Interview with Cowboy T

Words of Wisdom from my 8 year old:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you!

2. What makes mom happy
When I kiss her.

3. What makes mom sad?
When someone dies.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When she does very funny stuff.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
Play with her dolls.

6. How old is your mom?
34

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Tell jokes

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Go to school

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
For being a movie star

11. What is your mom really good at?
Telling jokes

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Shooting guns

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Works for special needs kids

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
pizza

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
That she's a good mom

16.If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Incredibles Mom

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Go places

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both have freckles

19. How are you and your mom different?
We don't have the same color hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
When she kisses me.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
She thinks he's cute

Rice and Eggs happiness

So a teacher at school walks over to the microwave in the cafeteria and says: I need to heat up my rice and eggs.  I say:  Mmmm - that sounds good!  How do you make it?  

The teachers then look at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears!  Am I the only one that's never heard of this?  After she told me what was in it I ran home to make it (not literally that very second - and no I didn't actually run home - I probably could - but I'd have to go through a pretty scary place in town - so I'd rather not.)  So anyway - it was delicious!!!!!!!!!  And my family loved it!!!.

Basically you cook some rice.  Then you start making scrambled eggs.  Just before the eggs firm up - throw in the rice - some cheese - and some crumbled up bacon (or whatever kind of meat really sounds good).  Then just mix it together while it sets and then serve and eat it.  It helps to get all the other ingredients ready while the rice is cooking so it's ready to throw in at just that perfect moment.  Mmmmm . . . tasty and fairly cheap!  My kind of meal.

How much my Buddy loves the store:

A moment of pure frustration.  He seriously enjoys going to the dentist more!  

Snapped by Kbugs!  Good catch K!  ;o)

Brain-i-ac!

Ok - so last fall Kbugs got a letter from Duke University's talent identification program requesting her to take the ACT test.  So in December she took it.  She wasn't feeling well that day - and had no clue that it was covering all portions of the test.  She thought it was just the reading section - but she said it was ok anyway and it was just a good experience.

Well - in January she got her scores back and she made a 25!!!!!!  Holy Cow!!!!  Of course - we're really proud of her (for many reasons!) and she was very excited!  

So that brings us to this week.  A letter came in the mail for Kbugs.  She opened it and started screaming and jumping up and down and speaking some high-pitched unintelligible language mankind has never before heard!  :o)

Here is a portion of what the letter said:

Congratulations!  I write to congratulate you on the recent success of your child in the Duke University 7th Grade Talent Search.  The score your child received on the ACT was a remarkable achievement.  Only the top 5% of academically talented students in the 7th grade are even invited to participate in the Talent Search, making this a very distinguished pool.  Of the approximately 70,000 academically gifted 7th graders who took the SAT or ACT, your child's superior results demonstrate an impressive academic talent that you have encouraged and nurtured.  You should take great pride in your child's accomplishment and the role that you have played.

On the basis of your child's score, I am also pleased to inform you that your child has qualified to attend the Duke University Talent Identification Program's Center for Summer Studies.  This program is a unique learning environment designed to motivate and challenge academically gifted students.  The 2009 Summer Studies is held at Davidson College in North Carolina and Trinity University in Texas.  The Summer Studies bulletin will describe the broad spectrum of courses offered, from Architecture to Cryptography to Zoological Studies.  You can review expanded course information, as well as apply online, at our website: www.tip.duke.edu/center

Way cool Kbugs!!!!! 

It is the coolest thing and I told her it's an honor to even be selected and be able to put that down on future applications!  Unfortunately after seeing the cost of the program - it's not an option - but it's so fun to know she was selected for such an honor!  Of course we now expect her to know everything - which she takes in good natured fun.

Good job Sunshine!  :o)

Word on the street is . . .

Cowboy T's letter that he wrote to the mayor regarding Braums is hanging on the wall in a plaque in the manager's office at the new Braums location!  :o)

Way to go Cowboy T!  One of the youth from church works there and saw it!  Guess they loved it as much as we did!  How fun!!!

The funeral

The funeral was tender and sweet.  Everyone was so grateful to have experienced his sweet courage and love with no conditions.  His parents grief was overwhelming but filled with hope and gratitude for the time they were given with him.  Now he can walk, run, speak and sing.  The casket was so small.  What a wonderful blessing to have had a precious connection with him in this life.  Someday I will get to blow him a little kiss again.

Tender endings and beginnings

My favorite student in the class next door passed away last night.  He'd gotten quite sick recently and we knew it was coming - but it's still difficult to know I won't get to blow kisses at him and watch him smile.  Still it's a blessing that he is free from his fragile body that caused him so much pain. 

His walker sits in the hallway between our two doors.  I hope they leave it there for a while.  

Today

Cowboy T is sick.  My car is dead again.  On a bright note - it's been fun doing pick ups and drop offs all together in one car.  Takes a little more planning though.  Had to deliver devastating news to some parents today.  It was emotional and heartbreaking.  I'm still not sure I'm standing on both feet again yet.  On days like today it's just nice to come home.  Spring break is coming up!  Woohoo!  Just think how much I'll be able to blog then!  :o)

Woohoo!!!! We did it!

Last night we went up to the admin bldg at 10pm to sign up in line for transferring the boys to a different school next year!  It was SOOOOOO COLD!!!!  The low was 29 degrees!!!!  I was #33 on the list and I slept in the car in my sleeping bag until 5am.  Then I stood outside in line until 6.  Then I sat inside until 6:40am - where I was informed that there was space available for both of the boys at the school we wanted and they were granted their transfer for next year!  Wooohoooo!  It's now after 5pm - and I am still cold!  I haven't thawed out all day!  But I am so incredibly glad and the boys are so excited to have that to look forward to.  They already both have friends at the school.  It's one that my sister and I attended when we were young and it has a great reputation.  It will feed into the Jr. High that we wanted - so all is good in the world tonight.  Except I'm going to bed asap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Raise a child up in the way she should go . . .

So a few weeks ago - I was pumping in the very last of my gas budget into my car before payday.  I wasn't entirely confident that this last tank would take me through the week - but more then once prayers have made those fumes last to the end.  

So anyway - I finished pumping and as I walked back around the car to my side there was a gas gift card laying there on the ground.  Without any thought or hesitation I took it inside and gave it to the attendant.  My boys were with me and asked what I was doing.  I told them and as I drove off I realized what could have been the irony of the situation.  Thankfully enough - my parents taught me long ago to make all those kinds of decisions at a young age - so they never have to be made again.  I thought about how if I hadn't that could have been a tough moment of decision - but instead I didn't even give a moment of consideration of what to do.

Thanks Mom and Dad!  I hope my kids learn the same.