Michael's Activities

It seems like I haven't written much about Michael lately. He has enjoyed the family activities, but he has also been busy doing his own thing. He has been "anxiously engaged" in several activities lately:


He played basketball this season. His team came such a long way during the season. He was fun to watch -- and fun to play one on one with at the church. We went to the gym several times to practice and had a great time with that as well.


Michael also participated in the school's Battle of the Books competition. He was part of a group that called themselves The Book Bandits. Michael is a great reader by now and enjoyed being a part of the group even though they didn't win. Now that he is done reading and being responsible to know the books on the list, he is back to reading the Chronicles of Narnia. He has finished the 4th book from the series and has decided to go back and re-read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Because Michael really gets into the books he reads, he has dubbed his Webkinz chipmunk Chester Reepicheep in honor of Reepicheep in the books. He has made Reepicheep a sword and helmet, but was really hoping to make Reepicheep (and himself) chain mail for when they went to battle. After discussing several options, I convinced him that I knew how to make it. Michael is now knitting "chain mail" for Reepicheep and doing very well!

We have also attended the annual Blue and Gold Banquet that had a Wild West theme. We made a cowboy boot cake for the occasion. Michael has done well in scouts lately and has earned his Bear award. He and James are currently working on a Batmobile Pinewood Derby car for the Derby later this month.

One last activity for Michael has been earning pelts for his class's Rendezvous. They have been earning them to go with their curriculum and as an incentive program for the 4th grade. Michael quickly masters all incentive programs. He kept careful track of his tally daily and often knew where he stood among his classmates. He discovered ways to earn pelts that others didn't and spent several weeks being a model student (which isn't abnormal) and going above and beyond to be prepared for the Rendezvous. All of the hard work paid off, and on the day of the Rendezvous he had more pelts that anyone else in his class. That was reward enough, but he did find a Lego set that cost A LOT that he was able to buy. So there was a double reward that way!

We love Michael and are so grateful that he tries hard and does so well in so many activities.