The Election

The 3rd Grade election, that is! 

The 3rd grade teachers in Seth's school didn't like the book unit on the election process so they decided to move outside of the box and stage a mock presidential election among their students.  Each class would vote to elect a candidate (complete with a vice-presidential running mate!) and then work on a campaign leading up to election day. 

Seth was voted in as President of Ms. Morrison's class, with his buddy, MaryJane, as his Vice President.  All the kids helped him perfect his campaign speech and worked on campaign posters to put up throughout the 3rd grade hallway.  These were a couple of my favorites:

"He is extremely responsible.  He listens to other people!Vote for Seth Averill!!!!  Seth would be a good president.  He helps with word problems and friendship problems to!!"

"Seth is very smart.  he helps students in math and other classes.  He doesn't get in trouble because he makes wise choices.  he is a great friend for playing!"

This one I wanted to highlight the last sentence.  I almost fell over laughing when I read it:  "He is Republican."  Seth claims he wasn't running as a Republican but he would have voted Republican in the actual, US Presidential election!

Next, Seth gave his campaign speech (they did a video of all the candidates presenting their speeches then showed them to all the classes so the kids didn't have to stand up and speak in front of 100+ kids):
"My name is Seth Michael Averill.  I am 8 years old.  I have a sister named Katey, a mom named Jen, and a dad named Michael.  I have 16 pets.

I could do a great job because I am talented, responsible, intelligent, nice, and a good friend.  I am talented because I won a dance contest on a cruise.  I am responsible because I put the dishes away when on one expected it.  

I would give the school new playground equipment and shelters for balls that would NOT break.  I would also make the food and treat prices lower in the cafeteria.  I would make recess longer and also every day.  40 minutes. 

My name is Seth Averill so vote for me!"

I loved the campaign promises - he came up with those all on his own!

So, after viewing the speeches, the kids voted.  I hear there were even pollsters campaigning outside the voting area. :-) 

Sadly, Seth did not win.  He is sure he came in 2nd place though (no confirmation of this fact - just what he believes in his heart), and the winner was the person he was pretty sure was going to beat him from the start - apparently her speech was REALLY good. 

Regardless of the outcome, I love that all the kids got to experience the process and see how an election works.  We are super proud of our Presidential candidate - 3rd grade today, United States in 30 years!

TRIPS!

As you can see from the dreadful lack of blog entries, we have been busy in the Averill household.  (I'm not a slacker, really, it's just that we have been busy...sooo, sooo busy!)  On the up-side, I noticed that my last 3 blog posts have all been on the 14th of the month - totally a coincidence, but a cool one in my opinion!

So here I go, trying to catch up on the last month or so of fun - the theme is TRIPS!

First, we took a nice, long-in-miles-short-in-time TRIP to INDIANA in October to return to Taylor University where Mike and I both graduated 15 years ago.  Time flies (but not when you are in the car with a sick husband*)!

We are very blessed to have wonderful friends in the Indianapolis area, the Molendorps, who were happy to host us.  All the adults went to Taylor together so we were excited to caravan back together and hang out on campus for the day.  Unfortunately, very few of our fellow classmates came to this particular reunion so it was a little disappointing.  However, just getting to spend some good time with great friends made the trip worth it!

Jen and Sara

Katey and Seth were excited about the trip as well since they got to pair up with Anna and Dayton.  The welcome from the kids was warm and wonderful!  Anna and Dayton had been planning for Katey and Seth's arrival and had a whole theme of Cozy Cabin Camp prepared - complete with signs on doors and welcome gift baskets as well!  The kids got along very well and were all sad to see our short stay come to an end.

Katey and Anna

Seth and Dayton

Thanks to the Molendorp's for hosting our stay and making us feel so very welcomed!


*Unfortunately, Mike wasn't feeling so well on the trip home and ended up sleeping for most of the 11 hour drive.  He managed to not share his sickness with us but did leave it behind for our friends.  Boo! 



Our next TRIP was just around the neighborhood for HALLOWEEN!  The kids were excited about their costumes, but not as excited as they were about Belle's...or Mike was about his own!

Seth the Ninja, Katey as Hermione Granger and Mike the Dolphins-loving Ape

Belle the jailbird...um jaildog

As always, the kids scored big on candy and we will be eating it until Easter, I'm sure.  One great thing about this Halloween was that we moved an old couch to the end of the driveway and some of the neighbors joined me in passing out candy while relaxing on the sofa!  :-) Wish we had gotten a picture of that!

Finally, we just got back from a TRIP to MARYLAND!  Another quick one, but we really enjoyed being with Brandon, Annie, Nate and Karina.  Everyone was excited to meet baby Karina and we got lots of time to snuggle with her.  We were also pumped to be able to be there for Nate's 3rd birthday party!  Katey and Seth were great in helping with the gaggle of small children as well as helping with the leftover cupcakes.  :-)

Nathan was all about tackling Katey this trip

Seth playing the Wii and Nate mimicking with a toy train!

Uncle Brandon working hard to give Seth a swirly!

Happy Birthday!

Another favorite past-time:  ATTACK Daddy/Uncle Mike!

Thanks to Brandon and Annie (who I managed to not get any pictures of, unfortunately) for having us at your house! 

Being with family and friends is always a special time and we look forward to more TRIPS to come!