April Wrap Up

Oh, my wife, what a fashion beauty she is.

She created her very own capri's.

Now if she would just wear her baby blue rubber boots we would have a complete outfit.  Oh, and don't think she won't have that combo on at some point!  I'll blog it when it happens.

Temperature at 85!

Already had the sprinkler out to water the kids.

We hear you must water them as it helps in their growth.

World renowned violinist ~ Midori

Cole's strings class was visited by Midori, originally from Japan and has been performing since she was 4 years old.

Also with Midori was Moni Simeonov from Bulgaria.

They each played for the strings class and then the class played for them.  Midori & Moni spent about a half hour instructing the class including playing with them.  Incredible to have such talent teaching and playing for the kids.

The local news station was also there which was really fun for the students.

Cole was asked if he could be interview about his experience and of course he said yes!  He does love to talk.

(I have attached a recording of the news bit, please click on our actual blog to see it along with Cole playing Star Wars at home for you.)

We had to record the 5:30 / 6:00 & 11:00 news so Cole could see if any of the stories were different each hour.  Cole was happy they got his name spelled correctly too.

Cole: "I spelled my last name to them saying 'hyphen' in the middle, not a space and look they got it right."

Baseball

Last practice before our first game and it was a Parent against the team game.

Cole is playing short stop, third base and catcher this year and Oma is again behind the pitching machine.

Opening Ceremonies

NO RAIN!  It was a beautiful day out for the Opening Ceremonies.

The boys marched in looking proud and a little embarrassed at the attention of marching in front of everyone.

The first pitch of the season was thrown out by Lois Youngen.

HOW COOL IS THAT!

She played as a catcher in the AAGPBL from 1951 through 1954.

(All-American Girls Professional Baseball League)

I just wanted to shake her hand, touch her?  Living History.

Eugene Marathon!

Nope, didn't run it or even walk it!

However we tried to support some close friends who have been training for months to run the full 26.2 miles!

We all jumped up around 7am to start working on their sign.

Yup...we were all up...

Ok, three of the four were up coloring.

And we finished in time to do a donut run and get out to the bike path.

Around mile 19...

And here they are!      Jennifer, Kristin, Jen and Tracy.

Smiles and happy to see them and us.

We moved to the other side of the river to cheer them on around mile 23.

 Look, they are still smiling as we waived, cheered and encouraged them on.

Our sign was a hit with many of the Marathoners.

Only a few here and there said we were teasing them with beer.

GREAT JOB Thirsty Beavers!

You earned those medals along with your spirits!

Inspirational to everyone.

April Showers to end the month.  Kind of fitting!

Bring on the May Flowers.

March & April

Snow in March?  Really?!

I woke early and saw the snow and knew the kids and Oma would have a snow day from school.  I tried to go back to sleep but just couldn't do it I was so excited seeing how much we had on the ground!

So I got up...

(our back yard around 0530)

...and went for a walk keeping to the middle of the streets as I could hear trees cracking and watched branches crashing to the ground.

Our street in the wee morning hours!

I LOVE THIS!

I was finally able to wake the family and in no time we had all the kids in the neighborhood helping create our Snowman named Bob.

Oh, I had to call into work stating "I am not going to make it today as I have to build a snowman."  Yes, I really called in stating this.  I was only asked to take a photo and bring it in.

And after building our early morning Bob what did I do?

Nap!  Dang, I was up early, and building a snowman is hard work!

(yes, my face is under the blanket to keep the light out of my eyes)

I also made footprints in our neighbor's clean undisrupted snow covered yard to take this photo.

Spring flowers had already bloomed when our snow came.  Just beautiful!

New Food

Jo went grocery shopping with me and asked how a cactus leaf tasted.

No clue?

So we bought one and after some surfing the net and watching some videos on how to prepare this food we gave it a try.  Interesting, not bad and different were our comments.

I GET AN AWARD, MOM!

Jo came home with a note stating she was going to receive an award during lunch, voted on by students in her classroom.  Jo won the "Kindness" award.

What we didn't know was that Cole also won a Kindness award in his class.

Certificates, necklaces and smiles for both!

CONGRATS YOU TWO!

I did hear Cole explaining to a friend of ours that the Principal doesn't really sign each of the certificates.  That the Principal signs only one certificate and then they make many copies of the certificate adding each kids name to the "copied" ones.  Cole thinks this is kind of a "rip off" really.  Cole: "I mean, it's suppose to be special and she doesn't even really sing my certificate".  Funny the things Cole notices and thinks are unfair.

Jo, oh Jo

Here she is playing two pieces of music for you.

(If you don't see the 1.30 second video added to the email post please click on our actual link and go to our website to watch)

Doug & Leroy

Doug has a new friend next door named Leroy.

We have been letting them meet slowly as Doug can be kind of bossy around other dogs.

But they are getting along great and both finish their play tired and wet from tumbling in the grass and I'm sure slobber from each other.

Jo & Cole: "Mom, can I have a knife for my birthday?"

(See the thumb?)

Me: "Um, don't think I need to think about the answer any longer."

The nice thing about this accident is that Jo actually wanted Cole's help trying to stop the bleeding, accepting some loves from him and needed him around as I was about two blocks away from the house at the time.  We also learned that we need to teach them how to do basic first aid.  Things like pressure on the wound and proper cleaning.

Meet Lucy! (The famous red head: Lucille Ball)

YEAH!  We have bough our tow vehicle so we are another step closer to a small camp trailer.

Yard work vision.

The kids helped me move five plants with five more to go to help clear out an area so we may set up a garden.

Saving all the plants as we can fill in other parts of our yard.  Well I should say, we hope the plants like their new home and decide to continue living.  I was very pleased as the kids worked over three hours just digging / hauling and cleaning without complaining.  Oh, I had the blow up before we started so maybe that helped. Me: "It's going to be hard work, it is hard work and that is why I need your help without complaining. PLEASE"  It was sort of that kind of blow up.

Jo wasn't done yet as she still wanted to plant flowers in our front box!

We sure look forward to seeing this grow as well.  Should be beautiful.

Busy times and looking forward to more as baseball has started, Jo's piano recital around the corner. 

(will she actually play this year)

Happy SPRING to all you BS Groupies!