Frugal or miser?

 B went on a temple trip without lP recently.  The groups stop for dinner afterward and B had money, but then he came home with his money.  I asked him why he had the money still.  He told someone that he wasn't hungry so they bought him dinner.  Oh B.  After this I had him count out all our assets so he could see that we have money for him to pay for his own dinner on temple trips.  We don't spend money casually but we don't need to be letting other people pay our way.  I showed him that a lot of people have debts where we have assets paid for.  He winced at each negative mark I put on the paper.  When he was 6 he told lP "You don't need it you just want it. It costs money by the way."

B's birthday is the last day of school and we had a nice dinner then played games.  We stayed up super late laughing at the funny quote book and enjoying one another.  It was so sweet.  The day before we hosted the deacons for a pizza making activity.  B was very pleased with how that went and counted it as his party.  He told us he'd rather we not give him gifts than to waste money.

B started walking to school this year and in the last month of school he started to ride his bike.  He asked me to help him practice. We walked the ditch line behind the fences of four houses, clearing branches and weeds.  After we found our way to the road we saw that it wasn't such a big deal to just walk the length of one lot next to the road compared to the fence line.  We walked home and got the bikes then rode up to his school.  It wasn't very hard and he felt like it was something he could do.  He said if it turned out awesome it would be my fault.

B is such a charming and kind boy.  I take that for granted sometimes when he acts a smidgeon like a typical boy, but he really is incredibly good and I'm grateful for that.

Winning

 B got to be in a track meet Saturday.  His youth leaders took the group to the walls of Jerico which was an ambitious hike and overnight camping experience.  His leaders also have boys that do a community track team.  They signed the boys up and supported them at this summer track meet.  B did a 1500M racewalk, shotput, discus, and javelin.  It was a really nice experience for him.  The actual events, the structure of attending a track meet, and the fun of being part of something, were really nice.

B takes his homeschool work seriously.  He had an assignment to make black forest cherry cupcakes and persisted in acquiring ingridients and making them.  

B has had a pretty awesome summer.  He got to attend a summer circuits camp at the US Space and Rocket Center.  On the last day the family got free admission and we had a really nice time attending with him.  He loves the G-force ride and he rode it with L several times.  

Overall I think B has had a lot of opportunities to grow and be challenged this summer.  He said at the track meet "I should have walked faster at the beginning.  I underestimated my endurance."  That's true of many things in life.  B has been having a season of rapid growth, and frequent sickness the last 2 years.  This summer he had several chances to be challenged physically in a socially safe environment.  

Reflections: Music

 In the fall I was aware of the deadline for Reflections so I badgered the kids to enter something for those competitions.  B wrote a little piano piece.  We just found out that he won 2nd place (of 2 entries....) for music.  Knowing that it was a field with prohibitive entry for most children, I thought his odds were pretty good.  Yay B!  He did actually write a nice little piece with counter melody and typed it up on Finale.  Totally good work for his age and skill level.

Rainbow mtn. Treats

 

One of my goals for this year is to go have a treat at rainbow mountain 12 times.

Today we searched for ice and had chocolate covered strawberries.

Deacons

 B advanced to the Deacons Quorum this past month.  This ward has about 10 deacons!  They can't all serve the sacrament each week.  B got to serve the sacrament today.  So sweet.  After church the deacons swarmed into the primary room and stacked the chairs.  I'm so grateful for their good leaders teaching them stewardship, organization and leadership.  I'm so grateful that the kids get to be in a strong ward with such a high level of expectation for the youth.

Trombone

 B agreed to play trombone after P got a newer one in a good case from Atlanta.  After school started E found a better case for the old trombone at a local music store.  The old trombone stays at school and the newer trombone stays home.  lP and B both use them both.  Perhaps for concerts the nice one can go to school.

B loves going to school with lP and being the little brother.  They walk down to a further bus stop so they can hang out with friends.  

B scored very high on the iReady diagnostic and wanted to skip a grade to be with lP in high school for 2 years.  I told him that childhood is too fun and not to rush it.

trombone trumpet

 B wants to play trumpet.  We want him to play trombone.  We're trying to have him do both.  If he plays trombone he and lP will be in the same section for high school.  That would be cool.  He's also blessed with long arms and a good ear so trombone would be easier for him than other kids. 

He's had a good summer playing on the computer, hiking rainbow mountain and keeping tabs on L.  He's a lovely kid.  I love him.