time with B

Blaise and I checked out the Lilacs today at Highland Park. Just walking around the park was so fragrant but it does help to get a 'big sniff' if you get your nose right on in there.

 

blaise turns 13

Blaise turned 13! It is a different kind of year being COVID is still going on. We celebrated his day with dinner of his choice: turkey meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans. For dessert an ice cream cake (recipe from Cathy Smith's - Nana's Ice Cream Cake). He received for gifts two remote control cars and a ski mask along with Ambrose made him a copper wire clock. Later this week we will go ice skating with a few of his friends.

 

braces

Blaise got braces!

Blaise time

While Ambrose was at Massawepie for 2 weeks Blaise and I did quite a bit of exploring.

Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville

 dredging in channel

 Wolcott Falls

Whistlewood - an old Girl Scout camp

parvuli dei

Blaise received his Parvuli Dei religious emblem today at the Cathedral.

day to vote

I voted today.  Susan B. Anthony helped provide this right.  Her grave site made history today in Rochester.  Hundreds of people lined up and stood in line for hours to put their 'I Voted' stickers on her grave site.

The boys asked questions about the right to vote, parties and opinions they have heard.  We discussed and gave the information we thought appropriate for their respective ages. 

I made a conscious effort to 'keep them young' and go for a walk in Highland Park for some good old-fashioned fun.  Running in, kicking up and jumping in leaves.  Rolling down a hill together, hiding under a tree and pointing out beautiful leaves.  Small but important.

Without intention we were steps away from Susan B.'s grave site.  Although we didn't stand in line to put our sticker on, the boys recognized the importance.  That is making history for them.

silly posing

When you are a second grader and you've just completed field day, what is most important?  Getting lunch from the hot dog cart and 'posing' very silly for mom.

I could barely take a photo because they were moving around so much.  I caught Blaise's incredible smile but he is definitely not crystal clear (but it is hard to get a photo of this always moving around boy).  Funny, how I am so particular with each photo and would normally delete it but since I only took so many I held onto it . . . now I actually like it.

baseball

bunny buffet

Traditions, the handing down of these acts from family member to family member.  Or in this case our youngest participated in an annual second grade tradition.  The bunny buffet!  WHAT, you say?  Yes, the bunny buffet.  What do bunnies like to eat?  Veggies and fruit.

The second grade does a unit on nutrition.  They learn about the food groups, what is healthy and then they try all different types of veggies and fruit.  I swung by to see my bunny and grab a few photos.  My bunny prefers fruit . . . pineapple, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, watermelon and dip.  One vegetable on the entire plate but I have to say it was something new.  Well kind of, he likes celery but this had cream cheese (we normally do peanut butter).  The verdict:  he didn't like it and would rather have the peanut butter.  But he tried it and I got that sticky fruit smelling kiss before jetting back off to work.  A blessing for sure!

feeling bad

Cuddling on the couch watching shows from my childhood (Leave it to Beaver and Bewitched).   Warm body, cozy blanket and arms wrapped around me.  Nothing better.  One fever needs to go away and bring back his infectious smile. 

Blaise down for two days but getting better.  At work the library is closed due to my absence.  Feeling guilty.  Wait, live in this moment.  Cuddling, warm, arms  . . . oh yeah.

catholic schools week mass

Today kicks off Catholic Schools Week with a mass at Our Lady of Lourdes.  Ambrose choose to be in the choir and even had a solo.  Blaise wanted to help take up the gifts.  The church was full of students in uniform and every part of mass was lead by the students.  Of course if you ask the boys the best part was the food afterwards . . . go figure.

mlk day fun

Just the other day we were going to Strong Museum all the time.  Now my boys are older, bigger . . .the Berenstein Bear exhibit seems tiny, they seem to tower over some of the toys.  Elmo isn't very cool anymore but the arcade is.  I'm not sure when this happened, I must have not been looking . . . my boys are growing up.  BUT they still had plenty of fun at the museum - racing cars, slanted mirrors and yes they still squeezed their bodies into the train.  I admit it was humorous watching them ride around in the train where I used to have to hold their hand and 'talk' them into sitting in a certain car.  Not this day, they ran to the engine and were busy talking the whole ride (occasionally giving me a wave). 

Later in the day on MLK, we met friends at the trampoline park, Altitude.  Us and everyone else in Rochester was there.  I spent the whole time counting and recounting (making sure I could see all the kids). . . they came home nice and tired!

scout work

As a 'Scout work' assignment Blaise had to develop a menu, go grocery shopping and help prepare a healthy meal.  His menu was:  homemade chicken tenders, lemon roasted potatoes, green beans and homemade applesauce.  His favorite part was 'dredging' the chicken in order to make the tenders.   He really enjoyed the meal (amazing how you put in the effort, how much better the food tastes).  Although he isn't taking over the kitchen yet, he definitely likes adding in suggestions and helping out!  WIN!

enjoying gifts

The latest in posing . . . cover your faces with one of this year's Christmas gifts.  Ambrose the Meccano robot and Blaise the Guiness World Records Book.

festival of trees

A second grade tradition, the Festival of Trees.  I remember Ambrose receiving his wooden tree (that a guy from school cuts out for each second grader) and decorating it.  Blaise thought and thought about what he wanted to do and decided he wanted a car theme. 

He spray painted the tree black, used duck tape to make the roads, hammered in some finishing nails to help hang each matchbox car.  What a wonderful school tradition, too bad it is our last one.