Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Impressive Miss Katarina

May 30, 2012

Little Miss Kathryn (Katarina to me) is all grown up now.  Here she is being honored as a CSF Top 20 member at Clovis North High School.  I'm so proud of her!


So Pretty....

May 30, 2012

It's possible that as the years go by, I have lost a little bit of coordination.  To be honest, coordination isn't exactly my strong suit to begin with, and now it appears I'm sliding backward.  At the beginning of the year, I tripped at work and ended up having to go to physical therapy for my wrist.  Then a week or so ago, most likely due to the weird allergic reaction I had to the construction they're doing on campus, I got dizzy and fell down the stairs.  Finally, this week I was cleaning up the classroom and stacking up the desks, since the seniors are done.  When flipping one desk over to stack it on top of another, I lost my hold on it and dropped it on my calf.  The bruising was both instant and colorful.  I've decided that it might be best to spend the summer wrapped up in bubble wrap.  I'm obviously a danger to myself.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Epic Battle

May 28, 2012

For the third consecutive year, our school's fields have been host to a battle of epic proportions.  Kids from all over the city, both current and former students, join forces to put on their warrior paint and wield carefully crafted weaponry (mostly made of PVC and foam) in a quest for bragging rights for the upcoming year.  Kids even made journeys home from college for the express purpose of participating, despite upcoming finals.

Nicholas, who has been spending some of his Saturdays at the park with the Belegarth warriors, decided he'd like to throw his allegiance behind the Red Team this year.  This was his first foray into the Epic Battle, and he was very serious about being a contributor to the team.  He spent quite a bit of time and effort into creating his weapons for the event.  Although his team ultimately lost the battle, Nicholas was definitely in his element and had the time of his life.  He even managed to come away from it all with war wound--a badge of honor--that was a big enough cut on his forehead to make him feel brave, but small enough for Mom to allow him to follow his leaders out to the field again next year.



Taylor's Prom

May 28, 2012

My beautiful niece Taylor, with her boyfriend Chris, getting ready for the prom.  She looks so grown up, and even more importantly, so happy.  I really wish I could have been there to help get her ready for the big night. 


Friday, May 25, 2012

Badminton Team Pictures

 May 25, 2012



First Full Gig at Uncle Tom's

 May 25, 2012

Although Cut Shot played at Uncle Tom''s a couple of weeks ago, it was a very low-profile gig.  None of us invited any of our friends, because we really just wanted to check out the vibe of the place and get a feel for how the band would fill up the space, sound-wise.  This week, though, we went all out and tried to publicize with all our friends.  Instead of the couple of regulars the band played to last time, the house was packed.  It was a regular dance party from start to finish, and definitely the beginning of a really strong partnership between the Cut Shot and Uncle Tom's.  








Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Alta Sierra Spring Show

 May 22, 2012

Danielle's choir concert this year was a lot of fun.  I remember the same feeling after Bree's 7th grade spring show; the difference between the elementary school and the junior high is really amazing.  There is such growth that happens in that year!  And although she really enjoyed her time in choir, and especially Mrs. Barbour, she's putting aside choir next year to focus on art and drama.  In all likelihood, this was the last choir concert I'll attend for my kids...until grandkids come along. 

Monday, May 21, 2012

CSF Banquet

May 21, 2012

I absolutely love attending the CSF banquet each year, and this year I was honored to be Lauren Hinch's sponsor.
 What a beautiful night celebrating the amazing academic achievements of our students!  A few more of the incredible CSF honorees:  Sydney Stout, Kaitlyn Sims, Dilpreet Kaur, and Evan Giarta.  I fully anticipate that these kids are going to go out and make a difference in our world.
May 21, 2012

Prom 2012

 May 6, 2012

This year's prom was out at Wolf Lakes again.  Prom duty is one of my favorite duties, because I love seeing all the kids dressed up and getting to meet their dates.  The only thing I ask is that I don't get dance floor duty--sometimes it's a little too close for comfort--and thankfully I've been pretty lucky for the past several years.  This year's duty station was just off to the side of the formal picture-taking set up, at a scenic little lakeside spot where I could take my own pictures.

My A.P. Lit. students, Robyn and Evan--Prom King and Queen
 Dilpreet, Anant, and Sydney are also some of my darling A.P. Lit kids

 JJ made her dress and her date's suit completely out of Duct Tape, as part of the annual Duck Tape scholarship contest.  The details were really quite impressive!  The endeavor took many hours, LOTS of duct tape, and the help of her sisters and her mom. 
The lovely Miss Kaitlyn
Mo and me
                                                    Lexi and Dasha

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Great America

May 13, 2012

Danielle and her friends on their way to Great America for the end of the year performing arts field trip.

Track Awards

 May 20, 2012

This year was Danielle's second year as a member of the shot put team, and her first year doing discus.  Both the boys and girls teams ended their season as Valley Champions.  Just like soccer, this is a sport she hopes to continue next year and all through high school.  Here she is holding her Championship plaque.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Running for Class Historian

May 18, 2012

Danielle came home the other day and announced that she wanted to run for Class Historian for her 8th grade year.  I'm so proud of her willingness to get involved and to try new things.  She was allowed to create three posters to put up around the school, and she designed and created each unique poster on her own.  She didn't even ask for any help for me, other than printing out the pictures she chose.  I love that once she gets an idea in her head, she just runs with it. 

Update:  Danielle is Alta Sierra's Student Body Historian for next year!



Clovis High Scholarship Awards

May 18, 2012

Frank, this year's recipient of the Diane Mayes Memorial Scholarship.


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day

 May 13, 2012

For Mother's Day, I picked the kids up from their dad's and they took me out to a restaurant of my choice.  I chose a Chinese Restaurant nearby, and we sat down to a delicious meal.  Even though the bill was probably a bit more than either anticipated, they wouldn't accept any help from me to pay for it.  They also gave me flowers and some of my favorite lotions from Bath and Body Works.  Danielle had also asked Doug to take her shopping the previous day to pick out some flowers we could grow together in our garden.  She and I have been having a lot of fun working together on our little project.

I missed not having Bree with me this year--the first ever Mother's Day that I haven't spent with her.  However, it so happened that Lisa was down near her in San Diego, so she stopped off with the girls to meet up with Bree for lunch.  In addition, Bree's step-mom Laurie was also down in San Diego visiting all of the girls, so she had gotten to see her, too.  If she couldn't spend Mother's Day with me, then at least she got to spend the day with her two 'extra' moms.    It's the next best thing.

We're Easily Amused

May 13, 2012

After Family Dinner Night at California Pizza Kitchen, we decided to roam around the little strip mall.  As we headed across the parking lot, we heard an unusual sound for a suburban shopping center.  You know how in little pastoral descriptions of sheep the animals make a soft and endearing baa--baa--baa sound?  Well, this was like that, only the incredibly loud (and somewhat echo-y), insistent, and a bit indignant.  So, actually, not at all like the soft and endearing bleating of a baby lamb.  Naturally, we were curious and sought out the source of the noise.  It turns out Mr. Popper was parked smack-dab in the middle of the parking lot, apparently calling out to his owner to let him know his shopping time allotment was decidedly up.  We walked up to Mr. Popper's trailer, where he spent a little time conversing with us.  LOUDLY.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit that it was at least a fifteen minute detour for us, and we were nearly doubled over, laughing at each of our repeated attempts to 'communicate' with Mr. Popper, which he--again, LOUDLY--responded to. 


Maybe he just wanted out so that he, too, could check out the shoe sale as Nordstrom Rack.