3rd Grade Awards

I had the privilege of accompanying our little one to her 3rd grade awards ceremony.  I was a proud mom!

Over 200 children were in her 3rd grade, and the top awards were given in front of the whole group. 

Here, she received the Mathmatics Award for highest math average.

Next, she received the SC Children's Book Award for those who read 20 or more books from a specified list and passed the exams (all extra work throughout the year).  These select students (about 15 in the whole school) got to go on a field trip to the movie theatre, purchase books at Barnes & Noble with a $25 gift card, and have dinner at Boston Pizzaria.  

I wasn't able to capture her receiving the Principle's Award Pin for All A's Honor Roll each 9 weeks.

Afterwards, the students went back into homeroom classes where each teacher gave out additional awards.  Our little one received the Service Award and pin for representing her class in Student Council during the year.

She then wanted a picture with her teacher and her favorite award of the morning.

Best friends...

I forgot to get a picture with her, too, so these were taken the next morning with all her awards.

Geno 2.0

For the past 15 years, Eric has been telling the kids that they are Native Alaskan.  I'm not sure if this was his attempt to confuse them, protest demographic questions, or brainwash them into thinking they qualify for college scholarships, but he's been telling them this for years.  

As an early Father's Day gift, I purchased a genology kit from National Geographic to prove, without a doubt, where his ancestry genes originated 1,000 years ago.  We aniticipate Scots-Irish given the last name McConnell.  But the neat thing is that it will also tell his percentage of Neanderthal as well as a complete health analysis.

When I logged on, they were running a special with $50 off per kit and free shipping.  I couldn't resist and bought one for myself as well.  I'm expecting a lot of German heritage, but since I'm female with only x chromosomes, the test will only confirm my maternal ancestry.  

The test involves a simple cheek swab, so it's painless.  After taking two samples each and mailing them off, the 10-week processing time begins.  We should get the results back just in time for Eric's birthday.  
 

Final 4

Our son's soccer team has advanced 3 rounds in the state tournament, making it all the way to the final 4!!  

A huge group of Powdersville fans came out, but here are my early arrival favorites.

The team gets a pep talk prior to taking the field.

Next, the prayer.  I love this part!

Now the final huddle with the core team just before play begins.

Here's a great catch by my favorite goal keeper!  They couldn't make a goal with this guy.

We won!!  Final score was 3-0 against the toughest team in our area.  Now onto the semi-finals!!

Congratulations Patriots!

Bookbag Trinkets

Why do tween girls love trinkets?  I guess it's the stage they're in.  When girls are young, they love dolls and stuffed animals.  A little older they go to barbies.  Then into the tweens, it's all those trinkets that look really cool hanging from their book bag.

These must weight as much as the books themselves.  Our little one has on her bag some benie boos, emojis, hand sanitizer, lotion, lip gloss, and a few other things that add bling and sparkle.  Thought it was too cute not to post.

Strawberry Farm

It's strawberry time, and we couldn't wait to pick our first basket of the season. 

When the kids were younger, we would tell them to pick only the red ones, and make sure there was red all around.  It was funny, because as we'd pass by other families with young children, they were telling them the same things.  

There were several families from various countries there, too.  We heard English, Spanish, German, and Russian languages, and from what we could interpret, they had the same messages to their kids: only pick the red ones.

This always starts the warm weather for us as we enjoy strawberry smoothies, strawberry shortcake, and make homemade strawberry jam for PB&J's later that fall.  With our oldest at college and our son at work, we only have one helper left.  She's a good strawberry picker, though, and keeps us entertained.  Talks the entire time.

First Job

Our son has been driving now for almost a year, so it's time for him to help pay for gas.  He has a few friends who work at Zaxby's, the local chicken & hot wings restaurant, and he heard that they pay pretty well.  

After filling out an application, they called him in for an interview.  They offered him a position, scheduled orientation, and he started work that weekend.  He works long hours, though, with a typical shift of 7-8 hours straight on his feet.  The family decided to meet him there during his 30-min. lunch break where I was able to grab a few pictures.

The first picture was during training at the hot wings fryer.  This second picture he's wiping off tables and trays.  I stopped after this one because it was getting obvious that I was his mom.  He wouldn't let me take a picture at home before he left, so I had no other choice.  This was another milestone that needed to be captured. 

Player of the Week

Our son was awarded the athletic player of the week!  With his second year on varsity, the team counts on him to be versitle with several positions:  goal keeper; forward; or mid field.  Coach puts him in and says, "I need you to score one."  Then sure enough, he either scores or assists a goal.  Same with keeper.  The starting GK is a senior, but they often put our son in that position if the pressure warrants him.  

And now the close up so you can read the fine print:

Proud mom!

Here's the on-line link: http://powdersvillepatriotathletics.com/2016/04/13/congratulations-pvhs-athlete-of-the-week-8/