Today was also grandma's birthday so we all went over for snacks and cake. Before the party, Thomas drove me (!) to Bordine's to pick something out for a present. I saw many lovely plants which I thought were very nice (hint, hint) but he rejected them all ("Too pink." "Too purple." "The leaves are too skinny." "The petals are too ripply.") until he finally saw the plant of his dreams, a very strange, dark green, flowerless tropical plant that looks like it would be at home on a Dr. Who set--THAT was the thing he had to gift. We made it there and back without too much drama. The only exciting moment was when we neared the nursery and were enjoying having the entire road to ourselves until we came over the top of a hill and saw in front of us a bicyclist wobbling side to side between the road shoulder to halfway into the right hand lane (our lane) and a double-wide bus roaring along, going about twice the speed limit, taking up the entire oncoming traffic lane. Thomas was presented with either either running down "The Bike Dude" or avoiding him and driving straight into "The Big-Ass Bus". Paralyzed with fear he hit the brakes and we screeched to a complete stop. He waited for the bus to pass and then gunned it, careening around the bicyclist.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Filling the pool
What a day! Since his birthday Frederick has been noticing the lack of pool in the backyard. In the past few years, we have always set up the pool on the morning of his birthday. But until just a few days ago nighttime temperatures have been in the low 40s so there didn't seem to be much point in setting it up. Finally this week has warmed up (almost a bit TOO warm) so we promised to set it up the day after the school year ended. As soon as the water got to be about 3 inches deep, Frederick stood outside and watched it slowly fill up. HOURS later, it was finally full enough to get in. It was VERY cold:
Today was also grandma's birthday so we all went over for snacks and cake. Before the party, Thomas drove me (!) to Bordine's to pick something out for a present. I saw many lovely plants which I thought were very nice (hint, hint) but he rejected them all ("Too pink." "Too purple." "The leaves are too skinny." "The petals are too ripply.") until he finally saw the plant of his dreams, a very strange, dark green, flowerless tropical plant that looks like it would be at home on a Dr. Who set--THAT was the thing he had to gift. We made it there and back without too much drama. The only exciting moment was when we neared the nursery and were enjoying having the entire road to ourselves until we came over the top of a hill and saw in front of us a bicyclist wobbling side to side between the road shoulder to halfway into the right hand lane (our lane) and a double-wide bus roaring along, going about twice the speed limit, taking up the entire oncoming traffic lane. Thomas was presented with either either running down "The Bike Dude" or avoiding him and driving straight into "The Big-Ass Bus". Paralyzed with fear he hit the brakes and we screeched to a complete stop. He waited for the bus to pass and then gunned it, careening around the bicyclist.
Today was also grandma's birthday so we all went over for snacks and cake. Before the party, Thomas drove me (!) to Bordine's to pick something out for a present. I saw many lovely plants which I thought were very nice (hint, hint) but he rejected them all ("Too pink." "Too purple." "The leaves are too skinny." "The petals are too ripply.") until he finally saw the plant of his dreams, a very strange, dark green, flowerless tropical plant that looks like it would be at home on a Dr. Who set--THAT was the thing he had to gift. We made it there and back without too much drama. The only exciting moment was when we neared the nursery and were enjoying having the entire road to ourselves until we came over the top of a hill and saw in front of us a bicyclist wobbling side to side between the road shoulder to halfway into the right hand lane (our lane) and a double-wide bus roaring along, going about twice the speed limit, taking up the entire oncoming traffic lane. Thomas was presented with either either running down "The Bike Dude" or avoiding him and driving straight into "The Big-Ass Bus". Paralyzed with fear he hit the brakes and we screeched to a complete stop. He waited for the bus to pass and then gunned it, careening around the bicyclist.
Goodbye Valley School
Friday was Frederick's last day ever:
Thus endeth an association that lasted through two boys, 9 years and 4 separate locations.
Thus endeth an association that lasted through two boys, 9 years and 4 separate locations.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
First lake swim of the new year
It was pretty hard getting in, but once in, we swam the length of the beach. It was packed with holidayers (this being Memorial Day Weekend) but comparatively few in the water. (I heard on the radio no more than a couple of weeks ago that 40% of the Great Lakes were still iced over from the record winter.) We need to work up to swimming across the lake, though. And we also need to work on our beach bodies - Frederick shows the signs of a potato-filled winter. As I'm in charge of the camera, you don't get to see if I do...
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Spring sights
In For-Mar, of course:
A goose family and their new gosling
Turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle, duck.
A goose family and their new gosling
Turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle, duck.
Frederick is 11!!
Today was the perfect day for an outdoor birthday party: clear blue skies, not too hot, not too cold. Once we were ready and the guests had arrived, Frederick knew exactly what to do.
Grandma is sneaking around in our hedges. Very suspicious.
The latest party items available from Target. Last year it was streamers. But no streamers to be found for love or money this year.
Present opening is serious business.
Grandma and Pretzel enjoy the festivities.
Grandma is sneaking around in our hedges. Very suspicious.
The latest party items available from Target. Last year it was streamers. But no streamers to be found for love or money this year.
Present opening is serious business.
Grandma and Pretzel enjoy the festivities.
More of the birthday....
After opening one very promising looking book, Frederick went back into the house, settled into his favorite chair, and relaxed.
Here he shows Simon the good bits.
It is a REALLY good book 
Emily and Ava showed up with a REALLY BIG BOX!!!
Here he shows Simon the good bits.
It is a REALLY good book 
Emily and Ava showed up with a REALLY BIG BOX!!!
and the birthday goes on...
What could it be?
Yea! A garden gnome! Just what we all wanted! Apparently his name is Skivver.
Frederick has been very, very interested in muffins lately. So I made little cake muffins (gf, of course).
Ava grabbed a green balloon and was not about to let it go.
A trampoline only makes things better.
Another Birthday comes to an end.
The observant reader may notice the absence of our larger offspring, Thomas. He came down (but hid off to the side) for a few minutes and then retreated back up to his room (or "lair") to do "more important things." Then, later, we were blessed with his presence when he came back downstairs to (1) gripe about the lack of non-gf cakes and (2) eat all remaining gf cakes. That's Thomas for you.
Yea! A garden gnome! Just what we all wanted! Apparently his name is Skivver.
Frederick has been very, very interested in muffins lately. So I made little cake muffins (gf, of course).
Ava grabbed a green balloon and was not about to let it go.
A trampoline only makes things better.
Another Birthday comes to an end.
The observant reader may notice the absence of our larger offspring, Thomas. He came down (but hid off to the side) for a few minutes and then retreated back up to his room (or "lair") to do "more important things." Then, later, we were blessed with his presence when he came back downstairs to (1) gripe about the lack of non-gf cakes and (2) eat all remaining gf cakes. That's Thomas for you.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Belated Egg Hunt
I was flying home from San Diego on Easter Sunday and so we decided to put off the Easter hunt until later. Last Sunday is was rainy and cold, and so more procrastinating. Today the stars lined up perfectly: everyone home, not too cold, clear blue skies. So, while Simon and Frederick went for a walk to For-Mar, the egg clues were laid out. Here Frederick shows his viewers a clue:
What's this? The Easter Bunny was trying out my trampoline? The cheek!
Apparently the Easter Bunny was messing about with Thomas's drum set--which Frederick isn't allowed to do. That doesn't seem fair.
Yes, an egg letter--a classic.
And now in the car...
Finally we arrive at the end of the trail. Frederick was slightly disappointed when he found his Easter "basket". Presents are ok, but egg clues are a lot more fun.
Not a bad haul. The colored pencils and glitter sharpies have already seen good use. The bird house is waiting to be painted--a good rainy day activity. (Which will be handy, because we are going to get quite a few of those in the next few weeks.)
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Thomas's brief modeling career
Remember this? Well, the pictures finally arrived:
Every few weeks one or the other of us would check in on Eric Ogden's facebook page to see if anything was happening with this project. He's certainly busy enough--photographing every politician, movie star and musician in the news, one after another. But there was never a peep about a collection of people and places in Flint. Simon finally decided to take the bull by the horns (as it were, if you will)and tweeted Eric Ogden directly. And, amazingly, he answered! (It helped that we work at UM-Flint as his dad did and he claims to have fond memories of running about the place when he was little.) Apparently the book is still in the works but he sent these along as payment for Thomas's time. Simon took pictures of the pictures. You'll have to take our word for it that they look even better "live."
Every few weeks one or the other of us would check in on Eric Ogden's facebook page to see if anything was happening with this project. He's certainly busy enough--photographing every politician, movie star and musician in the news, one after another. But there was never a peep about a collection of people and places in Flint. Simon finally decided to take the bull by the horns (as it were, if you will)and tweeted Eric Ogden directly. And, amazingly, he answered! (It helped that we work at UM-Flint as his dad did and he claims to have fond memories of running about the place when he was little.) Apparently the book is still in the works but he sent these along as payment for Thomas's time. Simon took pictures of the pictures. You'll have to take our word for it that they look even better "live."
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