Friday, February 23, 2024

preparing for middle school

 B's school splits between two middle schools.  About 1/4th of the 5th grade went on a field trip to the middle school we are zoned for.  It was an amazing field trip.  All of the 5th graders going to the middle school came and filled the gym bleachers.   The concert and symphonic bands were there playing pep tunes for 20 minutes as all the groups came in and got settled.  So cool.  They were divided (by wrist bands put on at their home school) into 8 groups and went to 8 sessions exploring all of the electives and registration.  In each session a teacher explained the options and had students tell about their experiences.  Each group had about 40 kids in it which allowed for individual questions and much less crowd control.  All this was happening while regular classes were going on!  It was amazing!  As the groups came back to the gym they handed out 2 slices of pizza, a water, and cookies to each group.  They had 2 lines and there wasn't a long wait even though there were 300+ kids.  I am so amazed at the planning and execution of this event. 

I love the schools the kids are in.  I am so grateful to be here and to have such good schools for the kids.  I am constantly amazed at all the good ideas that are implemented in this school district.  With just 2 high schools 3 middle schools and 8 elementary schools, everyone is celebrated.  It is small enough to be flexible and recognize the values of this community which while diverse (and I love that) highly values education. 

Friday, December 22, 2023

Amazing Christmas gift

 B wrote down a few things on his list for a sibling to gift him.  The first item was $200.  The second was $89.  The 3rd and 4th were possible for the budget.  I found the 3rd item on Facebook Marketplace for such a good deal that I could get the 4th item also. 

Here's what is amazing about the 3rd item.  I actually got $150 of that item for $20.  B loves saving money.  Instead of just 1 of the item, he will have 10.  B loves to collect.  I'm very grateful that this person was selling this awesome gift in time for Christmas.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

So good at school

 B is a very conscientious person.  He's doing great at school.  His handwriting and writing ability have improved so much in school.  He works hard for his teachers.  He made a shoe box diorama for his Language Arts class that looked like a locker for Auggie form the book "Wonder".  He had little pictures, a mini notebook with quotes, and a mini potato light for the science project.  I think it was awesome.  I helped him with it but tried not to do it for him.  I showed him how to spray paint and then let him do that.  I showed him how to make the quotes on the computer, and then let him do that.  One thing I did do was bend the wires for the potato light.  Guilty.

Friday, November 17, 2023

lunch duty

 Today I volunteered to cover lunch duty for the teachers.  It was so loud.  It was cool to see the boys classes.  I had been on a field trip with L so I knew some of those kids names.  B's class was a surprise to me.  The children were nice, and juvenile.  Like kids!  One of the kids that B sat near looks like a mini Sandra Oh.  I've had interactions with this little girls biking to school, saving worms, etc... I'm usually with L, so it was funny to meet her as B's mom.  

So loud.

B is doing so well in class.  I'm so glad he is obedient and kind.  He often gets sinus troubles and he once let snot roll down his face rather than get up and "cause a distraction" getting a tissue.  Oh B.

He is such a sweet boy.  I love his delight and love of learning.  He surprises me with the details he remembers in books.  The class has been reading "Wonder" for a while now.  B has to do a diorama for the end of the unit about one of the characters.  He's got supplies to make a potato light, Auggie Doggie mini poster, astronaut sticker, and a little composition book to write precepts in.  He also made a "Darth Daisy" dog mini poster.  Oh, he plans to make the shoe box look like a locker.  So these items would be in the locker.  Cute.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Storm trooper

I found this costume for B today at the thrift store. I laid it on his bed to find.  Ever cautious he asked me who it was for.  It fits him perfectly and he is so delighted.

He was able to solve the runic cube following the instructions.  Way to go!

 

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

new bike and the privilege of 2 parents

 B had been struggling with his bike for over a week.  The brakes wore out so P put on new brake pads.  The gears weren't shifting well so P tweaked that.  The bike was used 9 years ago when we got it for G and it has been in constant use by someone all these years.  Finally I realized that B was raising the seat above the safety mark on the post so we shopped for a newer bike.  We found a bike for $75 close by and went to look at it Saturday.  It needed a new intertube but seemed like a nice bike and B was very pleased.

P spend a lot of time working through how to buy a tube, going to get one, and then also replacing the tube.  He had B involved the whole time.  P is very deliberate about teaching the children these skills.  P also tuned up the brakes.

B asked last night when he was going to get an apple watch.  I told him that I didn't get one until I was 43.  He knows some kids who have them.  Some kids parents have more money.  I want our children to see how fortunate they are.  It is true that we don't have all the luxuries that some may have but we have no debt and our life is wonderful.

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Big brother goes to school

 

B is in 5th grade.  He enjoyed the independence of riding his bike to school.  It rained several days in the first 2 weeks so B was interested in getting the bus figured out.   He even rode L to school once when they tried to catch the bus and missed it while I was taking M to seminary.  This picture is from the first day they rode the bus home and came running up the sidewalk holding hands.  B has been very sweet about making sure L was OK.  It's hard on him when L takes too long.  L had bad behavior and I told him he couldn't ride until next week.  It's hard on B when L gets in trouble.
B is a sweet boy and he's doing a good job of figuring out school.
He told me he thinks he's the smartest kid in his class.  I'm not sure what makes him think that but I told him that whether he is smart or not he needs to do the work and not boast.