Celebrating Literacy Week

 This week, Ramsey's school was celebrating Literacy Week.   To make things fun for the kiddos, there were fun dress-up days (neon/crazy color colothing day, pajama day, creator day - teacher, artist, etc, and favorite fairy tale character).

And, each evening, the kids were challenged to complete special tasks, then send their teachers texts and pictures.

Nightly Challenge #1:  Take a picture with a parent, reading a bedtime story.

Nightly Challenge #2: Build a castle at home. 

Nightly Challenge #3:  Take a picture of your favorite reading spot.

Nightly Challenge #4:  Send teachers things you can do to be kind.

Extra hugs. Call grandparents. Try to play with new kids tomorrow.

For each picture/text to teacher submission, kids' names were put into the pot to be drawn for prizes.

Ramsey won a fun game!

And, because he had completed all of the nightly challenges that week, he also won a copy of the book, "Reading Beauty".     Getting a copy of that book was his ultimate goal.  Score!

Happy Birthday, Ramsey! #8

When I was a kid, I wanted to have my birthday during the school year, so I could celebrate with my entire class.  Being a June baby, that was never the case.  

Ramsey's birthday fell on a Monday, so he was thrilled to be able to enjoy his birthday at school!

He wore his favorite comic book T-shirt (Dog Man), and made sure he had everything he needed. 

He asked for chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

We had cookies made by a friend of mine who has a home-based bakery.  They were adorable iced sugar cookies with a Minecraft theme.

At school, his teacher took this picture of Ramsey.

Ramsey took presents to his classmates for his birthday; Minecraft mechanical pencils.  

This kid... so much has changed in one year; back to school, new friends, getting so much taller, the love of learning, zest for life, and the social and emotional growth.  Fantastic stuff!

So.... down to Ramsey's birthday stats:

Stats:

    Height: 4' 1.2" 

    Weight:   54 lbs

    Number of Teeth Lost: Still only the lower two, though one lower side tooth is wiggly.  And, at the last dental cleaning visit, the hygenist told Eric that the top FOUR could go at about the same time - supposedly just "one little string" holding them all in place.     Sidenote: Ramsey does NOT want to lose his teeth and wants to keep his baby teeth FOREVER.

    

Grade: Second

Ramsey's Favorites:

    Colors:  "Red and blue...not mixed!"

    Food:    pizza, ice cream (not mixed! ha!)

    Games/Activities:  Minecraft, Pokemon, swimming

    Toys:    Star Wars action figures, light sabers, Nerf guns

    Music/Song:   "The things we sing in Music class at school."   However, we often hear him belting out the words to "Zombie" by the Cranberries.

    School Subject:  Gym/PE

    Bedtime Story:  Dog Man books

    Restaurant:  Tokyo Steakhouse (the Hibachi grill!)

    Ice Cream Flavor:  Oreo (shocker)

    Outdoor Activity:  playing on snow hills and swimming

    TV Show:  Captain Underpants

    Movie:   Captain Underpants movies

    Animal:  "Werf Puppy"  (aka Jango)

    Best Friends:  Jango, Raelyn, Ashton, Bridger, Connor, Charlie, Stetson, Les

    Girlfriend:  "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!  NO! NO! NO! If I did, I would wear a "Kiss Me, I'm Norwegian shirt every day to school!"

    Favorite Thing to Do With Connor:  Play X-Box

    Favorite Thing to Do With Daddy:   Light saber battles

    Favorite Thing to Do With Mommy:   "Hug her...aka "smother her", aka "sit on her head"... like the dog does!"

Ramsey wants me to add these:

    Favorite Number:  One hundred decillion billion million trillion quintillion.

    Favorite Letter:  "R... No, R, K, and D"

Ramsey's 8th Birthday Party

Today was the big day!!  BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

This year, for the first time ever, Ramsey had a birthday party, with friends, at a non-resident venue.   

He chose to have the party at Allevity Entertainment.   Allevity has a myriad video/archade games, bumper cars, mini bowling, axe throwing (for those over 15 years of age), a climbing wall, air hockey, airball, laser tag, a place to get yummy food, plus prizes to boot.   

Ramsey had invited two good buddies from different schools, plus a number of classmates.  But, due to hockey and previous family engagements, only one of his classmates was able to attend (plus her older sister).  In all honesty, it worked out for the best! I had been worried that the two younger boys from other schools would feel awkward or not included.  

 

Pictured above are (L to R): Charlie M, Stetson F, Ramsey, and sisters Veda and Tage S.

Neighbor Ashton was able to come a few minutes later, right after one of two hockey games for the day.

We chowed down on pizza, then made our attention to cupcakes and singing the Happy Birthday Song for the Kid of the Day.

Ramsey insisted on a GROUP HUG before opening presents.

He received a lot of really nice gifts.  

He had a few rather exited moments.  

After gift-opening, it was game time!  The kids started out with the climbing wall.

Then, onto the ball pit/climbing jungle.

This is one of Ramsey's two favorite thing to do at Allevity.

Laser Tag is his other favorite!

When Ramsey came out, he was SO EXCITED.  He was on the red team and he told us, "I took out the green base all by myself!!!".  

Charlie didn't love laser tag.  And, when Stetson came out, I asked him if he liked it.  His eyes were big, he kept walking, and said "No... that was not good!"  LOL!    It was their first time, so it might have been a bit overwhelming for them.  Next time!!

Ramsey and Tage played air hockey (Ramsey's very first time).  Tage went a little easy on him.  Tage and Veda have an air hockey table at home, so they're masters!

What a day!  Happy Birthday, a little early, to our Doodlebug.

It's Official... Middle Aged!

 It is official.  I am officially (er, admittedly) middle-aged!  I succumbed to a trip to the optometrist to [literally] "clear up" my vision issues.   I thought I just needed them to see far away, but it turns out, they work well for like 6' away too!  

Growing up, I always wanted braces and glasses... and I never was "blessed" with either.  At forty-something, one of my "wishes" has been granted!  ha!   (oye)

Member of the Dean's List

 We're quite proud of our college-goer.   His grades were Dean's List worthy again for the first semester, but this time at his new school.   GREAT JOB, Connor!  

SOAR Slips

 Ramsey continues to collect S.O.A.R. (Safety, Ownership, Achieving Goals, and Responsiblity) slips from his teachers.  He has a thick stash of them and is SO proud of them.  He gets a check mark on his "Chore Chart" whenever he gets a SOAR slip also.

On Wednesday, he came home with TWO SOAR slips.  What?! Wow! 

The first one was for carefully explaining the double consanent rule to the class.  The teacher added, "You rock!"   The second one was for taking extra time to help another student.  Awesome!

Fast-forward to Friday... another slip!   We were especially proud of him for this particular SOAR slip.  He received it for being extra kind and patient while helping another student.    BIG kudos buddy - that is what life is all about! 

Late Christmas Up North

 FINALLY... we were able to get up North to see the crew for Christmas.

Look at how big this crew of kids has gotten! Aren't they cute?!?

We visited and opened presents, after a yummy lunch.

Ramsey got a $100 bill in his Christmas card.   His eyes were wide, plus a verbal "OMIGOSH!"

Because Connor didn't fill out his Wish List on Elfster.com, it was a "get what you get" gift and totally at the discretion of the secret giver.

In this case, Auntie Sarah was the Trickster Elfster, wrapping money up inside of a ton of white streamers.   (Maybe he will fill out his Elfster Wish List next year!??!)

But, "cash is king", right?  So maybe he'd prefer to be humored and have the moola.

More presents galore!  Lots of favorites!

Sadie got a funny present.  On her Elfster list, she had chosen a nice winter jacket, size Small.  However... she had accidentally chosen a LITTLE GIRL size Small instead of adult size Small! 

After returning home, it was time to take down the Christmas tree.  Another Christmas season coming to a close.