Kade's Jedi Camp & Birthday Weekend

The first full week of Summer is Kade's very favorite taekwondo camp - Jedi Camp! This is his FOURTH year at this camp - making him a Junior Jedi Knight 2nd Class! 

Kade has an amazing memory - most likely still remembering most of the form from last year, and so was asked to lead the long form for third years and up! 

Next up, he volunteered to show off his sparring skills! 

On Saturday, Kade attended his first mid-term as a Red/Black belt. Things are a bit different now that he's a "Black Belt Candidate". He has to pass two midterms before he can attempt to test for his Black Belt - held only three times a year. He has to score a 6 or higher on his midterm to pass and then a 7 or higher in his black belt test to pass. 

He had been practicing pretty hard to make his form CRISP. As he is one of the newest Red/Black belts, he had only learned half the form - students are able to test for midterms with only half form, but will need the full form by final testing. 

As a Red/Black belt, he has to break a board with a punch AND kick. This was his very last time working with a full orange board - as a nine year old, he'll have to break an orange/green board. 

He did a great job! At the end of graduations, the Red/Black belts received their score and Kade earned a NINE!! He did amazing!! He was very excited and will be practicing for his 2nd midterm due in August!

Sunday, June 23rd Kade celebrated his NINTH Birthday!! 

Kade collected quite a few birthday cards and gifts from Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles - he's so very well-loved! He also received a very special gift from us - a GIZMO watch. He told us later that day that he was really happy because he loved his birthday present! 

My happy guys!

Kade asked to go to Dave & Buster's for some fun time. Wasn't too crowded - nice to stop in for a little arcade play. 

The boys were kind enough to let us borrow a few chips for games too!

Wrapped up a nice birthday with Red Robin for dinner and Pepperridge Farm chocolate layer cake! 

Kade, we are so proud of the progress you've made in your growth this year. It is a hard thing to control our emotions, but you are leaps and bounds further along than where you started! We are working on the physical growth too and we are equally proud of you for your confident can-do attitude! You are such a positive, happy person and say the most intelligent and/or hilarious things ever. I genuinely love being around you. Happy last single-digit birthday Kade - I cannot wait to see what you bring to us this year! 

Brock's 5th Grade End of Year Celebration

 

After EOG's (End of Grade testing) were completed, the 5th graders were coasting through the last 6 days of school! They had plenty of fun activities to keep them busy! 

On Thursday, all Washington Fifth graders were treated to a picnic and yearbook signing - they were responsible for their "main" (sandwiches, etc) and the PTA provided chips, cookies and drinks. They congregated in the courtyard for lunch and then received their yearbooks to pass around and sign! 

Too funny, but as stated above, they literally just signed their name to each others yearbooks. I was able to convince Brock to get his teacher to sign it - otherwise no other girl signed his yearbook! 

Field Day was held on the last Friday of school. The entire school participates in fun field activities - this year some stations were held in their brand new gym and water activities held on the new outdoor basketball court. I'm so very glad I signed up for that - it was a warm day already at 9:30am!

I volunteered for the "Car Wash" - and it was a major hit!! The kids were soaked after going through it just once! 

I like on Brock's second run through, his buddy Leo had his arms up ready for all the water and Brock (in the tie dye shirt) is scrunched down!

I convinced Brent to help out this year too! He selected games in the Upper Field and chose the "Inflatable Dragon" race game to lead! 

Brent watching to make the call on the winner!

On Monday, the 5th graders participated in the Gong show - IF they wanted to sign up. Brock didn't sign up, so I didn't attend the event. They were treated to pizza in the courtyard too! Brock is under the tree in this picture - first boy to the right with red shorts. 

The teachers organized the traditional "Staff vs. Kids Volleyball game" to be held Tuesday morning in the gym. I'm not actually sure how it went - I don't remember asking him! Unfortunately, I think I had a bit on my mind that day - I arrived early Tuesday afternoon to help decorate for the following day - including delivering 100 Publix decorated cupcakes! 

When the bell rang for the end of school, this is how my Brock arrived at the office - showing off his hat from his Art class focus special! Apparently it's a bit heavy - leaning to the front - so Brock showed me he attached a ribbon to the back; if it starts to slip forward, he can pull on the ribbon to center it on his head again. Haha Brock, what a hat! I like it! I like that party hat!

Wednesday, June 12th - last day of school for my 5th grader, Brock, and 3rd grader, Kade! 

First and last day of school pictures side by side. Left is First day of school, right is last! Ha - just realized Kade is wearing the same shorts! 

And again, with Moose!

After dropping the boys off at carpool, we parked the car and headed to the gym to find good seats for the moving up ceremony!

We got a little smile out of him as he walked in with his class to the Graduation walking march song. Some of these boys were in full suit and ties!

After a few special awards were presented, each of the 5th graders had their name called out and walked across the stage to shake hands with their teachers. 

The kids exited first and made their way to the courtyard for those special cupcakes! 

A few pictures before we signed him out early for the day. 

Devanth, Nicholas, Brock, Sagie

Leo, Brock

Brock and his homeroom (and Math & Science) teacher, Mrs. DeVoto. 

Brent and I planned to treat Brock to a little celebratory lunch downtown Raleigh at Parkside Restaurant - and to give him a special graduation gift -- a brand new Apple Watch! 

Brent and Brock dropped me back off at the school (we drove two cars) and continued on to the Verizon store to activate Brock's new watch. I then checked out Kade early and headed down to Fuquay to pick up Papa at his new house and bring him back to ours. Phyllis arrived just in time to harvest from our garden before dinner - fresh green beans and zucchini! 

Brock asked for cheeseburgers for this graduation meal. We finished it off with an Oreo Cheesecake by Junior's! He only got a little taste because he did have to go to swim practice at 6:30 to prepare for his Saturday swim meet! Don't worry - he had a good healthy piece when he returned! 

So happy for you Brock on your graduation from elementary school! Congratulations my dear boy - it has been wonderful to see how much you've grown academically and physically this year and I know you will rock MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Kade's Spring Soccer Season

This soccer season was the first season to play at Apex's new Pleasant Park! It's a huge park with 6 soccer fields and two playgrounds! The baseball fields are to follow next year, but the ground is cleared, ready for them! 

As Kade is now in the 9-10 league (super strange considering he does not actually turn 9 until after the season is done), he had to attend an evaluation the week before soccer started so the coaches could even out the teams. 

First game for the Badgers was Saturday, April 6th! We love Kade's red soccer socks - makes it easy to spot him from across the field!

Kade was very content as one of the defender positions. He likes to do that one kick-save to get it out of the goal. He requested defender almost every time from the coach - I'm sure that made it easier for him - everyone wants to be a forward!

The boys play lots of soccer at home! And they are very competitive!

Back to Pleasant Park - and Kade at defender for another game.

Got a little video of all the running the kids do - and side/corner kicks!

Kade keeping an eye on the ball! He works harder in practices than he does during the games!

Brent cheering him on! 

We finished our season 6-1-1 with our final game scheduled Saturday, June 8th against the Thunder on the west division! It was a tough game because it was HOT! 

Unfortunately the other team scored a few times on the Badgers and they just couldn't keep up. 

Alas, their last game was their worst loss - 1-6. Oh well. Kade will enjoy a bit of a break and then be back at it mid-August for the Fall season!