Jordan's Birthday at Patty's

This afternoon we celebrated Jordan's birthday with his friends from daycare.  First, Patty had fun bug printouts for the kids to color.  Then, the kids helped make "dirt" cups by layering pudding and oreo crumbles with gummy worms mixed in.  It was a big hit.  I realized I probably shouldn't post pictures of the kiddos without parent permission...but here are some pictures of Jordan coloring and eating his bug graham crackers.  Yum!  

Gearing Up For Golf

The weather is warm again...the trees are in bloom...it must be time to haul out the golf clubs again and head over to the driving range.  Before I know it, Chad will be dragging...I mean, asking, actually the best word is probably begging, me to hit the links with him.  Thanks to generous gifts for his graduation, Chad went shopping for a new driver this afternoon.  Jordan watched Dad hit a few balls to try out the prospective new club while he, himself, munched and drooled over graham cracker cookies.  (They worked like a charm for about 10 minutes.)  Chad is now the proud owner of a Nike Sumo2 Driver.  It's a pretty big club.  Go big or stay home!  Speaking of staying home...anyone want to take my place and go golf with Chad (while I stay home)?  Tee times are available now! 

Just to clarify...I really do enjoy playing golf, and I have fun spending time with Chad on the golf course.  I even like the exercise (but not carrying my own bag...I prefer to rent a roller cart...or on a special occasion a power cart).  The only problem is Chad's desire to go out and play golf is like my strong yearning to pay Coldstone Creamery a visit, and I just can't play that much golf!

Congratulations Chad!!!!

Chad graduated with his Master's from Concordia University on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008!  We are proud of him and so happy he is done!  For the last two years, Chad has been at class every Thursday night.  There have been so many times he has said, "I just have to finish this paper..."  Those days are done!  

There was a nice ceremony on campus on Saturday.  It was short (thankfully) but very nice.  Papa Jack kept Jordan entertained for most of the ceremony.  Afterwards we celebrated with family and friends at Dave and Buster's.  

In The Woods

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In The Woods

By Tara French

I read this book for an online book club I found.  Here is the website if you want to check it out and see further discussion of this book.  Mindless Book Club  This book was written by a new author and I really liked her style.  The main character is a detective in Ireland.  He himself was one of three kids who survived a mysterious incident in the woods.  The other two disappeared never to be seen again.  He was found completely in shocked covered in blood but with no recollection of what happened to his friends.  Now, as a detective 20 years later, he is investigating the murder of a young girl in the same place he grew up near the same woods where his own friends disappeared.  It's a really interesting idea and the style of writing is great.  My only problem is that the one case gets solved and the other doesn't.  I ended up really connecting with the main character...but in the end he kind of is a jerk.  Maybe you'll read it and explain what happened to me.  One part just seemed to be left out.  ?

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

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The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

By Carolyn Mackler

This was a fun, but serious, book about a girl coming into her own.  She has very low self-esteem and is the youngest child in her family.  It turns out her family has more issues than she does herself when she just is honest with herself and starts to believe in herself a little more.  This is definitely a good read for late-high school students I would say.