Odds & Ends

Since I haven't posted in awhile, okay a month ago. Here's just a few things that have happened in the last little while.

Tucker became a reader!! (See the book in his hands!)

It's true, just out of the blue Tucker decided to start reading. This is the boy who probably read less than 5 books in all of middle school and high school. You know that saying "If you read to your child, your child will be a reader" With Tucker I always figured that was bunk. I never read to the other two boys as much as him. I guess he was a late bloomer is all. Since he started about a month ago he is always reading now. He takes great pride in finishing a book in a day. Go figure. I guess you should never lose hope.

We took a trip to the Cupcake Cabin. This is Cooper doing a happy dance while playing croquet.

Cooper went to Ft. Clatsop where Lewis & Clark spent the winter when they made their big trip. I came along as a chaperone (my one field trip of the year). It was an interesting trip. The kids were great. The parents, not so much.
Spencer was "promoted" to high school. We don't call it graduation because it's not. We have a little outdoor ceremony which lasted about 35 minutes. Just the right length. Here is Spencer with a few of his many girl friends. He doesn't really have any friends who are boys, but tons of girls.


He also won a major award that was voted on by his teachers called the Harold Hines Award. It is more or less given to students who do good things for others and stand up for others. I was very proud of him winning that award. As a few parents said to me after, "that is the award you hope your kid wins"

Here's Spencer at the Cupcake Cabin. I just like the picture I took.

Tucker did graduate from High School but opted not to "walk" in the graduation ceremony, hence we have no pictures to share of his big moment because there wasn't one. We are proud of him nevertheless. He is working hard this summer with two jobs--Safeway & the fruit stand--and an occasional stint at the Dirt Exchange. So really 2 1/2 jobs I guess. He is a hard worker.

He keeps having bad car karma though. Last Wednesday we got a call from the Seattle Police at 5am. It seems that someone or ones had stolen Tucker's car right out from in front of our house, taken it over a few blocks away in an alley an proceeded to strip it of all the lights and the battery. They probably would have taken more but must have gotten interupted in the process. So here are a few pictures of the car.

Someone in the neighborhood said they saw it being driven by not too long before we got the call fromt the police so it happened between 4am & 5am. I can't believe I didn't hear his car start because it is really loud because the engine races. Dennis was able to find a car on Craig's List that he could get parts from so they took a "man trip" on Friday with Cooper and got most of the parts back. It is most of the way back together now but we wonder if it might be stolen again some time. Poor Tucker and his cars!

That's pretty much what's been what lately.