1st day, Last Day, New Adventures

August, 2008

Maddy finished first-grade the other day. Look at her there when she started last August -- so excited about being a first-grader! And wow -- kids learn a lot in first grade -- reading, writing little stories, prayers, lots of math, not to mention figuring out all the first grade rules and making new friends. It's been a great year for her! Here she is yesterday celebrating, in the immortal words of Alice Cooper (maybe?), that "school's out for summer!"

May, 2009

And a new adventure beginning for my sweet middle child!

Cboo left this morning for a new job in Peoria, Illinois. He and the Rickster took off with a uhaul trailer of stuff. Reminded me a little bit of when Rick and I moved to Philadelphia after we got married driving a uhaul -- hope he doesn't have a repeat of that moving adventure! They plan to look for an apartment and hope he finds one as he starts work at an insurance investment company on Monday. We do have family in Peoria. and he can bunk with them for a while if needed. So exciting for him and little sad for me as Connor was my baby for 15 years until Maddy arrived. We will miss his sweet smile and easygoing attitude, but are so excited for him to be starting this new chapter in his life.

Good Luck! We'll Miss You!

SLIDING into Summer!

What a perfect long weekend we had! The weather was so beautiful! Last year on Memorial Day weekend, we were bailing water out of our basement, so I was a wee bit worried there might be a repeat -- but no, that did not happen! Yay!!!!

It was so incredibly lovely out! Maddy figured it was warm enough to go swimming. The sun was shining brightly and it was warming up nicely, so we headed to the pool. She did her latest "I'm cool" dance. Kind of reminds me a bit of Elaine (from Seinfeld) but she is, of course way cuter! The pool looked wonderful, but the water was icy cold! Brrrrr! I just put my tootsies in and was freezing. Maddy jumped in a number of times and swam around a bit, but it was even too cold for her for very long. So, that was Saturday. Today (Monday), she was sure it warmed up a lot and we headed back there today. Still pretty chilly. Hoping for warm days to come and heat up that water a bit more.

Can tell it's nearly summer -- made my first potato salad of the season today and it was yummy too. Funny -- my Mom and I were both making potato salad, in different cities, at the same time! Great minds, you know! :)

Ended our day with a nice walk to school and some time on the playground equipment. Amazing -- no one else was there -- sweet!!

Thankful Thursday for Teachers -- Reposted! :)

Thank you to each and every one of you teachers! I'm sure we parents don't say it nearly enough, but I really appreciate all you do and how hard you work! It can't be easy -- I know when I've visited and helped out in the classroom, I wonder how you do it and maintain your calm! Is there a bottle of Extra Strength Tylenol hiding in your drawer? :) As the school year is drawing to an end, I am especially thankful for Maddy's school and her wonderful teachers. She has had a terrific year in first grade, and I know that a great deal of the credit goes to her wonderful teacher - Mrs. P. She's been so understanding and helpful -- truly a great teacher. Last night, without any prompting and totally out of the blue, Maddy said that she will really miss her during the summer and next year.

Maddy has learned to read so well in first grade - nice and smooth and even with appropriate inflection and emotion at times! Math has been fun for her too, even though she sometimes gets a little mixed up when adding and subtracting 9s. Maddy still has one more week of school, but we sent our little end-of-the-year gifts yesterday. I thought (and was right) that it might be the last visit Maddy had with her public school teacher who comes in once a week to work with her.

Of course, we borrowed (really copied) the idea from Jodee! If you ever need an idea for anything, ask Jodee! Maddy said that both teachers loved the gift. The cute cello bag has a Star*bucks cup and inside the cup is a gift card. The note reads: "Thanks a latte for the great year." Yes, we love our teachers! Thanks for all you do -- now teachers -- go on, take a break and have a latte and scone and some nice quiet time -- you've earned it!

[Had some issues with Blogger today (and I think it's them - not me) so am reposting.]

Thankful Thursday - The Teacher Edition!

Thank you to each and every one of you teachers! I'm sure we parents don't say it nearly enough, but I really appreciate all you do and how hard you work! It can't be easy -- I know when I've visited and helped out, I wonder how you do it and maintain your calm! Is there a bottle of Extra Strength Tylenol hiding in your drawer? :) As the school year is drawing to an end, I am especially thankful for Maddy's school and her wonderful teachers. She has had a terrific year in first grade, and I know that a great deal of the credit goes to her wonderful teacher - Mrs. P. She's been so understanding and helpful -- truly a great teacher. Last night, without any prompting and totally out of the blue, Maddy said that she will really miss her during the summer and next year.

Maddy has learned to read so well in first grade - nice and smooth and even with appropriate inflection and emotion at times! Math has been fun for her too, even though she sometimes gets a little mixed up when adding and subtracting 9s. Maddy still has one more week of school, but we sent our little end-of-the year gifts yesterday. I thought (and was right) that it might be the last visit Maddy had with her public school teacher who comes in once a week to work with her.

Of course, we borrowed (really copied) the idea from Jodee! If you ever need an idea for anything, ask Jodee! Maddy said that both teachers loved the gift. The cute cello bag has a Star*bucks cup and inside the cup is a gift card. The note reads: "Thanks a latte for the great year." Yes, we love our teachers! Thanks for all you do -- now teachers -- go on, take a break and have a latte and scone and some nice quiet time -- you've earned it!

Larry Visits and Meets a Girl!

Philip and Catherine were in town for Connor's graduation. Of course, their little puppy Larry came too. Maddy was in heaven!! And so was Larry -- with all the attention from Maddy plus Larry met the girl next door -- a little 3-year old Bichon named Bella! They were hysterical together (the dogs, that is). They were both tearing around the yard, nearly tripping over their own paws! I never knew little dogs could run so fast! I don' t think I've ever heard Larry bark, but if Bella got too far ahead of him, he gave out some yippy little barks. Maddy had so much fun with the puppies! I was actually pleasantly surprised that I didn't hear a lot of "can't we get a puppy too" from her. She does have one pet - a female Beta fish and that is probably enough pets at our house! And really, don't all those stuffed animals count as pets??

Both were taking a much need rest break. The dogs were so cute together! I see more playdates in their future! :)

Philip caught both of them after they escaped from the yard in one of their running frenzies!

And the Graduate Overslept!!

The Family -- Mr. Tennis, Maddy, Connor, Me, Catherine & Philip

A little more on graduation . . . that's right, the graduate nearly slept through it! He was supposed to be at the graduation site by 8:30 AM as it was starting at 9:30. I started calling his cell phone around 7:45 - no answer, no answer, no answer. Sent text - no response. I figured he was in the shower - wrong!!!! He called at 8:25 and said he JUST woke up. He and his roommate rushed out of the apartment and got there in the nick of time to line up. The place was packed and we ended up sitting way up high. We did see him entering and Philip went to get some closer photos of Connor receiving his diploma. When he came back, Philip said, "I don't know if he has much on under the robe!!" WHAT???? Ended up that he had a v-neck t-shirt on, shorts and flip-flops! So, his bare chest and bare legs showed from under the robe! Guess it will be a college graduation to remember, right?! We all went to lunch after and I managed to nab a few photos.

Rick and me with the kids!

Just the kids!

Mad and Me on Mother's Day

Mother's Day started out a little strange. Mr. Tennis thought it was a workday -- and kept telling me (and pushing me) to get out of bed at 6:05 AM or I'd be late for work! HUH??? Luckily, I convinced him that he was a day off, so got to sleep until 7:15 am while Mr. Tennis slept until 9:30 AM. Hmmm -- it wasn't Father's Day, was it?? Wasn't I was supposed to be the one sleeping late?! :)

No matter -- since I was up, I baked a yummy lemon cake with glaze for my Mother -- her favorite cake and one she often made for her Mother. Yes, I am trying to keep some traditions going. Plus, I baked chocolate chip cookies for my Dad! Pat me right on the back -- I am that sweet daughter!! We visited my folks and took supplies to grill out at their house and make dinner. It turned out pretty darn yummy -- especially dessert, which, truth be told, is my favorite part of every meal!

And I decided to start a little tradition of my own and try and get a photo of me with the kids or at least the one that is around the most -- Miss Maddy. Even with her missing teeth grimace, she's my little sweetie!

A Shoutout to the Graduate!

Woohoo - Cboo graduates on Saturday morning and will receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Finance. Congrats Connor!! We are so proud of him and all he has accomplished! Plus bonus, he's a wonderful son and brother. Even though his Dad and I have made numerous mistakes (who doesn't make a few along the parenting road?) he seems to have turned out OK! One of the "mistakes" he reminds me of still --- was that we sent him off to kindergarten when he had barely turned 5. He has an early September birthday, you see. I figured, he's bright, even if he was a little behind, he'd catch up and, of course, he did. And when he was the last of his friends to be able to drive and then later (much later) to drink, I thought that was a good thing, wouldn't you agree! ;) We are excited about the possibilities for him in the future and so happy to have been able to enjoy his college career with him. Good luck sweetie! And always, remember . . . there is no place like Nebraska!!

Thankful For May Flowers!

Starting off a little Thankful Thursday post in honor of spring and all the loveliness of the season! I just love spring flowers, don't you? That first inkling of spring brings those vibrant blooming daffodils and then tulips follow shortly after. Just recently, the lilac bush in our backyard started blooming -- don't you just love that smell! If I'm on a walk and there are blooming lilacs, I'm the crazy lady sniffing the flowers!

The resident gardner, Mr. Tennis, planted some cute little pansies. They are loving the cool night temps and are so beautiful.

And our peonies are coming up fast! They are, without a doubt, my favorite flowers of all. They smell so wonderful and are simply gorgeous when they bloom. And I just read that peonies are considered good luck in China! :) I only wish they lasted longer. It seems like just when peonies are at their peak blooming, we get a bad thunderstorm that wipes them out. Ahhh, but I've learned my lesson -- the last few years, I've been cutting them early so that we can enjoy their beauty and fragance in the house for a while. The peonies are really growing lately, but usually don't bloom here until Memorial Day -- can hardly wait!

Of course, there are so many more things I'm thankful for, but this week, I'm focusing on the beauty of spring flowers!

Still Loves Clifford!

When Maddy was just a little bitty girl, she loved the book and TV show - Clifford, The Big Red Dog. In fact, she received not one, but two, Clifford backpacks for her 2nd birthday! She wore that backpack all over the place and it was nearly as big as she was! Although she no longer watches Clifford or reads his books very often (replaced by Junie B. Jones, of course), I think she still has a soft spot in her heart for the Big Red Dog.

Last Saturday, we visited a park a little ways away from our house. She was delighted to see a Clifford bouncer thingy!! Even though she may be a bit older than the child the bouncer is really intended for, she jumped on it more than once. As we left, she said, "I've never seen a Clifford bouncer before -- how cool!!" Indeed -- how very cool!