Happy 9th Birthday to Our Favorite Boy!

My boys on Matthew's birthday

THE PARTY:

Check in to retrieve our badges, code names and sunglasses

Headquarters!

 This is where the junior agents had their mission briefing:

Citizens in the country of Deepcreeklandia have been frustrated by the resistance of elementary school children to the power of the truth. In fact children in the range of 7-10 seem immune to truth telling if not altogether repelled by it.  

Scientists in Deepcreeklandia have developed a secret formula proven to stop these children from their consistent and never-ending lying.   Intercepted communications between Deepcreeklandia officials indicate that 11 highly concentrated vials of “truth pills” have been produced already and were being transported for testing in a secret facility.  Unfortunately, these vials have been intercepted and we are afraid they are going to be quickly destroyed.  We need your help to find the vials and return them to the appropriate officials.  Parents across the country are depending on you!

Inside information says that the vials are being held at a secret fort.  Everyone will be issued a special detonator (water balloon) to help destroy the fort and secure the vials.  

Blasting the fort to retrieve the vials (that were already gone..HQ must have been bugged)

Decoding the letters on the "bugs" at HQ

racing off to the laser field

 

keeping up with big kids!!!

ambush on the way back form the laser field

detonating bombs to find a secret code

We chose to make a gray bomb so the frosting wouldn't stain everything in site!

Proud Parents

We are so proud of Matthew this year.  His reading skills have more than doubled and he earned the Academic Excellence Award.  Only children with an A average for the year can earn this award.  He has come so far in the last couple years.

North American Sand Soccer Championships

 We survived about 15 hours of 90 degree heat this weekend at the Sand Soccer Championships.  We lost 2 and tied 1 but the kids played their hearts out and had an absolute blast doing it.  About 8 blocks up the beach our cousin Kelsey 's team won the championship for their division!  We had a blast going from game to game and spending time with family!  We are already making plans for next year.

 

Break between games

I thought it was quite appropriate that we played all our games under the Norwegian flag!

The CREEK (A Classroom Relating Environmental Education to Kids)

 Our school held the ribbon cutting ceremony for the outdoor classroom at our school.  Matthew is not in any of the pictures but I wanted to share what the classroom looks like.  I was lucky enough to help throughout the process (as did all the adults in the photos) and help cut the ribbon.  Each grade level has its own flower garden with varying themes that meet the grade level Standards of Learning.  My two favorites were the kindergarten box was a 5 senses box: lambs ear to feel, mint to smell etc. and the 4th grade box which told the story of The Three Sisters  http://www.birdclan.org/threesisters.htm  There is a classroom size gazebo with benches an a white board, rain barrels, weather data collection instruments and more.  Students were in each area of the classroom and talked with the adults about each garden, pond etc.  It was/is a wonderful experience for our students.

 

Beautiful Summer Evening

 Last weekend (and this week) the weather has been gorgeous.  We took the opportunity to blow bubbles, enjoy the flowers, catch Japanese beetles, and teach Matthew how to mow the lawn.

End of Year Show

 I am amazed at how much Katherine has grown in just the few months in the "big girl" class.  She truly loves going.  Her smile the ENTIRE time I was in there for her show was proof enough to know it is money well spent.