You were sustained to the office of a Deacon on November 26th - so that you can be ordained and pass the sacrament when all your grandparents are in attendance at sacrament meeting on December 17th. You were totally grinning when you stood and were sustained. You told me afterwards how many people had told you "congratulations." I think you were excited and proud. I hope you always feel this way about bearing the priesthood.
It's been a big year for you - starting middle school! You and Miles ride your bikes every day to school - you guys even get there early so you can play gaga ball. You've done really well in school and seem to like middle school just fine. Your advanced-math teacher, Mrs. Knight, nominated you to go to Washington D.C. for some "Junior National Young Leaders Conference." It was a surprise, really, but a great honor from a teacher. (Unfortunately, we won't be sending you - luckily you were okay with that!) You joined the STUCO (student council) and like being a part of that.
You continue to be on the swim team. You are supposed to now go 4 times a week, but we opted for 3 so you can go to scouts on Tuesday nights. However, three even seemed too much (as evidence by how much ANGER you would display when asked to get ready for swimming) and you are now back down to two. We gave you the option of quitting because it was just too much for us to have to deal with you (!) but you wanted to keep doing it - just twice a week. You like it and are always happy after the lessons. I'm not sure you push yourself enough to really see big improvements, but that's okay - at least you are doing something and exerting yourself somewhat!
You can be a super sweet and thoughtful child/sibling one moment, and then that next moment you lose all sense of reality, calmness, and kindness. One statement, one noise, can you throw you totally out of whack. It's not cool! Hopefully it is something you will outgrow!
Oh, you also started playing the trombone this year for 6th-grade band. You seem to enjoy it - although you are never super-eager to practice each week. But, again, it's great that you are a part of something. We just went to your 2nd band performance last night and it was good and you had fun.
You still love all things Star Wars and all things Harry Potter. You still can't stand your sister's chewing. You don't like ice cream. You like mountain biking. You don't like it when homework takes "too long!" You like making up games. You bought a MP3 player and like downloading music on it. You like skiing. You don't like it when we say something . . . you don't like.
We like you, Jonas, a whole lot! In fact, we even love you - sometimes-angry boy and all!
I hope your birthday is marvelous (even though we had to postponed your skiing birthday party until we actually get some snow!).
Love,
mom
