Artsy

Here are a couple samples of art projects that Ethan and Ben did in school this year.  The art program does some really cool things, including Art Day where students spend the entire day rotating through grade themed centers.  This year Second Grade theme was Rainforest and Fourth Grade was Egyptian Art.  Will and I volunteered for half the day and had a great time. 

To Kimba Lou

Dearest long lost west coast friend.....

Remember that hat pattern and yarn you sent me for my birthday two, count them, two years ago?????  Well, technically one and a half.  (I sound more productive that way.)  

I made it!  What? Yes!

(Now you say....You go girl!  Wow I am impressed.  It was worth the wait.)  

To which I simply and humbly reply, "Thank you."

COW reunion

We don't need to mention the number of the reunion.  It sure was fun.  Special shout out to Grandma and Grandpa for hanging back at the hotel with the boys.  It made it a lot easier to visit with people whom we haven't seen for many a year.  Unfortunately.  It is always fun to be at Wooster and especially fun when college friends are there too! 

Where's Rosie?

Ansel Ethan...Ethan Adams...Ansel Maxwell

We spent the night enjoying the sights of a ridge where dear friends have created a lovely homestead away from our sites of the big city (okay, not so big, but you get the idea).  We hiked through the fields  soaking in the smells of wild roses and Ethan snapped these keepers.  Not bad for a 10 year old and a cell phone.  Not bad at all.  

Groupies....or just two kids on the town

Kevin and I planned a date night.  A what?  Yes, it's true.  We actually pre-planned, scheduled a babysitter and had our ducks all in a row.  ENTER Mother Nature.  When Caroline arrived to watch the boys, she sheepishly asked, "I guess there's a tornado warning and my Dad wanted me to ask about a safe place to go in case the weather gets bad."  Oh man.  We called our neighbors and they were going to be home in case she needed anything and we showed her the safest part of the house.

We hopped in the car and drove in the pouring rain to Pittsburgh.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I jump every time I see lightning.  I was pretty busy on the drive as it was some of the most magnificent lightning I have ever seen.  Granted I wasn't enjoying it much.  I just keep thinking, "Should we turn around?"  But we persevered and arrived safe and sound at Point State Park in Pittsburgh.  It is a part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival concert series.  Due to the rain all the vendors were tented with rain coverings, and the concert was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning.  Finally Amos Lee, a singer songwriter entered the stage with guitar in hand.  It was a pretty small crowd so we were the closest to a stage that I have ever been.

This is a picture of my new best friend, Amos.  The weather cleared and the sun even poked through for a bit.  All in all a great night with my man.  I think I will Facebook post him on how much I enjoyed it.  No need to have actual conversation in our house when Facebook can say it all.

Last Day of School 2-0-1-4

PARTY!  Yes! I had the phone camera set on some random weird setting hence the strange colorization.  Oops.  But you can see the enthusiasm in their faces....sort of. 

Gummy worm Rice Krispie treats excepte Will and I used teddy grahams instead of oreo cookies because I didn't want to waste the creme center.  Looks a little creepy, especially close up.  Teddy bear heads are gonna roll. 

They are ready to break the ribbon and enter summer vacation! 

Pre-filled water balloon station and water squirters with tubs of water.  

Okay, the pictures look like they are from the 1970's.  I guess you can't buy good film these days. 

Ethan's teacher gave him this as an End of the Year gift.  Sweetest gift ever!  I guess all the kids in the class came up with the descriptions.  

Graduation Celebration at the Zoo!

To celebrate Will's preschool graduation, we spent the day at the Pittsburgh zoo just two parents and one five year old.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  Not yet too hot, so the animals were pretty active.  

Here are Kevin and Will riding up the long escalator.

Will enjoyed being in charge of where we went and studied the map intently. 

We tried to avoid the 2,000 students on field trips and started at the aquarium.  We were so early that the polar bears hadn't been released into their habitat yet.  A zoo woman told us that they were just about to come out and that it was a great time to see them because it is when they are most active and usually swim and play with the new toys that were put out overnight.  We decided that sounded neat so we settled in and snacked for awhile waiting for the bears.  We saw them wander out 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.  They were playing in a box of ice cubes and eating the apple slices that were left for them.  And then they went swimming!  We quickly ran around the ramp to the under water viewing area and had the best time watching them play.  It was definitely an incredible moment!

Will really enjoyed touching the sting rays.  

You may be able to tell by the look on his face!!

Not to make a mountain out of a mole hill (or more correctly a termite hill), but we had the best day ever!  Congratulations Will.  We are very proud of you.