fourth grade graduation

grrrrr!! i had just typed this whole thing up, pushed some accidental combination of keys, and lost the whole post, so here i go again.....

time to play catch-up after being lost in the land of sssssslllllloooooowwww internet for two weeks!

right before leaving on vacation, was of course the last day of school (hopefully the last day i have to deal with public schools, at least for a while). since our little school district starts middle school at 5th grade, they held a fourth grade 'graduation'. awe, how cute. i mean i get it, it is a completion, a transition, maybe even a rite of passage (although it wasn't recognized as such when i was growing up), but i think we are starting to get a bit carried away. i feel that if every little possible thing is celebrated, we grow numb and can't fully appreciate the truly important milestones.

speaking of getting carried away, i was saddened to see that the 'no one gets an award unless every one gets and award' mentality was in place. i mean, again, i get it, kids might feel left out or have their feelings hurt, so we have to be PC about it, and find something to award everyone for (one was for 'good book report'). again, to reference when i grew up, those who did something exceptional were recognized for it, and those who didn't, had something to work toward, if they so desired. by applauding mediocrity in them as children (even with good intentions), we are setting them up to always expect that, instead of encouraging them to strive for for excellence. i wont even get into how i feel about the entitlement mindset......

all of that aside, logan's award was for overall academic achievement, with execllence in all areas. so i know he is a notch above, and we have done right by encouraging his hard work.

here are some pics from the 'event' for your viewing pleasure:

on another note, the cupcakes they served afterwards, were horrible. they were semi-dry and fairly taste-less. they appeared to have the whipped icing, which in my opinion is the best possible option when it comes to mass-produced, store-bought cakes. however, it was some wierd, thick, gritty stuff piled so high that you couldnt even take a bite without it going up your nose. so, without further ado, i will share with you the secret to my peanut butter frosting:

1/2 c room temp butter

1 c smooth peanut butter

1/4 c crunchy peanut butter

1 t good vanilla

2 1/2 - 3 c confectioners sugar

2-3 T cream (whipping cream or half & half)

beat together first 4 ingredients until fluffy; slowly beat in sugar, alternating with cream, until desired consistancy.

tips:

use cream not milk and it will be less likely 'break' your frosting if it is not straight out of the fridge

a good brand of 10X confectioners sugar (like domino) as opposed to 'powdered' sugar, will give you a smoother texture

DO NOT try to make this in an overly warm kitchen (or overbeat it), as it will separate and get greasy

enjoy!