Summer Snapshots

Ok, this is promising to be a crazy busy summer, with the three of us going to rehearsals nearly every night right after we get off work, so my posts will be few and far between. Thanks to my new cell phone that has a camera, when I post it will be very picture - laden, with photos that are not the best quality. But, hey, it's an update...

Long ago we decided HD should get his own cell phone when he turned 12, because it would be a good safety/security tool when he got to middle school. We realized this spring that he would be in middle school way before turning 12, so one of his b-day presents was the promise to get a cell phone before school starts.

We told him we would pay for the basic, bare-minimum, cheapest phone that also had a camera option. If he wanted anything fancy, he'd have to pay the difference. So he saved $100 in birthday money and allowance, because he wanted a phone with a full keyboard for texting.

As is the way in Harrison's world, it just so happens that they had the perfect phone - touch screen, full keyboard, and camera - on sale for $80. It was also a buy one, get one free item. So I got a basic $40 purple phone, and Julio and Harrison got two fancy phones, one for $80 the other free, so basically $40 each. HD got more than he wanted and had all his money still in the bank.

HD's new phone came in handy during the Franklin music orientation. He was able to download free game demo's and send picture messages to Julio.

Harrison at callbacks for The Music Man

learning Gary Indiana

waiting for dad to finish his callback auditions

Julio took a work "field trip" to a Chicago Cubs game, but it got rained out.

HD & Julio at a lecture at the Eastern Iowa Observatory. After the lecture, they let us observe Saturn through the giant telescope.

Harrison's favorite soccer practice. The rain poured down so hard, it was like going through a car wash.

Soaking wet!

I made him strip down to his skivvies and sit on towels for the ride home.

Julio on the way home from his first ever play practice.

Harrison pretending to be thrilled about our "field trip" to explore fiber options to help his digestion problems.

Harrison & I had our own "take your child to work day" the Monday of the last week of school. They had to go to school an extra week due to snow days, and the teachers were showing movies and killing time, so we knew he wouldn't miss anything. This picture was taken at a movie theater - we were the very first customers of the summer for the free kids movies!

Julio tucking in Zuki

HD at Music Man rehearsal

Music Man rehearsal - HD and I are sitting on the faraway couch reflected in the mirror - I'm wearing an orange shirt & he's in a red shirt.

Julio (left) ready to ref at soccer playoffs

soccer playoffs

last day of 5th grade - on to Middle School for HD & Dylan

dropped off at Kenwood for the last time

Abbie's last day with our daycare - we took her to lunch at Ghengis Grill

we got an air hockey game for $10 at a neighborhood garage sale

walking home from G&G's

HD self-portrait at 1st cello lesson

cello class - HD in red

practicing without a bow

our summer daycare kids and their "adopt-a-pot" project for the neighborhood pool

Rehearsing the train scene for Music Man - JM in blue, SM in grey. Right now I'm filling in for all missing salesmen, since I know the song.

JM in the "Wa-Tan-Ye" scene

HD (aka "Fred") entranced by Harold Hill

Harrison's summer job is working as a "camp counselor" for my summer daycare, a job he takes very seriously and does very well. One recent rainy morning, he set up stations all over the house, including making a fort at the top of the stairs.