It's Wild Here

December update

Earlier in the month, we attended the annual Santa/Pancake/Craft breakfast at the Methodist Church.  It's a sweet tradition.

I've spared you the alternative photo, in which Kellen makes his favorite new face (nostrils sucked in with power vacuum force --  he looks very odd).  

It was one of those years when Santa could make a long-time wish happen. Ryan has been asking to play violin for several years. I really love his expression in the very first seconds of the video.

The boys' school went roller skating during the week before break.  Kellen was quite daring on wheels, and had a great time with his pals (below the video).

 

Jeremiah's Christmas looked like this: 

Before the break, Jeremiah also joined the Mock Trial/Debate club at school, and has been enjoying that a lot. Some cruel fellow assigned homework over their vacation, so he'll be working on that soon, and these games will get a break.

Next quarter at Sinclair, I'll be teaching three sections of SOC 112, and Kellen will be switching to full day kindergarten twice/week.  I think he'll enjoy the extra time at school, as he'd been complaining of a lot of boredom in the mornings.

Christmas miracle: all 5 of them looking at the camera with smile-like expressions, probably earlier than 8am.

HEX BUGS with Uncle Troy!

Uncle Bill is a cruel, cruel ear-lifter.

Jamie has enjoyed a very long break from classes at Sinclair.  He's taken the time to write songs, bond with the cat, look for jobs, do a little work for a local builder, and play some shows.

W heels and S port F ishing USA (not really wanting fans of the bands to find this blog on google)

As it turns out, Ryan can play basketball very well. He's having a blast with it. Here is a very short clip of his awesome.

Good medicine for today

Download 2-10 Q & A

Happy 17th!

 

I have no idea. 

Kellen's newest talent. 

Wh33ls

So, Jamie's band is getting just enough attention that strangers recognize him around Dayton, his fans are in my class at Sincl4ir, and he gets daily facebook requests from people he doesn't know. Therefore, I am going to avoid using the name of his band in this blog, which is really not intended for that audience :-)

That said, he and the band are amazing.  You can visit their website by going to wheelsband . com

 

(without the spaces).

 

 

 

 

2011-2012 school pictures

School pictures from this year - click.

Jeremiah and Edward

Painting

Jamie has just completed his second quarter of painting at Sincl4ir (among other classes), and this is some of his work.  His instructor asked to keep this to put on display in Building 13, in case you care to see it in person.

A new strategy

I've tried restarting this blog many times, by going back  a few months and adding highlights until I get to the present.  It never works. I never get to the present, because I've missed so many highlights.  This time I am going to start with now, and keep going.  If I have extra time to go fill in the old stuff, I will do it. 

Visitor

Ryan soccer

Ryan enjoys every sport he's tried. He had a great fall soccer season, and has recently begun the first session of indoor.

 

Halloween 2011

 

Occupy Dayton

On 10/15, we (Jamie, I and a few Antioch College students) did this (these posts are seriously lacking commentary, but I'm trying to catch up on the most important events):

 

 

 

Let's pause for a vocabulary check

R: I'm bored.
Me: Let's go read some books or put on a movie
R: I want to do something more fun.
Me: Well, it's an hour until bedtime, and you're sick, so we can't really go out and get rowdy.
R: Let's do something rowdy *inside*
pause
R: What's rowdy mean?

July

Fourth of July at Uncle Doug and Aunt Barb's house has been a tradition for several years. Before that, we had decades of Fourths at my grandma's.  Marshmallow topped brownies, balloon toss, cooking out. 

 

All summer, we've been attending the summer reading programs at the library. This one was really wonderful, engaging all the children completely.

Hanging out downtown at the first (annual?) Cirque Carnival

Ryan is finishing up a clay class - they are creating an under-the-sea scene.

 Ryan attended Bulldog Basketball Camp and had the best time.  They were long, hot days and he wanted to be there every minute. He says it's more fun than swimming or soccer.  I'm thinking, wait until he can get the ball into the net - how fun will it be then?

 

 

4-H Camp Clifton - Jeremiah's first week away from home. He did the high ropes course, a zip line at night, and a few activities that he described as "do it yourself..."  They weren't terribly prepared. Think ice cream eating contest with no bowls, spoons or cones.  Just kids and a tub of ice cream. 

June

- Jeremiah wins Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournament in Walton, KY.  

 

Meanwhile, Jamie played music with Wh66ls on the streets of YS during street fair.  Yesterday, Jamie gave me a DVD of the boys, apparently made by our own local Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Steve Bognar.  It's really beautifully done! 

The weekend before Street Fair, I went to Knoxville, where Katie and I attended the funeral of dear Henry Granju.  On the way home, we visited Norris Dam.   More to come on Norris Dam, also known as paradise.

Ryan was better just in time for soccer camp, although he was definitely not fully recovered until the second day. During the first day of camp, he came walking over looking incredibly pale and flopped down into the grass.  It took some peanut butter and rest in the shade, but he was back at it before long.

Next week, he wants to try out swim team. 

He seems to be making some strides in reading and writing - practicing a little each day through summer.  He has one lost tooth and another couple of loose teeth.

He wants to play violin.  We're looking into it.

 

Jeremiah is teaching himself ukulele. Thank you, youtube.  I imagine we'll get some real lessons after fall soccer.  Right now, he's busy with Brasilian Jiu-jitsu and summer. 

 

Uncle Doug, Uncle Gavin, Dad.  Memorial Day/Dad's birthday.

  

 

 

Jamie and his band practiced for many hours yesterday in our kitchen.  I decided to do more cooking than I usually would... I love to hear them play.  

 

Ryan began his first Monday of summer with a huge ear infection and a lot of vomiting and fever.  He had been hoping to try the swim team but that will have to wait.  Poor fella.

 

library fun

We went to the library, just to get some books and movies, and stumbled into an improvisational dance performance, accompanied by Matt Minde and his cello.  It was unique and captivating. Matt shared the cello with the boys afterward.

 

 

avett brothers

Took the kids to Avett Brothers in Columbus last night.  Incredible performers!

 

Jamie and Kellen

We covered Ryan and Jeremiah in the last post.  

Jamie has had a fantastic first year of high school. His grades are excellent; he played varsity soccer; he started a band with two fabulous boys (Wh66ls); he has a wonderful girlfriend.  This summer, he's going to attend Friends Music Camp with several local kids, including his band-mates.  It's 4 weeks long!  I'm told they come home having learned so much and completely happy. 

Kellen started attending Yellow Springs Montessori in January.  The school is still getting oriented and determining its philosophy and routine.  He's loved his teacher, but hasn't been separating easily.  We've visited Antioch, where he seems a lot more at home and engaged.  We're hoping to get a little financial aid and send him there for his last year before kindergarten, so that he will be able to attend 5 days, and possibly even a few full days toward the end of the year before full-day kindergarten.