We The People

Mr. Smarty Pants is also Mr. Awesome Guy!  Caleb's middle school, West Jordan Middle, is one of a few public schools in the valley that competes in a competition called We The People.  The kids were split off into groups in their history class.  Then their awesome teachers took the time to encourage, teach and train the groups on the constitution, the government, our country vs. other country's governments, plus a lot more things.  The kids had to work together to write reports and they presented it all to the school in a competition.  Caleb had the goal to go to state.  He achieved that goal, with a lot of work and time.  He was so happy.

 We were able to go watch the state competition today.  This is Caleb's group in front of the judges.  They were asked a question, then they had the chance to read the portion of their report they had written in response to the question.  Then they faced a few questions from the judges.

 Caleb was just plain awesome!!!  He has always been a terrific speaker in front of groups.  Speaks with confidence, clarity and conviction.  He did not disappoint today.  He never once stumbled in his words, never stuttered, even made eye contact with the judges without losing his place in his reading. He was very professional and represented well.

When it came time to answer the judge's questions, Caleb as again - terrific!  According to his teachers the judges asked questions that were not on the "practiced" list.  Some of the things that were asked, were not taught or gone over.  The kids had to go off of their own knowledge base.  When Caleb was able to answer something, he sounded so good.  He only faltered once, and he made up for it with pulling himself together and answering with accuracy.  One of the questions that he handled, basically on his own, was about the 3 branches of government and how they have checks and blanances and the power they have.  It was a terrific experience for him.  He worked so hard, learned some great information and achieved his goal.  He also represented his school and teachers well.  The school ended up taking 3rd place, which was disheartening for the teams.  However, I could not be more proud of Caleb.  He was outstanding!

Books and Eggs

About a week and a half ago the kids at their elementary school started a reading contest.  Every year the school encourages the kids to read as much as possible.  The more minutes you read, the closer the school gets to its goal.  Usually the goal is just a pizza party for the best class and kids, plus some weird assembly where they slam pies in teacher's faces.  My kids read, just to read, not for the prizes.

 This is the beginning tower of books that we started off with from the library.  Lots of books.

 There is the master reader himself.  Hunkered down with a good read and his snack of choice for the day.  He read 6 hours that first day. Lots of minutes.

 So, what about the eggs?  Caleb's science fair project is up for presentation.  He chose to find out which method of boiling eggs would lead to the easiest shelling.  We took 10 eggs per batch.  Had the control (nothing), added baking soda to one, vinegar to another, lemon wedge to another and ice bath for the last.  Caleb discovered one thing for sure, after 50 eggs - you get really good at shelling hard boiled eggs.

 In the end, we have LOTS OF BOILED EGGS and Caleb found that shelling them right after they are cooked (waiting 15 minutes for them to cool) was so much easier than letting them be refrigerated over night.  I will let Caleb tell you which was best though, vinegar or baking soda.

Here is Peter, still reading. Lots of minutes.  And now, he has eggs to eat as his snack of choice.

Yule Ball

After a very interesting day of issues with a plumber (who we did not even schedule), dinner plans being changed (because if said plumber on kitchen floor for 3 hours), soccer practice, soccer game......it all ended terrific.  Caleb, Jonah and Jonathan were able to attend a Harry Potter Yule Ball put on by our library here in West Jordan.  They had a ton of fun!  There were live owls, butter beer, candy themed from Harry Potter, dancing, house games, tons of people, fortune telling, and wizard card trading.  I am so glad the three of them were able to go together!  These boys are awesome together!

Scouting can be fun

I am not sure if I will ever get around to scrapbooking like I used to.  So, I must document the coolness of William and scouts.  He has some good leaders that have planned some fun activities.  This morning they spoke to a person in the military and found out more about that.  These are the pictures his leader sent me.

 Getting to try on a dress coat for a military official.

 Cool army hats.

William really liked the gas mask.  He thought it was cool to have seen the Slow-Mo guys use them as well.

Achieving great things!

Such a blurry picture.  But it is hard to take a photo of a jumping kid.  Man, encouraging this kid can be quite the job sometimes.  He is so busy and helping him stay on task, we can all get grumpy about life sometimes.  But this afternoon, he was excited to do these high jumps.  He has been given some soccer homework to do each day from coach.  50 sit ups, 50 push ups, and 200 triangles.  I make him do something extra, mean mom that I am.  Well, today he was on a roll with his 50/50/200, I had a good song on and he was excited.  I told him to do his high jumps.  With every jump he touched the ceiling!  EVERY SINGLE JUMP!  Before Christmas he was not able to touch that often, but somewhere along the way, he can do it!!!!  Coach once said that if you can jump and touch the ceiling, you can touch the top of the BIG goal.  Such a great accomplishment!  Well, while we were on such a success streak, I measured him, and somewhere along the way....he has grown over an inch taller!!!  To top it all off, he has straight A's for the second quarter this school year. WOW!!!  All that work and encouragement and cheerleading and nagging.....something is working.  GO CALEB!!!

So.... Christmas happened

Man, we really have not been that busy.  Just trying to help people get better.  If it is not coughing, throw up duty, getting tissues for someone.....no time to think about what happened during Christmas.  But now, it must be remembered, to remember the fun and relaxing moments.

 Jelly bean Santa.  One of Caleb's teammates was so generous and gave us this ginormous bag of jelly beans.  Good thing they are tasty.

 Had our sleepover under the tree.  Snuggly blankets and pretty lights to look at as we go to sleep.

 Christmas morning and it was wonderful.  There was snow to play in, snow ice cream to make and eat and fun presents to enjoy.  Peter and Caleb spent a good portion of the day reading their new comic books and other books.

 They also took time to play with their new legos.  Because of the snow we ended up staying home the entire day, it was wonderful!

 They had all the time they wanted to read, play, read some more and Haley and William took some time to draw with Rob.

Of course we made time to play in the fresh, awesome, beautiful snow.  Snow forts....

 And Caleb's huge snowball.  He was very proud of that one.  Fortunately for all of us, he just chucked it into the street instead of at one of us.  I was worried about how much it would hurt.

One last shot, beautiful Haley, with two of her favorite gifts.  You may have noticed in some of the pictures that there was a remote control car here and there.  Each of the kids received one and we took some chances to go to the church and drive them around.  They were a big hit!  The other terrific gift they received was from Grandpa Terry.  He got them a 30 day swimming pass.  We have been having fun swimming and enjoying time together.  Good times, even if the sick bug hit.

Day 3 and done

Good thing there were only three days of school this week, I was struggling with things to come up with for "fun" Christmas lunches.  Today.....probably pretty lame.  But, at least I attempted.  My most brilliant idea was to put in in the stocking.  I also included more jokes.  My favorite, "What goes oh, oh, oh?  Santa walking backwards." HA! One more, "what goes Ho, Ho Whoosh! Ho, Ho Whoosh?  Santa stuck in a revolving door."  Merry Christmas!!!!