1-8-2012 Week in Review

Quotes this week:

Sylvie: They call it Act-i-hol (alcohol) because it makes you ACT crazy.

 

Me: I’ll be back I need to use the bathroom.

Ella: Why do we even have to do that?

Me: We put food in, it has to come out somewhere.

Ella:  AND JESUS MADE IT COME OUT OF THERE???!!!!  EWWW!!

 

Sylvie: (telling me about a bad dream where there was a giant bat in her room trying to get her) I tried EVERYTHING! Kicking, screaming, gum….

 

Monday the kids had off school so we had a sitter!! :) Ryan and I headed out to find a new bedroom comforter.  We went to like 9 stores? I was pretty worn out but at the last place (which was actually one of the first places revisited) we found this beautiful quilt and were both finally excited! We then headed to Ross to find some pillows and new sheets.

Wednesday, while Dade was wrestling (thanks Tam & Chad for going!), mom took Corben to scouts.  When she got back Ella was complaining that her eye hurt.  I’d noticed it was a little red yesterday…oops.  Pretty sure it’s PINK EYE!  She couldn’t keep her hands off her eye so an eye patch went on for the evening. Pink eye spreads so easily! UGH.

I also found out Dade was in the paper on this day (I found out on the 4th of Feb and looked it up). I’m pasting the article here and have emailed his teacher for the picture since I’ve been unable to locate an actual copy of the article.

******* students advance in speech contest
POST ROUND TO SERVE AS PRACTICE

BY A.Moody

A pair of ********* High School students will represent the ******** and *********** posts of The American Legion at the district level of the Constitutional Speech Contest through The American Legion’s Oratorical Program on Jan. 28.

But they’ll have an extra opportunity to practice, first.

Five ********* students wrote and recited 8-to-10-minute speeches on Thursday, Dec. 15, on the rights and responsibilities of citizens toward the Constitution as students, parents and faculty members served as an audience in the school’s chorus room.

Faculty and students evaluated speeches by Austin E., Juan Z., Graham Z., Dade and Nick S. The speakers were judged on speaking skills, volume, eye content and speech content — were the speeches logical, and how good were the examples the speakers cited and the connections they made to the Constitution.

At the end of the contest ************ member Greta C. recognized Dade, a sophomore, as the overall winner.

Dade spoke on changes in the amount and types of citizens who have become eligible to vote.

“His passionate oration focused upon how poor voter turnout has been in recent elections, asking the audience to wonder why something so valuable and cherished, fought for and by so many, has been so unfulfilled,” ********* civics and economics teacher Jamie L. said.

NIck S., also a sophomore, was named runner-up of the contest. He spoke on how the government by and for the people must also be of the people, and argued for greater participation by all citizens in all areas of government for that to happen.

The preliminary, school-level contest was the first of many steps in the Constitutional Speech Contest, which was established in 1935. Winners at the school level go on to compete at the post level, then to the district, division, state and national levels so long as they continue to win.

The American Legion awards scholarships at various levels of the competition. The organization has awarded over $3,000,000 nationally over the years, and currently awards $138,000 annually to winners competing at the national level. Thousands of dollars are awarded at the post, district and state levels. Each individual can win up to $18,000 in scholarship funding.

Greta C. said both Dade and Nick S deserved to compete at the district level and found a way to make that happen.

“Since both of the boys are from *********** I thought it would be appropriate for Dade to represent ********** and Nick S. to represent ********,” she said. “That way both the boys can go to the district level since only one speaker will represent each post.”

With post representatives already determined, the Saturday, Jan. 7 post level of the contest will serve as a practice speech for Dade and Nick. The post speeches will be given at ********** at 10 a.m.

The district level of the contest will be held at ************ on Saturday, Jan. 28. The winner of the district round will go on to compete in the division level of the contest at the N.C. State Capitol.

Greta C. said the speech competition is just one way The American Legion helps the youth of the nation.

“Youth a lot of times don’t have the opportunity to go on for higher education to become more affluential citizens,” Great C. said. “We open doors for our youth. Whatever background they have they can enhance their skills if given the opportunity. This is a giving back to our society.”

We headed to the doc early Thursday to get drops for Ella’s eye.  We ended up having to go back because after the doc checked Ella’s ears Ella started complaining that she couldn’t hear out of one of her ears.  Another trip to the doc confirmed that they’d accidentally pushed some wax down in her ear when they checked it.  They cleaned her ear out and all was well.

Friday was GORGEOUS OUT!!  I decided that my REAL camera hadn’t been out in way too long so I followed the girls outside and had some fun.  Sylvie wanted to sing through most of it. :)

 

At this point the neighbor girls came home from school and Sylvie wanted very badly to go see them but I said no since we’re dealing with the plague.  She wasn’t very happy with me.  Ella took the serious modeling queue and struck a pose…

        

Then I let the girls use the camera with me VERY CLOSE BY.  Sylvie had been getting too cranky and it was time to loosen her up.  They did a GREAT job!

   

Now that they were in a better mood, it was my turn again…

   

This next ones freaked me out…I’m not ready for teenage girls yet, can we make them not look so grown up please??!!

   

Saturday Dade spent the entire day babysitting.  Seems money beats out wrestling sometimes.  He’s hoping to start investing in stocks.  I’m so glad he is constantly thinking of his future.

Sunday I went to church with nothing to do! It was so weird. I did, however, make sure I’d read the lessons so I could actually participate in class.  Can’t take these opportunities to be taught for granted!