Nick's piano recital #2

Nick is doing great in his piano lessons. He loves to figure out how to play songs on the radio or from church; he loves to make up songs. He doesn't love to practice, unless they are "his" songs, and he enjoys teaching his friends how to play. Cool! Love this kid!

field trip fun in fourth grade

Nick and best buddy, Malik, at BNSF

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (railroad headquarters here near our home)

 Nick's two awesome teachers and myself. We had a great time on field trips and in class this year. Great educators and fun ladies!

 Measuring heat/coldness in ground and above ground

Looking at pond life through a microscope

 Observing and drawing nature scenes...

 Each elementary in our district has a plot of land to start planting bright flowers for this "butterfly garden"...we have found some gorgeously, bright flowers plants for our yard that bring lots of butterflies our way--

 We went to see a play called Deep in the Heart and it was a musical about the history and famous folks of Texas...really, really entertaining! We loved it! (and learned a lot)

I love going on field trips with my kids; this time passes so quickly...and I am soaking up all the shared trips, lunches, and games that we attend with and for our kids. I am going to have severe withdrawls in the near future--when our kids are in high school and we barely see them...I don't even want to talk about college out of state...

Spelling Whiz

 It started with about 30 kids between 3rd and 5th grade... here's Nick spelling his word:

Each round, some kids were eliminated, until only Nick and another fourth grader were left. They each had to spell two words in a row correctly to be the winner. They went back and forth, spelling one right, missing one, spelling one right and missing one. Finally, the other boy spelled two right and Nick was declared Runner Up and 2nd place in the SRE Spelling Bee.

 Just a note to APPLAUD Nick for coming in 2nd place in his schoolwide spelling bee today!!! The words he was given to study were so challenging:

enzyme

succint

prejudice

duodenum

monstrosity

effervescent

and some I can't remember because, although I've heard of them and read them before, I don't know exactly what they mean.

While we studied this week, Nick was writing down the words he'd never heard of or spelled (about 75) and making notes on meaning and little gimmicks (one of the words!) to remember their spelling or pronunciation. I enjoyed every minute sitting by him on the coach or on my bed, with blankets, quietly quizzing him and watching his interesting brain work :)   He is the runner up for the Area Spelling Bee and as such, will get a list of words to study (just in case he ends up going; if first place boy can't attend), latin roots, suffixes and prefixes, etymologies, etc. I am excited about studying that with him! This is one of the things that uniquely brought me and Ted together: our love of language(s), words and reading. He was teaching French at the Univ of Utah and I was a Spanish graduate. and we have studied each others languages, so there is lots we can say that the kids can't understand ;)   although we can't wait til they take those classes and we go abroad to live: my dream!

Cub Scout Caroling

We took our Cub Scout pack to a nursing home nearby on Sunday, Dec 20th. They sang lots of songs (all the scouts' siblings came which was wonderful!) We had about 25 people. Our Wolf Den Leader (a marvel!), Kristi Johansen, taught the boys (and some girls) how to play these chimes and so the kids played some pretty Christmas carols on the chimes for those in the lobby and cafeteria. It really brought the Spirit of Christ(mas)! I love going caroling!

Here's Maddie and some of scout siblings:

and here is Nick (next to Pete and Vince) playing the chimes.

Way to go, boys!

Sugar Plums danced

The entire 3rd grade went to see a shortened version of The Nutcracker on the last day of school (yesterday), thus Nick's snazzy attire...

Then the class had a big party with crafts and cookie decorating (sugar cookies made by yours truly, a family tradition and love). Moms and Dads were chaperones and class helpers. I love being part of the school functions and classroom events. Love knowing the faculty and teachers.

ward friends, the Hopkins, and neigbhorhood friends

Enjoying the treats!

Nick's Kickin' it!

Nick plays soccer every fall. This year his team took it up a notch and traveled around the DFW area for games that were pretty intense--his team is nearly tied for first, but we have a few games left. He enjoys being Defender and keeping the goal area free & clear.

Nick begged us this summer to play tackle football, but we were quite nervous about the Texan fired-up focus on football, the number of practices and the heat of Aug/Sept practices; Nick was sorely disappointed to say the least. He plays football (or american football, since "futbol" is soccer all over the world=foot+ball=soccer) every day at recess and after school with friends. Maybe next summer we'll be up for the challenge...

Nick's team is made up of kids from all over the globe; it has been fun for me to talk to parents from England, Mexico, India and make new international friends. One of my loves of life, outside my family, is international friendships and cultures.

Cub Scout FUN day rocks!

Get a bunch of boys, about 20 games, sports, and high energy--

and you have a CUB SCOUT FUN DAY!

A very Texan sport: calf roping!

Archery and BB gun-shooting

Walking on tin cans--it's harder than it looks!

Bowling on the Green

and waiting in line for the rock-climbing wall...

I don't think 8-9 year old boys know how to NOT make a funny face for the camera!

I want to mention that I am the Cubmaster and I am loving this volunteer work!!

Nick's RESPONSIBILITY award

Every six weeks, Nick's school gives out special "Character" awards. This 2nd six weeks theme was "Responsiblity" and Nick and a few others in his class were awarded that wonderful award. He was so proud; we are so proud! Keep on doing what you're doing, Nick!!

School's Cool

If you know Maddie, you might think this is her locker.

Fooled you!

Nick wanted this backpack this year as he has become a fan of one of the Jo Bros. songs (due to Maddie's several CDs of them) and requested this backpack, even after hearing my warning about possible teasing. He replied, "I don't care. They're cool."

Way to stick up for your feelings, Nick!

Way to not change yourself or worry what others might think!

First day in late August, Maddie came with us to drop off Nick at his beautiful new school. Walking/biking distance. We LOVE it! Oh, important note: Nick went to UT with Ted in August and at some yard sale (Ted's favorite Saturday activity, besides football games), they bought this way-too-big shirt for Nick that says, "I go to school for the chicks." No comment. Here is Nick's excited face as we pulled up to school and I asked to take his photo. If you saw that funny movie, Bedtime Stories, and remember the gineau pig, those are the eyes and below are some pretty 'beaverish' teeth... Nick at his desk the first day, being goofy and below, getting down to business. Here is Nick's best buddy, Malik, who loves to play sports, as does Nick.

These 3rd graders have lockers in the hallway (no locks) for backpacks & coats. Nick loves finding his every year with his name on it. MIDDLE SCHOOL: 7th grade!!

Maddie and her good friend since 3rd grade

We went a day early to set up her locker and pick up her schedule. She has the basic academic classes plus: Varsity Choir, Skills For Living (Home Ec.), Athletics (plans to try out for basketball next week), Student Council and she is in the Fall Musical, Aladdin. Busy and happy about it all!

Maddie is so excited about her new desk!! IKEA treats you right!

She keeps photos of her childhood, family & friends; crafts she has made, homework files, art stuff, etc. She looks so cute studying at it and we love that our kids love school, have great teachers, great friends, and high ideals!

We heart you, Marty and Bert!

(Nick's new nicknames for himself and Maddie)

Creative Book Nooks

We love this new idea for making creative places to read---Nick read more in the week we did than ever before!

We grabbed a milk jug covered in aluminum foil (Nick's Cub Scout Twilight camp medieval costume helmet: that's mouthfull) and filled it with about 30 papers that said things like:

read in the tub

make a fort and read in it

read under the (mini) pool table

read on the counter

read on a blanket in the yard

Before I take credit for this idea, I admit to putting it together out of two things: Natasha's summer bingo cards (from a fabulous personal blog called Playful.Productive.Present)

http://stacysbigpicture.typepad.com/altogether_too_happy/2009/06/quote-for-june-18.html

and from Family Fun Magazine which we love! You can read about any fun idea involving kids online at their online magazine.

So the above is when Nick drew out, "Lay on all the couch pillows and read."

This one was "sit on a soccer chair in the big red chair and read" The super cozy place, "Read in mom's tub"

And lastly, but not in the least, "Read in a home-made fort"

Nick had so much fun picking these out and following what they said. I love Creative People who share ideas online with us so we can make more out of everyday life!

New dog!!!

Introducing Jae Aaron (Sedrick) Buckwalter

Nick labored over middle names for the dog and looked them up on the Internet, in English, Spanish and French. He almost went with "Neige" which means "Snow" in French and is common as a pet name for white furry creatures.

I was really hoping for something like Felipe, which sounds great in all 3 languages.

But Nick was in charge of it. He is the one who has begged for years to get a dog.

Jae is half poodle (yea for no-shedding!) and half maltese.

Look at this lover dog. He LOVES to lick (which the kids like, but I'm training him to love me without licking me) :) and he loves to cuddle and lay on us or by us.

Nick could not wait to give him a bath Nick was cracking up that dogs look like big rats when wet.

Here he is with his towel/shawl in midst of a yawn...though he was not bored during the bath; stressed would be the word I think.

Now he is ready to relax in style, smelling good (since we used one of our fragrant shampoos!). We have yet to buy 'doggie shampoo' but we like his fresh, clean, lavendar smell.

Our dear friends are moving (to UT -- thank goodness, as we know we'll see them when we visit there, which is yearly) and they gave us their dog, Jae. We have kept him for the past few years whenever they are out of town. The kids are so PYSCHED! I don't know if I ever wrote that we did not keep our big, beautiful Boxer after she literally ate our wooden backyard fence whenever we were gone; she escaped and neighbors called us worried. She was extremely lonely having been raised with another dog and so we found her a new home with 2 dogs, 2 acres, and 2 kids. Nick was very sad, but we told him we'd be on the lookout for another dog, smaller and more happy to be here, even when we are gone. Jae is very happy and easy to have here. He is quiet and sweet and we love him. We feel so lucky and we thank the Sedricks for giving us their precious pet! Ahhh, now Nick will stop making signs to put all over the house that say, "Let's go get a new dog!" listing all the types of dogs we might be interested in.

It seems to me that every boy needs a dog. :)