End of May

Zoe and Niki get the run of their home and yard during the day now that summer is here!  They like being outside, but they like it even more when they're on people's laps.  

Family fun last week: We met Mom for her birthday lunch and movie.  She refused to take a group picture, so here's one of Michael and Steven at Cheddars's, waiting for her to show up.  We heard all about her remodeling, her friends, and her daily activities.  Steven told her about his new position at Toyota.  Elizabeth was at Emily's family's reunion, so she wasn't able to be with us.  :(  

One of Elizabeth's recent school projects was to create a shield.  I thought it was very eye-catching although I'm not sure exactly what it represents.  Oh!  She and I had a GRAND time shopping in Lexington for her graduation dress and accessories!  Gorgeous child.

Finally, a couple of alumni who are now attending seminary visited last week to hang out with Zoe and Niki.  Ashleigh (right) is the daughter of Marty Barker, who lives in Morehead and who graduated from high school with me and Steven.  Small world. 

Oh, sad times - there is no photo of Elizabeth, just her shield.  So here's one for you.  It should look familiar, depending on how observant you are.

Being their mom

I love my kids.  I love being their mom.  They are so beautiful, intelligent, fun, funny, interesting, kind-hearted, happy, and compassionate.  And that's true about them, even to someone who is not biased.  :)  I hope all of you who are moms had a spectacular mother's day.

Awesome 14 year old in the house!

It's Elizabeth's birthday: She's adorable, intelligent, precious, humble, beautiful, laid back, funny.
 Birthday stuff:

       Mexican restaurant with Emily and the family.

       Sleepover with Emily.

       Trampoline with Emily.

       Up all night with an ipod touch.

 

Shopping spree in Lexington with Emily and Anderson. (No photo available.)
 
Cool gifts. 


Frozen yogurt (okay, that was just for me and Steven, but the rest were for Elizabeth).


Thank you for sending your birthday gifts and greetings.  She really is so remarkable.  We love spending as much time with her as she will let us!

Chicago

The morning of my flight, the kids agreed to take a selfie so I would have something beautiful and classy to remember them by. 

Then Robin and I flew to Chicago for the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) Conference, where we presented research on the emotional intelligence variables of hostility, perfectionism, and procrastination. 

Afterward, we just had fun, hanging out, attending keynote addresses (one by former UK mentor Margo Monteith, who is current MPA president, now at Purdue), and seeing friends. Spending time with John Dose (UK's graduate program during the 1990's) and Richard Renfro (Yale undergraduate in the 1980's) were some of the highlights.  As was sleeping late and avoiding work.

Happy 29th!

Some crazy alums decorated my office, and many of my friends wished me a happy 29th birthday (seriously, they wrote 29, not realizing that I am actually proud of my age!), but the best part of my birthday was being with my family. 

I had a 2.5 hour Board of Ethics meeting the night of my birthday, so Steven, Elizabeth, Michael, and I ate at Galvin's beforehand.  My kids made me the puppy window catcher I've been eyeing for literally years (eyeing it in our storage room, where it has been, so lonely since I first bought it when they were still in elementary school). 
 
Meanwhile, Michael and his friends are really enjoying their newly-discovered sport, trampoline basketball. 

Niki and Zoe were worn out by all the birthday festivities. 

Thank you to everyone one of you (well, I received greetings from everyone but one person) for sending your greetings, cards, and gifts.  We had our last faculty meeting on my birthday and I was re-elected as Faculty Chair!  Between the dinner, cards, gifts, and faculty meeting, it truly was one of the best birthdays I remember.

RSMS events this week

Yesterday Elizabeth's 8th grade class went on their College Cruise, a field trip with stops at GC and UK.  They started at GC and the sophomore tour guide explained GC's history and the uses for some of its main buildings.  Then they did an activity, during which they learned the roles that GPA, community involvement, plagiarism, bad grades, and extracurricular activities played in admissions decisions.  At that point, it was realized that a miscommunication had occurred and the 30 minutes GC thought we were spending on campus was actually 90 minutes.  Oops, what to do during the next hour as we waited for the buses to return.  Well, while seated in the rec center, the students learned a lot more about college life, including class schedules, majors, extracurricular activities, internships, graduate school v. career, etc.  They learned a lot of that from me, I'm afraid.  Yes, I was a filler activity, much to Elizabeth's embarrassment.  The best question was from the student who asked, "Do you have gunsmith as a major?"  (The answer is no, in case you weren't certain.)  I did take them through the off-limits Learning Resource Center, so I'm sure Elizabeth was thankful for my presence in the end.  She told me she didn't really learn anything about GC because she's been there so much she is already an expert.  She is most likely correct about that.

 

Then we went to UK.  It was a verrrry long walking tour (look at strong Elizabeth with her friend Emily), an hour total, with very limited information.  We heard an awful lot about the UK basketball players, however - and their big screen TVs, how they use golf carts to get to class so they don't injure themselves, and how they always wear UK blue swag.  We also learned that in the library, the basement is where you can be loud and order pizza; the fifth floor is the best place to find a date; and the top floor is the best place to repel off of if you want to do a prank.  No mention of books or academics was made at all during the hour, except one reference to the Engineering students, who don't have to leave the building when it's cold or hot outside because they have their own cafeteria.  And NASA blew up one of their satellites.  The president's wife makes cookies for students during finals.  No mention of her Ph.D.  The students really seemed to like GC much more than UK.  They talked a lot about the small class size and how your professors really know you at GC.  I think the complete lack of academic focus with these honors students wasn't a strategic move on UK's part.  I asked how many academic majors UK had, and the tour guide didn't know, but did say they had "tons and tons."  And best of all: Elizabeth asked me to sit with her and her friends during lunch at UK, as I veered off toward the parent/teacher table.  Yes!

 

Today Michael's class had a sock hop!  Students could hula hoop, do the twist, and dance in general.  You can see Michael's involvement in the photo on the left.  I was in charge of making milkshakes for the milkshake drinking contest.  I am sure the teachers were pleased with my work.  See photo on right.

Mostly, though, I just loved being able to spend time with my children during their school day, when I rarely get to see them.  They are so wonderful and amazing, as always.  And tall.

Meanwhile, Niki is getting started on her summer tan.

Weekend project

This weekend Elizabeth, Michael, and Steven spent several hours on an awesome project.  Niki, Zoe, and I watched and sat in the sun.  Don't worry, we were wearing sunscreen.

Also, I got to see Kim Reeder in Lexington.  We took a selfie in the frozen yogurt store's parking lot.  Then we went to Barnes & Noble.

Zoe and Niki went to the groomer's.  They did not take a selfie; they only wanted a treat from the pantry.