On The Road Again

Here's Sarah after an afternoon of beading bracelets for my friend Charisse. Can you ever have too many accessories?



I'm off to Dallas for a couple days. Robyn, her sister, niece and I are going to see No Doubt! We are super excited! Of course, it's the busiest weekend ever and we really shouldn't be gone but we didn't know it would be like that when we purchased tickets months ago! I'm sure this concert will "rock" and we'll be back Monday!

Naughty Boy

Here's what Lucas thought of the second grade picnic. (That's his sandwich on the ground five feet from the stroller where he threw it.)



This is what happens when he is left unattended with a brown eyeliner pencil.



There should be a picture of all the writing on the walls and computer screen but those got cleaned up before photographic evidence could be gathered. I think we all know who did it.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good: I chopped off my hair. Hasn't been this short since Jacob was a baby. My stylist had "a wild hair" and just went for it without telling me what he was doing. Good thing I liked it! I needed the change.



The Bad: This fork sculpture has caused quite a stir in the land of Pleasantville HOAs. It's outside of a new restaurant/art gallery plaza in our neighborhood. The community developers think it's a sign. The owner says it's art. I think it's awesome. But the developers won the battle and now the fork has a wall being built around it so you can't see it from the street. Haven't they ever heard of the Spoon Bridge & Cherry? But all the publicity surely hasn't hurt the new restaurants, so maybe it's a win/win in the end.



The Ugly: 'Nuff said. This guy was in the garage the other day. He did not live long enough to tell his buddies to stay out of the garage. Luckily, the pest control service will be here tomorrow. We must be due.

Honest Abe

Jacob had to do a biography report and oral presentation on Abraham Lincoln. Hard to say if he is most excited about the fact that Abe is on the five dollar bill and penny or that he was carried in a train after being shot in the head. Morbid? Yes. Interesting to boys? Yes. Anyway, he had to dress up for his presentation. Who knew Hobby Lobby sold hairy fabric?




Jacob was also very excited about the Star Wars legos from Grandma Meyer. He's got the little Darth Vader character in his pocket today to show people. I told him it was a bad idea and that if he loses it he doesn't get another one. Or if he gets an "N" I will take it all away until school gets out. Hopefully Darth does not find the bottom of the cafeteria trashcan or get lost in the playground rocks.

Jacob's Birthday

Today was Jacob's 8th birthday. We swam in the neighbor's pool and played "warmer/colder" to find his presents. He was super excited because almost everything was Star Wars related. I swear, he's been brainwashed by George Lucas.

We checked out a new pizza joint called GameTown thinking it might be a good place to have his party, but Mom and Dad were not impressed. Pizza wasn't great. Games were expensive and pretty difficult for any kid under 12. Jacob managed to earn enough tickets to get several fabulous prizes from the garbage can ...I mean, prize counter. A whoopee cushion, a cardboard airplane, a green bracelet, a ring and three sets of vampire teeth.



So it's looking like his birthday will be held at the house with a waterslide. Better squeeze that in before we go to Stage 2 water restrictions! Luckily it's rained every day for at least a little bit over the last several days. Unfortunately, there's so much packed into the next two weeks, he may have to wait until June 5th!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Angie's Birthday Party

Angie is Ethan's girlfriend at preschool. Or at least she thinks Ethan is her boyfriend. She had her birthday party today and sadly, only two kids from her class showed up. Tough day for a party though, which is why we'll probably have Jacob's after school gets out next week. Anyway, there was a pinata as big as the kids...



Ethan swung the stick so hard that it came around and whapped him on the head during his follow-through...



Sofia, Ethan and Angie. Awwwhhhhhh.

Second Grade Picnic

At Jacob's school, they had the Second Grade Picnic last Friday. I went with all the kids and a cooler filled with sandwiches, chips and juice boxes. I think the kids ate two bites of their lunches and made a beeline for the playground. Here is Jacob with three of his buddies: Noah, Jake and Chase.



Sarah, the future Kindergartener, mastering the playground.



Lucas on the swings.



Ethan on the zip track that really doesn't zip anymore.



Jacob was buried in dusty playground rocks by his classmates. Isn't that what friends are for?!?

Missed my calling.

Last night the local Papa John's Pizza place helped Jacob's school with a fundraiser. For every pizza ordered by a Hardy Oak family, a teacher would deliver your pizza! His school got 20% of the Hardy Oak sales and got to keep all of the tip money. The school that did it two weeks ago raised $3,300!

Since most of the teachers don't live in the school boundary area, they asked for parent volunteers to drive the teachers around. We had to do a background check, have a flag on the car and wait in a line up of cars for the next teacher to come out with an order or two. I drove a first grade teacher, a third grade teacher and a fifth grade teacher a couple times. Was fun to get to know them in that way. I'd drive them up to the right house and they would jump out and deliver the pizza, jump back in and we were off to the next one! It was pretty fun.

While I was driving, Mark placed an order for delivery to our house. Jacob was hoping for his own teacher to deliver it but a fourth grade teacher he had never met before was the one that came to the door. Bummer! Oh well. We all have newfound respect for the pizza delivery dudes and will probably tip better because of it!

Preschool Musical 3

All day, I kept thinking of the songs from High School Musical 3 and how the characters all graduate and sing about plans for their future.

"Looking forward from center stage to graduation day..."
(Sarah is middle back)



"Time to get the future started..."
Sarah was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up and she said a "princess." Other popular choices were ballerina, doctor and Shamu trainer. Then they walked across a bridge on the stage and received their diplomas from the teachers.



"The friends who've been there all along..."
The Pink Ladies. In gold. The last time they will all be in class together. That was more bittersweet than knowing Sarah is off to Kindergarten. Left to right - Sarah, Lexie, Camryn, Kylie, Gwen, Kaelie, Lakyn & Grace)



"Step into the future..."
Aren't those collars cute? Embroidered with their names. Sarah's does have an "H" even though it's hard to see here.


"Who says we have to let them go???"

Graduation Countdown

Today was the last day of preschool for Ethan and Sarah. For Ethan, it was like any other day. But for Sarah - it was huge! Graduation! On to Kindergarten! But more on that later. Here's Ethan with his spiky new "do" right before school.



The preschool is doing some redecorating! Gone are the murals of 2-D children walking among randomly placed flowers and animals. Now the whole hallway is painted sage green and there are about eight of these larger-than-life pictures of a few of the students. One of which is Ethan! It's really cute - and even Lucas recognizes "hey, that's my brother!"



Here is Sarah, looking lovely in a dress from our personal stylist (and hand-me-down giver) Reagan. She was so excited to wear it! Too bad it was hidden under a graduation gown most of the day.



Sarah and Lakyn.



The art teacher at preschool did individual silhouettes of all the graduates. They must have taken her forever - there were more than 30 kids! It was black paper cut with a very sharp x-acto or something. Really detailed and amazing.

Birthday Party

Lucas was a guest at a birthday party Wednesday at a place called Dynamoze (281 and Brookhollow). It looked so trashy from the outside, I was afraid the inside would be disgusting! But it was clean, bright, fun, clean, open, and clean. Did I say clean? Fantastic! They even had baskets hanging on the wall for you to put toys in that had been in somebody's mouth! Awesome! Here's a bunch of pics of Lucas enjoying himself.

Re-Energized!

Take one night with 12 hours of sleep, plus Mother's Day, plus exciting business news for a friend and two blast-from-the-past Facebook connections, I feel re-energized to get thru the school year! There's still lots of planning and logistics to figure out but it's all for fun stuff like the tball party, Jacob's birthday, a moms night out and going to New Braunfels to spend a day on the the river.

Anyone want to dress up like a Star Wars character for Jacob's party? I'm looking for a few good Stormtroopers.

Lookin' good!

The boys got haircuts recently. Lucas' is still pretty wispy but at least he doesn't look like he stuck his finger in a light socket anymore. Ethan got a buzz cut like Jacob.



My mother's day breakfast was scrambled eggs and toast. Lucas ate most of them. We spent the day doing homework and booking travel to NJ in August. I got a gift certificate to a spa. Now I just need a day to use it!

Done!

Finally, Staff Appreciation Week is behind us. It really was pretty fantastic. We had catered lunches Mon-Thurs from places like PF Changs, Chipotle and La Fogata. The ice cream sundae bar yesterday was so fun. All the staff were like kids - swirling their ice cream around like they worked (or wanted to work) at DQ. It was SO HOT and also field day so there were many extra volunteers that got to enjoy it. I thought the principal's secretary was going to cry and many of the teachers have sent us personal emails of thanks which makes it all worthwhile.

Sports for Sarah and Jacob have resumed, even though there is now a confirmed case of swine flu in their district. But there has to be 12% absenteeism due to confirmed swine flu cases before they will close school now, so I think we'll make it to the end of the year. (Unfortunate for the high schoolers who were trying to text/email each other into skipping school to get to the 12% absenteeism level. They forgot about the confirmed case part of it!)

Today we have a basketball game at 10, Tball at 11, basketball at 12 and birthday party at 1. Gotta run!

Job Hunters

I have three bright, talented friends now looking for work in this lovely economy. So often, we hear "it's not what you know, it's WHO you know" so I am sending this info out to all of you in hopes that YOU know someone. Preferably someone who is hiring.

Robyn Chappell is a 17-year veteran of L'Oreal Cosmetics, primarily with Lancome. She is looking for a district manager, territory manager, trainer, sales executive-type position in any industry, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, apparel. Prefers San Antonio market.

Julie Maykowski is a doctor of vocal performance looking for a position in opera company management, directing operas, or a university-level teaching position in vocal performance. Available for any market.

Tim Dennis is a home builder most recently with Toll Bros. luxury homes. He is looking for a position with another builder or contract work to begin building his own firm. If you have a home-building, remodeling, or deck/patio project you need to get done, he can help you get started.

If you know of an opportunity for any of these three wonderful people, please let me know and I will get you their contact information.

Crap Show

Uh, I mean Craft Show. That's where I wasted 6+ hours today to sell one set of wine charms. It was a well-publicized church show, lots of vendors, nice day...just no shoppers. Could it have been fear of swine flu? Could it have been the economy? Could it have been the FUNERAL that was going on simultaneously that scared them off??

Luckily Charisse brought her box of beads and jewelry making supplies. We spent about 5 hours making necklaces and bracelets. At least she'll be well-stocked for her show at our school Wednesday for Staff Appreciation Week!

I try not to buy things at the shows we do. It's too easy to spend everything that I make! But today, I was intrigued by a Baked Potato Bag. It's a quilted bag about 10" square. You put your rinsed/damp potatoes in the bag - no pricks - and stick it in the microwave. It takes 6 minutes to cook four medium sized potatoes and they come out all fluffy like they do when they have been cooked in the oven! Or so the lady says. I'll have to report back on this one, I think. But I am excited to try it! She had all sorts of fabric choices - from Elvis to Toosie Rolls to more normal kitchen themes. The Parisien restaurant one was cute but only came in the smaller size. I got the big one so I can heat up tortillas with it too! Here's my bag!



Lucas learned a new trick...He can say "Shhh!" which will probably come in handy around here!