Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Preschool
Josh is feeling gyped that I didn't include pictures of him in preschool on the blog. So, to give him equal playing time, here goes.
We did a co-op preschool for Josh with friends this year. We had five cute kids in our preschool and it was lots and lots of fun. Josh really enjoyed it. He learned all kinds of interesting things and got to go on fun field trips. I enjoyed it too and was continually amazed at the creativity of the gals I did the preschool with. Josh couldn't have had better teachers anywhere. It was a great year!
We did a co-op preschool for Josh with friends this year. We had five cute kids in our preschool and it was lots and lots of fun. Josh really enjoyed it. He learned all kinds of interesting things and got to go on fun field trips. I enjoyed it too and was continually amazed at the creativity of the gals I did the preschool with. Josh couldn't have had better teachers anywhere. It was a great year!
Community Workers
Josh, Wyatt, Addison, Chloe, Jace
Josh, Wyatt, Addison, Chloe, Jace
Field trip to Sweet Berry Farm's corn field maze.
Christmas caroling at the rest home.
Safari!
Wyatt, Josh, Jace, Chloe, Addison
Wyatt, Josh, Jace, Chloe, Addison
Preschool Graduation 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tales of a 4th Grade Parent
YEAH! Seth and Aleah have successfully finished the 4th grade. They had their "ceremony" and it is official and everything.
Let me tell you, I could not be happier that this school year is over. It has been a lot of WORK and Dalen and I seriously need a break! Here are a few of the projects that Seth and Aleah completed for school this year. They had multiple book reports and a timeline and the gigantic science project, along with several smaller projects.
It seemed to me that the kids were continually being assigned projects to be done at home. And invariably, the first assignment for each of these projects was that the parents had to read over the requirements and sign off saying that they understood the assignment. They might as well have sent home a giant warning sign saying "Parents, there is no possible way that any 4th grader could ever complete this project on their own, so you are going to have to help them." But then they would always warn you that the project was supposed to be the child's own work and not the work of the parents. What this really translates into is hours and hours of work as you "help" your kids. I am not saying that I don't see that there is value in doing projects at home. The kids actually learned a TON. However, I did question what my children were supposed to learn from such things as being required to hand write a project in cursive and in INK. It seems to me that the only thing they learned from that was how to use a lot of Wite-Out. The other thing that I found difficult to swallow was all of the drawing and coloring that went along with the projects. In the first place, it took a ridiculously large amount of time. And secondly, these projects were not considered "art" projects but they were continually graded on the "neatness" of the artwork in addition to the written content and oral presentations for the project. Thankfully, my kids have always received good grades for their entire projects. But, I couldn't help but wonder how they would have been graded if they had turned in something that looked like the picture below. (Not that I am saying my kids are little Picasso's, but I'm not sure that their teachers would recognize it if they were.)
Anyway, I'll guess I'll quit complaining now. For the most part, I am happy with Seth and Aleah's school. It really is a good school.
I am really going to have to take advantage of the summer break to rest up, because I have heard that 5th grade has even more projects. Oh, my!
Here they are on their last day of class.
And here they are with their teachers.
Let me tell you, I could not be happier that this school year is over. It has been a lot of WORK and Dalen and I seriously need a break! Here are a few of the projects that Seth and Aleah completed for school this year. They had multiple book reports and a timeline and the gigantic science project, along with several smaller projects.
It seemed to me that the kids were continually being assigned projects to be done at home. And invariably, the first assignment for each of these projects was that the parents had to read over the requirements and sign off saying that they understood the assignment. They might as well have sent home a giant warning sign saying "Parents, there is no possible way that any 4th grader could ever complete this project on their own, so you are going to have to help them." But then they would always warn you that the project was supposed to be the child's own work and not the work of the parents. What this really translates into is hours and hours of work as you "help" your kids. I am not saying that I don't see that there is value in doing projects at home. The kids actually learned a TON. However, I did question what my children were supposed to learn from such things as being required to hand write a project in cursive and in INK. It seems to me that the only thing they learned from that was how to use a lot of Wite-Out. The other thing that I found difficult to swallow was all of the drawing and coloring that went along with the projects. In the first place, it took a ridiculously large amount of time. And secondly, these projects were not considered "art" projects but they were continually graded on the "neatness" of the artwork in addition to the written content and oral presentations for the project. Thankfully, my kids have always received good grades for their entire projects. But, I couldn't help but wonder how they would have been graded if they had turned in something that looked like the picture below. (Not that I am saying my kids are little Picasso's, but I'm not sure that their teachers would recognize it if they were.)
("Head of a Woman" by Pablo Picasso)
Anyway, I'll guess I'll quit complaining now. For the most part, I am happy with Seth and Aleah's school. It really is a good school.
I am really going to have to take advantage of the summer break to rest up, because I have heard that 5th grade has even more projects. Oh, my!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Happy Birthday Dalen
A long time ago in a city far, far away.... this little guy was born. Isn't he cute?
Of course, he has changed a little since then. He is taller and he has less hair. But some things never change. We still think he's cute! And he is still loved by family and friends. We were very happy to celebrate Dalen's birthday this past week.
The kids decided that the best way to celebrate Dad's birthday was to take him swimming, so that's what we did. And since he is not a big fan of cake, we made him a peach pie. (That was delicious, if I do say so myself).
Glazed Peach Pie
Pastry:
2 - 1 oz. squares semi sweet chocolate
baked 9 inch pie shell
Filling:
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1/2 cup whipping cream
4 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (2 cups)
Glaze:
2 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (1 cup)
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
Melt chocolate and spread evenly over bottom of baked pie shell. Refrigerate until hardened. Beat cream cheese, icing sugar, and extract together with electric mixer until light and creamy. Whip cream in separate bowl until stiff. Fold into cheese mixture and spread over chocolate layer. Arrange peach slices on top of cheese filling. To make glaze, combine sugar and cornstarch in sauce pan. Puree peaches and lemon juice in food processor or blender until smooth and add to sugar and cornstarch. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened. Cool slightly and then spoon glaze over peaches. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
NOTE: Only use RIPE peaches! If you do not have ripe peaches, bottled peaches (Del Monte Orchard Select) are a great option. But peaches that are not ripe taste like wood - no matter how much sugar and cream cheese you put with them.
Of course, he has changed a little since then. He is taller and he has less hair. But some things never change. We still think he's cute! And he is still loved by family and friends. We were very happy to celebrate Dalen's birthday this past week.
The kids decided that the best way to celebrate Dad's birthday was to take him swimming, so that's what we did. And since he is not a big fan of cake, we made him a peach pie. (That was delicious, if I do say so myself).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALEN! WE LOVE YOU!
Glazed Peach Pie
Pastry:
2 - 1 oz. squares semi sweet chocolate
baked 9 inch pie shell
Filling:
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1/2 cup whipping cream
4 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (2 cups)
Glaze:
2 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (1 cup)
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
Melt chocolate and spread evenly over bottom of baked pie shell. Refrigerate until hardened. Beat cream cheese, icing sugar, and extract together with electric mixer until light and creamy. Whip cream in separate bowl until stiff. Fold into cheese mixture and spread over chocolate layer. Arrange peach slices on top of cheese filling. To make glaze, combine sugar and cornstarch in sauce pan. Puree peaches and lemon juice in food processor or blender until smooth and add to sugar and cornstarch. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened. Cool slightly and then spoon glaze over peaches. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
NOTE: Only use RIPE peaches! If you do not have ripe peaches, bottled peaches (Del Monte Orchard Select) are a great option. But peaches that are not ripe taste like wood - no matter how much sugar and cream cheese you put with them.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Boys and Girls
Last weekend was the father/son campout, so we packed up the boys on Friday and off they went. Both Seth and Josh said that their favorite part was swimming in the river. They arrived home on Saturday FILTHY and happy.
This was the first time that Josh has gone on this adventure. I have to admit that I was a little nervous because Josh has a tendency to wander and he never seems to look back. Last summer when we were on vacation, we lost him twice. But when I was at the grocery store buying s'mores fixin's and soda pop, I happened across some toy whistles and bought them for the boys to take along. That seemed to do the trick. Josh kept that whistle with him at all times and blew it every 2 1/2 seconds, so they always knew right where he was. He might have driven all the other campers nutty, but at least he didn't get lost!
Since the boys were away, the girls headed to Southpark Meadows for dinner at Jason's Deli and then a run through the little water park. The girls from the Scott family came with us, along with one of Aleah's friends from school. We arrived home CLEAN** and happy and glad that we got to sleep in nice cushy beds. All in all, I think the kids had a very fun weekend.
**Based on Natalie's note in the comment section, Dalen said that I needed to make a small revision to this post. I had completely forgotten that Anna had shoved an entire boiled egg into her mouth at Jason's Deli, which resulted in her throwing up all over the place. However, she puked on the concrete floor (way easier to clean up) rather than all over herself, so she actually remained pretty clean. We are really hoping that this stage Anna is going through of shoving relatively large objects into the nose, mouth, ears, etc. is over in a big ol' hurry!
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