Baseball Season 2012

Baseball season came and went before we knew it.  Matthew played T-ball and Heather played Ponytail League (that is where the girls pitch to each other).  Each game was unique and had fun highlights.

Matthew had a great coach who actually pitched to them first before he would bring out the tee.  This made the game longer but totally worth it for the boys.  Matthew had fun playing outfield, talking to his teammates and those of the opposing team.  He would also start his own game of tag.  When the coaches would yell "tag them," Matthew would take off and chase the runners to tag them.  The only problem was, he didn't have the ball.  He was happily playing tag with the kids.  I finally had to explain to him that is not what "tag" means in baseball.

Heather had her first year in player pitch league.  Despite an unfortunate coach assignment, she had a great season.  Heather played third base and got many outs with fly ball catching and tagging runners (she actually understands what "tag" means).  She also hit nearly every time she got up to bat.  I loved watching her play. 

Singing Their Hearts Out

Luke and Lindsey both had their final choir concert in May.  At their junior high, the seventh grade girls are in an all-girls choir and the eighth grade boys are in a mixed choir.  Lindsey's group did a rendition of Footloose.  It is not quite the same feel as the music from the 80's when performed by a choir, but it was still fun.  Lindsey had to choreograph the dancing for the performance and did a great job.  Luke's group did a medly of songs from the late 70's.  You could tell that both Luke and Lindsey had fun performing.

The week after the final choir concert, the music teacher held madrigal tryouts.  The madrigal choir at the junior high is an all-girl choir.  Lindsey tried out for it and made it.  She was one of only two seventh graders that made it.  She was very excited and is now looking forward to next year.

Lego Mindstorms

Heather had the opportunity to participate in Lego Mindstorms this year.  She and her partner meet after school and build a robot, program it, and test it-- all in preparation for the Mindstorms competition.  A couple of days before the competition they had a parent's open house to show us what they had accomplished.  I must admit, I was very impressed.  As Heather and her partner walked me through how they had programmed their robot, I realized I didn't understand the words coming out of their mouths.  I just smiled and told them how smart they were.  I'm not sure if I should be happy that my children are so smart and learning so much, or feel bad that I feel kind of dumb.  I will choose to be happy!

I enjoyed Heather's partner, he was positive they were going to win.  He had a scout campout the day of the contest and had to leave before awards were given.  He gave Heather his mom's cell phone number so Heather could call her with the results then the mother could call him at scout camp and let him know the outcome.  They didn't win, but they did get second place which included a medal.  Good Job!

Matthew Graduates Preschool

As you can tell, I am playing catch up for the end of the school year and into Summer.  It seems like we stepped on a slippery slide in about March and have been speeding through time since then.  Things haven't reallys slowed down but the guilt has gotten greater so I am making a better effort to record events.  Since Matthew starts Kindergarten in two weeks, I thought it was important to record the events of preschool graduation before the next era of education begins.

Matthew had a great preschool experience this year.  He was in a carpool with three other friends in the neighborhood and their discussions were never dull.  I learned that five year olds debate everything!! There were healthy discussions about who's brother was the strongest, where babies come from, which color trash can is better--green or black, if snow skiing is better than surfing, which Disney princess is the best, etc, etc, etc, (and I mean etc).  I had no idea that preschoolers were so knowledgeable about so many different subjects.  I will miss those rides Miss Tonya's house.

The graduation ceremony itself was fun.  Miss Tonya had created a slide show and story that she shared and the children sang songs that went along with it.  I realized Matthew is quite tall for his age when he stands next to all the others.  I think the boys around him were more concerned with the balloons behind them than singing the songs but that's what makes it funny to watch.  I'm grateful for the friends and teachers Matthew had in preschool.  He is very prepared to start Kindergarten and he is quite excited to do so.