Last day of school

Today was the last day of school. Brandon is officially a sixth grader and Jessie in third. They had a graduation ceremony for the fifth grade with a slide show. It was very sad but at the same time I am so proud of him and I love watching him grow up. He received perfect attendance all year, most improved in reading, spelling and science and DARE completion. Jessie received super speller, amazing math, awesome acts of kindness, pledge of allegiance award, student of the month for December, and roaring reader award. I wasn't sure they were going to make it to the end because first Brandon was sick over Memorial weekend and now Jessie has it. They both managed to push through and now they can be sick if they want to. We are taking them to Country Buffet tonight to celebrate. I can't believe how fast they grow up. It seems like as soon as they start school, the time speeds up. I am so proud of them both. They are what gets me through the stressful times. I am making Brandon a slide show of his school years but it is not done yet because I didn't get the idea until last night. If I can figure out how to post it when it is done I will.

                                       Jessie getting her awards with her teacher and the principal

                                 Brandon's graduation certificate

 

                          Brandon getting his awards

End of year comings and goings

So I am behind yet again. This time of year is so busy and I am in denial of Brandon ending his elementary school career. He made his AR reading goal but did not want to go up to the Rockies yet again so we took him out of school and he had a me day. Scott, Mom and I took him to Angelo's pizza on the Riverwalk for lunch and then we came home and watched a fire movie and then he just played and enjoyed a day without Jessie. He also had his fifth grade field trip to Cave of the Winds and ITZ which is kind of like Chuck E Cheese but more expensive. I couldn't afford to go with him as it was $26 just to send him. He had fun but more at Cave of the Winds. I wish I could have gone on his final trip but I haven't been able to go on any of his since third grade because they are all out of town so I should be used to it. Scott went to career day at school and had Brandon's class. They all had fun playing with the fire stuff. Scott let the kids play with the hoses and try on the packs and helmets. They really enjoy hands on stuff. Scott got a bunch of thank you letters from the students. I was reelected as secretary for the PTO again, mainly because no one wants to help the PTO. It is always the same parents. Jessie had her AR reading trip. They went bowling and then had an ice cream party. Scott and I went to the bowling part. I am surprised that some of the balls actually made it down the lane. Jessie could barely drop the ball, they were either heavy balls or a lot of the kids are not very strong. They had the bumpers which helped.

The kids had field day on Thursday. The PE coach who heads up field day asked Scott if he would bring the fire truck to help with one of the games. They have a giant beach ball that they wanted to spray water on and try to keep it in the middle. Scott brought a couple of the other firefighters to help out. It was a big hit and everyone including the firefighters got soaked. The fifth graders have the annual fifth grade versus teachers kickball game and the coach wanted them to spray the fifth graders to give the teachers an advantage. Like they needed one since the teachers win every year. They hosed down everyone including the kids on the sidelines. I guess it was a big hit because they want them back next year.

                                          Brandon getting ready to do the 50 yard dash

                                          Brandon doing the buddy walker race

                                          egg toss

                                          egg toss

                                          bean bag toss

                                          super soccer with Scott's firetruck

Only two weeks left of school

Easter

We had a good Easter. The kid's Aunts brought stuff over on Friday and on Sunday the kids looked for eggs then had a treasure hunt for their baskets. GG came over for lunch and Chris was there helping hide. This year the boys made it more difficult for the kids so they had to work harder. It was a good day. We also put dog treats in a few eggs and had the dogs find them. They started to get the idea towards the end.

Jessie's play

Jessie had her second grade play last night. The play was about Pueblo. She was supposed to be an 80's girl but since all the styles are coming back she doesn't look much different. She loves the jean jacket and wears it every where. If she didn't get so shy singing in public, she probably would have got a solo part because she sings much better than the kids chosen. She had fun and the play went well so that is all that matters.

Her hair was in a side ponytail but it didn't come out in the picture very well.

 They did a traditional Mexican dance

Jess saying her lines

Science Fair

The kids had their science fair at school. Brandon had to do an earth science project so he chose how oil spills affect the environment. He made an ocean habitat and then spilled oil in it to see how it affected the plants. It didn't work out quite as we hoped because the plants didn't die as fast as we thought they would. He also saw which worked to soak up the oil better. Jessie's class did a project together so she didn't get a board. Her group did which type of soil lets water run through faster. I am proud of both of them.

On a different note, Brandon decided to do the pack test with the other fireman Scott was testing this weekend. The pack test is a 3 mile hike in 45 minutes with a 45 pound pack. Brandon didn't do it with any weight but he did the test twice, once on Sat and again on Sun. He apparently chattered the whole way and wasn't even winded. The other firefighters said he motivated them because they weren't about to be beat by an 11 year old. One of the guys said he was impressed by how Brandon has his whole career planned out.  I am so proud of him, it's like all of a sudden everything is starting to click at least physically now if we can just get his schoolwork under control we will be set.

Chris Birthday and Spring Break

I am a little behind, everything seems like it is moving so fast. We had Chris' 40th birthday party. We decided since he didn't have the best year, we wouldn't do all black especially since we have been joking about it so we surprised him and did everything as bright as we could. We did give him a 40th birthday pin and a black twisty straw with an old man sliding down it. We also gave him a special birthday cup, a giant teenage mutant ninja turtle cup. He was more into GI Joe and transformers but the cup was bright green and it went better with the decorations. I think he was surprised and had a good time. He is so good with the kids and acted like he loved their gifts even the homemade one from Brandon. (Bran tries hard but crafts just aren't his thing).

 Jessie gave him a stepping stone for his garden and a candle and a homemade card, her card she made had a bear and an outhouse on it to go with his outdoor likes

 We gave him this plaque that read "we do not stop having fun because we age, we age because we stop having fun"

 An outhouse toilet brush holder to complete his outhouse bathroom theme

 Decoration from the party, Mom made him a board with pics from his life

More of the decorations, the balloons were supposed to be neon colors

 
Mom said to make his cake colorful so I did, the inside was orange

Brandon's present he made, a vase with flowers, he also made him a card and bought him a clip on flashlight

 

 

The kids were also on spring break this week. On Tuesday we went to the movies to see Frozen which Jessie has been wanting to see forever. Wednesday we took the kids and dogs to the park and had lunch out there. Thursday we bought Jessie new sandals and watched movies at home. and Friday we went to the free day at the airport museum. It wasn't the most exciting week but I think they had fun and it was a break from school. With school only two months more, it is going fast, too fast. I am not ready for Brandon to be in middle school.





Jessie's birthday

We took Jessie out to Country Buffet for her birthday dinner on Thursday because we had coupons and Brandon could eat for 99 cents. On Friday, her actual birthday, she didn't have school so we had girls day and went to the mall to look at the girly stuff. She bought herself a little giraffe keychain, and Mom and I bought her a penguin and dolphin statue. The boys met us for lunch at Subway and then they went to Home Depot. We came home and watched a princess movie and gave Jessie a spa day. On Saturday we had her family birthday party with everyone. She wanted fairies, Antarctica theme, dolphins and mermaids and penguins. She also made herself several birthday signs to hang up. Scott's sisters came over on Sunday to give their gifts. She can really make a birthday last. She had a lot of fun but was worried because one of her friends said that turning eight brought a lot more responsibility and she wasn't going to like it. I think she will live though.

 Jessie wanted me to paint her a picture with whales

 She wanted a porcelain doll of sleeping beauty