Crystel's Graduation

Crystel's family had a graduation for her because her special ed speech school and preschool that she was in didn't. The pictures show the graduate walking into the auditorium (living room), stepping up to the podium (storage trunk), receiving a medal (a finisher medallion from Jody's Disney half marathon a few years ago) for being a star student, and a certificate that we created. We pounded drums, shook shakers, and hollered as she was awarded her certificate.

Last Day of School

Crystel stepping on the bus for one of her last trips to Richfield Special Ed speech class. She now speaks better than me. Antonio and Jacob. Their last day at Spanish Immersion Joyce Preschool.

Blogging

Trees in Bloom

Teenagers in the house

It was Sunday and Jody asked Antonio if he'd like to change his pants - since they had a hole in the knee - for church. "Never!" he said. Crystel decided to wear two different socks. She often does that. For someone who is shy it leaves you to wonder why. At times, she'll wear two different shoes.

I didn't need to worry. How many preschoolers soon to be kindergartner's fit in a hot tub? No one mentioned the Dora sheets or pillowcase.

"Let's change your sheets," I said. I looked at his Minnie Mouse sheets and thought of his preschool friends who would be over after school. We invited his class for an 'end of school' party.

"I want Dora sheets on," Antonio said.

"How about Nemo?" I said, still thinking of his friends coming. Some five year old boys wouldn't dare admit that they like Dora or Minnie Mouse or the Care Bears. Nemo was the most nongirl sheets we had in our closet. Crystel had the Superman sheets on her bed.

"I like Dora better than Nemo."

So, Dora sheets it was. I made the bed the best I could and covered up most of Dora.

"I want to pick the pillow case."

"Why don't we just leave Woody and Buzz Lightyear on."

"No. I want to pick the pillow case."

There was no helping him. His pillow with a Dora pillow case lay on top of everything.

Dandelions are flowers in our house.

I just have to say it, "They are great kids." After this picture they played a game where The King, sitting on his throne, used his wand (flyswatter) to change the lowly maiden into a Princess.

My kind of people

Frank and Carol came to our house for dinner. I worked with them at Brown and Bigelow years ago. Antonio, Crystel and I regularly meet Carol for lunch at a Chinese Buffet. You've got to like a big guy who will love up a small dog. They are my kind of people.

Why Do They Do That?

Give them tape and it will hang. On walls, on ceilings.

Jack is Three today

Antonio and Crystel's cousin Jack turns three. That magic number where all become potty trained. He rocks to music, loves the water, and his cousins.

The kids said they saw a blind white squirrel in our back yard. I ran outside with the camera. All I could see was a white dog running away with someone's white underwear.

Oh, Oh, Another funeral.

"It was my fish," Antonio said sadly. He was just trying to put the shell down when he hit the little fishies head. This time, according to Crystel's burial wishes, we dug a hole in our garden. Again - she said another beautiful prayer. Three fish - two fish = one fish.

Blow to head killed fish

Molly looks like a nice girl. She just wanted a little peek at the goldfish so she lifted up the shell.

Poor Shark. Shark was Jacob's fish. He had a good life. For 48 hours. Molly wanted to pet the fish when she hit his head with a rock. That will do anyone in. Antonio and Crystel were very sure that it was Jacob's fish and wanted to call and tell him. Per previous funeral arrangements, in the event of a dead fish, he was flushed. That was the way it had to be, said Antonio. As he was swirling in the bowl, Crystel said a nice prayer, then worried all day about where he went. To the ocean, Antonio said, to the ocean.

Jacob, Antonio and Crystel carefully, tenderly, and with much love release their goldfish to the world.

Dreamcatcher

This little fellow, and I'm sure he has a name, has been catching Crystel's dreams for a very long time. She made it a year ago and it has guarded her ever since.

Our next Adventure

Our next adventure is to see if two little fishies can live in the fountain. The fountain has been put away for years - since the kids were toddlers. Antonio thinks if the fishies die that instead of being buried in the dirt - because fish don't like dirt - they should be flushed down the toilet. I asked him if he'd rather be buried or flushed down the toilet. He assured me that he'd rather be flushed.

The Princess Having A Picnic

The art of pushing two kids on a swing

There are some things that Mama Jody is really good at. This is one of them. Happy Birthday, Jody.

Crystel and Bandit Rose are out of luck. They are the only night people in our house. Antonio, Jody and I are early risers. Bandit Rose and Crystel were snuggled up sleeping. When I came into the room Bandit wiggled out of her arms. Antonio and Crystel take turns sleeping with Bandit Rose. From the first night we got her she has slept with the children.

This is a favorite climbing tree. The birds time their feeding schedule to coincide with the children's meal times. I'm not sure that the tree's rate of growth will keep up with Antonio and Crystel.

Happy Mother's Day

Making Mother Day cards for Mama Jody on the sly.

"Why do people ask Antonio why he has two moms?" Crystel asked. We were in the car by ourselves driving home from a park.

"When was that?" I said.

"At preschool."

"What did Antonio say?"

"He didn't say anything. Adrian said that it was because he came that way."

"Oh."

"Teacher Jane and Teacher Pat said it was because that is what his moms wanted."

"Should I help you come up with an answer?"

"Sure."

I thought. I thought some more. I was stumped myself. I realized that I didn't have an answer that a five year old boy or girl could say to people that would be positive, stop any further questioning, and be satisfying to all parties. "I'll have to think about it," I said.

The next day Crystel mentioned something about family and the answer came to me.

"I know what you could say when people ask you why you have two moms," I said. "You could tell them, "That's my family." And when they ask again, just repeat it, "That's my family."

Though Antonio didn't say anything I knew from experience that he took it in and that is exactly what he'd say the next time he was asked.

Look closely, very closely. Middle finger. Meet Kelly the ant. And, yes, that would be Crystel's hand. Antonio is not fond of bugs. He is fond of his sister, who he often saves, from bugs.

A Lounging Princess

To others this may look like a little girl who is sitting in a chair with a snow shovel over her head. Unh, Unh. It's a Princess in her cabana chair. The snow shovel blocks the sun from her eyes.

I fear no one being that little people with a purple belt and blue belt reside in my home. Though they fear the scary bird in the latest Dr. Seuss movie. We had to leave the theatre.

Graduate of Police Reserve School

On Tuesday, May 6, I received my certificate for completing Hennepin County's Reserve School. The school was very interesting and at times gory - seeing photo's of crime scenes. My family was going to attend but Antonio came down with pink eye in the afternoon. Crystel and I were left to enjoy the cake and cookies. The first picture is the happy graduate, happy girl, and unhappy boy who thought he shouldn't be photographed due to the blinding light of the camera flash. The second picture is one the children took of Jody and I. The third picture is Crystel photographing me while I was receiving the certificate. Crystel wanted a picture 'just of me' which explains the fourth picture. There were sixty-seven graduates. As I explained to the children I am - a backup to the police officers not a police officer. They sometimes get confused. In this case, I don't mind. My first assignment: Being posted somewhere along the route for Race Of The Cure on Sunday.

Antonio's Bedroom

"Take a picture of me," said three little monkey's hanging in a tree.

Handyman

Everyone needs a good Handyman. Tim has been with us for over ten years. We schedule him in the Spring and Fall to take care of the fix it list that we have created in his absence. The children come running when they see Tim. They wanted to stay up one night to see him until we assured them that Tim would stop in and say good night. We had called him because we were having an electrical outage on half the house. When the kids are teenagers I plan on apprenticing them to Tim. Right now when something needs fixing they say, "We need to call Tim!" After the apprenticeship we won't have to go far to get help.