Jayson - Court of Honor

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This Past Week

Thanks to the 3-day weekend, we got a few things done around here.

The Bathroom Project we have been working on since April is now (mostly) finished.  Just as we were finishing the floor the bathtub stopped draining so we need to have that looked at.  The toilet is now having issues so we will need to get a new one, and I want to still change out the faucet.  But other than those things this bathroom is much improved!  Here are the before and after pictures.

 

On Wednesday, Ms M started preschool at a in-home preschool just up the street from us.  She goes twice a week for 2 hours each time.  I think she is going to love it.  Especially the getting to socialize with other little girls part.

On Thursday, one brother-who wishes to remain anonymous-allowed Ms M the priviledge of painting his toe nails.  She was so excited.  She had already painted my finger and toe nails and was looking for her next client.

We also hosted a wedding shower on Thursday for the Bride-to-Be in our family.  I am amazed at how excited we all are for this event.  Especially the two youngest.  A is already counting down the days.  And M is asking every day (sometimes more than once a day) when the wedding is.  Cute...so cute.

And speaking of Labour Day.  This is some fun the younger kids had that day.

Project Completed

We both survived his "BIG Project" for the sixth grade History Fair.

The Black Plague was his subject and his complete project included:

A ten page written report, plus graphs and picture gallery, vocab words and definitions, position statement, opinion poll, time line, political cartoon, author's observations and bibliography all neatly put together in a three ring binder and that was just the written part of the project- you know the one we were racing to finish.  There was also a written speech with the speech report done in class, and then setup and presentation on History Fair Day which included the project display board with a decorated table complete with 5 items (2 handmade) and the student dressed in a costume.

I am so glad that project over with!!

  

Next big thing for this young man, Middle School...Yikes.

I also can't forget to mention he earned his Purple Belt in Karate.  It was one of those crazy busy soccer Saturdays way back in May, but his dad did watch him kick and chop his way to passing off all that was required.  Awesome!

Family Soccer Party

Last Saturday, we attended his post season soccer party as a family.  All year long he has worked hard at home, at trainings and in the game and it has paid off.  His team won their division and he received most improved player.

Next soccer season will be different.  He is switching soccer clubs and teams.  We will miss the great soccer leadership and direction we found in the FORZA futbol club but he will get the chance to play with his best friend and it will be so much closer to home.

At his party all the families got together and played dodgeball.  I don't think I have played that since elementary school.  All I can say is it was fuuuuuuuuuun!  You could tell the kids really enjoyed being able to play with and against their parents.  We played for over an hour and my body paid the price the next day but I am so looking forward to when I will be able to play that game again.  Maybe for a family reunion?  That would be great fun!

Springtime Celebrations

A few events that were recently celebrated.

My favorite cub scout earned his BEAR rank.

My favorite KINDERGARTENER celebrated his
6th birthday

With FRIENDS

With FAMILY

At SCHOOL

And then yesterday we celebrated EASTER.

Next up for our family
SOCCER, SOCCER, SOCCER, SOCCER
As 4 out of 5 of our kids with be playing this spring,
each on their own team. HELP!

Honored

Two weeks ago he was honored.

Honored for becoming an Eagle Scout.

We are so proud of him. He set a goal-and accomplished it. Awesome!


It was NOT at the pushing of his father and I that he got it done so early nor was it because we helped him out so much. He had two GREAT Scout Leaders that helped him along and let him know what he needed to do and it was his desire to get it done by his 14th birthday.

He did the work and he was rewarded.

We were honored to have so many family and friends at his Court of Honor to help us celebrate in him becoming an Eagle Scout and I could tell he was happy to have them there too.

I am honored to be his mother.

Third Time was a Charm

It only took three serious attempts to get this girl potty-trained.
She is on day 5 now and doing so well.

After four boys, people kept telling me that girls are easier to potty-train than boys, so I was hopeful when I attempted for the first time almost a year ago.
She let me know loud and clear it was NOT happening!

I think that I am mostly to blame as I consider myself one of the worst "potty-trainers" around.
However, I think we are on the right track now and she is looking so much more grown up to me and not nearly as stubborn as I once mentioned before.

One Project Each Month

So, I think I have decided to finally but into action all of the fix-ups that are going on in my head.

Our house is... well outdated, and needing a lot of help in some areas. So I am going to pick a place in our home each month that I/we can update, paint, replace, etc.

First on the list was the washroom.

For a while I have been wanting a clothing rod that I can hang warm and unwrinkled clothes on that come fresh out of the dryer. But first I needed to paint those ugly cabinets and get some color on the walls.

So for January, that is what we did.

My husband helped me a lot with the painting of the cabinets which is really nice since it is such a tedious job. And minus a few touch ups and the replacing of the dated light fixture I can call this room done.

Maybe that will be February's project- to located a unique and inexpensive fixture for the washroom and install it.

Eagle Scout

Invitation card made with Smilebox

The Great Speller Who Had A Birthday and Caught a Fish or Four

A few weeks ago I attended for the first time ever
a spelling bee. It was for my third grader who happens to be
a great speller.

I was so proud that he even made it to his school spelling bee
that anything above that was icing on the cake.
He made into the second round,
before he was eliminated.
He did GREAT.

However, I felt bad that I didn't help him prepare more.
We didn't study very much and
I had no idea what the format was going to be like.

We learned a lot this go around,
so next year when he gets the chance
he will be ready!

Last week he turned 9.
I can't believe it,
my little california boy
is NOT so little anymore.

And on his birthday
we weren't able to do a lot of celebrating.
But we did last night.

And this past weekend
when the weather was really cold and rainy
his uncle took him and his cousins fishing
and he caught 4 fish.
But he didn't want to get too close to them.

The Call

We got a call last week from the middle school
and it was a good thing
take a look


"kind, respectful and good."
I couldn't agree more!

The Weekend

The weekend started out
with attendance to my Older Brother's Graduation,
he is now a PhD.

It was a long road for him and his family,
and I think the most special moment of the day
was when he thanked his wife for sticking it out with him.


During his many years in the doctorate program,
they faced together 3 bouts of cancer.
All of which his wife endured and overcame.

Amazing.

My Younger Brother also graduated this day.
He received his BS degree and is currently looking to
further his college education. Unfortunately,
because it was 300 hundred miles away
I couldn't attend.


But he had the support of four other siblings,
my mom, and his wife.
So I think he was in good company.

A Great Accomplishment in so little time.

Saturday was a first for our youngest son.
He played in his first soccer game.
He was so excited and then at the end was so ready to be done.

His participation in the game went just like I thought it would.

Out third son also played a soccer game on Saturday
but it was at the same time as his brother's
so his Dad went with him.


He is excelling at a sport that we love.
And we look forward to watching him grow even more
this coming year as he enters competition soccer.

And finally, I got spend Mother's Day with my family.
Just like it should be.
We had our annual photo shoot.
And it was crazy.
Just like it always is.




But all these pictures are priceless to me.