JD's First Symphony

We took JD to the symphony this evening at the new Long Center. The concert hall has just opened and this was one of the first events there.

JD INSISTED on having his picture taken with the purple flowers.

You can see where they have left the round outer ring of the old Palmer Auditorium in place. This is the view of downtown from the lobby.

We stood in front of the stage and waited for the performance to begin. It was a family music event which meant lots of kids and kid friendly music and our favorite guest artist Joe McDermott.

Lucy Part II

Kristine went to a wedding and so Lucy got to spend the day with us again. JD was so excited he could hardly stand it when Lucy arrived. They played together all evening --- coloring. . .

. . . drinking juice . . .

. . . and just running around. JD is very good at pointing out Lucy's tail. Every couple minutes he touches it - GENTLY- and says "this is Lucy's tail."

JD's Art Gallery

JD has moved up to the Fish class at school. His new class does TONS of artwork. Here are the things he has brought home this week alone. I can't save it all or it would take over the house. I've decided a picture of the art will have to do and then into the trash it will go.

Murder Mystery Theater

Since I don't have a "REAL" life and nothing exciting to do on Friday night, the family went back to school for a Murder Mystery dinner play. JD feels right at home at "mommy's school" and posed with the flowers in the courtyard before the show began.

The dinner menu included stuffed eggplant, spinach salad, pork tenderloins with potatos and veggies, and triple chocolate mousse cake. YUM YUM!

JD helped decorate the menu while we were waiting for the first course to arrive.

One of the suspects posed for a picture. Our table won the evening's event by successfully solving the mystery. We are a bunch of super detectives.

Candidate Forum

These fine young men particpated in a candidate/student forum this evening. They asked questions to candidates running for school board and community college board of trustees. They are enjoying some snacks here before the forum begins.

JD attended the event but this BLUR is what he looked like the entire evening. He just wasn't much interested in the achievement gap or selection of a new superintendant. He did enjoy running down the aisle of the auditorium though.

The students asked some good questions that they wrote themselves.

They impressed the judges (local columnist John Kelso, a municipal court judge, and the sheriff) enough to win this really nice trophy. My students have participated in the forum for 16 years and this is the first time we've (I should say "THEY'VE" because I just sit there) won. GREAT JOB GUYS!

$$$$$

This is what the gas pump looked like after I filled up my tank earlier this week. WOW!!!

Happy New Year

On New Year's Day we got some sparkling juice and wished JD a happy new year. He has decided he really likes to have "champaign" with his breakfast on Sunday mornings. Every Sunday he has to click glasses (or in his case a sippy cup) and wish us a happy new year.

Wildflower Time

Here are some pictures for all you non-Texans to enjoy our beautiful spring wildflowers.

Disco JD

I bought JD new socks yesterday. His old ones were getting pretty GROSS. When we tried them on today they were a little big and he INSISTED on pulling them up to the knee. These were the pajamas he just HAD to wear last night even though they are a little small. He is ready to hit the roller rink and disco skate to a little Saturday Night Fever. Poor boy has no idea how funny he looks.

I am SO over this project!

We are almost done with our quilts so we met today for one last push to the finish. Here is JD doing his part to help.

And our last finished projects. This jeans and kaki quilt is for Noah.

This little one is for JD.

And this LAST one is for George. If you are keeping track that's FIVE quilts total and we are SO DONE making quilts!

Quilting AGAIN!

We are still working on finishing our quilts. Here is JD trying to help this afternoon. We have been tying and he is using the rubber gloves to help him grip the thread underneath.

Quilting went a lot faster when he was busy coloring and not helping so much.

Great Job

That's the compliment I got from JD this morning. Dad was gone to work early so JD was stuck to me like glue. "Helping" me shower etc. . . He said "great job pooping Mommy." YES, I am a very good pooper.

Spring means . . .

. . . fertilizer. I put some fertilizer down on the lawn this evening and JD insisted on helping. I hope he still wants to help when he's big enough to REALLY help.

Another Quilt Finished!

We've finished another quilt. This one is queen sized and a graduation present for Brian. I had it on the frames leaned up against my classroom wall on Friday an lots of kids said they wanted one. SORRY -- they aren't for sale.

This is the way we Wash the Swing

It is warm enough to sit in the swing but it was REALLY dirty. JD helped me wash it so we can lounge on the back porch now. What a BIG helper.

The Quilting Divas

For a long time now I have been saving old blue jeans wanting to make a quilt out of them. It took my friend Pat saying "let's do it" for it to actually happen. Here is our first completed quilt. It is a little one that is going to Pat's mother for her birthday. We have others in the works. Stay tuned for our next completed project.

I've been Tagged!

OK - I'll play along. I've been tagged so here are my questions.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was teaching Government to high school seniors -- same thing I'm doing now. OH what a boring life I have.

2. Five things on my to-do list ---
I need to:
1. put the back on George's quilt
2. stop at the pharmacy to pick up some drugs
3. workout for at least 40 minutes at the gym this afternoon
4. iron and sort some laundry
5. GO TO BED EARLY!!!

3. What snacks to you enjoy?
Chocolate, pizza and Amy's Ice cream

4. What would you do if you suddenly became a billionaire?
Move to a house where my neighbors don't have a taco trailer in their driveway.

5. Three bad habits --
1. procrastinating chores
2. surfing the web
3. eating junk

6. Five places I've lived --
DARN I am a boring person because although I've BEEN to lots of places I've only ever LIVED in Austin

7. Five jobs I've had --
1. data processing at the IRS
2. special ed aid
3. teacher
4. Does babysitting count as a job???

8. Five things people don't know about me
Hmmm, I don't know if I want to reveal what people don't know.
1. I'm a shopping addict. Fortunately -- I'm not a BUYING addict
2. I'm addicted to chocolate. Once I start I can't seem to stop