4.30.2023

a dream is a wish

Recently, first graders were tasked with creating "little Grandview" - a tour of favorite places in miniature. Crafts are an ordinary part of Hank's life at our house, like we are seriously just one butter sculpture shy of the state fair over here. But Hank took this diorama assignment to the next level, and neighbor Deb was HERE FOR HIM. He knocked on her front door every day after school for weeks, and they used hair spray and spray paint, watercolors and hot glue, modeling clay and buttons... All of his crafting dreams came true and Wyman Woods has never looked so good.

Yesterday, we happened to be on campus during drum major auditions. Hank has been practicing bending back to touch an imaginary feathered hat to the ground, and is desperate for his own baton to twirl and toss. We watched video of the winner at least a dozen times this morning.

Hank spent this evening talking about the way of the future. Drawing what the world will be like if we don't take climate change seriously. Drafting posters to publicize a week to celebrate the earth, with ideas such as duct taping computers shut so we're forced to take a screen break to save energy. He underlined the important words, ten exclamation points around them like little rays of sun. Pondering aloud the possibility of *another* way of the future. Like he needs neither instruction nor permission to lead the charge.

This afternoon, at a CAPA performance of the El Dia de los Ninos bilingual Cinderella story, Hank raised his hand during the Q&A session to answer the actress' call to describe the show's theme. He said "I think it was about a girl's dreams coming true." 

Whether all of his ever do, it's a a real privilege to watch them take shape.

4.23.2023

signs of life

4.17.2023

an absurdity of cake

There are six cakes in the garage freezer. Plus two on the kitchen counter and one we gave away. There may be nothing more small town than Grandview's annual Cake Walk, the musical chairs, the happy volume in the gymnasium, the disappointed tantrums (lasting split seconds, only until somebody notices and shares an extra cake). The bleachers are lined with cakes from edge to edge and top to bottom. I bet a thousand people attend, and I don't think anyone goes home without cake. 

While Tucker played percussion with the middle school band, Hank danced around the rings with friends, tickets spilling from his pockets, the biggest pageant smile plastered across his face.

4.10.2023

not enough time to comb through words properly

Or hair, not enough time to comb through that either. 

But there's something about the power of sunshine and time with alllll the grandparents that just cannot be underestimated. That, plus Pringles and Peeps for breakfast.


4.03.2023

spring!

The air is suddenly warm and everything is green and the angle of the sun can almost make a person forget there was ever a winter. The boys cheeks are pink and their boots are muddy and because they've been with grandparents, their bellies are full of favorite foods. 

Biscuits for breakfast, fishing poles on the dock, art projects and trash fires and paddleball games and popsicles, magic in every possible way.