Music

The Little Prince has started taking piano lessons. Look what Grandma made for him to carry his books in.

She is beyond awesome. It is his favorite color with his initials. It was delivered in a package addressed to him (which happens once or twice a year). But what he loved most about the whole thing is that she wrote him a note using the note paper he gave her for Christmas. Thanks, Mom!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Decay

The Little Prince took this shot of the decaying retaining wall surrounding the school parking lot. Not a bad capture from the window of the truck, wearing gloves and a backpack.

2. Groups of three

I am so glad I took a picture of these early in the week before we got snow and they got covered.

3. Kitchen

This swag has been in my kitchen since we moved here in March 2000. It was a housewarming gift from my little sister and the first thing I ever hung in my kitchen.

4. Things that make you go "hmmmm"

These are dribbling goggles. They are supposed to help you practice dribbling the basketball without looking by removing the bottom half of your vision. Every time I see them I think "hmmm" and am tempted to try them out just to see what I can still see.

5. "Me" time

A cup of tea and a favorite book, under warm covers on the sofa. Haven't had much "me" time lately, but that makes it even more special when it does happen. Soon, it will be a glass of iced tea and a favorite book, soaking up some rays on the deck. Soon, I hope...

Next week's items:
1. High key
2. Bedroom
3. Something tiny
4. Off in the distance
5. Stripes

Click here to join Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

The last of the snow?

I'm not sure where he found this large chunk of snow or what he's trying to make out of it, but I do know that the more he chops, the faster it will melt. So chop, Little Prince, chop!

Determined to grow...

... no matter what. These flowers are growing right through the leaves I did not clean up last fall. I guess they are ready for Spring. Just like me.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Camera Phone

 Taken with hubby's camera phone.

2. Camera 

The camera I use. Taken with the camera phone. Guess I could have used this shot for 1 and 2. But the Little Prince was so cute, I had to include him.

3. Shoes 

Baseball cleats. Last Monday was the first baseball practice of the season. Spring is coming!

4. Chair

 With spring/summer on the way, the Little Prince needed a new deck chair.

5. Imperfection 

 This angry look is the result of an imperfect video game score. Actually, it took a couple tries to get the Little Prince to make this face. He kept laughing.

Next week's items are:
1. Decay
2. Groups of three
3. Kitchen
4. Things that make you go "hmmmm"
5. "Me" time

Click here to join Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Vanishing Point

The road to nowhere.

2. Square Crop/Format 

These ducks were the only ones happy about all the rain we have been getting.

3. Under 

Last Sunday we visited family in MD. The Little Prince had a wonderful time, even though he was under attack by his cousin Ben. They were both under attack by Ben's brother Logan. Can you see his head between theirs?

4. "Welcome to the jungle" 

Spring is coming. It will soon be time to visit the jungle (gym).

5. Calm

This has been a very long week and I am definately ready to be calmed by chamomile.

Next week's items are:
1. Camera Phone
2. Camera
3. Shoes
4. Chair
5. Imperfection

Click here to join Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

The rains came down...

...and the floods came up. It had been raining off and on since Sunday. Yesterday, it rained steadily all day and the creek rose alarmingly high. But prayers were said by many, and at 2am this morning, it started to recede. Usually, you can see the rocks at the bottom of this creek and twice the amount of bricks along the bank. The current is very swift and at some spots looks good enough for white water rafting!

This is a view from the parking of the Post Office downtown, taken at 9am this morning. The Postmistress said the creek was 6 inches from the top at 9pm last night and almost even with the top at 2am. The far side of the creek is lower than the side I was standing on, so some of the houses on that side did get a little water in their cellars. But most of the homes were safe, unlike the Flood of 2006.

Happy Birthday

To my sweet husband and best friend. The Little Prince and I hope your day was special.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Capture the sky

We haven't had much sun this week, so this was a good as it got.

2. Everyday 

Gotta keep those pearly whites clean.

3. Furry 

Jax, the Little Prince's buddy.

4. Life (new)

Buds on my lilac bush which is a cutting I got from my Mom's bush.

5. Blurred

The Little Prince wanted to try his hand at one of the photos this week. We had planned to use this for Life, but it turned out to be a perfect Blurred shot.

Click here to join Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

Accidentally on purpose

After accidentally getting two basketballs stuck in the frozen net, the Little Prince decided to purposely get the rest stuck. His next decision was to get them unstuck by whacking at them with the broom. Yikes! I can only imagine what would have happened to the backboard if Dad hadn't spotted him in time. Can you see the soccer ball to the left of the basket? I think he was trying to add that to the mix.

Or maybe he was using it to get the basketballs out? Whatever he was doing, it entertained him for quite some time and was fun to watch. From the warm indoors, that is.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Chocolate

Chocolates from my Valentine.

2. Numbers

Chart to calculate baseball age.

3. Canned food

Our collection at church on Souper Bowl Sunday for the soup kitchen.

4. Music

The Little Prince's latest obsession, since seeing previews for "Gnomeo & Juliet".

5. Stack

It's a basketball term that the coaches scream when the ball goes out of bounds. I immediately thought of this when I saw this week's word and tried for 3 games to get a good shot.

Click here to join Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

Spring fever

Yesterday, it was 66 degrees. Perfect weather for playing outside between the snow drifts. With basketball just about finished, baseball is on everyone's mind.

Fortunately for the Little Prince, his dad had a job for him that involved baseball. Throw baseballs at this sign...

then inspect it for damage. The Little League in our town is getting new sponsor signs made and someone needed to test them to see which ones held up best when hit by a ball.

Sick day

What do you do if you are stuck in the house with strep throat and you've already watched the first two Aladdin movies? You recruit all the "guys" you can find to play a game of football on the landing.

Here's a view of the field from the sky cam. The Little Prince is getting ready to move the white guy on the end back with the lone white guy on his side. Just as I snapped the picture, the Little Prince said, "Ooo wait, Mommy! I forgot the running back!" Then he will move the other white guy (next to the blue guy) back with the dark guy to be HIS running back. You know, this would be more easily explained if I had some X's and O's and arrows to use.

Then you crash them all together, just like in the real game, and see who ends up with the ball. On this play, there was a whistle and a penalty flag was thrown. But then I had to stir the marinara sauce, so I missed the rest of the game. I'll have to ask him who won.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I found out about Scavenger Hunt Sunday from Carletta. It was really fun searching for these 5 shots.

1. Shadows

2. Patterns

3. Bright White

Getting ready to erupt his science project volcano.

4. Strong

The Little Prince testing the strength of his magnets.

5. Warmth

Click here to join Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

High School Sweethearts

More like Pre-School sweethearts. The Valentine Dance gave the Little Prince and his friend another reason to hang out since they don't get to see each other at school. They had a great time eating hot dogs and drinking Gatorade and we got to catch up with her parents. We live almost within sight of each other, but our schedules are so busy that we don't often get a chance to chat.

First basket

Last game of the regular season today and the Little Prince scored his first basket! It was very exciting.

Be My Valentine

The Little Prince and I made Valentines for the class party on Monday. It didn't take long since there are only 6 classmates. It took longer to decide what to make.

Rockets for the boys.

Butterflies for the girls.

And hand cream for the teacher.

It's scientific

It starts with research, although I still haven't figured out what the Right and Wrong paper is all about. All on his own, the Little Prince googled play doh recipes and made his lists (click to enlarge). While it is very cool that he is happening enough to do his own internet research, it also made me realize I have to keep a closer eye on him (I thought he was on Math 24). Guess he'll be limited to the laptop in the living room from now on.

After putting plastic and newspaper on the kitchen table, Dad mixed up the batter and the Little Prince started forming the volcano. I got to take pictures and clean up afterwards.

We added some chocolate food coloring (7 drops of red, 4 drops of yellow, 2 drops of green) to the second batch of play doh to give it some variety.

Here the Little Prince poses with the finished product in the classroom. It was his idea to add red play doh to the volcano. He said it was from erupting before. The red stuff in the bottle is vinegar, food coloring and dish soap. The baking soda is already in the volcano.
***
We made the volcano on Sunday and took it to school on Monday so he could erupt it during the Volunteer Appreciation celebration on Tuesday. Well, the weather had other ideas. Tuesday and Wednesday were snow days, so Volunteer Appreciation has been moved to this coming Monday. Hope the volcano holds up until then.