This Reminds Me

Archive for August, 2010

Heavy Metal happenings at Casa Woodworth:

Hannah’s latest cake creation – can you hear how really moist the chocolate was?  I expect to munch cake like this on my stairway to heaven.

Keith and Lois loaded his truck (next year: her truck) with 268 lbs. of crushed aluminum cans to recycle, netting $140 for his tool fund.

Our 5-ton downstairs air conditioner has gone out twice in two weeks, and we know it’s on its last legs.  Kill.  Me.  Now.

The happiest heavy metal news of all:  After wrecking it 69 days ago, Rachel’s 2600 lb. Ford Focus is tonight home from the shop.   Julia and her best friend Toni were thrilled to make its re-acquaintance.

School has started – again.  It’s back to my daily disciplines of navigating more traffic, printing weekend schedules and making dinner nightly.

The obligatory first day of school photo – really, it’s required, it’s in the “Mothers’ Manual.”  (l-r) Lois – High School Junior.  Julia – 4th grade.  Rachel – College Sophomore.  Hannah – High School Freshman.

My obligatory first-day-of-school photos started August 19, 1996 with this kindergartner.

Rachel made a new friend – they talked all morning.  Her name?  “I have no idea.”

Lois is sitting at the kitchen table right now, marveling in the wonders of AP Calculus.  “They started us with ‘limits’ – the first day!”  I would offer to help her, of course, but then she’d never learn.

Hannah’s first high school history class was shared with some repeating sophomores and juniors.  “Mom – how do you fail history?”

Julia was the first in her fourth grade class to complete a “really hard” word search, earning her praise from the teacher.  The child loves word games – she is her mother’s daughter.

Even though the school year is often a grind – I simply cannot complain.  I am too thankful for the excellent schools were enjoy here.  Of all the blessings we received in moving from Houston to San Antonio, the schools are definitely first in my heart.  I look back at HISD and shudder.

In addition to all the School Zone signs – there’s another that caught my eye today.  It’s 101 degrees this evening, and a few languid back strokes sound mighty inviting.

Sigh

Guess I’ll go get out my clear return address labels and do paperwork instead.

Rachel, Lois and Hannah hosted an end-of-summer swimming/slumber party for the youth girls at our church last night.

Our new youth minister - Jeff Martin – dropped by to say “hi.”  He’s the one with the beard, though he immediately felt testosterone-challenged.   Note Julia, front’n'center.  She very much enjoyed the snacks (everybody brought something), drinks, jokes, swimming, etc. – but was decidedly miffed when I put her to bed at 11 p.m., so the girls could share about themselves. “It’s not fairrrrr.” Is there a child anywhere that doesn’t whine that defense?  Well, come to think of it – I’ve been known to use it myself.

Rachel talked me into loaning her my little waterproof Olympus for the night swim at the neighborhood pool.  I was impressed with many of her pictures.  She’s really has talent, I think.  And it’s not “just the camera.”   I used to take a lot of pictures for work, church, home, etc. and was always irritated by viewers who would say, “Oh, you must have a good camera!”  Well….not so much terribly much until very recently when Keith surprised me with a Nikon D-90.   What I’d had before was certainly “good enough,”  but not great.  I’ve always believed you could have an amazing camera and without “the eye” (as I call it) – forget it.  Anyway, I think Rachel has “the eye.”

Lois flanked by friends Kelley and Chantelle.  Love the cool water reflection with the warm night background.

Underwater hand stand by Jessica – you have to be “down there” and ready to catch this kind of action, especially at night.

Love Julia’s big eyes and swirling hair.  She has four loose teeth right now.

Hannah’s friend Bailey – without the bubbles and the swirling strap, you might think she was above water.

Self-portrait of the photographer, complete with facial bubbles.

Some of the girls crashed around 2:30 a.m., which is the last time I was aware of the herd of elephants stampeding in the game room above us.  Some stayed awake all night and were the first to snag the doughnuts Keith went to get.

There wasn’t much “slumbering” at this “slumber party.”  But there will be tonight – at least by me.   And the washing machine.  And the dishwasher.  And the broom.  And the mop.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

We have koi joy at Casa Woodworth – baby fish.  See the whole school here, bubbling the water for their morning breakfast.  The big black one is Lois’ fish – “Chargoi.”   Hannah’s white “Cinderella” sports butterfly fins.  Julia’s “Sherwin” has the two red bands  They’re scarfing up handfuls of fish nuggets several times daily.  Keith will keep feeding them until the water temperature chills to 55 degrees (October’ish), then resume feeding them next spring (March’ish).   Eating in the winter would cause deadly belly bloat – sort of like tamales chasing refried beans on a long car trip.

The babies are very small, quick and hard to see.  They generally stick close to the walls of the pond which – now, incredibly, in this 11th episode of “A Man in His Pond” – is five years old.

The blurry (sorry!) little baby is center right.  The girls think we have six babies – our own sextuplets.

Speaking of babies….I’m glad to have all four of mine home after their summer jaunts.  It’s been a few weeks since we’ve all been together.  Julia and Rachel returned from children’s church camp today.  The washer and dryer have not stopped since they hit the door.

(l-r)  Hannah had a week at Sarah’s house, plus youth camp.  Julia had a week at Sarah’s, plus children’s camp.  Rachel had a week at Sarah’s, plus children’s camp (as a counselor.)  Lois had a week at the national Latin competition in Fargo, ND, plus youth camp.  Keith and me?   Well, we got to spend one night in a motel when our air conditioning at home went out.  Plus we took weekly oh-so-glamorous trips to Costco and Sam’s.  We’re wild, we are.

Now it’s all about back-to-school.

College.  High School.  Elementary School.

And of course – our new school of koi.