Crazy Crazy Week!!!

Now that school has started and we are in full swing with all of the Cisco Kids activities, we are busier than ever. I look forward to the weekends just so I have some time not to think about an activity or homework. The homework situation is ridicules. The after school activities are just as ridicules but The Cisco Kid loves them all. My big concern with the heavy load of homework and all the activities is him being able to keep up with his grades. He definitely is in shell shock with the pace of the class and the homework load. Last year he was on easy street. Homework was done in ten minutes. The class atmosphere was light. No disciplinary action was in place. They were able to pretty much do what they wanted as long as there work was done. Now we have the Dragon Lady. We went to open house Thursday and the teacher introduced herself as the Dragon Lady. She started off her introduction......Yes! Everything you hear about me is true! I am the Dragon Lady! I do not put up with anything. I expect them to come to class prepared and ready to work. She said her background is teaching 4th and 5th grade gifted classes and I am going to be extra hard on them because I know what they need in fourth and fifth grade to succeed. At that moment I realized this is going to be the ride of our lives and we better hold on tight.

The Cisco Kid is definitely in shell shock. The past week he still thinks he is in second grade with Mr. M and he can get away with completing his work quickly and then doing whatever he wants. Not with The Dragon Lady. If a student finishes their work quickly they must sit and look over the paper again and then take a book are read quietly. When the whole class is done they will self correct their paper and re-do the work.

I want to give you a glimpse into the weekly homework. Let me remind you that he is eight years old and only in 3rd grade. Every Monday he comes home with a Language Arts packet. Yes, I did say packet, not paper. The packet consists of twelve pages of work. That has to be completed by Wednesday. He also comes home with a Spelling Contract. This has six pages of work, with two extra credit work sheets for a total of eight pages. New spelling words and new vocabulary words must be memorized. This is due on Friday. On top of all that he get a math sheet every day and that is due the next day. Now if you are thinking WOW!!! Wait, the teacher said at the open house they will be getting much more homework in the next couple of week. Now I'm worried!!!! All of the Cisco Kids Activities are in question. I hope time will be on our side. Monday he has Guitar lessons. Tuesday he has Karate. Wednesday he has Church. Thursday he has Cub Scouts and Friday he has Karate again. We spoke to the Cisco Kid about all the homework verses activities and we let him know that we will drop activities if he does not do well in school. He got very upset thinking he might have to give something up. We'll see!!!

Open House and a map that the Cisco Kid did.

Honoring the victims in 911 and veterans

Yesterday we went to the Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans' Nursing Home. The Cisco Kid had the honor with one of his friends to join a Memorial Service remembering the 911 victims and honoring veterans. The boys represented our Cub Scout Pack and led the ceremony in the Pledge of Allegiance. Not only was it an honor being part of this ceremony but a privilege to meet many Government officials. The Cisco Kid got a change to meet the governor of Florida, Rick Scott. Also he met Major General Emmett R. Titshaw, Jr. He is a highly decorated combat pilot for the Air force.
Governer Rick Scott

 Major General Emmett R. Titshaw, Jr.

Governor and his wife

 

Learning about the US Flag

One of our Cub Scout Achievements this year is learning how to raise, lower and fold the US Flag.

Since the Chief is a retired Military Man he knows all about the flag.  I had hem show the boy how to respect the flag.

 

We also talked about the rules. 
1. Display the flag from sunrise to sunset. It may be flown 24 hours a day if illuminated at night.

2. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

3. The flag should not be displayed in inclement weather unless it is an all-weather flag.

4. When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from a balcony or building, the union, or blue field, should be at the peak of the staff.

5. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

6. The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
7. When displayed, the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor or water.

8. When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

9. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used or stored where it could be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way.

10. When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

Does the fountain of youth really work????

Sunday we went into the city of St Augustine and took a journey to the Fountain of Youth archeological park. It is a very large park along the intercostals water way. There are many things to see and some of them are the Discovery globe. It is an education movie about how St Augustine was settled. There is also many fountains in the park. Cannon firing area where they fire the cannon off. Shipwreck exhibit and Planetarium. We also saw the Fountain of Youth, where they were serving water to everyone. I am a non believer and did not drink any. The well is a 200 ft. mineral well. I reminded the Chief, we have one of these wells pumping into our house and I won’t drink straight from it without a filter. Maybe if we did we would look like we were twenty again.

The fountain of Youth.

The Cisco Kid is lifting a 25 lb. cannon ball.

The Southern Cross

The Cisco Kid must always climb a good tree.

Ponce de Leon Statue

The Cannon Firing area. Unfortunatly they were not firing them that day.

The Indian Camp.

The ocean was calling the Chiefs name

All summer the Chief has been saying he wanted to go to the beach for the day and for some reason we never got there. This past weekend we made plans to go to Disney's Blizzard Beach. But once he saw the pictures of our beach play date, he just had to go. We canceled Disney's Blizzard Beach and spent the day relaxing, playing, and swimming.

While the guys were out in the ocean swimming, I put my hat on and wrapped a towel around me and fell fast asleep. That was the best!!! The wind keeps me cool and the sound of the waves crashing were like a la la bye.

My litter surfer boy!

It's hard to resist playing in the sand.

The water was so warm.

After a full day at the beach we packed up our chairs, towels, etc. and started for the truck.

Mother and Son's sandy feet!

The Cisco Kid's little foot prints in the sand as we were leaving. 

 

The first day of school

My little boy is growing up.  Today was his first day as a 3rd grader.  He really is growing up and maturing.  I didn't realize it over the summer but just looking at this picture and the way he is standing, he looks so mature with so much personality.  Or should I say............. where has my little 3 lb. 15oz. 19 inch baby gone! 

There will not be many more time I will be able to walk with him to his class.  Or should I say he will let me walk with him to his class.  I will take full advantage of it for as long as I could. 

Once again I am leaving him in the hands of someone else.   Still not easy!