Blog Postings

If you are an orderly person, you may want to scroll down to Ava's field trip post, way down there, as that is the first post and the order of the happenings.

"Songs of America"

Derek had his final choir concert last night. The boys', girls, and mixed choirs all came together to present the "America" concert. It is amazing how many kids were involved. They always put together a good program, and they have mastered the art of not making programs too long! LOVE IT! :) Derek is on the front row, in front of the speaker on the left.

Time out for a little POETRY??????

I didn't think so.......but Daniel's class took a little time to honor poetry. They presented three poems each which they wrote themselves. They also invited parents for breakfast with the class. I don't know what the teacher actually hoped to accomplish with the day, but those kids REALLY loved the food! I never saw kids put away so much. Needless to say, lunch was a bust!

NJHS

Derek was inducted into National Junior Honor Society. Who knew they had this honor for middle school students now?????

Fun pics from Field Day!

Derek "The Brain"

WARNING........If you have a problem listening to parents brag on their kids and all their academic accomplishments, please skip this post. This one is mostly fro the grandparents who are interested in how well they passed down their smart genes! Derek had his academic award ceremony for seventh grade and came home loaded up with awards! I think he got ten! Here is a list (minus one I think, because I can't remember it): "A" Honor Roll, Presidential Academic Award, Wildcat Honors Award (is in 2 or more Pre AP classes), Perfect Attendance, Boys' Select Choir, Pre AP Science, PreAP Math, Pre AP English, and Texas History (The subject awards are given to the top 2? students in those subjects, I believe). We were all very proud of him!

Ava's Field trip to Harry Myers Park.........

I have fallen so behind. Sorry for the delay in the blog, but life goes on......................Going to throw out lots of pics and blurbs about the different kids and their latest events. Ava finally got to go on her much awaited field trip. The kindergarten spent time at a local park. It would have been a very laid back trip, but it was so stinkin' hot, we ended up leaving a bit early to drive the kids up to the splash park. The teachers just had the kids take off their shoes and go run through the water for about 5 minutes or so, filed them back on the buses, and returned to school! The kids were totally thrilled! They said the smell on the bus when all those shoes came off after being in the hot sun a good part of the day was AWFUL! :)

Awana Awards!

All three kiddos in Awana finished their books this year. In fact, Ava finished her book and went through the whole review of the book, too (Not bad for learnign English late in life). Wow! How proud we are of these guys, but more importantly, how thankful we are that they will always have these verses in their hearts to help guide them through life.

Projects! Projects! Projects!

Why does it seem teachers pour on the projects at the end of the year? Do they really want to see how much they can squeeze in before June? Do they really want to grade all these? Anyway, Derek, Daniel, and Ava have had plenty to keep them busy these last few weeks. Ava had an insect report on ladybugs. Daniel had to build something out of recycled trash. Derek has had more than I could list, but the latest involved a VERY involved movie poster on a class novel, and he is presently finishing a history paper and power point. Even mom can't wait for summer vacation at this point! Yikes!

Gotta love the ZOO!

Each year, at least one child seems to have a field trip to the zoo. It was Aslynn's turn this year! We got to see a new gem that just arrived at the Dallas Zoo: an Albino Alligator (actually 3). That was Aslynn's favorite, go figure! We had a beautiful day to browse around the different animals. The cutest thing was watching all the sleepy kids filing out of the bus once back at the school. They all fell asleep on the way home! So sweet!

HE IS RISEN!

Happy Birthday to us!

LOTS OF PICS....................

Regional Select Choir Concert!

This past Saturday was the Regional Choir Concert Derek auditioned for earlier. He was in an all boy's choir (except for one song where the girls and boys sang together). Paul and I were amazed at how good these 7th and 8th grade boys sounded. Like professionals! They sang some tough song choices, and only practiced together 2 days. All day Saturday, and one evening earlier in the month. Here is Derek in his favorite sparkly vest (NOT!). He was mortified when he found out that the dress outfits from your school was the attire to wear for this. His choir teacher pulled this thing out of the closet, and he could have DIED! At least he was easy to spot! :) Love the boy's face standing next to Derek. I tried to find a better picture, but he looked like that in most of my shots! This boy's poor school dress outfit was way too big for him. Could have wrapped his vest around him 3 times. We were very proud parents at this event! We are so thankful for the talent God has given to him.

Yee Haw!!!!!!

In between playing Nurse Jane to the Flu B victims, I ran into school to see Aslynn take part in the Pre-K rodeo. What fun playing games instead of doing WORK! I admit the break was good for me, too. Reality hit all too soon when I got home to care for the sickies!

Flu B hit the Wetzel household!

Two of us went down with the flu b virus these past weeks. Both Daniel and Ava missed entirely too much school to heal from this illness. We used Lysol, hand sanitizer, Kleenex galore, and probably should buy stock in CVS. So glad these two are back onto the swing of things. Now, if the other two and mom and dad will just stay well.

Aslynn Lost Her First Tooth!

My last baby has lost her first tooth and is probably going to lose the second one in the next couple days! No more babies at our house!

Miss Aslynn Brooke XinYu Wetzel's 5th Gotcha Day!

February is a hectic month for us with all the birthdays, gotcha days, holidays, etc. Aslynn celebrated her 5th Gotcha Day in our family on February 15. We can hardly believe she is getting so big. We watched a video of when we went to get her in China, and she was such a tiny little peanut. Well, she still is pretty tiny, but her personality has grown so much. She came to us with the bad habit of sticking her tongue out of her mouth out of boredom. She may stick her tongue out once in a while still (although it is not in her best interest), but she surely is anything but bored. She finds fun in everything!!!! What a lovely young lady she is becoming, and we thank God for leading us to her.

Will you be my valentine?

Where did Valentine's Day go? It seems like it vanished so quickly, and they started hauling in Easter eggs and bunnies. Wow! The kids all enjoyed V-day, each in their own way. Aslynn had a Valentine Sock Hop (Boy, does she like to boogie!); Ava had a Pancake Party in her PJ's (We're talking major sugar and toppings on those pancakes....yuck!); Daniel had a regular classroom party just enjoying reading all the cards and picking out all the candy (Why do all the kids like those sugary Fun-Dip things?); Derek went to the middle school Valentine's Day Dance (Ahhh!!!).

Ava's 3rd Gotcha Day!

In 2006 (Feb. 6), Ava Marie XiaoE Wetzel walked into a Civil Affairs Office in Changsha, Hunan to meet her new mama and baba. It is amazing to me how this little girl, who avoided her new mama like the plague, has grown to be so affectionate to her mama and writes her sweet notes and draws her such beautiful pictures. Since she is really learning how to write/spell and read, she is forever drawing us pictures and writing messages on them in her own invented spelling. I cracked up today, as she wrote me a question on a scrap piece of paper while I was on the phone. It asked if she could talk now......as mom had told her that she was not allowed to talk for awhile earlier, since she was not using a quiet voice! It is weird when your little ones can communicate to you in these grown up ways. I can't believe it has been three years. God has blessed our family with this young lady!