Fun with Fencing

My kids don't really shine in the area of athletics.  Every year I ask them if they want to play basketball when basketball season rolls around.  They don't.  When baseball season rolls around, they don't want to play that either.  But this year, two of them decided to do baseball--Westley and Travis.  Caleb seemed to be feeling a little left out, so I looked around for something he could do that was his own.  He had tried basketball in the fall for a little while (a basketball clinic) but didn't feel comfortable doing a team sport.  So when I saw fencing on the rec center's list of activities, I decided to try it.

He absolutely loves it!  So he has been doing fencing since March.  His first week of class, he found out there was a beginner's tournament that weekend that anyone could enter as long as they had taken one fencing class.  He had, so we entered the tournament.  He had a lot of fun at the tournament.  I hope this can be something he keeps up with and becomes his thing.

We shall see.  On guard!

Gorgeous Girls

These are my two gorgeous girls.  Each of them has one thing I never had: a sister.  I think that the five years between them is perfect timing too.  Close enough that they will probably be pretty good friends when they are grown and far enough apart that they hopefully won't drive each other too crazy. It is so fun to have two little girls, especially with so many boys.

Sweet Sisters

Eliza and Annmarie both have something I never had.  They have a sister.  I don't know what it's like to have a sister, I can only imagine, but I hope that they can be friends and be close.  I hope that the five years between them will be the perfect amount of time for them to have space and also develop a closeness so that when they are adults, they have an automatic friend.  I sure wish I had that!

Principal's Pride

Eliza got the principal's pride award for the month of February in her kindergarten class.  Each month, one student from each class is chosen who exemplifies the habit of the month.  In February, the habit was Synergize. 

The elementary school adopted a program called "The Leader in Me" which incorporates the Seven Habits into their life, both at school and at home.  This program is fantastic and I love that the school uses it to teach the kids how to be successful and be leaders.

Congratulations Eliza!

Annmarie's Cuteness

Annmarie is almost one.  She is into everything.  Everything.  She pulls the DVD's down from the shelves.  She climbs the stairs.  She likes to play with the remote control for the TV.  She gets into the bathroom cupboards while I'm getting ready, so I found a way to contain her.  She makes a mess when she eats.  But she is so happy and so busy.  She is such a joy to have.

Having Little Boys

I love the evidence I find everywhere of having boys.  I found a batman toy on my nightstand when going to bed one night. 

I love seeing my boys with Snoopy.  I have come to believe that little boys should have a dog (and little girls too).

Boys do the grossest things too.  When I was growing up, one of my brothers would turn his eyelids inside out and chase me around.  It was totally disgusting.  Recently, Westley learned to do the same.

And I love how they pick up sticks and things when they're out walking, just to hold.  You can't see the stick in this picture very well, but Jonah has a stick in his hand.

I love having little boys!

Parent Teacher Conferences

We had parent teacher conferences last week.  The kids made me so proud.  They are all doing so well in school. 

Westley has had his ups and downs this year, but he came through this term with flying colors and made the Honor Roll!  I was bursting with pride! He  has struggled with his grades, mostly because he either fails to do the work or refuses to do the make-up work.  Most of the time when he needs to make up work it's because he got lazy with the work and didn't check his answers or didn't finish.  When he truly doesn't understand, he has a chance to relearn it and often refuses.  But we have been working with him to put a stop to that attitude and realize that he can do better and he did!

Caleb almost made the Honor Roll.  To make the Honor Roll, one must have straight A's and all E's (excellents) in behavior.  Caleb got one "S" (satisfactory) in behavior because he sometimes has a hard time controlling his emotions when things don't go his way.  Something he can work on.  Hopefully, he can do better and make the Honor Roll for his final term.  He does really excellent work and tries hard.  He is also very close to graduating from speech, and that will be wonderful for him!

Travis' teacher had nothing but praise.  He has improved so much in behavior this term.  He is really motivated by her system of tokens.  He went without earning enough tokens one week and didn't get the reward at the end of the week and that completely motivated him.  In his academics, he's doing extremely well.

Eliza is doing very well academically.  She has a little trouble with math, getting some of the concepts mixed up.  However, I think with a little more practice she will really do a lot better.  Her reading is very good--highest in her class.  AND her teacher told me that Eliza is a social butterfly and the heartthrob of her kindergarten class.  Guess having brothers worked out well for her!

I hope my kids can keep enjoying school.  I am very nervous about them changing schools this next year because of a boundary change.  I hope they like it as much at their new school!