I just finished writing a thank you note to Mr. President’s 1st grade teacher to thank her for all her hard work, patience and love for him this year.  It’s the first time I’ve been on the writing end instead of the receiving end and I balled like a baby as I wrote it.  It has not been an easy year for Ms. V.  She struggled with many of the same things in teaching Mr. President that I did and that led me to send him to public school rather than keeping him home and teaching him myself.  Because I have been a teacher and know how hard it is to teach some kids while still loving them and helping them to enjoy school, I appreciate her work more than the regular parent I think.  Because I know what that struggle is like as a public school teacher and as Mr. President’s mother, I just can’t thank her enough. 
The phrase, “Those who can’t, teach” has always bothered me because I know how much work good teachers put into their jobs and their students.  I have my beef with the public school system, don’t get me wrong.   I know there are many teachers who don’t work hard at all not to mention all the bureaucratic garbage that exists in the system.  And I still hope to someday try homeschooling again. But there are so many of us who can’t teach our own kids though we’d like to and it is a great blessing when you get a dedicated, loving teacher who is willing to work with your child even when it’s hard.  My little boy learned to read and love it this year.  He learned to love writing and he made some good friends.  I know there will be teachers who are not so loving and patient with my child.  He is a unique challenge.  But I’m grateful that for at least this first full year in school, he had a great teacher.  Thanks, Ms. V.

Today I finally gave in and let the boys set up a Lemonade stand. I had my doubts. What investor doesn’t, I suppose. My all too realistic thinking that often short circuits fun at our house got in the way. And even though it’s something that every American child has to try, I’ve still been hesitant to say yes. But today I did and it actually worked! They stood in the hot sun for 2 hours. They yelled and hollered at cars as they drove by and guess what? It paid off. You would not believe the number of kind souls who stopped to buy some! They made a whopping $21.75, even after sharing their profits with the other little kids in the neighborhood who wanted to “help” sell too. The asking price was 25 cents but one guy gave $2.00 EACH to the younger two boys (Go Go and a neighbor kid) and $3.00 to Mr. President because “he was the boss”. The older kids in the neighborhood who at first looked askance at the boys efforts, soon forked over their own money for some lemonade with grudging admiration. One is even planning his stand for next week. Oooh, bring on the competition! Gotta love the free market!
Having never lived on a busy street, I had no idea that such money making opportunities were available for the young entrepreneur. The boys are so excited they can’t hardly stand it. And of course they’re begging to go to the store to spend their hard “earned” money.
My favorite question from Go Go, “Mom, do they have something for $2.75 at the Dollar store?” That’s more money than he’s ever had at one time. Favorite quote overheard while dickering with a customer, “Can you give us each 25 cents?”.

My one question is how much lemonade, plastic cups and sun screen am I going to have to invest in for the rest of the summer to keep these guys in business? Speaking of which, where’s my cut boys????

This Spring and Summer our goal is to take the boys to Central Park once a month because there’s so much to do there. Last Saturday we had another trip in. Here are the highlights.

We met Lady Liberty just outside the park making money off of passersby. She was worth $2.00!

Everywhere you go in Central Park someone is playing music, juggling, doing death defying acts
all to make a little money. The boys couldn’t get 10 feet without stopping and watching all the different acts.

I just love the views of the enormous city buildings just beyond the park. They seem such a contrast.

Lots and lots of beautiful bridges in Central Park.

Blue Jeans had a good time chasing the pigeons….

In the background you can hear a beautiful violinist that we saw also trying to make some mula.

Also lots and lots of ponds and lakes like this one. You can rent little remote control sailboats at this one. Ever since we first came to New York for the first time a year ago I’ve wanted to bring the boys here!




Blue Jeans spent the entire time leaning as far over the edge as he could looking at all the fish.

To end the day we stopped at one of the millions of playgrounds so the boys could work off any remaining energy they had left. Fun Day!!!

Mothers who can’t serve their kids peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch deserve extra points in heaven.  They were a staple when I was growing up and since becoming a mother I curse lunch time because of Mr. President’s peanut allergy which has prevented me from using this easy, time saving, loved by generations of children lunch at our house.  This allergy has rubbed off if not in fact, than in taste with Go Go who refuses to eat peanut butter as well.   But as in most things, Blue Jeans is proving to be the most normal of all our children.  Today, I am happy to report that I am giving up my extra points in heaven!!!!  Blue Jeans ate a whole peanut butter and jam sandwich and then asked for more!!!! 

Oh Happy Day!

Mr. President graduated to chapter books this week and here he is reading one FOR FUN for the first time!  Oh, it brings happiness to my soul!!!  Just think of the hours of peacefulness ahead of me! (I know, that’s only if he becomes a reading nerd like his parents… but a girl can dream, right?) 

Also this week I got a picture of Blue Jeans while he waits for the boys bus to come in the afternoon.  He loves to sit there at the door and yells “BUT! BUT!” (his version of bus) when he sees it come down the street.  He’s in his daily uniform-a baseball cap carrying a baseball mitt.