Friend Trifecta

Mid-winter break started with a bang on Saturday as Andrew got to spend time with his three best friends at three separate points in the day!

First thing in the morning, it was karate with Nick. 

That evening, we braved Chuck E. Cheese's for some pizza and play with Ben.

And the mid-morning fun, as pictured below, was Joseph's 4th birthday party at Monkey Joe's!

I Heart Jumping Rope

Our district scheduled a mid-winter break for the next week. All employees and students I know are thankful for the R & R that will result.

Today at school, our related arts team held a "Jump Rope for Heart" fundraiser which meant lots of great things: our students got in some much-needed motion on a crazy pre-break day, $ was raised for the American Heart Association, students were able to compete with their teachers in a jump rope contest, and I got to veer off the general music path to jump rope with kids all day.

Again, I jumped rope with kids all day on this beautiful Friday.  I love my job!

Beware the Eclectic Dynamic Duo...

....when Converse-wearing, Woody-toting Spiderman teams up with the Harry Potter wannabe.

Happy Valentine's Day

Truckin'

Yesterday, Grandma Cathy took Andrew to karate while Jon and I did this flat, fun 5K.

I pushed Ethan.  Here he is, clearly concerned before the start.

Here we are 5 minutes pre-race!

And Friday night, we took in our first ever monster truck rally. 

Check out the name of this truck!  Obviously, we rooted for this guy.

But, he just wasn't as fast as Wolverine.  Oh, well.

African at MY SCHOOL

Here's Jon and his students on my school's stage today!

Andrew saw them a couple of weeks ago.  Today it was MY turn to see this amazing (yes, I am biased) African drumming and dancing ensemble perform for our 600 elementary students. We had it set up to culminate a month-long Black History unit. Their performance was energetic and fun, and so many teachers and students have commented about it all day long that I have lost count.

One of my favorite 1st grade boys was so moved that he said he wanted to grow up and be African. 

I love my husband and good world music performances and kids and Fridays.  Have a good one, friends!

The Inspiration of The Winter That Never Was

Last winter, we had snow 'round these parts. 

Lots of it.

There was snow at Christmas.

There was a snowstorm that got us out of school for a week in January.

Not this winter.  IF you can call it that.  Winter.  Ha!

Not only are we apparently not having a winter this winter, but the weather has been unseasonably warm in a major way. We are loving it.  Yesterday, I ran in shorts and a tank top. I pushed Ethan in the stroller and we were both burning up by the end. I am definitely not complaining about this. It has been nice. I'm certain we will get snow next year and that will also be nice.

Also yesterday, the summerish weather inspired Jon to put up our hammock.

Everybody wants a turn with the drill.

Love these brudders.

Definite scheming.

Although it didn't bother the brudders, Jon and I decided the hammock's angle is too severe, and we're moving it between two trees that are farther apart.  That will happen another warm day.  Probably tomorrow.

Another weather-inspired moment: Hound baths.  Here's a wet Dora asking me WHY?!?