More ... movies and pictures

I've been posting more and more movie clips at YouTube. You can find them here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=writeacher

Audace and Ruse went for their first set of vaccinations this morning -- at a mobile clinic in The Woodlands. They'll go back next month for the second round. They were awful -- hissing and spitting. But of course, humans won, and kittens received their first shots! Grace goes in for her second round on Thursday afternoon. Apparently she is like Indy was -- nice and calm and cooperative for the veterinarian and aides. Nice kitty!

Now how can I get up there?

... and there?

Romping kittens

The kittens are now 11 and a half weeks old (birthday on April 15, Austen figured), and they learn more and become more daring each day. In addition to these photos, be sure to go to http://www.youtube.com/ and conduct a search for writeacher to find the movie clips I've uploaded. They are SO funny!

Home from camp!

Parker returned from camp about 12:30 pm last Friday. He had a wonderful time -- I don't think he used the soap or shampoo at all, but they went swimming a lot, so it probably didn't matter! He also returned with orange hair-paint!! He was suntanned, sunburned, and quite hoarse. What a wonderful week for this young man!

Grace

Here is my favorite picture of Grace so far!
She is so pretty, and she's starting to gain some weight, too. She's also a very gentle, loving cat -- not to mention a very attentive mommy!

The past week...

Parker went off to church camp this past Monday; he returns tomorrow about noon. We all have been wondering what they've been doing with their days and nights! What sports? What games? What food? Wonder, wonder! I guess we'll all find out soon.

In addition, the kittens continue to grow and play. They are very funny, and are providing LOTS of laughs! You can find more and more videos of them uploaded to www.youtube.com -- just put writeacher in the search bar and hit Enter.

New members of the family

Yesterday, three new members joined our family in Texas -- Grace, Pete, and Foster. You can see them and read the story of their rescue in this blog/website: Grace and Kittens. I am adopting Grace, and the kittens are for Austen, although actually all of us will love all of them! Austen is in the process of dreaming up his own names for the kittens. We'll see what he comes up with!

Enjoy!

Everyday stuff!

Here are some photos of a few everyday things around here lately.

First photo is of a really tiny frog (or is it a toad?) on a brick just outside my kitchen window yesterday morning! Without its legs extended (as in jumping mode), it's about ¾" long! That brick is about 2½" wide!!

Second photo, taken through glass, unfortunately, is of Kira in her summer gymnastics class. She's enjoying it and trying out all kinds of new moves!!

Third photo is of Kira teaching Alex (age 3, lives next door) how to play Nick Jr games on her daddy's computer. Such a pair!!

Party at Raging Waters, San Jose, May 28th

Here are various photos from Sunday's party at Raging Waters -- the water slide park in San Jose. They're not in order!

Simone got a "tattoo" (air brushed on) of two dolphins. She went in umpteen air tubes down the various slides in the park, including the really long ones (see last picture). She is just about fearless!!

Everyone had a wonderful time.

May 27th -- playing with a classmate

Simone and one of her classmates, Calisa, played for several hours on Saturday. (Calisa wasn't going to be able to come to the party at Raging Waters on Sunday.) One of their artistic feats was to use sidewalk chalk to draw a car (you can see the seat behind Simone and some car windows!) and play in it. Calisa is driving, and Simone is in the passenger seat. Simone's two Trudies are in the back seat!! What imaginations!

First party - May 26th

The first of two birthday parties -- this one in Simone's classroom on Friday afternoon, May 26th, her actual birthday!

Proud times!

Anne's kids did well in collecting their respective awards last week. Parker earned a medal and trophy for all the reading he did this past year. He really outdid himself!

Kira's graduation from Kindergarten included a wonderful program of singing and dancing by all the pre-K, K, and 1st grade students. It was great fun for everyone.

Austen received awards for qualifying into the Duke University talent i.d. program because of his extra-high test scores; he also received an award for perfect attendance.

Their parents' hard work is definitely showing!!

Patio finished!

Here are three photos of the finished flagstone patio. Dwarf mondo grass has been planted between the stones, and there is a path (second picture) leading from the little patio that came with the house, across the lawn, through the trees, and out to the big patio.

The last major project in the back yard will be a fairly low ground cover (asian jasmine) across the back of the yard along the fence, under and around the crape myrtle trees there.

In the third picture, the extra flagstones (small and/or broken) are piled in the mulch. They'll either be used decoratively somewhere, or they'll be tossed out. I'm not sure yet.


It's taking shape, better and better each week!

Latest attempt

I tried to post one of the movie clips I took at Austen's band concert on the evening of May 18, but it really messed up the look of the blog. So ... if anyone would like to hear his band perform, just go to www.youtube.com and enter WRITEACHER in the search box near the top right of the screen. The videos I've uploaded are available from there.

Enjoy!

Kitty movies on Mondays

Here's a fun website to start out the week in a good mood -- KittyMovieMonday. I have now posted all three of the movie clips I have: two of Indy taken last year in La Quinta, and one of Cabernet ("Jungle kitty"), taken and narrated by Austen (with Kira's help).

Enjoy!

Patio -- in process

Here are some photos of the transformation that's taking place. (The rose beds along the side fences were put in during March -- ten rose bushes in all, five on each side. The five crape myrtle trees along the back fence were put in last August.)

Now the flagstone patio is in process. Hooray! It'll take a while to be finished since my gardener has other jobs and commitments, too, but there's no real rush. He's about one-fourth of the way done with the flagstone part; then he'll plant tiny mondo grass plants in the spaces between the flags. It'll be about 20' x 50' in area, and it'll be wonderful for a big table/chairs/umbrella set, container gardening, etc.

I'll post more photos as things move along.

Earlier back yard

Here are a couple of photos of my back yard as it looked last September ... tiny bit of grass; my wonderful, gorgeous trees; lots of weeds! Later in the fall, the area seen through the two darker trees (just left of center in the first picture) was planted and the grass area extended on both sides, but not filling up the whole weedy area all the way to the back fence.

I knew what I wanted to do almost from the very beginning with this yard, but I also knew it would probably cost a bundle and would have to be done in stages. Slowly, slowly it's getting done!

Sporty!

Here are Kira and Ken, about to take a ride in the Miata!

Don't they look sporty??

Northampton's field day

Yesterday was Field Day at Parker's school for the 4th graders. He had a blast! By the time it was over, he had been in a tug-of-war, played on the big bouncy-toys, run races, and participated in water events (relay-like races to fill a bucket with water from a sponge and from a cup!). They were all dirty, wet, and tired -- and happy.

In the first picture, Parker and his friend Ian are showing me their class's sign, indicating that they are on the team from Mrs. Wells' class called the Wild Cats.

In the second picture, Parker is running back to his team's bucket with a cup full of water.




In the third picture, he is leaving the starting line for the 50m dash.