Perseverance and Determination

I spent the morning at the kids' school today, proudly cheering Cat and Cowboy on during their end-of-year awards assemblies. The elementary teachers at the school present each student in their classes with a unique quality or characteristic that defines their attitude or distinguishes them from the rest of their class. It is always a highlight of the school year, and often a bit of a tear-jerker for teachers and students alike.

Cat's teacher assigned her the quality of perseverance, always striving to do her very best and put her all into her work no matter what effort or how long it takes. This was doubly emphasized when she also received the Principal's Honor Role award for maintaining straight A's through the entire year. She was one of only seven in the entire second grade class to make the honor role this year.

In Cowboy's assembly, his teacher bragged on his being both smart and eager in his work and in all that he does. He was assigned the quality of determination, and his teacher noted that she saw real leadership qualities in him and looks forward to watching those manifest as he grows older.

Okay, so I'm bragging a bit here. Can you blame me? I'm a pretty proud papa!

After the fourth grade assembly, Cat took me outside to see the vegetable garden their class has been working on since the fall. She has peppers and a nice yellow squash growing in her section, plus tomato and green bean vines that she hopes will bear fruit (or vegetables, as the case may be) before school ends. The kids have been wanting us to plant a small garden in our backyard. After seeing how proud she is about the school garden, I'm thinking we just might have to do that this fall!



And since I hadn't realized until now how long it's been since I've posted pictures of the kids, here are a few more shots of some of our recent doings:


Cowboy's entry in the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby earlier this month


Cat stylin' at the Houston Zoo in April


Llovin' on the llama at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in March