Swimming Lessons

After we got back from Idaho in July, the boys began swimming lessons. Even though we don't have a pool, swimming lessons are something that we have had the boys doing every summer for the last 5 years. I just really believe that no matter how often you swim, you should know how. Lessons here are given in 2 week sessions. I was able to sign Tristan and Jasen up for 3 sessions (6 weeks) and Hunter up for 2 sessions (4 weeks).

Tristan has been in lessons every year since he was 4. Tristan started in level 3, and he passed after the first session. Since lessons only go to level 4, and they don't offer level 4 at our pool, we decided that he could be done with lessons now. He really is a good swimmer, and I don't worry too much about him.

Jasen has been in lessons since he was 3. This year Jasen started in level 2. He passed level 2 after the second session. So his last session was in level 3, and he also passed that! I do feel pretty confident in his abilities, but I think maybe next year he'll do level 3 one more time just as a reminder course.






Hunter has never been in lessons before. So he started in the very beginner class- preschool level 1, which is for 3-5 year olds who have never had any lessons before. Hunter loves the water, but before lessons he was also pretty skittish in the pool. He always wore floaties, and never liked to come off the steps. Now, after lessons, he's doing great. He loves to hold onto the side of the pool and kick, blow bubbles in the water, wade out and get a ring. After 2 sessions, Hunter passed! I am so proud of him! He is much more comfortable in the water, and even lets us hold him to float and practice his kicks and arms. So swimming lessons are done for us this summer. But it was fun and the boys all did great! I am proud of each one of them for passing their classes.

Football Party

Tristan and Jasen 's end-of-season football party was today. It was so nice to get together with everyone and hang out for a bit. Then of course came the trophies! Coach always gives a little speech about each kid before he gives them their trophy, and the boys were both stoked.

About Jasen he said that he had made a ton of progress during the last season, and he was so proud of hard Jasen plays for being on of the smallest kids on the team. And he mentioned how Jasen was the only kid to use a double leg takedown to tackle someone!

About Tristan he said that he was one of the best players on the peewee team, that he was a great teammate. Always helping the younger kids, and doing a great job where ever they needed him. As a midget player, coach said that Tristan showed a lot of heart for being one of the smaller kids on the team. But that he really stepped up and showed what a good player and team assest he is.

Cereal

Today we gave baby B a little rice cereal for the first time. I think she liked it. She made the most sour face every time the spoon went in, but then she would start pushing it around with her tongue and smiling.

Hot Tub

So Cahl found this really awesome hot tub on craigslist- for free. Yes, FREE! It is 8x11 feet, and it took a crane to get it out of the guys backyard and into ours. Luckily we know a guy with a crane! It is older, and needed a little work, but we got it up and running in a few days. We still need to repaint it, and get it moved to where we want it permanently, but so far everyone has been loving it!

School Awards

Today was the boys' end-of-the-school-year award ceremony.

Once again, Jasen made the straight A Honor Roll! We are so incredibly proud of him. He has had straight A's all year long, in fact, he has had them for 2 straight years! His teacher, Ms. Elwell, has just been wonderful. She has always encouraged him to go so far ahead because she knows he can. And he has truly excelled in school. His grade levels are all well above average. He is reading and writing at a significantly higher level, and surpassed all the goals she has set for him throughout the year. In fact, he passed the 1000 sight words, and is already 200 into the sight phrases. He was so proud to have his picture taken with the principal and vice principal, and hung up in the hallway Sight Words Superstars gallery. The best thing about Jasen, is that he is just so happy to learn. He loves school and it really shows.

Jasen at the Sight Word Superstar gallery

with his picture

Jasen

Tristan received the Citizenship Award, and we are so proud of him as well. He has worked very hard this year at his school work, and has made progress in raising his grades. He still has a ways to go, but his goal for next year is to be on the A-B honor roll, and I am pretty confident that he can do it if he stays dedicated. Once we got him into a better class this year, he made serious progress as well. Tristan does better with a stricter, more structured environment, and that is exactly what Ms Schrader gave him. She also went above and beyond with him, by sending home extra phonics packets for him to do, and helping get him into an after school tutoring program. Doing that, along with his spelling words and sight words every night really helped bring his grades up. I can see the difference just when I am doing his homework with him. And it's so great to see him getting excited about doing his homework, because he knows he can do well if he puts out the effort. Now he takes books to his room and I can hear him reading out loud, and he's doing such a good job.

Tristan