4th day of 4th grade

Last Wednesday was Luke's fourth day of 4th grade. This boy is just moving on up! He is upstairs at school now and feels like that is an exciting thing.

 I was having an email exchange with all 4 fourth grade teachers- the kids switch for the core subjects, math, science reading and social studies. I had to laugh at their descriptions and feel a little relief: "fairly attentive, He's such a great kid! So sweet and polite & sweet little Luke."

Then this just made me smile-"Bless his heart, he was very understanding when I accidentally called him "Jack." Ugh! I asked him if his mom ever called him the wrong name and he said "yes." I explained that it was a hazard of being a mom."
It's also the hazard of being a younger brother!

So far a great year at school. I am thankful for each of his teachers! They are all very capable and will help Luke so much this year!

Survey says ... back to school edition 2012-2013

I love the survey's we do on the first and last day of school. I just went through all of them- It is so fun to see how each child has changed over such a short period of time. Even their penmanship!
Here are just a highlights from the first day of school 2012 surveys.

Savanna-10th grade

What did you wear today? 

My red pleated dress from the Trunk Hippie road show. My dad really likes it. 

(I do too, it is like it was made for her!)

If I could change one thing about my first day it would be:

I would like to have had a longer lunch period. I wish I had more classes with certain friends.

My favorite thing about summer was:

I LOVED  getting to go so many places! I stayed really busy!

My least favorite thing from summer was:

I didn't finish my summer reading list or my summer bucket list.

When I grow up I really want to:

Be a music teacher and a photographer.

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

More friendly, outgoing people. More color! Less awkward silences. Less homework.

Jack- 7th grade

What is great about being in 7th grade?

Having a locker.

I think my favorite class will be:

Art.

If I could change one thing about my first day it would be:

Keaton being here.

(I'm sad for you too.)

My favorite thing from summer was:

Photos.

My least favorite thing was:

Chores.

When I grow up I really want to:

Be some form of artist.

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

Kinds of art          war

(I love how all of Jack's answers are very to-the-point-one-word answers.)

Luke- 4th grade

I think my favorite subject will be:

Science

I am not looking forward to:

Math

One goal I am setting for myself this year is:

More A.R. points.

(that is going to be tough- but I am sure you will succeed!)

My favorite thing from summer was:

Swimming

My least favorite thing from summer was:

Heat

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

More happiness, less unhappiness

Anything else?

I'm upstairs this year!

(I am so glad this is exciting for you- moving up!)

Tucker- Kindergarten

What did you get to do on your first day of school?

Got to have a tiny party and stay in school all day. We had lunch in the cafeteria.

What was great about your new classroom?

Our cubbies were hidden! (where were they?) I can't tell you.

I think this year I will learn:

When we get in our room we start playing.

(hmm- I think there will be some adjustments!)

Something I am looking forward to this year is:

Getting the playground in

If I could change one thing about my first day it would be:

Having the playground in

My favorite thing about summer was:

swimming

My least favorite thing was:

the hotness

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

I don't want any floods.

Anything else?

My teacher was going to call you. I was sort of mad in the middle of school. The helper was giving me a lot of orderings. My teacher should be the one to do it. 

(Oh boy.)

Luke the Cub Scout

 In February 2011 Luke joined Cub Scouts. 

 His first cub activity before he ever even attended a pack meeting was the Pinewood derby!

 The excitement involved in thinking/designing/making your own car is so fun to watch.

 Luke knew exactly how he wanted his car to look and his Dad helped him execute the details.

A dolphin car.

"Making Weight"

His first activity was a success! He had fun and got to make something with his Dad. 

On to the weekly meetings.

In the car ready to go to his first den meeting. Over the last year he has had a hard time going to meetings, (usually he doesn't want to stop reading or building with Lego's) but once he gets there he doesn't want to leave. I have just as much of a struggle getting him to leave as I did with getting him there.

Last summer Luke attended the "twilight" Cub scout camp- and I went and helped just like I did with Jack.

 Except this year I got to go almost every day. And this year it was hot. 

So very hot. We met at the camp from 2-7 or 8 in the evening. The boys all had a fun time, and I don't know if they noticed it was hot. I kept my mouth shut about how I felt I was going to melt.

summer 2011

 

(Going to camp gives me a great appreciation for those that work with youth. No matter what the capacity. But that is for another post- this is about Luke!)

Fast forward to this last February 2012 and Luke got to participate in another Pinewood Derby!

Once again he knew exactly how he wanted his "car" to be, and had just as much fun building it with his Dad.

A yellow submarine!

 I love how Luke does not get overly competitive when the cars are racing.
I can appreciate how he is just there for fun.

 Tucker made a sign to cheer his brother on. I don't know if Luke really loved it as much as this momma did.

 Luke really worked hard the last month he was a Bear Scout. He finished up all the requirements before he turned 9 and was able to earn his Wolf badge.

Now on to working toward his Bear!

Easter

Our Easter was memorable- We did the things we normally do to celebrate Easter, and added some new things. Some things went just fine, and others didn't go so well.

This (and the following instructions on her blog) is what one of our added things was supposed to look like. But instead it grew mold. I didn't even bother with the pictures of that.

I tested gravity to make sure all laws still applied.


They do.

This is a resurrection cookie that we make every year. I had a hard time finding the recipe. So I got off to a rough start. I added everything in the wrong order- and started mixing at the wrong time. But after the kids went up stairs I did a quick re-do of the dough and we put them in the oven overnight just like we were supposed to.

The idea is that in the morning when you open the oven, the tomb- the cookies are supposed to be hollow, empty inside. But not this year!

So after that- we all just laughed and finished our Easter prep ... our family was speaking and doing some of the music in Sacrament meeting. I don't think I have ever been so thankful for late 2:00 church. We enjoyed a simple Easter brunch with my Mom and then finished our preparations.

Savanna sang All Creatures of Our God and King and it was beautiful. I don't say that just because I am her mother. It really was beautiful. I just sat and took it all in- afraid to blink or shed a tear for fear I would miss a note.

Jack gave a most heartfelt talk and testimony about Christ. I love that he took it so seriously and had it prepared a head of time. I am thankful for his devotion.

Luke played his own version of As I have loved You on the piano. He sat down that week and taught himself by ear chords to go along with the melody in his mind. I am thankful he agreed to play and when it was time he willingly got up and played.

And Tucker helped by being semi-reverent. He sat part of the time down in the pews with my Mom, and part of the time with us up on the stand.


I cried through most of my talk- and Jay spoke with ease. We all felt relieved to have it over, but also very thankful to have been able to speak on Easter. We were asked a few weeks ago, and it gave us ample time to ponder what we felt like we needed to study and speak about.

We subbed out a traditional Easter dinner for simple appetizers. It was a great end to a beautiful day.

The Easter Egg Hunt

There are no eggs in these photos. Our church had a BBQ/Egg Hunt- and my camera battery died. At least I thought it did. I missed all the kids running for eggs, and the mania that ensued. I missed the photo of Jack finding a $10 egg in the youth hunt. But we have all seen egg hunts. Imagine one and put my kids faces in it.

But then I had the idea to double check my extra batteries-and I am so glad. I didn't miss Tucker and Luke on the horses. Our kids love going out to this families farm- when we get there they jump out of the car before its even parked, and I don't see them until its time to go. And even then it is hard to see them because they run away when I call for them.

This family is so giving of their time- I have no idea how many times she walked around, and around giving kids rides. I am sure she was tired by the end, but she never seemed tired or put out.
Luke was kind to share with Tucker- and I think they both liked it. But I think Tucker's imagination took off when he got to ride by himself. These photos are meant to be scrolled through really fast- if I knew how I would put them all together in one of those moving pictures.




It got me thinking of his other cowboy & gun shots- cheese, gun-in-church pistol-to pop, cowboy Christmas to name a few.



And there you have the egg hunt.