A Week of Basketball

 JD and his friend Lincoln spent the week at Basketball Camp.  It has been fun but exhausting.  The boys didn't have quite as much pep in their step on Friday as they did on Monday.

 "Coach Roger" comes every year to help with Basketball camp.  He graduated from Bowie in 19xx (since it would date me we won't say exactly when).  He was in one of my first classes and was one of those students that you never forget.  He is just as fun an energetic as a coach as he was as a student.

 The head basketball coach starts every morning with a talk, a few jokes, and a mid court behind the head shot at the basket.  Eventually he will make that shot.  He does every year.

 Tuesday was Lincoln's birthday so we celebrated with pizza . . .

 . . . and games . . .

. . . and rides.

Jumping Jacks

Basketball Camp started this week.  Here are the boys doing some jumping jacks to warm up.  As they exercise the kids count 1 - 5 and then 5 - 1 and spell DAWGS. YES -- I know  dogs isn't spelled with a w -- BUT -- remember this is a camp run by athletes not academics!

This little bird . . .

. . . has a really big attitude . . . and he loves cherries.

Summer is here!

Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer.  The pools open, school is almost out and . . . 

 . . . we eat fish with Grandpa.  Uncle Tommy sure does have a big hat.  That wide brim keeps the sun off.

 Every school day begins with morning assembly.  This was one of our last morning assemblies of the year.  It is amazing to see what 600 well trained children can do.  They all sit quietly and listen to the principal every morning.  On this particular day the 5th graders serenaded us with a song in Italian.

Ahhhhhh, finally --- the last day of school.  And how did we spend the first day of summer vacation. . . .

. . . in faculty meeting.  JD said that even though we got pancakes the meeting was too long and too boring.  JD did a great job of sitting quietly while the adults in charge went on and on --- see --- we have learned a useful skill at church!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

 Memorial Day means brisket!  George started at 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning and we had this delicious meat for dinner Sunday night.

 JD's new best friend Gumball came home on Saturday morning.  It seems to enjoy a little apple treat.

Jack's Magic Beans

JD's class performed their end of the year puppet show this morning.  I was lucky that the time slot fell when I had a conference period and was able to attend.  JD's puppet (in case you can't tell . . . ha ha ha . . . ) is the giant from the story of Jack and the beanstalk.

 All the kids did a good job.  They read their lines and moved their puppets from behind this fancy stage. 

I decided this lady in the red gets my obnoxious mom award.  REALLY - do you have to get so close to the show that you are in every other mom's picture?  Since JD wasn't in this particular show I decided I could laugh at her self centeredness without getting too upset about it.

Waterballoons and Cub Scouts

 What do you get when you mix water balloons with Cub Scouts?  A lot of wet boys!  Everyone brought their ice chests full of ammunition for the fight.

 JD put on his game face and prepared for battle.

The water balloon madness began.  Dad helped JD but tried to stay out of the line of fire.  Wet boys don't smell quite as bad as wet dogs - BUT - when we got home the boy took a bath anyway.