David Meets Leila & Emma Sings Karaoke

David is in the house! Jon picked him up yesterday for his six-week summer visit with us. This is our last opportunity to see David as a "child"; he's seventeen now, so next time we see him here he'll be a legal adult. Where has the time gone??

When we met, David was a rosy-cheeked, tow-headed two year old. He looked a lot like a tiny version of the little Dutch boy (see photo below left). He didn't speak, but his eyes were expressive and he knew how to get his point across. His big imagination made him almost seem magical... he used these powers to get Grandma Jane to serve him up lots of ice cream. And he got Grandpa Bud to watch cartoons with him for hours, just by sitting on his lap.

David has turned out to be a sensitive, interesting young man. He's a free thinker and a gentle spirit. He accepts the adoration and enthusiasm of Michael and Emma with remarkable patience and equanamity. He's becoming more politically aware and loves to discuss issues. He doesn't try to be like everyone else, or put on a show; he's very genuine and unabashedly David.

But, for now, he's sleeping (so is Leila). Michael and Emma are off to summer school. I signed them up for an elective program where they do math, reading, and writing, but in a fun way. They have three hours of classes, four days a week (for two weeks), so it doesn't take up a lot of their summer but gives them something educational to do and keeps them in touch with school friends. A school bus comes to pick them up, and they have class till noon. Then they have time to eat a sack lunch I pack for them before going to writing club (which is also a school program). Writing club lasts for an hour and a half. After that I pick them up. So far they love it. Michael came home yesterday enthusiastically reading me a story he wrote about rabbits from Venus who try to settle in Russia and instead end up in Australia.

With the new baby and the price of gas these days (yikes), we've been home a lot this summer... but the kids have still been finding plenty to do. Emma has gotten to be friends with a neighbor girl named Makayla; she's over almost every day, playing with Emma and Michael. They've gone over to her house a couple of times to swim in their backyard pool. Makayla has a teen-age sister and a younger sister. We've met the parents, too, and they all seem nice.

Jon made another branch of trail in our woods this weekend. He's been picking up dead firewood along the way and using Dad's woodsplitter, to good effect. In the evenings Michael and Emma help stack the firewood Jon splits. They've been known to complain a little, but we believe it's good for kids to work and help out. I'm just sorry I was such a work-avoider when I was a kid (sorry Mom and Dad).

Saturday afternoon we went to Arnold for Jon's niece Brittany's highschool graduation party. Brittany is the daughter of Jon's brother Eric. She's pictured at right (tall, white shirt) with Jon's parents and their other granddaughters. From left to right is: Susan, Jessica (with her daughter Malia), Lisa, Allison, and Brittany. Of course, Emma's in front and Leila wasn't born yet in this photo (taken X-Mas 2006).

Festivities at the party included a DJ and karaoke in an outdoor tent. Jon's brother Brent captured the photo below with his cell phone. Emma had been watching the DJs set up, with polite interest. They let her start the show with a sweet performance of "You Are My Sunshine", followed by "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and the "Hokey Pokey". I can't imagine singing in front of a tentful of adults like that when I was her age, but I'm glad that Emma is confident enough to do it. Being shy can be such a handicap (though it can also keep you out of trouble).

I also wanted to post the photo below of me with
cousin Peggy Linskey. We ran into Peggy a couple of weeks ago at another of Jon's niece's graduation parties (Lisa Meyer's). We plan on attending Peggy's annual 4th of July picnic in Holcombe this year. I don't think I've been to Peggy's since Emma was a toddler, so am long overdue there.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the nice weather this week. See you soon!