PIE night

Last night, we were invited to celebrate with Joseph Lane Middle School, the accomplishments of the students who attend. Pioneers in Excellence is an evening in which the students are honored for the academia, citizenship and excellence (no tardies, truancy's, redirection, etc.). There were awards for physical fitness as well. Peanut says she "sucks" at stretching and that is why she didn't get an award for that. :~)

Mr. McGlone presenting the 7th grade Red Hall awards
Cailey and Kelly and some of the other students

Peanut picking up her certificate and her pins.

The girls~

Funny Faces :~)

It was a nice evening. The presentations were nicely done. They did serve pie afterward, but there wasn't enough for all the people who attended. So we went to Dairy Queen for ice cream instead! :~)

Hanging out at Barlow High School

Saturday and Sunday Peanut played softball at Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon. It was a late night getting there on Friday because she had a mandatory meeting with the director of the program for her Costa Rica trip. We did get to see pictures and hear lots of information regarding the trip. We are trying to figure out what to do about the camera situation. They told us that the air is so humid, everything feels wet. So, electronics are not recommended to be brought on this trip. We aren't sure what to do about pictures, so then do we just have Mrs. Miller take all the pics or do we buy an inexpensive camera that if is gets too damp it won't kill us? We just aren't quite sure. So, on to the softball. Peanut was accompanied by Mom and Daddy and Nana, sister didn't come this time. It was a little weird not having our family all together, but that is happening quite a bit more now that Bugg is so independent with her license. We arrived around 10:30 to the motel, got ourselves situated and settled for the night. She needed to be at the field at 8:30, which was great! We had to be at the fields last weekend at 6:45 am!! The motel was roughly 20 minutes from the school. We had a beautiful scenic tour to the school and Peanut was geared up to play. The first game, I didn't take any pictures, because I forgot. :~) Scotty, works at Barlow and he came to visit us at the fields. It was a nice treat to visit with him. We won that game and didn't play again til 3pm so we headed back towards a town and found a BiMart. We bought Peanut some sunglasses to wear while in the field. I got some to go over my glasses and Nana bought some. We also got Peanut a pair of slides to wear so she didn't have to wear her cleats everywhere. We then got some lunch and walked around this cute, but expensive, decorator store. Then, headed back to the school.


Peanut's at bat during the second game. She was trying the slap maneuver, because we were so far ahead of this team and they were having a hard time getting outs, that our coach started having all the girls try this.

Between the 3 and 6:30 games, the girls got in some wrestling time. They were having too much fun!

Peanut getting the "Catcher" with water from her water bottle.

OK, so I got you with the water bottle, now I will give you a shoulder massage, as the 2nd basegirl watches.

This was the late game, the pitcher was the fastest girl out there, as the story goes. Peanut's first at bat, she bunted and had an RBI, her second at bat, I think maybe she struck out, I can't remember, the third she got a nice base hit!!

Heading to first

Running round the bases :~)

Her foul tip on Sunday morning. They have found that Peanut is an excellent bunter and that she usually beats the throw to first. I think of the 4 or 5 bunts she hasn't been thrown out, but once. I could be wrong, but that is what I remember.

This is her final at bat. The girls weren't playing real well and they had got behind. The team we were playing wasn't that fabulous. We could have beaten them if our heads were in the game. The bottom of the last inning our bats started working, a little too late. Peanut had struck out at her last at bat and then she got up for this one. I was so anxious, I ended up hiding behind hubs. I heard her hit the ball and about climbed over his shoulders to get around the dugout to see where it went!!

Nicely hit ball up the third base line, a double!! Nicely done. Scored two, but the next batter got out and we were headed home. It was a nice weekend and we had some fun times with the kids and their parents. Looking forward to a break this weekend, then off to another tournament.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

I know I am going to be in trouble for this one, but isn't that about where I spend most of my time?

Last night, Peanut had her final choir concert of the year. When the Mixed Choir was on, they had some fun summer songs to sing. The first song, the girls only sang. It was Martina McBride's "this one's for the girls". There was a couple of solos, Peanut had tried out for one, but told me she didn't get it. Then they sang "Surfin' USA, Don't Worry Baby, and Kokomo, with a few additional solos. Not one of which was Peanut. So finally, they get to "the Lion Sleeps tonight". Featuring solos by this girl, my girl, and another girl. The first girl gets up to sing her solo and her voice squeaks, so she runs off stage and hides, then a couple of the other girls followed her off!! Now that hasn't happened before. Mrs. Gaddis, the cool lady that she is, just kept right on going. Then came our little Peanut!!!

She belted out, "In the village, the peaceful village, the Lion sleeps tonight.
In the village, the quiet village,

the Lion sleeps tonight!"

WOW! Was she ever amazing. I was so proud! She finished her lines and her big sister belts out, "whoo hoo!" real loudly. Funny little faces and giggles peer her way, as she says, "what, I wanted to yell for her?".

"I'm a believer" their final number!

Then, when the choir is finished, the awards are handed out by Mrs. Gaddis. The awards are voted on by the students in the choir class themselves. Peanut was awarded the "MOST INSPIRATIONAL" and "the OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN". What a cool thing to receive, especially since it is voted on by the peers. TOO COOL!

So, why am I in trouble you may ask? I seem to not let people who want to know that the girls are doing things that they might want to see. Well, since I didn't know she was having a solo, nor did I remember that she was actually having a concert *ha*, I really didn't tell anyone. Luckily for me, Nana was there! Have a great weekend!

Time for Sports

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Batter UP!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

First Softball Weekend in Grants Pass

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Willy Wonka

*Warning LOTS OF PICTURES*

Yesterday, I went with Peanut and some of her classmates to Jacksonville to watch a play at the Brit outdoor arena. It was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, done by 4th, 5th, and 6th graders from the area. They all go to one school and they have over 200 parent volunteers.

It was quite the entertaining trip. I learned quite a bit about 7th graders. Some of the children need a little extra supervision and someone to tell them that some things they say and do, just aren't cool! Well, leave it to me to not keep my mouth shut about this little boy who kept being so disrespectful! I thought for sure that all of Peanut's Classmates would hate me, but some of them actually told me thank you because he is out of control! Anyway, here are some pictures. Peanut and I had a great time together!

Amber and Peanut
The stage...

Some props....

Willy Wonka

The Buckets~Charlie and all

The kids

Dancing in the *street*

Agustus und seinMutter

Veruka and Mr. Salt

Violet and Mother Boregard

Mike TV and his Mom

All of the *Winners* of the GOLDEN TICKET

The Oompa Loompa's

The Chocolate mountain

Agustus eating too much chocolate

Violet turning VIOLET!

Peanut and Amber watching

The fizzy pop that Charlie drank

The squirrels with Veruka

Thrown in the Bad NUT pit...

The TV Mike went in?

The TV he came out of....

Charlie and Willy

The whole Cast...

Amber and Peanut~

Me and the girls~

Peanut and I on stage

Peanut and Rachel

The gang that traveled by bus to the play.

The windows were open on the bus and the wind was whipping through the bus, so the girls put their seat up (they were sitting in the emergency exit) and sat on the floor, out of the wind.

It was a fun day for me and the girls, but it was a little challenging to meet some of the kids and hear the language and the song choices of these kids. It is rather alarming. I used to think, if my kid were in with this crowd or that crowd, then she should be OK. But, now a days, that is not necessarily the truth! It was enlightening and a little challenging. But, now I know how to pray for my girl.

We will be out of town this weekend for a softball tournament. Look for pics and stories on Monday. :~) Have a great weekend.