Middle School Update

You might be wondering how Eric is adjusting to middle school, especially since he went in not really knowing anyone.

Well, the first week he tried out for the school play (Into the Woods) and was one of only two Grade 6 students to be cast. He's playing Cinderella's father--not a big role, but big enough for one of the youngest kids in the school.

The first month, he took up the baritone saxophone--one of the biggest instruments in his school band--and discovered that he loves it! 

Band has been his favorite class this term, and the Grade 6s played their first concert last week. So fun to hear the beginner band again with all the squeaks!

Early in October, Eric ran for student council with a new friend ... and won. He and his friend are the Grade 6 reps, meeting every week with the student body presidency and other grade reps to plan school events.

Then, at the end of October Eric received an award for his kindness to others.

He has also become an "adopted little brother" to all of Alaina's friends :). 

Not bad for the first few weeks!

He still really misses all his elementary school friends, but he's definitely getting used to being a middle schooler.

I Really Do Like Halloweeen

I always think I don't like Halloween. I'll get our fall decorations out at the beginning of October, but I leave the spider webs, ghosts, and monsters in the bin until October 30 at the earliest. I'll put them up for one or two days, then take them down November 1. 

 

Leading up to Halloween this year, Janae took Eric and Alaina to a pumpkin patch where her friend was working,

 

and we also found a big, creepy spider hiding under our pumpkins outside.

Both Alaina and Janae were having friends over on Halloween night, and driving home after dropping off Alaina and Eric for school, I started to get into the Halloween spirit. I came home and put up some decorations, then went to the store multiple times to get the ingredients for our traditional mummy hotdogs, skeleton veggie platter and ghost pie.

 

 

  

This year, Eric dressed up as the Lorax--I heard that he REALLY got into character, both at school and at people's doors, singing "Let it Grow" and speaking for the trees. Alaina was Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride in a beautiful costume made by Janae.

 

Janae and her friends dressed up like the Saja Boys from K-Pop Demon Hunters and spent the evening learning the dance for "Soda Pop."

 

Jason fired up the old dinosaur costume we got a few years ago for Eric's Jurassic World birthday party, and that was a big hit with the neighborhood children when he took Alaina and Eric out trick or treating with Alaina's friends. 

And Pumpkin and Rosie were two little pigs--just for a few minutes, though! Pumpkin also tried to impersonate a bunny in Rosie's cage for a while :)

 

I love seeing all the trick or treaters at the door, and even though it was pouring rain this year, we had lots of kids come out. Eric and Alaina came home completely drenched--Eric's pillow case of candy was soaked through, and all the paper Smarties boxes were dissolving.

Alaina sorted out her candies into perfect groups....

and Eric just kind of gave up (he had gone out trick or treating for at least another hour with Jason after the others were done).

By the end of the evening, I could honestly say that I'd enjoyed Halloween very much. But I still took down all the decorations before anyone got up the next morning :)