Last Middle School Orchestra Concert

On May 31, 2012 CJ performed for the final time as a middle school orchestra student. It was a night full of great music, camaraderie and yummy cake. CJ has thrived under the orchestra director, Lori Cornett. She is an amazing person who truly loves these kids. We are glad that she will be teaching and directing at the high school next year.

 

An 8th grader composed and directed the final piece of the evening. The kids played their hearts out for her. It was wonderful to listen to and heartwarming to watch.

  

After the 'stage' was cleaned up it was time for cake. Lots of cake.

So glad we don't have to say goodbye to Mrs. Cornett.

Garden Progress

 

 

The garden is doing great.
We have been having salad almost every night.
The peas pods are emerging.
There were a few strawberries and they were yummy.
Carrots and potatoes are looking lovely, looking forward to digging them up.

The Broken Arm - part 2

Two weeks later we are back at the doctor to have the first cast removed and new x-rays taken.
The cast was stinky, dirty and a little big since the swelling had gone down.


This won't hurt a bit!

The x-rays showed that the arm was healing nicely. A new cast was put on and we are to go back in 2 weeks for another x-ray and to check the progress of his healing bone.

The black cast seemed silly as we head into summer, but the silver Sharpie shows up nicely and his friends had fun signing the new cast.

 

Mother's Day

This is what I found when arriving home at 12:30am from the Music in the Parks trip.
It was a wonderful way to end the day and to begin Mother's Day.
Thanks boys!

Music in the Parks

The day after hurting his arm/wrist CJ was explaining to his fellow band members what happened to his wrist and that his parents wouldn't take him to the doctor.


At Kings Island after the competition.

Waiting on a friend.

Don't know who the girl is but she enjoyed my enthusiasm while tormenting the boys! 

 

The Broken Arm - part 1

On Saturday, Steve and CJ went ATVing for the first time this season. We had some rain the night before. Unfortunately the good rain here was a very heavy rain down south where they ATV. CJ looking to avoid a puddle of water that looked more like a pond than a puddle ran into a tree. He knew right away that something was wrong with his wrist. Unfortunately the only way to get back to the car was to ride back. Being unable to steer well with the hurt wrist he was unable to avoid 2 more trees. Now the wrist hurt more.

So if we were good parents we would have taken CJ to the ER that night. We didn't. Monday at school his science teacher suggested he go to the doctor. Unfortunately, I didn't know that. It still hurt on Tuesday so after school and a haircut we stopped at the local Urgent Care. As soon as the nurse looked at his wrist she knew it was broken. They splinted it and gave us the name of an Orthopaedic doctor. The next morning the doctor squeezed us in and before we left CJ was the proud owner of a blue cast.

With the Music in the Parks competition coming up the cast was put on so that he could still hold his bow. An unusual request but one that made his orchestra teacher happy.

Bruuuuuuuuuuuce

Last night the boys and I saw Bruce & The E Street Band in concert. They played at The Palace at Auburn Hills. It is north of Detroit and where the Pistons play. The facility was a pleasure to get to and just as easy to get out of with hotels and restaurants just down the road.
The show was amazing, as always.

Bruce introduced the band early in the show. Clarence's son was on saxophone, so wonderful. At the end of the show there was a tribute to Clarence, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Being able to pass on the Bruce concert experience to CJ also added to the night. Watching CJ enjoy the show as much as we did was heartwarming. CJ is a 3rd generation Bruce fan.

Falcon Eggs

It's that time of year again.

Durand has a 3egg clutch this year. They should hatch around May 6th.



Brilliant Blast

CJ enjoys creating Lego reproduction of guns from his favorite shows and video games. Some of these creations take days to complete. His latest was no exception. Upon finishing it he took pictures, just in case it was 'destroyed in battle' or got dropped. He called those pictures
'A Brilliant Blast of Foresite'.
Good thing he had that brilliant blast.
Here it is in many pieces.



And here it is put back together.

 

Bunny Ears

Each year as Easter approaches I feel the need to eat chocolate bunny ears. This year was no exception. Into CJ's lunch went a foil covered bunny minus the ears. That day I ate the ears. The next day CJ's lunch once again contained an earless chocolate bunny but this time I wrapped the ears in plastic wrap and saved them for after school. The look on CJ's face when I presented them to him was priceless. The following day I discovered a bunny with missing ears in our family Easter basket, only I didn't do it. CJ ate the ears and smirked about it, I love that kid!!!


Easter morning CJ discovered a new bunny and to his delight it had ears.

 

 

As he was eating the bunny ears, CJ said "Victory tastes like dark chocolate".

 

(Sally Forth didn't eat her daughter's bunny ears this year either, hmmmm...)

A Trip to Inniswood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Man Cave

This happy man has his own room that has all the necessities.
Dartboard
Pinball Machine
TV
Turntable
Beer

Life is good!!!

Fresh Lettuce

Yum!

It Had To Happen

 

 

 

It is official CJ is no longer the shortest person in the house!
After this picture he gave me a hug to and kissed me on the tip of my nose.