Something New

OK, boys, pay attention! I started this blog to keep you posted on changes that happen around the house and today we made a change. Don't freak out but Dad replaced the faucet in the downstairs bathroom!! Here is the before picture:

Dad had to use the hack saw to get the old faucet out! 

After only two and a half trips to Home Depot the job was finished and the new faucet looks and works great. The half trip came when Dad was on his way back to Home Depot and he thought of a solution to his problem so he turned around and came home!

Some of you may know that home projects are not Jim's favorite things to do. He certainly has the skills and smarts to do most any home repair/improvement, he just doesn't enjoy the jobs, so I was glad he took this one on and even happier when he had the job completed in less than 2 hours!

I tried to do my report card grades today, but every time I logged onto the district website, I got a message that the page could not be found. I guess the district decided that 10 days before report card grades were due was a good time to disable the website. I'll try again tomorrow.

I finished the knitting for the baby blanket and now have to sew up the corners on the 4 border edges and weave in the ends of yarn. I will post a photo in a future entry.

Corey called today, while laying in bed after a good nap! He went on a long run this morning, which was made extra challenging by the gale-force winds and the driving sleet, snow and rain! 

We just watched the UConn-Michigan State basketball game and Michigan upset the UConn Huskies in an exciting game. Shortly after the final buzzer in the game our phone rang and when I said, "Hello," I heard the Michigan State fight song! My brother Bob, an MSU alumni, was calling to make sure I knew that the Spartans won! He was enjoying their victory and will be pulling for them on Monday night in the championship game. 

Hope all is well. 

Into April

This seems like it has been a busy week, and right now it feels good to have a quiet Friday evening at home. I can rest up for tomorrow's 2 big NCAA basketball games. 

Last night was my first night of volunteering at the hospital gift shop by myself and all went well, although I did have to bust a little girl for stealing a small toy. She walked into the shop by herself and went over to the corner where some small children's toys are displayed. She quickly grabbed one and walked out of the store. I saw her put the toy behind her back as she walked over to some couches where her mother was sitting. I walked to the shop doors and called over to the mother, asking her if she would like to buy the toy that her daughter had with her! The mother jumped up, yelled at the girl and made the girl put the toy back and apologize to me. There was no other excitement, just a slow steady stream of customers. The birthing center is right across from the gift shop and it must have been a busy night for babies because there was a lot of traffic around that entrance. The toughest part of my job is closing out the cash register after closing. It really isn't tough, I just need to get used to the routine so I don't need to read and re-read the procedures manual. I called the gift shop manager this afternoon to make sure that everything was in order after I closed and she said I did a fine job, so I am confident that I can handle the job's responsibilities.  

On Wednesday at school my second graders did a gymnastics show for the kindergartners and that was fun. It was, for many children, their first performance in front of people they did not know. The kindergartners were an appreciative audience (except for the one boy who made loud yawning and snoring noises as the 2nd graders performed, I nixed that real quick!) and oooed and aaaahed for the headstands and cartwheels. 

On Thursday I set up Scooterville, which is one of the students' most favorite PE activities. Scooterville is a little town, complete with a Wegmans, car wash, McDonalds, YMCA and gas station. The children drive around on scooters and pretend they are grown ups, buying groceries, ordering food at the drive-thru and getting their scooter washed. Creative play is such an important part of young children's' development and many kids do not get enough opportunity to pretend. Scooterville provides this opportunity and the kids love it. Here are a few photos from today's classes:

Shopping at Wegmans.

Fill 'er up!

Emerging from the car wash!

We do not have much planned for this weekend, which feels good. I hope to finish knitting the baby blanket, which should be no problem. I also need to enter grades on report cards. I finished skeining my latest spinning and may try to take it to the yarn store in East Rochester when my spinning teacher is working and see what she thinks of it. I may enter it in the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival if it gets her stamp of approval. 

I also hope to continue my search for a new bike. Jim did some research and found a Trek bike that I should look at. 

Today I took the Beetle in for inspection and it passed, but the service man said that I will need new tires in the near future. So that is another thing we will have to shop for.

A couple of the blogs that I read have what they call Eye Candy Friday, where they post an eye-catching or interesting photo, so here is an artsy photo of the tulips I bought for my birthday:

The wind is howling and the rain is falling, with the  threat of snow tonight! Spring time is a fickle thing here in Rochester. 

Hope all is well. 

Birthday Weekend

Today is my birthday and I have had a wonderful few days of fun to celebrate. So here is a picture and caption review of the past few days.

We went to dinner at Mr. Dominic's at the lake on Friday night. After a nice meal we walked down to the beach because it was a lovely evening. We circled around the beach boardwalk to the river pier and then back to Lake Avenue where we had our first Abbotts of the season.

Saturday morning I went to a fundraising event for Young Life with Sherri and Jean T. This was a Baskets and Brunch event. There were 101 themed baskets and we walked around looking at them, putting our raffle tickets in the ones we would like to win. 

Jean and I did not win any baskets, but Sherri came home with 2!! It was fun and I hope Sherri invites me to go next year.

We went bike shopping for me on Saturday afternoon and I test rode 3 bikes. 

I enjoyed each of the bikes, but I still want to look at a couple of other bike manufacturers before I make a decision. 

Saturday night we had dinner at Grandma's and Grandpa's and enjoyed our time together. 

Grandma made me a delicious blueberry pie for dessert.

Sunday morning we were up early~Jim for a run at Mendon Ponds Park with Tony and me to ring bells at church. I did my errands after church and then did some spinning while watching basketball. Dinner was at Gram and GrandDad's and Gram made a wonderful meal of ribs, with apple pie for dessert. 

Jim gave me a perfect birthday gift~a RIT hockey jersey!! I am all ready for next season!

Today was back to school and when my young students hear that it is my birthday, they want to know how old I am! I ask them to guess, and no one ever guesses over 30!! 

Tonight Sally and Bob came over with the cake that Sally made for me.
We had lots of laughs while enjoying the delicious cake! We talked about going on a canoe trip together this summer and I hope we can make it happen. It has been too long since we'd done some serious paddling. 

Interspersed throughout the weekend was good basketball. Unfortunately, Syracuse had a terrible game against Oklahoma on Friday night and is now out of the tournament. There have been some great games on and I have loved every minute of it. March Madness will end this coming weekend, in April!

Tucker, Corey, and my brother Bob called tonight and it was good to catch up with all of them. Thanks guys for calling me!

So that wraps up my birthday celebration. Thanks to all who joined in the celebration!

Hope all is well.