The Magic of a Moment

Every year the school participates in the PTA Reflections program. Students can submit entries in different categories like visual art, photography, literature, choreography, and musical composition. This week both Nathan and Joshua submitted their work for the theme, "The Magic of a Moment."

Last month Joshua's teacher had the kids write something for Reflections. He chose to write about a rainbow. When he brought it home, I asked him a few clarifying questions and he added some more details. Just a few months ago, we couldn't get Joshua to write more than the minimum required for an assignment. Now he LOVES to write! Even though he didn't win the contest, Joshua received a certificate and small prize at the Awards Night tonight.

This is what he wrote:

The Magic of a Moment

Rainbow

One time when it was raining, I was standing on my porch. I looked at the mountains and saw a rainbow. It looked like it split in half. That is called a double rainbow. My dad took a picture of it. It looked beautiful. It is magic to me because I have never seen a double rainbow before.

Nathan has been working with his friend, Matthew, on a musical composition for his Reflections entry. Although he complains almost daily about practicing the piano and begs to quit, he has been EXTREMELY excited about writing and performing this piece!

Their song is titled "A Walk in the Forest" and is about two friends (a piano part and a violin part) who start off walking together and then they get separated from each other as a storm comes in. At the end they find each other again (which I believe is the magical moment). They were able to perform their piece at the Awards Night this evening. Although the song is simpler than some of the other music we heard tonight, I am proud that Nathan set a goal and used his new talents to create something new!

Committed Kids

This week both Benjamin and Joshua were recognized at a school Character Counts assembly for being Committed. I'm glad that they both work hard at school, and that their teachers have noticed that they love school and learning!

First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school! Things went smoothly this morning -- I love that they are excited for school! And everyone had a great day with their new teachers and classmates.

Nathan is in 5th grade

Benjamin is in 3rd grade

Joshua is in 1st grade -- his first year of going all day. Elizabeth and I will miss him!

Play Ball: Joshua

Joshua is enjoying his first year of baseball. He is at the age where they do T-ball, but sometimes his coach will pitch to him. He knows many of the kids on his team from school, and it has been great that Coach Brady is our backyard neighbor!

It definitely helps to have 2 older brothers . . . you can tell that he knows what to do a lot more than most of his teammates! They take turns getting to play the different field positions, and I was very impressed today when he got to play catcher. He has been listening to his dad tell Nathan's friend that "your job as catcher is to not let that ball get past you"!

getting ready to run to 3rd base

We dig, dig, dig!

We have lived in our house for almost five years. The lots behind us have remained empty fields, until just a few months ago. With summer and the desire for shade approaching, and now the possibility of people being able to look into our backyard easily from their house, I realized it is time for some trees in the back. Of course, I should have planned for this years ago so that the trees would be larger and provide more shade and privacy by now! Oh well!


Last week I bought a flowering plum and a flowering pear tree. Today for Memorial Day, Ryan and the boys worked to plant the plum tree. And when I say worked, I mean that they spent hours and labored very hard to dig up the compacted and rocky soil. It was not at all easy!

Their hard work paid off, and the tree looks great! (I forgot to take pictures of the "after".) I think the plan is to plant the pear tree on Saturday. Thank you, Ryan, for working so hard to make me happy!

Dance Festival

Today was the last day of school . . . already! Every year Provost has a dance festival: the parents come watch each grade perform a dance, and then everyone goes home for the summer. So really the last day of school only lasts about 90 minutes!

Before the dancing started, I thanked all of the parents on behalf of the PTA. Then I "passed the baton" on to next year's president.

 

The fourth graders have been learning the violin this year. They performed a few songs for everyone to start off the festival. Nathan is in the middle of this picture with the star in the middle of his cowboy hat.

 

It was a rainy day and we were all concerned about how we would get through all of the dances -- there is just not enough room to move it all to the gym. Many parents had umbrellas and jackets, and we prayed that the rain would not turn into a downpour. Thankfully, the rain stayed fairly light until we were done, and then it got heavy!

Joshua and the kindergarteners performed the Macarena.

 Joshua stands out in his blue jacket

Benjamin and the 2nd graders performed a Snowman medley. Second grade does it every year and it is always my favorite!

We sat on the side, but from the front you'd be able to tell that the kids are holding the different parts of the snowman. Of course, Benjamin is in the front!

Nathan and the 4th graders did line dancing to the Boot Scoot Boogie. Then everyone was invited to dance with them.

Tumbling Tots

Elizabeth is taking the Tumbling Tots class from Provo city, and she loves it! She gets to go twice a week for about 7 weeks. Her teacher Miss Janice is wonderful, and the kids get to do things like a small balance beam, forward rolls, head stands, swinging on a bar, the parachute, and jumping on a little trampoline.

Her best friend, Izzy, is also in the class. Joshua is not enrolled, but he gets to watch since he is not in kindergarten during that time. Sometimes Miss Janice will let Joshua participate if some of the other kids don't show up :)

Elizabeth has always been full of energy, and I love that Tumbling Tots is a positive way for her to get that energy out! She has no fear, and loves doing every activity!

Angry Bird Birthday

Six years ago Joshua joined our family! We are so grateful for his fun, happy, boisterous personality!

To celebrate, we had an Angry Birds party. I'm not necessarily the most creative person, but I can copy other people's great ideas!

decorations

Angry Birds coloring pages

the brothers were excited they could participate

We spent a lot of time playing Angry Birds in real life in the backyard. We used cardboard boxes, green balloons for the pigs, and a red playground ball for the bird. I divided the kids into two teams, and they took turns: one team threw the bird and the other team was in charge of setting up the boxes into whatever configuration they wanted.

 treat bags, filled with plastic eggs and other goodies

the cake

 presents

After the friend party we had dinner and then family presents.

 I love his enthusiasm!

Legos!

ready for baseball with a lefty glove

Flat Stanley

Joshua recently received a letter from cousin Blake, asking for help with a Flat Stanley project. Joshua got to decorate Stanley however he wanted. Then he was to take a picture with Stanley, write a letter telling a little about our part of the world that Stanley got to visit, and then mail everything to Blake's class.

As we were taking pictures with Stanley, Elizabeth wandered over. These two are so sweet with each other!

Random Cuteness

I just had to take a few pictures of Elizabeth and Joshua this morning. They were so cute playing in Elizabeth's room together, and then Joshua started reading to her!

Later, Elizabeth found some of my jewelry. I took away the pieces I cared about, and found some old jewelry that she could play with. So cute!

School Days

I've been in the school a lot the last couple of weeks to take pictures for a PTA slideshow. I think I took about a hundred pictures, and in the process I got a few of my own kids :)

This year the PTA brought the Great Artist program to our school. Each classroom receives 6 lessons throughout the year, and in each one they study an artist and his work. Then they learn some techniques to then create their own version of the artist's masterpiece. The PTA volunteers teach the lessons, and the whole program has been well-received from everyone involved!

Nathan is creating Water Lilies by Monet

Joshua is using pastels to create Apples and Oranges by Cezanne

When I was in the hall, I discovered this cute paper from Benjamin: Me at 100 Years Old. I couldn't help but smile at the picture, and laugh at what he wrote.

"When I am 100, I will be so skinny. I will play checkers but I will have nobody to play with because I will be too old to go visiting. I will play 2 hours of the Wii which will be very bad. I will read so many books that my imagination will go wild! I'll probably spend two hours in the bathroom. It will be a different life to live to 100."

Nathan and all 4th graders are learning the violin. Instead of going to the regular music teacher a couple times a week, they go to the orchestra teacher 4 days a week! I love that they get to learn a new skill. And it is helpful that it reinforces what Nathan is learning in piano in a way that he enjoys!