Flat Stanley

First 1st grade project, Flat Stanley, seems to be slightly leaning towards project work for your selected victim, err, loyal friend.

If you don't know, Flat Stanley is a book about a boy who gets flattened by a billboard.  He's not hurt, just flat.  His mom realize she can MAIL him to travel anywhere in the world.  (At least I think that's the story, it was relayed to me by Marco.)

In first grade, you create Flat Stanley and send him to a friend or family member who lives somewhere else for an adventure.

Our Stanley popped in the mail, and here's his tale:

Flat Stanley came all the way to Ventura, California.  He went on a dinghy ride with Grandma and Papa.

 He saw a tall ship...

And went aboard...

 He went out in the ocean to see sea lions...

 ... and visited the National Park Service tidepool...

 where he saw a halibut and a garibaldi just like Marco sees when he goes to Catalina.

 He rode on the Carousel at the Arcade.

Flat Stanley said he "loved visiting Ventura and wish Marco had come with me."

Once Upon a Time...

Spirit day was "Once Upon a Time" themed.  Sigh.  We tried to talk Marco into a king, a prince or Hansel (lederhosen, come on, adorable!) but he wasn't having it.

He opted for the big, bad wolf. Nothing a little eyeliner and fur couldn't create.  Well... I must admit he did slightly resemble a cat.  I reminded him to occasionally meanly growl to take the edge off of being so adorable.

Grandparents Day 2015

After being featured on the Grandparents Day invitation, Barbara had to return to sign autographs for Grandparents Day 2015.

That, of course, and that she wouldn't miss the opportunity to show off how cool and young she is.  I mean, she's sitting in that tiny chair, after all.

Marco had a great day!

Mista, August 1997 - January 2015

Born at the Hollywood Racetrack, Mista left the track life to join me my senior year of college. When her orange nose caught my eye at a cat adoption, I couldn't have imagined that I'd found an 18-year partner with an insatiable appetite for popcorn and chicken and a morning meow louder than a train.  

She patiently accepted Marco as her friend and even relished their Nerf battles (she was unarmed) and their hide-and-seek adventures (she hides, Marco seeks).  In her last several years, she graciously put up with being carried around like a rag doll and even, sometimes reluctantly, spending time purring on Marco's lap. Cheers to our old, sweet friend.  It's too quiet without you.

Seven Out

In traditional birthday style, we celebrated lucky seven over and over... and over again.

Marco woke up taller, ordered his in-class birthday song with screaming - hold the cha chas - and generally got everything he wanted... and more.  Over the course of the weekend, we had cupcakes in bed, cupcakes in the classroom, ice cream and dinner with friends and the batting cages with a class of boys - complete with cupcakes of course.  Our house is still littered with presents, wrapping paper and a smiling 7-year old.  :)

And here's the proof:

 (Note: new birthday batting gloves and jawbreakers in cheeks.)

Seven out.