Bowles Blog

Moving On

As of last Friday afternoon, we are D-O-N-E with elementary school. 

At our particular elementary school they don't have a 5th grade graduation.  Which is a good thing because I'm firmly in the 'you-only-graduate-from-high-school-and-college-and-post-graduate-institutions' camp.  They do however hold an evening 'Moving On' ceremony where they play music, share memories and words meant to inspire, present awards and yearbooks and award elementary school diplomas.  There are also roses and refreshments involved.  But it is not, I repeat, not a graduation.

Cuyler listened carefully to the dress code suggestions in class and came home that afternoon and put together his own ensemble.  With a little help from tie-tying Dad, he was ready to go.

It was his idea to put the Kleenex in his pocket ("in case I get overcome with emotion").

For the record, I can barely stand how stinkin' adorable handsome he is.

Will was also going to wear a tie.  However he came downstairs with the tie looking more like a noose through his collar and decided to forgo the formal wear.

The only way I could get them to pose together was to have Jake in the picture.

{Yes, that is a gnome in a field of clover in the background, a.k.a. our front yard}

Bubbe and Nana accompanied us to the ceremony which turned out to be very nice.  Cuyler won an academic achievement award that came with a letter from President Obama.  Will won the Best Reader award--Cuyler is still questioning how that happened since he swears he reads more than Will.  Will's award came with a $50 savings bond.  You have no idea how appropriate that is.

At the end of the ceremony all of the 5th graders received fun, full color yearbooks.  I love this shot of Alex P. Keaton Cuyler exchanging yearbook signatures.

So now they have the summer to rest up, prepare and enjoy before moving on to the middle school--where their older sister's straight-A legacy awaits.  I fully expect to add 2 more Green Cords to our collection in 2014...or else ☺.

Go get 'em Cuyler and Will!

 

 

Flashback Friday

Today was the last day of school for Ebby and the boys.  The end of middle school for Ebby, the end of elementary school for Cuyler and Will. 

The end of two eras.

The beginning of {my favorite season} Summer!

{Ebby, last day of 2nd grade, 2005}

A Race Leg in 10 pictures

Since most official learning in the school year seems to stop as soon as the MCAS is complete, recently the elementary school held their annual field day.  Ok, it was June 3rd--which considering the last day of school is this Friday June 17th seemed a bit early to me.  The weather was great though, so what do I know...

One of the highlights of field day is the baton relay races.  Each 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade class randomly choses 4 runners and an alternate for both a girls and boys race.  For the second year in a row, both Will and Cuyler's names were pulled out of the hat in their respective classes.  Cuyler actually ran in 3rd grade too. {Note: there are only 8-10 boys in a class so the odds are pretty good}.  Also for the second year in a row, Will had a persistent cough and didn't run. {Note 2:  I questioned his motives, took him to the doctor this year and she thinks there's a good chance he had allergy induced asthma and gave him an inhaler.  Upon which Will said to me, "Betcha feel bad that you didn't believe me, don't you?"}  Anyway...we were able to walk over to the school and witness Cuyler's run for glory in leg #3 of the 5th Grade Baton Relay Race.

Waiting for the baton exchange

Exchange complete, baton in hand

He had some ground (er, grass) to make up

I don't know much about running, but that looks like an impressive sprinter's stride to me

Running hard around the 2nd turn, neck in neck

In the lead!

Stretching it out {Note 3:  Cuyler has not joined the outrageous colored hair streak club.  His class color was pink and we happened to have a can of spray-on pink hair color oin inventory.  Such spirit.}

Flying toward the exchange. I was recently informed that's the difference between running and walking, in walking one foot is always on the ground--in running both feet come off the ground.

Maintaining the gap

Successful exchange to the anchor leg-- & a successful capture of the back of Bobby Law's head

Anchor Leg Adam (our neighbor) was able to maintain the lead and Cuyler's class came in....2nd place!  Way to go!

Will's class?  Yeah, they won.

 

8th Grade Class Night

I'm officially almost the parent of a high schooler.   

Almost.  No need to rush things! 

Though Ebby doesn't  get out of school for summer break until this Friday, last Friday the 8th Graders had 'Class Night'.  Held at the middle school, it was a night to celebrate with friends, food, photos, a DJ & dancing and no pesky parent chaperones (not to worry, there were plenty of staff chaperones).  Of course that means that pre-Class Night, us parents were out in full force--with cameras.

First we took a few pictures at home with just Ebby.

That Green Cord is not a drapery tieback, it's something the school awards to students who achieve First Honors for all 3 trimesters, all 3 years of middle school.  My eyes may have welled up a bit when I was up on stage with her on Friday afternoon at the 8th Grade Awards Ceremony...  So proud.

Ebby got her dress back in early March at Charlotte Russe, sans drama and sans high price tag.

She wore her add-a-pearl necklace that Bubbe is stringing for her each year on her birthday.

Black nails for a little bit of an edge.

And this one just because I really like it :-).

Then it was time to head over to Ebby's friend Katherine's house for  group photos.

Practicing for prom photos...

Black and white was a popular choice for dresses.

One of the moms suggested the jumping pose, always fun.

Finally, the whole group was assembled.  9 kids meant 9 cameras.  And to think Ebby was worried about me wanting to take too many pictures.

A great group and a great night!

Congratulations Ebby, xoxo

 

Raising A Ruckus

In the last few years Bobby Law has developed a habit of signing himself up for races many months away in hopes that paying money to exercise will be motivation to get back to training.   Training, you know, all that athletical-type stuff he used to do when the kids were  younger.  Yep, when I could have used an extra pair of hands around here on the weekends there was no end to his dedication to training.  All day bike ride up and down Mt. Greylock?  Count him in.  20 mile training run in the February snow?  No problem.  And the races.  It seems to me we used to be at a different event every weekend.  Cheering Daddy on while Mommy pushed the double jogger and handed out goldfish crackers.

How soon they forget.  All of them.

This past Saturday the Ruckus Boston race came to MarshVegas--and we went to the Ruckus race.  What is the Ruckus?  According to the organizers: "This is not a trail run. This is not a mud run. This is an obstacle course."  After seeing it, I'd describe it as a 5k meets the best of the Survivor immunity challenges (minus all the puzzles). 

After Bobby Law secured all his registration materials including the all important bib number and timing chip, we parted ways.  The kids and I went off to the stands to spectate and Bobby Law headed for the starting area to await the start of his wave of competitors.

And now I will continue the story with far too many pictures.  Shocking.

Stretching out in the starting corral.  BL was wearing a white hat, rust colored shirt and blue shorts.  Can you see him?

And they're off!  Like a herd of psychos ;-).

Obstacle #1:  The U-Turn nets (look for the white rally cap)

And then he was off into the woods and bogs for lots of trail running and several more obstacles including Lobster Traps, Twisted Fences and the Mud Garden.  Sorry I missed it.

About 25 minutes later, he emerged! 

Oh look, he knows we're watching.

Time for the first cargo net.

It's simple, really.

Climb up...    

...and over   

Now time to tackle to taller Nosebleed Net.

It didn't look so bad from far away in the stands.

Maybe he thought he'd fly over?

Nope, more climbing.

He told me afterward that his shorts got caught up while he was trying to get over top of the net.

Awkward!

But he made it.

The next obstacle I got decent pictures of was the Gorilla Bars (I think).  Shimmy, slide, shimmy BL!

There were some tires and a couple of walls to climb over.

First step:  Approach & Assess

Next step: Ascend

Then: Assistance (from the wooden brace)

Finally: Atop

Yeah, you're totally busted dude.

Time to head for the homestretch.

Keepin' loose (?).

Hey, I have an idea, let's nail a bunch of wood together, stick it in a storage container and make the racers go through it!

Hi Bobby!

Oh look, two ways around this curve. 

Around the mud pit or though it?

Was there any doubt, really?

Over another short wall!

Up a dirt hill!

Across some wooden planks! 

Oh no, tires?!

It took longer than you might expect, but he made it!

The final hill...

Victory!

Finally, the formality of crossing the finish line.  Great job Bobby Law!

We weaved our way through the crowd to get to the finish area to meet our Ruckus hero--and his muddy feet.

Reunited for a few group shots.  Look how happy they all are, just like always.  You know us Bowleses, all smiles, all the time.

So there you have it, Bobby Law + minimal training + Ruckus race = mission accomplished.  He tells me that next year the two of us are doing the Ruckus as a team.  We'll see about that.  I must admit, all the resulting scratches and bruises are pretty bada$$.  

And you know me, all bada$$, all time time.

 

Flashback Friday

The year was 2000.

The place was Lake Placid, NY.

The event was the marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon.

Shortly after finishing he began his tapering that continues to this day ;-)

Good luck at the Ruckus Boston event tomorrow Bobby Law!

♥

This is what happens...

1. When you try to casually get a picture of all 3 of your children at once.

2. You try to take a picture of the boys but the biggest boy is the only one interested in posing.

3. When you resort to the 'walking away photojournalistic approach'

4. Finally, this is what happens when you neglect your home's maintenance...character!

{all photos taken last weekend during the North River Arts Festival}