I LOVE Doheny. I love that all of my kids will go out on longboards, and play in the water for hours. Today was an exciting day, because Pippi surfed with Navy! Navy is so rad, and took Pippi out on her longboard, and they had an absolute blast. Scout was out and about — way too far for pictures.
But Dash was close, and I got a bunch of shots of him riding the microwaves! He had so much fun, and is convinced he is a total surfer now!
Pippi hopped off a little early for a homemade PB&J…and between bites, she told me every single thing that happened while she surfed with Navy!
Dash hit the treasure box, and in all seriousness, came out with a full cowboy getup today! I said I was really attracted to all cowboys, but that one little part of his getup wasn’t working for me. In his low, rough voice, he asked “Whatcha’ talkin’ about ma’am?”
I said, “Why do you have a poop necklace around your neck?”
Then he started laughing and laughing!
But take that necklace away — and I am attracted…hook, line and sinker!
Nothing like a little primary prep with the greatest singing leader there is.
I spent 20 minutes in each of Scout’s classes tonight.
I got to see a little of his work he has already done in school, and I got to meet his teachers.
The teachers LOVE him! Especially the class where he works with the special ed kids! She came up to me and told me that in 20 years, she hasn’t seen a kid like Scout. She said he walked right in, and became best friends with the Ed kids, in such a kind and loving way. She is so impressed with him, that I was beaming with pride!
His english and Social Studies teachers both loved him too, and mentioned that he should be in the accelerated program. (Mandarin kind of killed that.) And then the social studies teacher asked if I had seen his project. When I told her I hadn’t, she urged me to go take a look.
I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary on his “Hat Introduction” project. Maybe his coloring was a little off??? And I noticed he had no adjectives???
But then I walked over to the “About Me” project!
Here is his buddy Justin’s project.
“The hard-working kid who enjoys being with his family.”
Here is Scout’s!
I am a very handsome young man who’s going to tell you my story.
Of course Scout loved this project!!
I quote:
“All my teachers and my principal told me it was the best graduation speech they had ever heard.”
“I also graduated number one in state.”
“My most prised posession is my money….is is helpful in bribing your siblings.”
OH MY GOSH!
This is all so classic Scout!
When I passed back by the teacher, I said, “OH… I saw the project!” She said, “Isn’t it awesome. He is kind of my favorite.”
These two have a special bond. Scout adores Pippi and her hilarious ways. And Pippi adores Scout, and his willingness to go along with any fairy tale or imaginative story she concocts. Their dental appointment shocked the dental assistant, who said she was really impressed with how my kids are always each other’s friends.
That was like music to my ears.
Each Wednesday, when we hit up pizza and the park, my kids always climb Lion King rock. Today, they actually had their own “Simba” to complete their song filled with words nobody understands. Pippi sang “Ahhhh Samenya, mama me mama mah” to the Lion King tune that is supposed to say “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba” (Swahili words).
Then Dash got up and sang the same song with different words. His went like this, “Ahhh Sevenya Fa Feliz Navidad”! He went with the Christmas twist!
Hilarious.
Scout is a total reader. He can be found reading a book each night before bed.
Navy is about a 50% reader. When asked, she will do it, but it isn’t the first thing she goes to.
Dash….fingers crossed. He is reading, and is good. But it is still a bit of an assignment for him.
Pippi is just getting started, but is tackling those Bob books like it is her job.
I honestly believe that the love of reading is one of the best gifts you can give your kids. I just hope all of my kids end up seeing it that way. I especially like them reading, because it will improve their spelling and English — two things they currently lack in the Mandarin program.
So fingers crossed!!
This is a rare photo. All four of my kids headed into Bergeson today…three to go to school. One to escort her cutest little sister to Kindergarten. I can’t believe all of my rad kids are growing up. It actually makes me sick! Gone are the days of glory! But I see glory in my future, with these four being best friends when Micah and I are old and gray.
Micah is in a time crunch with a house he is flipping, so he asked for our help. I thought he was INSANE to ask for Dash and Pippi’s help, but Scout and Navy and I must have been worth it — and we are a package deal.
We headed to L.A. for the day, and got to work.
Scout and Navy worked and worked. I am talking for hours and hours.
There were times that Micah was a little frustrated by the caliber of work being done. I quote, “It seems like you guys are just moving dirt around!” But doesn’t he know “you get what you pay for”. Did I mention they were not getting paid!
Everyone really tried hard to get through a long list of things that needed to be done, and by the end of the day, there was some decent headway.
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Now for Dash and Pippi.
Dash was hot or cold. He would get a little adrenaline rush, and crank out a task for ten minutes before he saw a place to practice his headstands.
Pippi was a different story.
She was a pretty lousy worker the whole time. Until I finally found her in a room by herself singing at the top of her lungs the songs from Cinderella. When she realized that she could be the working Cinderella with the mean stepsisters, she started working really hard. I took a picture of her from outside the house, and she just carried on. I was actually proud of her efforts.
But Micah thought the gallons of water on his new hardwood floors was a horrible idea, and that even GusGus and the Fairy Godmother weren’t reason enough to have to replace his new floors!
Next stop for Pippi was the car, where she sat in there in disgust over the “meanest guy ever” who ruined her fantasy!
This Saturday morning brought a little girl plopped on the outdoor couch. After 30 minutes of this, I went out and asked, “Are you working hard, or hardly working?”
Her excuse?
She was worried that she might fall into the pool while putting away life vests that were eight feet from the pool’s edge.
I gave her a little leniency on her insane concern, considering she just finished her first week ever of real school, and I think she is utterly exhausted.
She eventually completed the task, but this wasn’t her best Saturday morning showing.
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