View from a Boy

We only have 3 more weeks of school left — yippee! When we came back from Spring Break, we took the CRCT test. I thought it was boring because it was easy, but at least we got to play outside twice each day. Friday was Tritt TigerTown. We had been earning play money for doing good things, like turning in all our homework on time, or following rules. At TigerTown we got to spend our money on games, body paint, art, dance, snacks, etc. Then we got to choose a movie for the afternoon. Mom said it was supposed to be the capstone to our economics block but I just though it was lots of fun.

Yesterday I went to Alex’s 7th birthday party at the Red Door Playhouse. We got to play lots of funny games, like Guess the Voice and Freeze Dance and Limbo. I love playing with my friends.

This weekend my dad & I joined my Cub Scout den at camping. We couldn’t go Friday night because of the rain, but we left first thing Saturday morning. Also on the trip were Jordan, Aidan, and Sam. Sam & Aidan also brought their sisters along because they can hang with us pretty well. Oh, and we also brought along our dads.

It was very cold when we woke up this morning. Mom looked up the temperature for Royston, and it got down to 30 degrees this morning; Dad said it felt MUCH colder.

This year, instead of selling wrapping paper and candy to raise money for the PTA, we are doing a FunRun! On Thursday, September 26, we will run Fun Laps (about 1/16 mile each) at school. They won’t just be regular walk/run laps though. We’ll have robot-walk laps, and Conga line laps, and Guitar Hero laps, and whatever else they have up their sleeves. Now I just need to get pledges for the laps I run. I will probably complete 25-35 laps, but if you feel more comfortable with a flat donation, that is great too! The money we raise helps fund the PTA programs like Screen on the Green, the Tritt Trot, Author’s Day (we all make our own books), and communication folders. Any size contribution is much appreciated!

Wow, I’m almost done with the first two weeks of school! There so much to do; being a first-grader is a lot more responsibility than being in kindergarten. Fortunately, we haven’t had homework yet; that will really keep me busy. I have got to do some fun things though, my favorite being playing with my friends and making new friends. This week we signed up for Cub Scouts. I will be in a den with some of my friends from Ms. Pasquarelli’s class: Jordan, Alex, Elliott, Aidan, and another first-grader, Sam. I want to shoot rockets, and race cars, and go camping, and well, just have fun! Yesterday afternoon I went to Andrew’s birthday party at Monster Mini-Golf. It is inside and dark and glowy and spooky and COOL. Next week I start soccer practice. I hope my secretary can keep up.

Well, I guess I’m not a little kid anymore. Kindergarten is in the past and I’m actually in a number grade. My teacher is Mrs. Hughes and the co-teacher is Mrs. Wall. I know lots of people in my class, including Emma, Gabrielle, Elliott, and Arielle. Yesterday we all brought in bags with some of our favorite things: color (red), animal (dog), activity (video games), snack (grapes). We are just doing some easy stuff right now, like making sure we know the number words for one through ten, and our color words. I’m sure it will get more challenging though.

We bought some snack packs and there were 10 in each box. Mommy asked me “if there are 2 boxes and 10 in each, how many packs are there total?” I told  her “20 of course. 2 times 10 is 20. Did you know that 10 times 10 is one hundred?” She said she did know that, but I’m not so sure.

Early this morning, I heard Jack barking — he barks a lot. But this time my mom and dad were talking excitedly. Dad told me to come down and see a fox! It was so cool; he was just walking around our driveway. It was still dark outside, but with the street lights we could get a pretty good look. His tail was really long and bushy, and had a white tip. When he decided to leave, he jogged with a little bounce in his step. I guess he was a morning fox.

This week at school we are learning about national symbols. Tuesday we learned about the Statue of Liberty. It was a gift from France, and symbolizes our unity as a nation and our welcoming to others. Wednesday we studied the bald eagle. It’s not really bald you know; it just has white feathers that make it look bald. It symbolizes our freedom and strength. Today we learned about two special buildings in Washington D.C. The Lincoln Memorial has a statue of President Lincoln sitting on a big chair. President Lincoln freed the slaves but he was killed. The Washington Monument is a tall, pointy building and there are 50 flags there to symbolize the 50 states. It is interesting to learn about the different ways we show the parts of our country.

Wow, this was a busy week. It was Teacher Appreciation Week at school, and we got to bring flowers and cards to show our teachers “thank you.” Wednesday afternoon Jordan rode the bus home with me and we had a playdate. On Thursday we decorated our Valentine’s boxes and on Friday we exchanged Valentines. Also, Friday was a very special day — Doughnuts for Dads! My dad took me to school, and we had doughnuts and gifts and even a special song for our Dads. I was so excited to have my dad visit my class. Then on Saturday, I received my purple belt at my karate graduation.

Yesterday I received a Valentine’s Day card from Grandmommy & PawPaw — olive you too, lol. But I also received a very special package from them. They adopted a white tiger cub in my name at the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa. I know I don’t actually own the cub, but we are helping to care for him through the donation. I even got a cool stuffed white tiger cub to remind me of my adoptee! Thanks Grandmommy & PawPaw!

Last Saturday I went to Elliott’s birthday party at Pump It Up! Almost the entire class was there and we had so much fun bouncing, jumping, sliding, running, and shooting hoops. After, we got ice cream, juice, and a super-cool Incredible Hulk birthday cake. I was glad to help Elliott celebrate his birthday with so many of our friends.

Whoo-hoo — a weekend with a birthday party to attend. It’s looking good. Tonight Daddy brought home California Pizza; yummy. My plans for the weekend include video games with Daddy, Elliott’s birthday party, chasing playing with the cat, and staying up a half-hour later each night. What are your big weekend plans? For your viewing pleasure, here is my formal pose:

Today I had a dental appointment to fill 2 cavities. Since they were small and on baby teeth, the dentist decided he didn’t have to use novacaine –whew. I am *not* a big fan of shots. Our flu shot was easy, but Mommy had warned that this would be a little sharper. Ouch. Good motivation to keep my teeth clean. AND we threw out all my candy a couple of weeks ago when the cavities were found. I ate some YoGos this weekend, but otherwise I am trying to avoid the super-sugary stuff. Mommy says its okay if I chew sugarless gum though.

Mommy also was at school today to be the center helper. We painted ties orange or blue, and we will decorate them later in the week. I think these will be used next Friday at Doughnuts for Daddies morning. Dad will finally get to see my classroom!

Here is another picture of Sarah & I at Christmas: