Shades of Grey

Caleb was able to compose a piece at his music camp. It is here. His is titled Shades of Grey. He was recorded playing it.

(the picture is from his holiday concert)

Missing My Boy

On Sunday was the start of an adventure.

Caleb reading the information about camp.

We signed Caleb up for a music camp. At this camp Caleb has the opportunity to play his cello and sing in a choir. He is very excited about it.

He finished packing, we went to church, and then we hit the road.

We drove for about two hours to get to the college where he will be for the week. We saw plenty of fields.

We got there and registered him and then we went to get him checked into his room.

We got him unpacked, made his bed, and then we headed back over to the music hall for his audition.

Caleb outside his dorm room.

My little man on campus.

We left his dorm, went to the car to get his cello, drove back over to the music hall, and got ready for his audition.

Caleb a little nervous as he waits for his audition.

Brett standing outside the audition door.

Brett listening to his audition.

Caleb in his "home" for the next week.

Caleb and his roommate.

Sad mom leaving her son.

After the audition, we had him walk back to the dorms so that he would get a sense of the campus and the paths he would need to follow. When we got back to the dorm, his roommate was there (he had a much earlier audition, so his parents had left and he was there by himself) and we left Caleb with his roommate.

I am excited for Caleb to have this experience, however, I do miss my boy.

The Birds had a Party at My House

I woke up one morning and sat down to rest.

I looked out the window and saw quite the mess.

The more that I looked, the more mess I saw.

I continued to look and I was in awe.

The table was spotted, the deck was gotten, too.

I could not believe all of the bird poo.

I seriously though that there wouldn't be more.

Until I went out front through my very own door.

I was shocked when I spotted all of this waste.

I hurried down carefully, I'm afraid in my haste

Down the driveway I walked to go get the mail.

I stubbed my toe, thought I broke it and also my nail.

So, this sad story I tell, not for pity or sorrow.

I just hope that the birds party at your house tomorrow!

Are We Really Invited?

So, today I received an invitation for our family to go to a party.

When I opened it, this is what I found...

The question here is, are we really invited or is this just a cruel trick?

p.s. I know we are really invited, there are probably so many invitations going out that this one got put in the envelope without all (or any - for that matter) of the details. I just laughed when I opened it, because I am afraid that this is something I would do sometime.

...and they're off

This is Brett's first time chaperoning a field trip. Caleb is going to the Science Museum, and they will be seeing the "Dead Sea Scrolls." He asked if I would be able to chaperone, and I teach preschool on Wednesday. He was a little disappointed. I asked if he wanted his father to chaperone, and he said that Brett probably had to work. I called, and Brett cleared his schedule to go with Caleb. Caleb was shocked that his father could go.

So, today is the big day. Caleb is a little afraid that Brett might embarrass him. It didn't help that Brett said he would do some pretty outrageous things like, "I better not drink too much water, I normally have to go to the bathroom several times in the morning because of all of the water I drink. Do you think they will pull the bus over if I need to go to the bathroom?" (O.K. - it wasn't exactly like that, but that was the idea.)

the boys getting ready to leave

a picture with their lunch box

heading out to the car - Caleb ran out so as not to be another picture

Caleb "thrilled" to get his picture taken yet again

the boys in the car

backing out of the garage

They should have a lot of fun. I am glad that they can go together.

Ah, Young Love

I found this outside on the driveway. I asked her about it this morning, and she just grinned.

Translation: Dyllan and Gavin is perfect for Claire.

My Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, this is what I got...Eli made breakfast for me, and the others made cards and flowers. Brett and I woke up and heard them working in the kitchen. I decided to get up and take a shower so that I could get a warm one. I got dressed (thankful for a skirt that does not wrinkle and a blouse that is supposed to be wrinkled), and crawled back in bed to wait.

I got a fried egg, bacon, a chocolate-chocolate chip muffin, and milk. Overall, it was a pretty good breakfast.

Eli has been making himself an egg for breakfast several times a week, so he is perfecting the process. I comment to him that the egg he made turned out really well. He confessed that it took him three tries. Sure enough, in the garbage can in the kitchen, there were two mishaps.

The rest of my day was relaxing. We went to church and Brett spoke. After church we attended a baptism. Emily sang a song, Brett gave a talk, and I said a prayer. After the baptism, the family put on a lunch. They served lumpia, chicken, and rice. It was delicious.

When we came home, there were a couple more surprises. Claire had a plant for me, and Emily had a book that she had made. Caleb gave me a stool that he had made at scout camp. Very sweet.

Later that afternoon, Brett, Eli, Emily, Claire, and I went to visit some of the people we home and visit teach. We had a couple of quick visits and a couple of longer visits. All in all, it was a nice, relaxing day.

Thirteen Year Later...

Today there was lawn work to be done. By that I mean our dandelion field needed to be mowed.

Our lovely dandelion field in the front yard.

A few of the beauties.

We got lawn mower all ready to go, and this is what Brett did while the lawn was being mowed. I started out next to him, and all he could say is,

"I've waited thirteen years for this."

Caleb mowing the lawn.

I couldn't resist, so I had to run inside and get my camera to capture "this moment" after the 13 years of waiting.

Plus, I couldn't pass up this cutie helping rake up the grass.

800-448-9570

POSSIBLE MOB CONNECTION?

Today I got a call from the number above,and they asked for, let's call him "Fred" (real name changed to protect the innocent). I replied that there was no Fred here and they must have the wrong number. The person on the other line, who later identified himself as Mr. Antonucci, asked if I knew a "Fred" and then gave his last name, we will say it is "Smith." I said that I did know a "Fred Smith." He asked if I was related and I told him not really. I told him the "relation" I had (my in-law's spouse's sibling). Mr. Antonucci asked me if I was in touch with "Fred" and I told him no. Mr. Antonucci asked if I had any way to get ahold of him. He told me that my number was listed as a work number. I told him that I might be able to get a message to him. I put the phone down and came upstairs to get a pen and paper. I asked Mr. Antonucci how he knew "Fred." He told me it was a business deal. I took down his number 888-899-5861 ex. 4558. This is when he identified himself as Mr. Antonucci. I asked him what this was regarding and he said that "Fred" would know when he heard his name, and that they had spoken before.

I then called the in-law and asked if the said in-law had a spouse named "Fred." The in-law said yes, and I proceeded to tell this in-law the story. This person thought it was as random as I did and said that there was probably more than one "Fred Smith." I agreed, gave this in-law the number that was given to me, and then hung up.

I googled the number that I received the call from and got this site. Then I googled the number that Mr. Antonucci gave me and I got this site. Not mob connections, but close enough - DEBT COLLECTORS.

I am still baffled as to how we got connected to this.

this moment

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.