Not a good start to the summer...

So, Sky went on a class skating trip next to the last day of school and hurt his leg.  We took him to a doctor and at first they thought he might have cracked his tibia at the growth plate but now they think he may have torn his anterior tibialis tendon along with a severe sprain.  We were told it could be 6 months before his ankle is healed. 

Right now I am just trying to get him to do what the doc says and so he can get up and move.  We have the crutches for another couple days and then we give them back to the doc.  They want him up and moving on his own by then.  If he doesn't get moving it will take longer and be a more difficult recovery.

Without the built in play mate B is whiny about being bored.  I am ready to run screaming down the road.  I feel so out of control of my life!  I need to get my house really clean and organized but lets face it that just isn't going to happen with just me working on it.  Other option is to go to bed, pull the blankets over my head and ignore it.  Damn kids won't let me do that either so now what?

Hamlet....I think

Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.

Massacre at Triple Z the sequel!

The roosters got out of control!  Starting hurting the girls.  We have 2 severely injured a pure bred Americana and a pure bred New Hampshire.  I moved all the girls into the hen house last night and left the roosters outside.  they even killed one of their own during the night.  I can hear the cries as the ax hits the wood block.  I may never get use to this part of living in the country. 

At least Sky is at school, he takes it so hard.  B on the other had will be unhappy he didn't get to help.

2nd generation...

We got our first 2 eggs from the chickens we hatched in January!  They are so little.  I forgot how small those first eggs were!  We still don't have nesting boxes in the Jr. hen house yet.  We are hoping to find homes for some of them, just too many right now and we are going to butcher some roosters.  WAY too many of them!

Gun free zone...

All over the news they are talking about how more education about gun violence is the answer to stopping these people from shooting up our schools.  This was a gun free zone, didn't he read the sign?  Or more likely that is why he chose this school instead of say the local gun range.  These cowards would not go to a school district that allowed their teachers to be armed.  And if they did, they sure wouldn't get very far now would they?

Taking guns away is not the answer because the bad guys of the world are NOT going to follow.   Instead of helping this would lead to only the bad guys being armed.  Drugs are illegal, it still is around.  Murder is illegal and it still happens.  Since the time of Moses it has been written...thou shalt not steal but that still happens too.  Maybe the addition of more signs advertising that you can easily come in and take our money take our lives because we are not armed is not the proper strategy.  Maybe more good citizens who are armed and able to defend themselves is what is needed?

Seattle will just keep advertising larger and larger gun free areas.  Guess that will help keep the bad guys there and away from my hometown though.  Our property is posted that we are armed.  Our neighbor open carries when ever he is outside.  I know if there is ever any problems around here there are 4 guys who are excellent shots between these 2 houses.   I feel pretty safe...how about you?

Clarinet anyone?

So today the Central Elementary School 5th grade music class had a little performance.  The first half should have been called the "Skylar Show".  The performance started off with Sky playing a couple solos and the director using him as the example on how to play the recorder.  Of course he played beautifully and I forgot my camera!

He was also chosen by the director to be a recorder tutor for any 5th grader who was struggling this year.  He loves music so much and signed up for Middle school band last night.  He is starting with the clarinet.  I would love to just go buy him one but even a plastic one that is good enough for band cost $800 new...at least in Tacoma, didn't check the local place, probably over 1K here in town.  The band director said to not purchase one from Costco or Wal-Mart or Sears because they are just not a good enough quality and normally don't last very long before needing to be replaced.

I ended up renting him one for $33 a month.  I am locked in for 3 months and a portion of the rent goes to purchase if we decide to do that down the road.  Not sure if he will stay with Clarinet or try something else.  Everyone has to either play flute, clarinet, trumpet or trombone for 3 months then they can move to the sax or percussion with the director's approval.

I would LOVE to find him a good used wooden clarinet.  So if anyone has one sitting in a closet, let me know.

Sky told me he hopes to learn all the instruments.  This could get expensive!

(Hopefully this video is watchable)

Here is a solo Sky did during an assembly at school on Monday when he was recognized for earning his black belt in recorder...Since he had already earned a black belt in the 3rd grade he was given alternative music to learn so he didn't get credit for something he had already done.  There were only 3 black belts given out this year.

 

He did hit a bad note but I still think he did very well!

Little Swimmer...

Here is B at his first swim meet in his speedo!  not sure why he chose this pose but oh well...

Here is my first attempt at marking his arm for his events.  There were actually 4 but I took the pic before I knew he was also swimming a relay.
 

It was a long day.  I was in charge of timing swimmers in lane 8 for the first half of the day which was a bummer because I couldn't focus on B's first race.  Luckily his last 3 races were after my shift so I could focus on my baby 100%.

He tried so hard and we are so proud of him, he is a little disappointed with his standings but since this is his first time competing I think he did great.  Here are his standings:

All are Boys 9 - 10 year old

     50 yard Freestyle:  8th place with a time of 1:02.04 minutes
     50 yard Breast stroke:  5th place with a time of 1:45.66 minutes
     50 yard Backstroke:  4th place with a time of 1:06.61 minutes
     200 yard Freestyle Relay:  1st place with a combined time of 3:13.45 minutes

The Sea Otters were amazing!  Our next meet is this weekend at South Kitsap pool in Port Orchard.  B will be taking on his first 100 yard individual event.  We decided against competing in the Yakima meet, it is 2 days long and an out door pool plus all the expense to get there...Does not sound like much fun to me!