Singing a different tune

I always pooh-poohed the idea of "graduation" ceremonies for kindergarten...until last Friday.  "Precious" can't even begin to describe it.  Of course, Little Miss was the preciousest. 

She is going to miss Miss Stanley soooo much!

Here are all the girls in her class...the two boys had already whooped and hollered and taken off.

I wonder what we'll all look like 12 years from now at the "real" graduation.  Sniffle.

A cheerleader AND a dentist.

Singing, dancing, wildlife, and Happy Mother's Day!

What would Mother's Day be without running through a "water wall"?

Apparently it's fun on the bike, too!

Poor Molly slaved away on Mother's Day to make a sumptious lunch for the rest of us.  I would feel guilty, but she made fried green tomatoes, so I actually feel very happy and very full.

Thursday, Little Miss' school had International Song and Dance Day.  I don't recall the name of this one, but it hails from Bosnia.  Who knew?  And, of course, my battery gave up right after the song started.  It was over by the time I got it switched.  I know you're disappointed.  I apologize.

 

This was Little Miss' favorite, "The Chimes of Dunkirk."  She'll be glad to tell you the story that goes with the song if you ask, or can't get away quick enough.

As we were leaving the performance, Eagle Eyed Molly spotted this little fellow in the parking lot gravel.  I'm not sure of the legality of bringing wild animals home to keep as pets, so let's just say he's in a better place now.  With day-glo rocks and the whole cast of Spongebob Squarepants figurines to keep him company.  And he seems to like celery just like The WonderPets...in this unspecified better place.

Little Miss (and the rest of us!) were very excited that MawMaw made it up from Waco for the performance.  We may all lose our "Native Texan Cards," but none of us were in the mood for Mexican food on Cinco de Mayo.  But the burgers for Cinco de Grumpo's were delish.

Saturday, Little Miss and I had to run into town before the Kentucky Derby started.  Naturally, a snow cone was in order.  I just now realized I should have looked to see if they had a mint julep flavor.  Oh, well.  Little Miss was feeling adventurous and went with "cactus juice."  I had a few bites, but really couldn't pin down a specific flavor--just intensely sweet with a subtle suggestion of pickle juice, a whispering aftertaste of tart and salty.  Not at all unpleasant. Also very pleasant was a quick visit from Kerrville Kelley.  We hope to see more of her this summer as she travels the highways and biways (what are those exactly?) with her Casita!

Something unpleasant indeed occurred to me one night last week, however.  I'd retired early one evening and was snoozing away in Little Miss' bed (let's just say there are some snoring issues in the Nockinbird Nest).  You know how sometimes it feels like there's something in your hair, but generally it's just a breeze from the ceiling fan, so you smooth it down and go back to sleep (I really hope I'm not the only person that happens to!)?  I woke up with that sensation and went to slap down my hair...and I felt something cold and squishy!!!!  I shiver just thinking about it right now!  So in one motion, I sat bolt upright, made a loud "eep!" noise and tried to grab and throw what I envisioned to be a giant cockroach bent on eating me and my sleeping child (Why? I don't know).  I hopped out of bed, turned on the overhead light and began tearing off the sheet and quilt looking for this nightmare that had been IN MY HAIR!  Little Miss slept through this all.  And I didn't find anything.  I hadn't put my glasses on, but I knew whatever it was, I would have been able to see it.  I looked under the bed, around the room.  Nothing.  By this time I had almost convinced myself I'd dreamt it, or it had been Little Miss' hand hitting my head.  I heard Loverboy in the bathroom taking a shower, so, since I was wide awake by now, I shuffled in there to recount my rude awakening and look for support for my dream/hand to the head theories.  I'd pretty well talked myself down so I returned to the bedroom.  I thought I'd look around just one more time, but I'd turn on the softer bedside light.  As I bend down to turn on the switch, I saw something dark on the wall.  It looked big and weirdly shaped (no glasses on, remember).  I was wondering what on earth someone had splashed on the wall when it JUMPED!  Right onto my side of the bed.  To say I screamed would be an understatement.  Loverboy heard me from the shower with the door closed.  My hero leapt from his shower (naked, dripping) and charged into the bedroom where I was standing, pointing and yelling, "There's a frog in the bed!  Frog in the bed! Frog in the bed!"  He grabbed it and tossed out the back door.  Little Miss slept through it all.  After making sure I was frog pee/poop free (ick) and trying to figure out how this FROG GOT IN THE BEDROOM AND ONTO MY HEAD when it's just about the greatest distance in the house from any of the outside doors, I was able to go back to sleep.  Saturday, I moved a couple of rag/towels from the chair on the patio where Loverboy had tossed them and saw...

my nemesis lying in wait for me once again!

I'm wondering now though, if I shouldn't have just given him a tiny kiss...just to see, ya know?  I don't mean it.  I already found my Prince Charming...who else would have come to rescue me without even toweling off?

The Teacher Appreciation Day Puppet Show

These are snippets of the original puppet show Little Miss developed in appreciation of lil' ol' me for Teacher Appreciation Day.  Thrilling, yes?  I especially enjoyed the audience participation aspect.

Earlier, we spent some time reconnecting with our inner sidewalk chalk artists. 

Little Miss honored me with a portrait of....me!

A stunning likeness.  I guess my parents really got ripped off by the orthodontist when I was a kid.