1.11.12

Mason for President

To coincide with the national election, the second grade classes at Mason's school studied a unit on our country and our country's government during the month of October.  It all culminated with a social studies project that we've spent the last two weeks or so working on.  Each class is holding a mock election for Class President and Class Vice President.  The project included creating a campaign poster, writing a campaign, delivering the speech, a primary election, a debate between the top two candidates for each position and the final election.  Yes.  Second grade.

Mason was chosen as a Class President candidate for his class.  And here he was this morning all dressed up and ready to go to school to deliver his speech.  I may or may not have shed a few tears as I watched him climb the steps to the bus!  

He we I decided he needed a campaign slogan so that's what he we I included on his campaign poster (because . . . let's just keep it real here . . . this project was really nothing more than a bunch of busy work for the parents!).  Mason loves rhyming words so we came up with several words that rhyme with Mason and then used those for his slogan:

Second to NONE

A ton of FUN

The only ONE

MASON! 

He then decorated his poster with hunting, fishing and baseball stickers.  Here he is on Monday morning before taking his poster to school.

I'll just go ahead and cut to the chase here and let you know that I wrote his speech pretty much in its entirety.  He practiced for several days.  Mrs. Miller mentioned that the kids could "dress up" to deliver their speeches.  Well, I'm all about dressing up!  But Mason has outgrown all of his "dress" clothes, and I've been slowly trying to add to his wardrobe.  Besides, his dress clothes consisted of button down shirts and polos, which, in my opinion, is not dressing up.  And then I remember that a good friend of mine had given me a suit a few weeks back that her son had outgrown.   So I pulled it out, and Mason tried it on, and it fit!  All I had to do was get a tie and a pair of dress shoes.  And, yall, Mason was so excited to dress up!  Is this not the most stunning Class President candidate you've ever seen?!  

This afternoon Hannah Kate, Ellie and I went to school and listened to 125 speeches!  I'm not exaggerating.  There are 125 second graders, and they each gave their speeches in the gym this afternoon.  I was so very proud of Mason!  He did such an awesome job and didn't miss a beat on his speech.  I recorded it, too, but I'm much too tired to fool with posting it tonight, but here is a picture of him delivering his speech.

I have never been more proud!

GIVING THANKS | Day 1:  I love the way my heart feels as I watch my children learn, grow and explore their world.  I love the way my heart felt today as I watched and listened to Mason give his speech.  I love the way he offers me unconditional love, even when I mess up and have to ask his forgiveness sometimes.  And I love the way my HEAVENLY FATHER offers me unconditional love and forgiveness all the time!

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him."  ~Lamentations 3:22-24