T-ball
Category: Adventurous kids
A supplement idea for a boy’s curriculum
Years ago a home school friend told me how amazing the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs are as an educational tool. I never thought much about it until a few months ago when Timothy came up to me and told me that he wanted to earn his Bear Cub Scout rank faster than he had earned his Wolf. He had a plan for when he would work on it. He figured that since he was only required to write 3 journal entries a week, he could use the other 2 days normally dedicated to journal time to focus on Cub Scout requirements.
I love the initiative he showed here. We’ve been following his plan to work twice a week on Cub Scouts outside his normal Cub Scout meetings. Timothy is not my first Cub Scout, but I have discovered that my hesitant writer and artist will tackle all kinds of projects for scouts that he wouldn’t want to tackle if it were just for school.
I discovered that the requirements for our English program mirror some of the Cub Scout requirements to write a report and compose letters. The historical characters and locations tie in to our history studies. It’s a good supplement and Timothy likes the little badges and belt loops.
I have discovered that the Scouting program for older boys is also very good because it teaches Daniel to take the initiative and I like that a mentor (a merit badge counselor) helps him through each merit badge. Writing, leadership, reading, and research are great supplemental activities to what I try to teach at school, and you can’t beat the incentive of merit badges.
Which reminds me, I am very behind in attaching all of those merit badges. Scouting keeps me on my toes, too, which is why I fully deserve those mother’s pins they give out when a boy achieves a rank.
Ensemble 2012
Looking for a little entertainment? Here are the songs from the ensemble concert.
The first piece is Timothy’s Amen! and Kumbaya.
Next, we have Daniel’s Guantanamera. You’ll want to dance to this one.
And now here is Paige’s piece, Slavonic Dance. Yes, she really plays that fast.
I love the dugout with the Bee’s flag
Mark’s journal exercise today was some copy work about a certain important event in his life. He has adorable handwriting.
Mother Daughter Family History Night
This is what our house looked like last night. I invited the young women and their mothers to come for dinner and an evening of family history research and assistance. We’re getting ready to go to the temple next month and we are trying to prepare some of our ancestors’ names for temple ordinances.
The sister on the right was very helpful and so generous to give up an evening with her family to help us. The young woman is showing an ordinance sheet which she prepared during the evening. The names on the paper are ready for temple work.
As for our family’s work, we found the names we were looking for on census records from 1920 and 1930. Along with an obituary, we have information to lead us to many more of Cerie’s family members. We were so excited that we had Daniel join us and help us to enter some names.
I am learning how much the youth love family history and temple work.
Piano Ensemble 2012
We had three performers at the Piano Ensemble concert at Centennial Hall last night and I just felt proud to be related to them.
This was Timothy’s first year. Here he is on stage ready to take a bow.
Here is Daniel performing his piece, Guantanamera.
The above photo indulges my idea of how the world should view our children.
Here is Paige’s piano number and her little head.
Fashion is a big part of the evening. I enjoy seeing the pretty dresses each year.
Paige was just breathtaking and her piano ensemble number was, too.
Guess who…
Guess who started t-ball last night?
Guess who just came home with a learner’s permit to drive?
Milestones, each one.
Golfing in February
The boys are finishing up another round of golf lessons. The setting of their class and the pleasant temperatures make for a great way to spend an afternoon. We take classes from volunteers who charge $5 for a 6 week session. These retirees are such a positive group of people. I like to watch them interact with the kids and build them up.
Daniel has invited his favorite coach to our big concert in March because he tells Daniel often how he wishes he could hear him play the piano.
This is Timothy’s first session of golf lessons. He seems to be doing well and he is always talking to a friend of the week.
These classes have been so good for the boys.
There and Back Again
We went away for the weekend. It was a Hobbit-like journey in its surprises and sudden departure. We came back more wise, weathered, and with treasures, too. I spent time in St George, Utah with the women in my family doing temple work, shopping, sewing, watching episodes of Cranford, eating salads, and enjoying Haagen Dazs. Richard and the kids set off on adventures at Zion National Park.
After Richard and the kids returned, the kids, wide-eyed told me that Mark had been separated from the group for a while and was lost. He had a walkie-talkie and listened to instructions to yell so he could be found.
Mark said, “Mom, I was lost on Mount Zion.”
I asked,”And what did you learn from your experience?”
“Stay with the Pack!” he exclaimed.
On our return, we merged into our usual activities without much ado. The only hiccup was having to stay up until midnight so we could register Paige for EFY (Especially For Youth camp at BYU) at the first opportunity. Paige has given up on BYU Ballet Intensives. We have not been very happy with them for the past two years.
Let me explain EFY registration to you: Think early. You’ve got to get on the preregistration list in the fall. They will tell you the earliest time you can register, and it’s always some date in January at midnight. (We didn’t think early enough.) Think often. If you don’t get the location and dates you want, check the website often for cancellations. We didn’t get the date we wanted, but the next morning before seminary we checked the website and seized a new single opening on a better date. Hooray!
It seems that all we do lately is add activities to the calendar. We’re currently booked through August.
Winner!
Tim is a member of a large Cub Scout Pack and there is a lot of competition. Timothy’s dome, exposed engine, and lightning on red design really impressed the crowd. Decided by vote by families and Cubs, Timothy received one of the two trophies offered at the pinewood derby:
Nice work, Timothy and Dad!