Anyway, they were in the car playing with them on the way back when PJ dropped his.

Mia: PJ, you can have mine.  Here.

PJ: That’s ok.  I don’t need it.

Mia: Take it.

PJ:  No. I don’t want it.

Mia: What else are sisters for?

We’ve done some activities that fall more toward the academic side like read The History of Food (Major Inventions Through History) and Food Science (Cool Science) and learn about fractions.

But mostly we’ll be getting our hands dirty.  Like yesterday when PJ made Handmaiden Hashbrowns for dinner.

Oops.  I almost forgot to tell you why PJ’s psyched he picked food for summer.  While we were exploring at the library for kid-friendly cookbooks, he discovered

 and

He’s only put them down long enough to sleep, eat, and swim.  (Ok, I exaggerate, but he does love them and we’ve marked quite a few recipes to try this summer.)

Moving on.

(couldn’t find a part to the food processor)

(some chopped dry cayenne for Daddy’s helping)

VOILA!

Awards were awarded.

PJ received the Joshua Award for Leadership, an Excellence in Reading Comprehension Award, and a Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness Award.

Celebratory homemade ice cream was made (and eaten).

And songs/verses/poems were performed.

Welcome to the first morning of summer vacation!

When we returned, we hit the ground running with end-of-the-year activities.  Field Day was one of them.  The kids made cute shirts in their classes. Mia’s has a caterpillar on the front. 

PJ won the second place ribbon for the first grade sack race. 

After lunch the kids all headed to the pool at a neighboring camp to swim. We forgot Mia’s swim suit. At least I had an extra swim shirt and she fits into Ty’s shorts. PJ proved he’s not only fearless but that he’s a strong enough swimmer this year to jump off the diving board. 

After swimming we finished out a great day with popsicles and awards. PJ won the second place ribbon for the first grade sack race. 

The other part of me (the part that never really accepts that I’m a grown, married woman with 3 kids) want to lounge around all summer near a swimmable body of water with a good book and get annoyed when my kids want my attention.  Moms should get summer break too, right?

Well just in case the responsible “me” shows up before school’s officially out for the summer, I checked out these from our local library…

Last summer we did Science Through Literature.  This summer (after checking out all these books) I decided to let PJ decide our “theme.”  Using ideas from a new model of education Patrick and I previewed last week, I will plan hopefully painless learning activities around our theme.  We talked about using sports, gardening, robotics, cultures and number of other things.  He settled on cooking and baking.  I’m excited because I can also throw in garden stuff and cultural stuff and he’s excited because he’ll probably finally get permission to use the toaster oven this summer.

Some of the ideas I’m tossing around for the cooking / baking theme are:

• Measurements which also incorporates fractions (math)
• Carmelization (science)
• Cooking methods throughout history (social studies)
• Cooking with garden foods (science)
• Foods from other cultures (social studies)
• Reading recipes (grammar, reading)

What else would you do?

My plan is to blog what we do and learn as we go along.  I’m kinda excited (except when I think about prepping and occupying the little guys). 

What are you and your kids doing this summer?

Fast forward to Sunday morning.  PJ’s reading the announcement in the bulletin that says May is our church’s month to stock a local food pantry.  He turns to me and asks if he can use his $5 to buy food for the food drive.  I know there’s no such things as stupid questions, but seriously?  OF COURSE!!!!!!!

So yesterday after school, with his $10 (I gave him a matching grant), he took the list to the grocery store and bought at least one of each thing that was marked “critically low.”

I love that kid.

They remembered everything–balloons, presents and dessert.

We had a few close friends over for the first bushel of steamed crabs for the season.  I knew about that part.  But then, my children ushered our guests to my parents apartment and fitted them for party hats (or ‘helmets’ as Ty called them).   I had to follow last so that I could be “surprised.”

There was specially decorated brownies and make-your-own sundaes for all.

Presents were aplenty and PJ (without the help or knowledge of any adults in the house) had even used his own money to buy me my very own soprano recorder from the school store.

Here are all the party conspirators.

Thanks guys. It was a special night. I love you!

He was adamant that he wanted to lose this tooth in school because then he would get a special sticker and a tooth necklace.  During spring break and every weekend, we were adamant that he was going to swallow it in his sleep if he didn’t pull it out soon.

But lo and behold, he pulled it off out (pun intended) at school on Monday. 

If we believed in the Tooth Fairy, this is the letter she may have left Tuesday night.

Dear PJ,

I saw your note last night. 

Since I didn’t have your other teeth to return, I decided to come back tonight with the whole package (teeth and money).
Actually, that would be a lie.  I simply forgot to come.  As you may be aware, I am a very busy woman.  The rate of tooth loss this spring has been astronomical and you just fell off my radar.  Please forgive me. 
While I’m being honest, I must confess I have no idea where those other two teeth you requested are.  If I come across them, I’ll let you know.

Love,

The Tooth Fairy

He’s still the same happy kid…

…with the same goofy faces.

He still loves fishing with Daddy.

He liked the color yellow from the time he knew what yellow was until last year.

He’s the best big brother…ever.  Although it was a little iffy when he first met Mia.  He looked very unsure until we told him he could kiss her.  There’s been no turning back since.

He’s type A and terribly pre-disposed for engineering.

This is him today (well not really today but recently).  A bright, charasmatic (he makes friends quicker than I can blink), independent, thoughtful, compassionate, detail-oriented adult trapped in a kid’s body.

The other day he wore this hat to school.  I really wish I had a picture of him wearing it in his school uniform.  His reasoning, “I was going to wear a baseball hat but my neck usually gets hot too.  This hat is better because the brim goes all the way around.”

PJ: Just kidding. I really only did 6.  I lied.

Pops: Well, I’ll have to give you 20 lashes with a wet noodle.

PJ:  That’s ok.  I already have lashes.  Pretty long ones too.