January 28, 2024
This week we celebrated Greyson's six years! He was a little under the weather but not enough to miss school or celebrations, he was just a little more subdued than normal. He got his requests for french toast in bed in the morning, mac and cheese in the bath for lunch, and nachos in the evening. It was fun to have Nana and Grandpa come over and hear of their MTC reflections as they prepare to leave for Germany on Monday. Greyson was excited about a Scooby-Doo shirt and costume he got, a Grinch card game (and cake), and a Michael Jordan poster too. He and I are going to see the Jazz play in a couple of weeks as well so he had a great day. Greyson went with Kassie to her check in with the midwives and did really well. He helped find the baby’s heart beat and got to feel the baby’s feet/leg kicking. Kassie said it was really good to have him there so I’m glad that worked out. He is reading up a storm and progressing to 1st grade books. He read nearly half of Green Eggs and Ham to me this evening before getting tired out. It’s fun to see him progress, and much in part due to Kassie’s regular support of his learning.
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| French toast in bed for birthday boy |
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| Scooby boy |
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| 6 years old! |
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| Birthday with Nana and Grandpa |
I went with Hinckley’s class to JA (Junior Achievement) city in Orem Friday, a field trip for the whole 5th grade focused on learning a “job” and how to manage being an adult in the workforce for a day. It was an amazing simulation of sorts and very interesting from a learning design perspective. It captured the kids’ imagination like nothing else (other than maybe the Alpine School District "space camp"). While I’m not sure they came away with any key performance or learning objectives met, they had a blast. It was fun to see them running around doing all sorts of things like putting on TV ads, running payroll, CEOs giving inspirational speeches, banks investing in businesses, and more. Hinckley was very proud of himself for saving his business (Rocky Mountain Power) from defaulting on their loan thanks to his persistent sales skills.
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| Hinckley the business manager |
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| In JA City |
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| JA City Opening Meeting |
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| Pushing hard for those sales |
Addie finished Harry Potter 3 this week and is eager to start on number 4. Still no nightmares...so hopefully she'll be alright. She loves gymnastics and playing with friends, and enjoys wearing her boots everywhere (snow boots or cowgirl boots). For a "Dad Movie" this week I showed the kids Star Wars: A New Hope (the first one ever made) and Addie walked out of it and couldn't finish it. "Too boring," she said. Greyson was into it though.
January 21, 2024
This week started with the MLK holiday and I took Addie on a date to the rec center walking around the track and some Crumbl cookie after. It was fun to walk laps as she talked to me about the books she is reading and the kids in her class. I always love listening to Addie's happy chirpings :) She started working with a math tutor this week and has already been more optimistic about her math skills. We hope it helps as she has been lagging behind a bit. She loves drawing and playing with friends and is half way through Harry Potter 3. She made her own wand using a stick she found outside, glue, and gold craft paint.
Greyson has fallen into the habit of drawing for long periods and it is remarkable. He is into drawing Scooby-Doo things now and has mostly moved on from the Grinch (though he still pumps out a few a week for the Grinch). He just draws and draws and draws. Reminds me of when Addie would do that for big periods as well. He had his first B-Ball game of the new season with me as the coach and it went pretty well. He's not hesitant to get in there and take shots, even if they are from "downtown" haha.
I took Greyson and Hinckley for haircuts and Greyson insisted on getting his trim to look like "Fred from Scooby-Doo". Since then he wants me to help him gel and part his hair every day "to look like Fred". I'm grateful he isn't aiming to look like Shaggy! haha.
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| Fred boy |
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| Pre-teen |
Hinckley has set a personal goal this year to learn Trigonometry...sometimes I have to remind myself he is my son! He started on a book that came in the mail this week and seems to enjoy working through some of the problems. He is gobbling up books like "The Martian", "Ender's Game/Shadow", and is nearly halfway through "Project Hail Mary" -- all great sci-fi books. We finished Rings of Power in VidAngel at the end of last week which was fun to watch together.
Kassie and the baby are doing well, or as well as a third trimester can go. There have been many arguments about the name of this boy, perhaps an angel will appear and tell me his name before striking me dumb?
January 14, 2024
We had a great visit with family and friends today in Provo to see Mom and Dad off on their mission. They gave great talks and it was a special time. The beginning of a new chapter!
This week brought the long-awaited winter. With all the snow we guzzled a lot of hot chocolate and the kids spent a good amount of time outside walking around and "sledding". We hosted a hot cocoa sale as a part of a Just Serve service project to raise money for sending books to Ghana. When not filling up cups we built a big snow cave in the front yard.
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| Ready to serve hot chocolate |
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| Preparing for the sale |
Greyson was excited to check out his first library book from school this week - Horton Hears a Who! He is very interested in the fact that Whoville is also in this book (and also the Grinch). He had his first basketball practice this week that I coached which went fairly well. He wanted me to wear a suit and tie but I declined. I haven't gotten into the sport with as much enthusiasm haha.
Hinckley and I finished Rings of Power this week. It has been fun to watch that with him, but has caused much tears with Addie who wants to stay up and watch stuff too. Trying to figure out a solution there. Hinckley also had an urge to "change the world" this week, so he ended up using AI to write an email to his principal requesting that the playground equipment be restored to the 5th grade, arguing that it wasn't fair that the whole grade be punished for the misdeeds of a few. She hasn't responded.
Addie spent a lot of time in the snow this week, she loves to go out and play and sing alone and with her friend Brooke - and Greyson if she is in a great mood. She got a sore throat and missed one day of school but was eager to get back the next day. I got to go to "books and buddies" with her and read some Diary of a Wimpy Kid with her in her classroom which was pretty fun.
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