Train Time

No trip to my parents would be complete without running the trains! I think we ran them all but one or two nights while there.

The boys got their hands dirty this time as Grandpa needed to clean the tracks before they could get the trains out. I think Ian found a new love of the trains this trip.

Alex always has some hand in running the trains. This trip, Alex showed Ian the ropes.

I love it when the boys discover new interests.

~*~

Ian also was able to spend quality time with Daniel (who you may remember from other posts as the little boy who lives in the lower level of my parents home with our long-time friends) even getting to go out to the Children's Museum with him. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the two together but these boys have a special connection.

The Things I Come Home To

Sometimes, they really are too cute for words :)

Honor Roll

Last day of school today, sigh, where has the time gone? Better yet, what am I going to do with everyone home?

Yesterday was Alex's award assembly at school. He was on A-B Honor Roll all year and received his award for that. Alex also received an award for perfect attendance (which came with a Borders gift certificate from the school's namesake).

Additionally, once back in class he received awards for his sight words and math facts accomplishments.

Way to go Alex! We're so proud of you!

Hello fourth grade!

Report Cards and Grades, oh my

I don't have a WiP post for this week.  Haven't been cross-stitching and decided not to continue with the revision updates, ain't y'all lucky?  The revisions are going better since I took the pressure off myself of the weekly update, go figure.

So I'll plug in a little family update instead.

Report cards came in for Alex and Ian.  Both are doing well.

Alex is a strong A-B student, once again on A-B honor roll for the year.  He received A's in Math (very much his strongest subject), Writing, and Social Studies.  The B's were in Science and Reading.

Alex is an amazing student; he excels in science knowledge and multiplication facts. He has incredible illustrations to go along with his stories and books.

Ian received A's in Math, Science, and Social Studies; a B in Writing; and a C in Reading. His writing has improved so much over the course of the year! He still holds his pencil weird but his control, therefore his legibility, is 100% better than the start of the year. Reading continues to be a struggle. He's receiving an extra half hour of intervention a day. For me the joy is in watching him actually pull a book out and curl up in bed to read it. So while he still struggles he seems to be developing a joy in reading and that is more important to me than a score on a test!

Ian is a delightful little boy. I am very proud of Ian. He continues to blossom.

Grades for the third quarter are in for Cam.

It's no surprise that he received A's in Science and English. He has found a new love in science this year after a skill test said he'd be good at astronomy. I guess the Rocket Burger dream finally bit the dust. He received B's in everything else: Band, Reading, Math, and Computer.

He is now in a situation of having to select his electives for next year and is torn. He's been surprised at enjoying band yet it is far from his first love. His band teacher has recommended him to move up to the intermediate band, which is great because it means he's mastered the beginning band skills. We agreed he would apply for publications (working on the yearbook/newspaper) as a first choice, band second, and in a surprise move he selected working in the cafeteria third. 

And not to be left out -- I've filled out the registration for Robbie to start kindergarten in the fall.  Oh where, oh where has the time gone?

Build It and They Will Come

Alex has been working on this city project with another student.  They make a good team, Alex being the city planner and the other student being the architect.

Their teacher was especially impressed that Alex thought to add parking!

And Alex's attention to detail thoroughly impressed his father!

Fun Facts

Well, hello 2011

As per our New Year's tradition, we lined the boys up and measured them.

Cam grew a massive two inches in 2010.  Poor kid is hanging all his hopes of height on 'late blooming' and swears he's going to shoot up in his late teens to be the tallest of the boys.  Keep hoping kiddo.

Cam's waiting for the day he's taller than me but I still have seven inches on him, LOL

Alex grew two and a quarter inches, and at age 9 is the same height Cam was at age 10.  Currently, Alex is five inches shorter than Cam.

Ian grew an even two inches, and at age 7 is the same height at Cam was at age 7.  Only six inches between Ian and Alex right now. 

Robbie grew only one and three-quarter inches.  He's almost 5 so I'll use that age.  He's about half an inch taller than Ian and Cam at age 5, about three-quarters of an inch shorter than Alex at age 5, and currently sits at four inches shorter than Ian.

Dang, but they grow fast!!

Belated -- The Birthday Boy

This poor kid.

We never got around to any real birthday party with Mark's passing away just two days after his birthday.

We did have a cake on the day, he opened his cards, and Mark took him out to the store to cash in his gift cards, etc.

Love you kiddo!

Happy 9th Alex

My Ghouls

Today, Nevada is observing Nevada Day, aka no school. What kid wouldn't love to have a guaranteed three-day weekend for Halloween? LOL, too bad for my kids this is a bah-humbug holiday for me. The school has a Halloween parade every year.

Robbie as the Cowardly Lion

Ian as a Fireman

Alex as I have no idea, LOL

Ian showing off one of the cool treats he got at his Halloween party.

Cam -- the big, bad middle-schooler -- didn't dress up though he came home wishing he had as the entire sixth grade hall was done up as Hogwarts, even the teachers dressed within the theme. Now, that sounds like fun!

First Day of School

LOL, I guess Mom not being there equals casual first day of school photos.

Cam -- 6th Grade

Alex -- 3rd Grade

Ian -- 1st Grade

The boys started school last Monday. From all reports they've had a good first week.

Cam ended up with three accelerated classes -- Reading, English, and Math -- but didn't get his first choice of elective and is instead in band.  It still blows my mind he's in middle school!

Thus begins the challenge of having kids in more than one school for the first time, LOL

Just Keep Swimming

Swim lessons. 

Robbie and Ian are together in the inside pool.

Cam and Alex are together in the outside pool.

School Excellence Part Deux

In addition to the awards I listed here, Alex also received Excellent Attendance. He had perfect attendance for the school year with just one tardy. Way to be healthy kiddo! The school's namesake gave everyone with perfect attendance a $25 gift certificate to Borders Books. Feel kinda sorry for his bank account, LOL, there were 50 students with perfect attendance. You do the math.

Cam and Alex with their A-B Honor Roll Awards.
Good job boys!!

School Excellence

The boys are wrapping up the last weeks of the school year and awards abound.

Ian received an award and pin for Excellent Attendance, which means he had no tardies and missed less than 3 days during the year.  Good job staying healthy and on task at school.  You've come a long way this year, Ian, and we're proud of you!!

Alex is on A-B Honor Roll (assembly tomorrow) again this trimester.  Honor Roll all year long...way to go, Alex, we're proud of you!

Cam is also on A-B Honor Roll (assembly tomorrow) this trimester, which means he also made Honor Roll all year.  Cam was very active with his art this year drawing cartoons for the school paper, making cards for teachers at the request of the student body, and making a poster as part of a challenge that resulted in the principal shaving his head.  Cam received a 300 Club Award for scoring above standard (in two subjects) on the state tests (that 'no child left behind' stuff).  Cam also received an award for Outstanding Citizenship for the month of July.  You've got a good foundation for middle school, Cam, and we're so proud of all you've accomplished this year!

Kidlet Update

The boys had a field day at school last week. Cam and Alex's were spread throughout the day so I didn't try to go. Ian's was almost as soon as I dropped him off, so Robbie and I stuck around to watch.

After Ian had gone in to class, before the field day started, Robbie and I went into the office to sign-in. Due to liabilities, the school has had to change policy and we weren't able to go onto the field, so Robbie and I watched from the fence.

Ian in race on a hippity hop ball. Man, I remember having these as kids. We used to have so much fun on them. Not sure why we never bought one for the boys -- bad Mom, LOL.

Cam and Alex's progress reports came home earlier this week...both are strong A-B students.

Way to go boys!

Our new business venture. *snort*

One of the advantages of Mark's job is the surplus that he often comes home with. This time...deli meats!




Cam, our carnivore, bowing to the meat, LOL

I tried to get all the boys to do it for the photo but only Ian joined Cam in the meat worship.

A true parent moment...

So yesterday, Cam and Alex brought home their second trimester report cards -- all good -- and letters for A-B Honor Roll -- excellent!

We're so proud of you both! Keep up the good work.

In the same breath, Alex shows us a citation from the assistant principal at school because he'd been reported (along with two other boys) for bullying another boy at the bus stop. On the heels of that news, we learn he'd received a citation on Monday for not following directions during recess (which he failed to show us). The school has a three strikes you're out policy...lovely, two in one week and a full trimester of school left to go!

Yep, that's thinking Alex.

I'm not real worried about the one from recess -- neither is his teacher -- it's classic Alex. The bullying one bothers me a lot...I knew I'd be spending time in the principal's office with that kid!! (The victim stopped by the house this morning to walk to the bus stop so obviously no hard feelings on his part.) Phone call to assistant principal went better than I expected and we don't need to have a formal meeting. Alex needs to write up a heart-felt apology and turn it in tomorrow.

Today was the assembly for the Honor Roll.






(Yep, hair cuts are on the list of things to do. Only my kids would go to school looking like they'd stuck a finger in a light socket on a day they're receiving an award.)

Despite the close quarters I actually enjoyed this assembly because I was able to get closer to the kids. The school is in the middle of some big star lab so the multi-purpose room they usually use for assemblies wasn't available. Back-up plan -- use the courtyard. Great plan, except today has been a rather rainy day, LOL. So, the back-up, back-up plan involved using the fifth grade pod.

Honor Roll

This afternoon was the assembly for the boys' Honor Roll. I took a bunch of pictures -- some good and some not so much -- but in the end, these two pictures are all you get. I try really hard to protect the privacy of the kids so usually spend quiet a bit of time blotting out faces, names, etc. and am just too tired to deal with it this time round.

I like the smaller assemblies like the ones today where just the kids on the one track were present. The school broke it down so each grade had about an hour for their assembly. Lucky for me, Cam and Alex's were back-to-back so I didn't have to came and go all day.

Cam with his A-B Honor Roll Award.

Alex with his A-B Honor Roll Award.

We're so proud of you both! Keep up the good work and I challenge you to be on the A Honor Roll next trimester.

Thankful for Alex

Alex is our daredevil...showing his hands-free technique on Cam's old bike (gotta love hand-me-downs).

LOVE the motion in this photo!!

Alex's Birthday

Alex was after us all week to celebrate his birthday, LOL, can't tell at all from his grin!

Opening gifts.

Grandma and Nana were channeling each other! They both bought the same card. (Actually, this happened on Cam's birthday too, LOL)

Blowing out his candles on the cake. (Cake was a disaster for Mom! Couldn't get it out of the pans, then didn't have enough frosting, bah! -- at least it tasted great!)

These boys are growing up too fast, LOL. Hope you had a good birthday little man!