Cub Scouts - Fire Mountain Camp

Today felt like the real beginning of scouts! I know we had a meeting already and that Ty looks great in his uniform but today we actually did something I would call Scout-worthy! Our Pack, 91, has had a couple of weekends reserved at Fire Scout Camp which they say is near Mt Vernon but could very well have been in Canada for all I know after driving the entire way on Highway 9. I'm not sure that past Arlington it deserved the moniker 'highway'...

After Tyler's soccer game this morning, in which he was again fantastic (5 goals, 2 of them elevated off the ground rockets and the other off a corner kick!), we hopped in the van armed with a couple of Subway sandwiches and the audio book 'Magyk' and drove to the northern frontier! Where we wound up was at Fire Mountain which is a Scout only camp designed for all levels of scouts from Tiger Cub to Boy Scouts.

Tyler has been sooooo looking forward to fishing and other than no one catching a fish he loved it! Whew! We practiced casting, baited our hook and reeled it in. No snags, no one impaled with our hook, SUCCESS!

Then we took a look at the extremely long lines for archery and b-b gun shooting and decided on a little obstacle course run and some rock wall climbing. The older scouts that were helping at the stations were awesome and I can only assume that the proliferation of shaggy long hair is a global trend rather than a scout requirement!

After some fun climbing, which wasn't easy in waterproof winter moon boots (I was expecting cold and rain) we made our way to the now shortened b-b gun line. Tyler was keenly interested and I re-iterated the safety rules that were being preached by the older Boy Scouts working as Range Safety Officers. Tyler clearly cared and quickly committed to memory, "Always point your muzzle down range. Keep your finger off the trigger till you are on target and ready to shoot." 

I almost felt guilty that Tyler was only now being exposed to a b-b gun, what with his dad being a cop and on the SWAT Team nonetheless, but I think in the end I felt pretty good. He was observant, careful, serious, and enjoyed his first shooting experience in a safe environment. I thought it was interesting that the kids got into a prone shooting position and Tyler instantly went to a cross legged position that was exactly the right thing to do without having anyone tell him so. After a few high and wides he dialed it in and his last three shots were right on the target. Not too shabby!

Ty's first cast and reel

He is staring at the bobber and saying, "Bite fish!"

Spiderman

When I told Val this position was what a sniper would use she said, "So he's going to be an assassin?"
Let's just hope for recreational marksman!

I felt like his spotter.

Not bad for the first time ever! I am guessing a b-b gun is in the much nearer future than I was expecting!

Hailey's school work

A couple of my favorite things Hailey has brought home from school.

A self portrait.  Love that she draws her curlies.

Hailey brought home an All About Me poster to complete and then bring back and share with the class.  I think it was this that confirmed for her teachers that she is not a girly girl.   She wants to be a Paleontologist.  Her favorite book is TRex.  She wants a pet lizard.

Music

Tyler cam home form school a couple of weeks ago all excited about writing music.  He know how to draw a music note and has been sitting doen writing the sheet music for his favorite songs.  We don't yet know anything about the different notes and lines on sheet music paper (staff paper??) but that hasn't stopped him.  Since taking these pics at Hailey's soccer game, I've been printing him out paper with real music bars.  He's created a whole book.

Dave and Ty at Hailey's soccer game

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Canada

Several weekends ago (back on 9/25) we made a quick day trip up to Canada.  The reason:  to celebrate my Great Uncle Lawrence's 80th birthday.  It's been years since I have been up to his farm.  I actually have memories of the house when he first moved in but I think I was pretty little.  Lawrence usually makes the trip down our way for all the holidays so it was nice that we could make it up his way for once.  And really the trip wasn't that bad and there are other things I would love to go and take the kids to in Vancouver so we will have to try and get up there more often.  Anyway, it was a fun morning getting the farm tour and then going out for brunch and birthday cake.  Happy Birthday Lawrence.  I hope that I am as fit and healthy and mentally with it when I reach 80!

kids first trip to another country

Lawrences house which I believe he more or less built by himself

garden

Lawrence spoils us all each year with his incredible wood working.  He makes us all a gift...anything from boxes, to candle holders, to napkin rings.  Here are some of his latest and greatest box projects.

Happy Birthday Lawrence

The immediate family members that were able to make the trip up to Canada

Immediate family members and kids (minus brother Dave who was taking pictures)

All family members including spouses

More on First Grade

A little more on first grade.  The time has been slipping away with little time for blogging and I feel like I haven't really given first grade enough attention.  As I've mentioned before we couldn't be happier with how first grade is shaping up.  It's as if he's been given the perfect teacher.  Tyler is so excited to go to school everyday.  He's making new friends.  He's reading is still improving.  Now that he's in school all day they are working on math and writing and spelling....and other things I'm sure but you know I only get tid bits of information every now again....usually when I least expect it....certainly not when I ask about it.

I do enjoy the daily report on how many kids have to stay in at recess and Tyler's pride in never having to stay in.....yet.

It's been interesting to see bits of first grade inspire him.  He's loving math, running the track at recess on Wednesdays is a highlight of his week (he ran 12 again this last week (in the rain)), Mrs. McLatchy plays a little bit of classical music for them everyday and they either talk about or know who the composers are.  Tyler has come home requesting songs and has started to write his own sheet music, or at least music notes covering a whole page of sheet music.

He's learned how to give himself a gold star.....a little flick of the fingers on the head with a verbal "PLING". 

He's come home saying several words I don't even know the definition of.  Actually between Tyler and Hailey and all their question I think I have maybe a year max before they've totally tapped my brain and I'll have nothing left to teach them.  They'll have to move on to Dave.

It's been interesting to see Tyler make new friends.  I heard a lot of different names the first few weeks and I'm starting to hear some names much more frequently now.  It's all starting to sink in that his classmates and the other kids in 1st grade are the kids he's going to be spending the next 6 years of his life with.  And then the emotional side of me kicks in and I realize he spends far more time at school than at home these days.  I've lost a lot of influence and his peers at school have gained a lot of influence.  Makes me nervous.   I hope he finds nice/good friends.  I want  such good things for him.  I want him to be the boy everyone likes.  I want him to be the boy that is respectful to all teacher and students.  He doesn't need to be everyone's best friend but I hope he's nice enough that he's well liked by everyone. 

I feel like we don't get much time with him any more.  Our days are busy.  There is lots going on after school.  It is great for him because he is bursting with energy but the days go quick and often seems to be one thing after another until bed time.  Thankfully he still needs his mommy snuggles while he's going to bed.  It's my time to soak him in.  From his perspective I think I'm more like a comfort of a nightlight but I'll still take it.

It's been interesting to see how the after school activities are forming.  Several kids from his class are in soccer, they are also (along with others from his class) going to be in cub scouts, and a bunch are shifting over to basketball once soccer is over.  We are starting to become friends with the parents we are seeing over and over again....all living parallel lives.  I've come to realize we will be seeing these same parents and kids for the next 6+ years.  It's a journey we are all taking.  And it makes me happy that Totem Falls is a very parent oriented school.

remember

Please don't grow up too fast.

School Schedule

This is another one of those posts.....things I want to remember in years to come.  Things the kids might think are interesting when they grow up.

This years school schedule.

Tyler
Totem Falls Elementary 1st Grade
Mon- Thurs     8:15 - 2:55
Fri.                  8:15 - 12:55

PE - Mon/Wed
Music - Tues/Thurs
Library - Mon
Raven Racers - Wed

Nightly Homework -
Reading/being read to
Spelling words - spelling test every friday
We do some math games on the ipad a few days a week just for fun

Ty buys lunch once a week (because that's the rule I made :).....he'd rather buy every day) usually on Fridays.

Hailey
Kids at the Creek - Pre K
Mon/Wed/Fri    9:00-11:30   (fasted 2 hours (minus drive time) of my week)

Ballet - Tues
Gymnastics  - Wed

Soccer Video

Soccer is cool because I didn't play it (Dave, hijacking Val's account again). I can just watch Tyler, and Hailey, do their thing and just enjoy watching them gain confidence and develop their athleticism. Baseball was fun too, and very special, but I feel like with soccer it is understood that this is something unique for the kids to experience that I can just marvel at because they know that it was not one of my sports as a kid.

Tyler has come a very long way from our first years of YMCA indoor soccer. I still remember his joy at delivering a big kick and then leaning his head and body all kinds of ways to watch the ball travel. Don't get me wrong, Tyler still loves a big kick now and then but he has realized that his big kicks, if not in the goal, just sail out of bounds on these fields. Did I mention that we love 3 on 3 soccer?

A nice little break away goal, some day a goalie will make this more challenging.

Ty soccer 1 from Valerie Quiggle on Vimeo.

This game was almost ridiculous in terms of Tyler scoring. I think the final total was 14. You could see more confidence in his entire body for the next week.


This is perhaps my favorite goal. Ty is in the mix, dodging in and out and finally gets his chance to break away from the pack and slide another one in the goal.


What I like about this video is not Tyler, but the family support he gets. I love that you can hear us each cheer for our Love Buggy. Hailey gets into it too, when the weather is nice of course! Kind of like mom! (they don't like being cold!)

Hailey's soccer games

It's been very interesting to watch Hailey come inter her own on the soccer field.  She started out hesitant, not really sure what to do.  Then we had a week of tears where she didn't really want to play and was "tired".  It should also be noted she didn't score any goals that game.  Then last week she found her game.  And with every goal she scored her energy level rose.  And she went after the ball and had a great fun game.  That has been the soccer season so far and now that I've written that, it pretty much sums up Hailey in many different scenarios :).  She is so much fun to watch.  It strange sometimes to see my "baby" doing all these grown up things.  Where has the time gone.

Here are some pictures from last Fridays game...her game of glory.

warm up

the girls

goal kick practice



best friend Addy




Game time.  She breaks away with the ball



Shoots and scores!

And then gets hugged....it's an all girl team remember

Hailey gets the ball again

breaks away down the field



And scores....look at that smile



Tyler's Soccer Games

Tyler's soccer season has been so fun this year.  I don't know if it's the fact that they are a year older or it's just 3 on 3 but I feel like they are really playing.  The first game was huge for Tyler.  He was all over the ball, wouldn't let it out of his sight/feet.  Would bust into the group to get it and then drive straight for the goal.  He scored 14 points.  I was worried that he wasn't using his team mates but figured that would come over time.  Tyler has since greatly changed his game play, much to Dave and my frustration.  We try not to show it though, the supportive parents we are :).  Never thought I'd feel such passion toward Tyler and soccer :).  His new strategy (wherever it came from) is to hang back on defense and protect the goal (even though there is no goalie this year).  Occasionally he find his fire and gets up to his goal but he's getting more like 2 or 3 goals now.  He's still having fun which is of course the most important thing.  I'm still hoping he finds his fire in these last few games.

The below pics are from a bunch of different games, more of a synopsis of the season so far.  We have some videos to post too...in a day or two.

eye on the ball.....I will get you....

and score!

proud of his goal

fancy foot work

headed toward his goal

kick

team pics with their team hats "shooting starts"

score

taking a rest and watching the game with Jackson

this was a tough team, Ty had to work HARD.

getting the ball out of their goal

Go figure

Go figure this would happen the day before school pictures.  I don't get the mom of the week award.  Don't let new bike riders ride on cement that has a patch of soft mud on the edge.  Her fingers are destroyed and her poor lip is huge.  I feel terrible.

4Q 12X September

The "other" blog has been updated for September.  You can find it here.