"Best oboe player"

I wasn't sure what to post this week, so I asked Zachary.  He said to post that he was the best oboe player.  I've made attempts at explaining this idea, since he is the only oboe player at school, and how to be careful of pride, etc.  It's not sinking in, so I'm leaving it alone.  What I do like is that he has aspirations and great focus with oboe.  So maybe one day, he will be the "best oboe player."

He asked me to take some pictures of various fingering positions.  So I figured I'd play with my camera.  Not much to see, but his cute blurred grin in the second picture.

Jr. Beta Club car wash, well sorta.

We had our final Jr. Beta Club field trip this week.  The students went to a home where disabled adults live.  They washed their vehicles that they use for various outings.  While they did get the vehicles washed, they also ended up very wet.  Zachary was so proud of himself because he let the girls get him wet.  The members were so kind to consider his reaction.

Dry students

My little guy working hard

Wet students

 Mission accomplished...clean vehicles and fun!

Run with excitement!

We helped with the chess tournament at school again.  Zachary has not played much chess this year at school.  He played for a bit online after chess summer camp, but that fizzled.  Since I was helping, I figured, he needed to play and support the team.  To his delight, he got 3rd place, which was the biggest trophy he has ever received for anything.  He was so excited that he ran up to the stage & skipped off.  The pictures of the chess coach were funny because you can see his expression from Zachary's excitement!  I wish I had gotten it on video.

CLCS team trophy

Zachary and Coach Hernandez

Strawberry picking

Lauren is in town this week, and I thought it would be fun to make strawberry ice cream, since it is Zachary's favorite.  So we headed to the Outlet mall, and to pick strawberries at Froberg's Farm.  I got pickling cucumbers to make my own pickles.  They are soooo good!  And the tomatoes looked fantastic too. 

Rows and rows of strawberries

So pretty, you could eat them as you picked 'em.

 Making the ice cream tonight!  Yum!

Another option

Did you ever know a child that loves music more?  The other day, I found string instrument instruction books in his backpack.  Apparently, he was allowed to borrow them from the band hall.  Then more books came, then internet searches began.  He's always seemed to have interest in the double bass, and really most of the strings. 

We had to make a stop at Music & Arts to get his next piano books.  I'm busy looking through books, thinking he is looking at some other books on an alternate wall.  But when I turn around to find him in another part of the store, he says, "take my picture."  Not worried about getting into trouble, or that he is touching a $2300 instrument, or that he might not know what to do.  He does.  He's in his element, and happy.

He makes me smile.

An element of his own.

Beta Club

Beta Club is a service organization at our school for Jr. High and High School students.  I feel strongly about serving, as does John.  We normally participate in the church mission work, and I have Zachary come too.  I think he needs to know how much he has and maybe realize how fortunate he is.

Somehow I got roped into being the sponsor for the Jr and Sr. High Beta Clubs at our school.  It's been a pretty easy job scheduling trips for the students and helping with meetings.  The best part is I get to serve right along side the students, and that includes Zachary.

So far, we've been to the the Houston Food Bank, a home for Alzheimer residents to sing Christmas Carols and serve treats, Hope Village to play games and make V-day cards with special needs residents, and TLC resale shop to organize, distribute, and clean up the shop.  We are hoping to maybe do some work with Special Olympics and a pet shelter for our last trips.

Jr. Beta Club Induction

Sr. Beta Club Induction

Jr. Beta Club

Singing at a retirement home

 

Making boxes with a buddy

Jr. Beta Club

The one funny thing about all of this.  I wasn't sure how Zachary would feel about having to go volunteer on a Saturday.  Working is not always his first choice of activities.  One of the club rules is that if you get more than 2 detentions, you are dismissed from Beta Club for the year.  That seems to have him scared straight, and he doesn't want to miss a meeting or trip.  So far, so good! 

Our Annual Winter Trip

We started out at Granmommy's on Wednesday evening.  She had Zack's birthday gift.  She also had Uncle Steve's clarinet, and sadly, once he saw that, he wasn't too interested in the Ganmommy's version of Lupe's nachos (one of Zachary's favs) or the gifts.

You had me at 'Hello.'

In the morning, we had our teeth cleaned and headed for lunch with my cousin Amy.  Short, but sweet, and certainly glad to see her when I could.  We missed Lauren, and I'm sure she was a little jealous.

Next stop:  Travis and Cassie's new casa.  Wow, it was beautiful!!!  I think Cassie mentioned something about decorating, but I was so impressed with all she's had going on.  Her kiddos were super fun, and Zachary and Alex played light sabers for at least 2 ours on Thursday and 2 hours on Friday. 

Three boys, various ages, all having fun.

It's story time with Zachary.

Age didn't matter...to them, the force was real!

Aunt Ruth and Aunt Kathy were ready for lunch when we arrived.  Aunt Ruth had found a super cool Star Wars puzzle as a surprise for Zachary.  And anyone who knows Aunt Kathy, knows she is a puzzle fanatic.  She was hooked when Zachary was ready to piece it together and changed her plans at least 2x while we were working on completing the puzzle.  Ruth is always a wonderful hostess!

Can't resist a puzzle!

Last stop, was to see Traci.  She was ready when we got there with a cookie cake for Zachary's birthday and his gift.  We gave Elise her gift a little early.  We played tether ball, jumped on the trampoline, knitted, watched dirt bike riding, and went to Lupe's.  All that in a span of about 8 waking hours.

Determined to be an Aggie!

Cookie cake cut pizza style

chocolate icing flavored lip gloss

Jack on his bike

4 days, 5 stops, and 14 people.  Not too bad of trip, and we had a great time!!!