Ric's first violin lesson

Our wonderful violin teacher, Cathy Arps, will no longer be coming over the mountain to teach lessons. This year I have three children ready to begin lessons ( and a fourth when Andy gets just a little calmer - he can carry a tune beautifully, but isn't quite ready to be careful with a violin). The plan for the moment is for Everett, Ariel and I to get them going and join Cathy's students for recitals in Sylva. Our new bows have arrived, so we will begin at the Chinese restaurant this week with Brandon and Rachel. Anyone who knows anything about my musical abililty must be laughing (it took at least three years for me to tell the e string from the a string)...but after sitting through about 15 years of Suzuki lessons I must have picked up something...or at least that is what I am counting on. Unfortunately, I quit playing the violin many years ago to try the viola so I have a lot of brushing up to do....I will be heavily counting on Everett and Ariel , who can both actually PLAY the violin.

Talent

Everyone is gifted at something - here are some of the things we can do. ( Everett and I had some trouble imagining , at first, how Ric was able to keep that straw up. We think we have it figured out.)
In the medical realm - Andy's TB test was positive (not too much of a surprise since he probably had a vaccine in China - not given here) so he had to have a chest xray along all his blood work to test for various other exotic things. Dr. Berger agrees that it is probably Crouzons or some related syndrome.

Design Flaws

I always think anything is possible and there's probably an easy way to do it. Having strong Ge Ges (big brothers ) helps alot. Jay brought home the railroad ties and sand and Everett made the sandbox with the boys cheering him on. In retrospect, it IS possible I should have thought about it a little longer. Everett wondered if it mattered if it was level - it didn't matter to me. Jay wondered if the boys would get filthy on the railroad ties - oh well, I had already paid for them. It LOOKS great - should I cover the rr ties with polyurethane - would it ever dry? For the moment, I am going to consider it finished and move on to another project ( unless it rains and the sand slides out the one corner that isn't exactly sitting on the ground) ;-)

Firemen

Ric told me that he doesn't want to be Henry's uncle, he wants to be his grandpa. Maybe this is the reason.

Oh Henry!!!!

Henry finally decided to come out and play!! Yesterday I got to spend the day with my mom and my first grandchild - how cool is that !! Camila and Ariel joined us to drive to Chattanooga to get a first look at Henry. He is VERY adorable. I must confess, however, that when I arrived home and my father, who usually calls me his beautiful daughter, called me Grandma, I had a momentary shock.

insects

Ariel needs at least 17 insects for her biology class. If you would all please begin carrying a ziplock bag so that you will be prepared if you encounter a great specimen. Thanks.

HOME

Gee, but its great to be back home..Home is where I want to be e ..I've been on the road so long my friend .........and those are all the words I know to that song , but they are enough to express the way we all feel....we are nearly recovered from jet lag ( no one can tell me why it is soooo much worse coming back - is it going west to east or happening so soon after a previous jet lag or just not being as keyed up going home) although we are still going to bed and waking up pretty early for us......Andy is still very sweet and it is amazing how much he already understands (not so many words, but in the context of daily life - I just told him to put his cookie wrapper in the trash and he did it!! not perhaps because he knew individual words, but because my response was expected)..He is trying to say many words. His enunciation is not great because of the cleft but his tones make it easy for me to figure out what he means. This afternoon he came through the kitchen pushing a shopping cart saying 'good morning' - so while he doesn't understand the exact meaning, he understands it is a form of greeting. He will have a doctor and dentist appointment soon, but we may not be able to get in to the cranio facial clinic to find out what his real issues are until after Christmas.

Speaking of doctor's - they seem to be our lot in life at the moment - Ariel has sports related back problems that are keeping her sidelined , I am waiting somewhat anxiously to visit Camila's cardiologist and of course we are all eagerly waiting for Henry to come out.