Check out the Student of the Month!

Way to go Charlie!  "I was really trying hard in class - I was sweating!  Student of the Month means doing your best!"  Gonna have your orange belt before you know it!  So proud of you Charlie!

What happened to Spring?

We were having such a nice run of beautiful weather - we were able to get outside and play, take walks, bike rides, blow bubbles.  But we've gone backward, to 30-35 degree weather and occasional flurries!  Such a bummer.  We're back to staying inside - coloring, play doh, playing in the basement.  Thank God Jody has been such an awesome babysitter, getting Bridget and Henry out to the "Big Red Barn" and to the library.  You two love going to Sumeno's for pizza every week!  You eat a ton and she's helping you develop good restaurant manners.  Soon enough, April will be here and we'll get to the parks and playgrounds.

BA BA BA BA BA BATMAN!

No, it's not Halloween, just another day inside!  Henry (with "guy guy") battling evil

and the Joker (Bridget that is).

So cute in ponytails!

Bridget, your hair is finally long enough to get into two ponytails!  SO CUTE!  It suits you but you hate it!  Everytime I come at you with a comb, you scream!  If it makes you feel any better, I used to cringe when my mom braided my hair, too.  Must be that sensitive toe-head.  You are going to have to either get used to it, or I'll have to cut your hair into a nice, high bob, but for as long as I can get away with it, I'm coming at you with a comb and pony tail holders!

Henry's "Guy Guy"

I have to share Henry's "guy guy" before it's in shreds.   Henry, this was your hospital blanket when you were an infant.  I don't even remember at what point it became an extension of you, but for at least two years, it has been in your hand.  You call it "guy guy" because when you were a baby, that was the sound you made almost like a humming while you pulled the blanket between your thumb (which was in your mouth) and fingers.  I'm not sure what we'll do when it is in pieces, but I suppose that's how kid's blankey's work,... just when you're old enough to be rid of it, it falls apart.

Will becomes a Teenager!

How did 13 years go so fast?  Will, it seems as if you were just born, and then just turning one.  I can remember your first birthday like it was yesterday - it was quite a hurrah complete with a clown and out of town relatives and friends.  When you turned 2, your big gift was a red wagon, and when you turned 3, Oma got you a two wheeler Red Rider bike with training wheels.  Shortly after your 4th birthday, you were riding a bike without training wheels!  They aren't kidding when they say it goes by so quickly. 

This has been a rough patch for you - learning to deal with the responsibilities of a cell phone and life in general.  Unfortunately, you were grounded from going to the Canteen at school over your birthday weekend - which would've been so fun for you.  Someday, you'll understand how hard it is to be the mom and take these things away from you but at the same time want to pummel you! :)  To make sure you still had a fun birthday, we took you to get what you wanted for your birthday - a guitar.  You got a really cool electric guitar, but were wavering on learning to play acoustic.  So you used your own money to buy the acoustic.  Saturday night, you  spent lots of time working with the online lessons that Jim has.  You did great!!  I hope you'll keep it up.  It looks good on you.

Sunday, you opened a few gifts, an UnderArmor sweatshirt from Grandma and Granpa, an UnderArmor backpack from Oma, and a watch from us to keep you from missing your "better be home by" time this summer.  You also got a Phiton necklace with your money from Aunt Molly - we'll see how long that expensive fad lasts!  Aunt Megan's gift of money went toward your guitar.  We went bowling with your dad and Robin and TR and his girlfriend.  Lots of fun!  A yummy dinner at Steak-n-Shake. 

Hopefully, these next few years as a teenager will be as wonderful as the rest have been.  You're turning into such a handsome young man.

It was a good day to be Charlie Brandol!

So tonight was the Boy Scout Pinewood Derby!  Charlie, you and Dad spent some time choosing good decals and thinking about the design.  You were going for the "Coolest Car" award this year, not so much concerned with being the fastest but Dad still worked on polishing the axles and added lots of graphite.  You were excited about making a camo car that you could play with after the race was over, so we got some good paint effects going and glued on an American flag and an army guy laying in the bed of the truck.  It was a pretty cool car!  So low and behold, the races begin and your car just doesn't seeem to be losing!  We fly through the double elimination round and on to the championship race to WIN!  So exciting!  You said it was the best night of your whole life!  You brought home a first place trophy as well as the award you were hoping for - your car was voted "Coolest Car".  A very fun night!