I *Heart* Geeks

For part of my Christmas present this year, my sister gave me a pin (which I have proudly worn on several occasions) that reads "I *heart symbol" Geeks". At first, I thought it should read: "I heart my Geek", but now I am sure it is correct in the plural.

***WARNING: Shameless Parental Pride (and bragging) to Follow***

This story begins on a cross-country ski trail in Park City. While skiing along side William, I am asked "Mom, do you think I should enter the Math Matters contest? Mr. Armstrong keeps talking about it. There are prizes for the winners." "Sure, if you want to." "Well, I don't think I could win anyway." "Whatever you decide we will support." "Hmm. Ok." 20 minutes later the same conversation. Another 20 minutes we have a 3rd go around but this time I add that it sounds like he is interested in trying and if he is feeling scared about failing he shouldn't let that keep him from giving it a go. Really, what is the worst that happens if he bombs? He gave it another hour's worth of thought and had us register him the minute he got home so he wouldn't chicken out.

WIth 2 weeks until a test we had never heard of before, William asked Bill to help him study. It has been on our busy to do list being seemingly impossible to have time for. Sneaking in a few minutes here and there until last night when they gave it one last study push.

William bravely entered the testing center with 215 other math-a-maniacs. (Because really, who besides math geeks would give up the entire Saturday morning to take a math test?) Spent 30 minutes on the test. Waited 45 minutes for the list to be posted with the lowest 100 scores. William's number wasn't on that list. He was so excited. He had done better than at least 1/2 the others. He went to the awards ceremony and found out he wasn't in the top 10. He patiently waited several hours for online scores to let him how he did. He rocked it. He came in 87th out of 215. These are hard-core math geeks he went up against. They weren't supposed to post the names next to the scores, but they goofed and did, which let William see he did better than any one of the other bright kids from his school who participated. (By a lot, I might add.--Remember I warned about the bragging bit.) Not only that, but out of every kid who took the test in the nation, William did better than 8 out of 10 of them.

Now that I am done bragging, I can move onto the pride part. I am so proud that my son, the one who has a distinct tendency to be a perfectionist and can often be intensely hard on himself, for putting himself out there and trying something that he wasn't sure he would be good at. Because at the end of the day that is the real prize: conquering a fear and the self-worth that comes from knowing you can do it and it was "even kinda fun".

Red Head Chili Peppers

What happens when 12 year old 6th graders spend 2 months dreaming up and creating their very own instrumental concoctions? Ear candy--that is what happens. William spent hours upon hours on this amazing science assignment. Inspiring teachers illicit inspired ideas from their students. William happens to have a truly passionate science teacher (yup, in his artsy middle school), Mr. Rose, who is committed to making science fun. After learning about "sound", the kids had an opportunity to dream up their own instruments. William knew right away that he wanted to make a combination piano/glockenspiel. How was another matter. He sketched out what he had in mind and he and Bill went to the hardware store to find some suitable materials. They came home with all kinds of materials (wood, screws, nuts, bolts, copper piping, fishing line, springs, and hinges) and some ideas of how to actually make keys that would hit the pipes. Hours were spent painting, drilling, threading, attaching, decorating and readjusting to make it work and look just like William had dreamed up.
Step two of this intensive assignment-- participate creating a song with 2 others and perform as a band in a Battle of the Bands competition. William pulled two of his good friends who had made a string instrument (electric one string bass) and percussion instrument (a drum), picked a band name (Red Head Chili Peppers for his buddy O's red hair) and performed "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath-- well sort of. You be the judge (click link below). His band made it past the first cut and are now in the finals to win it all (the prize being a mouth harp or harmonica, the boys couldn't remember.) Viva Los Red Head Chili Peppers!

On Our Way

On our way. . . into a new year and back home. Does two years a holiday tradition make? Perhaps in our family. We stayed at the same hotel we stayed at last year next to Anne's house and close to a freeway to get us quickly, and without traffic, out of Southern California. The boys did the same thing they did last year, too. They played Wii with Quentin until the ball dropped. This year we were all pooped and tried to see if the boys would celebrate Utah New Year's an hour earlier, and it almost worked by asking them during video play. Unfortunately for us, Romney thought about it for two seconds and figured out that would mean an hour less of video time and all three balked. California New Year was celebrated. It was a quiet, but lovely celebration with Anne and Q.
We broke up our trip by staying in St. George last night. It was a blissfully uneventful car ride home. Long, boring, but no birds in windshields or awful winter storms to contend with. We got home today and it was like Christmas morning all over again. The kids only had one day to play with all their new goodies before the trip, and after a week apart from them, they were happy to see the new playthings. Romney spent the evening learning how to master his new sewing machine. William spent his reading a new book and playing with his solar contraption maker. Even coming home to the dead of winter and the arctic level cold that Utah is enjoying has not (yet) dampened my lovely vacation mood.