Schools out for summer!

Well Vern is now finished with 7th grade and onto 8th grade. His final grades were similar to 3rd quarter with A's and B's. I was happy but the part that made me the happiest was there were no "N's" or needs improvements from any teacher!!!! Vern was using his time more wisely and trying harder. That is what we have been asking for and Vern finally pulled through. GREAT JOB VERN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next year in 8th grade each student receives an Ipad to use for the year. We have to attend meetings in August on this. If it helps Vern with studying I am all for it. I just hope he doesn't sit in class playing games. This will be quite the test of his abilities to resist temptation. I am sure you will see blogs on the topic...

Vern has a lot of summer activities planned. There are camps and vacations and trips to see people. He will keep busy.

We are trying to push Vern to get off the electronics and get out and do different things. This is a huge challenge. Last weekend we "made" the teenagers go on a bike ride.  Vern actually had a good time and enjoyed it. His sister....let's just say she hates us and can't believe she had to be seen in public with a stupid helmet on. My God, we are trying to ruin her!  The drama was unbelievable.

For the summer we are hoping there is more of this:

And less of this!!!

We shall see how it turns out!!!

Scout camp!

As if Vern hasn't had enough to do this summer... Next he was off to Boy Scout Camp. This is a week of no showers, lots of heat, dirt, and sweat. A boys heaven!

Vern had a good time this year as he took rifle classes. His grandpa Vern gave him a rifle and he wants to use it so needed to take some classes. Scout camp gave him the opportunity to do this. What a great combo! He passed his classes.

He came back happy and we immediately left for Southern Colorado for a family vacation. Yes, I washed his socks before we left :-)

Confirmation Camp!

Another Vern activity for the summer was church camp. This is a required camp when the kids are in confirmation. They spend a week there and are busy sun-up to sun-down.  Some of the things I gleaned from Vern are as follows.

The toilets are disgusting. He was glad he was a boy and didn't have to sit down. Let's just say he was pretty "backed-up" by the time he got home. ZOWIE

The showers were not much better but he did say he took quick showers daily. One day he washed his hair - one day his body. At least he ran some water over himself that week...

One painful event was during horse time. The horses stomp their feet when trying to keep the biting flies off themselves. Well Vern's horse decided to do this maneuver when Vern's foot was under the horse. Yes that hurt he told me. I bet. Luckily didn't break anything.

One thing Vern did enjoy at camp was learning to make "survival" bracelets. Below is a photo of the one he made for me. These are bracelets made out of para cord and the logic is if I get lost in the wilderness, I can use the bracelet to help me survive!  Great idea and Vern did a wonderful job of making this for me. I am going to take this on my vacation to the wilderness just in case.

One thing Vern did not enjoy to much were the high ropes. He said it would have been fine except his legs were to short to reach between the steps on the high ropes and his safety rope kept sticking.  Besides the high ropes they did do a zip-line. Here is a shot of Vern going down the zip-line. He did enjoy this part of the rope activities.

Here is Vern having some Bible study time.

I believe this is opening day and some group activities. His shoes still look clean which makes me believe it is the beginning of the week!

 

Here is Vern in front of his cabin for the week. I guess this is the last year these "cabins" are going to be used. They are building more of a bunk house to replace these as they all have seen much better days. 

 

Vern had a good week and very much enjoyed the soda as we left camp!

Four!

The older kids were busy so Superman and I had some quality time with Vern. It was great to just do stuff with him and his amazing personality.  We were driving around trying to figure out what to do for a special treat. I mentioned putt-putt golf and both jumped at the idea. Off we go to the local course.  Did I mention I didn't think that idea through to well as it was a very hot and humid 96 degrees?  I suppose it is summer and to be expected.  As we were walking in Superman says to me "Did you see that giant beer can?"

Me - "Oh yes I did. Looks good and I just got out of the car."

We keep walking and Vern is asking...."What beer can? What beer can?"

Me - "Oh its nothing but a beer can Vern. Let's go."

We grabbed our clubs, let Vern choose the course and off we went.

I love cell phone cameras of today. They really do take good photos.  Here is Vern getting ready to sink one.

Teeing off!

Here is Superman right before his water shot.  I think he thought he was really golfing instead of playing putt putt as he hit the ball so hard it hit the pavers at the other end, flew up over some bushes about 4 feet high and right into a huge water feature on the other side. Needless to say, he couldn't retrieve the ball and had to walk all the way back to the start to fetch a new ball. Vern and I had a good giggle over that.

 

 

Then we come to the 17th hole. I am the lucky one to first sink my putt. I go to reach into the cup to retrieve my ball and....

"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (screeched) I am NOT getting my ball out of there!" Lots of jumping around and running away from the hole.

The boys of course run over to the hole to see what is inside.

It is a GINORMOUS freaking mama spider having her babies in the cup. She had already had around 150 babies and by the looks of her she had at least that many more L-I-V-E babies to birth.  The boys wouldn't put their hands into the cup either. Vern decided the mama spider HAD to die so he takes his putter and let me just say you are glad to not hear the squishy sound it made. (heebie jeebies typing this)  Vern wipes his putter off and Superman retrieves my ball. I was ready to be done golfing after that.

On our way out of the establishment before we even get to the car Vern pipes up. "Now where in the world is that beer can?"

I looked at him shocked and point to the ground where the empty can is lying.

"Ohhhhhhh" he says, "I thought there was a giant one in the sky or one of those blow up ones."

We all start laughing. That's our Vern. 

Bible School

Vern was soon onto his next activity of the summer. He was a volunteer/helper for Vacation Bible School at our church. He had a good time helping the little kids and it was some time away from the electronic devices which was very much needed.

Vern got up early (for him in the summer) and participated until noon every day.

On Friday after clean up he and the other helpers were rewarded with a pizza party.

I have seen a few photos that were taken.

The only one I could find to scan or link was the one below. I circled Vern and Ann in the photo. They are in the back row on the left half of the photo.

As you can see they had a LOT of kids to keep in line. Everyone did a great job and I am glad Vern was able to participate in this event.

By the way...DA MOM'S computer decided to take a nose dive to computer heaven so I am working from the kids computer. It is why the posts are so slow in arriving. I do not know when I will once again have my own laptop but until that time please be patient with me.
Thanks!!!

Ending 6th grade on a good note.

Here we are at the end of another school year. Vern is SO excited to be done with 6th grade. I think he ended the year with 2 detentions within 2 weeks of school getting out.  We both are glad school is out and Vern gets some time to do other things. He will be kept busy this summer.

Before getting on with summer I wanted to brag about his report card. I was pleased that Vern did indeed try and ended the year on a good note.

English                B+
Social Studies     B+
Science               A-
Math                   B
Physical Ed        A+
Choir                  A+
Music Apprec.   A-
Foreign Lang     B+

If you know Vern please congratulate him either in person or via the comments section. He deserves it!

Now it is onto fun summer time activities.  Summer is just starting and he already had a dog over for a week to play.  This week he is spending at his dad's house and next week starts his time as a helper for vacation bible school.  More updates to follow!

Sore wrist / sore ego

Vern wakes up and immediately puts on Superman's wrist brace. He has had a fascination with this brace since Superman began wearing it last week.

I notice he has it on and say, "You can't wear that to school."

Prompt reply from Vern, "Oh yes I can."

Superman hears and jumps into the conversation, "Take off my wrist band now. I need to wear it at work."

Vern, "NO. I need to wear it. I hurt my wrist."

Superman, "Take off my wrist band now."

V, "NO!"

S, "Take it off, you can wear a bandage."

V, "NO!"

S,  "Take off my wrist band now."

You are getting the picture here right? This goes on for a few more rounds.

Finally near the end of this Tet-a-Tet Vern says, "The school nurse TOLD me to wear it today."

S, "Oh should I call the nurse today and see what she has to say about this?"

V, "She told me to go to the doctor and to wear the brace."

S, "OK, I will call and get her side of the story later today."

Vern hands back the brace and lets me put an ace-like bandage on his wrist.

How long is summer vacation?

Vern: What day is today?

Me: June 9

Vern: When do we go back to school?

Me: I think August 13.

Vern: Now that is after July right?

Me: Yes, June - July - then August.

Vern: Loud Sigh, why does summer go by SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fast?

Me: Yes, it does when you are a kid.  Just enjoy the fun you are having and don't think about August.

I didn't tell him when you are an adult it all flies by faster and faster each year, not just in the summer!!!

Zoom - zoom

Where does the summer go?  It has been a week since I posted a blog.

I have to confess, I have been taking some time to focus on my relationship this past weekend and not blogging. Hey it happens, we all have to manage our time to the best of our abilities and it just so happened this past weekend needed work in other areas. :-)

Vern has finished up his swimming lessons.  I have yet to find out if he passed. He did have a YMCA councelor call this morning because he didn't pack a swimsuit from his dad's house and was panicing on what to do for swim lessons.  Vern lucked out in that they are finished. I hope he passed.

He also started summer reading at school. This he doesn't like but that is no big surprise now is it???  He has a bit of homework with the class so I will try to keep him focused during the summer.  I have been spending time before bed with him reading a dragon book his grandma gave him and he seems to enjoy that.  Finding something to interest him is a challenge because what he liked last year he doesn't this year.

This past weekend Vern went tubing with the Scouts. He said he had a good time but had to wear a life jacket. I am glad for that part. I didn't hear much else except it was sunny and nice.

That's about all for now.

Vern's Summer

I envy my kids. They get to do EVERYTHING in the summer.  Vern goes to the YMCA day camp. So he gets to swim, and play, and go on fun field trips. How cool is that?

Then there are the extra things of no school. Vern is signed up for summer reading at his school. He is going whether he wants to or not. His reading scores actually qualified him :-( they were that bad.

Then there are the vacations. Since his mom and dad are divorced he gets 2 vacations!  He gets to go to Washington D.C. with his dad and camping and shopping and rides with his mom. What a summer!

Vern also has swim lessons to do in between everything else and later this month he will be going to a week of Bible School.

WHEW.

When I stayed home as a kid I had chores and reading and maybe swimming to partake in. As my grandparents used to say... "Kids now a days."