A New Pet?

We have a new critter living with us, possibly under our front porch or otherwise nearby, something that you wouldn't exactly want nearby I'd say... a skunk! First time for everything, I guess. But yikes! Too close for comfort! Eww. 

Cosmo and Ziggy were just watching out the family room window one day, not at all concerned, but just watching, and I was like what are you guys looking at, and what do you know- there was a skunk in our yard! 

We've seen him a few times since that day, we know there's a gap under our front porch, we're speculating he goes in there though we've not seen evidence of this, nor do we ever smell him (thank heavens!!!), but based on his nonchalant presence in our yard at dusk and dawn, he's got to live nearby. So I think blocking up that hole is in order very soon! (When we know he's likely out and gone, of course.) And hopefully this is a mister, not a missus with babies! 

I mean, the kids have even had to go out different doors to go to school in the morning! Or at least wait until he'd way moved on, haha! Taking no chances here...

This next picture was taken just before we took Annabel's pictures for her boat trip. Like I said, too close for comfort!

Anyway, he might look kinda cute and fluffy, but he can leave anytime real soon, please and thank you! 

8th Grade Boat Trip

Annabel was very excited for the 8th grade boat trip outing! This boat trip is a super fun and fancy trip to Chicago for the kids. The girls get all dressed up- think Homecoming dresses- and the boys do, too- in their suits/sport coats and ties- and it's all such fun for the kids. They ride fancy coach buses to the city, go out on Lake Michigan and cruise around, have lunch and dance, and have a blast. It's such a fun tradition for 8th grade in our school district. Annabel had a great time! 

We had the most fun going dress shopping for this occasion. Annabel had looked forward to the dress shopping for ages. Grandma Cheryl came with us and we found the perfect dress for Annabel. So fun to watch my baby girl try on fancy dresses of all colors and styles. Her first Hoco style dress! She's growing up so fast!

Annabel's dress was the prettiest yellow and she looked darling in it! It was perfect for her! It was a little chilly that day, so she took a little sweater just in case. She got many compliments on her dress and its color. It really was unique and Annabel loved that, too. 

Just look at my girl all grown up! Definitely had tears in my eyes...

Annabel shared this picture with me- this is one of her teachers, Mrs. Pop, her friend Kaelyn, and another girl in her class.

Here's another bigger group picture that has more friends in it. Part of the boat trip package is getting a group picture taken as they board and then the kids get to bring it home that same day, too, which is a special touch. We've already framed it and it's on Annabel's dresser now. Pictured here- Aggie, Lily, Kaelyn, Annabel, and Tyler. Such a sweet picture and such fun memories for these kids!

End of an Era...Final Middle School Band Concert!

Annabel recently had her last middle school band concert ever! I'm kinda sad it's over. The concert went very well and we had great weather so the concert could be outside in the band shell in downtown, which we always love. 

This is also the concert during which the 8th graders always pay tribute to their band directors and Annabel chose to participate in this, which was so sweet. She's wanted to do this for years, ever since she saw past concerts and realized this was a thing. We're so proud of her! Her speech was very sweet and touching and she did a great job presenting it! Then she and two of her band friends gave Mrs. McCann sort of a gag gift- a pink flag with her picture on it and their names along the bottom. It was too funny and absolutely perfect for Mrs. McCann- they really nailed it. Erika loved it and even texted me a picture of it hanging in the band room the next day! Annabel was quite tickled by this. So fun! 

Middle school band has really been incredible these past few years. Mrs. McCann and Dr. Carroll lead with such special hearts and incredibly fun middle-school spirits. There's just nobody quite like these guys! Annabel knows she had a really good thing in band here and is already very sad it's over and she'll never have anything like this again. High school band is just different, it's not the same vibe at all. This was special, really special. I've said for years Erika is perfectly suited to middle school. We'll miss her! It's a good thing we're neighbors though, so we can keep her in our lives this way. Plus I'm her friend now and we can text each other. :) 

(Update: Annabel even babysits Mrs. McCann's daughter now! SO fun!)  

Anyway, we're so proud of all Annabel has accomplished in band these past few years. She's just done phenomenally! On to high school we go! And the good news- Annabel's audition for the mid-level band (instead of the basic entry level band) was accepted! So she'll be in the Wind Ensemble at high school and that's fantastic for her. Way to go, Annabel! We can't wait to go to your high school concerts!

Daniel the Photographer

I mentioned previously that Daniel has been taking a photography class at school this semester and he's just loving it. I've saved up a few pictures of Daniel in action all semester long and thought I'd share now that class is just about over. Daniel is definitely planning on take more photography classes here before he graduates!

Funny story about this next Mickey photo shoot picture...

Back in February, Daniel was setting up these Mickeys to take a picture of them for an assignment and Ben saw us and asked where the really big Mickey was. I said it's out there. He's like, no the BIG one!, the one we used for pictures when Daniel was a baby. I said it's that one right there honey. He was not convinced one bit and proceeded to look all around the house for the really big one. I had to break it to him that we had no bigger one, that was the biggest we had, and it was just our boy who'd gotten so big!  

This is the same one in that picture above...

This is also the same one in the pictures above... I mean, Mickey does look very big here, I get that... but really, it's the very same one still, all these years later. We just have a big kid now. Cue the tears! And look at that cuddly baby!! (From Feb 28, 2009- exactly 16 years ago)

When Daniel finishes assignments, they print a thumbnail sheet of all images at school, like this, and he often texts me them. I love it! I love seeing these first glimpses of his work. 

These are 2 images Daniel shared with me right away. We loved the Lego guy! His teacher did, too!!

Daniel got a Lego camera, too! It looks so real in this picture!

This next set was part of a portrait assignment series and Daniel's immediate request was to take portraits of Josie. So we asked Uncle Brian if he and Josie both were okay with this and they were totally cool with it! So we had Josie over one afternoon and we took her to the park for a portrait session. The way the two of them interacted with each other, the way they were both so cool and calm about it...it was the sweetest thing ever. Such a fun little outing for us!

Update, July: Daniel wanted to give Josie his printed copy of his favorite picture from that day for her birthday, so we framed it and wrapped it up and gifted it to her. He's such a sweet kid!

Here's what he liked best and printed for the final assignment... It's lovely!

Then in mid-March, Daniel texted me a picture from school one day with the comment: Going in the art show i guess. I immediately wanted to know ALL the details! Because of course I wanted to go see it and support him! And we did. Here's what he put in the show. (More details in its own post because this was well deserved! So proud of Daniel!)

In early May, the photography classes took a field trip into Chicago to Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, and I got to chaperone! It was a really fun trip and the kids in my group were great. Chaperoning high school is very different from elementary, haha! We started with the conservatory and that was just beautiful! Plus, the docents there were SO informative- I really loved everything they had to share and am glad I took the time to talk with some of them. My favorite plant was the one that shrank at my touch- the "touch-me-not" or mimosa pudica- so interesting. I also loved the giant pink bromeliad flowers and their water "tanks". There was just so much variety and so much bright color, it really was a cool place. I love conservatories and botanical gardens, though I definitely do NOT have a green thumb myself- I'm perfectly happy just looking at all the greenery. 

After that, we journeyed a tiny bit into the city, just a few blocks off the zoo area, to find more architecture for photos (this was their assignment- architectural details), and then went back to the zoo to see the animals and their habitats. We also got amazing cityscape views from the southern end of the zoo, which was so pretty. 

We were so lucky with the weather that day, too! The rain started just as we left, thankfully. It was a good day. I'm so glad I went. It really was so fun!

 

 

 

 

This moonlight philodendron with its neon leaves was striking.

Loved these triangle shaped flowers, too! This is a purple shamrock. 

This "swiss cheese plant" was so cool!

Look at the city! So pretty in this spot!!

And one last picture...

Daniel sure worked hard this semester learning about photography and composition, and he really enjoyed developing his own film, too. 

I love that Daniel took this class. And I'm glad he wants to take more. I think it's great!

Update April 2026: I recently discovered that our high school art department has an Instagram page and found some pictures of Daniel on there from this class! Super fun! It was such a delightful surprise for me to find these hidden gems of Daniel's days at school. I don't get many glimpses of him from during the day, nor does he tell many stories, so this was a treasure of a find for me. Sharing here because it's part of this story, part of his story, and I love it.