Field Trips and School Music Concerts

Due to COVID, there are many years that Hailey missed doing field trips at school. COVID started when she was in kindergarten so their end of school field trip was canceled and they haven't brought them back until this year. 

Back row, to the left of the middle, in gray

So imagine her excitement when she learns that she will have three school field trips this year and the first one is to the Museum of Science and Industry. And, she got to take a school bus into the city! She was beyond excited even though she knew the ride would be long. So a few Fridays ago, off she went with her class (and the rest of the 3rd graders). She explored the museum and said the weather station was her favorite because it had the best activities in it. She got to milk a cow (see photos sent to me by one of the field trip chaperones) and hang out with her friends. She had a great first field trip! 

The other thing that these kids have never had was a school production. Usually, each year, each grade puts on some type of performance for the parents. So this year, finally in the 3rd grade, they brought it back and we were able to see Hailey be part of a performance (instead of dragging her to one like when she was little). It was entitled, "Seven Kids Around the World," and they sang, they danced and they just had fun. Naturally, Hailey is still a bit shy and wouldn't go out for any of the extra parts so not to call attention to herself but everyone had a small speaking role. She memorized hers easily but was extra nervous because she had to turn on and off the microphone when it got to her. She shouldn't have worried though, she did great! 

Having fun!

Milking a cow!

That's a big tire!

Hailey looks thrilled!

The parent chaperone let them use the photo booth!

That's a Wrap on 3rd Grade Basketball Season

Our #4 takes the shot

Hailey finished her basketball season a few Saturdays ago. Her team was virtually unstoppable killing most teams by more than 15 points (although they did lose by one basket to one team). Hailey can play a mean defense, scored two baskets this season and preferred to pass the ball most games instead of dribbling (she said why dribble when as soon as I bounce it, someone is going to steal it!). 

Hailey did enjoy her season though with some friends from her school and others from "across the tracks" who she will be going to middle school with when she reaches the 6th grade. She said she still wants to play next year too which is the exact opposite of what her two older siblings said after third grade basketball.

Austen was tired of being on the losing team all the time so he said don't sign me up for that anymore because you pass these kids the ball and they don't even move! (In his defense, he usually was on a team with the most unathletic kids. Parents would tell us how good he was and I would think to myself, he's not that good, these other kids are just terrible so it makes him look really good!). Ha! And, Peyton, well she just didn't want to play anymore. I feel like she quit most things in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade and now she's regretting not sticking with some of these team type sports. She loves swimming but she's not getting the same team spirit as you do from some other sports (at least not until high school). She does want to quit cheerleading now too but honestly she's quit so many things that I'm not letting her quit her extracurriculars anymore. She said she does want to try Track and Field for middle school when that starts after spring break and maybe she'll try water polo too. 

Anyway, as I've always said to them, I don't care what you do. Forge your own path. It doesn't have to be the same thing as your sibling but you do have to do something! (Hailey would prefer to play in her room all day!)

 

Defending the dribble (she's in white)

Making the steal!

The Sleepover

A few weeks ago, Hailey came home from school and informed me that she was planning a sleepover with a bunch of girls in her class and it was going to be at our house. Now this is my kid who doesn't want me around at all. No volunteering to coach or being her room parent and helping out in the library. And, if I do then she pays no attention to me. When I recently volunteered for Hot Lunch, she completely avoided my line and pretended like she didn't know me (all her friends came through my line though)! 

The DIY Tents

So imagine my surprise when she tells me she wants a sleepover with six girls (yes, six!) at our house. Not wanting to totally squash her plans, I ask her to provide me with more information on what she was thinking for this event. The first point of discussion was the number of girls. There were five girls from her class and one is a twin so naturally we had to invite her sister too. I reminded her that her birthday was in October and I had asked her at that time if she wanted a sleepover and she told me no. But now, almost six months later, here we are and she wants a sleepover. So I tell her let's continue to discuss it. I'm not saying no but I wasn't sure we could even find a free night within the next month or so where we could hold this event. That wasn't good enough for Hailey and she refused to talk to me the entire way to soccer practice as she said now she was going to have to go back and tell her friends that she lied about having the sleepover at her house. Nevermind that I had more than one parent asking me if I had heard of the sleepover plans at my house yet!

So Tom and I put our heads together and came up with a date and a theme! We invited six girls (only four could make it - darn!) and decided on a St. Patrick's Day party. I had seen these cool sleepover tents that Tom created and got online and purchased some Shamrock lights, fabric, matching blankets and some other St. Patrick's Day fun things. We were ready! 

The girls requested Chik fil a, mac n cheese and pizza. They had some veggies and Shamrock cookies as well as a Leprechaun trail mix comprised of Golden Grahams, mini marshmallows and green peanut M&Ms. They completed some Shamrock word scrambles and crosswords, and then watched a movie on Apple TV called "Luck." They talked and talked (til 1:30am) and were up early. They ate Lucky Charms, Shamrock pancakes and donuts, and all were gone by 9:30am. 

Hailey wasn't too tired and crabby the rest of the day but she went to bed early and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow even though she said she wasn't that tired! The next day, upon seeing her friends at school, she said they declared it the best sleepover ever! So A+ to Tom and me! 

Hanging out in their tents

Getting ready for the movie

Breakfast time!

Shamrocks for breakfast