Life's Hard

The following essay was written by Dianna.  She wrote it for our dog, Lexi, shortly after we had Lexi put down.  I found the essay and was so touched.  I couldn't help but want to share it with you.  (the only editing I have done was to omit full names and locations -- gotta protect the innocent and all that!)

Life's Hard - written for my dog Lexi, by Dianna Rodgers

One Christmas when I was 18months old, my parents got a letter from the man who comes down the chimney in bright red and gives you presents.  It had said that a puppy was waiting for them at the Humany Society.  My mom and dad traveled there to pick her up.  This dog is the one named Lexi and the one this story is about.  I've had her since I can remember.  At that very perfect moment I lived on the same street my Grammy lived on.  Every day was fun with a dog around.  Lexi was the best and only dog I've had so far.  Then a year later, in November 2004, we moved.  I was 2.5 and VERY excited.

I started going to preschool.  I met many children there and then there were the friends.  I had many friends in preschool including Maddy, Gabby, and a boy named Benjamin.  The day I started Kindergarten was really hard to remember but I know that I met Katina on the bus just by sitting together.  Then there was 1st grade when Katina was in Mrs. Or's class just next door. In Kindergarten I was in Mrs. I's class and 1st grade I was in Mrs. P's class.  The next 365 days went by fast and I met Maggie.  Helen was also in my life during 2nd grade.  Another year whizzed by and I was in 3rd grade, Mrs. S's class.  This was an exciting year because Katina was finally in my class.  I didn't get taught much by my homeroom teacher because I was next door in Mrs. Ol's class.  Now I am in 4th grade and Abby (Maggie's friend) and Delton (Helen's cousin) were in the picture.  At home life was good with Lexi, Clover, my 2 sisters and brother, two bunnies, 6 chickens, and now two kitties.  On fridays we had pizza and sometimes I would give Lexi the crusts.  I used this entertainment and enjoyed it.  One week, I threw a crust to Lexi and all Lexi did was sit there confused then started sniffing around.  "Mommy, I think Lexi is turning blind!" I said and indeed she was.  Back at school, Mrs. S was going to have a baby so she was subby by Mrs. Sm. 

What felt like a year but was actually about a month went by and Lexi was almost completely blind and bumping into things.  Then in winter 2012, my parents decided they had to put her down and they did on the last day of winter.  I was so sad seeing Lexi for the last time and hoped she would visit me from up above in my dreams.  The next day which was the first day of spring.  I sat a good couple of minutes during recess looking up into the clouds and thinking about Lexi.

"I miss Lexi and always will."

Miss us?

Hey there, faithful Blog Readers!

Sorry it's been so quiet around here lately.  Right after school got out on the 15th, we packed up and headed to the campground for the first of many camping trips this summer.  We just returned home this afternoon.  To a house with no power.  (Bad T-storms came through the area last night and knocked power out to a lot of the town residents.)  Lucky us, power was restored within 5 minutes of us being home.  Good thing, too -- I've got TONS of laundry to catch up on!!

Multiage Picnic 2012

Yesterday morning/early afternoon was also the Multiage Unit's annual picnic.  They played some 'cooperation/communication' games (Line yourselves up by height, by your birth month, etc).  They picnicked on the grass.  The afternoon fun ended with the teachers honoring all of their parent volunteers and the 4th grade Multiagers.

 

I shot these next two pictures of Dianna with a few of her teachers.  They've been so great to Dianna and the entire family.  Di is sure to miss ALL of the Multiage teachers and all of the lower multiage friends.



School's Out!

Yesterday was Nora's last day of preschool.  Before we left the school for the last time yesterday, I shot this picture of Eleanor with her teachers.  We will sure miss Ms. Heather, Ms. Sue, & Ms. Sarah.  They have been such an integral part of Nora's life this past year.

The Newly-Promoted 5th Grader

The elementary school held it's annual 4th Grade Moving Up Ceremony on Wednesday evening.  Dianna, and the rest of her classmates, were given certificates that they'd successfully completed elementary school.

Sorry this picture is so dark.  My camera didn't like the lighting in the gymnasium.

Correction: Nora's last day

When I went to the preschool to pick Nora up on Tuesday, her teacher said, "see you on Thursday!"

I made a rather confused face and said, "I thought today was the last day?"

Miss Sue answered, "Nope.  Thursday is."

Apparently the school calendar I had wasn't the most up-to-date.  Nora is at her LAST last day of school for the year.  Today.  And then Summer Vacation shall commence.  Today.

4th Grade Celebration!

Here are a few of the pictures I took on Monday, as Dianna's 4th Grade Celebration.

There were SO many activities -- obstacle course, two bounce houses, tug of war, jousting, DJ music (to dance to), scavenger hunt, hair painting, face painting, tattoos, crafts, hula hoop competition, trivia games....there was probably more!

For the jousting competition, Dianna was paired up against our neighbor, Clayton.  One would have thought it was a planned thing.  Just a happy coincidence. 

I think it's pretty safe to say that all of the kids enjoyed themselves thoroughly!



Missing Lunch Box

Every morning the elementary kids' bus goes up our road, turns around, and then comes back down.  It is on the return back down our street that Ms. Heather stops at the end of our driveway to pick up Dianna and William.  Most days, I tell the two of them to watch for the bus and once it goes past, they can head down the driveway to wait for her to come back.  I usually stay up on the front steps (or just inside the front door) to watch them until they've stepped onto the bus.

Today was just like any other day.  The bus went up the road.  The kids went down the driveway.  I sat on the front steps to tie my sneakers on.

The next thing I know, William is coming back to me.  He's got a teary, fearful sort of look about him.  I asked him what's wrong just as I noticed he didn't have his lunch box in his hands.  I then asked where his lunchbox was.  He tearfully said he didn't have it.  We both went inside and located his lunch box (on one of the diningroom chairs, where he'd left it while playing with Nora before heading out for the bus). 

We both went running outside, through the wet grass of the front yard, to the bus.  Ms. Heather was waiting for him.  I wanted to thank her.  Not only for waiting, but for being the one to realize that Will didn't have his lunch with him.

Yes.  Our bus driver ROCKS.  My house isn't just another stop on her run.  My kids aren't just more noisemakers on the bus.  It's no wonder my kids just love her to pieces!

Final Week Wind-up

This is the final week of school.  Lots going on.  LOTS.

Today is the 4th Grade Celebration.  It's a big picnic/party for all of the fourth graders at the elementary school.  Parent volunteers have worked for months to plan this event.  Nora and I will head over to the school in just about an hour to help set up and join in the festivities.

Dianna will have karate practice this evening.

Tomorrow is Nora's last day of preschool at her current school.  Next year, she will attend the preK program at our elementary school.  She will go five days a week, riding the school bus with Will.  This is all so bittersweet.  I'm liking the fact that we won't have any tuition payments, and I won't have to drop her off/pick her up.  But I'm sad that she's growing up so darn quickly!  I'm not ready for all of my kids to be school-aged!

Grace has horseback riding lessons Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday evening is the 4th Grade Moving Up ceremony.  It's like a 4th grade graduation.  The fourth graders are all honored.  Many receive special awards and certificates for various accomplishments.  (Like the Presidential Award for Educational Achievement and the American Citizenship Award)

Dianna has another karate practice Wednesday afternoon.  Grace is supposed to have soccer practice, but it coflicts with the 4th grade ceremony, so she'll have to miss it.  (I'm thinking we'll be doing sandwiches or fast food for dinner!) 

Thursday is the Annual Multi-age Picnic.  The four Multi-age classes have a picnic lunch outside, play games, honor the parent volunteers, and say "good-bye" to the 4th grade Multi-agers.  Always a lot of fun.

I have my Weight Watchers meeting Thursday evening.

And then Friday is our last day of school for the year!  The official start to Summer Vacation.  I have always celebrated the last day of school (and kicked off the summer vacation) with an ice cream party after the kids all return home from school.  We will have ice cream sundaes with a few friends, and then we're off to the beach!  Gordon, the kids, and I are all heading down to one of the state campgrounds for 10 days of camping.  (Actually, Gordon will work while we're there...but his commute will be MUCH shorter & he'll get to relax as soon as he gets out of work)

Thankfully there are NO lessons, practices, or games on Friday!

I don't know whether to be excited about all the goings on this week or filled with trepidation at all that we have going on.  I sure will be ready to relax at the beach this weekend!

School Awards Assembly

As we wind down for the last couple of weeks of school, there are a lot of year end events to attend.  On Monday (two days ago), the elementary school held it's annual school-wide Awards Assembly.  I was invited to attend because Dianna would be receiving a certificate for her participation in the Future Problem Solvers group.



Baking Basics

Two different times last week, Will and Eleanor wanted to help me in the kitchen.  I put them both to work on the same task -- cracking eggs.  Neither has cracked eggs more than once or twice.  It's a good skill to master, in my opinion.  I believe it's probably easier to master the technique when one is young and not grossed out by icky, sticky, slimy things. 

I have to say that they both did REALLY well.  Only one complete blow-out and just a few shell pieces fell in.  I think a few more practice tries and they'll be Masters!



Random (potentially embarassing) pic

The other day, Eleanor fell asleep while on the potty.  I couldn't help but take a picture of it.  I'm sure she's LOVE me for this, one day.  For now, I'm going to share it with the whole free world.  Because I can.  ;)

Musical Fans in the Making

Yesterday, we took three of the four kids to my old Middle School to see a musical.  (Grace didn't want to go)  Caroline and Monica, two of my nieces, were both in the school musical.  It was a production of Aladdin Jr.

Dianna has already gone to a musical once before.  I took her to see Grease at a local high school last year.  She loved it so much, I knew she'd enjoy this one too.

Will and Nora, however, I was worried about.  I wasn't sure if they'd be able to sit still.  I wasn't sure if the musical would hold their interest.  I just wasn't sure.

Thankfully, I was more than pleasantly surprised.  Both of the Littles LOVED the play.  They were both so well behaved, absolutely entranced by the goings on up on the stage. 

Congrats to both Monica and Caroline on the awesome job they both did on stage!  You've helped me to convert two more of my children into musical theater fans!

Gardening

Every year, I plant our veggie garden during the Memorial Day Weekend.  I'm a creature of habit like that.  Doing it over the holiday weekend every year ensures I don't plant too late or too early -- it's perfect timing!  (And, having the extra time the long weekend affords us means I won't run out of time to do it!)

So, this past Saturday I made my way over to the local garden supply store.  I purchased two types of pepper plants (green and yellow bells), two types of tomato plants (Early Girl and Roma plums), and a bunch of seeds.  I have since gone back and purchased a third type of tomato -- San Marzano plums -- because I was worried we wouldn't get much sauce from the eight tomato plants I'd gotten on Saturday.

I planted the entire garden on Saturday, rushing to beat the storm that I was sure was coming.  The skies were looking nasty and we could hear thunder in the distance.  No storm ever appeared.  Gordon ended up watering the garden for me a few hours later, when it was apparent that we weren't going to get the rain that had been threatening the whole time I was in the garden!

I'm so excited -- I can't wait for my garden to start growing!  (Well, I hope it doesn't grow much in the way of weeds.....just the veggies would be good, thankyouverymuch!) 

This year we'll have cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, tomatoes, and peppers to look forward to.  Oh, and hopefully a couple of beans from the bean plant Will brought home from school.  Every time we've tryed beans, the rabbits help themselves to them before we get a chance to harvest any.  What can I say?  We have well-fed wildlife around here!