End of School!

The yummy thing about yesterday's luau (see yesterday's post) was that Becky made her oh-so-delicious-and-always-appropriately-decorated cookies. Since I didn't attend the food portion of their luau (went to Madeline's ocean program instead), Becky brought me my very own cookie today. Isn't she the sweetest?
How cute is this cookie?

And, of course, it was delicious!
You may have to click on this picture to enlarge it to be able to tell what it says. Let's just say that the first graders will be giving the rest of the school a run for their money when it comes time for them to take the TAKS test!
Awards ceremonies aplenty today. This is Madeline receiving her Exemplary Honor Roll, Citizenship and P.E. Award. That P.E. award was only given to two people in her class. Way to go, Mads!
Sadie receiving her Exemplary Honor Roll, Citizenship, and Participation in the Spelling Bee Awards.
She also received an award for having a piece of artwork chosen for the Young Masters Art Exhibition.

Both my girls did a fantastic job this year. Next year, Sadie will need to work on making sure she brings home things she is supposed to do, as well as bringing them back after she's done them and Madeline needs to work on her math facts this summer (even though she made an "A" in math!).

Now on to summer. Our first activity is actually a school function. The Dad's club is having a camp out tomorrow night. Oh joy. Back to nature. I'll let you know how it goes.

The wind is driving me nuts!

Wow! What a day we had at school today. I say "we" because I was at school all day - with Anna and it was exhausting! I don't know how those kids do it day after day.

The third grade had a luau to celebrate their fantastic TAKS scores and it started in the morning. The kids had stations to participate in like tattoos and buckets to throw fish in, water balloon toss (see picture below), duck races, hoola-hooping, etc. They had music playing and the teachers - so wisely- got the sixth graders to man all the posts so we parents could just enjoy watching our children do their various activities. Thank you, teachers!
This is Sadie participating in the water balloon toss.

And, Sadie hoola-hooping (with Anna behind her).
The hoola-hoops had multi-functions.
Anna put herself up in the tree and I couldn't resist the picture.

Then, Madeline had her "ocean program". I volunteered to help set up and while we were setting up, Anna took this opportunity to show she actually could sing in front of people.

This is after the program, when the first graders had their own party. This was Madeline playing "ocean bingo".

They sang 3 songs. This was my favorite one. I pan down to Anna on it because I looked down and she was trying to do the motions, too. Enjoy!

Food Stuff

This post is going to be about food. Yummy food.

First, today our first grade student teacher had the lady who cooks on Channel 5, I think her name is Carol but I could be wrong, and that's awful because I actually met her and talked with her for a few minutes - my how the memory goes. Anyway, she had her come and cook for all the first grade teachers (and I saw a few non-first grade people in there, too). When I first looked in the teachers' lounge, the table was beautifully set with iced tea with what looked like mint leaves poking out of it and plates and everything.

This lady cooked what sounded like a gourmet meal on a hotplate!!!! I can't cook a regular meal on a full stove without something going wrong. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the meal and I thought it was very thoughtful of Karen (the student teacher) to think of this for the teachers. What a lovely, gracious thing to arrange.

Now, I want to tell you about my favorite new restaurant. Notice it's not my new favorite restaurant. I still have my favs like: El Chico's, Mercardo Juarez, New Yorker, Jason's and the like but, this restaurant just opened up by us and the first time I went there I really wasn't that impressed. On thinking back, really, what can a place do with a turkey sandwich? I mean, really? I didn't even give them a chance.

Well, all that has changed and now I am addicted to Panera Bread. It's on N. Collins where my former favorite restaurant for Saturday/Sunday morning breakfast used to sit proudly, serving its delicious pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns, toast and other delicious morsels. Now, I probably should harbor some ill-will toward it since they smashed down my precious Country Kitchen to make way for it. However, they have found a place in my tummy.

The first time I went there, as I said, I had a turkey sandwich. Not a big deal at all. If you like turkey sandwiches, you'll probably love theirs. It's just that I wasn't that impressed with it. However, while Mumsey was here, she said she wanted to try it. Oddly, I gave it another chance. This time I really went out on a limb and tried completely new things. Well, mostly new things. I tried the tomato and mozzarella salad and some sort of variation of a turkey sandwich. They had me at hello with that salad. I'm not so sure I'm not addicted. I think about that thing and my mouth starts watering.

When Mumsey wanted to go out again, later in the week, she wanted to go somewhere different (even though the strawberry salad she had was "delicious" in her words). Her main objection was the fact that it served Pepsi instead of Coke. I told her we could get it to go and have a coke at home (well, a Dr. Pepper for me). She relented and a new favorite for me was born.

When I went, I knew I would have the tomato and mozzarella salad, but what to have with it? Right now they have a deal where you can get 1/2 a salad and 1/2 a cup of soup or 1/2 sandwich, mix it, match it, whatever you like to do.

Why I asked about their chicken salad, I'll never know. I don't eat chicken salad. Never have, didn't think I ever would. But I asked what was in it and the girl knew the right thing to say, "No chunky things like grapes or celery or anything like that". I knew we were on the right track. She asked if I would like a sample. Oh my goodness, a sample! I don't have to commit, I can just taste! "Yes!" I said. She brought a little cup and when I put that creamy chickeny goodness in my mouth, I knew I was home - sandwichly speaking.

I have now had that combo twice and am looking forward to having it again. I don't know when that will be as it is a little pricey (I mean, we are talking about 1/2 a salad and 1/2 of a sandwich here) but, the good thing is that you don't have to cut, chop, marinate, cook or in other way even be in your kitchen unless you bring it home and need a plate.

I would make this suggestion. Eat it there. The portions are bigger. I felt a little disappointed at the portion of salad that both Mumsey and I got. She got the full Strawberry salad to go and it was about as big as my 1/2 salad that I ate there. However, it was still mighty tasty, and, really, do I need those big portions? Well, yeah, I do.

Recital Day for Madeline

So this has been a busy week for us. Nonnie (my Mom) has been here all week. She came for Sadie's recital and stayed until Madeline's recital (details later in this post). It's been great having her here all week and I already miss her.

This has been a week for finishing probes (reports on things that go into a "probe book" and they decorate it, etc.). Sadie's last probe for the year was on the Roman Aqueducts. Very dry subject - teehee. Have you ever tried to find stuff to decorate a report on Aqueducts? Until you have you will never know the angst of such an exercise in futility. Madeline's was a little more labor intensive, yet, easier to decorate for. She had to make a model (which, of course, means paper mache' for us - ugh!) of a stingray. Here it is...
She made a 90 on it. I was proud of her. I really didn't help her at all, except mixing up the mache' soup and typing it up - which I used a font too big and she got counted off 5 points for it. Big help I was.

At some point during the week - the days all run together now - Anna got into the ink pads (yet again). Just when I think I've hidden them or put them up high enough, she either finds one I didn't know about or fooled myself thinking it was hidden well. Here she is in all her blue splendor.

Yep, that's blue on her face, hands, arms, legs, feet. She looks like she's turning into Elfaba (from "Wicked"). She actually did try to clean herself up, finding some wipes and trying to get it off herself. Didn't work.

On to today...

Here is Madeline and Nonnie as we were leaving for the recital. Mads didn't seem nervous at all.

At "her" chair backstage, with her costumes. Such a cutie.
She had alot of energy and couldn't resist running around and managed to find this "stage" outside the theatre. When she first got up there she was still and facing the other way. I told my mom that I bet she turned around and posed and sure enough, this was her pose.
After a wonderful show, every ballerina should receive flowers. We did not disappoint.
Gettin' some Nonnie-lovin' before she headed back to Louisiana.


I will tell you all I feel like a circle has been completed in some way today. 4 years ago, we (Sadie, Madeline and I) went to Andrea's (Ricky's daughter) recital at Texas Hall (where Madeline's was held today) and Madeline, especially, was smitten. We happened to be sitting near a wheelchair spot (think "mini stage" for a 3 year old) and Madeline could not stop dancing with the girls onstage. I said to her that we should go in the back so we didn't disrupt people trying to watch the people on stage and we got up and went to the back and she said "up there?" pointing to the big stage. I told her "no, we can't go up there but you can dance your heart out back here". She and Sadie danced their way to the end. I told Miss Persis about it later at church and she said that I should have let her come up there, that she would have let her dance. I doubted what she said at the time (that Miss P would have let her on stage) but having had the last 4 years to get to know her better, I believe she would have, if for no other reason than to allow one more person to realize their dream.

They both took dance that next year at Miss Persis' Studio which happened to not be a recital year. Madeline had her own vision of dance and wasn't ready for anyone to tell her how to do it so she didn't finish the year. Sadie was old enough that I made her finish the year but she opted out the next year finding out it was a recital year. No big stage for her.

Fast forward 2 more years and here we are. Madeline wanted to take dance and did very well at it, loved it and looked forward to dancing in the recital. Today, she did just that. Saw her dreams realized when she took that big stage and danced so well and so energetically. Not one moment of stage fright or second thoughts. I asked her on Wednesday night after the first rehearsal at Texas Hall if she liked dancing on that big stage. She enthusiastically said "yes". I am so proud of her seeing this year of classes, rehearsals and recital through. She's made it look so fun that even Sadie wants to give it a go again. That is yet to be determined. However, as I reflect on today's events, I see the growth of my Madeline, the love of dance that Miss Persis unknowingly instilled in her 4 years ago performed on a stage as big as Madeline's unlimited potential. Thank you, Miss Persis (and all your wonderful teachers).



This is not necessarily a "bootleg" of the recital as it is the dress rehearsal that took place last night. It's just the first dance that Madeline performed. She is the one essentially in the middle of my frame. Enjoy!

Anna's program

Anna had her "end of year" program today. I can only imagine in this picture, she was telling her friend "see, that's my mom, right there, taking another picture of me to put on her blog".

All the kids were singing "Buenos Dias" and she was looking around like "what the heck are all these kids doing singing all at the same time?".
She at least did one of the motions for "Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee". This was the one and only motion she did. But, she was the cutest one up there. And I really don't think I'm partial at all. Well, maybe a little.

Anna'

Gotta brag!

Gotta brag on my Sadie, please indulge me.

She missed two, TWO - 2, one + one, on her TAKS test. She only missed one on her reading so, all in all, on both tests, she missed only 3! She is commended on both.

Way to go, Sadie.

You can all go about your business again.

Graduation Party

Today we celebrated our niece Hannah's graduation from Bishop Dunne High School. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in her class and we are so proud of her. Dana threw the shindig and a great time was had by young and old, alike.

This is Madeline playing in the slip and slide...
nice action shot, huh?

Anna having some watermelon.
Anna, caught in a net.
Anna on the ground, begging me to take a picture of her so she can see it and her blue eyes. She seems to be enamored with her eyes lately. She just discovered, on Thursday, that she has blue eyes, and not only that but she has two of them!
My baby boy, Jon.
Sadie wowed 'em with her hitting ablility.

Young and experienced domino players.
Our whole little gang.
Mads up in a tree.
Sadie and Mads having fun up in the tree.
All three girls posing in the tree.

Really, it was alot of fun today and thank you, Dana for such a lovely place to sit and enjoy or play or relax or eat or whatever we wanted to do. We appreciate your hospitality.

busy saturday

Yesterday, my Mumsey came to our house to stay until next Saturday. Everyone was so excited. Especially Madeline and Anna, they went outside to wait for her...
One of the reasons she came to visit was to see Sadie's piano recital. This is Sadie on her way to the recital. We got her a balloon to wish her luck.

This is her performance.

After all the performances, awards were given out. Among others, she got a gold medal for her theory test (state issued, I think- it looks VERY official) and a bronze medal for piano (Michele issued) and she also won a practice something or other and a bunch of other ribbons, too numerous to mention.

All of Michele's students were very impressive. She does a really great job teaching piano. Thank you, Michele, for your gift of teaching.

Michele and Sadie hugging (that cute red tin on the table was our gift to Michele, it had all sorts of goodies in it.

After the recital, Sadie made a pinata out of a pizza box. I have a video of Sadie and Madeline trying to break it but it's almost 4 minutes long and I didn't figure y'all wanted to watch that for that long. So, here's a picture of Anna trying to break it. I think it had fruit snacks and popsicles in it.

Then, as if that wasn't enough, Conrad, Mom, Phillip and Lisa (neighbors across the street) and I went to the gun range to shoot guns. Here's my "pistol packing mom" shooting hers.

I have to admit, it was a lot of fun, especially once I got over all the loud gun shot sounds (well, I guess that's what they actually were). In the beginning, I was jumping everytime a gun was shot and man, that got tiring - hard to aim a gun when you're jumping, too. I did pretty good, got lots of holes in my target. I foresee us going back there. Thanks, Mumsey and Phillip!

The bird incident

Here is a story tailor made for my blog. It is a true account of happenings in my house, just this morning.

As a warning - if circle of life incidents (as in animals doing what they do in the wild) make you queasy or infuriated, please read no further.

I was vacuuming away (it's what I do before my Mumsey visits) and Anna comes to me and says "Puss - intelligable- bird - eating". Now from this I got that Puss caught a bird and so I asked her "where is Puss?". She said "in here" and did that cute thing she does with her hand to indicate to me to follow. Of course, I did. This is what awaited me in the living room...

In case you can't tell, those are feathers all over the floor. Now, normally I wouldn't show our yucky carpet on this blog but this is a necessity to show you the amount of carnage.

I asked Anna where Puss was now and she went around the end of the couch and this is what I saw.

Apparently, all our cats are "Puss". This happens to be Rosie and lest you think he's innocent...
Incrminating evidence right there on his face.

Coming out to survey the damage he had done.

Then I looked behind the couch to see if the bird was dead or alive and alive he was.

Scared half out of his mind, but alive and NOT wanting to be in our house but enjoying the safety of behind the couch. And, since I was cleaning when this all happened, I would like to point out that I did NOT have to clean from behind the couch before I took this picture. It somehow stays clean! I think I want to live there. Anyway...

I called Conrad to tell him of Rosie's exploits and asked him how to get the bird out from under the couch. Just as a reference, this is the part of the couch that has a hide-a-bed in it and is heavier than...well, I don't know what, it's just heavy. That's about as far as I could get it out.

He suggested a broom and finally with some brooming and coaxing, it finally came out to the awaiting open patio door, flying to freedom and what is left of it's little birdy life with a story of survival and, hopefully, an appreciation for the gift of life.

That's our bird story.

I am happy to report that all feathers have been vaccuumed up and the only indication that anything happened is the feather left on Rosie's face. A kind of scarlet letter, if you will.

just some stuff

OK, important things first.

ACA got the 3rd grade math TAKS scores back and 98% pass rate (2 didn't pass) and 20 something got 100 on it. What this means is ACA is offically rated exemplary again this year. I am so proud of the students and the teachers and administration for doing such an excellent job of educating our children. No, I don't know how Sadie did but I'm sure I'll find out soon and when I do, I'll let you know.

OK, next...

Madeline got her pictures made today for dance. This is her and Kolton (one of her best friends)...

Aren't they the cutest? I told Kolton he needed to take his momma out for a date in his little tuxedo. This is only one of her costumes, you have to have something to look forward to!