Proud Mama

Proud Mama
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Last week the boys received their awards from the principal; Alex was chosen as the "Bear Expert Extraordinare." To anyone who has seen his video, that is not surprise. The principal even mentioned the video as he was announcing the award.

Michael was the recipient of the "Divergent Thinker and Designer Award." That he certainly is! I can't help but laugh, because we all know why he is a "Divergent Thinker and Designer."
RAP (5.30.2007)

Take It

Take It
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

During the game where Michael got the game ball, Alex finished C. S. Lewis's "The Magician's Nephew," his first real book. There were some twists on the last two pages that Alex was very excited over. It was wonderful to see his enthusiasm. He is already talking about what to read next. By completing his book, he inspired Michael.

Michael was reading at a good pace of about a chapter a day, but after Alex finished, Michael sprinted to the end of Harry Potter VI by reading 300 pages in 24 hours. He read at night, he read at lunch, he read at recess and now he is done. Furthermore, he vows that he finish Harry Potter VII (due out July 21) before school starts and I have no doubt that he will. RAP (5.28.2007)

A Good Read

A Good Read
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael was reading Harry Potter VI at Alex's game the other evening when he looked up at me and said "I think I am better at reading that at sports." Without hesitation I queried, "How did you get so good at reading?" Immediately he responded "Practice!" I think he doesn't just know what he needs to do, but also understands it now. He has a game tonight and I guess all will be well.
RAP (5.25.2007)

Gameball

Safe
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Before Michael's game the other night, I talked with him. I told he can't control how tall he is, how strong he is or how much talent he has. There is only thing that he completely controls: his attitude. I did this very smoothly because I actually had the same talk with Alex last week before his final soccer game. Once more the results were great! Michael had a good hit on his first at bat a great catch when he was shortstop. It was a high pop fly, 40, maybe 50 feet in the air. Michael put up his glove and caught it. After he snagged it he took out of his glove and held up in his right hand for all to see. As you know, he ended getting the game ball and has walked on cloud 9 since.
RAP (5.25.2007)

Score

Score
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

It has been a lovely week for sports. Alex had his best soccer game ever on Saturday. It was the season finale, so I guess he saved his best for last. He enjoyed enough, that he decided to reconsider his decision to stop playing soccer.

Baseball has been going well also. Alex is not hitting it hard, but he is getting on base at each at bat. His fielding is another issue. He needs work, but it will come. RAP (5.24.2007)

Leapin' Lizards

Leapin' Lizards
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael has had his first basball game and it was interesting. This is the first year that kids pitch, and I think it may be a tad early to allow that. You could walk whenever you wanted, and 4 kids were hit by balls.

When you bat, you want to hit your way to first, not walk your way there, so Michael's first at bat he swung at some terrible pitches and struck out. His next at bat, he was wiser and ended up walking to first. He fielded a ball well while at third, but he needs to work on paying attention and he needs to be aware that kids steal bases now.
RAP (5.23.2007)

Goodbye Mr Spaulding

Goodbye Mr Spaulding
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex's first two baseball games are in the books. So far he has gotten on base for each of first 6 at bats, although one of them was really tight. His hits don't go very far or fast; it is as if he is swinging his bat in slow motion, just making sure that he makes contact. I believe that this will improve with confidence and experience.

His fielding needs work; serious work. With all our other activities I have not had time to work with him, but with soccer winding down hopefully we will improve it in coming days. Although, he did make an out Monday night while he was the second baseman; at first he fumbled the ball, but persisted until he had control and then tagged the base.
RAP (5.18.2007)

Field of Wishes

Surprise
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

There is an vacant lot at the end of our street, and it is covered in dandelions. Not the yellow ones, the ones that are white and look like a cotton ball that you blow on and watch it scatter to the wind. As Jen drove by it one night she disparaged it calling it a field of dreams. Alex was astonished, and corrected her: "No Mom. It is a field of wishes."
RAP (5.17.2007)

Angel

Angel
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

As I tucked Michael into bed Friday night, he inquired of me: "Are we going to have chili tomorrow?" I smiled and informed him that on the way home, Jenny and I picked up the ingredients for that particular concoction. He grinned and told me, "Any day we have chili is like a holiday!"

That boy certainly enjoys his chili; he has me make it every Saturday. The way I compose it is pretty healthy (lean meat, buffalo, tomato sauce, kidney beans, spices), so I don't have a problem letting him have it at that frequency. Plus, Alex and I also get to partake in it's goodness.
RAP (5.16.2007)

A Whats-It-Mobile

A Whats It Mobile
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

It was a short journey and I did have to work some it, but I still found a some time to join Jen and the boys in the parks. There was one moment in particular that I was grateful for; On Sunday, we rode a Dr. Suess Train and Alex's face lit up with happiness as he recognized the words to books such as "If I ran the Circus." The light from his smile would have let you see in the darkest night. It was a wonderful moment for me to witness. On this trip Alex has started his first step to "real" books. He is reading Book 1 from C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia.
RAP (5.15.2007)

Ready For Takeoff

Ready For Takeoff
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael and Alex were able to have several care free days in Orlando, but unfortunately I had to work. On the day of my speech, I was in the room at 1pm dealing with an issue from work while simultaneously trying to improve my presentation. That was mistake: I accidentally destroyed the database I needed for my presentation. I tried to reinstall the software, but I realized that I left the disks at home. Then I tried to use the machines provided for the presenters instead of Jenny's laptop. To my horror I discovered it had the express version of SQL Server which lacked the features I needed. Then I tried to download the advanced version in my room: it was 300MB and the estimate was that i would not finish downloading until the next day; I rushed down to the speaker VIP room and used the connection there. It took about 15 minutes to get it and 25 to install it. The feature I needed was not there when I tested it. After some research, I learned I had to run the install with different options. Finally, at 4:40 everything worked. My first speech started at 4:45. RAP (5.14.2007)

Backyard Gang

Backyard Gang
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

When Michael discovered he would not be in class Monday and Tuesday of this week, he panicked a bit. The story he has been working on was due on the Tuesday we would be gone. He is very conscientious and wanted to make sure that it was finished.

His story is about a Hamster, named Hammy, that secretly tags along on a road trip to Florida. I am happy to tell you that he did finish on time; it was two pages, single spaced and it showed a lot of story tellers insights. It was very visceral, funny and it ended the way it began with Hammy escorting a new friend on a new illicit journey. RAP (5.11.2007)

The Running Man

The Running Man
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

This was true is days long past, and it is still true now: Jen's favorite time of the day is when the boys arrive home from school. They run, full speed, off the bus to our doors and their faces always have huge smiles. It makes her happy that their happy, but also knowing that the home she has created for them is a place they want to be.
RAP (5.10.2007)

Guf

Bed Buddies
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex may have mentioned this to me before, and I have passed on to you if he did, but regardless I still want to share the discussion we had last night. Alex and I were shopping at Krogers and he started describing a place where souls come from before the are born. This idea is actually pretty ancient, and it is ussually called the well of souls or the Guf. He says he has been thinking about this for a while and as far as I can tell nothing really prompted it.

What I am impressed with is that this a serious point of religious philosophy to derive on your own, let alone just to be contemplating at age 7. One of nicknames for him is "Father Alex," because he always seemed to be very spiritual. I doubt that he will actually become a preist, because he is so ornery, but aren't irish preists supposed to be a wee bit ornery.
RAP (5.7.2007)
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Spiderman 3

Spiderman 3
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Jenny thinks that John Schleter's little sister, Grace, has crushes on both our boys. When she asked Alex if he thought that Grace liked him he said "of course she does." That sort of bravado was unexpected coming from Alejandro when talking about the fairer sex, so Jenny inquired why he thought she did. He informed us that some sort of Magic Top told him that "over 1,000" girls have crushes on him. So Jenny asked if she was number 1,000 and he pointed out to her that it was OVER 1,000 girls, so Jens insists that Grace is 1,001.
RAP (5.2.2007)

I Ate It All

I Ate It All
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael went to his first sleep over party Saturday night. His best friend, John Schleter, was allowed to pick one friend to spend the night and he chose Michael. This made Michael (and Michael's mom) very happy. Before the sleepover, Alex joined Michael and John in the early part of the evening at the local Charles Edward Cheese franchise. John's parents gave him a Nintendo DS for his birthday, so our boys wore their Mario shirts to celebrate!
RAP (5.2.2007)
P.S. On the day this card ships, I will have camped out in the wee hours of the morning trying to get table for the 4th of July.

First Hit

First Hit
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Unlike last year, Michael is part of the younger group on his team (a 3rd Grader on a team with 4th Graders -- last year he was a 2nd Grader on a team with 1st Graders). Combine that with his slow starts, the early part of the season could be rough. However, I am optimistic that he will put it all together by the second half season, just like he did last year. We have already been to the batting cages, fixed up the pitching machine and are even using the Wii to get his batting skills up where they belong. RAP (5.1.2007)
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