All Hail, Sir Matthew!

I know I’ve already mentioned it, but we have absolutely loved our new elementary school and Matthew’s third grade teacher. Our latest bit of delight was the program the third grade teachers put together to help celebrate the children’s accomplishments in memorizing the multiplication tables. When the kids pass off a certain number of timed tests, they are “knighted” and become Knights of the Multiplication Tables. For those who go further and pass off division as well, they are given the keys to the kingdom.

Matthew has passed off his times tables and today was his knighting ceremony. We received our official invitation about a week ago and Matthew has been looking forward to this. Let me tell you, the teachers and the administration definitely went out of their way to make this neat for the kids. The kids all filed in, those who would be knighted having the spots of honor in the center of the group. Then, as the royal music began to play, the children all rose to honor the entrance of the king and queen (the principal and vice-principal). Each knight-to-be was called up one at a time and knelt before either the king or queen (they took turns) who recited to oath of knighthood and then knighted each child with the official sword. Seriously, they played it all up…and the kids loved it. I’m totally proud of Matthew for working hard to learn his facts so he could join the ranks of the honorable knights of the multiplication tables!

Yeah, typical Matthew. What can I say? He keeps us laughing. :-)

He's a Winner!

Our middle school has an award they call the Diamondback of the Month. Basically, one boy and one girl or selected by the faculty each month to be honored. Every three months they hold an assembly to honor the six most recently selected students. Daniel was selected when he was in 7th grade and this month was Nathan’s turn. Unfortunately, the parents of all the boys notified in advance like usual. This morning the phone rang at 8:45. It was one of Nathan’s teachers asking for a brief bio or some stories about Nathan. The assembly was already underway and they had just realized that there were parents who had not been notified. She told me they would leave Nathan until the very end and I blasted out the door, dropped Malia off at preschool and rushed over to the middle school to arrive just in time. When the assembly was over, the teacher in charge of notifying the parents found me and apologized profusely. She had been on maternity leave and today was her very first day back at school. Totally acceptable excuse in my book. Anyway, I’m very proud. Nathan is a good kid. And I’m so glad I was able to get to the school in time…even though I was in my yoga gear. :-)

Twinkle Toes

Malia has started taking dance lessons. I have been checking out options for a while, but had not made any decisions mainly because the cost associated most of them is pretty high. Just a couple of months ago a friend from the ward told me that her daughter takes lessons from a lady who has converted her garage to a dance studio and only charges $35 a month for an hour long lesson once a week. We signed up for the summer “dance camp,” mostly because we were told that those who sign up for the summer session get first choice of classes for fall and because her prices are so super, her classes always fill up quickly. In dance camp there is a theme each week. They do a craft and then dance to music that fits the week’s theme. It is more relaxed than a regular lesson and I think it is a great way to introduce the littlest ones to dancing.

Malia has been super excited about dance and has been asking regularly if we had reached the appropriate day. Today was finally the day and she had a great time. I’m not one of those moms who will make my daughter take dance lessons just because she is a girl, but I’m hoping she enjoys it as much as I did when I was a kid.