Track and Field 2012

The day after his morning at kindergarten Matthew got to spend hanging out at the school while I helped out with Track and Field.  He is not a shy boy at all (sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing) and so he was off busy most of the day with Vivian and Mika and whatever other friends he found.  I am thankful that while he is a typical child getting himself into trouble from time to time, he generally knows the boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not and so I don’t have to worry all day about what kind of mischief he is getting himself into.  This is indeed a blessing to have a child of this nature so that I can relax and focus on what I’m suppose to be doing (or even so that I can volunteer in the first place because I probably wouldn’t otherwise).  Vivian is of the same nature and so when the two of them are together I usually don’t have to worry about what they are doing because they will keep each other in line.

During the morning I was helping on the Basketball Dribble.  It’s nice to help but it does mean that I can’t be around watching the kids at all their various activities.

This was Marietta’s last year at our local school for Track and Field. Next year she off to the Grade 7/8 Track Meet with the Ontario schools. When the kids are in Grade 6 they become leaders of a group for the day and each leader is judged on how well they do as a group leader, guiding, following instructions, helping the others in the group, cheering others on, getting everyone involved, etc.   Here Marietta is coaxing and encouraging one of the other students in her group.

From the Basketball Dribble I could see a bit of what was going on at the Obstacle Race, but since I had to be counting during the dribble that meant I really should have been focusing more on what’s going on at my own game … except maybe when my child runs the race.

Rebecca’s turn at the Basketball Dribble … slow and steady.

Matthew and his best friend Vivian enjoying the high jump mat before it was put to use.

After the Basketball Dribble I moved over to help with Alaskan Baseball.

Marietta running the bases.

Rebecca’s team passing over and under.

Rebecca running the bases.

Lunch was hotdogs served by the Ladies Auxillary.  Matthew found a spot in Grandma’s classroom to enjoy his lunch.

The Wagon Wheel Race. The year before (see here) Brent was in a wheelchair watching and this year he was partaking in the race.  He made an amazing recovery from his accident.

Each team is lined up on one of the spooks of the wagon wheel.  All team members have to take a turn running around the wheel and return to their spook and sit down to win.

Ange was smart and brought some activities for the little kids to do during the day while we were helping out. 

Marietta running the wheel.

The Wagon Wheel Race is always the last event of the day.  After that ribbons are handed out to the winning teams and winning team leaders (Marietta got 2nd – Good Job Marietta!) and all the kids get to enjoy a popsicle before heading home.

All these activities that symbolize the end of another school year and we wonder again how did time fly by so fast.  This year I did not go on the year end class trips.  Rebecca went to African Lion’s Safari yet again (her third time – see here and here) much to her disappointment (I told her she could stay home, be she decided spending time with friends would be more fun then not going)  I wasn’t much interested in going again, especially because life had been way too busy lately anyways so I just needed some home time.  Thankfully this year they went for a longer day so that they were able to spend more time in the splash pad, which is really all the kids want to do anyways.  Marietta went to Bingemans again (see here) and since I went with last year I decided to also opt out of this one.  I have sensitive ears so while I enjoy the waterslides I really can’t get water in my ears and I find that ear plugs are not very effective on a good day, let alone when you’re plunging yourself into the water off a slide.  While the kids were disappointed that I didn’t come with this year they were understanding as they were also well aware that I needed to spend some time at home also and try catch my breath there before Summer Holidays began.  Marietta also undestood that the Grade 6 Year End Camp Out was a pretty decent trade-off.