grandpa

Saturday May 7 was my first day of clinic at the massage school.  It's our first time to work on the public.  Five massages in five hours.  I was grateful that I survived.

In the evening we went to the dollare theatre. Sam had the idea to take the little kids to see something while I went to see Adjustment Bureau. Grandma helped.  I don't think I have ever seen a movie by myself in my life.  I was grateful for Sam. He is very thoughtful.

When we got home we got a call from Rob. He gave us the sad but not unexpected news that his father passed away.  Grandpa had been fighting cancer for about twenty years.  Grandma was always at his side doing everything she could to help him.  Even when Grandpa was in terrible pain, his everyday was about doing the most he could do for other people. 

The kids loved to go fishing with Grandpa and loved helping him in his garden.  We love him and will miss him very much. 

baseball

Friday, May 6, the weather was perfect.  All the kids and Grandma Martha and I went to Kyle's baseball game.

As we were leaving the icecream truck arrived at the park.  A big cluster of kids around an icecream truck is a joyful image.  The big kids remembered when we lived in Maine and the icecream truck was a regular part of our summer evenings.  Our neighbor Rose was the driver. That's how Bethany got her first taste of strawberry icecream.

"Turtle man."

birthday morning

This is the day that Caitlin turned five.

Kyle made eggs for everyone. 

Then we all went off to school.

In the evening we had a picnic at the park.  Caitlin requested Wendy's.

Then presents.

it's spring maybe

In Beijing we used to celebrate Caitlin's birthday at the pool. This was Saturday. It's a good thing we planned a roller skating party this year.

I need help overcoming my self-destructive behaviors.  I can't keep myself from buying the themed cupcakes at the Smith's bakery.  The individuality of each little cake, the frosting in neon orange, pink, or green, the little plastic Buzz, Woody, Strawberry and Pupcake rings,sitting a top a perfect coil, it all entices my inner five year old.  So I picked up a couple of boxes to take to the party.  There are two problems.  This happened the last time too.  Before I get to the van, the once lovely frosting has slid and sloshed, something frosting shouldn't do, right off the top of the cupcakes.  And what might be worse, we eat them anyway.  I had to deal with psychotic episodes all day long, only one of them was mine, and I suspect they may have been induced by whatever gives the frosting that neon glow.

Ma, si va avanti.  As for the party, I was happy to take Caitlin, a couple of friends, and the siblings to Classic Skating.  I love that place.

Begging me for more tokens.

Ben and yellow cupcake.  See the new braces .

The cash box.

Caitlin's birthday song request. She likes Selena Gomez "Who says."

easter 2011

Sam was born in a snow storm, under comet Hale Bop.  Every once in a while Easter falls on his birthday.  The last time was 1859.