It's Wild Here

Downtown Dayton Revival

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.

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!

 

playing catch up in the blog

A couple of weeks ago, the youngers attended a "Truck Touch" at a local dairy farm.

We also got a new (to us... nearly 100 years old) piano and Jamie began lessons with a new instructor at A. M.

And here is a little before and after for K's first summer buzz.  I think the new look is really sweet in person - he looks kind of unhealthy-bald in this picture, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Last week, we had cousin F here for some outdoor lunch and sleeping over. He ended up staying two nights because the big thunder storms and tornadoes arrived during our first attempt at dropping him off.

I'm going to try to write more often, even if it's about trivial things, because I want to get into the habit of writing daily.

Today the little boys have colds. They are sleeping poorly. Jamie and Je are both on very late schedules, sleeping in past 9 and staying up past 11. I'm finding it difficult to encourage change in this.

Je has stopped attending band at the school.  I'm reluctant to insist he continue. Of course, I do think he's learned a great deal about music and is a very fine drummer, so I'm trying to figure out how to keep this up without dragging us all out of YS for lessons. I can't seem to find a good (any!) drumming instructor locally.

Jamie is still taking piano lessons. Oh crap, I forgot to send him yesterday. Need to call his teacher. He's enjoying it a lot. I think it's nice how quickly one can learn an instrument at an older age, assuming the motivation is there. He didn't want anything to do with music instruction for years, but now he does so that he can participate in a band with friends. He's learning basic classical piano and getting the basics happily at the home of an experienced teacher. He rides his bike there most times.

I'd really like to get a piano. What we have is a very insufficient keyboard. He can practice sometimes at G's house. My mom reminded me that the piano my dad has in his house is actually mine. I don't know... they did buy it for me when I began taking lessons. I would *love* to have it back, but it would be difficult to ask him for it. I don't think he necessarily thinks of it as mine, and step-J would not be at all impressed if she lost it.

Threshold Choir

I just realized I don't think I've mentioned (have I?) anything about
the choir I joined back in April. Here's the link
http://www.thresholdchoir.org/

I'm not a Singer, iykwim, but I love to sing in a group and definitely
support the purpose of the group. There are 49 choirs around the world
and the founder, Kate Munger, is here in Yellow Springs for the
weekend. I spent Friday and Saturday with about 40 women from all over
ohio and ann arbor - it was pretty wonderful. Whether or not this kind
of thing is your cup of tea, I think it's worth knowing that this
service exists for the ill and dying (and in some places, also for
births, prison inmates)

it's important, when singing, to understand the mood of your song selection