Represent!

5 Years, 46 Weeks.


This week Braelyn was voted by her classmates to represent the 3rd Grade as a member of their school's student council!

She, along with several of her classmates, volunteered and nominated themselves to represent their class.  This comes as a surprise to me because for those of you who know her, she is not usually keen on being up front and the center of attention.  However, I have noticed that when she's around friends or familiar people, she can be pretty confident.

So the rest of the class had to decide and vote who was going to be the voice of the 3rd grade among the 5 candidates.  The criteria for being a candidate was to have good grades, be a good listener and follow instructions well, and to be in good standing with all their classmates.  Braelyn felt she met them all, and her teacher agreed.

There were 3 rounds of voting, to narrow down the candidates, the final one being secret ballot.  Braelyn made it to the final round, running against a boy who was one of her good friends in class.  Before the final vote, they had lunch and recess, and it was during that time she and another classmate worked on her speech to the class once they reconvened back in the classroom.

Braelyn was allowed to speak first, as they try to teach "ladies first" etiquette in 3rd Grade.  Her speech was simple:  Vote for me, and I will listen to you and try my best to make it happen.  The boy went next, and told the class to vote for him because he was a really smart student, good in math, and was a great artist.   The ballots were handed in and the teacher announced Braelyn the winner.  She would later tell me that Braelyn won by a landslide.

I was particularly impressed with Braelyn because of how she reached out to her classmates, letting them know she was on their side and would help them out, versus telling them about her accomplishments or how well she was at something.  She wasn't there to convince them she was better, she just stated that she would take the time to listen and care.  And hopefully make a difference.  Oh how I wish our nation's leaders and political candidates could have that mission, without agendas.

Congrats Braelyn!  Eat your heart out Hillary!  Washington, here we come!

School Newsletter announcing the Student Council Members!

Happy to get a belated birthday gift from Calleigh!

Here was our week:

Family supper to our Vietnamese place down the street.

An early start to our Birthday Breakfast Bike ride,  we took off at 7 AM, still a little chilly.

Warming up now, enjoying her new clips and shoes.

Crossing over the Turnpike on the West Orange Trail, mile #9.

Halfway point, taking in some energy.

Still getting used to learning how to clip off, had a couple of falls.

Breakfast at the Euro Bake Shop at the Plant Street Market.

What a great morning spent together!

The crew together for supper at the Grodack's Saturday evening.

A goofy kids table!

Moms x 3.

Planned to go on a very early morning ride with Duncan.  This was my disappointed face after I had
gotten all ready only to find out it was raining outside.  Got up at 5:30 for nothing!

First Day of Spring meant for us to balance our egg.

Braelyn making fresh squeezed orange juice.

Maddy working on her homework.

Catching a ride at Publix.

This week's piano lesson.

Met up with classmate and new neighbor Ashton at the pool.

This was how he dressed for bed one night, with the next day's school uniform on underneath
 his pajama's so it would be easy to change in the morning!

Taking Tux out early morning before heading to school.

How many bags do you really need Missy?

How many computers do you really need Mommy??

Enjoying an evening bike ride before bedtime.

Randoms:

Tux teaching Maddy the proper way to play dead.

Remember the slab of wet concrete I went over last week?  Here is the repaired area,  my tire marks
still a faint but visible line left of center.

The problem with driving West in the evenings.
I bet you can't even see the car directly in front of me!

But it does make for some spectacular sunsets.

Time for an upgrade, my old bike, which Duncan purchased back in 2001.

Feeling special[ized].  My new ride scored on Craigslist for a steal.
2014 Allez which the owner used only a dozen times and is in excellent condition!

Spring has definitely sprung!  Can't wait for the Jasmine to start blooming!

Mommy's favorite, our bird of paradise out front.

Exactly.

Braelyn photo bombed this unsuspecting couple at the coffee house!
The lady was nice enough to share their photo with me!

Quote:

• Not a particularly funny situation at all, but the quote was.  I was telling the kids of the friend of Mommy's coworker who's house had burned down, along with all their possessions, and how we were trying to collect items to donate to them:

          Maddy:  "You mean, everything burned?"

          Me:  "Yes, their whole house and everything they owned.  Their furniture,
                   their toys, their clothes…"

          Maddy:  [eyes open big]  "So…they're NAKED??"  

Share, and share alike.

Have a great weekend!!