Just a quick post today to share a link to Carrie's blog. Not long ago Carrie and Matt traveled with Nu Skin to Malawi Africa to participate in one of Nu Skin's programs which includes a food distribution operation in the country.
They spent 10 days there observing and participating in the program. I have enjoyed Carrie's look and take on the country that she presents in the blog. I especially enjoyed this post and related to some of the experiences and feelings that she had. I've seen extreme poverty in my travels and have felt the guilt that comes with privilege. I especially like her renewed gratitude for having food to feed her family everyday, and share her renewed attitude in providing it.
For this post I thought I would showcase some of the Richardson family's recent accomplishments, creations, activities, performances, past times, skills, and, in one case, a state award of excellence.
Cub Scout Pack Meeting - at this particular pack meeting Jed and Henry both received several belt loops, as well as performed (accompanied by Harriet and Jack) a musical number for the talent show
pack meeting.
Because you wanted it - here is their musical number,
Beethoven's "Ode to Joy"
bongo Jed
Thanks to @ 250 red cups that came home with Pete from the recent scout desert camp out the
kids have been finding one of the most cheapest, as well as most entertaining ways to spend their
time. Building towers, stacking and unstacking competitions, as well as jumping contests (think Evil Knievel and school buses) the kids found many uses for these plastic playthings.
Boy Scout Court of Honor - Jack earned four more merit badges, bringing
him that much closer to all of the required badges for Eagle Scout.
His goal is still to earn it before he turns 14.
Lots of hours are spent in the backyard on the trampoline (and play structure) perfecting flips.
Now that summer is here the action has moved to the diving board at the club, but here is a flying
jump/flip combo from Jed.
Open House at La Madera gave both Henry and Jed an opportunity to show off their school year of work and to give us all a look at their classrooms and projects.
Remember Henry's OC city project featuring Mission Viejo? Here it hangs in the
school hallway across from the library.
from Henry's whale project
classmates and computers
A look inside Jed's classroom - decorated like a rain forest to feature the class animal projects.
showing dad some of his writing
diorama on Ben Franklin's discovery of electricity
Ben Franklin on the wall of fame
(appropriately located over the power outlet)
Jed's multi-layered animal report and 3-D poster - featuring The Turtle
If there is a creative use for duct tape, my kids will find it.
Harriet's duct tape stilts
Jack was in the intermediate band at school this year - playing percussion. We all came to see him in the end of year band concert. Next year he will be in advanced band and play in the jazz band, on the drum set, this year he performed in songs playing on the snare drum:
the big bass drum:
and also played the timpani drums in the group performance of the 1812 Overture,
but was in the back and I couldn't get a good shot of him.
fans of our Jack
Chalk activity at our school family fun night
For her end of year school congratulatory gift Harriet wanted some cute feathers in her hair:
very trendy here in the OC
volleyball at the park with our ward
Harriet was again selected to play on the AYSO plus team in her age division.
All the girls from the team who tried out were selected again, along with three
new players. Can't really argue with their record of success last season!
The coach had us parents bring the girls up to a local outdoor food court
for the surprise announcement - it was fun to watch the girls walk up with
their parents and see all of their teammates, and then it dawns on them why
we are all here and the squeals and hugs begin.
Father's Day 2011
the kids helped make and present breakfast for Pete
Happy Father's Day Pete! We love you!
And how can we not mention Pete's big award he received this year (although he'd probably rather we didn't!) Pete was selected by the Association of California School Administrators as the Co-Administrator of the year in his region, then went on to be selected as the state winner as well. It was nice for him, but he is mostly happy for the positive attention it gives Santa Ana school district. ACSA held a nice awards banquet at the Irvine Marriott that we attended along with grandma, grandpa, Dave and Sue.
our table
Video of Pete's acceptance speech that evening
Pete with some SAUSD bigwigs and his award and certificate
The district had a giant vinyl sign printed up for his school to display -
Pete immediately confiscated it and brought it home
instead I brought it to our Father's Day dinner in Laguna
grandma hung it on the window so it could watch over us as we
enjoyed our delicious Father's Day dinner
Jed won an award at school this year too...
Henry perfected the art of the tie-dye shirt at his end of year school party
No photo of the finished product, I'll have to work on that...
Our trio of creative cousins (cuz you were there in spirit Aubrye) had a sleepover at grandma's -
where they made adorable and delicious cake pops!
The boys and I joined them the next morning and spent an overcast chilly day down at the beach
the boys made some awesome sand forts surrounded by sticks and beach flotsam
Here is some (more!) video - kids in the waves.
Action doesn't really start until around second 50....
Harriet really "digs" the beach
In her last trimester of seventh grade Harriet took Clothing 1, which is learning basic sewing skills.
She really embraced it and has become a SEWING MACHINE! :-)
I try to remember to take pics of all of her creations, here are just a few:
grandma sent her this cute pink turtle fabric in the mail,
which she turned into these cute shorts!
Harriet made this apron at school, the brought it home and whipped
up this hot pad holder to go with it - then presented it to CD for her birthday
when she came to visit.
hot pad
purse she made - she made me one as well
shown here is a by-product of the sewing stuff being out and readily available for
abuse by the boys - they've all learned to put pins in their skin really well...so proud.
Well, that is all for now. All four kids spent last week at various scout and girl's camps, so that footage should be showing up soon. And with two months of summer vacation still ahead of us, there are a lot more Richardson family activities to look forward to!
