Jacob's School Work 2nd Grade

The genius and talent continues...

So this was a self portrait.  Yes that is a crown on his head, mustache and separate goatee on his face, and bling hanging from his neck...

This isn't actually school work, but I had stuck it in his school work folder for some reason (can't imagine why my mind may have been scattered).  Jacob wanted to leave Elfis, his Elf on a Shelf, a snack one night.  He put a bowl of  *orange crackers out for Elfis, and wanted me to write a note instructing him to share.  The part about putting it in the sink was my own personal touch.  A Mama can dream can't she?

 Elfis wrote back (and did put his bowl in the sink).

*Jacob has always LOVED crackers.  All types.  So when he was really little, we started referring to Ritz crackers as "yellow crackers,"  regular plain crackers as "white crackers," and Cheezits as "orange crackers."  And we totally still do, to this day.

Apparently we are going to get a yearly bowl of fruit painting.  I'm cool with it.

Spring time thoughts, by Jacob...

 For those of you who don't know, people go to parks during spring-OBVIOUSLY.  Also, Spring is epic.

 Not sure what the point of this was...just a personality description?  Well, it turns out, Jacob might be a ninja.

Ohhhhhh, I'm a dork.  And I don't even mind recording it for posterity's sake.  That thing above was attached to this pumpkin.  So I guess "I might be a ninja" is probably referring to what he might go as for Halloween.  I liked it better before I remembered...

 I think he was supposed to be writing this from a turkey's perspective.  A turkey made of medle (metal) that is...

Just a cute cat.  I thought it was pretty good. Also, it is blue.  While I do not know what the instructions were regarding choosing colors for their paintings (pick anything? pick something crazy?), I would like to mention that during my senior year, I took art (for an easy A).  And we made sculptures one time-I made a squirrel.  It was a pretty good one too.  Even brought in acorns one day to glue to his hands.  But when it came time to paint it, all the brown paint was being used.  So I painted it purple.  The look on my art teacher's face when she got that as the answer to her "Why is it purple?" question was pretty priceless.  I advise everyone to use this type of logic.

A book report project.  He was supposed to design a "cover" for the book we read.  In the book, Jack and Annie are trapped in a castle but manage to find a hidden staircase.  But the stairs lead to the moat.

This in fact did all happen.

 You might be thinking this is one of those Ink Blot tests.  You would be wrong.  It was a "symmetry project."  But if you read his description, he totally turned it into an Ink Blot test.  And I'm kind of happy about what he saw :)

 (parents kissing for those who can't read 8 year old boy spelling.

His hand print.  Sigh.

This is just kinda cool.  It was done with chalk? charcoal? I am clearly not an artist.

 This is about his friend Julian. They walk to and from school together.  They were in the same class this past year, and in kindergarten.

 In November, lots of things happen.  For instance, Mom gets out a heater.  And brothers and sister visit. 

 We are also apparently going to get a yearly "How to Cook a Turkey" narrative.  I'm actually hoping this does continue because it is fun to compare each year.  I am totally going to email his teacher this year and request it (note to self going on calendar now).  As you can see from his 1st grade post, Jacob "grilled" his turkeys last year.  This year we have changed to cooking it for 5 minutes.

 The next two were attached together (I remembered this time).  As you may be noticing, Jacob is a boy of a few words.  Why talk too much when you can say the important stuff in 5 sentences or less?

This is another book report project.  He had to read a biography on anyone he wanted.  He chose Troy Polamalu, a football player.  He read the book at home and took notes, but then made this at school, using the notes.  It was a whole body thing, and the arms opened up to reveal the facts about the person.

 If you will notice, he just repeats the same facts from the left section to the right section.  But they are interesting facts:  Troy has two sons, and he is famous for his hair (he's the player in the Head and Shoulders commercials).  And he has his hair insured for 1 million dollars.

These are the notes he took at home to bring to class that day to do the project.  Amazing how he managed to not fill in the entire 1-10 list and repeat the same few.

 Pumpkin.  No, I do not know what that thing is growing out of the bottom...

Weird creature/alien/bug/bird drawing.

A cute little hippo.  Don't know what the point was (and if you are wondering why I don't just ask Jacob about the things I don't understand, well, I did. And his answer was, "Mom, I don't remember.  That was a long time ago."  Even though I ask him the day the pictures get sent home...)

Tree house.  The house actually lifts up to reveal the tree underneath.

 This is a "Holiday Wishes" list.  To sum up, Jacob wishes everyone would be the same (?), he thinks it would be wonderful if "Christmas..." and doesn't finish the sentence, he wants to give "beaf" (beef?) to his friends, he repeats the word "happy" a couple times, and he hopes he is "not smelly" when he grows up.  Awesome.

Just, you know, being a genius.

 

My little boy's broken? badly sprained? ankle!

The rest of these are actually from all 3 grades (K, 1, & 2).  I had them in my decoration tubs for the appropriate holidays, but they were starting to get pretty numerous, and fall apart a little.  So I decided I better get them on here before they disintegrate.

I particularly like how the glue ran, then dried, so it looks like Rudolph is crying here.  Thoroughly accurate, I believe.

 Just a Christmas tree.  With a smiley face instead of a star.

This says, "My heart is happy."  O.M.G.  I can't tell you how happy this makes my heart.

  Hand print.  These just don't get old when they are little.

Now, what is great about this is that even though I know that says toys, it could totally be interpreted another way.  Like "tots" for instance, for a little shout out to Sonic.

Pretty sure this was kindergarten. 

Every Christmas needs someone singing the "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" song.  I'm in love with the thought that the assignment probably called for the kids to write the lyrics to their fave holiday song.  And the teacher most likely intended for it to be a wholesome, classic Christmas Carol...

This sneaked in from last year too.

Oh the class pics.  Awesomeness

This past year's report card.

 Well this was my first indication that his 2nd grade teacher was horrible.  Although at the time I gave her the benefit of the doubt, since it was THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL when he brought this paper home.  You see, he missed 2.  Except that he didn't miss them.  He got them correct, but it is just difficult to see the answer because he colored over it in red.  Why did he color over the answer written in pencil with such a dark color, you ask? BECAUSE THE DIRECTIONS TOLD HIM TOO.  Note to self:  if the teacher is stupid already in the first week of school, IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

Two Things I Don't Want to Forget

#1
Abby can microwave things at her school for lunch.  So one time she spent the night here, I didn't have any lunch meat and asked her if she wanted to bring a Hot Pocket.  Thus, a tradition was born.  That is what she requests now each time she is here (I guess it is a nice change, plus she says it makes everyone jealous).  Specifically, a Mexican Chicken Lean Pocket.  DELICIOUS. I am pretty sure that the only thing that makes it "lean" is that it MAY have .000002 of an ouce of cheese less than a real Hot Pocket. Because I don't want it to be too gross, I get the rest of her lunch together the night before-drink, chips, dessert (always!)-and leave the hot pocket in the freezer for her to take out the next morning as she is leaving.  To make sure she doesn't forget, I attach this note to the lunch sack.  And, probably due to being a lazy teenager and NOT for sentimental reasons, she never threw it away, just left it lying on the kitchen counter.  The clip is magnetic, so I just kept reusing it over and over and over.  I noticed it hanging on the side of the fridge today and thought, "I only have one more year to use it!"  So weird that she is a SENIOR.

#2 
Jacob is almost 9 (one month shy), and he still sleeps with his teddy bear from time to time.  Just melt my heart.  It isn't every night, and I don't know what makes him do it on the nights he does, but I love it.  His bear actually came from Jon's mom, and is called "Barnabas" according to the tag.  Mom came up with the nickname "Bobby,"  which is totally appropriate since ONE of Jacob's nicknames is "Bob."  Jacob never wanted a Build-a-Bear stuffed animal, even though we went in HUNDREDS of times for Morgan (seriously, the girl had a problem), but he would occasionally allow Grammy to buy clothes for Bobby.  Of course they are all super hero costumes (Batman, Spiderman) or Star Wars character costumes (Obi Wan, Darth Vadar).  The clothes have since gone on to new homes, but Bobby has stayed (even though he is made to "hide out" in my room occasionally when friends are over).

The picture is blurry because my phone was dying, but I wanted to take advantage of the moment while I could :)

East Tn #3 (and final)

Morgan, Mom, and I went shopping one afternoon, while Jon and Jacob, well, I don't really know what they did the whole time.  But two things happened that were picture worthy:

They spotted this funny little car in a parking lot and decided to take a pic with Jake acting like he was driving.

Drum roll please....

Jacob got his shirt he saw last year but was unable to get because of time constraints!  He was thoroughly excited and wore it most of the trip from there on out (thank goodness we spent the night with Nicole and used her washing machine;)

Here we are shopping.  Where is Mom you ask? Well, she is apparently an Olympic worthy shopper because she out-shopped Morgan and me.  We had to wander off in another direction in search of a bench.  But on the way to the bench we found this shirt!  I can't believe I didn't buy it.  What was I thinking?!  Clearly shopping fatigue had set it.

Found that bench.

We also found mustache sunglasses and a mustache ring.  What?

Them wearing their new shirts.

Playing checkers outside Cracker Barrel.  They were determined to play OUTSIDE.

These ducks hung around our hotel room.  It was odd, because there wasn't a lake or anything nearby.  Mom said, "Maybe they are somebody's pets." What?

Chillin' in the hotel.  With their iPads.  You know how it is.

In front of a souvenir shop.  Aren't these supposed to be in Florida?

On the way to Nicole's house, we stopped at some caves and took the tour. 

We weren't supposed to touch anything in the cave, and so of course the kids were all dying to touch EVERYTHING.  Finally we came to this one rock (?) that had one random smooth section.  The tour guide told everyone it would bring good luck to rub the smooth section.

We finally made it to Kid Land, I mean Nicole's house.  And of course it was awesome.  Because of course Hughes bought a giant blow up slide for his back yard.

Minutes before this, Lily walked up to us all and said, "Look at the apple I picked from my apple tree."  Nicole and Hughes didn't even know said apple tree existed, so Lily took Jacob to it.  Yep, there it is, in the corner of their yard, with apples growing on it.

At this point, Hughes and Jacob were just heading to the end of the yard to set up the fire pit for s'mores.  Why walk when you can drive?!

S'mores!

Big glob of marshmallow on his hand.

She is the messiest eater.

Nicole made this for a friend of mine who is moving to Alabama.  "Nicole? Hi. Can we come stay at your house for free, eat for free, have you and your husband entertain us for free? Oh, and one more thing, will you make me something to give to someone else?  Ok, thanks."

Reese smiling at the boy.

Mom bought Anderson a Superman cape that had the front chest piece attached to it.  Here he is saving his Bobble.

Mom's sunglasses.  First of all, they are big enough that they fit OVER her regular glasses (nevermind that she works at the College of Optometry and could get a huge discount on transition lenses...).  Second, just please take a sec to zoom in on that pattern. Yep.

An activity only a pair of boys would understand:  Anderson would climb to the top where Jacob was waiting, and ask, no DEMAND, for Jacob to PUSH him down the slide.  Like, a little violently.  I was just standing there ready to tell Jacob, "not so rough."  But then Anderson would get to the bottom and yell, "Again! Again!"

I'm pretty sure that face says, "I like you best cousin Shannon."

Sneak pic.  Lily actually chastised me after I took it.  I thought she was just feeling shy because it was the first day and we hadn't seen them in a while.  But looking back, I am pretty convinced it is because I didn't give her time to pose.

You can take the twins out of Sonic, but you can't take Sonic out of the twins.

Mom with the babies.  Babies just SENSE grandparents don't they?

Love this one.

Anderson had actually been jumping to Jacob (of course I didn't get a shot of that).  But then Morgan said, "My turn!"

A cute Lily booty (not exactly why I took the pic, but a nice bonus).  In the background Jon is throwing Jacob.

Jacob and Morgan getting along.  3 seconds later she was screaming at him to stop.  But then 3 seconds after that, she was giggling.  We really have learned to totally ignore it.

Morgan and Anderson.  In the Barbie Jeep.

Jacob driving the Argo!! In the water!! What!!  Hughes is a pretty awesome counsin-in-law.  We will keep him.

Jacob was playing on his iPad and Anderson came over to check the situation out.  Melissa, welcome to your future in a couple years.

We visited Nicole and Hughes last year also, and when Jacob started school soon after, he drew a pic of "tubeing" when prompted to draw something they did during summer vacation.  I had it hanging up in our house until the day I brought Jacob a birthday card to sign for Hughes and he said, "We should put that picture I drew in there!"  Perfect! Now it hangs in the guest bedroom at Hughes' house :)

Jacob and Anderson being chased by Morgan.

Running to catch a parachute from the fireworks.

 Jon trying to help her catch one.

The longest sparklers ever.

 Firework show by Hughes!

Lily and Morgan are apparently cut from the same cloth.  Because for dinner one night, Lily ASKED for edamame. Morgan WANTED to try it, did, and loved it.  Maybe it will go good with onions.

After a long day of fun, I look over and realize Morgan and Jacob are watching Max and Ruby with Lily.  When I took the pic, Jacob quickly looked down at his iPad.  But don't let that fool you.  He was totally into Max and Ruby.

And of course we couldn't leave without Nicole getting Morgan involved in a craft!  I'm surprised she didn't have a big family one planned.

 Her finished lantern, that really works!

The last morning the kids slept so late.  Especially Jacob.  Who, when he did "wake up," just moved from this air mattress to the couch to the car.  Barely opening his eyes during the process.

And apparently they slept GOOD.  They started out side by side that night before...

 

Just stole these last two from Melissa's blog.  Love how Jacob and Lily are playing together, while Morgan and Anderson are in the Jeep.

  

During a 3 second getting along moment.

Mom gave the kids a certain amount of money to spend on souvenirs.  Morgan wanted to buy new flip flops with some of her money, but hadn't done it by the time I lost one of mine in Gatlinburg.  So we picked out matching ones :)

Fresh new Mad Libs for the ride home.  Always classic.

And he is reunited with his XBox.

 

*********I just stole these from Nicole's blog.

Love these 3 people.

So glad she got one of these.  I never got a good one.

I didn't get a good one of this either.

I have truly never liked apple cobbler before this night.

I just like this one of mom.

I didn't see this happen, so I am glad Nicole got a shot of this. Lily looks so happy.