He's Got a Point

We were driving to or from football practice when we were talking about the fair. I told Hank I was going to the MN State Fair this Saturday to work at a booth for the Taxpayers' League of Minnesota.

"Whaddaya do there?"

"Oh, hand out literature and try to answer questions people might have about the organization."

"That sounds terrible. Why can't you work at the all-you-can-drink milk place, or something like that?"

First Comes Face Paint

"You are ELEVEN. We'll talk about what kind of tattoo you think you want after you graduate from the Naval Academy."

My Boy Scout is Making Me Proud

I was skeptical. To me, every Cub Scout meeting resembled the 'Puppy Bowl' footage shown on Animal Planet on Superbowl Sunday (i.e., bunch of rowdy boys rumbling and wrestling and rolling in leaves and marshmallows from their half-eaten campfire S'mores). I did everything in my power not to have to participate in any scout planning activities. Frankly, it gave me an anxiety attack. My friend JM was a stellar scout leader and she has no idea how grateful I am for how she got us all through the rough Cub Scout years.

I found out yesterday that Hank volunteered to run a shift at the school carnival for his troop. I'm surprised why? Because Hank had told me in no uncertain terms that when it came to Golden Valley Days (Scouts in parade) and Meadowbrook School Carnival, he had 'other plans.' 'Other plans' being hanging out with his friends and definitely NOT looking uncool in his uniform.

But his Scout leader sent an email with the carnival schedule and there's Hank's name on the list to run the mini-pinewood derby game. (Scout uniform mandatory.) I'm discovering he's got way more going on in his mind than just simmering hormones and wanting to be perceived as 'cool.' Feeling proud. :-)

The Dog Whisperer

Hank has designated himself (unofficially) the neighborhood dog wrangler and orchestrator of play time for Peggy. Yesterday I asked him to return a dish to Emily (which previously contained some delicious shrimp and grits. Have I mentioned how great it is to have a friend from the south?) and he came home with Sophie and Rudy in exchange. He told me he asked Emily if they could come over and play with Peggy for a little while.

I wonder, though, if what he really wanted was a bigger dog audience for his awesome backyard wrestling moves.

Transition

Hank has slept with this friend every night since he was about two. Tonight he has a sleepover at a friend's house where he has slept before. He has always taken this dog to sleepovers along with his sleeping bag and toothbrush. When Gary asked him tonight about packing it he said, "No. I don't need him, Dad."

Morning practice. Too hurried to sit.

He can see clearly now

I asked the optometrist how, if he passed the screening at school and the one at his last 'well kid' checkup, this near-sightedness was not identified previously. He said, "Well, 10-year-olds can be really good at squinting."

-

Nine

Nine years ago.

Back to school

He complained about it last night but this morning he looked pretty excited to get back to school. He came home feeling good about his teachers and his classmates. And lunch: bagel bag. Go get 'em, Hank!

Bad news, Hank

Hank started a little lacrosse mini-camp today and after he suffered through what I know he considered very boring drills of throwing and scooping and throwing and catching he asked the important question, "When do we get to PLAY A GAME?"

The coach answered, "Probably Wednesday."

And so I had to translate that question: "He wants to know when he can start CHECKING people."

Answer: "Not until you are in high school."

The coach needed to know that the whole reason Hank wants to play lacrosse is so he can hit other people with a big stick.

School library book / My son the fashionista

It's beginning to make sense to me, the intense emotions displayed during our almost-daily squabbles over what constitutes appropriate school clothing.

Scenes from a birthday

Use you imagination:

1. The Water Park of America is probably responsible for 50% of the hearing loss in the Midwest since 2006. Holy frijoles, it is LOUD in there.

2. Exhibitionists or victims of swim top malfunction? There was a large crowd of people watching the surf ride (they call it the "Flow Ride") in the water park. The lifeguards have a tall stack of towels to drape across the chests of girls wiping out on the surf. How dumb (or exhibitionistic) do you have to be to realize that there is a 90% chance of your top coming off (unless you happen to be a professional surf-boarder) when you fall off your boogie board??

3. Hope has inherited her father's devil-may-care attitude when it comes to tube slides from 10-stories high. Hank has inherited his mother's attitude of there is no good reason for any human being to be persuaded to hurl herself through a tube of water that involves G-forces of unknown intensity.

4. This was Hank on March 17, 2000.

5. This was Hank having a little chat with the OB.

Happy Birthday, Hank! We love you with all our hearts!

Yet more swimming

Gary and I were convinced that the swim meet last Saturday (sectionals) would be the last of the season. We are ready for a break. The swim team has involved way more swimming than we expected. But Hank has really enjoyed it and we've all made some nice friends with the parents as have Hank and Hope with the other kids. But the swim meets are LOOOONNGGG. Parents with older kids tell us how nice it is with school swim teams when the competition has a much more narrow age range. With club meets like the Y there are so many age groups that the meets go on for hours.

So we thought we were done with the season until I learned tonight that Hank's two relays qualified for the state meet. Hank is excited and we are so proud (a little surprised!) yet very, very tired.

And I guess I will have to miss it because we have el grandé choir rehearsal that same day. So. Sing or swim? I guess both. Mr. Bickerson will have to cheer twice as loud as usual.

GO HANK!!

Sakura

Art from Hank's unit on all things Japanese. Cherry blossoms are a nice thought on a cold day like today.

An exception to The Hat Rule

Mr. Bickerson had the pleasure of getting the kids off to school this morning. He's a stickler for the Hats-Off-Indoors Rule and had this anecdote to relate to me tonight:

He and Hank bid adieu to Hope in preschool and walked together down the hall to Hank's classroom where the first graders were lined up, waiting for the okay to enter.

(I admire the first grade teachers. They seem to have everything so...together. But sometimes I like to imagine that they wait until the very last second before the morning bell to open the classroom door because they are all in there downing shots of tequila in hopes of making it through another day. You know. Like I do. Every day.)

Anyway, Hank had his hat on and Gary reminded him, "When you're inside you take your hat off," to which one of his cute little classmates replied (and we don't his name), "We're s'posed to wear our hats indoors. We have LICE!"

Touche' little dude. Touche'.

25 yd breast with 10% dog-paddle

Results

Apparently Gary and I were both too foggy-headed from the chlorine fumes to realize that Hank came in first place in the 25 yard breaststroke. And there was more than one swimmer in the event!

Hank, for a kid who couldn't swim the length of the pool this summer, you've come a long way baby. We are proud of you and your hard work.

Can't hurt to ask

Math problem

What I don't understand is how I got seventh place when there were only six lanes in the pool.

The tooth fairy was good to him

It's an EZ Yo-Yo.