weekend

This weekend was pretty quiet.  Friday night we had a middle school meeting that got us home so late that Teagan fell asleep putting on her pajamas!

Today Teagan and I went to see the Barnstable High production of the Wizard of Oz.  It is the movie version and was beautifully done!  There were so many people on stage sometimes I couldn't believe that it was a high school production!  Teagan was thrilled by the beautiful Good Witch of the North and the fact that she rode in on a bubble every time she entered a scene, riding it down from the ceiling!  The Wicked Witch of the West, Ms. Gootch, and two flying monkeys also flew in the production.  They came out into the audience often and the flying monkeys came up to us.  It was a great live production for Teagan to see.  To read more about it read this.

We had some excitement while we were there.  Someone turned on a smoke machine when they weren't supposed to, a smoke detector went off and everyone had to evacuate.  They ended up just making that the intermission.

Did I mention that there was a live green horse in the Emerald City?  Crazy!

Brunch

This morning we joined Ginger, our friend and my employer, her son in law Fred, and her grandchildren Alexander and Kate for Brunch at the Ridge Club.

It was beautiful and delicious.

Braeden took pictures of some of us in our "fancy" clothes.  Some of us changed so quickly that Braeden didn't have a chance to get the shot!

Planting

The Easter Bunny brought Braeden and Teagan some seeds, gloves, and other various gardening gear.  This afternoon they put some seeds into pots to start before placing in our garden.  It is a bit early, but Braeden has managed to grow and oak tree in a pot in his room, so anything is possible!

Meeps visits!

Meeps came for a visit, arriving Thursday afternoon.  She pulled in just hours after Braeden spiked a fever at school (103!) and we all rushed home.  So, Friday was a very quiet day making sure Braeden stayed home.  He won't stay in bed, but we did aim to keep him quiet.  It must have worked because he was feeling better by Friday evening.

Meeps played many, many games, including what seemed like one thousand games of Candy Land!

Easter

The Easter Bunny stopped by our house while most of us were asleep.  Apparently, the bunny asked Lily to lend a paw.  She must have done so, because she got a special bunny basket!  

Braeden and Teagan were also thrilled with the goodies the bunny left for them--especially the money.  As they noted, the Easter Bunny must be rich--he left each of them a one dollar bill and eggs with coins inside, almost three dollars worth!  Lily received no money or candy, but was happy with her little chew toys and some treats.

Middle School boat

Jeff and the Middle School students are doing boat building as a part of the school curriculum.  Here are some pictures of their skiff in progress.

Egg Hunt at Coonamessett Farm

Saturday dawned nice and sunny (if a bit of a chill in the air).  Meeps is visiting, so the kids and I headed over to the Comfort Inn pool for a little swim with Meeps.  AFter lunch we headed off to Coonamessett Farm for the Easter Egg Hunt.  Jeff had been there all morning helping his students help Ron and Roxanna.  It was a great thing the middle school students were there as the farm ended up with an unexpected record attendance for the egg hunt!  They do a wonderful job, every child tries to find three eggs and when they find them they bring them back (this year to the new educational building) and get a cookie or a brownie to decorate.  Braeden was feeling a bit grumpy by the time he was decorating the brownie and did not want his picture taken.  He had gone home from school early on Thursday with a fever and stayed in Friday recuperating.  Saturday he was out longer than I would have liked, but he seems better anyway!

Jeff and the middle school students did a marvelous job!  They seemed to be having fun, working hard, and were great examples of what 11-13 year old students can be if entrusted and treated with respect.

Easter is coming!

Today we prepared by dyeing eggs.  We bought a set of dyes that had a sparkle option--Teagan chose the sparkles!

Fire truck!

We have been selling some things on Craig's List so that we can continue to fit in our house (where does all this stuff come from?).  This week we really lucked out.  We sold some of our old videos (we only have a DVD player now) to a West Barnstable fire fighter.  He came over to pick them up on a nice evening in the fire engine!  The kids, including a neighbor, were able to climb in it, try driving, and just generally get to know the fire truck.  This is a chance that people often pay for and we got paid $5 and lots of fun :)

Cheryl's project

I have many projects going on, but this is the one I just finished.  The Lunch Box Cookbook--a project which benefits SMEAF, the parent organization at Sandwich Montessori.  Jeff, the kids, Ginger, Alexander and I spent 4 hours Thursday evening putting together 50 books.  I still have another 25  or so to bind which I will work on afternoons this week.  Most of those 50 have already been sold which is great!  We have already made our money back and now are bringing in money for SMEAF as well as giving people ideas for lunches!

Haircut

Braeden and Jeff have been discussing the possibility of a haircut for weeks.  Jeff didn't like Braeden's hair growth and Braeden didn't like the idea of cutting it.  Apparently while I was at the grocery store they came to a compromise--Jeff barely cut the front, but shortened the back.

South America

Teagan has been making maps at school and in my classroom after school!  She is particularly proud of her map of South America because she "named it".  What she means is she labeled all of the countries!  To make these maps she builds the puzzle map on the paper, traces around each pice, colors them in according to the colors of the puzzle map, and then uses the control map to help label them.  It is big work!

book report

Braeden has a book report due every month, but many are done within school.  This month he read James and the Giant Peach and created a diorama.  He chose to show the cloudmen and their attack on the peach.  His original plan had everything floating in the box as it would in the sky, but gravity decided that would not work!  I helped with some painting and added extra hands to help hold glued items on while they dried, but he made the plan and executed it beautifully.  He also wrote a lovely report.

Basketball ends

All good things must come to an end, and basketball is one of those.  Saturday was the last basketball game of the season.  As with all YMCA sports, everyone gets a medal just for showing up.  

Teagan got to enjoy the celebration and get her medal, but she didn't get to play.  The schedule was changed and since Teagan was sick we were not at the last game, so we showed up at the originally scheduled time.  I felt horrible, but I really don't think Teagan minded.  Basketball is not really her sport :)

The Plymouth Philharmonic

Today we had the chance to go to the Family Concert at the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra.  It included a chance to touch and try some instruments.  Teagan loved the viola and the viola player thought Teagan should have viola lessons.  She also liked the tuba which was almost as big as her!  

Braeden liked the drums and some of the other instruments.  What he liked the most was that some of his friends from school were there.  Noah's Dad is the director of the Phil and was generous enough to share tickets with some of us from school.

We were glad that Teagan was feeling well enough to join us.  (Mom was getting a bit tired of staying home!)

Everyone had a great time!

Welcome Kade Anthony!

Our new cousin arrived in Minnesota a few weeks earlier than expected, but he is truly beautiful.  Most babies (including my own) look a bit squished and 'all red and squirmy' but Kade does not!  My cousin Sarah did a beautiful job bringing him into this world and we know she and Todd will continue to guide him as beautifully as they have started.