Robert's journey continues

I really should let Cate write this blog post, since she has worked very hard on this all year, but we only have a few minutes to blog today, so I'm here to report that Robert got into the Elements program for the Bloomington schools for next year.

After a disastrous first-grade year, we weren't sure if Robert was going to realize his potential, but he's really blossomed at Ridgeview and with Mrs. Evans as his teacher.

Elements is the relatively new second- and third-grade version of the Dimensions Academy (gifted and talented) program that Elizabeth is in. Cate has been painstakingly collecting Robert's work and tidbits for this program ever since we found out we couldn't apply for the program last year. (We didn't have the test scores and Minneapolis Public Schools was extremely unhelpful. We were glad to commit to leaving MPS for Bloomington even though we didn't have a house here at the time.)

We are so psyched. He is going to do great.

Colleen is a kindergartner!

Many a milestone in the past month or so, some of which we've missed talking about. Robert made his first communion in April and Colleen turned 5. Robert is riding his bike with super-duper confidence, which is a nice change over last summer.

But yesterday was Colleen's preschool graduation, so she is now officially a kindergartner. She made some really good friends in preschool, including Tess, whom she only talks about all the time. I chatted with her dad picking Colleen up from school yesterday and was glad to find out the feeling is mutual.

I came armed to get pictures of the "graduation" ceremony and a photo of Colleen and Tess. What I wasn't expecting, though, was the coordinated outfits.

Not that 5-year-olds are capable of coordinating outfits. Heck, this was the first time Colleen had ever worn this. You can click on the photo for a larger version but the only real difference is that Tess is wearing a butterfly and Colleen a mermaid.

Happy birt

Just wanted to take a moment to wish our oldest daughter a happy half-birthday. So Elizabeth is just six months from being a real teenager -- unlike the emotional teenager she sometimes is.

I had a shopping errand to run tonight and took her out with me. We were successful. Then she just casually mentioned it was her half-birthday. (Sure enough, May 24, you could look it up.) So, when I stopped for gas I brought her in to the convenience store and told her she could pick something out of the ice cream treat freezer.

A little private time.

The drain brain

Robert is a big fan of listing pros and cons. If you want to know every eventuality or consequence to even the simplest choice, Robert is the one to ask. He can dream up dozens of consequences, several times removed from the initial question.

Recently he debated whether we should fix a slow drain in our bathroom sink. He googled the problem and found several easy fixes but he hesitated because seeing the water in the sink might teach Colleen exactly how much water she was using and possibly wasting when she brushed her teeth. Then he changed his mind because he didn’t think it would take her that long to learn that lesson and it would probably be more expensive if the clog got larger over time.

He told me that “plumbers are expensive because they are skilled at stuff nobody wants to do themselves.”

Robert offered to help me plunge the drain but, as he said, “for safety issues” he didn’t want any part of pouring boiling water down the drain.

Eaty gourmet

I'm sure we all remember the great stuff we used to make ... or make our parents make, as a kid. Peanut butter and banana sandwich, grilled cheese with a pickle in it, some potato chips on top of our bologna sandwich.

That last part was important. It was the only way I could choke down the bologna sandwich on wonder bread that went with me to school for lunch on occasion. (Sorry, mom.)

Well, Colleen has been experimenting for herself lately, and using most of the same materials I'm sure we all used. Except that the other day, she took it one step further.

This is Colleen's banana dog. It's a banana with peanut butter and grape jelly on a hot dog bun. She pretty much ate all of it. In fact, I'd say it might not be that bad.

Oh, Robert!

I'm such a sucker. Just before bed Robert came across one of his favorite non-cartoon t.v. shows - Build it Bigger. I let him stay up to finish the program. They were in a gold mine in South Africa. Robert was exhausted but fascinated.

Quote, when they blasted a few tons of rock: "I could totally do that."

Photo No. 1: Tired Robert watching TV.

Photo No. 2: Robert perks up when the host and crew experience an earthquake a gazillion feet below the surface of the earth.