Chess Master

  One of the biggest highlights of 3rd grade has definitely been the introduction of chess.  Logan's class learned how to play at the beginning of the year, and then all week they earn minutes to play on Fridays.   Logan loves chess.  With all of his heart.  

   Because of all this love, we started a Chess Club.  I'm not lying.  Our school does early out Monday's, so every Monday they get out an hour early.  For some reason, this extra hour feels like a gift from heaven.  Every week.  I love that it's an extra hour between school and bedtime.  I put all of our appointments (hair, dentist, orthodontist, and on and on) on Mondays because it feels like I have this extra hour. It's like the joy of Daylight Savings (when it goes the good way, not the bad way). 

   I digress... back to chess club.  So Logan is loving chess, and wants to play with anyone all the time.  Since we all got tired of playing him, we started Chess Club.  It's been every Monday this school year that I could have it.  So not every Monday by any means, but if I could have it - we had it.  We invited the 3rd and 4th graders who get off at our bus stop. Including Logan it was 8 kids.  It was so funny the first time inviting these kids - my text to the moms basically said, "so I know this is weird, and nerdy, but Logan wanted to invite some friends over to play chess, and if your kid is free, and not very cool, well maybe they could come over and play chess, maybe, if you don't have anything better to do, maybe, just an idea ....".  They all text back the same thing, "we've been hearing all about Logan's chess club!   So fun!!  My kid's in!"   And chess club was born. 

  So Monday afternoons are hilarious to watch.  The kids get off the bus and then it's the Indy 500 to our house.  They race in, some with chess sets in their backpacks, others finding their chess sets had been dropped off by moms throughout the day.  I always have out what I think is a lot of food - wafers, pretzels, cookies, grapes, tons of food and it's like a shark feeding frenzy.  It's so funny to watch!  And then they really play chess.  Really!  The first time I was shocked.  The played more chess at the beginning of the year, and now that the weather is nice, they play less.  But still they play a game or two before they head outside.  Chess club has been a favorite.  Of Logan's and mine.  

   Last week at school they had a 3rd grade chess tournament.  Logan looked forward to it for days.  He was so excited!   And check him out!!  He came home wearing this medal, and couldn't have been prouder.  He took 5th place out of the 3rd grade.