Swimming lessons

The boys are taking two weeks of swimming lessons to start the summer.  Max finally agreed to a class and is Beginner A.  Kyle has done it before and is now considered Advanced Beginner.  They are both doing a great job! 

                                               Max going under water

                                     Kyle practicing jump and recover

                                         Kyle chilling after his lesson

                                           Max chilling after his lesson

Max has finally submerged himself fully underwater . . . several times.  He is working on blowing bubbles, kicking, and the back float.  Until last year he was terrified of the water.  Last year he went in the water but wouldn't try to do much.  This year he decided he was finally ready to do more.  He's done a great job doing whatever they've asked of him. 

                  Video of Max swimming with the noodle and practicing kicking

 

Video of Kyle swimming backstroke

 

Kyle is learning freestyle frontstroke and backstroke.  He has learned how to jump and recover.  He's practiced both the front and back float.  He is also working on treading water and the survival float.  So far he can swim backstroke 10m and tread water for 30 seconds.  He's an expert at all float styles as well.  The only thing he struggles with is his freestyle fronstroke.  Side breathing is challenging for him so he's working on making it 10m by the time classes end.  He's made a lot of progress overall though and is doing great!  

                               Video of Kyle's cannonball for the splash contest

Kyle's recorder concert

Kyle has been learning to play the recorder all year in music class.  They use a program called Recorder Karate.  Each song is a different color belt.  When you can play that song well you test with the teacher and she awards you a string of that color to tie on your recorder.  The belt colors are the same as those in karate.  Kyle was one of five students in the whole third grade to earn his black belt in recorder karate.  They had the concert last night and he played the concert version of Amazing Grace and Ode to Joy.  She said the music the black belts used was what they use in the middle school music program.  Kyle has learned to read music and sounds really good on the recorder.  Next year in 4th grade you have the option to take instrumental music and learn an instrument of your choice so Kyle is thinking he wants to try that since he's enjoyed this so much.  Max had just finished his last soccer class before we headed to the concert and he wanted to wear his medal to show everyone!

Max playing soccer

Max took a soccer class at the Germantown Soccerplex again this spring.  He had a great time and really improved over the course of this 8 week class.  He tried the hardest out of anyone in the class and was always trying to learn and get better.  They learned some basic skills during the first half of each class and then usually spent the second half playing a game.  Here he is playing and in the one shot he had just scored a goal!  At the end of the class he got a medal.

Nationals Baseball Game

Friday night we went to see the Nationals play baseball.  We got the tickets back in April for Jason's birthday.  It was Kyle's second game and Max's first game.  It was a great one to go to!  It was nice weather, we had great seats, and the Nationals played great and won!  It was an action packed game to keep their attention the whole time with a final score of 9-2.  Max asked lots of questions and got super excited when the scored.  I think he understands the game a little better now.  Jason watches it on TV all the time, but Max barely pays attention.  This was much more exciting! 

Science Fair

This year both boys participated in the science fair at their school.  Kyle's project was "Which ball has the most elasticity?"  He researched what elasticity was and then tested 3 different balls (a marble, a ping pong ball, and a rubber ball) to see which was the most elastic and was able to explain why.  Max's project was "Can balloons stick to anything?"  He learned about static electricity and how it works and then rubbed a balloon on a wool blanket (and Peanut worked well too) and then tried to stick it to various things i.e. the wall, the tv, my shirt, etc.  I think they both learned something new and were able to explain it to the principal who came around to see all the projects as well as the judges who reviewed each project as well.  They didn't hand out prizes for places this year, but everyone got a certificate of achievement for participating.  The boys had fun and it was fun to see all the other projects as well and learn some new things!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today was Mom's 60th birthday!  We celebrated by meeting her and Dad and Mike at Romano's Macaroni Grill in Dale City, VA.  It was nice to get together for a yummy dinner and spend some time together! 

Promiseland Sunday

The boys decided to join the kids choir for Promiseland Sunday at our church this year.  Max has always wanted to do it but has been too nervous.  This year he decided he was ready since he sang in his kindergarten concert at school and did well.  They had 3 rehearsals and we practiced at home as well.  Most of the songs the boys were familiar with and sing at church during the kids worship time.  There was one new song, but they did a good job learning it and singing it.  They helped lead the congregation in singing 3 songs at the beginning and then they had a special performance later in the service with just the kids choir. They also got to participate in a parade at the end where they could sing and dance down the aisles!  And as a bonus for Max he was chosen to be the king in a skit during the drama presentation.  Mr. Reuben (the kids' ministry director) chose some kids randomly during each service to help out and Max was picked to be the king during the second service.  He was thrilled!  It was a long morning as they sang during both services and had to be there early to get ready, but they did great and had a snack in between services to recharge!  Overall I think it went really well and they seemed to have a good time.   Here is a link to the video of the entire service: http://www.cedarbrook.org/media.php?pageID=50  Max is on the first step on the riser in section on the left and Kyle is at the top of the riser in the middle section.