Spring 2010 - TBall season!!!

Molly loves t-ball, at least, that is what I thought! After asking over the past two weeks when her first t-ball game would be played, we arrive, find our field, meet our coaches, and get set to play, then she turns into, what we call, serious Molly. She would not talk to another girl on her team that was her age, she would not talk with the coach, she didn't want to practice throwing the ball and warming up with another boy who was desperate to play catch - ARGH!!! I had worries that she would now be in t-ball for 7 more weeks and be miserable. Thankfully, about halfway through the first game, serious Molly left and fun, bubbly Molly arrived in the outfield!! Yay!! The rest of the game she was extremely animated and was diving, literally, for the balls in the outfield, elbowing out a lot of boys. She's looking forward to next week already, we just have to keep the rain away as they don't reschedule the games.

The Black Bears get a quick run around the bases, from first all the way to home, as a reminder which direction to run after they hit the ball. Molly is in her pink fleece.

The weather at Arnold Park was bi-polar. It would be alternately sunny and nice with a slight breeze, to overcast, cloudy and really cold with the wind. At this point, Molly had shed her fleece and was squinting into the sun in the outfield. They should have oriented the bases and kids at a 90 degree turn. Mental note to remember her baseball hat next week.

The Black Bears wait patiently for their first time at bat. Cold again, fleece back on. Notice all the parents at the bottom texting instead of watching their kids at the game. Hilarious!!!

Molly's first at bat she hits the ball with the gusto of Big Papi!!

A huge tangle of kids going for the ball after the opposing team has a hit. I am pretty sure Molly came up with the ball way more than half the time ;)

Molly getting a bit more instruction from Coach Laurie. Storm clouds gathering.....

Shadows getting longer, wind getting chillier. Last year, the teams each got 2 innings at bat, this year it was 3. Too long when you are on the top of a high hill/mountain, the sun going down behind the trees and wearing capris and sandals!!!

Princess picture

With only a small bit of help from Wendy, Molly created this very elaborate and colorful princess picture. I think all Wendy provided was the fountain. I love how artsy Molly has become!

Random pics - getting caught up

As of today, when Caleb started sporting a fever, we've now had each kid with some crazy viral infection that causes high fevers. Blech!! The blog has not been a top priority, so there is a hodge-podge of stuff here, some from a couple (or more) weeks ago.

At Molly's spring conference with her teacher, she showed me the drawing that Molly did in September, then the picture that Molly did in April. Huge, huge difference. This girl is quite a speller now!!

At Caleb's conference, I saw his fall and spring pictures. Although the difference isn't as dramatic as Molly's, he used more colors and provided the teacher with a caption on the one he completed in the spring.

We made some new red (pink) playdoh one day after school and Caleb made a scary guy. He then also pretended to be a scary guy himself!

The day before the chili cook off this year, Molly went into the art room and, all on her own, made her own sign for Dave to use. You'll notice that she did the chili peppers at the corners, just like on my sign. If you can't read what she read (and really, she did an excellent job and I am not just saying that because she is my kid, well, ok maybe I am) it is under the picture.
'Chili cook off at my home'

And here is the latest addition to our house, Jumpy the fire-bellied toad. Not only do we have to make sure that Jumpy has enough purified water (yes, I have to add drops to his drinking and spraying water) and crickets to eat (yes, I have crickets in my house now too), we have to make sure the crickets have enough to eat so that they don't die prematurely.

NYS Chili cook off - Cellar Dwellers were awesome!!!

Saturday May 1st was the annual NYS Chili cook off, held at BU. Dave and a few friends decided to make this year number two that they'd participate. Competition chili is the Texas Red, which can only contain meat and sauce (I know, right, what kind of chili is THAT???), but Dave makes it so well, definitely spicy!! You can choose to make another chili that is more freestyle (you can put in beans, onions, you know, things that NORMAL people eat in chili), so Greg made his Cincinnati style chili for that. I love Greg's chili, must be the blend of seasonings that really do it for me, but whatever the mix, I just know I still have a tupperware of that in my fridge for later this week ;)

I was a judge this year (thanks Pat) for the salsa competition. Sadly, there were only 5 salsa entries this year, none of which were fruit based. One was almost totally inedible, but the one I liked best came in 2nd place and was the woman with the tent next to the Cellar Dwellers. She made homemade chips as well. Yummmmm!!!!

I decided to take over the PR for the Cellar Dwellers this year. If you don't know, the Political Science department is housed in the basement of their building, hence the name. They also decide to grow goatees for the event (Katja was smart to not join in on that aspect) which I expect as of now, 24 hours later, most have shaved off, except Dave. I came up with a stencil for the shirts, which I then used for the signage as well. Dave wanted a sort of gothic/underground sort of font, so I winged it and came up with something that totally fit what he had imagined. Whew!! I must say I was really excited with how well they turned out and of course, everyone spilled on theirs shirts, making them look more authentic.

Cellar Dwellers came in 6th this year for Texas Red and have a plaque to prove it!! Darn, I forgot to take a picture of that to post. Perhaps at a later date....

Dave and Greg putting the final touches of seasoning and heat in their respective pots

The whole gang!

Greg is ready to ladle the samples

Happy customers, who hopefully put their paperclips in our bucket!

Cellar Dwellers tent

Cellar Dwellers sign

Katja and Ben trying out the competition's chili

Potter's 4th grade poetry reading

I am very behind on the blog once again!! Potter gave his recitation of 'Boa Constrictor' by Shel Silverstein this year at the poetry reading on April 22nd!! He was chosen as one of the few from his grade to recite at the evening performance. Always very proud of how well he can speak in front of a large group of people without being/seeming nervous.

The video of Potter reading his poem was supposed to go right here, but Blogger isn't cooperating as usual. Grrrrrrrrrrr.................

Mother/son bowling night

Friday night, Potter and I joined his school at Ideal Lanes for the Mother/son bowling night. It was such fun!! There was excellent turnout from all grades, and Potter ended up bowling with two friends from his class. There was pizza and lemonade, as well as lots of raffle prizes. Our PTA is so wonderful for having organized this event!

Potter, Dom and Jordan anxiously await for the scoreboards to be turned on and the pins to be set up. Meanwhile, they were watching the lottery numbers in the bar!

Such form!! Potter ended up bowling a 76. I ended up bowling a 99. I am so much better on Wii bowling!

Goofy faces in between balls.

Potter was absolutely ECSTATIC that he won a raffle prize: two DVDs (Ice Age and Benji) as well as a ton of sugary snacks, popcorn, and juice boxes!!! I know that he will remember this evening for a long time to come!

Molly's UPK goes to Finch Hollow

Molly's entire UPK suite went to a local nature preserve, Finch Hollow, this morning. It was so beautiful outside, a perfect day for an outdoor field trip!! The kids were totally taken with learning about bird calls, bird nests, and bird appetites! And that was only on the outside part! Inside, they learned more about larger birds and mammals. I will be taking the kids there this summer, so that we can hike further on the trails and look for more birds. What a fun place!

The kids started off by learning about bird nests and how they are built, how they vary by each bird. Here, the kids are imitating a crest on the head of a blue-jay.

Off we go down the hiking trail, down to the pond.

There were so many different bird calls to hear and we were able to see a lot of the birds making the calls, but not all. Here, our guide, Mr. Tazberg, is imitating how a woodpecker gets grubs out of dead trees by banging his head against one. Headache!?

Next, he had the kids practicing how to get their beaks in working order.

A real deer leg. Deer have 4 toes (not two) and their footprints form the shape of a heart. That was my new thing I learned today!! So then he made fake tracks to show us how the pointed part of the heart leads in the direction the deer is headed.

Molly, Karen and Jay-Lynn flying like one big hawk (another interactive part of the hike). I don't think they let go of each other the entire time. Sweet!!!

Snack time outside = 22 happy kids!!

Inside the kids got into learning about mammals (fur) and birds (no fur). The each got to 'dig' their own burrow, for when they become professional groundhogs and need to hibernate all winter.

Molly volunteered to be turned into a furry mammal.

But then her friend Jay-Lynn followed through.

But then Molly redeemed herself and volunteered to be turned into a bird, covered with a variety of feathers, wings, and a beak. Love my girl!!!

Potter and the DNA of the strawberry

The entire 4th grade at Potter's school went to the Discovery Center today, where they had a very hands on science experiment involving extracting the DNA of a strawberry. The children were so well behaved and every partnered group had success in seeing the DNA after following the prescribed steps. I love how much Potter loves science!!!

Potter and his buddies awaiting their strawberries and tools needed for the experiment. Wearing very stylish goggles. That didn't fit. And were uncomfortable.

Bagging the strawberry and starting the scientific 'smushing' process.

Incorporating the first round of solution, including soap, salt and water.

Filtering the strawberry juice into the cheesecloth and filter, to get the needed 2 ml for the experiment.

Lots of strawberry juice!!

Adding the alcohol solution, carefully using the dropper.

Looking at the DNA through the magnifying glass. Strawberry DNA looks like white bits of foam to the naked eye. Would look more like DNA strands if we had been able to examine it through a microscope.

Potter, always trying to solve a puzzle....I love him and his smarts!!!!!

Kate and Rob get married in Hartford

Kate and Rob - married on April 17, 2010 in Hartford, Connecticut, by their judges! What a beautiful ceremony and reception. Happy to have been a part of it!! Wish my camera had taken better pictures, but the lighting was odd.

Kate and Rob at the proverbial altar.

Beautiful bride and groom during their first dance.

Go Mets!!! Kate and Rob bucked tradition and had a baseball cake for themselves and cupcakes for the rest of us. Totally cool!

Rob and Kate listen to Dave during his toast to them. Was very sweet. I expect to see one of them this Thanksgiving, hiding in a closet in my house with an entire turkey leg.

The newest gameshow - Kate and Rob. A very sweet game by two of their friends, seeing who would answer the most truthfully. The entire room was in laughter and tears!!