Winding Down

Two weeks left of school before Christmas break, and the homework is flying. Christian has been very busy every night and has had some kind of test almost every day. Last night, there was a bit of a pause in the action, and we finished his last book report for this quarter. It was four long pages and took about an hour, much to his dismay. We have a lot of geography to do, so I am hoping he makes some major headway on that tonight. He likes geography, but so far, the tests have not been easy for him. He has made a couple of Cs. All of those cultural and weather concepts are not easy for him. The latest chapter is on the United States. We’ll see how well he does on it.

Update: We got through most everything with ease this weekend, including the geography and a detailed map of Quebec. All we have left now is to type up a rough draft by the 18th. Christian made an A on his big body systems test, a major feat considering all of the anatomy and functions he had to learn. He has all As right now. Not sure if that will hold, but he is trying.

Lego League is now over. The team did not qualify for the state finals. They were all new to the competition, so maybe next year! Good job to Christian and his team for giving it their all!

Homework, Homework, Homework

For three days now, Christian has had two to three hours of homework a night. Last night, he had a worksheet to finish for geography, several math problems to do, some pages to do in his science book, plus a quiz to study for, a paragraph to write for English, and a test to study for over The Little Prince. He also had to do some French. We have been busting our chops to get things done.

Lego League is also getting heavy. The team has a skit and a presentation to prepare before the first week of December. There are two to three meetings to attend each week as well. Christian seems to be having a really good time, though, and he is even contemplating trying out for the team again next year.

Keep your fingers crossed that Christian gets a bit of a break from the homework this weekend. He could use it, especially with the four-hour Lego scrimmage on Saturday afternoon.

Happy Halloween

 Although very little has been made of the holiday in the media, our kids are looking forward to it tomorrow anyway. Tori is going to be a zebra, with pink piping, of course. Eli is going to be a ninja turtle, and Christian, believe it or not, is going this year as Iron Man. That’s right. After two years of swearing off trick-or-treating, he is going. And, it was all his doing. He saw the costume at Walmart, and we got it. He has worn it a few times since then and made his brother jealous. Eli wishes he had been a superhero, too, instead of a turtle. We were not going to dish out more money for a costume, so the kid next door gave him a Power Ranger costume he had outgrown. He has been wearing that, but you can tell he wishes he had gotten Spider Man, the Hulk or something else.

Anyway, the kids have “fall” parties at school and then they come home and get ready to go out around the neighborhood. Last year, Eli had a broken leg and did not go. I took Tori around. This year, all three are going and they want their Dad to take them around. I get to stand at the door and hand out treats.

Tonight, we are celebrating Christmas early. My friend and I never got around to getting together last year, so this year, we are getting together at McDonalds and exchanging presents from last year. The kids are kind of confused about it, but they will figure it out.

Christian is also celebrating today and Friday. Today he is at a party for getting all of his assignments in. Friday he is going to a party for honor roll. He made As in everything but math. He made a B in that. Way to go, Christian!

Off to The Park

Christian is off to the park today with his Big. This is the second day for the Bigs and Littles to hang out at Sommer Park. They are having hot dogs, lemonade, brownies and whatever else is in his lunch sack. He was pretty excited about the day of fun when we left this morning.

Every Thursday afternoon is Lego League. This Thursday, Christian and his team got their crane to move. He was very excited! As for the school front, he is doing better in science and doing ok in math. They are working on bar graphs, line graphs and more right now, so that seems to be easier for him. He tends to overthink things, and that could be some of the issue he has been having with the math tests.

We’re getting there.

Routine Setting In

It’s midway through the first quarter, and Christian finally has a routine going. He has a better handle on his teachers’ expectations, and he hasn’t forgotten books or supplies in a while. He seems more settled, and we are making quick work of his extra projects.

Christian had his first Lego League meeting last Thursday and couldn’t stop talking about it. He has another meeting this Thursday. His team already knows what they want to make and are eager to get started. I hope they have a good time and do well in the competition in December.

Uh-Oh

We’re on week 2, and for the most part, Christian has tackled everything well. Unfortunately, he had some trouble in science and failed a test. He had no idea how to take notes, got upset and missed the information regarding the scientific method. He knew he was going to fail and he did. His teacher gave him the test to redo at home and get a better grade. That’s the least I have heard of it. Tonight is Back to School Night, so maybe I will learn more. He brought home his science book yesterday, and everything went much more smoothly. We taught him how to take notes, and the book will help. He just was not ready for a lesson and test on the fly.

First 5

We survived the first five days of school, and it was quite the rollercoaster ride for all of us. Christian had the best time of everyone I believe. He rode the bus to school on Monday, went through orientation and told us everything about his day after school. He was so busy he didn’t even get to go to the bathroom. We ran back to the school to help him set up his locker shelves—not so easy—and then we picked up the other two. Read their blogs for information about that.

Christian gets on and off the bus himself. Grandma watched for a couple of days and now Christian is a pro. He gets picked up in the morning around 7 and gets dropped off around 3:30. He is the last to be picked up and the last to get dropped off, so he has a bit of a bus ride in the afternoon.

Christian loves changing classes and teachers on the hour. He hates the hot school. It was built in the 1960s and lacks air conditioning. Fans and windows help, but on days in the 90s, he says he is drenched in sweat. Poor guy!

All in all, Christian had a good first week.

Bigs/Littles

Christian’s school has a mentoring program and very soon he will get to meet his Big. Hopefully, they get along well because Christian could use some reassurance. I can sense the anxiety building in him every time we talk about the start of school. He is dreading all of the homework, but hopefully, it won’t be that bad. Keep your fingers crossed!

Christian’s youngest uncle got married this past weekend and is on his honeymoon now I believe. The kids and I did not go—too much traveling for them—but we did want to wish T.J. and his new wife, Morgan, all the best in the coming years. Thanks for taking time out to visit with the kids and hang out with them. They won’t forget the time spent wrestling with you and going to the pool. May you and Morgan have many wonderful years together!

Off to Kansas City

Huts is going to his brother’s wedding this weekend. One day up, one day there and one day back. Too much traveling for our kids, so we are staying home. We’re going to clean up the house and practice bike riding. Christian and Tori are also going to see the Smurfs movie with their aunt.

Just three more weekends and school begins. Christian gets an hour to take a tour of his new school and put away things in his locker the week before. There is also a picnic, a back-to-school night and some other things coming up.

The best part is the school has a mentor program, so Christian will pair up with an older student who will show him the ropes! That’s got to be good for Christian. He can be pretty shy.

Coming Along

Christian passed his swim class as well. He cannot swim as well as Tori, but he passed. It is harder for him because he is not as coordinated and has such long limbs.

We’re still working on the biking. He is fearful, very fearful of falling, which is holding him back. He doesn’t want us to let go, even though we can tell he is doing it.

Can he tie a shoe? Yes, and has he been reading that book I thought he was ignoring, yes! He is nearly done with the book now.