Ready for Spring

We are ready for Spring so this week we were outside often as we worked in the garden, took walks, and enjoyed a little extra recess time.  We also tried making our own springtime window clings…here’s a glimpse at a few days from this week.

On Tuesday we enjoyed the fact that the bowling alley wasn’t as busy as it was last week.  We could hear each other better when we celebrated our improving scores!

Devin and Kacie high five Devin’s strike!

Sam and Devin at the approach...such style!

We are going to take a break from bowling for the next two weeks.  We aren’t able to use the vans next week as Parks & Rec needs them for their Spring Break Program.  The following Tuesday, April 11, we will begin working with the master gardeners at Freedom Park.  It will be interesting to see if our scores remain consistent after our mini-hiatus. 

After bowling on Tuesday we stopped at the Rec Center on Longhill Rd to take a walk and visit the playground.  Most of our friends are walking about a mile and the others are getting close.  As our endurance improves, we will increase our distance!

Here we are in front of one of the vans we borrow from Parks & Rec.  We are so thankful for this privilege!

These guys are at the end of their walk…and talk!

Our gang enjoys time on the playground…the swings are so relaxing. 

This week Chris entertained us by playing the chimes.  The sun was not shining, but our friendships were!  (I'm new to this blogging so if the videos don't work, give me time to figure it out!)

Then, he moved on to the drums...he's going to miss our drumming class with Sandy so he can go on a cruise, but he's got the right idea!

We had our Tai Chi lesson with Michael on Wednesday morning.  Once again we worked with the balls to improve our ability to “flow” with graceful movements.  We also work on balance, and we’re getting better each week!

Celebrating “Something on a Stick Day” found us making breakfast kabobs for lunch!  They were a hit, and fun to prepare.

Later on Wednesday we met Rob for our weekly session in the community garden.  We are really beginning to notice the difference we are making, especially with the weeding we do.  The garden is opening up now that a lot of the dead brush has been cleared and lots of tulips and hyacinths are blooming. 

Kacie and Becky planted more beets.

Nancy, Kate, and Alexis read about bats.  Another garden volunteer was preparing to set up a bat house later with a group of children from the school.

Meghan, Kevin, Carol, and Alexis weed the tulip bed. Lisa helped when she wasn't snapping pics!  :-)

Here’s how pretty it looked after they finished! 

Chloe did most of the watering.

Elizabeth, Nancy, and Chris said they can’t wait to come back next week and finish cleaning out this bed!

These handsome guys helped us welcome Tracy Newsom back from maternity leave.  They took her and Becca (also from Parks & Rec) into the woods to see the outdoor classroom.

On Thursday we spent most of the morning volunteering in the school.  We’re very busy and it’s hard to remember to get pictures sometimes, but here are a few of some of our friends filing, shelving books, and folding clothes for the uniform closet.

Teri Collins stopped by on Thursday afternoon to reveal Kacie’s Family Tree!  Kacie was thrilled to see pictures of distant relatives and hear stories about some of their adventures, such as the 7 times great grandparent  who was so tough and resilient the Indians had to let him live (as per their tradition) after trying three times to kill him!  

She was also excited to find out that the actor, Jimmy Stewart, is a first cousin five times removed…even though she didn’t know who he was!

We need to decorate our room for Spring so we tried making our own window clings using a glue, liquid soap, and food coloring mixture.  Teri stuck around to help us with this sticky project.  Thanks, Teri!  You’ll have to check the next blog entry to see how well they turned out as they weren’t dry before this post was written! 

Lisa is traveling this weekend but will post highlights from Friday’s adventures sometime before Tuesday.  We are looking forward to learning about drumming with Sandy Layman from The Arc and enjoying sloppy joes and an indoor hockey game with one of our favorite substitute staffers, Sue Grimes.  Thanks to those ladies for helping!

A few reminders about next week: 

*It is Spring Break for the schools so the cafeteria will be closed.  Everyone needs to bring their own lunches Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  On Friday, we will celebrate Sam’s birthday with a taco lunch and birthday pie!  (PB&J sandwiches will also be available.)

*We may take a trip to the park on Thursday, so make sure to send a bag lunch that day – no microwavable meals.  Thanks!

*The Family Caregiver Focus Group will meet Monday evening, April 3^rd, at 7p.m. at the JCC Rec Center.  Randy Lavender will facilitate the meeting.  Please join us as we share with one another what we know about resources and supports available for our loved ones.

*Save the date:  The Zumbathon FUNdraiser is Saturday, April 22^nd at Newtown.  The time is 1:00-2:30 and that’s for real…please disregard our previous reporting that it’s from 1-4!

Take care,

Lisa, Carol, and Nan