I am so sorry Mama Peeper

Imagine my surprise when I checked on my tree guests and found THIS: That poor Mama bird. No wonder she built the nest so big. Wowza.....FIVE babies! And I had all kinds of twin names planned; Peep & Cheep, Chirp and Twirp, Squawk and Mohawk...the list was endless. I just can't believe she laid two eggs and then close to two weeks later, she laid another 3 more (Sorry if I am using the wrong laid, lay, lye, lie, lain...I never figured that out. And I teach for a living, but I'm off for the summer, people.) Do you suppose ANOTHER mama has also laid her eggs in this same nest? Maybe a mama that waited too long to build hers and found herself in some kind of precarious position and didn't have time to build one?!? I never thought of that, which is surprising being as co-dependent as I am. Hmmmmm..... I have noticed another bird hanging around some. In fact, when I took that picture of her on top of the house, there was another bird up there. I must pay more attention to this. So, will the first two hatch and then weeks later, the other three? Questions, questions....where is Bill Nye when you need him? Or Mr Wizard (remember him!)? Or Jacques Cousteau? Anyone! Peace, LB

Schools out for Summer

Does that title make the Alice Cooper in you start singing? No? Me either.... Did you know I wanted Connor to be a Cooper and Mike vetoed it? Now you do. SCHOOL IS OUT! WOO HOO! The last day of school means one thing in the Budach household. Bonfire. Now, both kids have wanted a fire for the past two weekends. They have begged, pleaded, nagged, whined...on and on. Annoying if you ask me. So, tonight we gave in. Celebrate the end of the year. Rejoice in the lazy days of summer ahead. Let me fill you in on a couple of things before I start: #1. Connor does not like smores and will not eat them. #2. Neither kid will actually sit by the fire and enjoy it, they run around and throw balls over my head and act like crazy people. #3. Noah won't get close enough to cook a marshmallow so Mike does it for him. And with me being completely exhausted (I am too old for the last week of school anymore)...I just keep peaking into the house at the lonely couch calling my name. But, then the kids started this.... And this..... And some of this...and it was a little more enjoyable. This is my secret to successful smores. I love you so much I am willing to share it. I chop up the chocolate into small pieces. Not only does it cause the chocolate to melt into heavenly goodness so much better than a solid bar of chocolate, you will use a lot less. Helpful summer tip of the day, Internet friends... Noah and his masterpiece before handing off to his dad. All in all....kids seemed to have a good time. Can't believe the school year is over and I now have two children in school full time. Crazy. On a side note, I was asked to take some pictures of a nature center on my school property so we could frame them and give them to people that are leaving our building for various reasons. Look at this little gem I found..... I love it! Have a wonderful weekend! LB

A Proud Moment

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

Mama

I had been stressed. I was afraid the mama bird had left her peeps. I hadn't seen her in the nest. And I had checked every day. Because I am obsessive compulsive like that. However, as I was rolling up the hose this evening after watering my garden (otherwise known as a weed patch....dang it anyway), I checked the nest and there she was! She did not appreciate my being there and she certainly didn't appreciate my flash going off in her nice, dark, cozy home. She let me know how she felt too. I high-tailed it out of there. Wish I could email you a whiff of this tree. MMmmmmmmm......