Upward's Award Ceremony

Last Sunday was a busy one for us!  Dan preached all three services, followed by lunch at G-ma and G-pa's--Aunt Sue and Uncle Terry were here visiting last weekend.  And THEN, the grand finale to our day, Graham's basketball award ceremony.  This has been an awesome "first" organized team sport experience for Graham and our whole family.  I think we will all be a little sad when Saturday morning rolls around without a game!  Then again, some extra sleep and snuggle time will be nice, too.  :)  

Daddy "coached" Graham informally this season at home and on the sidelines.  :) Maybe next season, he'll be the official coach for Graham's team!  

Graham and a few of his new buddies through basketball:  Logan and Marcus

Upward Basketball

Graham started playing Upward Basketball at the beginning of January.  He's learning a LOT about the game (mostly from Daddy's at-home coaching) and even gave his oral presentation at Classical Conversations last week on three important rules of the game.  

Part of Graham's cheering section:  Gma + Gpa, Nana, and Uncle Greg and Aunt Shirlee were in town and came by too!

A few things we like about Upward is that the focus is on Christian character, good sportsmanship, and learning the game.  Even the referee's take the time (for the first few games) to stop and explain calls to the players so that they can learn well.

D.G. lately

Today was Graham's last "summer" session of swim lessons.  This is his second week and WOW what a difference a great coach makes!  Graham's coach, Edwi, has been awesome with him.  Graham has learned the backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke, froggy kicks, and some side breathing. He is also swimming the length of the pool!  It's been HOT on the sidelines with the sweet sisters but so worth it to see our fella gaining confidence and working hard/having fun in the water. He doesn't want to stop so we decided to keep up with the next session.  Hannah Reece is ready to swim, too.  

waiting patiently for his turn  (he's one of two in Edwi's class)

working hard to keep those toes pointed

Ready for a celebratory-last-lesson-game of Marco Polo!  They let the beginners wear life jackets in case they get fatigued while treading water  during the game.

Graham loves to play the game "Angry Birds" on Dan's tablet.  The last time we were in the Apple store, he played "Angry Birds Space" and since that time, he's been asking Dan if he could download it.  It costs $2.99, so he agreed to pull the weeds/grass that are encroaching on the flower beds around the pool cage.  He was out there for an hour and did an awesome job, not a single complaint!  Here he is, working hard for that new app.  ;)  And he spent his entire "techno" hour on Angry Birds Space today.  The joys of summer!  For a few more days....

Music Camp

It was a fun week for our big kids, Graham had swim lessons (this week and next) and Hannah Reece went to music camp at our church. 

The week of music camp ended with a little demonstration of the songs and activities the kids enjoyed.  

Waiting patiently for the fun to begin!  :) 

This kid was in my face half of the time..."Mom, puh-leeze let me video tape!  Can I puh-leeze take some pictures? "  Looking just. like this.  Ok, that bulgy eye thing was a little extra drama for the camera.  ;)

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Hannah Reece told me this was her very favorite part.  Mr. Peter read a special book and the kids made "sound effects" for various parts of the story with instruments.  Hannah Reece got to rub the mallet back and forth over the xylophone to make the sound of wind.  She did such an awesome job!  This pic was the only smile she cracked the whole time.  Serious business!  :)

Another special part of the week I want to remember is the way she came home yesterday and wrote musical notes and rests in her journal.  And they were perfect!  

Also, Reecie is sportin' some new glasses.  I think they make her look so grown up.  *Tears*