Take Five

It was the first day of school today for Assumption so I got to see "first day" photos on social media all day long.

Hard to believe it was Carter's first day of his senior year 6 years ago. Even harder to believe it's the first Back to School time that we don't have someone going back to school – in oh, 18 years!

So this young man – holding his first day of kindergarten photo on his last day of high school– could have a 5-year reunion this summer. Five years! Wait, what?

Thankfully for me (ha) they aren't having one. So I won't have to acknowledge that I'm old enough to have a baby who's been out of high school for half a decade. Uff da.

So yes, parents of any aged school kids, time does fly!

Despite their protests, get those first (and last) day of school pictures. And everything in between. One day that's all you'll have. Maybe artfully arranged in a dozen scrapbooks! No shame there. The best thing about scrapbooks (or photo books of any kind) is that you can page through them and re-live any moment, any age, you want. 

And yes, you can still hold them in your lap.

Good luck, parents!

That's My Boy(s)

I often talk about my "adopted daughters" I support at basketball and softball games and the occasional dance recital. But I do have a few extra boys in my life, too.

I am reminded of this during this whirlwind of graduation parties – especially for the boys Carter has known since kindergarten. Clayton (Clay now that he's older) is one of them.

Yup, not only did Clayton (left) and Carter go to "My Grant School" through 6th grade, they also were in Sunday School together and confirmed. They spent a lot of time back and forth between our homes on weekends back in the day, that's for sure.

When Carter switched to the Assumption Catholic School system in 7th grade, they definitely didn't see much of each other. Still, when I did see him, Clayton allowed his extra mom to give him a hug in public – even in front of his friends! I adore that kid. Well, that young MAN now.

One of the cutest things I saw at Clayton's graduation party today was a paper he did in school, maybe 2nd grade when he made a list of his best friends. There's Carter.... then, well, there are the others. Awww. So sweet!

And now they're all grown up. What? Crazy.

I don't think the real mothers or adopted mothers of either of these cuties are ready to let go. Can't they just sit down and play with their trucks and Power Rangers and Pokemon cards?

So grateful they did when they could and that I have another boy to take pride in and pray for as they squeal their tires and race off into the real world.

That's my boys!

Racing Around

It was one of those days we found ourselves racing around to get things done. And we didn't even need to move fast to work up a sweat! At one point today my weather app said it was 92 degrees and "feels like 99." Uff da.

We started the day at my workplace (Renaissance Learning) doing the Renaissance Race Against Cancer 5K. Between the 600+ participants in the 5K and 10K, we raised $30,000 for the local UW Cancer Center. In the photo above our CEO is presenting the BIG check!

With this hot and muggy weather – oh, and lack of training – I walked the 5K with hubby, no chance or running (though I have enjoyed the 10K distance at other races... in the past!) Carter had to work this morning so he was not a part of this at all.

Also walking with her hubby today was my scrap sister Jenny who became my sweat sister by the end. Just so warm!

There were only two of us dedicated Desperate Housewives of Blue Jay Drive. And I have to count Marigene even if she lives a half block off. Somebody's gotta be dedicated, right?

It was nice to see a big crowd.

Afterward, Jim and I raced home, showered and hit the road. We did a little "browsing" in Green Bay and came home empty handed except for an early birthday present for me. I feel I need to find a reason to wear this new golf outfit BEFORE my birthday way at the end of the month! Will have to see when and where I can squeeze it in. Anyone have Flag Day off besides me? Let's go!

When we got home after 5, we had a graduation party for one of the boys – well, MEN now – Carter went to school with at Grant Elementary from kindergarten through 6th grade, plus played tournament baseball with.

Joey's mom had this cute picture of Joey and Carter hanging up so I had to take an updated one to prove they are still little cuties.

Am I right or am I right? And yes, they still have their moms wrapped around their fingers!

From there, Carter had another graduation party and we came home. Jim walked the mile-plus and I drove the car. I was waiting for the temp to drop so I could take a short walk, too, but it's 86 degrees at 8 p.m.

Guess I better suck it up and get out there. I had to have that piece of cake, didn't I?

Senior Moments :: Teacher Time

Since kindergarten, we have been blessed to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences and hear mostly good things about our boy. I say mostly because he had his "chatty" moments now and then, but apparently his charm ultimately ruled the day.

Tonight was our last time to hear, "Carter is a pleasure to have in class." Yup, another senior moment. The last P-T Conferences.

Since we both had crazy schedules today – hubby shuffling vehicles at the garage and my going to the Dells for a work meeting – I completely forgot about the conferences. When I got a pop-up reminder on my phone, I wondered why I even logged it in there on my calendar. He has less than 3 months of high school left. Do we need to go? Should we?

Jim and I decided to go and at least see a few teachers to thank them for putting up with Carter. To a person, they said they'd miss him. And we believe them!

What I have enjoyed about his education at both Grant Elementary School and at Assumption Middle and High Schools is that they were small enough that his teachers could really get to know him. Not just a name or number, but really know him. Never accidentally calling him Austin instead of Carter. Knowing both of his parents so they see he is a good mix of both Jim and me. Caring enough to want him to succeed and helping him do it.

I probably should have stuck with thank-you notes instead of hugs because those did me in. I had all I could do to hold it together! I'm really going to miss some of his teachers!

But then again. Most of them will still be around. Carter's the one leaving.

Not that I need another reminder. Insert sad face here.

We just feel blessed he gives his teachers and us reasons to miss him!

We Interrupt this Scrapbooking Weekend to Bring You...

Even on our most productive days, interruptions aren't all bad.

Was back in town scrapping again by 8:30 this morning. Finished Carter's 5th-grade pages right away and moved onto 6th. Was almost done with that in the mid-afternoon when I got a from my sister Rachel.

On Friday, she had driven our mom down to the Cashton area to meet up with old friends. They stayed overnight and were gradually making their way back up north today. They called from the Tomah / Black River Falls area when they realized they were only an hour away from Rapids.

Probably a good thing I was "out" for the weekend, but not out of town. They met me at the hotel where I was scrapping and I drove us out to my house to see the guys.

Although I had been up north in August, Mom hadn't seen Carter (tall Carter!) or Jim since June. She was looking good and seemed to be doing OK. Visited a bit then took them out to eat. After that, it was back to the hotel, where they hit the road north and I hit the scrapbook again.

I finished 6th grade and, as a result, the 4th album in Carter's K-8 series! Yes! Now it is onto high school!

I think I am at 48 pages for the weekend so far. Now that I got that grade school book done, any work on 9th grade is just icing on the cake.

Just as sweet as having a surprise visitor on a Saturday!

Crop-toberfest

After a day of scrapbooking at Crop-toberfest, I should know better than to blog when I am tired.

I realized, too late, that last night when I wrote about Carter's great finishing time, it probably didn't make sense. I had his previous best at 12:30 and it should have been 20:30. Ha. That's a big difference! He'd be in the Olympics doing a 5K at that rate!

Oh boy. Sorry.

Today was my fourth annual fall scrapping weekend with my Scrap Sister Jenny. Typically this one has been held in Stevens Point -- just close enough where we didn't have to stay overnight but just far enough where it seemed like a long 25-minute drive coming home at night. This year, it is at a hotel in Wisconsin Rapids. So I get to sleep in my own bed at night and, if I forget anything, I can run home or beg hubby to meet me halfway or deliver it. Hopefully, I won't need that service.

My mission for this weekend is to finish Carter's grade school album for Grant Elementary. I finished up his Grades 1-3 this spring, with a start on the Grades 4-6 album. If I finish that, then I jump to high school since I already did his Grades 7-8 Middle School album.

Today I finished 4th grade and as soon as I got to 5th, realized I didn't have Carter's first day of school pictures for that year. I didn't make Jim deliver them. I am just looking for them on the 2008 discs now and will print them and do that page in the morning. Other than that, 5th grade is done!

Yup, 18 pages today!

So I'll do 6th grade tomorrow and most definitely will finish it at some point so I can move onto the AHS album. The key is getting to bed NOW so I can get an early start. And keep that motivation going.

Red Bull, anyone?

Cave Dweller

It was 5 degrees when I woke up today. No wonder I couldn't coax Carter out of his nice warm bed to go to 8 o'clock church with me!

Actually, I decided to be nice and let him get some sleep. He got so little sleep last week studying for finals and then staying at a friend's Friday night. So he slept in and I went to church, stayed for a budget meeting, came home and he was still sleeping.

I really couldn't be "nice" after 11:30, though. He had to get up before lunch! He did feel well rested anyway. But who wouldn't?

Since it was so stinkin' cold today, we all stayed inside for the afternoon and evening. Hubby even made homemade chicken soup. I did not attempt a walk. I did not even attempt a trip to Wal-Mart. (Now you know it was cold.) The thing is, I will have to get some things before going back to work on Tuesday so I don't know why I'm waiting 'til tomorrow to go when the high temp will only be zero. Duh me.

I spent my afternoon and evening in and out of my Scrap Cave. I was sorting through bags and bins of Carter's grade school "stuff" so I could determine what to keep for his scrapbook I'll be working on at camp next month and what to toss. I know. It's hard, but I have to throw some of it out. It felt good to get through it.

So I'd bring up a bag, sit in front of the TV and watch football then go back for more. The first playoff game ended up being closer than I expected -- with a final I wasn't expecting. The second game I was too busy with stuff to really pay attention. But it looks like it was an upset the Patriots are out. Not that any of this matters. Unless I get on a football board or two for the Superbowl!

I am done down in my cold cave for the night. Carter will need the heater back in his room anyway. Plus, I did get through everything I had for 1st through 4th grades. Unfortunately, when we had the basement flooding this past summer and it destroyed some stuff in my Scrap Cave, Carter's papers and art, etc., from 5th and 6th grade were part of that. So his scrapbook will be a little bulkier for the early grades.

I bet he won't care.

Tomorrow, when I am home alone, I will have to head back down the to Cave and start doing some serious organizing. It's become a serious dumping ground and I just don't know if that rumor is true -- that there is a place for everything. I'll find out tomorrow!

In the meantime, I gotta turn my mattress pad on high and ignore the sound of the wind! B-r-r-r!

Nice Finish

I was a little more on task today and finished Carter's Middle School Scrapbook by supper time. Yay!

My only major distraction came in the form of a photo texted to me. It was a scrumptious-looking Peppermint Stick Shake that I finally found out is sold at Arby's. Wouldn't you know it -- there's an Arby's right across the street from our hotel?

So I walked over there -- for exercise, of course -- and picked on up. It sort of like chugging 50 candy canes. Yup, that strong. I think I could handle it in a really small dose. The one benefit is that I had really fresh breath! All day!

After supper, I got started on Carter's grade school book. I'm cruising along! But time to sleep.

Instead of counting sheep, I will count pages... I'm at 37... 38...

Z-z-z-z-z-z-z...

Extra Hour

Did you make use of your "extra" hour last night (or today) as we transitioned to Daylight Saving Time?

Hubby changed every clock in the house except for my alarm clock. He doesn't want to guess how many minutes "fast" I need it! So I changed my own. Apparently I wasn't paying close attention because I screwed up the AM and PM settings. So my alarm did not go off at 6:44 a.m. for church because my clock thought it was 6:44 P.M.

Good thing Jim was half awake so he could push me out of bed at 7! It wouldn't have been a big deal but I had to speak at church this morning so I really didn't want to be late! It was a busy service -- it was All Saints Sunday, plus we welcomed some new members and we began our "Heroes of Faith" series. That's where I come in.

Basically, we are taking short video snippets of congregation members who wish to share who their hero of faith is and a little about them. We (not me) will string all the videos together for a nice presentation at our Thanksgiving Eve service. My part in this is I video (for 2 of the Sundays) the people making their statements. I also got to kick off the series by giving a 3-5 minute talk about my own Hero of Faith.

I generally don't fear public speaking in the least but I still have some church anxiety hanging on. So I typed it up ahead of time so I had something to go by in case I got too nervous and forgot everything. I won't go into details but I shared some struggles my brother has survived in his life and commented on his enduring faith. I told the congregation that my one and only brother is my hero of faith because time and time again he has shown me that true Christians don't just HAVE faith -- they LIVE it. Thanks, bro!

It went OK and some people were touched by it so hopefully that inspires them to share, too.

After church I went a little crazy on several projects. Our "Vikings on a skid" were not on TV so that kept me focused. First we gathered up 9 grocery bags full of items (clothing, jackets, shoes) to donate to Hurricane Sandy Relief. There's a semi leaving Rapids as soon as it's full. That felt good to do our teeny tiny little part.

This afternoon I was busy making chili for Carter's cross country banquet tomorrow and baking some treats to take to my friend who is still recovering from her mastectomy. After that I got cruising on Scrap Camp packing.

I officially have everything set to finish Carter's Middle School album. I started gathering and sorting items for his Grade School book, which I would like to start when I get the other one done next weekend. It's getting to be a challenge. While I have his grades 1-6 photos and report cards, I am missing some of the 8x10 photos and some first day of school images, etc. I guess there's no time like the present to get all of that found and/or printed and organized. This will be a good thing.

The bonus was that I got to watch a Christmas movie on Hallmark while I was sorting.

Wow, a lot sure can be done with that "extra" hour!!

Skunked

I drove past a dead skunk in the middle of the road the other day. Now I know why they call it a "skunk" when a team loses a game without scoring any points. Because, well, it just plain stinks!

We went up against the Rapids 8th-grade team this afternoon. It was nice to see some of the kids and parents who we knew from Grant Elementary School. For some reason, it seems all of Carter's old classmates have gotten bigger and taller while he is just slowly inching upward. They're still friendly, though, and were kind enough to SKUNK us today, 12-rock.

Still, it was a perfect day with sunshine and temps in the 70s so I still got nice pictures of our losing effort.

Carter goes toward a grounder while covering second base.

 Ready for anything at second!

 Carter makes a third out and tosses the ball to the pitcher's mound.

 Coach Austin is waiting for someone -- anyone -- to make it first base so he can coach them onto second.

 Carter struck out once and got on with a walk the second time.

 Carter keeps an eye on the pitcher and gets ready to steal.

 Carter makes it to second and watches a ground ball go past him. Better stay put for now.

 Ready to head to third at a moment's notice. He did get on third thanks to a walk.

Here he is wanting to steal home and ready to fly when the ball is hit. It was hit and he did make it home... but his teammate got out at first so that was the end of that inning. No score.

And there never was. Shucks.

Other actual highlights today... After the game, we went over to see the 8th-grade girls play softball for a bit, then came home. It turned out to be a long, but productive day. Worked at home but got a ton of proofing done, sitting in the sunshine on the front deck. Ha. My kind of office. Got my steps in when I went to pick up the car at the garage over lunch. Four-mile hike over there means most of my required steps were done early. So I could have relaxed tonight but I had more work to do, plus upload photos and blog.

I managed to catch the news byte that the Vikings will be staying in Minnesota. I know only 3 of my readers care. But the rest of you can be assured I will be back to annoy you for another season. And I don't have to throw away my purple nail polish after all.

That's a win right there. I'll take it!

End of an Era (of Sorts)

With graduation behind him, the only thing Carter had to do this week was, basically, show up. Not much learning was going on but he enjoyed his last few days at Grant Elementary School before all of his classmates move onto Middle School ... and none will be moving onto Assumption with him. So it was a bittersweet day for him.

And for Mom, too. But then, when am I not emotional when it comes to my baby?! (Never mind that he is almost as tall as me now. See below, I think he's on his tippy toes, though.... Please...)


For the past 2 years, Carter has been getting himself up and ready for school on his own. Without fail (except those 2 times he overslept), he has called me at work at 7:45 a.m to touch base, tell me all the sports highlights from ESPN and tell me he loves me. I know we don't talk much substance, but I have enjoyed these calls. A lot.

Today when we hung up, I realized, wow, that's the last call. Next year he'll be getting on the bus for 7th grade about the same time we head out to work -- 6:45 ish. No more morning calls. And no, I will not use my loneliness as a reason to get him a cell phone. Don't even bring that up!

This also means Carter is officially "too old" for a babysitter. Today we had to say goodbye to Audrey and her husband Jon, who both have been like second parents to our boy since first grade! They are "good people," as we say, and it has been a joy getting to know them and their family. They have put up with Carter's silly sense of humor and even taught him that physical labor won't kill you! We're all going to miss them.

Good thing they're not too far away. (Plus, we'll always have our garage sale together!)

To cap off Carter's big day, we played the Orioles tonight. I have to take this opportunity to let you know that I was partially right in my math equation. The Reds still are > Orioles. We beat them 6-3. Carter got walked (with a full count) and then had another hit (see above right after he hit). So he didn't have to walk home from Mead -- way on the other side of town. And we officially have won 3 games this season -- all against the Orioles.

We still have 2 regular league games left on Monday and Wednesday. Carter may get to try his hand at pitching. I would hope he knows by now, from catching, that it's a pretty good idea to throw the ball right across the plate ... into the catcher's mitt when possible.

But let's not cross that chalked line until we come to it.

Today we celebrate the end of being a little kid! Yay!

(sob, sob, boo, hoo...)

Goodbye, Grade School

If you ever question how quickly kids grow up, just look at pictures of Carter in kindergarten versus sixth grade. An amazing transformation!

Today was a special day for Carter and the other sixth-graders at Grant Elementary. It was graduation day! The day they mark the passing of grade-schoolers to middle school (aka junior high). Due to some restructuring plans for next school year, Carter's class also was the last 6th-grade class ever to "graduate" from Grant. (Next year, all the 6th-graders will be part of a middle school.) So they made a big deal out of it.

Daddy and Mommy worked a half day to get home, meet up with my parents and sister and head over to the school for the 1:30 p.m. ceremony. I knew as soon as they started playing Pomp and Circumstance that I would get choked up. Then, when they had a DVD presentation later -- which included "before" and "after" shots of the kids (like the ones above) -- I pretty much lost it.

Other features of the ceremony were two numbers by the 6th-grade band and a commencement address by state Rep. Marlin Schneider. Then all 64 students also got a certificate and memory book. So yes, it was more than an hour on hard chairs. I felt bad for my elders but was so glad both sets of grandparents, an aunt and an older brother got to share Carter's day with him.

Afterwards, we gathered here for some cake and ice cream and pats on the back.

We didn't have long to just sit around and relax, though, because the ball tournament is still going on. Carter's team played their second-round game at 5:30 tonight. This one went better than round one. Tonight the Reds soundly beat the Orioles 7-2. Carter did not get a hit but did get walked on and did some good base running (and stealing) to add to our total. So Grandpa and Grandma Hedberg and Aunt Romey got to share in the glory.

When we got home, we played cards (Dirty Rummy) until after 10. While this was sort of Carter's day, I just couldn't let him win at everything. So I took the honors... for tonight anyway. Now we're just tucking everyone in so we can do some of this all over tomorrow.

Well, the baseball part anyway. Unless we have cake for breakfast (which I will not oppose).

Definitely TGIF

This week feels like it was a month long -- not even counting today, which must have been 2 weeks on its own. Ah well, that's called getting back to work and trying to swim back to the surface! So, so glad it's Friday!

After work we picked Carter up from the sitter's, where he was enjoying scooting around on their go-cart. No, we are not breaking down and buying him one. He may be spoiled, but not that spoiled. Yet.

He had soccer practice tonight. So Daddy volunteered to mow the front lawn if I took him. Fair trade to me. I had to go to the bookstore anyway to find a New York Times. There was a full-page ad in there today for the Amazon Kindle. The book featured on the Kindle was written by a longtime friend of mine --we're talking back in the '80s when we were Bible camp counselors together. I'm very excited for her and this great exposure she'll be getting for the book, which is just one in her series of 4 books. So cool for a girl from Luck to make it BIG.

Got home in time for Carter to finish mowing while Daddy disappeared. Seriously, I have no idea where he is. I figure if there was an emergency somewhere, I'd have heard by now. So it must be something to do with Friday night and Bud Light. Just a hunch.

I spent my evening going through old picture CDs to email some photos of Carter at school functions over the years. They are putting together some memory DVDs and a book, I believe, for 6th-grade graduation. I just look at that cute little boy and wonder where the time has gone!


Here Carter is with a different redhead -- his classmate Alec -- in first grade. He's so embarrassed I was even looking at these pictures. Doesn't he realize he was adorable? I mean, he still is.

But then, aren't we all?

Home Sleep Home

I'm ba-a-ack! I had an unexpected break from blogging this week. My trip out of town was expected, yes, but I also had expected some free time to get to a computer and write. Didn't work out that way.

Land of Lincoln: From Monday through Wednesday, I was in Schaumburg, Ill., on the outskirts of Chicago for a work conference. I shouldn't call it a conference. We referred to it as an Innovation Summit... time away from the various company offices (around the U.S. and beyond) to think hard, think collectively and think big. It was very worthwhile.

Of course, when you're in Chicago, things are already "big" -- at least somewhat grand or on the expensive side. The hotel we stayed at was very, very, very nice. Did I mention is was nice? I just had to take a picture of the TV built into the bathroom mirror -- for the businessman who doesn't want to miss the financial news while he's shaving in the morning... or for Robyn who doesn't want to miss Sports Center on ESPN while she's curling her hair. Pretty cool, eh?

Wii big different: After Tuesday's day full of meetings and thinking, we had dinner reservations at a place called Pinstripes, which boasted Bowling, Bocce & Bistro. Not your typical bowling alley from Wisconsin, that's for sure! Even had leather couches to sit on while waiting your turn. Very upscale, but the lanes were still the same width and same length -- just a bit more difficult to see with the mood lighting. Not that I'm making excuses. Thanks to my recent Wii training, I did better than my usual struggle to break a hundred. In fact, my first frame was a strike! Beginner's luck. I did pull out a 135 which is very good for me.

Home Sleep Home: That was it for the fun. Headed back Wednesday evening and I got home by midnight. I am dead tired after a few sleep-reduced nights and a very busy work day today catching up. I anticipate I'll be in bed before Carter tonight -- mainly since he'll be up watching the Celtics hopefully win and move on in the playoffs.

Runs, Hits, Errors: Speaking of Carter, I missed out on some of his activities this week. In the Runs category, he had his once-a-year 6th-grade track meet with all the elementary schools. Daddy had to wear long underwear to spectate that Wednesday morning! Carter did triple jump, shot put and 100m dash. He will not be taking home any gold medals.

The Hits category reflects the first 2 baseball games. Oh, I don't necessarily mean Carter had the hits. The Reds lost 3-zip on Monday night and tied 6-6 Wednesday evening in a game called for the time limit. I guess it was a bit chilly both nights. Maybe it's not so bad missing a game or 2. The other "hit" is just a little positive side note. Carter tried out for and made the baseball tournament team! So we'll have to adjust our summer weekend schedules (which I previously noted were already full to some extent). Should be fun though.

The Error category is a bit unfair. Hubby was assigned the task of capturing some of this with pictures this week. Of course he couldn't shoot while coaching baseball but the track meet didn't quite go as well as I hoped. He was there but missed Carter's shot put and triple jump -- which were both somehow done in the first 10 minutes. In his defense, he had a 2-minute tutorial (over the phone) on how to use my/our new camera, so the 100m dash pictures sure look like Carter must have been running fast! At least too fast to stay in the frame. Ah well, you live and learn. I was just glad Jim was able to go.

I'm also just glad to be home. End of story. (er, blog.)

Music to our Ears

This evening we enjoyed the spring Fine Arts Night at Grant Elementary School. It featured a band and orchestra program, followed by general music programs presented by each grade.

It was nice to hear Carter as part of a group -- and practice some more with my camera. I was much more satisfied with the results than the last time I tried to take program pictures inside a school gym! Here is the program at a glance:

Carter blows the trumpet while the 6th-grade band performed 3 songs.

Carter and Jacob find something funny.

Our trumpeters: Carter, Jacob and Mason.

A view of some of the band visible from our seat anyway.

During the general music part, the 6th-graders played Ode to Joy on recorders. It sounded nice.

They also did a number that combined singing and some other instruments. Couldn't get a decent view here!

They wrapped up the program with some song I was convinced I'd never get out of my head... But now I forgot it. It was a fun one, though, that the kids seemed to enjoy -- as much as 6th-graders will admit anyway!

(Psst... There may or may not be a redhead 2 people to Carter's left. Just saying.)

Much Ado About Much To Do

As much as anal-retentive me loves the concept of the "To Do" list, I have this small problem with it... I just can't stop adding to it!

I was thinking we were quite organized getting most of Carter packed up last night. We just left a few things "To Do" for tonight. But that was a few too many when we did not have a wide open schedule.

After we picked Carter up at the sitter's, I ran to town to get the last few things while Daddy drove Carter over to Grant Elementary for his last Spring Carnival. (Sob, sob...) Then Daddy had to take off by 6:10 to get to a coaches' meeting for baseball. I dropped off those few items at home and headed over to the school to make sure the sixth-grader was staying in line. Thankfully, most of our neighborhood was there so they kept an eye on him for those 15-20 minutes he was on his own, so to speak. We had to book it out of there by 7:30 because had a few things to do yetj.

Got laundry done and the last items in Carter's suitcase. Got the camera cleared off and gave him a quick tutorial. Got his movies and games in a small "back seat" bag. Got the second batch of cookies made for his "snack" bag. Got his hair cut -- just a trim (that of course we had planned all week to do!). Got to blog, too!

Is it any wonder I got my 10,000 steps today. Well, close. I'm just a few shy -- but I will deal with that. I'm making a B-line to bed. I hear someone may spoil me with a back rub for a few minutes... And that wasn't even on my list!

Keep Yer Distance

Tonight was the Fall Festival -- what we used to just call a Halloween party -- at Grant Elementary School. Carter's last one!

This morning, in our daily call, we talked about whether or not he was planning to dress up. No, not really, he said. He has a costume in mind for Saturday but hasn't gotten anything together yet. He told me he wants to be a gangster. In my mind, I am seeing Al Capone in a pin-stripe suit or, better yet, Johnny Depp as John Dillinger.

No, Mom, not a gangster, a gangsta! A rapper dude. He needs a flat-billed baseball cap and low-riding sweats. Whatever. I'm not buying anything toward that cause. He'll have to use what he's got! And, trust me, it will take until Saturday to get that together!

So he said he'd just go as Carter and then said, "OK, I don't want to sound mean or anything, but when we go, can you just stand by the neighbors like last year and talk to them?"

I knew where he was going with this. "Carter, don't worry, I'm not gonna embarrass you and hold your hand while you're waiting in line," I said.

"Mom, it's not that I'd be embarrassed. I just want you in one place so I can find you... So I don't get lost."

Really? I wonder how many 6th-graders are getting lost at that little Fall Festival?

At least he was trying to politely dismiss me. In the end, I got out of it anyway. Daddy volunteered to go so he could stand around B.S.ing with the neighbor dads -- and I could stay home, lay on the couch and catch up on Mad Men. That was nice. I'm all caught up now. And I guess the only thing I really missed at the party was some cute girl picking on Carter.

I wonder if she'll still like him when she finds out he's a gangsta...

Brass Kickin'

Cover your ears! Our son is officially a member of the 6th-grade band at Grant Elementary School! (Don't worry, we'll set up a music stand in the far corner of the basement for practice.)

Tonight was the "experimental" meeting where the kids got to try out the instruments of their choice to see what toots their horn. The instructors also graded them on their ability to make a strong, consistent tone through the mouthpiece. From there, they (and paying parents) could make an informed decision.

Going into this, Carter was pretty interested in the Baritone (the biggest instrument after the Tuba) and the Trumpet (easy to hold and only 3 keys!). He tried those and the Trombone. Basically, from his marks, he is welcome in the brass family.

Since we had to make a decision tonight to get the best rental deal and all that, he opted for the Trumpet. This way, if he ever needs some guidance on the notes (we know he won't run out of hot air), he can turn to his trumpeter cousin Colin.

Mom and Dad will be of little or no help. Dad can play a church organ (two-handed, I might add) so he at least can help with notes. Although in 6th grade I could play a mean harpsichord and ukulele. Now the talent is confined to the kazoo.

(My family should be warned about the potential Austin contribution to this year's Christmas program!)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Since we are merely hours away from our baby's last year at Grant Elementary, I thought I'd turn the blog over to the new sixth-grader and let him share "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" (or the subject of his choosing)...

To all my viewers and readers:

I'm excited and scared to be a sixth-grader. I’m excited because I'm moving on with school and getting back together with my friends. I’m scared that I'm the oldest kid and everybody looks up to me.

I will be prepared even though I am just sitting on the couch with my mom watching the Vikings win (well at least that's what they're doing right now).

I just got done with Kidz Camp but it seems like a year ago that I just got out of school. I had fun this summer going to a Twins game and 2 Brewers games just recently. I also went to Noah's Ark in the Dells this summer with my friend. I spent most of the weekends of the summer watching my cousin Colin race.

Now I'm looking forward to signing up for basketball for school this year because I think that I can help the team. I want to be good like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and K.G. I've been shooting 84.3 percent of the time this summer.

This year I'll be going to bed at 8:45 (I have to make a deal with mom and dad) and getting up at 6:58 so it will feel like sleeping in. But once I hear the sound of my alarm I'll be going "U-u-ugh."

I got the newest football video game Madden NFL '10. That's fun and worth my birthday money. The Vikings always win (and that's without Favre).

Thanks for reading my first report of the school year!

Carter :)

Spring Sports

If there's one thing you can count on when it comes to spring sports, it's that you can't count on the weather. Today, nestled between our soccer and baseball schedules, Carter had a track meet.

Since it was scheduled smack dab in the middle of the day -- from noon to 2 p.m. -- Daddy took the day off and I worked from home. We pretty much knew last night that it was going to rain today. But Carter informed us, "Our teacher says we'll still have it if it rains as long as it doesn't lightning or thunder." So we knew this morning we'd have to figure on 120 minutes of snuggling under the golf umbrella. Not always a bad thing.

This track and field meet was a once a year, end of school-type event. All fifth-graders were required to participate in at least 2 events (one track, one field). So given the fact there are 10 grade schools in the district, that's a heckuva lot of fifth-graders!

Carter and his friend Nathan get psyched up before their events.

From our standpoint in the bleachers, we saw Carter do the high jump at the end of the football field (thanks to our super-powered zoom on the video camera). He cleared the first two heights but not the third.

Next, he did the shot put. That took place way across the field behind the bleachers so we saw none of it. Naturally, that's the one event he said he did the best at! We were just happy it basically quit raining by then. We still had to stand, though, since the bleachers were all wet.

The last event of the day was the 100-meter dash. There were 92 boys signed up for that. I'm not kidding. Every boy must think he's Usain Bolt. So they had probably 10-12 heats. Carter finished 3rd in his so he won't be medaling.

Not sure how he did overall on the other two events since it will take a few days to tabulate the results.

Carter and friends from Grant Elementary cheer after hearing results from a relay race.

Tonight he had baseball tryouts, too, for the tournament team. Just 48 hours ago, he did no want to try out. Then, after last night's Tiger victory, he got a boost of self-esteem and decided he wanted to try out. We won't know for a few days how that went either. But when they came home, Carter gave me the "thumbs up" and Daddy gave me the "let's not get too confident" look.

So I guess while we're waiting for the results to come in on today's spring sporting activities, we can sit back and watch the grass grow. With all this rain, at least that's something we can count on.