And he wonders why the dog growls at him!?!

We passed a billboard sign the other day that said, "A+ Obedience School," which happens to be the school Pete attended as a puppy.  Zack said, "We need to take Pete there so he will listen to me."  Zachary's attitude toward Pete is often changing.  He likes him when he sleeps in his bed or sits with him in the chair.  But as soon as Pete growls or runs from Zachary, which is most of their interactions, Zachary says, "we should get rid of him!"  Or, Zachary wants another dog so the second dog will like him and mind him.

On this day, I guess he was liking the dog.  I'm not sure Pete was liking Zachary.  This was over Fall Break, and I limited Zachary's electronic time.  I guess this was one of his alternate forms of entertainment.

Rice University

On Monday, we decided to take a little adventure in to town and "explore" (as Zachary put it) Rice University.  Let me say, what a beautiful campus!  The first question I expect running through many of your minds is, "what about A&M?"  I've long since realized my Aggie legacy will have to carried on through cousins, rather than my son.  Zachary's love for music prompted him to chose a school his band teacher rated as high for this area and then he found that several musicians from The Houston Symphony had attended Rice as well.  The second thought that might have already ran across your mind is the expense since it is a private university.  Well, I've been told by two separate musically talented adults the oboe often gets scholarships since not many play it.  So score for us if he gets a scholarship.  And last, we have 6 more years to figure out what he wants to do and where he wants to go.  There's no telling if he will change his mind.  He may be attending Houston Community College for all I know.

Fall "Sports" Banquet

They call it the Fall Sports Banquet, but I think it could be called the Fall Activity Banquet.  This pleasant dinner quickly honored the students that participated in football, volleyball, cheer, and band.  Zachary actually said he wanted to go, and it was a good experience for him as he has never been to a group dinner like this before. 

Anyway, he received his little certificate and his face said it all...{that's it!}.  Yep, that's all you get.  He wasn't impressed, except with the rolls and brownies. 

 

 

Marching band, small school style

This is the bands first year to march on the field.  I could not begin to imagine what they would do having come from a 5A school and Texas A&M, especially with only 31 members and about 80% of them were Jr. High students.  Many are just learning their instruments so to add marching to it, you would expect a possible disaster. 

Well, here is what we got...

CLCS Eagle Marching Band

I guess you have to start somewhere, and I know Mr. Hernandez was proud of their hard work.  Later in the season, we got a percussion circle in the middle and they marched in pairs around them.  Good memories are being made.

Possible disappointment

I found this the other day on Zachary's desk.  He wants an English Horn, and the cheapest he has found on eBay is for about $3,000.  He said, I'll just ask for it for Christmas.  When I told him people do not normally buy gifts that expensive, I guess he decided on this plan B.  It's the last item, in between the marked out items.  I think he may be a little disappointed when he doesn't get the 5G's he's hoping for. 

A little reminder

I found this the other day in the back room.  As a matter of fact, he wrote it out on paper and posted it in the living room for his dad.  I know I could use this reminder too.

"But I wasn't doing anything wrong!"

That answer unfortunately did not line up with what the teacher said and the pink detention slip we got last week.  I have to tell you, he was pretty sweet about it after it was all over with.  He was bawling about it when he came in the library.  Apparently, he was not following directions.  I expect there was a little class monopolizing going on.  Mr. Hernandez was ready to play and Zachary was "tuning up", or so he said.  This led to his name on the board, and then the commotion started.  Needless to say, the detention slip says "being disruptive," "talking without permission," and "being disobedient and disrespectful".

When I asked him what happened, he said, I was tuning up, like the players at the Houston Symphony do.  I told him that is a good idea for Houston Symphony players, not CLCS band students. 

Later that evening was the football game and so the band played.  I asked Mr. H when his detention was and noted he had not put a date on the slip.  I said, he must not have meant to give it to Zachary.  He smiled and said he would let is slid this time.  When I told Zachary, he said, "so it is like a warning detention."  He was very pleased about Mr. H's change of heart.  I'll be pleased with a change of attitude in Zachary, and then we will all be good.