I am a weed Nazi. Each day after school I walk around the house and pull any and all weeds that I see. I also pick up any stray stick, piece of paper, flower petal, or any other foreign object that may have tried to take root in the landscape around my humble home. Because I do it every day, there is never much to pick up.
Therefore, you can imagine how horrified I was to come across this after school today.
Immediately I knew something was not right. That junk had not been there the day before. Did the kids drag this crap into the rocks while playing baseball? They like to drive me nuts by creating holes in the river rock as they run through it. I can't stand it. Trying not to show my Kate Gosselin side, but it's hard. Maybe I missed when it rained real hard during the day, knocking sticks to the ground. I started to investigate.
I saw more foreign material in the tree itself.
As I looked closer I thought I saw something.
Is that what I think it is?
A bird has taken up residence in my tree!!
I am so excited! Occasionally birds will use this tree to build a nest, but I had all but given up this year. I figured all the birds had found a place by now (don't assume since I teach science that I know all there is to know about nature and breeding, people).
I can't wait to see what happens. I hope all my picture taking didn't scare Mama away. I will keep you posted!
I would like to live in this tree too...wouldn't you? (Please ignore the dead impatients in the barrel. How does one kill impatients? Honestly....)
Peace out Peeps,
LB
Every year from first through sixth grade each class elects a citizen-of-the-year. It is chosen by the students and it's a pretty special award. I know in my own class we talk a lot about what makes up a person deserving of this award and the students take it very seriously and it means a lot to them. In the 12 years I have taught I have always been proud of the person they have chosen because it's an award they really put thought into.
Noah was chosen as citizen-of-the-year in his class this year by his peers. We could not be more proud. We have known for two days and haven't been able to tell him because it's always kept a surprise until awards day when each of the classes has their citizens announced in front of the school and guests. Our local Kiwanis members present the recipient with a certificate and parents get a pretty nifty bumper sticker!
Notice the bags under the poor boys eyes! The weather has been so beautiful here lately and it's so hard to get the kids in, showered, and to bed at a decent time anymore! I take full responsibility for the haggard look of my child! Only one more day and we can all sleep until noon!
I did not get to attend the ceremony. (Just typing that was hard!) My school went to the MN Twins game today for their end-of-the-year field trip. So, we will watch it on video tonight so this mama can see the face-cracking smiles that Granny, Papa, and Grandma Cindy said they saw on his face (the pictures don't show that...Mike must have caught him in-between smiles).
Many times we have told Noah that his scores and grades are important and we are very proud of his successes in those areas, but nothing makes us more proud than when someone comes up and says, "Noah is such a nice, sweet boy!" It melts my heart and I find myself tearing up sometimes. What did I do to deserve this child?
He really is my sugar-pie boy (as I call him) and we will stop from the daily craziness that has gone on in this house for two weeks (welcome to last two weeks of school in a household with a teacher) and celebrate this amazing boy.
Peace,
LB
