Zoo, Zoo, Zoomy Zoom Zoo

Bill and I chaperoned the last field trip for our 5th graders to the zoo. We had a RIOT! We had the usual: Quin and Sal and then Brian, Cresada and Diana. Diana I knew from her helping with Sal's projects and Cresada I knew from her riding around the neighborhood with Jacob. We had a TON of fun. We let them do the map and direct us to what THEY wanted to see. They did this VERY well - worked great as a team and listened to what each other wanted.

They stayed together very well, I felt more like *I* was on the field trip and they were chaperoning me. AND they were ALL very aware of time and when we needed to be back at our bus. Really confirmed my faith in kids.

We also had Mike and Karen on the bus with us. Bill decided we'd have a GREAT graduating class - as long as no one moves. :-)

Cresada taught us how to catch grapes in our mouth. Diana taught us how funny it is when you miss the grapes. Quin taught us how sometimes he likes to talk just to talk. Brian didn't say much but smiled all over himself. :-)

We had no electricity for most of the morning before we left and when we got to school we saw the Challenge students having to be told about the darkness and that they shouldn't freak out. Bill turns to me and says "the *gifted* kids have to be *told* that it's dark?" I smiled and Mrs Legner laughed. Mr O is SO into the *gifted* word and how much better his kids are so it was kind of funny.

Lon and I traveled the country last night to be with Annette at the Depot. We have SUCH a good time. Annette is doing so well she hardly has time for book work anymore. THATS a good problem to have!!! Lonnie and her are a riot together. She reminds me a lot of my sister.

So today we do the baseball thing and then I told Bill the house needs an enema. It's bad. I have slacked SO much this last week. It's weird how Mike's status makes stress all through the family.

Mike: My brother-in-law is still at Rusk Rehab and isn't doing as well. He's got some kind of bug and has been on intravenous stuff for the last couple of days. They (staff) had a meeting Wed about his prognosis but I don't think my sister got to talk to anyone. She's been working the overtime pretty good. Her factory may be closing soon. It just seems like more and more bad news from that area. I'm thinking maybe next weekend I can go down again. Wish I could wriggle my nose and be there - I'd live with her for a couple of weeks - just to make her life more crazy. :-)