Lauren's Poetry

I attended Lauren's Dance Festival and Author's Fair today - I always enjoy this visit to the school. I really liked the book of poetry Lauren made this year, so I'm reprinting some of her poetry here.
Well done, sweet girl!

Wonderings

I do not understand:

Why girls like girly stuff.

Why sweets must taste so good.

Why math is sometimes hard.

But most of all I do not understand Popularity.

It's useless!

The person who invented popularity must have been sad.

Popularity makes one person famous and the rest feel bad about themselves.

I do understand:

Chocolate is delicious.

Telling a few delightful lies

Today, I wish I were not so normal...

I came from a different planet,

I'm not from earth.

I have many different powers.

I'm the best monster genius in the world.

If someone tries to tell me I'm wrong,

their words backfire on them.

Ticked Off

I'm ticked off.

Not snappy ticked-off,

Not angry ticked-off,

But bothered ticked-off,

Ticked-off that girls don't like monsters,

Ticked-off that my ideas only work with boys.

Smart

I'm Smart

Not nerdy smart.

Not smart-aleck smart.

Not brainiac smart.

But smart that correct spelling is important.

Smart that science is awesome.

Smart that intelligence is helpful.

I'm sad

Not crying sad.

Not tearful sad.

Not feeling bad sad,

but mournful sad.

Sad that my great grandmother is dead.

Sad that all my fish are dead.

Diamonte Poem

Dumb

Dummyhead, fool

Dim-witting, slowing, losing

Dum-dum, dumbo, sharp, bright

Clevering, brightening, thinking

Keen, intelligent

Smart

I Like

I like Halloween.

I like chocolate.

I like cake.

I like frosting.

I like Pirates of the Caribbean.

I like animals.

I like scary stuff.

I like Holidays.

I like fishing.

I like sports.

What's in a Name?

Lightning

Awesome

Unusual

Ruler

Excellent

Nice

Dealing with Disappointment

The Regional Science Fair was held yesterday.

9:30 - 11:00 .... Judging
11:00 - 12:00 ... Presentation by Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell
12:00 - 2:00 ..... lunch and science activities
2:00 - 3:00 ....... Break down displays
3:00 - 5:00 ....... Awards Ceremony

It was a long day filled with high hopes for recognition and glory at the awards ceremony...

But there was none.

When the grand champions were finally announced and Lauren realized that she would not be receiving any awards at this fair, she shed exactly two silent tears (which were quickly wiped) and you could see the wheels turn in her head a she seemed to come to a decision that she would applaud for the winners anyway. She was silent on the bus ride across campus, and I worried about what the evening would hold for our family. BUT by the time we reached home, she seemed to have passed through her sorrow and was talking and laughing with Max in the back of the van. She was cheerful the rest of the evening with no hint of bitterness or resentment and I had a strange realization...

I'm actually more proud of the way she dealt with disappointment than I would have been if she'd won an award. I'm surprised by how clearly I feel this. It's not a feeling of "sour grapes" or trying to sugar coat the situation. I am sincerely proud of her and thankful for this opportunity.

You have to understand a few things about Lauren - she was a VERY emotional young girl. There were times in the younger grades when she seemed to cry more often than not, and it was a weakness that she really WORKED to overcome. It hasn't been an issue for the past couple of years, but yesterday was a BIG disappointment and I feared BIG drama...

But there was none.

Lauren, I'm so proud of YOU

- proud of who you are, how you've grown, and the way you dealt with disappointment with grace and perspective.

I'm SO proud that you are my daughter!

Letter to Lauren

Lauren,

First of all, you are getting more beautiful every day. Such a beauty inside and out!
You've grown so much; I'm simply amazed at the young lady you're becoming.

When Jared was born, you said so passionately, "Mom, I love him so much! I just want to help you do everything for him (dress him, feed him, change his diapers) I really, really love him!"

And then you showed your love by doing all those things again and again. I can think of half a dozen times when I was desperately trying to fix dinner and Jared sat cranky and crying until you came and scooped him into your arms (giving comfort to him & me) and then he calmed right down and fell asleep in your lap.

This Sunday, I was racing to get the boys ready for church while Dad was at meetings. You came upstairs ready to go and I said, "Lauren, will you get Jared dressed?" and you said, "Of course." (And this isn't the first time that's happened.)

When we went hiking, Max had climbed to high and was paralyzed with fear at the thought of coming back down. Without being asked, you hiked up to him and sat down in front of him so he could lean against you as you crab-walked down the face of mountain. It took a long time to travel that way, and you were so patient with him.

In general, you've really worked hard to be more patient with your brothers and more cheerful. Grandma told me when you were golfing in the rain, most of the boys had gotten fed up and just wanted to drive the cart, but you kept playing with a smile.

You conquered your fear of the diving board and super-speed water slides this summer and now you totally enjoy them. I am so proud of you!

You've tried to be more responsible about chores without being reminded. At school, you're compassionate and kind to those who need it most - even your teachers notice it.

You really desire to do what's right. I'm so thankful that you're my beautiful daughter. I love you!

Love, Mom

Lauren & the DISTRICT Science Fair...

The District Science Fair was today.
6 1/2 hours of check-in, set-up,
judging without students present,
judging with students present,
open house to the public and then the awards ceremony.
And don't ask me how I managed to squeeze in dinner, kid's homework, and 2 1/2 hours of shuttling kids to and from the fair and piano lessons...
CHAOS!!!
We didn't get home until 10 o'clock, but it was all worth it.
Nearly 300 projects were entered into the District Fair and
40 students received honorable mentions with another 50 winners selected to go to the
Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
I sat snuggled with Lauren throughout the awards ceremony and as awards were announced, Lauren leaned over to me and said,
"I'll be happy if I win or if I just get an honorable mention."
I asked, "But you won't be happy if you don't win something at all?"
She thought about it for a second...
and looked at me with her big brown eyes and shook her head as though her little heart would be utterly broken if she didn't get any recognition for her work.
I told her, "Lauren, we're so proud of you for being here! You should feel really great about even coming to the district fair."
She nodded appreciatively, but her heart was totally set on more.
Each award was announced by announcing the school,
then the child's name, and then the project title.
EVERY TIME her school was mentioned, my stomach would clench and
I sat begging in my mind, "Please say Lauren next, PLEASE say Lauren!"
We watched over half a dozen of Lauren's friends called to the stage as honorable mentions and winners.
(Which was awesome, by the way, because last year not a single student from their school was chosen for any awards. So a BIG congrats to all of the those students -
you have done your school proud!)
However, every name called seemed to make Lauren's chances seem more and more slim.
80 projects - 80 of the 90 had been awarded at this point and the award ceremony was almost over.
I was in agony... I can only imagine what Lauren was thinking.
And finally...
HER SCHOOL...
HER NAME!!!

Lauren's project was one of the 50 winners!

Congratulations Lauren!

We are so proud of you! And happy for you!
And delighted with the perma-grin you've been wearing since your name was announced!
(She was stilling grinning from ear-to-ear when I tucked her into bed at 10:30)

Special thanks to Grandma Hunny and Grandpa who took the time to come down and show their support for Lauren. (FYI: I've since learned that my Mom was a science fair winner too. I had NO idea! Way to blaze the trail Grandma!)
And Best of Luck to our girl!

Lauren & the School Science Fair

Let's be honest... I NEVER participated in any science fairs, so when Lauren was required to do this for school, I felt nothing but panic. Of course, Matt has been traveling again so the only help for her project had to come from me, and anyone who knows me knows that science is NOT one of my talents!

Lauren's teacher sent home a HUGE packet of information including a long list of projects "NOT TO DO." That list wiped out every idea that sprang to my mind, but then I remembered working with Zach on the pinewood derby last year. I mentioned to Lauren that there are a lot scientific principles that go into making those cars. Lauren latched onto the idea of testing one of those principles/theories and that became the science project.

We built three cars with extra weight placed in the front, middle and back. I cut the cars and Lauren helped sand them, paint them and she assembled the race track. She went through 8 books and 2 videos about gravity and created her hypothesis. She managed the car racing while I did the timing and Max fetched the cars after each race. And she missed a family activity to stay home and finish putting together her display.

I heaved a giant sigh of relief when it was all done, but Lauren was so excited about her project that she could hardly sleep. And then she ended up sick the day of the science fair! She threw up early in the morning, but later on INSISTED that she felt better and "really wanted to go to school." The fair was in the morning so Max, Jared and I went to the school to "cheer" her on and see the fair. By the afternoon, Lauren was miserable and called me so she could come home (ironically, her call came between Gabe and Zach's calls to come home sick too - what a day!) Anyway, tonight I asked her if she knew her grade for her science project.

"I was one of the kids who was picked to go to the District Science Fair!" she exclaims.

I was simply hoping for an "A," but Lauren REALLY wanted to go to the District fair. Before the fair, Matt - aka 'Benedict Arnold' - had given meager praise that the "project might get a B." Hah! See what we girls can do without Mr. Wizard around! ;-)

Congrats again, Lauren! She is one of 10 fifth graders who's science projects will go to the district fair. (I'm still trying to get details.) Good luck to our cute girl!