Reflections, Field Trips and School Pics

This year the Reflections theme was "I Belong" and Kasen and Tai both wanted to participate again. Kasen wrote another story for the literature category.

Artist Statement: 

My story is about how going to a new school can be challenging, because you don't know anybody, and it can be hard to find a friend. You can make friends even if they don't come right away. You won't be alone forever. Always try to be a friend because everyone belongs.

Tai wanted to submit something for every category! But I made her narrow it down and she submitted 3 entries. She drew a picture, wrote a poem and made a couple bracelets for 3D art.

Artist Statement: 

When I look at the beads on these bracelets I made, I see different colors, different shapes, and different beads, but when I string them together they are beautiful. So things that are different can bring more beauty. It reminds me that I can be different, but am always still beautiful too. I belong even when I feel like I am different from people around me.

We had a good discussion about belonging too. About who decides who belongs, What it means to belong, why you belong, why belonging is important, how to help others belong, but also when you shouldn't belong, like when people are doing things that make you uncomfortable, you don't belong with them. I hope they always know that they belong in our family!

Tonight was the Reflections awards night and Kasen got an Award of Excellence for his story! And Tai got the Award of Excellence for 2 of her submissions too! So they're both moving on to the next level of the competition. Woo Hoo!

Kasen got to go to Clear Creek this year and was so excited! When I went to Clear Creek in 5th grade we got to camp there for a few days, but now it's just a day trip. They got to do a ropes course that Kasen said was his favorite, and they roasted marshmallows and went on a hike.

I went to Clear Creek with Ashely Heil. I remember learning about plants, specifically Indian Paint Brush and stopping near Thistle to talk about the landslide that happened there. I also remember catching a snake and keeping it in my fanny pack for the afternoon. Each of us also got to make a pot gut trap and I was so bummed I never caught one. Until the last day when we went to go get our traps I had one!

Kasen, Tai and Kohen had their first Parent Teacher Conferences this year and all their teachers had wonderful things to say about them being good friends, loving to talk (too much sometimes) and scoring above average on their tests. Kasen's teacher also told us he makes her laugh when she probably shouldn't, with his adult sense of humor. Not sure exactly what that means...

We have such great kids though. I just love them.

Kasen had to interview an archeologist for school so he ended up calling Aunt Jordan's step dad, Brady Hubler and I was so impressed with Kasen talking to him and thinking of questions to talk about. He was so nervous at first, but then was asking him about where he's been and the coolest things he dug up, if he can keep what he finds and the problems he's faced vs. solutions to those problems.

He also auditioned for Seussical Jr. and has been cast as a Jungle Citizen! We're so excited to see the show in March.

He's been reading the How to Train Your Dragon series and used one of those books for his Jack Draw Book Report. He had to collect items to represent the book so when he wanted to make a map, I helped him burn the edges of it. He thought that was pretty cool!

He also got to finally cash in on his birthday date with Grammy and got to go with her to Boondocks.

Throwback to rollerblading in 1999

Tai borrowed a pair of roller skates from the DeVaneys and has been practicing on those skates all week! I have never been on roller skates, but growing up roller blading was our thing! I went to Classic Skating every so often to roller blade. Good times!

Tai got to go on a field trip to the Butterfly Biosphere then the next day I got to go with Kohen on his field trip to Hee Haw Farms.

I only had 2 boys in my group, Kohen and a boy named Rand. While we were there Rand peed his pants and the teacher said to just wait until we got back to the school, but the other moms didn't want him playing on the slides anymore so that was fun (NOT)!

He got to bring a pumpkin home though and still had lots of fun there.

We did picture retakes because he looked so nervous in his first picture. I told him to think about chicken butts to get him to do a laughing smile for this one.

 I recently asked Kohen was his favorite thing about being a kid is and he said, "Going to school!" I love that they all love going to school so much. He loves drawing monster trucks. He draws them on the back of all of his papers.

We're working on his "th" sound lately so it doesn't sound like a D or an F ("My mom is teaching me to do stuff with my tongue!"), but he's started reading little books to me! He got a Golden Ticket at school for knowing all his letters, sounds and numbers. Go Kohen!

He is just so independent. If I ever ask him to wait for me to help him with something, he won't. He goes to figure out how to get it done himself.

He's recently decided he is scared of storms though. When he sees gray clouds he worries that a storm is coming and then if it does rain he starts crying. I think it's because we drove home in a lightning storm one night and were talking about lightning so now he thinks he will get hit by lightening. Poor kid.

He is my wild child, but we love him so much!