A Day In The Life of Mama

 The pencils need to be sharpened!

My boys have been begging me all year to be allowed to come and spend some time in my classroom.  So when I found out that yesterday was Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, I saw it as the perfect opportunity.  They were excited!

 Nate leads a reading group.

 Chris leads his reading group.

Correcting papers.  

These boys were pooped after their day on the job! 

I think they'll be sticking to 3rd grade for a while.

Giraffe Painting

 Nate and I had a date last night.  Just the two of us.  We went to Vine Gogh, where I was a few weeks ago and painted my chicken.  When I saw that the painting of the evening was a giraffe, I knew that I had to sign Nate up for the class.  He loves Giraffes.

 The place was filled with adults, and Nate was the only kid there.  He just made the cut, since 9 years old is the minimum age for the evening classes.   Phew!

 It's starting to come to life.  Nate was eye-level with the nostrils (which at times looked like the eyes!), and I think that at times getting the perspective of the whole giraffe was challenging.  Always good to step back and take a look!  That's what artists do.

 After 2+ hours of painting on a Friday night (and definitely past his bedtime!) I could see Nate's steam running out.  But he felt good about his painting and had tons of fun!

The finished product.  Of course, Nate wanted to add the signature mole to giraffe's chin.  This way, there will be no mistaking who the artist was.  I love it!

Tradition at Neil Kelly

Chris and Nate's tradition at Neil Kelly.

It feels like the kind of story that finishes the newscast on a week night.  I love it! 

Baseball Opening Day 2013

Another season of baseball is here.  This year the boys are playing in Minors, and for the first time, they are on two different teams!  The next few months will be filled with baseball.

They love this sport.  I love watching them play this sport.  Here's to a great season!

Scientists

 Both boys participated in their school's first annual science fair.  Nate grew bacteria from culturing various surfaces around the school, and Chris tested the temperature of boiling salt water.  Very exciting.

We have entered the era of goofball expressions on their face at picture time.  

Nate's expression was due to his mother taking his picture while others looked on....Chris has the expression of his altar ego, Niner'.  Don't ask.