Summer Time '16

The levels of creativity, cabin-fever, and desperation run high come August in NV.  Especially when all of July the temperatures hovered around 115*  I think it is time that we went to winter break from school rather than a summer break.  Wouldn't that be better?  All of November, December and January off from school, when you can actually sit outside and not risk heat stroke.  They can have a two week break in July.  

Here is what we have been doing to avoid boredom (besides watching too much TV)

A little archaeology/geology.  

One week we went to Wal-Mart and I turned them lose with ten dollars.  Jack bought a rock extraction kit.  Renn really likes to wear the safety goggles to the pool, he looks like a mad scientist scuba diver.  

Jack and one of his many k'nex creations.  He also has constructed lincoln log homes/neighborhoods and various lego projects.  He is progressing towards his contracting career.

Jara has made many lovely crafts.  Here she is sporting her hand sewn apron.  She has been crafting up a storm:  beaded bracelets, fabric purses, hand-knitted pot holders, key-chains, book-marks, picture frames, crochet chains.  I'm sure I am forgetting the rest.

Sometimes they aren't trying to destroy each other.  Here they are playing "Princess in Black."  Elise has a new heroine...."THE Princess in Black."  I highly suggest you read these books with/to your child by Shannon and Dean Hale, they are awesome.

Elise likes play-doh.  

Play-doh and cookie cutters while I'm making dinner have saved us.

Speaking of princess's in black...hmmm.  The life.  Lazy minx.  

There are no words.  

Now you know why there should be school in the summer.

MayDay

80's and 50's style

May day was revamped this year.  I think a certain teacher who had been there since I was in first grade (and scary even then) finally retired and everyone was cutting a little loose, footloose, put on your dancing shoes.  

We're Bored

I heard somewhere once before I had children, "if they are driving you crazy and it's been a bad day, put them in water."  It really does solve most problematic days.  How can you not smile as Elise shoots her water gun at Renn's plumbers crack?!

Put on a ninja turtle costume, guaranteed to bring out nunchuck skills.

Find things to put on your head...lunchbox

Or a colander.  Either/or.

Go to the beach.  The mucky, muddy swamp beach.  

The desperation reaches high levels at times.

At least the water park is clean and no one else wanted to brave the 115* temperatures

Teach your children a few art skills.  

Play a little balloon, spoon volleyball

Long Live Summer!

Watch Out Kindergarten

Boom.  Elise has successfully rocked preschool!

Goals:

Write Abc's-check

Count to 20-check

Learn letter sounds-check

No Required Parent Teacher Conferences-check

Coach Pitch '16

Quinton, ?, ?, ?, Dane, Coach Esther, Violet, Jack, Wyatt, ?

Jack's first year of coach pitch.  Coach pitch is not as hilarious as t-ball, however, it was fun to watch Jack's games and see his growth.  He went from barely being able to chuck a ball from a base to the pitcher last year, to throwing further than his mom this year.  (Further than you think.)  He is a good hitter and fast runner.  

End of 3rd and 1st

The end of another school year.  My third and first grader.  They were both student of the month in May for their classes/grade.  Their goals we came up with at the beginning of this year were:

Jara-

Study spelling 4 days/week-we tried, it's really my fault.  I mean how many times a week do you need to create Guatanamo Bay?! 

Earn 70 AR points-She earned over 100!  (Third grade goal is 100)

Memorize times and division facts-Close...

Be a good citizen-Her nemesis lived to see fourth grade!

Check, check, check

Jack-

Pass off math facts-done

Do ALL 1st Grade math packets-Goodness!, I think there ended up being about 20

Earn 50 AR points-He went to a pizza party for having a lot of points so I think he ended up earning at least this many.  

Learned 5 bonus spelling words-maybe we didn't do this BUT he did learn how to spell all the 150 sight words of first grade!

Jack also ran 40 miles and was in the 25 mile club at semester.  Who knew he liked running so much!

They both had a good year and wonderful experiences.  

Thank you Mr. Dorsey and Mrs. Barlow

Jack the Author

Over the course of this school year, Jack has been working on his writing career and we are excited to announce he is the published author of "Jack's Adventures."  He dedicated his book to Jara "for letting me use her art supplies," and my favorite story in his book was his deer hunting adventure.  I love first grade writing.  I love the details and the joyful descriptions that are commonly used before using proper grammar skills consume and damper the imagination.

Answering questions from his classmates.

Getting a little restless with all. the. questions.  He started answering like a politician in hot water.  "I can't tell you."  "Am I done?" "Mic check."