I haven't posted in awhile because it's been so busy! We've had company, celebrated important milestones and made many happy memories.
First up, Will turned 12. I know. I can't believe it either. I'm trying to prepare myself knowing that by next year at this time, I'll officially be the parent of a teenager. Yikes!
To celebrate this exciting birthday, Will had his choice of restaurant and he picked one of his favourites - Red Lobster. He's not a cheap date! In the picture above, he's attacking his crab legs. And I do mean attacking - crab was flying all over the place! Oma and Opa arrived from Wisconsin to help us celebrate and we had lots of fun with them! Will requested a cake from DQ and we were all happy with that choice.
Will wrapped up some of the classes he had been taking this spring. He finished his SHEP (Science and Canadian History Enrichment Program), took his tests, finished his projects and learned a lot!
Instead of Canadian History this time, they did geography. As they learned different aspects of the subject, they applied it to the island they had made up. It was a great way to learn and a fun project to work on!
He also finished up the junior Toastmasters class. There's no doubt he's not bothered by public speaking. Now it's a matter of having something worth speaking about. Future pastor? We'll see.
Here he receives his Toastmasters certificate
For the past month and a half, he and his team of 2 other boys have been preparing for the IEEE Lego Robotics contest. They prepared for many hours and had two really cool and well designed robots ready to compete to show for it. They also prepared an i-Movie with graphics and music and information on their team and their robots.
In the picture above, they are drag racing their robot with other teams. Ages of competitors ranged from Grade 5 students through high school so the competition was tough! Their team came in 2nd - just one point shy of being first! It was a great experience and we are so proud of them all!!
While Will was busy competing, I was up the street at our church taking part in our first Ladies' Tea. We had such fun and had quite the spread. Those who were hostesses decorated their individual tables however they liked. Mine had a bird theme.
A few days later, Grandpa and Grandma from Calgary flew in to spend the week with us! It had been quite awhile since they had visited last and before my father-in-law was diagnosed with his cancer. He's doing very well, and is managing it as best as can be expected. Golfing always makes him happy and I had fun doing errands, lunch and some shopping with Fran.
She even came along on one of our field trips - bird banding. We had done this last year so we had a better of idea of what to expect. We got a chance to see several birds banded but not any we saw caught in the nets.
It's so neat to see them up close and learn the signs of how old they approximately are, male or female and how much fat they're carrying.
Lastly, Zanna celebrated a very exciting milestone - Kindergarten graduation!
We had a special dinner while Grandpa and Grandma were still here. We're so proud of her!!
It's slowed down temporarily now that we're done with school except for a few fun things I've been meaning to get to through the year and never found time. A study of Shakespeare's stories and where his inspiration came from, time spent learning about Michelangelo and studying his art, Mathtacular videos and Mavis Beacon typing (thrilling, I know), talking current events after reading "God's World News", our last Eastern Hemisphere location for the school year - Central Asia (how 'bout them yurts?). Plenty of playing in the slip and slide, biking and trips to the park. Bring on summer!!
