Clothes and Reed

Well first off, it's so nice when it turns out your kid actually learns something from you. For all these years, I've been the one who swapped the kids' closets each season. The only part they had to play was to try on some of the previous season's items to make sure they fit. I got everything out, I went through it, I packed the out of season clothes away.

This year I mentioned to Reed that he needed to swap to summer clothes a few weeks ago, and asked if he wanted help. He said nope, he would take care of it. And he did! Okay so he just tossed the things that didn't fit onto the hallway floor, but still! He put the summer things in the dresser and loaded the winter things in the bin in his closet. A total win!!

Then he said he need a few new pairs of shorts and shirts and asked if we could go shopping. When I picked myself up off the floor, I said sure! So we headed out to Kohls, where he picked out some shorts and a t-shirt. Then he asked "Can I get this?" and pointed to a mint-colored button-up shirt with flamingos on it. Again, I picked myself up off the floor and said of course we could. He even picked a second button-up shirt with palm trees on it. For serious. Button up shirts! Voluntarily!

The wonders never cease!

Those were the days...

Remember these? Silly Bandz! They were one of Amy's favorite things in elementary school (exactly when, I can't recall) and she spent HOURS and HOURS making bracelets. She didn't really wear them, she just liked to make them. Consequently, when I was looking in the craft cabinet for something a few weeks ago, I came across a huge pile of these bracelets. I hated to throw them away...so I took this picture, and then put a couple of bracelets in our mementos box to save for posterity. Maybe they'll come back in style!

Shrek-tacular!

Amy was thrilled to be the co-stage manager for the middle school production of Shrek The Musical Jr. this year. They started way back in November, and the last couple of months leading up to the play included rehearsals 4-5 days a week, including some Saturdays and a teacher work day.

A lot of hard work was put in, and it definitely showed! They put on a great show, I was fortunate to be able to see it twice (I was volunteering during the other two shows). Everything went off without a hitch (well, Amy's remote control rat sometimes didn't cooperate!) and they even sold out two nights of the run.

It's been really great to see how much Amy loves being a part of the drama group and how dedicated and hard-working she can be. We're really proud of her!

Cast party with stage crew pals.

Out until what time?

About two weeks ago, Reed said he wanted to buy a movie ticket for the opening night of the new Avengers movie, to go with friends. It was all very loosey goosey. But we bought the ticket in the same row as his pals, for a 9:55 p.m. (!!!!!) showing on a Friday night. Eventually things all got squared away and we knew which parents had the joy of driving them to a movie that late, and then picking them up even later (it's a 2 hour, 40 minute movie!). Off they went. His first time ever going to the movies without a parent.

Guess he really is growing up. (For the record, I was sound asleep when he finally got home, but Tod was in and out of sleep, waiting for him. I guess we know who gets the parenting gold star this time [and it's not me!].)

March For Our Lives

Last month was the March For Our lives event, organized by the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School kids who lost so many in a gun attack on Valentine's Day.

It was a family affair for us. Three-fourths of us wanted to go, so Tod decided that Reed should be part of the experience too. (Thank goodness he was a good sport about it.) It was SO crowded, but thankfully I knew that there was no need to push forward to get closer to the stage, we just needed to be near where we could see and hear one of the big video screens along the street. So we settled in and stood in place for hours, with the crowd filling in around us.

I thought Amy would be most excited to see Lin Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt, but nope, she was there to see Emma Gonzalez, the Parkland student who made the first big splash with her "We call BS" speech.

It remains to be seen if true reform will happen, but I'm glad we showed up to support these kids and common sense gun laws.

We're down there somewhere.

Amy's 13th!

Didn't we just bring this baby girl home from the hospital? How is she 13 already?!

We couldn't talk Amy into a "kid" birthday party this year, but we fulfilled her wish for a family celebration - we had a pancake breakfast, then went to look at model homes (a favorite pastime of ours) and then on to the movies (to see "Love, Simon") and mostly just had a relaxing day. She got lots of comic books and also got her "Fearlessness" necklace like her grandma Ginger and all the ladies in the family.

Amy continues to be someone who holds very strong opinions about things and isn't afraid to share them with you. The more she cares about the topic, the louder she talks. If you get her started on comic book stuff, she can go for days. She's found a "home" with the drama club and is really enjoying being co-stage manager for the school's production of "Shrek the Musical, Jr." She is friendly with everyone and seems to have a lot of pals at school, but doesn't see many folks outside of school hours - she's content to be at home drawing and watching whatever it is she watches on her phone. She cares deeply about social justice issues and inequality and I look for her to get more and more involved as she gets older. She's a good egg and it's really fun to watch her grow up.

(A little behind in posting...forgive me!)

From Amy's science teacher...

You have a wonderfully kind-hearted, intelligent daughter and I greatly enjoy having her in class.

Melodie Persons Barnette
7th Grade Life Science
J. Michael Lunsford Middle School