Odds & Ends ~ Spring Edition

As I close out my reminiscing of spring for our family, there are, as always, random odds and ends that didn't quite make it into a post:

1. Phoenix got to go on an overnight field trip with all the 4th graders at his school. It was put on by 4-H in conjunction with the University of Kentucky. He had a blast.

It was a rainy couple of days, but they still managed to have lots of interesting classes and fun activities . . . including KP duty (see top) and a class on native Kentucky mammals (above).

I attended the overnighter as a chaperone and, along with two friends (other moms from Phoenix's class), was in charge of a large cabin full of girls. I also had a blast!

2. With the days getting lighter as we moved toward summer, Lutece had problems getting to sleep at night. She decided to sew herself a sleep mask to combat the issue.

She actually used it for a couple of weeks at the end of the school year.

3. With summer in our sights, I loaded up on new books at the Scholastic Educators' sale. I use these books as summer reading prizes for the kids. Every time they complete a library reading log, they can choose a free book from our selection.

Those library reading logs also get put in a raffle to win some prizes from the library. After 8 years of trying, Lutece finally WON the library's raffle! Woot! She and Phoenix promised each other they would split the prize if either of them won, so they each got half of a $25 gift card to Joseph Beth Booksellers. Eighth time's a charm!

4. All the schools do award programs at the end of the year, and the kids were both recognized for various awards they'd earned throughout the year. Lutece was pleased to receive the Poe Award for Creativity from her Language Arts teacher who said something to the effect of, "Lutece is the most weirdly creative student I've had in a long while." Compliment? We'll take it.

It's not surprising to receive a creativity award for language arts, but we were a little surprised to find that she'd ALSO won a creativity award in Math. She had made a wacky little Powerpoint presentation to explain a certain math concept. Maybe that was it? Our crazily creative Lutece.

She was also recognized for winning the District Science Fair. She racked up the awards this year.

Phoenix also had a good awards showing. He was also recognized for his wins in the Governor's Cup competition, but the real surprise was that he won third prize in his division in the school's Art Show. I didn't even know he'd entered. He won a ribbon and a large basket full of art supplies, which he used all summer long. Awesome!

5. MY end-of-year award was a new car.

After researching and test-driving what felt like every car on the market (but was really only a moderate selection) for a couple of months, we finally decided on a 2015 Subaru Outback. Then we found a dealership that would sell it to us for the price we wanted to pay.

On the first day of summer for the kids, we drove down to Louisville together and picked up our new Subbie. Love it!

And then we proceeded to drive it all over the country and put 7,000 miles on it within three months. I STILL love it! Let's hope I can say that in 10 years.

All in all, a good spring.

The End of Spring

At the end of last spring, we went on a few fun family forays (alliteration intentional, thankyouverymuch). Oddly enough, even though we had a few days tacked onto the school year to make up for snow days, they also gave the kids a couple of days off for various reasons.

On one of these days, we went strawberry picking at a farm/orchard in Versailles. The strawberries were absolutely delicious, but definitely not cheap. Ack.

Another day we went out to Anglin Falls in Berea for a hike. The kids love hiking there because of the huge boulders near the falls.

There's always an element of danger.

It also gave Stayc a chance to try out his new GoPro camera. How Stayc loves his electronic gadgets.

Finally, on Memorial Day, the kids insisted we have our own Memorial Day Fun Run, so we walked to the Arboretum and ran a mile . . . then hiked around some more . . . then walked home. The kids were tired!

Which means success for us, the parents. Tired, worn-out kids = kids who sleep well.

While we were at the Arboretum, hiking around the wooded area, an older Chinese gentleman asked if we could take a picture of him and his wife for them. They were in the US visiting their son who is a student at UKY. Then he asked if he could return the favor by taking a picture of us. Uhhhh . . . sure.

So he took a picture, then another, then three more, then even more. He kept making us switch up poses and positions. It was sooooo Chinese! We finally had to gently tell him that we had enough pictures and that the kids would not pose for any more :).

All Things Musical

It may have been a musical year for the kids, but that doesn't mean they enjoyed it :). Actually, Lutece seems to enjoy music quite a lot. She has continued with piano of her own free will and volition (mostly). She continues to perform in recitals and festivals, and we enjoy hearing her play.

She also continues to play trumpet in her middle school band, which she also enjoys. She has set a personal goal to make it into the district-wide middle school honor band this year.

She also managed to get herself into a sixth grade Columbian dance troop (headed by her Spanish teacher, who is, you guessed it!, Columbian).

They performed at a big Latino festival in our city for Cinco de Mayo. I *think* she enjoyed the experience, but she just recently informed me that she did not want to do it again this year. Sounds good.

Phoenix does NOT enjoy all things musical (much to Stayc's chagrin). But he was required to perform in his school's final Spring show, and if you can find his sweet little face in this picture, you win a prize :). Stayc finally let him quit piano this summer, which has made our lives SO. MUCH. EASIER. (We weren't actually forcing him to play piano, it was just an expectation to practice every day that Phoenix never challenged. When we gave him the option to not do it, he jumped at the chance.)

Nevertheless, we are just as proud of him. He has other interests. Also, he has to play an instrument in the school band this year, so we still win :).

Spring Sports

Continuing with all things Spring, the kids both played sports during April and May (and into June in Phoenix's case). As usual, Lutece played soccer.

She was on the same team as last fall and enjoyed herself. Stayc acted as Assistant Coach and also enjoyed it. He had a hard time giving up control in the fall, but I think by the spring he was accustomed to it and relieved to not be the one in charge.

Lutece is now in the 6th through 8th grade range, so she was one of the smallest girls on the field (if not the smallest), but her entire team was fairly young, evenly divided between 6th and 7th graders, so she fit in nicely. It was a fun season.

"Fine, I will fake smile for you. Just take the picture!"

Phoenix, on the other hand, begged me to play baseball in the spring. I conceded with some reservations (he IS my child, after all, so I know very well his history with organized sports). As I feared, when it came time to go to practices, he whined and fussed and didn't want to go, and, yes, I forced him to follow through.

"Did you take the picture? Have you taken the picture? I can't hold this smile for much longer."

Fortunately, things got much better. He got to know the boys on his team, he had a great coach, and he improved considerably as the season wore on.

"Ok, now you're just making me angry. Take the picture, will you!!!

The whining ceased and we all had fun going to the games. A note about his coach: He was a college senior at UKY who volunteered because the league didn't have enough coaches. He played Eastern Little League during his youth, and his father had been the President of the league for many years. His parents both came to all the games and rooted for the boys by name. He was a fantastic coach and had a lot of very involved dads as assistant coaches. We couldn't have asked for a better team this year.

Phoenix got to choose his own number. Don't even ask me. I have no idea.

All in all, a good year of spring sports for the DuBravacs.

Spring Break: The National Zoo

The last place the kids wanted to go while we were in D.C. was the National Zoo.

Stayc had to teach class (via Skype), so we left him at home. Then we couldn't find parking (the lots were all full), so Aleithe dropped off me and the kids and went to find parking. Long story short, it ended up just being the three of us, which was ok. This is why I'm a stay-at-home mom, after all :).

The kids wanted to see everything, so we did. (I did mention the whole increased-endurance-as-they've-gotten-older thing in another post.)

By the time we'd spent 30 minutes in the gift shop, while Lutece wavered between spending her money on this nick-nac or that nick-nac, I was so done with the zoo.

Still and all, it was a fun day and a good trip to D.C.

Spring Break: All About the Museums

During our Spring Break visit to D.C., we spent two full days downtown at the various museums and sites. As the kids have gotten older, they have outstripped me in stamina and endurance. After seeing three (and a half) museums the first day, they were ready for another museum. Fortunately, I'm still the one with the money and the car, so we went home (also, museums were closing).

We started at the National Musuem of Natural History, the kids' absolute FAVORITE. I don't even know how many times we've been there, but it never seems to get old.

Then I dragged them to the modern building of the National Gallery. Sadly, due to renovation, all the rooms with paintings were closed. However, we did get to see all the sculpture, which the kids really enjoyed.

As you can see, I had some fun myself.

Luckily, the kids were game.

Such great stuff!

After the National Gallery, we headed to the Museum of National History, one which the kids have never been to in all their visits to D.C. (gasp!). It didn't capture their interest much, but we did get to see the original U.S. flag in all its glory (and dimness . . . it's housed in a dark room). One of these days, we'll go back and do the museum some justice.

The next day, we headed downtown again, this time with Stayc and Grandma DuBravac in tow. After nabbing tour tickets to the Mint (the Department of Printing and Engraving), we drove over to Arlington National Cemetery to visit Grandpa DuBravac's grave and put some flowers on it.

We did the Air and Space Museum and then rushed over to the National Archives (another first for the kids and me) to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Very cool.

We had tickets for the 3:00 p.m. tour at the Department of Printing and Engraving . . . you know, where they print MONEY, and we literally ran the mile and a half from the National Archives to make it in time. Whew! (Grandma sent us on ahead and still made it in time, so maybe we didn't have to run after all :)

This was a favorite museum visit for the kids. The tour was fascinating and it was really cool to learn how they make money and watch them do it. We also learned that Phoenix is worth more money than Lutece. Tough luck, Lutece.

We tried to get into the Holocaust Memorial Museum (which is right next to the Mint), but tickets were all gone. Next time.

How lucky are we to have a Grandma who lives right near Washington D.C.? Seriously lucky.

Spring Break: Mount Vernon

We decided that Spring Break was a perfect time to visit Grandma DuBravac and Washington D.C. this year. Lutece has become quite the travel planner, and I hardly have to plan any of our trips these days. It only took 19 years of marriage and raising two children to finally have help in that department. Thank goodness for a daughter who is as regimented and scheduled as I am.

She had every day planned out, and first on the list was a trip to Mount Vernon, which the kids never seem to get enough of. They love the "tradition" of visiting certain sites in D.C., and a trip there just isn't complete without them.

 As usual, we saw all the buildings, grounds, cemeteries, museums, and gardens.

Lutece takes site-seeing very seriously.

One special addition this year was lunch at the Restaurant at Mt. Vernon Inn, which was very good! We told the kids the story of how Stayc and I got engaged at that very restaurant, some 20 years earlier. It's good to share these places and stories with our kids. I feel very grateful that 20 years later, Stayc and I still enjoy spending time together . . . now with our small family in tow.