Cello Man!

Today my Buddy will be playing a piece by Bach in front of judges on his cello for solo and ensemble.  This kid blows me away.  

He started playing in January.  He sat in his room and figured out how to play it - and in two days was caught up to the other cellos that had started playing in August.  He practices all the time.  I have NEVER had to remind him to practice.  So he decided to play in solo and ensemble and his teacher gave him three pieces to choose from.  She gave him 3 choices and he chose the hardest one.  He said he thinks she was a little irritated by that - BUT - when she heard him play it last week flawlessly - she was a-ok with his choice.  What she doesn't know - is that he has the entire song memorized - which will get him an honors rating if it goes well.  I asked him why he didn't tell her and he just said he didn't want to make a big deal of it and stand out.  What a kid!  He's going to do great!  I'm so proud of him!  I absolutely LOVE listening to him play!!!!!

Hallelujah it's Friday!!!!

I promise the rest of the April Fool's post is coming!  It was beautiful - completely successful and profoundly hilarious!  :o)

I'm so glad it's Friday!  I'm completely pooped, tired and exhausted!  It's been a great - but high stress week.  Thank goodness it's conference weekend!

For those of you praying for Spencer and Crystal's family - they could use some more prayers.  They were in a car accident yesterday.  A lady pulled out in front of them.  Their car is totaled.  The kids and Spencer are ok - but Crystal's wrist and elbow are broken a long with some ribs and a dislocated shoulder too.  Truly some jewels are being placed in their crowns for all they've been through.

Heh heh heh! My Favorite Day!!!!

Already the day has been a success!!!!!  :o)  Before 6:30am I have proudly launched and carried out 4 April fool's jokes on my children!  Muwahahahahahaha!!!!

I have been so nervous trying to think of things to top last year - but so far - it's going swimmingly!  (For last year - click here:  Last Year's April Fools!)

First was the rubber duckies floating in the toilet!!!!  Boy were they surprised when they each opened the lid!  hahahaha!!!!!  Then the toilet paper roll had a little piece of scotch tape - so it just rolled and rolled as it spun around!  hee hee hee  Then came the green milk for breakfast!  (gotta love food coloring!) and finally (for now!!!) the clocks all set two hours ahead!  hahahaha!!!  

And the day has just begun . . . 

Muwahahahahaha!

It went great!!!

I never know how quickly my class will move through an activity.  I just never know.  Sometimes it takes forever and other times we're done so quick I swear I didn't even blink.  My biggest worry was that we'd finish what I had planned so fast that then I'd have to start tap dancing for a half hour.  

But I'm happy to say it all went smoothly and timed out perfectly!  Hooray!  My little guys were great and I was so proud of them!  They melt my heart every day.  Couldn't have done it without my amazing TA's!  They make up for all the weak spots I have.  They keep me moving and have taught me so much!  Love them!  Thanks for all the prayers and kind wishes.  It made all the difference!

Well - I hear the wind picking up . . . A storm is moving in with reports of baseball size hail.  The kids just fell asleep - so this could get interesting.  I'd better sign off now!

Batten the hatches!  ;o)

Evaluation Time!

My yearly evaluation is today!  I feel good about it - but a prayer or two wouldn't hurt . . . :o)

I'm still not entirely sure about my lesson plans - but the day usually unfolds itself in its own way anyway!

See ya on the flip side of the day!

Balloons for Sage

Sage's parents asked for balloons to be released in his honor.  Since we couldn't be there with them - all the family got together here and let balloons go the same day.  It was stormy - but it was beautiful to watch them rise so high.  It was nice to have a way to participate and support the family - even from far away.

Thanks Stacie and Kristy for the photos!  :o)

Sage Lawrence Eldredge

My heart has been heavy today thinking of Crystal and Spencer and their family as they laid to rest their son Sage today.  I know there are no words we can say that will bring comfort but our family prays for yours to find peace and strength through the Lord.  Our hearts hurt for you.  We love you very much.

Sage Lawrence Eldredge

The Eldredge Family

Interview with my Kbugs

Words of Wisdom from my 12 year old:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Merry Christmas! (Seriously! I do!) :o)

2. What makes mom happy
Her family

3. What makes mom sad?
fighting

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
She just is herself.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
She traveled a lot.

6. How old is your mom?
35

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet 4 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Laugh!

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Make up plans to torture us. (Muwahahahahaha!) :o)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
She's a comedienne 

11. What is your mom really good at?
Understanding what special needs children need.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Making tuna noodle casserole. (It was a night we don't speak about often!)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
She teaches special needs children.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
McDonald's #1

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
How well she helps us.

16.If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Mom on Phineus and Ferb (I think I resent that remark!!!! . . . but it may be true . . . )

17. What do you and your mom do together?
We text each other.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We always make something serious into a joke.

19. How are you and your mom different?
Our fashion senses! (heh heh heh - true - I ask her for advice!)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She cheers us on!

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
It could take too long to name it all! His sense of humor . . . this could take way too long.

A Little Angel

Bob's cousin's baby passed away yesterday.  He was 8 months old.  The baby's Dad went to wake him up and he wasn't breathing.  Our hearts are utterly broken for them.  The pain is piercing.  Although we know there is a wonderful plan laid out for our families and he's in a wonderful place and they will be reunited again - the agony their family is facing is difficult.

I admire the baby's mother tremendously.  She's the kind of mom who was born to be a mom.  She has such a wonderful perspective on her children and she savors every moment she has with them.  I love listening to the things she does with her children and the delight and joy that seems to light up their home.  She lets her kids play in the mud and be kids and just have fun.  All those things you 'think' you'll do as a mom when you're little - but reality and becoming an adult seems to taint those plans.  But not for her.  She's the kind of Mom I have to work at to be.  It seems to come so naturally to her.  

Anyway - they will be in our prayers for the long road to come.  Our hearts go out to them and pray for them to someday find a measure of peace and comfort one step at a time.

Interview with my Buddy

Words of Wisdom from my 10 year old:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Be good

2. What makes mom happy
Books

3. What makes mom sad?
When one of us is hurt or sick.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When you do weird things.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
Read books.

6. How old is your mom?
33

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet something

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Get on her laptop

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

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Singing opera

11. What is your mom really good at?
Doing fun things.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Being serious

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Teaches school

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Bacon Spaghetti

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
You're kind to people

16.If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Jimmy Neutron's Mom

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Watch baseball

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like to read.

19. How are you and your mom different?
You always like to be crazy and I'm not.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
When you give us a treat or we do something fun.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He always fixes up the house.