Words, Words, Words: June 2022

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Too Hot for These Scandinavians

We were so excited to go back to the Scandinavian festival this summer after it had been cancelled the past two years due to Covid. We put the date on our calendar well in advance, and I sent a message out to my sisters to see if they would like to come, too.

But this year it didn't quite feel like we were visiting Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland--at least not in the way we usually think about these icy cold countries. With temperatures around 33 degrees C, and no shade in sight, we were just roasting!

Janae started off in a Finnish costume, but after an hour or so she traded the thick wool skirt/vest and long-sleeved blouse for shorts and a T-shirt. Before that, though, when she and Eric (in his Finland hat) went to tour the portable sauna on site, someone started speaking Finnish to them, assuming they knew the language. Unfortunately, my kids could only return blank stares, since they know only one or two words of Finnish. However, Eric did sign up for information about language lessons :)

Eric and I visited the Viking Village, but there was no battling in the arena because it was too hot!

He was still able to join the candy raid, though :)

After Eric got his passport stamped in all five Scandinavian countries, he cooled off with some waffles,

and then we waited in a long, hot, slow line for well over an hour to get this little Finnish flag painted on his cheek (more about that later).

We also ran into Auntie Sheri, just in time to make some crowns and see the midsummer pole raised.

As you can see by everyone's faces, Sheri tolerates the heat a lot better than we do!

Eric wanted to stay for the hobby horse race, but nobody else could endure another minute in the hot sun, so we left for a nice, air-conditioned ride home.

But at least I got my Finnish T-shirt this time, as well as our usual Maryanne's chocolate-filled mints!

The following morning Eric woke up with a rash and swelling on his cheek that was so severe his eye was almost shut! We weren't sure if it was a reaction to the face paint or to the make-up remover wipe we'd used to take it off, but luckily Reactine took care of it within a few hours.

So, even though we enjoyed the experience, we're hoping for better luck next year!

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Year-End Awards and Report Card Quotes

Today was the last day of school!

We attended an awards assembly at the high school/middle school, then picked up Eric ... and then finally Alaina.

Here are some of the kids' accomplishments and some of the many nice things their teachers had to say, in case they want to look back on it all someday :).

Ben: Top student in Creative Writing 12

"Ben has developed into a highly proficient writer. His literary analysis essay and final project were both outstanding and he was a pleasure to teach."

"Ben's story demonstrated a rich understanding of world building and the interplay between people, space, and arc. The overall skill and depth created for his future novel are well above expectations for Grade 12."

Janae: Top student in Science 9 and Vocal Jazz 9/10

"Using music as a platform, Janae demonstrates a high level of understanding to aesthetically express, explore, create and reflect."

"Janae is a very strong English student: thoughtful, reflective, and curious."

"Janae was outstanding in her role as Escapologist. Her singing, dialogue, and movement for this very challenging role were precise."

Alaina: Top student in Math 7 and Music 7, Renaissance Scholar for Grade 7 (arts/academics), National Drama Award for Outstanding Achievement

"Alaina is always on task, participating fully in every class no matter the subject area. She is a true artist with a creative mind and an eye for detail."

"It was a privilege and joy to watch Alaina participate in ... Matilda. She sang like a songbird and put her all into every rehearsal and performance.... Alaina is a superstar student!"

Eric: "Extending" in reading

"Eric enjoys sharing his knowledge of topics with his classmates. He has very interesting background information on a variety of topics such as Shakespeare and Greek mythology."

"Eric is a cooperative, kind, and thoughtful student ... a wonderful citizen and is always thinking of others' feelings.... Furthermore, Eric is one of the most polite students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching."

I'm so proud of them, and so happy to have them all back for the summer :)

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Ben's High School Graduation

All year we have anticipated the event we had the privilege to attend on Friday night: Ben's high school graduation.

Actually, we started thinking about it long before this past fall. Probably as early as 2008 (when Ben started preschool), if not before, we were looking ahead to see what year our firstborn would graduate ... and 2022 sounded so far away.

Somehow it has arrived!

It started in September--even before the first day of school--when we ordered Ben's graduation hoodie (seen here covered in clay after a morning of 3-D art).

Then in January, we signed up for graduation photos, which happened the first weekend in February.

I was sitting in the back of the school gym when these were being taken--my first time inside the school since March 2020 due to Covid--and it was my first glimpse of Ben as a high school graduate. I'll admit, I felt a bit emotional! I loved the pictures, though, and have had them framed on our wall since they arrived--so I've had a bit of a chance to get used to the idea.

Next came prom,

followed by Matilda,

and Ben's 18th birthday.

Three huge events that further transformed Ben into a graduate and an adult.

There was no denying that our little Benny was growing up and coming close to finishing school. In the meantime, he also applied to university, got accepted into his program of choice (media arts), and registered for fall classes.

Then last week the school sent home a sign for our front lawn to make it official--graduation was only a few days away.

Ben ended up getting really sick with a cough/cold and missed most of the last week of school, but he was back for Thursday and Friday. Friday night, he put on the cap and gown,

and we headed to the school for some pictures:

with his siblings,

with his parents,

with just Mom,

and just Dad.

Even though the kids were all completely exasperated at that point, I managed to get them to pose for a few more:

just Ben and Janae,

just Ben and Alaina,

just Ben and Eric,

and just Ben.

Then his friends started calling him over for pictures with them as well :)

Finally, we went inside for the convocation (program cover designed by one of Ben's classmates).

Ben was surprised to receive one of three $1000 Board of Education Scholastic Awards for academic achievement, and then he got called back on stage for a $1200 district scholarship and medal for his Dogwood project (the first 30 pages of a full-length novel he has now written). And then he crossed the stage to receive his diploma.

I couldn't help but be a proud mama!

Looking back over Ben's school experience, from his difficulty learning to read/write and do math in elementary school to his years at the virtual school and his return to regular high school, he has overcome so much.

He has become an excellent student, getting A's and B's in all his classes (98 percent in scriptwriting this year!), participating in his school's escape room and major musical production, and stretching beyond his comfort zone in other ways as well. I am always amazed at his creativity--his scripts and short stories have made me laugh, read faster to find out what happens, and just marvel at his endless ideas.

Luckily, Ben will be attending university close to home, so we won't need to say goodbye just yet. As this year has shown, growing up happens gradually and not all at once! I am so excited for Ben to keep learning and growing and to see what his future will bring.