May 2007

Our “Fisher of Men” 

(because Conner repels fish)

After I made the cake blue,  he tells me that the #1 on Thomas is supposed to be yellow, and no we can’t just pretend that it is.   I can now make butter cream frosting in 30 seconds flat.

Free pony rides at the ice cream shop.  I think Chris thought that he had to ride  in order to get the ice cream!

Conner LOVES fishing with his Daddy, but it’s never a relaxing experience for Dad, because Conner talks non-stop (big shocker there) and believes that any body of water or deep hole in the ground MUST be filled with rocks.  Dustin never catches any fish.

Caity played violin again this year.  We got to watch her perform at the District Spring Concert.   I asked her earlier what she learned in orchestra this year and her list included: 

· lots of fun music,

· learned to read music better,

· not to get frustrated too easy

· to keep trying,. 

Then after the concert, when we were congratulating her, she said to us, ”I got lost a couple of times, but I’ve figured out how to fake it until they get to a place where I can play.  You couldn’t even tell, could you!?!  I’ve gotten really good at it!” 

(so, exactly what did we learn? I mean besides being able to spot mom’s educational question, and piling on the BS like it’s The Victory Garden?) *sigh*

Christian gave his teachers fits this year.   Not behavioral problems, he just didn’t feel the need to waste his time showing his work.  It didn’t matter what type of math problem he got, he would think it through then write down only the answer.  He was doing 4th and 5th grade math by the end of the year, but still refused to waste his time working it out on paper...Until I threatened to take away the Lego Star Wars PS2 Game he got from his Uncle Jason for Christmas.  He’d scrub the kids’ bathroom with a toothbrush just so he can play it!  Thanks Uncle Jason!!!!!!

Caleb was so excited that he was going to get on a horse, that he had everyone around us in stitches because of this half-crazed giggle he kept letting out.    Of course that head of hair didn’t help to make him seem any less nuts.  So was it fear or amusement that had everyone else laughing?  hmmmm...

We’re all smiling, in spite of the preceding 10 minutes of shouting orders and threatening lives in order to extort obedience.  Conner, totally unaffected by it all.  (heaven help us)

The boy loves to bowl!

Caleb was so desperate to go bowling one Saturday, that he emptied his entire piggy bank on the kitchen floor to see if he had enough money to take us.  Needless to say, it broke his Daddy’s heart and he loaded us all up and we went bowling (and Caleb didn’t spend a dime!)

On your mark… get set… OUCH!

Isn’t he lovely?

Visiting Gettysburg in April.  It’s a lot bigger than it looks in the history books.

Classic Conner

Same last stop, just a little earlier in the game.   The kids just caught sight of the huge amount of rocks that they were going to get to play on.  (dad looks thrilled)

Last Stop in Gettysburg, the only reason there was any excitement here is because they got to climb on the rocks.  (and they knew that after this stop, we could go home)