It's Official, The Kid Done Got Elected

Congrats to young and humble Steven. After being elected the 3rd grade student council representative last week for his school, he decided to also run for school student council treasurer this week. He declared he knew he would win after he saw all the the other speeches. He said they all stunk. Said they were all too short, too mumbly, or too boring. He stated matter-of-factly that it was clear to him that no-one knew how to address the public but him. Lord help us, if the kid is ever elected to a real office someday, we can all look back and say this was his first campaign speech ever. He beat out several 4th and 5th graders to win the office. He was excited when he got off the bus. But, I'm now a little more than concerned as the very first thing that came out of his mouth was: "Guess what? I got elected student council treasurer. What exactly do treasurers do anyway?"

He should fit in perfectly with the rest of the politicians.

I Predict Some Serious Editing Will Take Place

All I can say is thank goodness this speech is required to be proofed and edited by the teacher who heads up student council. Not sure if the kid is actually allowed to say all this stuff.

If you haven't guessed by now, 8 year old Steven was elected as the 3rd grade student council rep. The speech he wrote while locked in the dog crate was apparently very persuasive. Now, the young politician is running for the lofty board position of student council treasurer as well as rep. He gives this speech on camera in front of the entire school, not just his class. He actually wrote this one while seated nicely at the computer:

Steven Hess, Student Council Speech for Treasurer

Hi. My name is Steven Hess and I am a student in Mrs. Sourbeck’s 3rd grade class. I would like to be the student council treasurer for this year because…

I’m responsible, hard working, don’t lie and finally I listen closely and do what I’ve been told. Second, I will show a lot of people what school really means to me which is this:

What school means to me is studying hard by ourselves, learning different abilities and strategies for higher grades and do bigger and harder work here’s what I want changed,

1. We need to get rid of the sandbox on the big playground.
2. Also harder work more tests and maybe dig deeper into the subjects we use in our classroom
3. People that screw around play; on purposely don’t finish their work, lie, and talk back, bully and hurt people’s feelings constantly. Immediately either give them detention, suspension or even expelliation NO NOTES!
4. We should have more free time to talk.

Next Mrs.Washington and workers your great, great teachers but it seems that there is know second chances all I hear is “GO TO THE PRICAPAL'S OFFICE!” give the kids a chance.

Finally were did our compassionate, lovely school go. This school is a mess with bullies, not-nice and other bad harmful things. We all need to work together to teach everyone the right way of learning.

I think I would be a great treasurer because I can keep track and remember lots of things(like money) so please vote for me.

Steven Hess

His Speech Seems to Cater to The Elite - Not the Common Man

My 8 year old is running for student council representative. I am not sure which is more disturbing. The content of the campaign speech he just wrote. Or, the fact that he wrote it while locked inside the dog crate wearing only his underpants. My 10 year old is in big trouble!

Student council speech by: Steven Hess, age 8

First I think that I am a great person to be around. If you elect me as your student council representative, I will respect your answers and usually say yes, again just usually. I will try my best to change this school in many different ways to make this school a great place for everyone.

Here are some ways I will try to change this school:

First I think it is dumb to have a filthy non-fun sandbox out there on the playground for nothing. We should either have a perfect sandbox in that space or a thing that we can actually have fun in or even a blow up bouncy slide?

And I think we should have a little more challenging work so we can actually learn in our classroom or at home. We need harder work and more homework so that we can actually get smarter and not stay dumb.

Mrs.Washington and your other workers. You are great teachers but you can’t just say “go to the principal’s office” if someone screws around accidentally or whispers. Give that person a chance like the teachers that do teach. I’m not saying you and your workers are bad but give the kids a chance.

There is still a little bit more. Also I think that I’m a great person to elect because I will show some people what school really means to me! Next I think that I would be a great representative for our classroom because I’m responsible and hard working and that’s why I think you should vote for me.

Steven Hess

So, This Whole Tooth Fairy Thing Is Getting Out Of Hand...

This is what happens when the eight year old in your house is an aspiring writer. He practices on anyone who will listen. The Tooth Fairy found this note under his pillow last night. Can't say she's really sure exactly what it all means.

Dear tooth fairy,

I was at school and then BOOM, my tooth shoots out right at me. I jump to get it and there it is, my tiny little tooth, sitting there in my hands. “HOORAY!” I shouted and then scooted to tell the good news to mrs. Sourbeck {my teacher}. next I went to get a holder so my tooth didn’t get lost but unfortunately it just had to drop into a wee crack when I was in the bus line to go home. I got home and never had my tooth so I really didn’t know what to do. I waited a few nights and then thought of a brilliant idea! The idea was to make a note to tell you{the tooth fairy} what had happened. So now that’s what I’m doing now.

Love, Steven
PS. I’m not kidding.

Dear Tooth Fairy

Is my child the only 8 year old on planet Earth who leaves detailed notes for the tooth fairy? Just wondering 'cause it requires a lot more work from the fairy. I mean, in other households, I would assume all the fairy has to do is take the tooth, leave a dollar, right? When the tooth fairy visits the Hess house, she has to get out her flashlight to read, then she has to get out her portable laptop with printer so that she can whip up a quick reply to the inquiring mind. Then, she has to decide weather or not a quick trip to Target is in order or if a few bucks will do the trick. The tooth fairy does not have the time nor the extra $50 bucks for Madden 2010. Who does my son think she is, Santa Clause?

Here's the nicely typed out note that the tooth fairy discovered under Steven's pillow this evening:

Dear Tooth Fairy,

My brother says ask if we can have Madden 2010 Football for Wii so I wrote it in. I have a question. Do you have anything other than money? Where do you live and how old are you? You are superb and great.

From Steven

To the awsomest person on Earth.

How exactly would you answer these questions? And, does the tooth fairy give him a $20 cause he called her superb and great?

Fun In The Strangest Places!

Like most Hess vacations, this last one was a whirlwind of non-stop action and fun. As usual, we made sure not to miss a thing. If there was a tourist trap (I mean attraction, of course) to be experienced, we experienced it. But, I have to say, we enjoyed the highlight of our trip in the strangest of places. Was it seeing the fireworks over the gorgeous lit-up Niagara Falls? Nope. Was it riding in a Jet Boat with speeds up to 150mph in a raging whirlpool? Nope. How about walking on the glass floor at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto? Try again. The highlight of our trip was our stop in Cambridge, Ontario, a little town in the middle of po-dunk Canadian booringness...I mean wilderness, of course. In an effort to break up the trip, we planned a stop at the Wild African Safari park in Cambridge, about 2 hours out of Toronto on the 301. It was there that a horde of angry (I mean friendly, of course) baboons sprinted out of the trees and jumped all over our minivan. While one rode on the roof, another scaled the front hood. I have never seen my children laugh quite so hard.

I Dare You To Try To Keep Up With Me!

It's official. I have put the finishing touches on our summer vacation plans. The itinerary is posted below. I only hope my family can keep up. I have made one concession. My husband does not have to go on the Whirlpool Aero Car (a gondola-type thingy) that goes way up in the air and carries you over the Falls if I don't have to go see the Fun House or the Mystery Maze. The only question is, where will we spend more time? At the Casino Niagara or at the Butterfly Conservatory? I know what my choice would be.

Summer Vacation 2009/Itinerary
Sunday, July 12th
Drive to Niagara (5 ½ hour drive) Leave early to arrive as early as possible to play at water park. Leave by 8:30, arrive by 3:00. Check in, play at Water Park. Go out to explore Canadian-side stuff:
Whirlpool Aero Car
Butterfly Conservatory
Journey Behind the Falls
White Water Walk
People Mover Buses & Falls Incline Railway
Guinness World Records The Haunted House
Mystery Maze
Bronto’s Adventure Playland
The Fun House
Brick City – Lego’s
Maid of the Mist

Monday, July 13th

Play still at water park (check out and leave sometime after lunch)
Drive to U.S. side – Do Falls State Park attractions:
· Niagara Adventure Theatre(Legends of Adventure Movie)
· Observation Deck
· Maid of Mist
· Cave of Winds
· Aquarium of Niagara
· Discovery Center
· Scenic Trolley
· Snow Park Niagara Falls (open until 10pm)

www.snowparkniagara.com
Check into and stay at Crowne Plaza on U.S. side.
Tuesday, July 14
Spend morning doing more touristy stuff on Canadian side
Leave for Old Fort Niagara to arrive by 1:00
Leave Old Fort Niagara by 2:45 to get to Jet Boats on time.
Drive to Lewiston to do Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour at 4:00, need to arrive there at 3:15. (Stop at Old Fort Niagara on the way)

Stay at Crowne Plaza on U.S. side, 2nd night there
Wednesday, July 15

Do more Niagara attractions

Drive to and stay at Scotty and Beth’s

On way, stop at Lockport Caves and Underground Boat Ride in Lockport

Stay with Scotty and Beth/Visit with them in PM
Thursday, July 16th

Visit with Scotty and Beth/Do something in Buffalo/Cottage?
Drive to Toronto/(2 hour drive) – Do something in Toronto/ CN tower (Open late, less crowded after 7:00) Hockey Hall of Fame (open until 6:00) Science Center is open until 8:00 on Thursdays
Stay with Kelsey and Dave/Visit with them in PM
Friday, July 17th
Ontario Science Center or Zoo/Weather depending (Open until 6:00)
Stay with Dave and Kelsey/Visit with them in PM
Saturday, July 18th
Drive ½ way home to Cambridge
Stop at African Lion Safari Adventure Park in Cambridge, ON
Drive rest of way home/Get home late