THE BIG 12

It seems that it has finally come. We have a child who will be 12 tomorrow. I have to admit, I am not quite ready for this. I wasn't ready to have a child in middle school either. Thankfully, this child has a good head on his shoulders. He is kind. He is honest. He is smart. He is helpful. He loves to play football and baseball. He loves to make up crazy games with his younger brother and sisters. He also is very kind and loving to Ruby. They have a special bond. He is funny. He knows what he wants. He knows how to talk to us. He knows who he is.

Ben is an amazing young man (see I am can do this). So he started middle school this year and absolutely loves it. He has math, LA, social studies, science, band, english, and his FAVORITE... PE. He is learning to play the bells and snare drum (apparently they go hand in hand).

Over the last year Ben has grown so much. Especially his feet. His feet are now longer than mine (and I wear a size 10). He is our bean pole. Hopefully he'll keep growing into those feet!

Right now he is playing football, and Dewey has been helping coach their team. I love watching them talk about plays and how to make things work on the field and spend that time together. To be completely honest, I am a little jealous. I have my one on one time too, but I loves sports too and really enjoy playing with the kids. He has gotten to a higher level of playing that I can handle. :(

I love having conversations with Ben. He's a little adult so he shares his opinions and asks great questions. Most of which I have to find the answers to. He really likes to be older and we are still learning the ropes of what that means... staying up later, sitting in the front seat???

Ben, I hope that this year is a great one for you. I hope you learn a lot and remember who you are and remember the choices you have made and keep them. I love you with all my heart.  Happy Birthday!

Twins Turn Nine

Time flies when you are having fun... or when you are raising children. It is amazing to me! These two are so much fun. Third Graders who love to read, laugh and play!! This year they both got their gifts a little early. We went with the musical theme. Willard got a new electric guitar. A little late for the talent show at school. He has already learned how to play Smoke on the Water. He loves to sing and play, so hopefully we will have a few more fun songs to teach him!! Joselyn really wanted a keyboard... kind of silly since we have a piano... but she was really insistent. Dewey set it up in her room yesterday and she went in and was really surprised! It had a connection for headphones which is a huge plus, and it has 100 different instrument sounds to choose from.

5th Grade American Hero Wax Museum

This has been a fun project for the Indian Hills 5th Grade. Each student was to select an American Hero, do a report on said person, make a poster with information and pictures, and dress up as their hero of choice including props. Ben chose to be Patrick Tillman. He was a AZ Cardinals football player who succeeded in what he chose to do. He was deeply moved after the attacks on 9/11 that he quit football, even with a $3Million contract deal, and joined the US Army Rangers. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

They each had to speak to the crowd as you came along and pushed their buttons. Then they had to stand stoically as if we were not there. It was fun trying to make them smile or talk!! Most wouldn't give me the time of day! There were many representing those around the American Revolution. There were many soldiers and inventors. Many great and noble men and women who are American Heroes.