Christmas 2024!

Christmas at home started with a quiche and cinnamon rolls followed by gifts.  The stockings left by Santa had a few unique or different items    

Their wish lists were not very long or extravagant this year.  Their most unexpected gifts were a cat toy mouse to represent a computer mouse that had yet to arrive for one and yet to be ordered for the other.  Santa took a few risks with gifts and most will be going to be to North Pole via Amazon.

With gift opening complete at home we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for gift opening and dinner.  Nick and Jenel and Tish were also visiting.

Grandpa and Grandma

Jenel and Nick

Ralph with one of the items from his stocking.

Nick and Henry deciding who gets the gift.

A semester of strings!

Ralph had three orchestra concerts first semester - a concert in the auditorium, a concert in the gym highlighting all the various music classes and programs at East, and a holiday concert at Gateway Mall.

The fall concert (September 23) was held in the auditorium and included the Philharmonic Orchestra (9th grade), Chamber Strings, the Varsity Orchestra, and the Jazz band?

Night at the Acropolis was held in November and highlighted all the music classes/groups at East.  WIth so many students involved this event is held in the gym.

The holiday concert was the first Saturday in December and was performed at Gateway Mall.

Henry: Celebrating 15 years!

 

Henry the 5'4" 102 pound Freshman turned 15 last Friday. 

Some things have not changed - he still prefers plain t-shirts without graphics or logos.  He is stuck wearing cargo pants with adjustable waists until we can find an another option the fits in the waist and is long enough in the length.  He is still wearing size 14 in pants but could go up to size 16.

His current breakfast choices are either frozen waffles or cinnamon toast (and he still enjoys reading the paper while having breakfast).  He usually gets hamburger pizza for lunch.  

Henry's games of choice to play online are Hearts of Iron, Fortnite, Four, and Crusader Kings 3.  He finished watching Tulsa King lately.   When he isn't studying or online gaming he usually has a kindle or phone in his hand . . . I'm not sure what else he has been watching.

He does have his learners permit and has warned me he doesn't want to practice when the weather is bad

We celebrated his birthday on Sunday.

Halloween 2024

The extent of Henry and my Halloween festivities were carving pumpkins.   

I followed Henry's example of making a "classic" jack-o-latern.

Ralph: Eagle Court of Honor

Ralph's Eagle Court of Honor was held on Sunday, October 20.  It was a great day.  Many of the scouts from his Troop were able to attend as well as a few former scouts of the Troop.   

2024-2025 School Year

The school year kicked off on August 12 for Henry.  As an incoming freshman he and the other freshman were given the chance to have the school to themselves for a day before the other classes joined them on August 13.

A few weeks before school started "readiness day" was held.  The day is a chance to take care of a few details before school starts - take school photo (both boys), pick up parking tag (Ralph), check out chromebook (Henry), etc.  Henry and I also spent time walking the halls and getting a feel for where is classes were.

Another summer of scouting

Ralph spent his summer at three different scout camps; Henry went to two of the same camps.

They both spent a week at Camp Cornhusker in June. Camp Cornhusker was the troops summer camp of choice for the Summer of 2024.  They worked on various merit badges - some already earned previously.

A week after returning from Camp Cornhusker they spent more than a week at the Cornhusker Council's Outdoor Education Center.  The 1st few days were spent preparing for NYLT then the next 5 days were spent as youth staff.  This was Henry's 1st year as a youth staff member and Ralph's 2nd year.

In mid July Ralph went to Northern Tier which is located in the Boundary Waters with 7 others .

Henry: Celebrating 14.5 years!

 Henry is spending the summer transitioning from a middle schooler to a high schooler.  Last week he did volunteered for East Wrestling with their youth clinic; this week he has started lifting at East.  By the time school starts he should be fully acclimated to the weight room and wrestling room.

Next week he will go with the scout Troop to Camp Cornhusker. After two years of camps out of council they are heading to the council's local camp near Dubois.

Henry is still wearing size 10/12 shorts for the smaller waist and 10/12 short sleeve shirt but he does seem to be getting a little taller.  He has moved to size 6 in wrestling shoes and has a regular pair of size 6 shoes ready.

Breakfasts have been a sausage, egg, biscuit sandwich the past few days.  He is usually a hot breakfast seeker but occasionally does greek yogurt with honey stirred in or strawberries.  Lunch during the summer can vary but if he is responsible for making it lunch will probably be toast of some kind.

More coming . . . 

2023-2024 End of School Year

 A bit of an oversight posting this sooner - the last day of school was Thursday, May 23.

Just like that  . . . The sophomore & 8th grade years are complete.  For now I think they are looking forward to being less scheduled mixed in with some scout camps this summer.

The indulged me in continuing with our "last day of school" treat.  We went back to Scoops which is now LICC (Lincoln Ice Cream Company)

Henry did grow a bit in his 3 years at middle school.

 Next year they will both be back at the same school!

Easter 2024

 

Luckily Henry was game to still dye Easter eggs this year. 

The Easter Bunny brought very similar baskets to Ralph and Henry.