Back in School

Back to school happened for Tucker and Aubrey the day after we got back from Lake Powell. Tucker is now in 3rd grade with Mrs. Knight. He is lucky and has a bunch of his friends in his class. Aubrey is in 2nd grade dual immersion and has Tucker's teacher from last year as her English teacher and a new Spanish teacher. I suppose she'll always have a new Spanish teacher since her grade is the highest dual immersion class.

  These pictures I took the morning of picture day. I only buy the class picture but wanted to show how cute they looked before they went to school. Tucker had cried a little because his pants were too big, but we got them adjusted and he was fine for school, that's why his eyes look red.

Cole started kindergarten a couple days before Labor Day. He is also in dual immersion and is doing well. He tells me the new word or words he learns in Spanish like Oso=Bear and Tigre=Tiger. He can already count to 40 in Spanish and he's made a bunch of new friends. We are working on being responsible. One morning he forgot to bring his backpack and as the kids were getting out of the car he asked me where it was. I told him it was his job to bring it and not mine. We had to go home to grab it and he was late for class. It's hard to get mad at him with that adorable grin and those dimples!

Blake started preschool after Labor Day. He is in 3 days a week at Sunshine Circle. It is our 6th year with the preschool. He has 2 teachers that take turns. Miss Jenny and Melissa. Aubrey had Miss Melissa before. They both have privately told me before what a great student Blake is. He is a wonderful student and Melissa told me that Blake is her favorite. That is such a great thing for a parent to hear! We've been on a field trip to Heehaw farm and half of Blake's class are our friends and neighbors.

Miss Melissa, Me, Blake, Tracy and Ryssa

Tucker had a birthday....Shout Hurrah!

Tucker turned 9 on September 17th. He wanted a friend birthday party this year and talked to me about it for months leading up to it. Usually during sacrament meeting. He'd whip out his journal and start writing down his plans and friend list. The friend list never changed, but his ideas typically did. Finally he settled on a theme. Legos. This boy of our goes from subject to subject and devours it. For those of you that know Tucker, you know its true. 5 years ago it it was animals, then bugs, dinosaurs, Skylanders, Pokeman, etc. This year all he wanted for his birthday were Legos and that's what he got - Legos. The movie, and Lego sets. Fortunately he has been very responsible at keeping them put together and in their boxes and bags. I'm sure someday we will have a random box or bucket of pieces, but for now, we aren't stepping on and cursing them. : )

I gave in and threw a party for Tucker. We decided we will do a family party one year and friend party the next. Of the original 7 kids that Tucker invited only 3 were able to make it. Tucker was disappointed, but we didn't let it damper the party, we had fun with the great friends that did come. One of my good friends recently did a blog post about a fun Lego party she did for her 5 year old and I tried to copy from it. Hers was much better, but the boys at our party didn't know that I failed. We frosted graham crackers and put M&M's on them to make them look like Legos. More food was eaten than created.

 We used spoons as a relay to transfer Tucker's favorite candy, candy corn, from one bowl to another without using your hands. We also guessed how many candy corn were in a jar and the closest winner won all the candy corn.

 Presents. Tucker loves Minecraft but we refuse to download it on the computer so his friend gave him some Minecraft toys.

 I attempted to make a cake that looked like a giant Lego. Susan, your cake looked much better than mine. Frosting Oreo's is not a talent I possess!

 The day before Tucker's birthday he cut his head open whacking it on a door handle. Rather than taking him in to get stitches, we pulled out the superglue and Dr. Dad fixed him right up. He had a headache for a day or two but is now feeling great!

Pinewood Derby

Tucker's First Pinewood Derby was held the day after his birthday. That made him a Bear. With our ward split early in the year he didn't get to do one as a Wolf. I am the Bear Den Leader in our Memorial Hill ward, so it was fun to have him participate as a member of our den. Cody helped him shape his car and Tucker was in charge of designing the car. He asked for all my paints and made it very colorful. 

Here it looks like Tucker is talking strategy with his buddy Laker.

 It was a night of pure excitement. I caught him jumping in excitement as a car, probably his, raced down the track.

 Only the men were allowed to place the cars on the track.

 Tucker took 2nd place of all the boys. He never lost a race, but because the races are timed, the boy that won had a car that raced faster.

 He felt great with the result because his best friend placed first. They were cheering each other on the entire time. After the official races were over, they raced their cars over and over and Tucker's car beat Kyle's once, so they both felt like winners! They both received the same prize and are happy!

This is one of the extra races the boys did at the end of the derby. Tucker's is in the middle.