Last weekend, we took a trip downtown to see a little bit of history at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the circle. Lady Victory has recently been restored and strengthened...her first time down since she was first perched atop the monument in the 1800s. People were able to get up close and personal for about a week before they hoist her back up. Due to the high winds and icky weather this week, she didn't get put back yet, but I expect it to happen soon. It was kind of neat to see the details up close. Hanna was fair game for a picture, but Joel wasn't interested!
Joel brought home his second spelling test the other day. Spelling is not his strongest suit, but we work at it and we make him write the words often. So, I had to post this because it made me smile...see it? Look closely...hee hee :0)
In one of the oldest dungeons in the oldest corperation building, I have made my new home. Here's the middle school choir room. Yes, I must paint every room in which I take up residence! The HS room is not mine; I'm just visiting for an hour each day, so I didn't snap any pics.
Ran out of paint, so only 2 walls are cool. (the ones I get to look at while teaching...ha!)
My "office"!
When I said, "Here let me take your picture Joel", I expected some sparkler movement and magic! Ummm... Well this face cracks me up anyhow.
Hanna's still loving gymnastics...
Went to a scorching hot Indians game last week. We had a great time and the kids even lasted about an hour before getting their souvenir bats taken away! LOL
The other morning, just after I had started some kitchen laundry, Hanna awoke and came out to the kitchen sans nightgown. She loudly proclaimed, "I would like to do my school work right away this morning, and I want to do it in my underwear!" And so she proceeded to whip through 12 pages (!) of her workbook. She eventually got dressed and went outside to play...
Before I proceed, please don't judge us for what we allow our children to do. We keep a close eye on them and take safety precautions as needed. Okay, so Joel is getting to the age where he wants to help mow the yard. Andy has actually been letting him. His cut pattern has a little to be desired, of course, but he does a pretty good job. Obviously Hanna cannot be left out, so she gets the cleanup round. When the entire yard is done, the blade is turned off, deck raised, and she gets to drive circles in the backyard to her heart's content. Miss Independent...
Long night last night! After Monday's rain-out, the Cubs played a 6:00 tourney game last night. It was the 2nd of our tourney games--double elimination. The boys were not into it at all. Half the team was dragging due to many daytime activities and family affairs, we were missing 2 players, and all they really wanted was to get it over with and head to DQ. (Lesson learned by this coaching family: NEVER pre-plan the DQ visit with "when our season ends, we'll take the team to Dairy Queen".) With us already down in the 6th inning, the Phillies got 4 runs...apparently that lit a fire under our boys because we answered with 6 runs and tied the game. In the tie-breaker inning, we pulled it out, sending us on to a doubleheader game 15 minutes afterwards.
A busy season of Optimist Baseball is winding down. Tournament games all this week... Joel has had a blast with it. I was wondering how he'd take the season with dad as head coach and mom in the dugout running the book (and occasional discipline). He's been great! His skills have developed and he's already expressed interest in doing fall ball the next town over. He's made a new batch of friends and we all have enjoyed working with this year's families. Andy has been a great coach and pitcher (I not-so-secretly hope he coaches again next summer)! The one thing we've had to adjust to is the schedule. For those with slightly older kids, this is nothing, I'm sure. For us, Joel and Hanna are wanting to participate in everything they can, so we're out doing something almost every evening. Between ball a few times a week (EVERY Saturday!) and gymnastics, we are starting to get a taste of the family taxi service everyone talks about. And of course, everything takes moolah, so some of our summer projects will have to wait. Between activities, Alabama wedding trip, paying off remodel credit, and the looming school year with book rentals, 1/2 day babysitting, and YMCA after-care for the kids--whew--we are tapped out. The bedroom makeover, landscaping, and shocks/struts for the car...gonna have to wait. We know that at this age, it's all about the kids. It's not about us and our schedules and desires. Let them be kids, let them try their hand at all manner of things, and when plans don't cooperate....we are learning to go with the flow.
Nothing but a shell now... I'm going to really miss this room. They say 2 years, but none of us really believe that. I honestly don't think I'll ever be back to this room/building, at least not in it's current form.
My new/old room is actually smaller than this one. But I guess I won't need quite as much room to move around and drag out instruments and all that fun general music stuff.
I've been busy painting the large wall in my middle school classroom. (anyone shocked?) It's the same drab white cinder block I started with here. It' amazing what a little color can do for the feel of the room. Teal, lime, and blue...I'll take pics when it's done.
Take care, little stick musicians...
Here are some more pics of the wedding in Alabama...in none of which Joel is cracking a smile!
Andy holding Ryder (Wendy's youngest). He's the chunky monkey of the cousins! So cute...!
Tim and his youngest Shane, the most content baby we know!
Before the ceremony...
At rehearsal the day before... The story of the weekend was Hanna + Rylee and Joel + Trevor.
