This guy has had an amazing year at Poker Hill School.  Not only has he absolutely LOVED going to school everyday, but he's become quite a personality on campus.  He seems to get along well with so many of the kids, but he also has endeared himself to a lot of the teachers.  When it came time to pick an M.C. for the spring show, we were proud to hear that the teachers selected him.  I'm not sure if the video I took will load, but it doesn't really do what he did justice.  He was loud, poised, and charming.  He also got to sing his favorite song, "Hockey Monkey" song. 

In other events, the kids got to bowl in an MMU Science vs. Math department competition.  I think they helped the science department maintain the cup.

I also pulled the kids out of school to participate with my advisory in some community service at the Davis Farm.  It's pretty awesome to see the big kids warm up to the little kids.

And finally, hazey has been playing on a t-ball team coached by his tireless and patient and proud papa.  John has been reluctant to coach soccer, but because baseball was such a big part of his childhood, he felt obliged to coach Hazey's team.  The regime included one practice a week and games every Saturday morning at 8:30am?!?!?!?  Not to sound too boastful, but Hazey really has some amazing hand eye coordination. He doesn't even really need a tee.  It's rare that he misses a parent pitched ball.

At times it looks more like herding cats than playing t-ball, but they all seem to be having a super fun time. 

MLM's 75th

The matriarch of my family had a milestone birthday!  She taught me to LOVE birthdays and to celebrate and honor yourself on a birthday.  Therefore, I tried to make this one as special as possible, without making too big of a deal about it (because she didn't want a big deal being made).   The kids and I arrived in time to have a celebratory dinner on her actual birthday.  We even came with homemade carrot cake cupcakes. 

Saturday was spent playing with cousins on the trampoline, riding bikes, and going to lacrosse games.

Upon Grandma's request, all of us went out to her favorite restaurant in New Canaan.  Everyone got gussied up. These two looked particularly cute.

 Our big gift to her was a book of birthday wishes from her family.  I think she really like it.

MLM is a very modest woman.  She's taught me a lot about about being humble, loyal, kind and caring.  I'm so glad we got to honor her in a special way.

Climbing & Wrapping up the year at UVM

Six months ago, John brought the kids to the indoor climbing gym and they lost interest within a half hour.  He hasn't been pushing it to bring them again.  However, on a recent rainy Sunday, the kids asked if they could go.  Hazen got a gift certificate for his birthday, so it was hard to say no.  Plus, we have all the gear and it was fun for the kids to get to use it.

Hazey is a "go for it" kind of kid. But when he gets to a certain point beyond his comfort zone, he definitely admits his discomfort.

Cal, on the other hand, is a heady climber.  She needs to scope, plan, and then try and retry her attempts before she eventually bounds up to the top of a climb.

 It's so fun to see their smiles of accomplishment.

As is always the case, right after we return from my April vacation, John gets busy wrapping things up at UVM.  It's a bit of a tease, as I still have six weeks of teaching before my year ends.  The kids love the gatherings with the college kids.

the senior Outing Club awards banquet at Halvorsons

The Outing Club picnic at High Meadow

Because John had already secured High Meadow for a late afternoon picnic for his Outing Club, we decided to invite some of our local friends up for some playing around the pond.

Pisgah!!!!

At this point, we've been doing this trip so many times, that we've got the whole thing figured out..... mostly.  We managed to get on the road by 4pm on the Friday school got out, ate a great dinner at Nana and Grandpa's, and the kids got out for a trail ride while I got in a 10 mile run.

Next stop was at Hester, Flora, Foofie, and Hudnell's place in Middleburg, VA.  The weather was perfect and the kids had a ball playing lacrosse, eating delicious food, and we all did a lot of laughing. 

Next stop was Davidson River Campground.  This would be our home for the next five days.  The Kelsey, Aubin/Weiland, and Davis/Thompson families all joined us.  It was heaven!  The weather was perfect.  The kids rode bikes, scootered, swam, whittled, read, hiked, and built fairy houses. 

 The parents did a lot of great mountain biking.  Some days the ladies rode together, some days two couples rode together, but everyday we all got out for a great ride in perfect weather on amazing trails.

Some nights we cooked, but some nights we went to the Oskar Blues brewery and ate from the food trucks and let the kids play in the sunshine.  

We stopped through Richmond, VA to see the Wootton family for a great dinner and a fun hike before hitting I-95 and stopping at Bumpa and Grandma's.

And Cally lost another tooth!  She's toothless!

Big Girl!

I can't believe what a little lady this gal is already becoming.  Cal and I went out on a girls double date with her friend Thompson and her Mom-- three months later to celebrate her 7th birthday.

The kids spent a Saturday at Chemistry Camp at UVM.  Hazen is technically too young.  He's supposed to be in kindergarten, but we know the guy in charge of the grad students who organize the camp and he told us it was alright to "fudge" the paperwork.  Needless to say, these budding scientists LOVED it.  It was great to see Cal look after her younger brother and the grad students said Hazey was great, asking questions and fully engaged.  They never would have guessed that he wasn't in kindergarten yet. 

Meanwhile, we continue to try to expose the kids to all sorts of extra-curricular disciplines..... like the local dance performance of Aladdin.  Hazey got to rub the magic lantern (although Cally said it just looked like a fancy gravy boat).

We all got to celebrate the arts at JES and see a few of Cally's pieces of art.

Here is a picture of a mask Cally made at Poker Hill Arts.  She loves PHA, but hates taking the bus there.  I'll never understand what it's all about, but all the worries of the past month are wrapped up in that darn bus ride.  She has gone so far as to convince the school nurse that she needed to come home twice in the last month because of that bus ride. Mr Lane, her guidance counselor, has convinced me that it's not about the bus, that she's just a worrier.  My friend Carlota recommended a book called , "From Worrier to Warrior".  It's been a really helpful read for both of us (it's actually meant for kids 8-12).  It explains the thinking brain and the fight or flight brain and the disconnect in between.  She gets it.  She knows that the worry monster comes in the days leading up to that bus ride and she knows that he's just a big bully.  It is getting a little bit easier every week-- because she is counting down until the end of the year.  Meanwhile, Hazey is being such a great supportive little brother.  He cheers her on and tells her "she can do it'.