Closing Festivities

Wow! The past couple of weeks have been busy. Last week was all about finishing up school with the boys, and although, there were times when both Elliot and I thought it would never happen, we finished . . . phew! Then we spent the weekend getting ready to host one of the coaches for our British Challenger Soccer Camp that is being held this week in Hampton and the Kingston Peninsula. The coaches arrived Sunday night, and since then, it has been non-stop shenanigans. Our days have been filled with soccer, swimming, and eating; nothing to complain about really, but it sure has been tiring. Then to top it all off, we had early morning dentist appointments and an ultrasound appointment at the beginning of the week. What was I thinking? Anyhoo, all of the cooking, the cleaning, the playing, and the running around that the past couple of weeks have entailed, has left this mama pooped. After the boys and I dropped Zoe off at her soccer camp this morning, we returned home and plopped our lifeless, exhausted bodies on the couch. It was during our third episode of SpongeBob (eeek! I must be tired), that I realised I did not post any pictures from our school-end festivities this year (and I know you are dying to see them). 

First, though, here is a picture of some of the Kingston kids welcoming our coaches on Sunday night. This year we have three coaches joining us. Two are from Liverpool and one is from Manchester. I have to say that they are all really great guys, and my kids are having a blast hanging out with them this week!

Now for our closing festivities!

We started the day at Hampton High School because Baby Girl needed to pick up her home report and her course schedule for the upcoming school year. Unfortunately, the computer messed up and had placed her in ALL the wrong classes. An hour and a half later, she emerged triumphantly from the school with most of the courses she wanted. Afterwards, some of her friends came over to our house for the afternoon to swim, to eat junk food, and giggle. I think it was a pretty good way to kick off the summer. When the sun went down and Baby Girl's friends had gone home, we started up our annual school work bonfire. The boys look forward to this event all year long, and were eager to toss all their worksheets into the roaring flames. As an entire year's worth of work went up in smoke, we dined on roasted marshmallows and chips. Finally, we wrapped up the evening with our presentation of awards. This year, Zoe received an award for maintaining an A+ average all year long, Elliot received the reading award for making huge improvements in his reading, and Avery received the writing award for being able to write a paragraph, complete with topic sentence, concluding sentence and three supporting sentences, all on his own. I am so proud of my kids for how hard they worked this year, and look forward to seeing all the wonderful things they accomplish next year.

^^Sorting out what papers should be saved and what papers can be burned. ^^ If you want to learn more about our easy, cheesy filing system for school mementos, check out this post.

^^The awards (all made from templates found on Microsoft Word!)

^^Each of their awards were accompanied by a gift card from Indigo^^

^^The moment he has been waiting for all year long.^^

^^Burn, baby, burn!^^

^^Our fancy, schmancy award ceremony. This is how we roll in the sticks: no shirt, pyjamas pants, and rain boots. Oh, and you can't ignore the pile of debris we are standing in front of. We are so high class! ^^

^^And yes, Zoe was included, but ya' know how teenagers feel about being photographed participating in embarrassing family traditions. ^^

^^What I waited for all year long . . . mmmmmmm!^^

And that is how we closed the school year here at Shenanigans Inc. We had a great school year, but gosh darn it, I am so happy to see it come to an end. Hip, hip, hooray for summer vacation!

The Good Life

It's finally here . . . SUMMER!  All that's left of the 2012-2013 school year is to drive Baby Girl to the high school to pick up her report card and to help Elliot finish his final math lesson . . . woohoo! Tonight we plan on having our annual burn-your-school-work bonfire (with gigantic marshmallows) and a little awards ceremony. I made up a couple of certificates for the kids last night to recognise their accomplishments this year. Elliot is receiving the Reading Award because he has made huge improvements in reading this year, and is still tackling his first ever chapter book. He says he has read other chapter books, but I am trying to teach him that skimming is not reading. For this book, The Beyonders, I am getting him to fill out a story map for the book to help him keep track of everything that is happening and to keep him accountable. Parenting/teaching Elliot is one job where I can never let my guard down! Avery is receiving the Writer's Award because he has learned how to write a paragraph with a topic sentence, a concluding sentence and three supporting sentences. He even does it without a reminder. Wow! Zoe is receiving the Scholarship Award for maintaining an A+ average (anything above 95% in my books, but her average hovers at 98%) for her entire grade nine year. Super brain! I am so proud of each of them!

Yesterday, the teller at the bank was asking me all about our homeschool year, and I could not help but gush over how much my boys have learned this year and how great our year was. We have really hit our stride! Then, I told her all about Thing 4, and as I was leaving she said something to me that I have not been able to stop thinking about. She said:

Gosh! Life is really good for you right now, isn't it?

And I could not help but smile the biggest, most cheesiest grin of all time and reply:

It really is!

I am so blessed to be able to spend my days doing what I love with the people I love the most. I am one lucky lady!

They can't wait to try out their new pool toys today!

FYI: I love spending my days with Zoe too and it has been a blast having her home this past week, but alas, she refuses to let me post any photos of her on the blog that do not meet her approval. Sheesh!

Happy Summer everyone!

Nice, Neat Packages

One of the best parts about writing a blog is taking small moments from my life and wrapping them up in nice, neat packages.  I start out with a lengthy introductory thought, followed up by an outline of the shenanigans that ensued, and I wrap it all up with the affirmation that life is indeed good!  I LOVE nice, neat packages!  In fact, this is why I love Victorian novels so much; in the end, all problems are solved, a lesson is learned, and love and happiness abound.  This is how life should work!

But, sometimes, it seems life doesn't always play by these set of rules. 

I do believe that all things happen for a reason, and if we live a life filled with honesty, gratitude, faith, hard work and love, in the end it will all work out.  Life may not end up the way we intended, but if we look closely enough we will recognize the beauty in it.

Unfortunately, I can't wrap up today's blogs in a nice, neat package because, frankly, I do not know how it will work out.  I just have a strong belief that it will work out, and that whatever happens will be for the benefit of those individuals involved.

This has been weighing heavily upon me:

What do you do when one child in your family shines?

Sounds frivolous, but think about it.  When the world seems to be favouring one of your children, what do you do as a parent to help the others feel equally valuable and successful?  

Let me set it up for you.  In my eyes all of my children shine. They each have strengths and unique qualities that make them oh, so wonderful to me.  Zoe is level-headed, confident, intelligent and hardworking.  Elliot is thoughtful, gentle, tender hearted, and creative.  Avery is hilarious, adventurous, confident, and enthusiastic. What can I say?  I am blessed to raise such remarkable spirits!

The problem, though, is the world seems to favour Zoe at the moment, and she is continually recognized for her accomplishments.  Don't get me wrong.  This is wonderful for Zoe, and as her mama, I love attending all the award ceremonies where she receives the recognition she deserves, but my heart aches for the little guys in the audience, the quiet ones who sit there anxiously awaiting for their day to shine.

Here is Zoe at the closing ceremonies for MCS this year:

It seemed like she was always on stage.  Her awards included:

Best Literary Award for a Grade 7 Student (this was for a poem she wrote about the veterans and came with a $35 cash award . . . sweet!)

Top Academic Marks in her Class

High Honours

Most Improved Player on the Girls' Basketball

When she came home, after proudly displaying the fruits of her labour, she tucked each of these awards and medals into her "awards drawer".  I kid you not and it is overflowing. 

And she not only shines at school.  Each year, she seems to win an award for her involvement in the Kingston Soccer Club.

I am so proud of her!

But, as I mentioned earlier, I also have two other bundles of adorableness that I love and care for, and I worry about what this does to their self esteem to time after time sit in the audience and watch their sister receive her accolades, while they remain virtually "unseen" amongst the crowd.

I  know they are happy for her, but I also know it hurts them.  They fear that they will never be as smart or as talented as Zoe.  And no matter how much praise or attention they receive from Derrick and I, it does not seem to carry the same amount of weight as a flimsy piece of paper that implies: "You are the best" in something.

Ugh!  Being a parent is definitely challenging. 

I try to emphasize in our home that a success for one of us is a success for all us, but as you know, my family is highly competitive so this does not always fly.

But, it is true! We are all in this together.

I also reassure them that everyone's day will come.  Right now it is Zoe's turn to shine in the eyes of the world, and someday it will be their's. 

Each of them are very special, and I just know that they will all do grand and marvelous things with their life!

 Oops!  I did it again. I wrapped it all up in a nice, neat package.



Tee hee!

p.s I feel that a Webster family awards ceremony may be in order.  It's brilliant! Yes, I truly am a geek. I will keep you posted!

 



The Skeletons in our Closet

From the outside we look like one big, happy family, who lives in a clean,well-organized home, where everything has its place.  And other than the slightly maniacal looking child in the front of our family picture, we do not look like a family with a deep, dark secret.  But we do have one, and I am going to share it with you today!

I should tell you that this is incredibly hard for me.  Please do not judge me too harshly.

Okay, are you ready for this?

Ahhh!  Look away . . .  the horror!

This is my bedroom closet.  This is the one place in my home where I throw everything that I have no place for, or no idea what to do with but am required to keep.

My name is Krista Skov-Nielsen, and I am a closet slob.

So, as you can imagine, each year when my little darlings arrive home with their backpacks overflowing from a year of learning, I go into a full blown anxiety attack.

What am I going to do with all of this stuff?

AND this is only the boys' stuff.  Zoe has not even emptied her desk yet, but then again, for those of you who are familiar with middle schools in New Brunswick, I would be pretty surprised if she came home with anything at all.  Oh, but this is a whole other rant that I will share with you at a later date.  Aren't you lucky?

I could throw it all into a folder and shove it at the back of my closet, where there is already an accumulation of school years' memorabilia:

Hey, I think there may even be a little space left in there!

But no . . . not this year!  This year I am prepared thanks to http://www.71toes.blogspot.com/.  I love this woman!  I really think she should move to Canada and become my new BFF, or at least my personal assistant.  I need people!  Have you grown tired of hearing me say this?  I know Derrick has . . . tee hee!

So, her idea is not rocket science, but it is brilliant in its simplicity. Each child in the house is given a file folder box that is kept in their own closet.  You then schedule some individual time with each child to sort through their school year stash (she admits that trying to find time in a day for each kid is the most challenging part of the process).  You grab a hanging file, label it whatever year your child has just completed, and fill it with projects and assignments that mean the most to both of you.  For bigger projects like Elliot's habitat project, which he got an A+ on, you take a photo of it and place it in the folder.

Who really wants their mama taking photos of them in the morning anyway?

Oh, and by the way, projects like this, if not assigned on a regular basis and given ample time to complete, do make for positive homework experiences.  I only poo poo on the tedious, mind-numbing worksheets that come home week after endless week. But, I think you have heard enough about this.

There you have it!  It is so simple, but so helpful.  I can't wait to get started!

Your little darling gets a box of all their most treasured memorabilia, and you get your closet back.  It's a win-win situation!

Now, this post is all complete for those of you who are content with the "71 Toes" solution to organizing school year treasure, but for those of you who rather enjoy how we here at Shenanigans Inc. operate, I have one last tidbit for you.

What do you do with all the stuff that is not deemed box-worthy?  Well, you stoke up one huge bonfire and have an annual end-of-the-year book burning!  Yes, we are a little savage around here, but it is important to have family traditions.  In fact, I think I will even take a picture of our bonfire this year, complete with three wee Websters dancing around it . . . tee hee,  so they will each have one for their boxes!

 Again, it's so simple, but brilliant . . . right?

Happy Last Thursday Before Summer Vacation!

Wrapping Up the School Year

The First Day of School - Sept 2010

This is one of my favourite times of year; we are on the cusp of a new season and with it comes new routines, new opportunities, and new shenanigans.  Suddenly, I find myself with all this extra time to do the things I want to with the kids since our afternoons are no longer filled with the demands of homework and piano practice.  FREEDOM!!

Last night as I was dozing off to sleep, I thought about all the things my children accomplished this year, and I was so proud of them.  Zoe trained with the provincial soccer team throughout the winter, she placed in the top ten for the District 6 math competition, and, just recently, she overcame her fear of performing on the piano in public, which developed after a negative experience at the Music Festival a few years back  . . . eeek!  She was also faced with many decisions that asked her to compromise on her beliefs, but she stood firm and stayed true to herself.  Sometimes, I wish I was as strong as Zoe!  In fact, the other day at the kids' Year-End recital, a friend of mine commented that Zoe is very classy for a thirteen year old and, unlike most children her age, she seems so sure of herself.  I am such a proud mama!

Elliot also had a great year even though it started out a bit rocky.  In the first two weeks of school, Elliot had three different teachers, and for my boy, who thrives on routine, this was a nightmare!  Fortunately, things did eventually settle down and he got back into his groove.  This was the year that Elliot finally received an "A" in reading, accomplished his goal of getting an "A" in math, scored his first goal in a hockey game, which is tricky when you play defence, and mastered the art of drawing ninjas.  Again, I am such a proud mama!

It has been quite the year for Avery as well.  He started out this school year with the goal of not being sent to the Principal's office, and he almost attained it, but he made the unfortunate decision to draw a picture of a graveyard with all of his friends' names on the tombstones, while he was at Friendship Club  . . . ooops!  Avery found it quite funny, but his teacher, whose son's name happened  to be on one of the tombstones, did not.  So just a week after he had won his horny unicorn, or I mean "Horny" the unicorn, in his class' kindness contest, Avery was banned from Friendship Club for the remainder of the year.  There was also that call home from the Principal after Avery was caught making prank phone calls to the school, and then there was . . . oh wait, I am supposed to be listing all of  his accomplishments not his infamous antics.  Let's start over:

Avery had a wonderful year! He lost his first tooth, he learned how to ride a horse, and he became a whiz at reading, writing and math.  There, that wasn't so hard.  I am so proud of my baby boy . . .  tee hee! 

What can I say?  I have great kids!

Anyhoo, with the end of the school year quickly approaching, I always get a little anxious over teacher gifts.  Being a teacher myself, I understand all of the hard work that teachers put into their classes each year.  I also want to recognize the valuable contributions that the principals, the bus drivers, and the teacher assistants make.  The key, though, is doing it without spending a fortune!  Luckily for me, I am a blogger and I love to read blogs because I found a great end-of-the-year gift idea at  http://www.71toes.blogspot.com/ , who found it from another blogger.   Since we bloggers like to share, I am going to share the idea with you.  All you have to do is buy a Chinese food take-out box, fill it with fortune cookies, and anything else you may want, and write a little note saying "I was so fortunate to have you as my teacher, bus driver, principal, etc".  Cute, eh?  The kids really enjoyed making them last night as part of our Family Home Evening. No idea what I am talking about?  Check here.

For the classroom teachers,  I found larger boxes and we included fortune cookies, an Indigo gift card (one of my most favourite gifts to receive), and a fizzy bath bomb.  Everyone else got the same thing but in a smaller box and without the gift card : (  I really wish money wasn't an issue!  The kids then wrote three reasons why they think their teachers are special on the card.

But, I think their favourite part of FHE last night was the HUGE jawbreakers that Elliot picked out earlier in the day for their treat.

And, voila, teacher gifts are done for another year!

All in all, it was a pretty fantastic school year here at Shenanigans Inc, and we are eagerly looking forward to an even more fantastic summer!

Happy Last Tuesday Before Summer Vacation!  Only three more sleeps . . .