I Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

Frosty Freeze - oh how I love your dollar twist cones....

Summer Break for Caleb

School's Out For Summer!

Caleb had his final day of second grade. As most last days of school go,  he had many supplies and papers to bring home.  He was especially excited to bring home 2 of the classroom pets.  In a container he has 2 Madagascar Hissing Cockroachs.  Blach! We will see how they do as they are banished to the garage.  School is over for all the boys and the van is stocked for baseball season. Let's play ball!

School's out for Summer!

<p>Whoot! We are closed for the summer. No more lesson plans for me! Time for a summer filled with baseball.</p>
<p>David has completed his state testing for 6 th grade.&#160; He took all his language and math tests online this year. What a better way to go! No need for number 2 pencils and darkening the ovals, only to wait 3 weeks for results. </p>
<p>He was tested in Reading Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Language Mechanics, Language Usage and Structure, Language Spelling, Mathematical Concepts and Problems, Mathematical Computation.

It took us 4 hours of testing  to complete. It is hard to keep a 5 year old younger brother quiet for that long!

David's scores were outstanding. I knew the kid was above grade level but I didn't realize just how far above he was.

Here are his scores in grade level equivalence and stenine (1-9 with 5 being average 6 th grader score)

Reading Comp: grade 12 stenine 9
Reading Vocab: grade 9 stenine 7
Lang Mechanics: grade 10 stenine 8

Lang Usage&Struc: grade 13 stenine 8
Lang Spelling: grade 7 stenine 5

Math Comp: grade 10 stenine 8
Math Concepts: grade 13 stenine 9

Now that blew my mind! The dude is 11 years old and in grade 6. I am one proud mama.

These test scores don't really do my pride justice though. For I am most proud of David's work ethic and his spiritual growth from this year. The conversations we have are mature and strong. His misson trip made a gigantic impact in all areas of his life and I am most proud of the fine young man he is.

David Working Hard

David turns 12 in just 3 short weeks. 

He is on summer break now and is working hard to earn cash. He worked at a Christmas tree farm over Memorial Day and earned big money.  It was 6 hours of picking cones off the fir trees. I think he came back 10 lbs heavier from the rain soaking his clothes and shoes.

He has 2 neighbor lawns to mow for money so far. He also has an advertisement for dog walking at the local supermarket and gas station.
He is enjoying having money in his pocket. Mom and Dad are enjoying his work ethnic and entrepreneurial spirit.

I forgot to mention that I had to buy him new shoes - again!
He now is only 1/2 size smaller shoe than John.  He isn't even 12 yet. Guess I will be shorter than him soon.

It seems like yesturday he was asking to "play trains". Time keeps speeding by......

Nathan's Yearly Cardiology Appointment

Just want to start this post with: Praise God!

Nathan's aortic valve peak gradients are 40 and his mean gradient is 20-30. For those of you who have been following Nathan's heart updates thru the years, that is WAY down from past measurements.  Like half.

The news gets better and better each year.  Those levels are amazingly low compared to previous years.  Our doctor even said Nathan's valve has 3 visable leaflets that are thickened but functionally opening.

I asked if that still classified him as having a bicuspid valve. He said "yes a high functioning bicuspid valve." He then said: "I can't explain exactly why that is."

John said "I can! It is an answer to prayer!"

Praise the Lord for this progress.
We still request your continued fervent prayers for FULL healing on behalf of our little man.  I look forward to the day I can blog to you all how that prayer was answered with a yes.

It has been amazing walk of faith ever since those first scary diagnosis days. (peak gradients of 70 and more)

I am so pleased we did not rush into surgery when he was a baby.  We have found a very faithful Lord who has sustained our little man and increased our faith in the Great Physician.

He goes back in another year for another follow up.

Caleb's 8 th Birthday

My middle guy is such a problem solver.  His favorite thing is to invent something.  His next favorite is to figure out how something works. 

He got a super marbleworks for his birthday and we have spend HOURS building and rebuilding different patterns for the marbles to follow.  He also is really enjoying his new yo yo.  He just loves working on new yo yo skills to wow his family.

I remember Caleb's birth vividly and can't believe he is already 8.  Time is really on fast forward during these years.

Nathan Finishes Hooked on Phonics

The last one to read.  I can't believe we are done with our Hooked on Phonics.  For 8 years we have had these boxes at our house as we have worked thru them to teach our boys to read.

Nathan is not even eligible for Kindergarten until this coming fall,  but yet he has finished all his Hooked on Phonics.  That means he reads at a 2nd grade level.  Some of me really wanted to take him to the local school for the Kindergarten screener testing just to see what the K teachers would say.  I didn't, but it was a fun thought. 

I am beyond disappointed in our local schools reading program. However, I am thrilled with this Hooked on Phonics program. 

One last thanks to shout out to Grandpa Paul for this amazing gift. Everytime one of the boys reads, I smile at the life skill they learned at home with this gift. 

Once the program is completed, we take the boys to a special hotel stay of their choice to celebrate.  I was so happy for Nathan to get his turn at this reward.  I was also sad that he was the last one for us to celebrate.

So today I gifted the program to another group of moms who intend to teach their 4-5 year olds to read.  I am sad to see it go, but thrilled it will continue to education other boys and girls to learn to read.