homework help

The kittens are three months old already. Here they are helping Mike with his homework. There's Addie close by on the left. Ricky isn't too far away.

blue lake fine arts camp

If you have a kid who enjoys music, theater or dance, there is an absolutely wonderful camp in Michigan called Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Mike just spent nearly two weeks there. It was his second year. He loved it - played challenging music with a superb conductor, and made some great friends. He played clarinet - got fourth chair in the top band, the Wind Ensemble (the kids auditioned and were divided into four bands). 

The picture above is just after they performed their final piece - you can see how happy the conductor is!

Here I am hugging my boy when we picked him up. Two weeks seemed like forever.

handsome kid

Mike's band (all the kids who weren't seniors) played Pomp and Circumstance at the high school graduation ceremony over the weekend. He looks so handsome all dressed up. Love the floral tie we found at Goodwill.

I do have a few paper projects I'll post soon. My letter box class is coming up next week, and I've been working on card samples for a "Christmas in July" class at Your Stamping Cottage.

mother's day

Yesterday was Mother's Day. We talked to Jim's mom Joan - she's an amazing lady. She's 92, and just recently had to stop driving. Although she's not been in the best of health lately, she still has her sense of humor and warmth. We love her dearly.

My guys took me out to breakfast (before Jim had to go to work). And then I spent the rest of the day working on class samples and relaxing. Mike made me a wonderful gift. He took an old engineering book and turned it into this piece of art. I'm thinking I'll keep it laying down and use it as an ATC display - just tuck them between the pages. But it looks so pretty upright, I might just have to hang it on the wall.

Me, Mike and Addie, hanging out on Mother's Day:

more music

Mike's jazz band played at a high school jazz festival recently. Awesome day - those kids sounded terrific. They also played at an awards ceremony at school (more on that later). What surprises me is how many kids switch instruments between symphonic band, jazz band and marching band. For example, my kid plays clarinet in the symphonic band, tenor sax in the jazz band, and in a couple of months he'll be in the marching band drum line. But that happens all the time... the bass clarinetist plays jazz flute, the flute player switches to jazz piano, another clarinet player marched tuba last season, and there are many more.... I think it's wonderful they have the opportunity to spread their wings musically in a public school. Yay, Mr. P.!

Mike's also in a clarinet choir at Northern Kentucky University. Beautiful music! And quite a diverse group - they range in age from 14 to 70.

OK, since I'm in mom bragging mode here. Mike has received some end-of-school-year awards. They had a ceremony at school last week. He was on the All-A Honor Roll. He also was awarded Outstanding Student in his Modern History class, and also in his English Honors class.

Also last week (whew, busy week!) was the band banquet. In addition to recognizing the kids for all the honor bands they took part in, or making all-state, etc., the teacher selected the Outstanding Bandsman for each grade. And Mike won for the Freshman class! We (as always) are so proud of him!

Edited to add: On the last day of school Mike came home with another certificate - Outstanding Student in his Honors Science class. There had been a mix-up with the awards, and his name was called with the Juniors.

music man

Here's Mike playing tenor sax in the jazz band at school. He started a new job last week - giving clarinet lessons to a sixth-grader at the middle school. We couldn't be happier that music is such a big part of his life.