Noelle choose cheerleading with Upwards again this Fall. She mostly enjoyed it, but I wouldn't be surprised if she votes for dance next year. She was in the 2nd-5th grade group this year, and you could still tell there were quite a few gals that didn't want to be there, but the parents made them do it.
Emily ran cross country with Ames Middle School. It was so fun to see her get better each meet and learn what her body was capable of. It was not a great weather season. They had one meet canceled because of heat and another meet canceled due to too much rain, soggy conditions. AMS cross country does not practice in all conditions like high school does. I am not sure there was one week of the season where they got in all 4 practices. That made it hard to get miles under them. It also was an eye-opener of what being in the Ames district will be like for our family. Going to most meets in Des Moines, competing against Waukee, Centennial , Downing, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, SE Polk. Often times the 16th faster runner on Johnston's 7th grade team was faster than any runner on Ames 7th and 8th grade!
Dallas is taking a class called Language Learning, he has 40 minutes of grammar, 40 minutes literature and 40 minutes of writing/composition. The class has 4th and 5th graders, its on a two year cycle. It is very cute. He clearly has no idea of personal space, bunched over next to his table mate.
This is what it looks like when we drop Em off at the middle school for practice or band, I always wait while she gets buzzed in. This year she is again taking band, and then stayed out for a study hall and then went to cross country practice after school.
Dallas trying out a spinning wheel in literature class after they had read and discussed Rumpelstiltskin.
Cheering on Em at a meet. Dallas loved running from spot to spot and yelling for everyone.
Noelle finished another phonics/grammar book this Fall.
Dallas enjoyed another season of flag football. It was great to have our neighbor Micah on the team (plus he is fast) and again play with Trent. Trent's dad Travis coached with Robert again. They make a great team and seem to really enjoy the process.
It is always a surprise to me, but Dallas often volunteers to go up and diagram sentences on the board.
