Greetings from rainy, muggy CT. Not too long ago the heavens opened up and we had quite the downpour. I had to run outside to get the newspaper...our carrier doesn't put them in the plastic bags, and he shoves it so hard into the newspaper slot on the mailbox that it comes halfway out the other side
Lots of prayers to Kirby and Taz Dev...and to all who are in need at this time.
Flying Dumbo, your post about Champ and popcorn reminds me so much of our dog Tara and her love of Doritos! I seem to remember my mom taking a photo of me sitting in the recliner with a bag next to me, and Tara standing on her back legs, front legs resting on the footrest of the chair, and she got a Dorito for each one I ate. She would end up with reddish-orange powder all over her mouth. Wow, I miss that dog...
QOTD: What's your favorite zoo animal?
I like to take photos of the peacocks and flamingos. Beautifully colored! I also love the big cats - tigers, cheetahs, panthers, etc.
QOTD: What is your favorite game or sport (to watch or play)?
I don't play sports. I look athletic, but I am NOT coordinated. I randomly trip over my own feet - like when I'm walking in a straight line, on a flat surface, and I'll just *trip*.
Not a big fan of watching sports on TV, although I can handle hockey. They're allowed to fight

Live sports are more fun. DH and I used to get free tickets once in a while to see the Springfield Falcons (now Thunderbirds) (hockey) when he worked at a different bank. We took Josh several years ago when the bank DH worked for sponsored a game. We'd like to do that again soon, and also go to a Yard Goats (baseball) game. I just want to go because I really like that name

I would like to visit Fenway Park, too.
Of course I'm good with Josh enjoying sports, playing his soccer and now baseball/t-ball. But just between us...I get bored easily

And in all fairness, so do the kids. The second half of his t-ball games, the kids are too busy kicking dirt and chit-chatting with each other and the coaches really struggle to keep them on task.
So speaking of keeping the kids on task, there is only one and half weeks left in the school year - and I guess you could say that the learning part ends in less than a week. They turn in their iPads on Thursday. But Josh is REALLY pushing back already. He had a fit on Wednesday about doing his assignments; he still has writing to do (he has to write a letter to his teacher, to convince her of what is the best flavor of ice cream). Today is the last time he will see his music teacher for this year. So hard to believe.
I've been continuing to work on my crafts. My mom has let me take over the laundry, thankfully. On Wednesday, I spray-painted one of our living room lamps - I loved the shape, but I hated the distressed bronze/terracotta color. It's deep turquoise now (or "lagoon") and I love it. Also on Wednesday, toward the end of Josh's t-ball practice, a few police officers showed up with one of the K9 officers. Beautiful dog, a yellow lab. Since he wasn't working, all of the kids were allowed to pet him, but Josh is intimidated by big dogs - or maybe by the fact that he's a police officer - and he basically gave him one little pat, then went back and sat down. All of the kids also received a swag bag with a coloring book, a police badge sticker, a water bottle, and one of those safety kits for us parents to do.
Yesterday we received a letter from his gymnastics place, inviting him to join the "team prep" group for the summer session. He has been "identified by the instructors as having an advanced aptitude for gymnastics" and will be in a small class of same-aged boys, but getting a little more attention and training to eventually join the competition team. I don't know if he wants to go that far - I don't know if *I* want him to go that far, I have a heart attack every time he randomly flips in the air - but he wants to try it out. We had already signed him up and paid for a regular summer session, so they just moved him into the invitation-only class.
Our library also finally put out their summer children's schedule and it is fabulous! They're going to do a weekly "Storytime in the Park," reading books at different playgrounds around town. The first one is at the playground around the corner from us so we can walk there. There will also be days for crafts, nighttime "drive-in" movies (not in our cars, but we have to bring a blanket to sit on the lawn), etc. And our movie theatre has reopened and will be showing kids' movies one morning a week for $1.50 per ticket. We did that 2 years ago...it was only $1 per ticket then, but I'm not complaining...and last year he whined quite often that he wished we could go to the movies again. So at least it's going to be a full summer!