2nd Grade Field Trip...

Today was Tyler's 2nd grade field trip.
I was a chaperon...as usual.
We went to the Pacific Science Center.

I had a group of 4 boys. They were all really good. I have known them all since kindergarten, so that always makes it easier on everyone.
One of them is one of Tyler's very best friends!
We checked out the dinosaurs, and the space exhibits.

Tyler flew this shuttle. :)

They had this live bug exhibit going on. Being boys, of course...they LOVED that exhibit...and wanted to stay there for a long time, and go back later, once we had looked at everything.

I honestly, did NOT think Ty was going to want to hold this GIANT Madagascar hissing cockroach, but he did...and he liked it.
He was a little bit unsure at first, and I kind of had to prod him into going up to the lady...but then he liked it.

His friend Nathaniel was the only other one of my group who wanted anything to do with it.

They had a "feel miniature" exhibit, which was really fun to take pictures with. They had this guitar, and they had a giant table and chairs, and a few other things.

We got to go watch an IMAX 3D movie about space.
It was REALLY cool!

I thought for sure that the glasses were going to give me a headache, and I still had half of the field trip left to last through....but actually, the movie was worse without the glasses...so I wore them...and was OK. It made me nauseous a couple of times...but it really was an AWESOME movie to watch. The seats shook with shuttle launch and you could feel it in your whole body.
Sure has come a long way since I saw my last IMAX movie...over a decade ago.

This was a periscope looking out at Seattle. Depending on where you turn it, you could see East, West, North and South Seattle. Pretty cool to try and find things that you know are there.
Kids all got a kick out of this...and we were stuck there for a while. :)

Also, one I don't have a picture of is the toilet exhibit. It had a toilet cut in half and it showed how the flushing mechanism worked, and actually had water in it.
The kids LOVED this one...I don't think I need to explain further. :)
Also there was a butterfly exhibit which I really loved. However...the pictures didn't turn out very well because the camera fogged up in there as it was SO humid and hot.

It sure was a fun day and I can't explain how truly happy it makes me that I am fortunate enough to be able to go on all of these trips with Tyler, and his classmates. I truly do have a great time, and know that I am lucky to be able to do so!

Flag Football

Tyler has been having a pretty rough time in Flag football.
He really wants to like it, and is really good!

We were kind of feeling like, having a first-time-ever coach, he wasn't noticing Ty's skills, and he wasn't getting played enough. Tyler being so nice, would never say anything, and never complained, and just did what he was told. But at the end of the day...you have a 7 year old kid, who never touches the ball, and never really feel like an intracle part of the game...and he starts to feel left out, and defeated...and really stops enjoying the game.

Which is exactly what we DIDN'T want!
We were getting to the point that Ty didn't really want to go to practice.
Don't get me wrong, he always had fun, once we got there...but he just wasn't enjoying himself like he does with every other sport on Earth!
It is hard to feel like your child isn't happy simply because he doesn't feel like he is being included.
Then, on this day...

THIS happened...
Tyler got that ball...and ran, like the mad-man that he is.
He ran and ran...full length of the field, and made his very first touch-down.
He WAS SO EXCITED!
So were Daddy and Mommy!!! More in the pride he had, and as tears came to my eyes, (literally) all I could do was be so thankful for that moment, knowing it was going to mean SO much to him!
After making that touch down, he was just a different kid.
It was the EXACT boost in confidence that he needed.
Kids (and adults too) just want to feel like they are needed, and appreciated.
He just SO needed that exact moment to happen, on this exact day!
It completely renewed his spirit, and his love of the game, and gave him more confidence then he had ever had since learning how to play.


Then, at the end of the game...
The couch handed out the Medal of Excellence, which is what the MVP of the day gets.
He gave it to Tyler!!!!

He earned it, and was so in need of it on this day. It was like all of the stars aligned.
He said that Tyler had the best moves of the game, and that he is faster then any kid he's ever seen.
It was a great game!
But most importantly was that Tyler walked away GLOWING!
Nothing better for Kevin and myself, then that!



{edit**Ty's coach ended up bringing in his dad to help him coach. It was obvious he was feeling overwhelmed, and I think that a lot of the parents and kids were noticing. His dad used to be a high school coach...so once he came...it got a lot better. He taught the kids plays that they could actually learn and follow-thru with. He had the ability to see and then utilize the kids' skills...and he just had a way of making them feel important.}

Artist...

I just adore every stage of having kids.
I have great kids.
I pretty much tend to think I am a good mommy, improvements can always be made...because we are simply born to learn, and change and develop. But overall, I have good, well-balanced kids, who are nice and attentive and loving.
There are stages that they go through.
Some are fun....like, too fun...

Others are not so much on my fun radar...still, I like to think I am learning from them, but more, that I am giving my kids the ability to stretch and shake their wings a little...knowing it is safe to explore who they are.

-------------------------------------
Tyler is going through a bit of a...ummm, what do I call it...a "sassy" stage. He talks back a bit, in a way he never has...

he argues some, and says things that are simply not ok for our house.

Nothing terrible, just disrespectful.
We keep saying it is just a stage.
I think it is.
We just keep trying...letting him explore this new side of himself...

but then guiding him back to what is ok in our home.

Hoping of course, that he will just grow out of it.
I am learning.

With it though...

He does stuff...like this...

I love his drawings...I love that he explores so many things!

and...
He has this new sense if humor. He makes me laugh out loud...and can crack us all up.

He has developed this new side...and it is funny. He can do a "valley-girl" impression and, I don't know where in the world he got it...but it is HILARIOUS!!!

also...
He is reading unstoppably. He tested at school at 132 words per minute...
That is really really good. Expectation for the end if the year, is that he can read 90 to 120 words a minute.
He is doing math...he is writing full stories.
He is nice to other kids and has lots of friends.
He plays sports.
He is just all around awesome!
So I guess my lesson is...

that I have to put up with, and grow through all of the stages with him.

There is just too much good in him not to!

He teaches us so much!
As of late, he is even teaching me patience!
And that's okay.
I'll do my time. He's so worth it!