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Today in music class, offspring #1 learned a new music term. Wifey is putting the kids to bed upstairs and she encourages him to share this newly learned term with me.

I’m downstairs, so offspring #1 yells at the top of his lungs, “Dad, do you know what forte means?”

If you don’t get it, click here and look under musical terminology.

J

Growing up in Texas, Fall just wouldn’t be complete without Friday night football. I think even towns of 400 people had a football stadium. You ever see the movie “Friday Night Lights?” We used to play that team in football. They usually beat the tar out of us. We beat them once, when I was a Junior - the same year we almost went to the state championship.

However, this year, it’s flag football. There’s not much more chaos than 16 6-year-olds running around a football field. Usually, there are 15 confused kids and 1 kid holding a football and running for the goal line like a pit bull is chasing him.

Our first game had a bit of an awkward start. Instead of just starting on the 20-yard line, we had an actual kickoff. Of course, we never practiced this. We never really practiced defense either. We were able to hold them to a 4th down once until they took off running for a touchdown. After their first score, here’s how the game went:

- Ensuing kickoff: we run back for a 50-yard touchdown
- We kick off. First play from scrimmage, they run for a 50-yard touch down
- They kick off. We run back for a 50-yard touchdown
- We kick off. First play from scrimmage, they run for a 50-yard touch down
- Etc, etc, etc….

All total, each team racked up about 300 yards and scored about 6 touchdowns. The only difference in the game was that we made more extra points than the other team. But in the end, I don’t really know what the score was…I think we won? More chaos to follow next Friday.

J

I know…this is way overdue. We have a winner for the “Name the Jeep” contest. We decided to go with:

5 2BCH

Congratulations to Sandy…free meals and wheels on your next visit. Thanks to all of you for your contributions. We had a tough time narrowing this down, but we felt like this captured the essence of why we bought the thing to start with. Here’s a list of honorable mentions:

SEA17
HIFIVE
SPF-50
AR-YODA
OG COM
COLBERTRULESTHEUNIVERSE

Thanks to all, and to all a good night!

J

Okay, I am writing this a bit late b/c the first day was actually last Tuesday but it was a very exciting day in the life of our family. Offspring #1 was in our bed at 6:15 am “God woke me up” he said. This is the earliest he has awakened in months. Excitement was brewing as he was quickly dressed in his uniform and at the breakfast table ready to eat and get out of here! Offspring #2 wanted to know if he could go too, but alas, he has 2 more years to wait for the big K. We took a few pix in front of the Hibiscus (see photo album) and loaded up for the walk. We live only 3 blocks from school so #1 & #2 hopped on the bikes/scooters and #3 crawled into the stroller. In just a few short minutes (7, I think) we were at the door to the classroom.
At 7:50am the bell rang and Ms. Kaholokula came out to welcome them in and off he went - into a world of independence and learning. This is the part where I thought I would cry - I think I cried so much last year (just thinking about it) that I got it all out of my system. Maybe it was because he was so excited and happy to go that I was just excited for him. He loves the buzz & excitement of all those kids in one place - hopefully he will love the learning part too! When we went to pick him up at 2:05pm I got the double thumbs up - “It was aweeeesoooome” according to him.

Here are just a few things that drummed up so many of my own memories of school and plus a few things that have changed:

CROSSING GUARDS & COLOR GUARDS - What fun to see those kids with the little orange belt (crossed across the chest) and the police type badge on! I used to be in color guard and thought that was all there was to life in the 5th grade. Oh the time we would spend after school practicing how to fold the flag and how to walk together in step, blah blah. The difference here on a military base is that they play “To the Colors” when the flag is raised in the morning and lowered in the afternoon. At this time EVERYONE on campus (100s +) stops, stands at attention, and faces the flag in silence - a way to show honor to the flag & our country. It’s really cool…

SCHOOL LUNCH - Carter is really into this school lunch thing - he loves it. I had breakfast with him on Friday (he normally eats at home but we wanted to try it just once) and he already knows the drill after 3 days. 1. Get your tray 2. Get your napkin 3. Get your food 4. Get your milk 5. Show the lady your tag (prepaid lunch card). Everything is much shorter than when I was there, though….
The difference is here - some of the menu items for Sept. at Hickam Elementary School: Kalua Turkey w/cabbage, Kalua Pork w/cabbage, Romaine/won bok salad, Pineapple, Pineapple, Pineapple!!

SPECIAL JOBS - right off the bat Carter got to be the child who carries the lunch ticket paper to the lunch room in the morning and the roll to the office. He & another student get to go walk alone and deliver these items! I’m so proud!

THE LOUD SPEAKER - Carter was shocked one day when “a man came on real loud and said ‘no playground today it’s too wet’”. I tried to explain that this was probably the principal giving an announcement to the whole school! Don’t you remember all doing the pledge together via the speaker and listening to the morning announcements!

UNIFORMS - We used to be able to wear practically anything we wanted in elementary school. That was back in the day when 1st grader’s weren’t trying to dress or act like a 16 year old. I have frequently seen 5th graders that are dressed in the latest “trashy” style and have a more up-to-date hair & makeup style than I do (that’s not hard to do) and it’s just scary. Let kids be kids!! But now we wear uniforms - Carter choices are navy or kacky shorts (no cargo) and a button up polo shirt (red, navy, light blue or white) or school T-shirt (his personal favorite). One lesson learned - for boys - FORGET THE WHITE SHIRT!! Big stain on the first day he wore it! Oh well, I tried!

That’s all I can think of for now - I will share more as new experiences spark old memories!!

~S

OK - We’ve received numerous submissions - thanks for your contributions.  This has been a tough week of working around the house, to include “the installing a reverse osmosis water system from the pit of despair” (blog to follow later).  Anyway, since we’ve got a little time available, we’re going to narrow down the entries and pick a winner.  Stay tuned for this MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!

J