[day 130 ... may 10]

Cory and his classmates made these darling Mother's Day cards. So sweet!

[day 129 ... may 9]

The fabulous Little School Art Festival was today, and what a glorious day for it! The weather was wonderful, the booths included a fun combination of old favorites like cookie-decorating and tie-dye t-shirts and new fun like creating a pet rock and making paper - two activities Cory just loved. This picture shows him taking care of his pet rock in its special little house.

We also enjoyed the traditional puppet show, written and performed each year by Nancy the librarian and teacher Stephen. This year they included an entertaining twist on "The Three Little Pigs" that included Swine Flu references - hilarious.

Cory's art in the art show included this amazing recreation of Wally from the movie. Looked so realistic! He did an incredible job with him. The version in the classroom included a creation of Eva as well. Wouldn't want Wally to be lonely!

[day 128 ... may 8]

Yesterday was Cory's birthday and today he opened presents at home and then had his party with friends at Jump Planet, a local bouncy-house place. It was a teachers' work day so the kids had the day off from school. Worked out perfectly.
He loved the time at Jump Planet, running around with his friends and playing on the inflatable slides and in the bouncy houses. His friends Rachel and Addy, Theo, Allison, and Charlie all came, along with older siblings (Theo's brother Spencer and Allison's brother Colin), which worked out well for Niall.

Jump Planet is fabulously organized for birthday parties and made it so easy for me. We might do all our birthday parties there, as long as the kids keeping enjoying it so much!

[day 127 ... may 7]

Guess who turned FIVE today? My sweet youngest boy. Really can't believe it was five years ago that he arrived, a week early no less. (He apparently didn't get the message that I needed that extra week to prepare!) I took this photo when his teacher asked him if he felt different today because now he was five. He paused, grinned, and said, "Kind of." :-)

Here he is at home in his spot at the table, having his customary breakfast of cereal and soy milk and "reading" the weather report in the paper. He had Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast for years (just like his mom), but now he's on a Rice Crispies kick. Very happy, as you can see, that it is his birthday at last.

[day 126 ... may 6]

Just how things are arranged in my bathroom on a typical day. Toothpaste handy, everything lined up just so. I can find my glass of water in the dark instantly - it's always in just the same place.

You don't see a whole lot of counter space, true, but everything is in its place.

[day 125 ... may 5]

Today was the second day of layoffs at work. Fortunately, my group wasn't hit this time, unlike the batch in January, when five people from WM UA were let go and a number of others from the former MDM group.

But it's still difficult, knowing that people you've worked with might be gone now, and just the general atmosphere of malaise - what this awful economic climate is doing to even successful companies with a lot of cash and assets. Just very scary...

[day 124 ... may 4]

The tree pollen this spring has been unbelievable. I come out to the car in the morning, and the windshield has so much pollen on it, I have to clean it off with the windshield wipers and cleaner. It coats everything on the deck with a layer of yellow-green, despite repeated cleanings. Apparently people's allergies are really acting up too, though thankfully not mine. I'll be very glad when these pollen-laden weeks are finally over.