Awards

The way the primary school and intermediate school are set up they have their class parties and awards always on the same day and the same time.  Its hard to go back and forth to both. But this year I went to Joels awards and then dashed over to Norahs school to her class party.

We couldn't have done this year without her teacher.  We are hoping for a great teacher next year. Norah is already worried about 2nd grade.  I've already promised that I will go eat lunch with her on the first day of school. The librarian is also going to have us come in and help set up the new library so Norah starts to feel comfortable in the new building. 

Colins awards was really fun. Middle schoolers are fun.  He got a few special awards and then they did superlatives. Colin was chosen as Most Likely to be Famous.  Norah leaned over to me during the ceremony and whispered "why would anyone think Colin would be famous" He doesn't have to worry about getting a big head when he does get famous. His sister will make sure of that.

They had a special handshake all year

7th grade was Colins best year ever.  He started out a little shy and unsure of himself and became this really outgoing confident kid. A lot of that is due to his English teacher.  We can't say enough great things about this teacher. Everyone needs someone who believes in them and encourages them in all areas of life. 

5th grade graduation

For the 5th grade graduation they always pick two middle school students to come back to the intermediate school and talk about what middle school was like.

Colin and his favorite teacher

As the room filled up I could see Colin start to get more nervous. He didn't realize what a big deal it was to come and speak.  I had seen his 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Smith, at Joel's awards ceremony and told her that Colin was going to be speaking so she got someone to cover her class and came and watched.  She said in all her years she had never gone to the 5th grade graduation but Colin was so special to her she wanted to go watch.  She was the teacher who fought hard with me for Colin to get into speech in 4th grade. I was so proud of Colin. He did great.

Skip day

 

This year I took Colin out of school for a skip day. I made sure it was ok with his teacers on a day with out any test or test review. He picked Adventure Park. Heights are NOT my thing but it was a fun day. Even though I spent most of it half terrified and always reminding how much I love Colin to be doing that with him. 

Colin also made it all look so easy and quickly went through all the obstacles. I wasn't as quick and landed pretty hard on a cable when my log moved. 

There was a rule that you had to be with an adult to do the black diamonds.  After going just below black diamond I knew I wouldn't be able to do it with Colin. Thankfully the staff said Colin could do it on his own.

 Joel didn't want a skip day. He said he would miss all the fun. Norah wanted a skip day but she also didn't want to miss any fun. It was a really fun day with just Colin.

Butterflies

This spring we ordered a butterfly kit and raised caterpillars that then turned into 5 butterflies.

Norah is convinced each butterfly we see now is one of hers.  One of the butterflies came out all shriveled up - never really getting its wings out. Norah put it in her fairy garden for the fairies to heal and the next morning she ran to see the butterfly and it was gone. All healed!!

Conversations with Joel

Dinner conversations with Joel



Joel- It isn’t  fair. my friends go to daycare and get home now and I never get to play with them on the Xbox.

(We typically don’t let them play the Xbox after dinner on a school night)

Brent - well summer is coming they will be on more

Joel - no they will be in daycare all day because both their parents work

Brent - what will they do in daycare? Why don’t you ask them?

Joel- how should I know? You think I want to know details of people’s lives? What if I ask how their day was going and they say terrible. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THOSE DETAILS.