Zack is 8!

This awesome kid is FINALLY EIGHT!  He has been counting down the days, hours, minutes until his birthday.  At one point his numbers were really off - and he was adamant he was correct - so I asked him what calendar he was looking at.  Come to find out he was using a calendar that was two years old.  Oh but don't worry, he got a sharpie and had been crossing off the days...of the wrong year...in the calendars that I write our family stuff on and keep.  This boy.

He wanted waffles, bacon and chocolate milk for his birthday breakfast....with a candle of  course...

We took little treats into his class.  His teacher was so sweet and sent these pictures...

He loves to be the center of attention and loved having his birthday with all his mates.

All he wanted for his birthday dinner was to have Brian (our neighbor) over for a fancy dinner.  He loves to go to Brian's house and will often go right over after school - even before coming inside to change or drop off his stuff!  They chat about airplanes, the war, and who knows what else - but they always have so much to say to each other.  I love watching them together.

He wanted beef stroganoff (easy for Brian to eat :)), homemade rolls, and fancy appetizers (we made bruschetta and tomato, mozzarella, and balsamic vinegar on crusty bread).  Where does this kid come from!?

Then we did birthday presents!  He really, really, really wanted an 164 gb SD card.  (What!?), mp3 player to listen to his music on and a switch game.  Brian gave him a cool airplane model and $10.00 and Luke and Alex got him a booger game.  He was thrilled.

His face when he opened the SD card.  Apparently he wanted one to hold more games?

Then it was time for cake!  Zack requested a tres leche cake.  Christopher made it and it was so yummy!  Our firecracker candles burned out before Chris could walk the cake over - so round two!  Nick was not a fan....

It is hard to believe this amazing kid is already 8.  He decided not to be baptized here in England, instead waiting until we go home and the whole family can be there.  I love that he still loves to cuddle, loves his onesie jammies, and loves people.

The next day (Friday) he wanted to have his two best mates, George and Alexander, over for a fancy dinner and video games.  We bought special wine glasses since those are Zack's very favorite to drink out of.  Whenever we travel and the airbnb has wine glasses - those are the ones he goes for and loves to "cheers" everyone.  It's adorable.

The boys with their fancy drink, fancy cups, pizza, and "Cheers"!

Zack wanted homemade pizza so Nick helped make him some yummy ones..

Then we opened presents and things got wild!  Alexander got him a water gun.  Suddenly shirts were off being swung in the air, boys were outside with the hose, spraying each other, yelling "LEEHURST" while swinging their PE shirts.  It was crazy.  Thankfully their parents were over and saw the whole thing progress....and were able to take home their soaking wet boys.

I wish I could post video on here.  I got better video than pictures.  Needless to say Zack had an amazing 8th birthday.

LEEHURST

 Zack's birthday video of the water fight....

School Days

Today I dropped Zack off and just had to snap a picture.  This is Monday drop off at Leehurst Swan.  It looks like he is moving in!  Green bag is his swim kit, purple bag is his reader, big navy bag is his sport kit, and don't forget his lunch box.  Of course he didn't brush his hair - and he forgot his cap.  Poor kid could barely walk all this stuff up the hill to his classroom!  I'm going to miss these days when we are back stateside....but not miss the morning checklist we run down every morning sitting in the car in the driveway!

 

A Geography Star

 Ben has always excelled in academics, but having his whole educational course changed when we went to England had me a little nervous.  Suddenly we were using words like "A levels", "coursework", "sixth form", "GCSE", "Revising", "IGCSE", "Practical", "Headboy", "Prefect", "Headmaster", and I had no idea what any of them meant.  Thankfully I have bright kids who could fill me in!  When I saw this post (and it was also featured in the paper!) I was so proud!  Ben aced his Geography GCSE and got all top marks.  Obviously he gets his smarts from me.....

27th January 2020 — Mrs Wright, Head of Teaching and Learning at Leehurst Swan, remarked that 'He worked with great commitment and tenacity, displaying tremendous independence and determination. Ben really pushed himself to get his coursework in in record time and to cover the topics that Year 11 hadn’t yet covered in Geography lessons. Ben will be able to take this qualification with him when the family relocates back to America later in the year.'

When Dad has to take long work trips....

Christopher had to go Stateside for a week or so. When he returned home he ran over to hug and cuddle Nick. Nick promptly freaked out and started screaming and crying. I guess he needed a slower introduction back to Dad. It kind of crushed Christopher a little bit. Maybe it will convince him not to travel anymore! One can hope....

 

Leehurst Facebook Post ZACK!

 During their reading session on Tuesday, Year 3 children shared with each other the different books they are reading.

Each child took it in turns to describe their book, explain what they are enjoying about it before reading an extract aloud to the group.
It was lovely to see the wide variety of books being read and to hear what they are enjoying about them.
Mrs Orchard