Jaydon's Preschool Graduation

Our baby graduated preschool on Friday morning.  He has gotten so big and grown up so fast.  Kindergarten is just around the corner and he is very excited to go.  It's only a few short months away.  I know the summer will fly by and school will be starting before we are ready for it.

Here he is receiving his diploma and a book from his teachers Ms. Karen and Ms. Jaymie. 

Jaydon felt pretty special.  He had Grandma Sandy, Cassie, and Syl at his graduation.

Josh's 4th grade Field Day

Josh's field day was Friday.  Once the kids get into 4th grade, the field day events get a little more athletic and competitive, in other words, no more rubber chicken race. 

Josh did pretty well in the shoe kick.  Mr. Knight, behind Josh, even competed and won.

Josh got 1st in the soccer kick and the 50 yard dash.  I didn't get to see him run, but I guess he was fast. 

Jared's 3rd grade Field Day

It was a little overcast to begin with, but the sun peeked through and warmed up the morning.  Jared was so excited that Grandma Sandy was here to watch him this year.

He really kicked the soccer ball a long ways.  It pays to practice in the backyard.

He started a little behind in the 50 yard dash, but quickly caught up an won by a good 10 feet!  He gets his speed from his mom! 

I was standing at about the 25 yard mark where he overtook Andrew for the lead.

A wet, cold week

With all the cold, wet weather this week, the big boys only had one game and Jaydon had none.  It was still cold and wet last night, but they played.  I have no pictures.  It was too wet to get the camera out and I was keeping book.  They lost, 10-6, but gained a lot of valuable knowledge.  Jared learned not to pull his foot off the base, especially when the baseman had the ball in his glove...Jared was out.  He also learned to run your hardest to 1st when your bat hits the ball.  He was thrown out at 1st by the pitcher after his pop-up didn't roll foul.  Josh also learned a few things.  It's hard to pitch a wet ball when your feet are sliding around.  You always throw to 2nd from center field, not 1st (he over-threw 1st and the runner advanced).  If your coach tells you to steal a base, you had better be running...and fast!  He got caught between 2nd and 3rd and tagged out!  Needless to say, the drive home was not fun.  We were all hungry, wet, cold, and bummed about the loss.  Hopefully, tomorrow's games are better, warmer, drier, and end with a win.  That's not to much to ask...right??? 

Jared's Pomo Indian Project--A-Frame fishing net

Jared made an A-Frame fishing net out of branches, yarn, and some net I bought at WalMart.  He put together an informational poster, describing how the Pomo Indians (in California) caught fish and other sea food and showing the types of fish they caught.  Mrs. Pennington said this is the first fish net project she has ever seen for this assignment, and she's been teaching at Lukas for 20 years.  Most of the kids construct a shelter.  Jared loved doing the research and making this net.  He keeps asking if he can use it at Standley Lake to catch some minnows.  I'm not sure the hot glue we used would hold up in the frigid lake water.  Ha!!

Broken Hearts

My heart is hurting this morning for my little Jaydon.  A couple of older kids (7 year-old) have been mean to him lately...until he offered them some of his popcorn.  Of course, they were nice to him for the food.  But then the meanness starts again.  So now he associates gift giving with making/keeping "friends".  He was counting his money this morning and setting it aside to buy his "friends" things, so they would be nice to him.  I tried to explain that those kinds of "friends" are not true friends, and that he should look for other kids to play with.  He cried...and so did I.  So, how do you explain this life lesson to a 5 year-old, before he gives all of his money and toys away and is left with nothing?  As an adult, you don't expect to have your heart broken so easily, but I guess as a mother, your heart breaks every time your child's heart get broken. 

Jaydon's First School Bus Ride and Field Trip

Jaydon's preschool visited the Majestic View Nature Center and had to take a bus ride to get there.  He was so excited about finally getting to ride a real school bus.  His friend, Nathan, sat by him on the bus. 

He couldn't wait to get to school that day.  He woke up asking if it was time yet!  For some reason, the number on the bus was very important to him.  We were on bus number 424.

Once we were there, the kids learned why birds can fly.  There were 3 very interesting reasons:  1.  They have feathers.  2.  They have hollow bones that allow them to be very light weight.  And the 3rd and most interesting reason (according to a group of preschoolers) is because they poop a lot!  They get rid of the extra weight before taking flight, and this is what had these preschoolers giggling and laughing hysterically!

Next, they heard a book about how a butterfly changes from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly.  They then acted out the metamorphosis and ended up outside with their "wings" flapping and looking for flowers to get nectar from.  Jaydon had the yellow wings, in the middle of the photo.

Finally, they learned about nature using their 5 senses.  They heard different sounds animals make (like a squirrel, owl, cricket, grasshopper, and robin) and saw pictures of what they look like.  They smelled some of the plants that grow naturally in the area and touched pine cones and pine needles.  And finally they tasted some fruit with their eyes closed, so they could guess what they were eating (apples).  They all looked like a bunch of baby birds with their mouths open so wide and their eyes closed. 

Fireballs Game on May 8

Jared had a great hit to lead us off today against a very good team.  He stole 2nd, then 3rd, and finally home,  but the ump called him out at home.  He was clearly safe after sliding into home, touching the plate, and then receiving the tag from the catcher.  He had the only hit of the day for us, so it was a long game.  We only batted through the line-up once, while the other team scored 11 before calling the game in the 4th inning.  Jared also fielded a grounder to left field and came up firing to second base, holding the runner at first.  It was a great heads-up play!

Josh played 1st base and had a few good plays.  He scooped a grounder and beat the runner to his base for an out.  Then a caught a throw from the pitcher to force the hitter out.  It really wasn't a clean catch, but whatever it takes to get the out!

He did end up pitching in the last inning and had a rough time to start.  We walked his first 2 batters before striking out the next.  We finally got out of the inning, but the game was called because of the "10 run rule". 

Fireballs Game on May 1

Jared played left field and actually got some action.

He fielded this ground ball and came up firing to third.

They didn't get the out, but kept the runners from advancing.  He had some good hit today as well.  He hit a line drive down 1st base line and made it to 3rd base.  It was quite the shot. 

Josh played 1st base again.  Darian, our short stop, fielded a grounder and through the runner out at 1st base.  He and Josh were real excited to have a great play together and get an out!

Josh is at 1st, Darian is now pitching, and Conrad (he also pitches) is at 3rd.

Despite our best efforts, we lost the game 19-11.  This was the same team we played on Tuesday and tied 13-13.  It is only our 2nd lost of the season, but may have been a character builder for the boys.  Their next game is Tuesday night and Jaydon's is Wednesday. 

Jaydons T-Ball Game 5-1-10

Jaydon's coach had another team to coach at the same time as his game yesterday, so Corey stepped up and coached teeball yesterday.  They are trying to get the kids to hit coach's pitches now, but after 3 or 4 pitches and no hit, they get the tee back out.  Jaydon is coming around.  He is understanding more of the game each time he plays. 

Game update

Josh and Jared's team won their game last night 13-7.  I didn't get pictures, the fence around the park was a fat, black, chain-link and it was hard to see through it.  They played really well, and had a good time.  Jaydon plays this morning and the big boys play this afternoon.  Suns out and it looks like a nice day, so I'll hopefully have pictures for these games!