Big Bouncy Ball!

T and one of his buddies, N, both on their bouncy balls ... hopping around the playground. It was hard to get them to stop for a second so I could take their picture!

Whenever T goes out to recess, he RUNS for this huge bouncy ball. I had one similar when I was a little girl. Mine looked like a horse, so we called it a hoppity horse. I LOVED it! T reluctantly hands it over to the next person waiting. It's his favorite thing to do during recess. I was working in his class this morning because we threw a baby shower for his wonderful teacher, who is leaving at the end of next week to have her baby. And I brought a camera. I had to grab J's new camera because I couldn't find my small one. I didn't realize that the date stamp was ON and that it's the WRONG date. Ugh! I'm just glad I could snap a few pictures of T playing.

Birds! Birds! Birds!

Monday morning, we noticed HUNDREDS of birds in our bare tree in our front yard. HUNDREDS! Tons of them were chirping in another nearby tree in our yard, picking at the pear blossoms, and foraging on the ground below. Just a reminder that spring is just around the corner.

J's Pioneer Day Field Trip

These suspenders belonged to J's great-great grandfather (I believe). G had this hat custom made for him in Italy. It works perfectly for J's pioneer outfit. G teased J by saying, "Hat, have a great time and be sure to come home safe ... oh, and you too, J!!"



Today, J's 3rd grade class is heading out for a Pioneer field trip. They had to dress the part, and it was fun to see all of the kids, teachers, and parents in full pioneer dress. They will be doing some woodworking, laundry, butter churning, among other things. I'll have to have J fill me in when he gets home.

Boy Scout Advancements

N is being presented with 2 Eagle Required merit badges (Communications & Emergency Preparedness) AND with his advancement to LIFE scout. We are so proud of all of his hard work. He nearly missed the opportunity to advance at this Court of Honor. He had his meeting with the merit badge counselor for the communications merit badge AFTER his Board of Review, however, they let him do another Board of Review in order to advance. We are very grateful to his leaders for accommodating him.

Here, we listen to the Scoutmaster as B is presented with both his Tenderfoot AND 2nd Class Ranking advancements. Unfortunately, since we were on vacation during THE only camp out last summer for the 11 year old scouts, B had to wait more than 6 months for the next one, thus delaying his opportunity to advance. He is currently working on a few merit badges, and is looking forward to Scout Camp in June so that he will have the opportunity to finish some merit badges. I told him that he can pick whatever merit badges he wants, but that he MUST do the Environmental Science one. That's best done at scout camp!


We have a great Scoutmaster -- who works hard for these boys. Thanks, Steve!!

100 Days of School

I'm late on posting this! When I picked up T from school on the "100th Day of School", he had his 100 hat and 100 glasses. If you notice in these pictures, he wanted to put on his disguise glasses/mustache, too! He got those from his last visit to the dentist (no cavities, by the way!!). I cannot believe we are already past the 100 day mark. This year has FLOWN by.

Special Valentine's Delivery

When I picked T up from school today, this is what he was wearing! Each classmate made one. So cute!! It reads:

There's a Valentine
Standing at your door.
I'm one of a kind
You can't buy me at a store.

I have something for you
That you just won't want to miss.
Just pucker up
And give me a
GREAT BIG KISS!