Pet Shop

 The kids have all been taking summer classes at one of my favorite places, the Des Moines Art Center.  What a gem of an art museum.  For its size, it has an incredible collection with works from artists like Monet, Picasso and Edward Hopper.  The building itself has wings designed by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei and Richard Meier.  One of my favorite things to do there is to spend an hour in one of the galleries and then get lunch in the cafe. Did I mention that unlike the big cities, you can park right outside the front door (for free) and admission is free?  I love this place.

This summer, the kids are taking classes that include Pet Shop, Building a Zoo, something about pirates and a digital art class for AJ.  Here are the pictures from Pet Shop.  I love the imagination!

Julia names everything Rose, including all of her dolls, her imaginary friend and this bug she added to the pet shop. 

David decided to be a tiger named AJ.  Hmmm...I think I have heard that name somewhere before.

Don't all jellyfish wear top hats?

Enchanted Dolls

Julia had her first dance recital at Hoyt Sherman Auditorium in downtown Des Moines.  I was impressed with the recital.  The numbers had a lot of energy and moved quickly, and the setting at the historical home was simply beautiful.  Julia danced a ballet number called "Enchanted Dolls" and a quick-moving tap dance to a song called "Birthday Party."  The girls in the class each had different costumes to look like individual dolls.  Julia thought her teacher, Richard, picked her costume just for her because it matched her eyes.  Richard was an incredible first teacher.  He is 70 years old, and we found out after the recital that this was his last year teaching.  It was an impressive way to go out before retiring. He danced in two numbers himself with the older kids.

Last fall when Uncle Will was in town working with Joe, Julia invited him to her dance recital in the spring and uncle promised Julia he would come.  Uncle Will very sweetly held to his word and came back with pink roses and heart-shaped sunglasses for Julia on her big night. Julia and I got some flowers to give to Grandma Julie, too, for taking Julia faithfully every week to dance lessons.  It takes a village!

Pirates Win!

 AJ had one of those little league seasons that builds character.  It was the first year of kid pitch, and this made the pace of the games slow down considerably compared to last year as batters faced pitchers who had never pitched before.  There were balls rolling in the dirt, balls flying overhead and the occasional ball that hit the batter, on accident, at least, at this level.

The group of boys on the team was wonderful.   They were full of fun and so endearing that they were very easy to cheer for.  AJ skipped a grade last fall, but due to the birthday cut offs for little league, he plays "down" with his old buddies from second grade.  These are the kids he grew up with from preschool on, so they hold a special place in my heart as we watch them get older.

The Pirates were 0-10 going into their last game of the season.  The hits were few and far between, and in several games the Pirates did not score any runs.  It was a good lesson for AJ in perseverance.  By about mid-way through the season he was pretty down and wanting to quit, saying "we are terrible.  It's no fun."  I talked with him about how some seasons, some jobs, some experiences in life are like that and you just have to show up and keep trying your best.

The last game of the season we were not expecting a win.  Then suddenly we strung together three hits in the top of the third (the last inning due to the time limit when games move so slow with kid pitch).  The dug out went wild.  And somehow we managed to hold them off for another half inning, making defensive plays that had not been made all season.  Pirates for the win!

The season was celebrated by a team outing to Dairy Queen.  One of these things is not like the other--notice that little orange Giant who sneaked onto the team bench for ice cream?

He Is Cool

I am of the opinion that there is nothing better for Father's Day or Mother's Day than some homemade cards and breakfast made at home.  The first card is an original from AJ, the second is a family portrait from Julia and the last three are from a Father's Day book David made at school back in May in anticipation of the big day.  I love the portrait of Joe.  The last one says "The best thing about my dad is...he is cool."  Happy Father's Day to one cool dude.

Flying Solo

AJ had the opportunity this summer to take a solo trip with Joe to Toronto over his birthday.  Joe originally wanted the whole family to go and to drive to Toronto, but in the end I was able to convince him to take just AJ and fly. They had a marvelous time seeing the CN tower and the aquarium.  I think the one-on-one time and special attention was great.  David and Julia are already asking for their turns.

Baseball Game = A Good Excuse for Cotton Candy

These two went to a baseball game with me and Grandma Julie and managed to beg their way into a giant bag of cotton candy.  The bag held three balls of cotton candy, and at first they were going to save the last one for AJ, who was in Toronto with Joe.  By the bottom of the sixth, they decided the third ball really was meant to be eaten "before it got rotten."  Pretty sure the only thing getting rotten is their teeth...from all that cotton candy.

It's Fine To Be Nine

Last year it was great to be eight. This year, it is fine to be nine.  Nine is playing John Madden NFL football, traveling out of town to soccer tournaments, and kid pitch baseball.  Nine is having a buddy who rides his bike over to your house to see if you want to come out and play.  Nine wears the same size shoes as his mother.  Nine is going to overnight cub scout camp with your dad and shooting bow and arrows and bebe guns.  Nine is telling bad jokes that your friends think are funny.  Nine wears braces and doesn't ask if the tooth fairy will come when he loses a tooth.  Nine still sings songs loudly to the radio without any hint of self-consciousness, but nine also says "mom, don't embarrass me!" Nine is wondering why on earth one of your friends likes girls.  Nine is taking an airplane trip and quietly, without any fuss, reading your Harry Potter book to yourself the whole flight.  Nine is more than fine.