Beta Club at the Food Bank

We headed back to the Houston Food Bank last Friday with the Junior Beta Club.  This students separated donated boxes of food into smaller divisions.  With the help of about 10 other adults,we sorted 6400 pounds of food which would have made 5,333 meals. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it sounds really cool!

Was so proud of Zachary.  He got right in there and helped very well.

All members present!

What do you know about embarrasement?

Often times, Zachary lacks the filter that most of us develop as we grow.  He has said and done a few things where I wish I could sink in my chair or walk in the other direction (actually, I have walked in the other direction).  I've come to realize, it is just part of the beast and of most of the time I don't really care what other judgmental people are thinking or whispering. 

The other day, Zachary and John were in the front of the house talking.  And Zachary proceeded to tell John all the different slang names he knew for his private area.  I sat in the back giggling and listening.  It is normally me on the receiving end of these conversations.  In the end, he stated that John should call his private part Johnson.  This was humorous to me because just a few days before, he told me to call his part area Willy and was quite adamant about it. 

You should know, we've had strict control over internet usage.  He did check a book out from the public library titled 100% Me.  I think this puberty book is the source of the conversations.  Oh, and we use the anatomical name for his private area.  I know I was embarrassed about using those terms as a child, but Zachary sure isn't.  I'm glad he is comfortable talking to us about it.

Spring Break fun

I headed out of town on a retreat on Friday while Granmommy and Pop's kept Zachary for the weekend.  This was the first full weekend since Granmommy's retirement.  We had planned to stay at Granmommy and Pop's for a few days after I got back, but had some other fun stuff at home to tend too.

What might that be, you ask?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Here is how I found him reading one morning...dad's glasses.

His first science project, right up his alley with movies and music!

As always, he was a trooper.  It helped that he enjoyed the science project.  And now, the countdown is on till summer!!!!!

Valentine's and responsibility

For Valentine's I made my two boy's scones and shakes.  I also decided it was time to get Zachary a cell phone, and the one I selected happened to be red, so it went with the theme.  It's a basic phone with texting and calls.  He doesn't need much more as we work on responsibility.  I don't expect he will go over minutes or texts because he is not a social butterfly looking to visit with friends.  But he does need to be able to call us and make contact with family if necessary.

Bed head so early in the morning!

I guess I should confess, I really got the phone for me.  He likes to wonder around school and visit with teachers after he has finished in 7th period.  I figured a phone might help me find him a bit faster than tracking through the whole school looking for him.  So far, he hasn't gone to visit anyone lately, so we haven't had to use it.  But on the good side, he hasn't lost it and remembered to take it to school every day.  I've told him to turn the ringer off as he gets out for school, but who knows if he is.  His 7th period teacher said he would remind him to turn the ringer on at the end of school.  Just one of the perks of a little private school...teacher's often go above the call of duty. 

I think his favorite part is the camera.  He loves to take pictures of whatever he happens to be interested in at the time.  If you think of it, send him a text.  We are working on how to respond and loading in contacts.  Everything is a process, but I'm thankful he is willing and able to learn.  713-876-86xx (text me the rest)

English horn reed

As we were packing up after our oboe lesson, Zachary asked his teacher if he could see her box of dud reeds.  These are reeds that just didn't work out for some reason and the staple can be re-used to make another reed.  As he was sifting through it, they came across a piece of English Horn cane.  His teacher knew he would want it, so she offered it to him.  Of course he said, "I need a staple."  And she caved and gave him one of hers.

We proceeded to gather our stuff and they talked reed measurements as we left, since the English horn reed is longer and would have different measurements.  Not much was discussed and we headed home.

After that, there wasn't much more on his mind than to tie that reed.  And tie he did, and actually, it was absolutely beautiful when he finished it.  I will say, we had to look at a few online images, but that only clarified some measurements for him.  There is not much on the web on English horn reeds. 

He was so pleased of himself!

First Solo & Ensemble contest

Tuesday was Zachary's first solo and ensemble contest.  This is all new for us since neither parent has had any involvement in choir or band.  We have been lucky to meet an oboe instructor in the Clear Lake area that has pointed us to a school she works with.  They have allowed us to participate in their Region auditions and now their solo and ensemble.  I have since learned that the private schools may have a solo opportunity for Zachary as well.

As I signed him up, the teacher at the Intermediate school asked me what class the music was. I had no clue what that meant, but come to find out, Zachary was playing an easy Class I piece.  I figured Class I was the easiest grouping...nope, it's the hardest.  It was then I think I began to feel a bit more nervous.

My friend played as his accompanist.  She was very impressed from the first practice, so I figured that was a good sign.  Jennifer was instrumental in walking Zachary through the steps and allowing him to practice what the contest would be like.  And she was so giving of her time to come to our house and play with him on three separate occasions. 

When he played on Tuesday, Jennifer said the judge looked up very surprised.  And her comments were nothing but nice.  He received a rating of a 1, which is a Superior rating, so he received a little medal.  He said, "I've officially received a medal."  It was sweet, and he was proud of himself in a humble sort of way.  I said he could wear it to school, and he said he would look like an oddball.  :)

By the way, I'm not sure why it is called a contest.  You are playing a piece, and receive a rating.  That is it.  Zachary kept thinking he was going to win something.  I think he hoped it would be money.

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An Old Find Equals New Fun

We were at my mom's over Christmas break and Zachary found a sleeping mask I had sewn in Girl Scouts.  I'm not sure where he found it, but this is how I found him. 

He thought he would pose.

He made me giggle when I found him.  I'm not sure if he slept with it on or not, but he slept until about 11am the next morning.