The Obligatory Kid Updates

It seems like everytime I see the kids they've grown, learned new skills, tackled a new project and decided that they're one step closer to being grown ups. Someday they'll realize how precious these years are and how they shouldn't rush the whole growing up thing.

Boy child has been a camping fool - seems like every time I turn around he's got another camping trip planned with his troop and is looking forward to being able to "camp" in the back yard as well. As previously posted, the "camping fairy" came a few weeks ago and handsomely rewarded his with his own tent, camp stool, sleeping bag, etc. The tent is just big enough to share with another scout but not nearly big enough to include 3 "pesky" brothers and sisters when he's camping in the back yard - just another of those "I want my own space moments" he's been experiencing lately. He is, however, also developing his self confidence and pushing himself to try new things. He recently completed a volunteer project with the local library - the idea was his, the implementation was his, the travel arrangements were his... And not only did he complete his required 8 hours of service, he elected to complete 10 hours because he was having fun doing it. He'll also be able to go back and do some more volunteering with the library if he wants (and if his schedule allows), so I guess it's fair to say he did a good job! Summer holds just as many, if not more activities than he's had throughout the year - and of course it means more camping. This will be his first year at scout summer camp and I can already see how he's going to blossom being away from home for a week. A week... he hasn't been away from a parent for more than a day before. Sigh, I'm homesick for him already. He, of course, will be more than happy to ditch his family for the week and go have some "he-man, male bonding experiences". He's looking forward to working on his sailing badge and thinks he's going to work on his rifle badge as well - of course, part of that falls on him. The child has little to no gun experience (I don't think you can equate a bb gun with a rifle but what do I know?), has completed no safety classes and has a financial obstacle but he's bound and determined to make this work. He's already lined up more shoe shining work to earn the funds he needs for this badge (35 cents per shot). I guess we can't fault him for having lofty dreams and working toward them. Of course, he can always change his mind and work on something else instead (which I'm hoping he will) but I'm not going to try and talk him out of pursuing a dream. Besides, he got a taste of canoeing a couple of weeks ago, including 3 dumpings into the river, and has decided that maybe trying to talk me into letting him go canoeing on the big lake here is not such a good idea. Maybe a taste of rifle recoil will convince him it's not all the fun and glamour he thinks it will be.

Girl child is going and doing and growing and learning her own things as well. She's been very active with her Activity Girls program at church and is becoming quite the social butterfly. She's fun to watch, especially in new situations. She sort of stands back, then tip toes in, and then finally dives in with both feet - sometimes even head first. She's also showing she's got a love of dance. At the Ward Family Dance a couple of weeks ago, she just didn't want to leave - or sit down! She was having such a good time. Her brother was extremely cooperative and allowed her to stay later than originally planned even though he was wiped out from camping, canoeing and gardening. (Thanks, brother!!) We've already begun talking about the Young Women's program - I can't believe it's less than a year before she also joins the ranks of "Youth" and moves out of the primary ranks. She's got that middle child angst of not quite old enough to join her brother but too old to truly enjoy everything with her younger siblings and so she's always having to play up or play down to someone else's level. I recently gave her a digital camera when I upgraded my own and it will be interesting to see how she's choosing to "document" her life. She doesn't really like to sit and write letters to keep me updated, nor does she have access to email at home. And when we talk on the phone, inevitably we can only hit the highlights of things going on. I'm hoping this will give her an opportunity to share more of the day to day things. A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to the Midwest Horse Show. She was thrilled - just totally in awe to be surrounded by all of these real live horses, to have the opportunity to stroke a few noses, to see a number of breeds and to pick up information about them in case she elects to do a speech about horses at the next school presentation night. She also had the opportunity to sit on one of the carts used for harness racing. Although she decided she probably didn't ever want to be a harness racer when the gentleman holding the cart informed her that she would have to be careful not to get freckled by the horse pulling her! She even splurged and bought herself a new stuffed horse. Boy child, upon learning she had bought her own horse, inquired if she was ill - yes, my daughter is tight fisted with her funds (a very good trait and one that's hard to teach in my opinion). The only thing we forgot that day was the camera! Mom has learned and is carrying one almost constantly now. And she's developed a work ethic to be admired (except when it comes to her own personal chores). As long as the project is for someone else she works hard, works long and works proud! While other folks were hauling some 4 tons of sand off the driveway and back about 200 feet into the yard, she was responsible for spreading it around in a designated area to create a sand base for a large pool. She kept up with the wheelbarrow crew although it did wipe her out.

Both kids participated in the Spring Concert with their home school group and did a very nice job. Their age group wrote their own rhythmic composition. 4 groups of students, 3-4 students in a group, each took a percussion instrument and within certain guidelines wrote their own rhythm to perform. Then, all 4 groups combined their efforts into a single composition. They did a nice job! The following pictures are of this concert - girl child performing during the rhythm piece and boy child managing to turn away from the camera at every opportunity - he's learning to sense it (frustrated the efforts of his dad and step mother to get pictures as well so I didn't feel so bad). Enjoy!