First grade is over!!!...

Here's a picture from the first day of First Grade for Cameron...

And here's a picture from today, the last day of First Grade!!!

Cameron had an awesome first grade year and he learned SO much. He is looking forward to starting summer reading at the library, building some Lego's on rainy days and playing outside. We are sooooo proud of how well he did in school.

Keep up the good work next year, dude!!

And a growth spurt or two this summer wouldn't hurt either.

A face only his mother could love!!!

I love this boy!

Kindergarten is over!!!...

This is a picture from our first day of Kindergarten.

This is a picture from today, our last day of Kindergarten!!!

Dear Molly,

You turned 6 years old last week and we could not be prouder of the young lady that you are becoming. You try so hard to be independent, you try so hard with your school work, you try so hard at all that you do. Please keep up the hard work and your diligence. You look so much like Daddy yet remind me of myself so much. We are so blessed to have you in our family. We will always love you!!!

P.S. I sometimes think that you might be the only one to take care of us when we are old. Remember that we liked you best!! (just kidding, Cameron and Amanda!!)

Love,

Mom (and Dad)

P.P.S.S. You will be awesome in First Grade!!!

More Kindergarten pictures...

Earning $$...

We had a really fun weekend doing some birthday celebrating...Molly and Mike...pictures to come soon as Molly really is having a week long birthday celebration. I'll tell you, she really knows how to do it at 6!!

Wednesday ends our school year here. Both Cameron and Molly have expressed a desire to have a few chores in order to earn some allowance. I think it is a great idea I'm just not sure how to execute it. What have you done for your kids in order for them to earn an allowance? Some of the jobs that I am picturing are things like making their beds, emptying the dishwasher, wiping down their bathroom. Things that are pretty easy but also things that will take more than just 5 minutes. How have you established how much you give your child for an allowance and what do you allow them to spend it on? I struggle with what they should be allowed to buy and what Mike and I should be providing them. They really don't want for much but I don't allow them to get things every time we go to the store. No can do.

Please share with me your ideas and practices...a little hard labor goes a long way, right?

Funny facts...

Is it just me, or do many of us have difficulty sometimes channeling our children's inner interests? Of course, Mr. Shook wants young son to love sports, excel at sports, be a potential major leaguer or NBA super star. Young son has several things against him to achieve in these areas but we won't dwell on that. After all, he is 7.





But, finding one's niche in life can be challenging. It is a well known fact that young son loves, I mean LOVES, his Legos. He can build them into the picture with the directions or he can create a whole new ship/plane/attack fighter, you name it.





But young son seems to have a new interest. I swear it began with the introduction this year to not only money, but coins, who's on them and more importantly who's on the green stuff. So Cameron has taken his interest a bit farther and is fascinated with our United States President's. Lucky us, we found a fun facts book about the US President's at the Book Fair last week. Lucky us, Cameron has a Grandfather who majored in history in college and a Mother who minored in history in college. Score! (Although I can admit that I am a bit rusty on some of the facts. Thank god for Wikipedia. I feel like Michael Scott.)





Soooooo, Oh my.





We have taken the ball and ran with it.





There might be some memorizing going on, too.





After all, it seems very important to know that Charles Fairbanks was Vice President for Theodore Roosevelt.





Or that George Washington's dentures were made out of ivory and animal teeth. But, there is a debate that they were actually wooden. Did you know that??





What ever Cameron's interest lie in we hope to be able to foster them and help him to learn as much as he would like. In the mean time we will probably have all of the President's memorized in order very soon.





And, I was informed by young son that all he needs to complete his money collection is an Andrew Jackson.

A poem for me...

My Mom

by Cameron Shook

My Mom is as pretty as a princess.

My Mom smiles when I am cute.

My Mom takes me to the movies.

My Mom cooks the best chicken sticks.

My Mom is the best at cooking.

Happy Mother's Day Love, Cameron

Dude, this works every time. I love it!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!!

Prince of the Pond...

Well, it was my Prince's Prince of the Pond week. One might ask, what is that?? You might call it Star of the Week in your neck of the woods but here in our first grade class you are...

Prince of the Pond!

Or Princess if you are a chick.

Here are a few photos from it...

Mr. Tree Frog needed to go some where with you and you needed to take a picture or two of your trip. Cameron was more concerned that everyone see in the one picture that he got to be the CATCHER!! rather than anything about the frog...

Thank you to Baked Blessings for the super cool frog cookies. They were the biggest hit! And tasted delicious as well.

Today was the school picnic and it was fun to get to eat outside on a beautiful (finally!) day. Thank you to our cool Dad for picking up Subway (Mr. Prince's request) and getting there in a timely manner. Impressive, Mr. Shook!