone.
Well today that changed. He is trying much harder in karate and flag football. He usually plays center and nose tackle. Very few times does anyone get past him if they are within his reach. Today he got 5 flags. That is pretty good.
In the end we won 16-6. We are on a winning streak!
Our 1st win in Flag Football!!!
Saturday, September 15th, 2007Well it took a while but we finally got our 1st win in Flag Football. Some of you don’t know but we went 0-8 last session. This was our 2nd game of this session and we won! Final score was Vikings 22 Jets 13. Mark Jr. got 2 flags on defense. On our last touchdown it was Mark Jr.’s turn to get the ball. It was a very windy chilly day so there weren’t many pass plays called on our side unless we had to call them. So we decided to go for 2 points where we could run or pass. The play was a delayed run on the center. Its executed as the running back does a fake hand off. After he runs past the QB, the center, Mark Jr., moves back behind the QB and gets a view of where the players are. We try to have most every gather around the same side or area so that would leave a section of the field open. Then after counting to 5, the QB will hand the ball off to Mark Jr. and will run his heart out towards the end zone. He found the hole and started running. He made it! We got the 2nd 2 point conversion of the game for us! It was a great game for the Vikings.
It has become a ritual where after the game I take Mark Jr. to get his favorite breakfast sandwich – a bacon and egg on a Kaiser roll. Its not exactly breakfast time when we finish playing but that is ok, its a daddy-son bonding thing. Since he won, I also got him a GIANT chocolate-chip cookie. Next session I think Johnathan will be old enough to play. I can’t wait!!!
Parent teacher conference
Thursday, September 13th, 2007Well we had our first parent teacher conference for the year. As usual, I quizzed Mark Jr. about not having me getting surprise news from the teacher. So I ask him, “Is there anything you need to confess now BEFORE we go in? Don’t make me get bad news that I am not expecting!” We’ll his response was, “No nothing I can think of.” This was a 1st since usually there was something he would confess. So off we go to meet with Mark Jr.’s and Johnathan’s teachers. I get there 10 minutes late because Mark Jr. had a flag football scrimage game.
So I meet Millie in the cafeteria and she has bought me a school t-shirt. Now I am all for supporting the school and kids but this t-shirt has a baby lion on it and its a bright blue. Lets just say its not the most masculine t-shirt I own. They should have just made them in pink!
We have a quick meeting in the gym where the principal goes a few things. While this is happening the teachers are making their way back to their classrooms. Millie and I decide to split up since we have to meet with 2 teachers. Millie meets with Johnathan’s teacher and I meet with Mark Jr.’s teacher. Since I am the disciplinarian mostly it made more sense for me to go to Mark Jr.’s classroom as we usually expect him to get punished after this. Even though its only the 2nd week
Turns out there was nothing at all to worry about. The school year is young so lets see what happens. Anyhow I meet Millie in Johnathan’s classroom. She says the teacher, Ms. Horvath, said she would need to speak with us to explain about Johnathan. Another session was going on so we had to wait for it to finish before we would have a minute or two to speak with Ms. Horvath.
The moment has come. Ms. Horvath is alone and we can speak with her. Apparently Johnathan has been whining and not listening. This week Ms. Horvath said the kids where in the computer lab and there is something called a “smart screen”. The kids were told very specifically not to touch the screen. So what does Johnathan do? Of course he didn’t just touch it, he PALMED it with both hands. Needless to say that didn’t go over well. So it turns out the little boy has been a little devil.
My aunt Maria always said she hoped I had a kid that was as bad as me. Originally we thought that would be Mark Jr. Well its turning out Johnathan is becoming a little devil in disguise So Titi I got one!!! She is looking down on me and laughing I am sure. I can hear her say, “REVENGE!!!” Needless to say I put her though the wringers when I was young.
Mark Jr. takes the wrong school bus!
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007This afternoon was going to be very busy. I was going to pickup the boys and take them to Karate. I had to pick them up around 3:45pm so I could get them home, cleaned and dressed for Karate. Mark’s class is at 4:30pm and Johnathan’s is at 5:30pm. So I have to get them both there by 4:30pm. I pickup Johnathan and go looking for Mark Jr. They say he hasn’t come off the bus yet. So I take Johnathan, put him in the MDX and we wait for the school bus along with the teacher that is waiting for other kids as well. So the 1st bus comes and he isn’t on it. He isn’t supposed to be I find out so that is OK. The 2nd bus shows up and he isn’t on that bus. Problem is he is SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT BUS!!! The driver gets on the CB and says, “does anyone have a Mark Vivanco on their bus?” There is silence. She said they were all probably driving and trying to yell to the back for someone to respond to the name. No one came back saying anything so she said she will keep on them and call the daycare back when they find out where he is. I figure its a good thing Millie isn’t here because she would be going ballistic. I am trying to remain as calm as I can be and I am not calling her at home to tell her he is currently missing. Its been about 20 minutes I have been waiting for someone to come out of the daycare to tell me they got the call and they know where he is. My phone rings and its Millie calling me from home (she stayed home that day) asking me if I was waiting for Mark Jr.? I said, “YEAH!” She replied, “He is here. They took him home.” Apparently Mark Jr. thought he was taking the same bus number he took in the morning. So he got off when it came to his stop. Well at least he knew were we live These kids will give me a heart attack one day!
Mark Jr. started 3rd grade today.
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007He was not quite as excited as Johnathan to start school. Mark Jr. understands that means homework is just around the corner. Johnathan hasn’t quite got the concept of homework yet. He wants to do it because his brother is doing it. Soon I’m sure he will “enjoy” it as much as Mark Jr.
Mark Jr. has a few kids in his class from last year. Luckily they are the kids he either liked or got along with. None of the annoying kids that we didn’t care for too much.
Its also Mark Jr.’s 1st time wearing glasses regularly. We got him glasses during the summer but he only put them on once in a while to get used to them. He is to wear them to read the blackboard mostly. He said nobody has even noticed he has them.