First Day of School 2013-2014

The first day of school has come.  And the angels sang.  To say it has been a long summer is an understatement, but then again I think I feel that way every year.  This year Matt started Bitburg High School, Nate had his last first day as a middle schooler at Spangdahlem Middle School, and Danny started the same middle school as a 6th grader.

There are a few things to get use to.  Both schools use a block schedule which means their classes are longer but they only see all their teachers every other day.  Also Matt's high school has less students than his 8th grade class, which he has decided he really enjoys.  Both schools have really dedicated teachers with a more of a family feel.  We are excited for this new year.

Night at the Museum

This year Nate was in Pre-AP Social Studies class.  For a final project the Social Studies department did a Night at the Museum where each of the kids had to choose a Texas Historical figure to research, dress up as, and talk to visitors as if they were the person.  I requested that Nate pick someone who wore a suit since everything else would be packed by that time.  He was able to do Lyndon B. Johnson (yea for presidents that wear suits).  He did a great job and got a 100% on his project.  

Ranking Up

Our last week in San Antonio we attended a Scout Court of Honor.  

Matt was recognized for attaining his Life rank.

 Nate received his Star rank.

Danny got his Tenderfoot and is well on his way to Second Class.

Good On Nate

Nate has two personalities, his home persona and his school persona.  At school he is quiet and studious.  At home he likes to push buttons and be in the middle of things.  I have gotten the opportunity the last little while to get a peek of his school persona.

I received a call from the principal at Luna Middle School asking me if I was the mother of Nate Holmes.  After I had a little heart attack, she told me that she wanted to let me know personally what a unique son I had.  It seems Nate had found $20.00 and turned it in so someone could claim it.  After the required waiting period, Nate was called back in and told that the money was his since no one had claimed it.  The principal explained to Nate that he had three choices:  he could keep all the money for himself, he could donate part of the money to the Military Brats Club that were doing a fundraiser to send care packages to deployed military members, or he could donate all the money.  Without a second thought he donated all $20.00 to the Military Brats Club.  He explained to the principal that his dad had been deployed and he wanted to make the experience easier for his classmates than it was for him.  The principal was so impressed that she nominated him for a Citizenship Award in the Northside Independent School District.  

While I was at the school this last week I got to interact with a couple of the teachers that Nate has daily contact with.  Not once but twice I was told what a wonderful son I had.  How he was a well mannered, intelligent young man.

So proud to be his mommy.  

Football Season

For those of you that follow my status posts on Facebook you know that last fall was taken up with football games.  This year both Matt and Nate played for Luna Middle School.  Both boys played wide receiver position X (don't ask me what that means but they seem to think it's important.)  This meant a crazy schedule for Doug and I because both boys played the same school at the same time in different places.  So Doug and I decided to divide and concur.  One of us would take the home games for a month while the other would take the away game and then we would switch.  This seemed to work pretty well as long as we text each other updates on the games we were watching.  

Matt was less than happy with his team this year as they had a losing season but looked good doing it. 

Nate on the other hand had a wonderful winning season, but has since decided to hang up his cleats for good.  One season was enough for him.

Living with Males

I must admit that not having another girl in the house can be a little much sometimes.  Just so you can appreciate this idea I thought I would share the following videos that the boys took themselves.  Yes, this is truly my life.  

A Year of Birthdays...Enjoy the Pictures

First Day of School 2012-2013

This year we have an 8th, 7th, and 5th grader.  Matt is enjoying his last year of middle school and is the big man on campus.  Nate has figured out middle school and is enjoying football.  Dan is in his last year of elementary school while being involved in everything.  I can't believe this picture was taken just a couple months ago because they have already grown.

Football Season

Football season has started this year with both Matt and Nate playing.  This means crazy times in the Holmes' Household.  Between practices 4 days a week that go until 6 pm and both boys playing games at the same time in different places, it keeps Doug and I busy.  Both boys play wide receiver which at this level of play means they do a lot of blocking.  

Our solution has been that one of us takes home games for a month while the other takes the away games and then we switch the next month.  Matt number is #33 and is in the top two pictures.

 Nate is #24 and has been in some really good plays that include him putting his head down and blocking in the picture below.  

Scout Camp

By Matt and Nate

Home Sweet Home

 Last week Matt and Nate went to Scout Camp at Bear Creek Scout Camp in Hunt, TX.  It started early on Monday morning about 5:15 am when we had to get up to be at the meeting place for our rides.  We got lucky and Mom drove us up to camp in Moaner (Dad's truck).  After we got there the first thing we did was take the exhaustive swim test.  We got a tour of the camp from our tour guide Sandra (long story with little meaning).  The first day was hard as we got use to the heat and hiking around the camp.  We set up our tent with the cots that Mom and Dad got us.  (THANKS MOM AND DAD!!!!  It was a back saver.)  Mom even thought of sheets and battery powered fans so we didn't stick to our sleeping bags. (Mom your the best!!!)  We had a fireside that night where the Swedish took over the camp.

The next day we decided to pose on our cots.  Nate poses more than Matt obviously.

The rest of camp we worked on Merit badges.  Matt worked on Camping, Wood Carving, Archery, Environmental Science, Art, and Personal Fitness.  He learned that he stinks in archery, that he excelled in wood carving and art, and in personal fitness he ran the mile in 6 min 34 sec.  Nate worked on Camping, Emergency Preparedness, Cooking, Environmental Science, Rifle, and Personal Fitness.  He learned that that as long as someone else kills the food (i.e. shots it) he can cook it up.  Also that you shouldn't try to catch a porcupine with a towel during environmental science.  

Nate's Cinnamon Pancakes that he cooked.  Yes it is served on a dirty Frisbee.  

With dirty bathrooms, Daddy Long Leg spiders that appeared on faces in the middle of the night, and lots of dirt, it was a typical scout camp.  We were excited to see Mom and Moaner on Saturday morning when she came to pick us up.

It's All About Nate

End of May beginning of June it all seemed to be about Nate.  From school to Scouts we seemed be on all Nate all the time.  

First, Nate received his Webelos rank at the May pack meeting.

Then he received his Arrow of Light.

Then it was on to the Boy Scout Court of Honor where he received his Scout Rank.

Finally it was Nate's Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony

Here he is singing with the Lobos Choir.

Posing with his promotion certificate with a friend.

Saying goodbye to his teacher, Ms. Dockery.