N-a-i-l-b-i-t-e-r

Nicholas wowed us all at the school spelling bee recently. He was one of two spellers representing his fifth grade class, 24 participants total. Initially, when he won the right in his classroom bee to move forward to the school bee, he didn't even want to participate. We insisted that he study anyway, and, thankfully, he finally agreed to follow through with it.

Of course, Mike and I were there to cheer him on -- but totally unprepared for the tension we would feel when he made it to the final round! In the end, he mis-spelled "malaria," giving his feisty female opponent an opening to move forward and capture first place. He was totally satisfied being the second-place finisher, which makes him the alternate for the Johnson County Spelling Bee on Feb. 7.

Way to go, Nicholas!!