Elizabeth and Michael had their class talent shows this week. Michael and his friend Jack channeled Vanilla Ice while singing the 1989 hit Ice, Ice, Baby - a song Michael has been hearing since he was born. Elizabeth and her friends played recorder while another friend hula hooped - I loved seeing both shows and finally figuring out who some of their classmates are - you know, just in time for the final week of the year.
What number is a prime number and a palindrome? Elizabeth's age! It's going to be a great year for her, I just know it!! To celebrate, she had five friends over for t-shirt decorating, games on the hill in our backyard, and ice cream cake. Elizabeth has always been rather crafty (in multiple ways), so I wasn't surprised the t-shirts turned out quite beautifully. One of her friends, Cammy, spent the night. She and Elizabeth sat at their own table during dinner at Applebee's, leaving Michael, Steven, and I across the aisle. Elizabeth seems ready to move on to middle school (gulp), with its new challenges, organizations, lunch options, and friends. [No, I didn't put the cake photo sideways for dramatic effect; I can't figure out how to make it rotate. It's the correct way in my photo file, but it strangely turns when I insert it. What's up with that?]
My dear, dear colleague Doug Griggs retired this year. So sad for me! I met him the first day of my orientation in 1996 and he has been a voice of wisdom and wit ever since. He graduated from Yale in 1964 and always teases me about my loss of memory for the campus' buildings and professors. He reminds me of Dad in many ways. We attended his large retirement party the night of graduation and his small brunch the next morning. All 4 of us are close to him, and we will most definitely stay in touch, although I will miss my morning meanderings down to his office for the latest news and gossip. GC is losing a remarkable, irreplaceable faculty member.
I submitted grades and attended graduation - my second life of each year begins again! I will miss many of this year's seniors but always look forward to the next set of students I'll meet in the fall. Elizabeth, Michael, and Zoe attended the Psychology Majors' Reception earlier this month. They liked talking (and eating lots of potato chips) with all of the students but seemed happy when my colleague Jay ran races with them and the other children outside.
Elizabeth has wanted a dog ever since she understood what dogs are. After 11 years of waiting, she finally got her wish. Steven needed little convincing, as he grew up with dogs and knew a pet would add to our lives, but I was the holdout. Zoe is our precious three-month-old puppy. We all agreed on the name Zoe. We would not have her if it weren't for Elizabeth (thank you, Elizabeth, for your decade+-long persistence and love for animals), so I'm glad the name we chose is associated with her. When she (Elizabeth) was born, Laura accidentally referred to her as Zoe a couple of times (Laura's e-mail: "How is Zoe?" My response: "I don't know, but Elizabeth is doing splendidly."). I think Laura's close friend had just had a daughter named Zoe, so that name was in her brain, and it stuck in my brain ever since.
We each enjoy her every day - she gets up with Steven at 5, I take her at 6, then Elizabeth and Michael play with her at 7 until we leave for school. She loves every single person she sees (going on walks with her has been the catalyst for many friendships I now have in our neighborhood) and is so excited to just be. She loves chasing after balls, following us around throughout the day, and sitting in Steven's car while he drives (is that illegal?).
Elizabeth is such a good caretaker for Zoe (which includes standing in the pouring rain when Zoe goes to the bathroom). Michael's favorite game with Zoe involves her walking on his back and biting his hair (Zoe prefers wet hair straight out of the shower instead of dry hair - just a little tidbit of information for you to keep in mind for when you visit and would like to bond with her, ha ha). Whenever I'm in the kitchen, she lays down on my feet while I'm cooking or cleaning or filling out paperwork; thus, I have gotten rather adept at stretching my arms to reach whatever I need so I don't disturb her. Steven has invented many games to play with her and we are all amused by her barely-audible growl when playing tug-of-war. She has brought such joy to our lives. Besides, who wouldn't love a pet who began sleeping through the night the second night she was with us?
I do not have a cell phone or a Facebook account (I did create a gmail account yesterday; do I get partial credit for that?), so I thought I should at least have a blog. I'm excited to be a part of technology in the 2000's now.
Elizabeth and Michael had their class talent shows this week. Michael and his friend Jack channeled Vanilla Ice while singing the 1989 hit Ice, Ice, Baby - a song Michael has been hearing since he was born. Elizabeth and her friends played recorder while another friend hula hooped - I loved seeing both shows and finally figuring out who some of their classmates are - you know, just in time for the final week of the year. 
We love having visitors! Rosemary came for Mother's Day and Terry and his wife Linda (Renee Collins' mom) visited last weekend. Mom is our most frequent visitor, and her visits are always eagerly anticipated. She receives a lot of "No, don't leave now - stay longer!" comments from both our children. This past weekend Mom helped us move around our patio furniture to make as much room as possible for the basketball court in our backyard.
What number is a prime number and a palindrome? Elizabeth's age! It's going to be a great year for her, I just know it!! To celebrate, she had five friends over for t-shirt decorating, games on the hill in our backyard, and ice cream cake. Elizabeth has always been rather crafty (in multiple ways), so I wasn't surprised the t-shirts turned out quite beautifully. One of her friends, Cammy, spent the night. She and Elizabeth sat at their own table during dinner at Applebee's, leaving Michael, Steven, and I across the aisle. Elizabeth seems ready to move on to middle school (gulp), with its new challenges, organizations, lunch options, and friends. [No, I didn't put the cake photo sideways for dramatic effect; I can't figure out how to make it rotate. It's the correct way in my photo file, but it strangely turns when I insert it. What's up with that?]
