Big yea to Ashley for winning the President's Outstanding Academic Excellence Award!

And to Chloe for Honors in Sight Word Mastery

Relay for life

I joined a relay for life team with a woman at work. I need help raising some money. Click here to donate. If you don't know what relay for life is, click here. I suppose you know the blog is getting lame when it is used as a solicitation tool.

Hey, I remember that!

There was a really interesting article in the June issue of This Old House, where they asked readers to send in their memories of places from the past.  Readers remembered things like the slap of the screen door on a hot summer day, the smell of wool mittens drying on a radiator, and working in vegetable gardens (all memories I have, also).  What are your memories of places you have lived in from your past?

Besides the above mentioned memories of the house in Minnesota, I remember the stepping stones that went from the back porch, behind the house, out to the west sidewalk.  When I was five and six, I can remember how much I enjoyed jumping from one stone to the next.  I would explore the back yard, where there were all kinds of peony bushes, hollyhocks, lilacs, tulips and violets in the spring.  I liked going back to the rhubarb patch with my siblings and eating raw rhubarb stalks dipped in sugar.

I loved my whole neighborhood, and how close we were to the park and to Albert Lea Lake.  The blocks were lined with old trees, shady and cool in the summertime, and it was always an adventure to explore.

So what are your memories?  I know your dad had so many neighborhood stories to tell.  Someday he'll have to write a book.  I look forward to hearing from all of you about your former homes.

BIG THREE-OH

Meridth Gimbel is 30 years old on May 16th!  

I think it's really interesting that Meridth is having her first baby at age 30, when I had my LAST baby at 30.  It just goes to show how the times have really changed.  Back in the olden days many girls got married right out of high school, and started their families right away.  No women are older and much more prepared for childbirth and rearing.

Meridth, we love you, and are so excited for this next phase of your life.  You will be an awesome mother.  You are so much more informed and prepared than I ever was!  I like to think of what it was like for your family all those years ago when you were born, and how excited Megan was to get a little sister to play with.  It must have been like having a new (live) doll.  

Here's to the next thirty years (to quote country artist Tim McGraw), and we are glad we get to be a part of it with you.  You Rock!

Love,  Ed and Claudia

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Mother, there is no other!

Hawkins in the New York Times

Richard co-authored an opinion piece in the New York Times that was published today.  Click here to read it!  Go The 'Chard!

“Everybody’s plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic,” Andy Warhol.

I just posted an article on our blog about the disturbing effect of plastics on small children/infants if you're interested.

Yippee!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to the coolest and best looking teacher we know.

Much love,

Meridth and Edward