Year end awards

I already mentioned Nate and Ash's Presidential Fitness awards and Ashlyn's school awards. That was just the beginning.

Kiersten came home with the Chess Champion trophy. A chess tournament was held after school for anyone who wanted to participate, and she was the only girl to do it and brought home the grand prize. She must get it from her mom who has bragging rights as the 6th Grade Chess Champion in 1988. Okay, I really can't take credit for her chess genius because her dad has spent countless hours playing and coaching all the kids and he doesn't let them win just to be nice.

Kiersten and Erik both received end-of-school awards yet neither knew what they were getting. Kiersten received outstanding science student even though she tells me she really doesn't like science. Must have fooled some teacher. She also scored a perfect score on her math core test. Erik got one for outstanding math student. Yep. From that same teacher we really couldn't stand.

Nate's awards included perfect attendance which he's pretty sure they got wrong. We never have perfect attendance in our family. Then there was a superintendent's award, the core testing awards which he scored a 100% on both math and English and missed one question on science, and one for some essay they wrote online (his report card mentioned that he scored the highest out of the class on that).

It seems like the teachers really try to hand out enough awards that every kid will receive something and feel like a winner. But there were those few that went home empty-handed and I felt bad for them.

And in case awards assemblies weren't enough, we had an orchestra concert and an 8th grade talent show to attend. My kids never cease to amaze me with their enthusiasm to participate in events that showcase their talents. You would have never caught me doing anything like that. Performing in front of crowds terrified me at that age and still do to a degree.

Nate beginning orchestra.
Kiersten had a solo in the middle of one of their songs. Listen at around 2:09 for her special part. She has her back to the camera and is sitting closest to the teacher.

Kiersten on the violin and her friend Trenton on the viola.

I'm always happy when I make it through to the last day of school. And to add to all the craziness, my little sister and her family moved in with us for several days until their house closed. Alex was on top of the world that week with live-in friends.