King Steve

King Steve is enjoying his new throne. He is also asking to be fed grapes and to be fanned. Fat chance!!!

The Reading Nook

Has anyone seen CJ?

Weepy Again

CJ went off to school in a brown shirt and came home in a blue one. No big deal, no reason to be weepy. (look at how tall he is, remember when he couldn't see over the counter?)

Except that the blue shirt has middle school logo on it! I have enjoyed these 3 years of seeing him at school each day and I will miss his daily lunchtime hugs and backrubs.

So where did he get the shirt? It was a thank you gift for his service in Safety Patrol. They had their end of year party at lunch today. Pizza, chips and kickball. Life is good.

What to do with Yucky Fruit?

The clementines were not tasty and no one wanted them. Thinking that tossing them into the woods for the critters would be something the boys would enjoy, I asked CJ and his friend Matt to do it. They came up with a better idea.

The boys had fun and the critters got food. Hopefully airsoft pellets pass easily!!!

5th/6th Grade Concert

The 5th grade bands from the four elementary schools that feed CJ's future school got together for a concert. They left school on buses and headed to the middle school. They practiced with each other for the first, but not the last, time. And then broke for dinner. After changing into concert attire, they played first as the 5th grade band and then with the 6th grade band. It was quite a night. They sounded awesome and really enjoyed themselves.

CJ's Week

This week has brought all sorts of excitement for CJ, and since he has been a Calvin&Hobbes fan since he could read I thought this an appropriate picture. (although not legal) He interviewed for Biztown jobs, went on a tour of the middle school, helped his mom learn to set up a school website, and is getting ready for a band concert with the 6th graders.
His Biztown interviews went well, he got the job of CEO of the Science Shop. Pretty impressive. As for the middle school tour, I watched the buses heading up 23 to the middle school and got weepy. Fortunately, CJ is not weepy. He is so excited about the new school that he is considering counting the days until he gets there. The band concert brings the need for dress shirts, dress pants and dark shoes. Should be quite a site!!

Baby Bird Update

The baby is growing up. This picture was taken over the weekend. Mom and dad have been bringing worms to feed the baby. We have enjoyed watching them land on the bench and hop up to the nest. Mom has been doing a great job keeping her baby warm during our really cold nights.

Wednesday morning brought an empty nest. At first I went into panic mode since Dickens had been outside all night the night before.

Then on the lawn I spotted this cute little guy learning to fly. Mom and dad were right there with him. It was a great family experience. After dinner a we spotted mom, dad and baby on the neighbor's roof! The baby isn't a baby anymore! The family flew off into the woods. I wonder how long they will fly as a family. Will they nest in our tree again? Do they stay in the area? Sounds like a summer research project!

Election Day Speech

This morning all of the candidates for mayor delivered their campaign speeches. CJ did a spectacular job giving his speech. There were at least 30 candidates and we at home are patiently awaiting the results.

The results are in - CJ will not be the next mayor of JA Biztown. He is taking the loss in stride and getting ready for a private sector job. He has his sights set on either WebDesigner or CEO for the Science shop. Either way he wins. Science rules!!!

My Reading Nook

A sunny window.

A cozy chair.

A beautiful room.

A good book.

Life is good!

Political Aspirations

The field trip this year is to a 'city' and the kids are going to run it. CJ is running for Mayor. His buddy Matt is his election manager.
The campaigning has begun, the halls are covered in election posters and there is excitment in the air.

What a Deal

I am starting to get the hang of couponing.
These items cost me $3.30.
Stocking up seems like a much better investment than the .05% interest the bank is offering!!!

One Egg Hatched

We have a baby!!!

Mother's Day

It was a great day. The sun was warm, the breeze was cool, the boys were working while I was relaxing!!!!

The Concert

It wouldn't be a concert without something happening to CJ's cello. This time one of his strings busted, not on it's own it had some help!!!Fortunately we got there with plenty of time to get it 'fixed'. If this tradition continues we will have to invest in some spare strings and always bring them to concerts!

The night was a great success. I must admit that I enjoyed the band's performance the best. It may be because they were enjoying themselves so much.

Band & Orchestra Rehersal

This afternoon was the rehearsal for tonight's band and orchestra concert. They played for their fellow students. Fun was had by all. The favorites were the band doing the 'Hey Cheer' an OSU fight song, and the 5th grade orchestra doing 'We are the Champions.

One Week Later

The wild dogwood tree in the woods is blooming. It gives me such pleasure to look out the back windows and see it.


The leaves have arrived and it's getting harder to see into the woods.

Pasta Dinner 2009

This is the pasta to feed 400 people. Thursday was our annual Evening with the Arts and Pasta Dinner. The school's halls were filled with the students artwork and the student's themselves.

CJ was stationed at Magic Hat and took his job very seriously. Although it was hard to take him serious with a giant great hat on his head!

This is one of CJ's masterpieces.

Waiting

Momma bird has been sitting and sitting. She has learned that Tucker is not a threat and that I will need to let him in and out the front door. She watches very closely but doesn't move. We are anxiously awaiting the chicks.