Fine Arts Night

Last night we viewed the finest art UDH has to offer.

The evening opened with a few words from the UDH principal, Mr. MacDougal, who will be retiring at the end of this school year. Then Mrs. Hanson, Zach's art teach, explained the events of the evening.

Each grade level demonstrated a different artistic technique.

The K class had previously painted a bumble bee and they demonstrated their coloring skills for us.

Other grades did water color scenes and tempera painting demonstrations.

Both Laura and

Lana are in Zach's class. I also coached them in soccer this year.

After a power point presentation of pictures Mrs. Hanson took of the students throughout the year.....

we toured the school looking at art Zach had done that was on display.

Art was Zach's favorite class this year. He often came home from school and went straight to his art box.

Also by the K rooms there was a beautiful garden in bloom. Each day the children bring home a new book to read. After they read it they write the title and their name on a flower to put in the garden.

We are so proud of Zach and his achievements this year. He has been a leader in his class and made some really good friends. I love seeing him write so well and reading on his own. He has inspired Ethan to want to be a reader as well.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

From Your

3 Little Monkeys.....

& Adoring Wife Who......

.....Couldn't Even Begin To
Dream Up A Better Husband or Father If We Tried!


Here are the cards the boys made for Chris:

Note the big green belly just for Chris and the big red heart on a stand, according to Ethan, is a "Love Machine".....and it's full.

Now who couldn't use a little more "Love Machine" in their life?


Zach's opened up to say...

My daddy is so special.
He's brave and strong and smart!
That is why I love him so...
With all my little heart!

Life Is Beautiful

Exactly two minutes before I was to get out of bed this morning Snuggle Bug #2 came in for a morning cuddle. He knows the rules....he can only come in if dad's already out of bed (I just can't stand being crowded in bed) or if it is the weekend. Dad was out so he was welcomed in.

After about a minute of closeness I heard this ever so soft whisper.....wake uuuup, wake uuuuup. As I opened my eyes little fingers were slowly wiggling in front of my face. I just had to laugh and then get up.

Because of the heat I've given up the 5AM rides. It was just no use. When the alarm went off I just couldn't get out of bed when I knew my bike trainer would happily wait for me to ride at 7:30 instead. Because the work out is never fun indoors I've pulled out some old classics to help pass the time. First it was Sound of Music...the songs really got me moving. Then I watched Life is Beautiful. Since Ethan is home during these rides he and Graham are in and out of the room or sometimes plop down and watch. In Life is Beautiful there are parts where the main character slowly wiggles his fingers and under his breath says what he wants to happen.....and it does. I guess Ethan really picked up on this and after success in using it on me this morning says he plans to use it on his brother. We'll see how it goes.

UDH Bike Club

This is our UDH Bike Club.

Last weekend we closed out our riding season with a 20 Mile Social Group Ride covering all the roads of Udhailiyah.

Never have this many members ridden together at one time. Because most of the members of the group are spouses dividing child care also divides the riding times.....but not on this day. Our group has tripled maybe quadrupled in the last year as so many people have become interested in the sport. I think we surprised many a security guard and bystander as we passed in such a big group.

We all got sitters and headed out in the 4:30pm heat. No tricks were left undone in the 106 heat: ice in the insulated bottles and camel backs, extra water for dumping on ourselves, we soaked as much of our clothing as possible in water before the ride, and one wife followed us on a golf cart and sprayed us with a water gun.

I was a bit worried about being able to keep up in the heat but I had no problem. The pace was very social, meaning no one was dropped unless they wanted to be, and the men only showed off their sprinting skills a few times.

This was also the first time Chris and I have ridden together both on road bikes. We even had enough energy in us to ride for 20 more minutes after the group ride was over. Then we quickly showered to meet everyone for the closing Bike Club Dinner at our golf club. One of the members is retiring and produced some great biking related gifts for everyone that could answer his mishmash of trivia questions. All in all we had a wonderful afternoon and evening.

Poor Ethan

Is it the heat?
Or?
Did Graham inherit horrible motion sensitivity from me?
Or?
A combination of both?

Because the last two times I took the boys out in the morning for a chariot ride behind my bike Graham threw up.....on Ethan.

The first time wasn't so bad but the second I had to stop at a friends so Ethan could borrow a shirt as we didn't have time to go home and change before school.

This is the view that made him sick.....can you blame him?

I found this shot Ethan took with my phone he'd been playing with the last time we rode.

What? Whaddya Say?

Ethan never had ear infections as an infant. His very first one happened just before we moved here and then they've continued every 3 to 4 months. Then a year ago we noticed intermittent hearing loss. Now with Ethan you might say he just wasn't listening well except that he goes through periods of asking us to repeat ourselves when we are sitting right next to him.....CONSTANTLY. At times this has been very frustrating for both he and Chris and I.

A year ago we took him to the ENT, did the hearing test which was fine and he pretty much brushed us off. About 3 months ago we just couldn't take it any long and I thought his ears must be full of wax because he could not hear us. Our GP told us to get a second opinion and finally go in last week and......

He does have DIMINISHED hearing due to fluid behind his ears along with enormous tonsils. So we are on our last huge dose of antibiotics and decongestant and scheduled to have tubes put in after we get back from our summer travels.

Hallelujah we are thrilled for the little guy. This should take care of the hearing problem, middle of the night cries from ear pain, and lessen mom and dad's frustrations.

Sorry, Kinda Lame

It is lame to rave about a good recipe and not post it when you actually have it. I just didn't have the time at the posting to put it in.

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars Kids Will Love
by gottalovelattes, eHow member
www.eHow.com

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup wheat germ
• 2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• A  pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 4 egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup honey
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

1. Step 1
   While the is pre-heating to 325 degrees F, spray the bottom and sides of a 13" x 9" baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
   
2. Step 2
   Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. You may want to use your hands to make sure that the mixture is evenly moistened.
   
3. Step 3
   Fold the mixture into the baking pan and pack it down evenly with a flat spatula (no slits).
   
4. Step 4
   Place the pan into the oven and bake for 16-20 minutes until golden brown.
   
5. Step 5
   When the pan is still a bit warm, cut into small bars or squares. The granola bars can be stored in a plastic container for up to a week or frozen in zip-lock bags to enjoy later.
   

Sorry about the lay out I just cut and pasted....too lazy not to retype the recipe.