Let The Summer Fun Begin

By the end of this week all of my school age grandkids will be done with school for the summer. Before summer can begin there have been lots of end-of-school activities tailor-made for a proud grandmom.

Jared finished 7th grade with all A's, an award for being the 7th grade math student of the 

year and several other awards.

Justin finished 5th grade as one of two 5th graders with all A's for the entire year.

Anna finished kindergarten with all the enthusiasm that she brings to everything she does.

Hope seemed a little pensive before the start of the 6th grade end of year orchestra concert,

but when it came time to play she did a great job.

I didn't get to attend an event for Wil who just finished 3rd grade but I hear he also has the math thing going on.

I also didn't get to attend EJ's end of kindergarten program but I did hear this good time girl told her teacher and her classmates that her plans for the summer are watching TV and drinking beer.

Let the summer fun begin

Yes, I Have Addressed This Issue Before....

It, sadly, seems that I may not be the Queen Of Cell Phone Etiquette that I proclaimed myself to be when I first addressed this issue in a post several years ago. If I were the true queen my edict suggestion would surely have been more universally accepted. Well, as we queens say "never give up" so I want to make my suggestion one more time.

There's a lot of talk about cell phone etiquette, but there is an issue that I never hear discussed and I think it needs to be addressed. When you are talking to someone and one or both of you are on a cell phone it is not unusual to be talking, talking, talking and suddenly realize that no one is listening. The call has dropped. 

Here's what usually happens with me when a call is dropped. I realize I'm talking to no one, so I immediately call back the person I was talking to. The call goes right to their voice mail because, of course, they are trying to call me back, getting my voice mail because I am trying to call them back. I think, oh, he/she is calling me back, so I wait a minute for the phone to ring. He/she thinks, oh, she is trying to call me back, and they wait a minute for the phone to ring. When the phone doesn't ring within a few moments, I think, oh, he/she is waiting for me to call back, so I call and he/she........well, you get the picture.

I'm suggesting an easy solution that will save us all a lot of time if only you will accept me as the Queen of Cell Phone Etiquette and follow this rule:  The person who placed the original call is ALWAYS the one to call back. Simple. Easy. Problem solved.

You're welcome.

I guess if I were the real queen I would be able to come up with an edict for that guy standing next to you in line at Starbucks loudly describing his "conquest" from the night before.

It Was No Picnic

Thanks to less than perfect weather, our traditional Mother's Day picnic in the park was not a picnic at all this year. It was, however, a very nice indoor celebration that even snow on Mother's Day couldn't spoil.

The kids definitely had a good time....well, maybe this wasn't all that fun for Wil on the bottom.

In addition to Mother's Day we celebrated the five May birthdays in our family.

My oldest grandson, Jared, 13, insisted that he is now as tall I am.

I think he as about a 1/2 inch to go. It won't take long.

I did miss getting my annual picture with my grandkids on the slide at the park but the stairs 

worked pretty well. 

I hope Mother's Day was bright and shiny where you are.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thank you to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this weeks Hodgepodge questions.


1. Share something you appreciate (or something you appreciated as you were growing up) about your mother.

My mother died when I was only 18 and though I was young  I was aware that she was a very strong and independent woman.  Though, of course, she didn't know that I would be on my own at such a young age (my father died 4 months after my mom) I very much appreciate the example she set and the measure of self-sufficiency she instilled in me.

2.  A quote most commonly ascribed to Plato reads "Necessity is the mother of invention." When did this last play out in your own experience?

After giving it some thought it seems that the necessity to come up with and answer to this question would require some invention on my part and that just wouldn't be Plato-worthy.

3. Share one of the earliest memories you have from childhood.

Big family gatherings on holidays. My mother came from a family with 8 children and our house was where they usually got together.

4. When did you last 'hit the mother lode'? What was it?

Well, I recently found a $10 bill in the pocket of a pair of pants I was getting ready to get rid of.

5. What is/was your favorite dish mom made? Do you make that dish for your family/friends now that you're all grown up?

My mom was a good cook....lots of southern style cooking, but I was a picky eater when I was small so I mostly remember things like peanut butter and jelly and grilled cheese sandwiches. Her birthday specialty was German chocolate cake. I haven't made one in a very long time.

6. Mother May I? was at one time a popular children's game. It required no equipment or parts to play. What was your favorite childhood game where you could just turn up and play-no gear needed?

For a time all the neighborhood kids played a game we called Knights and Ladies every evening. There was no gear needed but we did make our own capes out of sheets and swords out of cardboard. 

7. Which TV mom (past or present) is your favorite, and why?

Roseanne.....I like the way the show dealt with real family issues.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I think this is one of the best family pictures I have ever seen.
(Friends of my daughter-in-law)

To participate in Wednesday Hodgepodge visit Joyce here.