Monart - what a great program!

Jack has been going to art classes for about 14 months at Monart -a local art studio. The classes started off for 1 hour, 1 time per week. Monart teaches you the "alphabet" of drawing and how you can use those pieces to draw anything. Jack has come so far in his art. He loves going to class. He loves his teacher Miss Bettina (she's from Germany and so cute!). He is sad when the class is over. Yesterday when I picked him up he asked me to take these pictures so we could post them here.

POPCORN!

Today was the big day for Steven and Josh. They are working on their science experiment for the science fair and they are doing it on POPCORN. More specifically how the temperature popcorn is stored at will effect it's popping. So we popped 16 bags of microwave popcorn -1 test bag, 5 from the freezer. 5 from the refrigerator and 5 from the cupboard. There was popcorn everywhere -even with 4 hungry kids eating it nonstop thru the process (the little brothers -Jack & Justin were not as much help eating the popcorn as I had hoped).

After each bag was popped they had to measure the volume, evaluate the size of the kernels and then count the unpopped kernels.

It only took them an hour and a half and they had fun. Now comes the hard part -graphing and documenting their results. I don't remember 4th grade being this hard~! and the science fair is still a month away.

Walk Thru California....

This is something I have heard about at the kids school for years.All fourth graders participate in this program -every year the same program. I never thought much of it... but when the notice came home and said parents were invited to be in the audience -well of course I had to go. Now I know why they repeat the program each year. It is a valuable use of time and a great experience for the kids. 96 pictures and 2.5 hours later I am so happy I went. The speaker took the kids on an adventure and taught them thru repetition, jokes and shared experiences about this great state we live in. My mom & I both learned a few things as well. Here are a few pictures of Steven from the experience.

Steven giving his "expert" answer on Borders and telling the class that the border between California and Arizona is the Colorado River.

This was a points competition between the four groups of kids in the class. Steven was selected for a final "speed" round where he had to point to items on the California map and name them -he got 13 which was the highest of the 4 kids participating. The others got 11, 11 and 12 -which just goes to show he can talk fast!

This is Steven and his best friend Josh. They dressed as monks -like Father Serra- for extra points. Kudos to my mom for making the great robes they are wearing!

It's that time of the year again.....

We finally got the call we've been waiting for....they had the draft and Steven is now playing in the big leagues! He was drafted onto the AAA Cardinals and can't wait to play competitive baseball. This is a big deal as not that many 9 years olds were drafted, mostly 10 & 11 year olds. They keep score, have standings on the website and have umps at their games --nothing could make a 9 year old boy more giddy! Plus he knows quite a few of the kids on his team --total bonus! I will be posting some practice pictures soon -they have already had 3 practices this week and it is early February!

Jack was also pleased to get the call he is on the Farm Pirates. He will be playing with his friend Justin and that made him happy to! Plus Justin's brother is Steven's best friend -so they are just as psyched to have the little bro's playing together so they can see each other during games.

So we are off .... the weather is cooperating and practices have begun....only 30 days til opening day......