London Calling

London Calling
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

This is the picture of Alex while he was talking on the phone. He is getting so big now. and can do all kinds of things.

These are Alex's final day of Pre-school; next year he will be a kindergartener. Jenny is very thankful that it will only be for a half day; she does not know if she could stand having him gone all the time. She is already making plans to keep busy so she won't miss him. She is going to try to get her MFA at Ohio State when he is in first grade. It won't replace his companionship, but it will keep her busy enough to not dwell on the loss.
RAP

Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Bus Driver Appreciation Day
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

It has finally come and gone: Bus Driver Appreciation Day 2005. There were obstacles along the way (someone threw away the bus driver gifts, so we had to reorder), but in the end it was a good experience. A nice bonus this year was that Michael's class was the one that was chosen to perform; being chairwoman has its privileges. Next year, Jenny will pass the reigns of control to her heir, and (hopefully) will sitback and enjoy the day.
RAP

Jenny Patton Birth-Week Celebration 2005

Birthday Girl
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

I am sorry for the delay in my correspondence; I could blame it on the Jenny Patton Birth-Week Celebration 2005 (see photo), but instead I will blame the company that makes these cards. They completely redid their website and I could not find the location of the 4x6 postcards anymore. Fortunately, they still make them, and more importantly, I know how to make them.

Jenny's celebration went well. She could not have cake, but she had sorbet more than once, including a scoop that had a candle on it. RAP

Bedtime

Office
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex's school is teaching him about the States in the Union, so when I put him to bed I talked to him about it. I asked him about his favorite states, and he gave me this list:
1 -> Ohio
2 -> Florida
3 -> California
4 -> Texas
He also volunteered that Michigan was his 50th favorite state. Next I put Michael to sleep, and I asked him the same question; I was surprised to get the same list in the same order.

Soon after, it was lights out, after all they would need their rest to learn more about the State tomorrow. Alex was asleep in about 10 minutes, but I caught Michael awake on hour later. He had a flash light, and was covertly reading a library book in bed!
RAP

Spring has Arrived

Three Amigos
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Spring has arrived in spectacular fashion. The skies has been crystal blue and the temperatures have been in the 70s. The trees have come to life like fireworks, exploding in technicolor; two days before that picture the tree behind the boys was barren. Completely empty. Now it, and it's brethren are an explosion of green. By no means full, but most certainly a stark contrast to the winter that has passed. It has been such a lovely spring even Alex has been playing outside.
~~RAP

A list the things he was thankful for

Prince Of Atlantis
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

At Religious Education class, Michael completed an assignment where he had to list the things he was thankful for. The first item on the list was quite pedestrian: an item from Barnes and Noble that he had saved for. After that, it was much more interesting. He wrote that he was thankful for
"The Sun and the Moon,
Ohio,
The United States and the Earth."
Something about it resonated with me, so I thought about if for a while. I came to interpret it as he was thankful for the Universe (the Sun and the Moon) and his place in it (Ohio, the United States and the Earth).
RAP

The Two Sides of Alex

Make A Wish
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Much has been made about Michael's enthusiasm, but his brother also has moments when he is overcome with great enthusiasm. After all, this is the boy who sprints up and down the beach. This is the boy who runs out of bed in the morning, with his eyes shut, as if his life depended on it.

The thing that is striking about Alex is that he is either "full-go" or "no-go;" he is running at full speed, or is so tired that he must be carried. At the arboretum yesterday, Alex asked, "Why does Baby Abby get to ride in the stroller? Can I ride in it?" Yes, he can be quite lazy, but moments later he spied a lake, and asked if he could go to the water's edge. When Jenny said "yes," the only thing you could see was a blurred streak speeding across the park.

R.A.Patton