It's Monday morning and I was ready to start the new day.  Only problem was I picked up an iPhone to watch while I ate my oatmeal... Barbara promptly took it away from me.  I guess I forgot I'm grounded and also can't use iPhones.

It's Teacher Appreciation week.  Instead of giving my two teachers several small gifts, I'll give them one small gift and Walmart gift cards.   Mommy thinks they might like having money to buy what they need.

After school I did half of my reading paper homework.  It was about Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller's life long friend and teacher.  Since we were out of my favorite cereal I ate Fiber One cereal.  When we run out of Cinnamon Toast Crunch,  my adults wait a few days to buy any more, so if I eat cereal it won't be one loaded with sugar.

I did well at swim practice, but Barbara notices I often look to see where my competition is instead of focusing on the goal.  Daddy said after swim practice I could play on the playground for ten minutes.

Mommy fixed me scrambled egg with cheese for dinner.  Daddy wanted to see me, so he came to get me for an hour or so.

 

Anthony spent the night.  We were awake by 8:30am.

GGM and Barbara drove to The Pond early this morning so they could prepare food for a lunch we had with Grandma and Barbara's first cousin from Arizona and her husband and two granddaughters.  Susan and Mike Austin, 22 year-old Brianna, and 19 year-old Ashley had been on a cruise and they drove here form Galveston.  They have a 13 year-old sister Cloie.  We realized the three sister's names start with ABC--- just like Andy, Bridget, and Christina.  

 Anthony came up to the lake with Mommy and me.

  We swam and played basketball and rode in Massie. 

Massie is the cart that Papa drives around the yard to work in it.  He has a trailer that hooks on the back.  Anthony and I both got to drive it for a short time.  Anna Kate got to drive while sitting on Papa's lap.  We ate Taco Salad and fruit salad lunch.
Mommy and I went straight from The Pond to my last Faith Formation class. 

Well, Daddy has grounded me.... no playing outside, no playing with friends, no iPhone or Play Station for an undetermined amount of time.  I'd rather not state the reason.

I was not a happy camper not being able to play, but I need to learn a lesson. 


 

The last garage sale was this morning.   It's over --- Yea!   Two pickup loads to Goodwill. Barbara's car is back in the garage.  Plan is to paint garage and get new garage floor.

Andy helped at the garage sale.  He had a long row of swim meet ribbons up high on a garage wall.  I have been told Mommy, Bridget, and Andy had their ribbons on the wall in their bedrooms.  Andy's is the last remaining display.  We took his picture with them, then he broke the board a put them in the trash can.
Came home from Daddy's and saw my drawing easel being bought by a lady who will donate it to her church for the kids to draw on.   And my Noah's ark snow globe was sold.   I earned $6.  Barbara put it in my piggy bank.

I put on my jammers and swam in Anthony's pool.

Papa was also at the garage sale.  After it was over, he helped me with my batting.

Mommy took Alyssa, Anthony, and me to Bouncy Bears.

Anthony spent the night with me.  We played games and I think it was around 10:30pm when we went to sleep. 

I woke up with a stuffy nose but I felt better this morning that I have the past two days.  I ate all my oatmeal and happily ran out to see my friends.

I chewed my two pills to help with my allergies.  I said I did not need to use my inhaler.  I felt pretty good.

I gave my two teachers a gift for Teacher Appreciation Week.  I gave them each a large Hersey's Chocolate bar with Almonds and a Walmart gift card.  Mommy assured me they could use the gift card much more than all the candy, flowers, and bath balms they got this week.

 My Bolt Buddy is Noah.  This is his list of favorite things.

 I have used my blackboard/whiteboard.....

 for several years.   I have decided I don't use it much any more, so I'm selling it in our garage sale.

Barbara bought some books from a neighbor.  Maybe I will be willing to read them this summer.... we hope!





.

Daddy brought me home to catch the school bus.  Mommy had signed a note that I will take to the front office explaining my absence yesterday.

I didn't eat much breakfast and I didn't eat much lunch.  I didn't play hard during recess.  At 1:10pm the school nurse called Mommy to say I was not feeling good.  At 1:20pm Barbara picked me up from the nurses office.  The nurse said I didn't have a fever but complained of runny nose, and stomach ache and not feeling good.  She said if I felt better tomorrow I could come back to school.

I do have allergy medicine that helps.

At home I laid down on my bed with the iPhone for an hour, then I had to turn if off.   Over the next couple of hours I ate four sugar-free Popsicles.  I wanted more but was told I needed to save some for later.

I didn't go to swim practice.  When Mommy called Coach Bryan to say I was still not over my allergy porblem, he said if I felt better at practice time to come because it was going to be a fun practice.   I played with my Rubic's Cube.  I wouldn't read or let Barbara read to me.  I did play a little Texas Stride on the computer.

I begged Barbara to let me go play with my friends, she said I didn't feel good enough to stay at school, I shouldn't be playing with friends.  I called Mommy.  She said if I was feeling good, I could go to baseball practice.  She told me what Coach Bryan said about this being a fun practice.  I had been feeling good for a couple of hours and wanted to go to the practice.  Barbara took me and stayed until Mommy got there.

It was a fun practice.  We didn't have to wear our practice uniforms.  The coaches each took about four boys and two balls.  They would quickly throw grounders, flys, hard fast balls, to each of us.  It was fun fast play.  The coaches then hit balls to us and we threw them to first base.  That was fast fun play also.  We ran bases and did other quick play things.  I felt fine and was glad I went.

It was 9:45pm before I got to sleep.  I did practice my spelling words three times and I got them right every time.

I woke up at 3:30am with a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and saying my right ear hurt.  Mommy went  to Walmart to get some Swimmer's Ear and Barbara gave me two chew-able Claritin pills for allergies.

We don't know that the problem is Swimmer's Ear but it could be since I swam yesterday.

I fell asleep at 4:55am.  Poor me.

I woke up at 7am and put Swimmer's Ear drops in my ear, got dressed for school, and ate breakfast, then I assured Mommy and Barbara that I was still to sick for school.   We called the school to tell them I had allergies and tummy ache.

I went up stairs and got back on my bed with Monk Monk and the iPad.  Barbara assured me I was not going to play with iPad all day.  She read me an article about the job of a major league umpire.  She wrote long words on my etch-a-sketch.

She gave me a bell to ring when I needed her and she had left my room for a few minutes.  I enjoyed ringing that bell and hearing her coming up the stairs and walking down the hall.


Around 10am, Daddy brought over my new inhaler, prescription medicine for allergies, and some Vick's Vapor Rub.   I took the pill and Barbara put Vicks on my chest and on the bottoms of my feet.  We put my socks back on my feet.

Actually I'm feeling better but I say I'm still sick.  As long as I'm laying down I don't complain.  When I move around is when I complain. 

I mostly stayed on my bed or Barbara's bed all day except for the time I played Texas Stride.  I read "It Was the Night Before Christmas."  It had a lot of words I didn't know, but I liked reading it.

Daddy picked me up around 3pm. 

We had already decided I would skip swimming practice since that is pretty hard to do with a breathing problem.  And when it was close to time for baseball practice, I was feeling bad again, so we let Coach Bryan know I was not coming due to illness.
  

It was an uneventful day.  After school I did my math homework and spelled all of my spelling words correctly.

I had 30 minutes to play before I got dressed for swim practice. Practice is from 4:45pm to 5:30pm.  Barbara took me and she stays to watch me swim and to just keep an eye out for my safety.

I did well as practice.  I might be the best, or one of the best swimmers in my age group.  It's hard to tell since we aren't racing.  I played on the playground for 15 minutes before we came home.

I played with Alyssa until 7:45pm.  We heard an ice cream truck in our neighborhood, so her dad looked for some money and we chased after the truck.  We had long walk home after catching the truck.

Barbara bought  some Bob's Pickle Pops.  It is a frozen ice pop that tastes like dill pickle.  I tried it but I didn't like it.  Mommy liked it and Barbara did too.  Since I don't like them, we won't buy any more.  Too expensive.

I read to Mommy before falling asleep soon after 9pm.

 Mimz went to an Astro's baseball game with her church group.

  They barely lost 8 to 7.  Bummer.

Daddy drove me home this morning after getting me kalachi's for breakfast.  I came inside and immediately brushed my teeth before heading outside to wait for the bus.

I jumped off the bus ready to play, but I first had to do half of my homework.  I decided to do my reading page.  It was about using a camera to take pictures.  I ate two bowls of cereal while I read and answered the questions.... then it was time to go to swim practice.

Barbara took me and stayed to watch.  We signed up for Bolt Buddies, so I will have a Big Buddy, an older more experienced swimmer as a friend to look after me and give me swimming tips.

The water was cold but after you got used to it, it wasn't too bad.  We practiced free style, back stroke, and breast stroke.

This are instructions for taking washing and taking care of my swim jammers.  They are expensive so I want to take care when putting them on that I don't pull to hard and break the threads.  If I put them on according to the instructions maybe they will last me for two seasons.  And rinse in cool water and no detergent. And no dryer.

I came home and played with Anthony and Cole. 

My baseball team played one game in the losing bracket and we lost that game badly.  There was one high point.  Jonathan hit an out-of-the park home run!  Everyone was so excited and we all came out of the dugout to congratulate him.  Wow, that was fun!  I played third base and left field.  Two grounders came to me in left field.  I fielded them well and threw to the second baseman perfectly.  Another time I had to run toward center field to field a ball and threw in in well also.

As far as batting, I walked one time and stole second base, then we had three outs.  The other two times I was at bat I had a few foul balls but ended up striking out.   It was really really cold at the park.  My fans were Papa, Barbara, and Daddy.

Meeting after the game.

I went home with Daddy after the game hoping that the dirt bike track would be open.  It wasn't because of the earlier rain.  I went to Faith Formation.  And to Mimz home.

More family news:  

Andy and Kristan and their friends Cody and Jules Null were at Pebble Beach California for several days.   They played golf at the famous golf course and returned home this evening. 

Mimz had been on a cruise this week and returned home today.  She fell and hit the pavement just above her left eye while walking back to the ship.

She has a big big black eye!  Mimz says it is healing more and more every day.
 

Saturday  April 21, 2018

Good news:  Grandma is almost completely well from her bout with vertigo.  Mommy, Barbara, GGM, and Papa had a successful garage sale today.

 I spent the day with my dad.  It was too wet to go to the dirt bike track so I went to Urban Aire instead.

I had two baseball games this evening at 6 and 8pm.  I got on base because of a third strike drop ball situation.  The ball was thrown over the first baseman's head so I ran to second base and third base.  I hope that counts as a triple. I played left field and easily caught two pop flies that came my way.  We lost both games.

It was late before we got home and we must get up early for 8am game tomorrow.

Friday 4-20-2018
Good news:  Grandma is much better.  She went home this afternoon.  She did not have a heart problem or a stroke.  All of her test results came back very good.  She had some type of vertigo that causes her to be lightheaded.  She is to go see a nose, ears, and throat doctor for a follow-up.

While waiting for the bus, we said T-G-I- F and we did a little dance.

After school I played until 5pm when Daddy came to get me and take me to my double hitter baseball games.  Games were at 6 and 8.  We lost both games.  I had one hit, but didn't make it to first base.  I did have a dropped ball on a third strike, so ran to first base and the ball went past the firstbaseman, so I ran to second and third.  Then I stole home and scored.  I stepped over home plate so I had to hurry back to step on the base.

  

I felt good this morning.  Daddy brought me home in plenty of time for me to get dressed, eat, and brush my teeth before heading to the bus stop.

While waiting for the bus Xavier found a centipede and we enjoyed watching it crawl onto a leaf.

 My bus stop gang.

I turned this note from the doctor into the front office first thing after I jumped off the school bus.

We decided it was still to cold to get in the pool, so I did not go to swim practice today.

An interesting story:  This was the worst conduct report I have brought home from school.  Barbara and I talked about it and what I should do to start making Es on my behavior.  Before my dad arrived, I took my Conduct and classroom work out of my backpack because I didn't want him to be mad at me.  Barbara mentioned to him that he needed to look at my conduct report.  Well, later my dad looked for it and couldn't find it.  He asked Barbara what color the folder was.  She said blue and white.  It was not in my bag.  They then realized I had removed it from my bag.  Well, I didn't know it but Barbara had taken a picture of it... she sent my dad the picture..........

I did have baseball field practice and I did a good job. 

Papa took Grandma to Conroe Regional Hospital early this morning because she had vertigo, nausea, and felt really bad.   It was determined that she did not have a stroke or a heart attack.   She still had the symptoms late in the afternoon.  Later she had a MRI which determined it was not a mini stroke that would not have been picked up on a Cat-Scan.  She will spend the night for observation.  Barbara came up to stay with her, mostly just to visit with Grandma.  It was determined that she did not have positional vertigo which would be the kind that would possible happen again.  Grandma is to go to see a Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor to see what he says.

Barbara made up this swim team schedule for my family, so we will be better able to keep up with my swim team events.

 

We tried to take me to school but I was not well enough.   Daddy realized I could use my inhaler and I think that helped, but he made a doctor's appointment at 2:45pm.   I slept a bunch today.

After seeing the doctor, he prescribed an allergy medicine.  I called Barbara at 8:40pm and told her I felt amazing.  She asked if I read and studied my spelling.  The answer was no.  And I wasn't ready to go to sleep either.  She said that might be because I slept during the day, but that I needed to go to bed soon so I would be rested for school and after school activities.  She never forgets my bedtime!

I didn't sleep well.  I was up with bad allergies so was going to school late. 

Daddy got me to school late, but in time for our Lemonade performance that started at 9:30am.The second graders put the show on for the entire school.

When I jumped off the bus, Barbara told me I was going to miss swim practice today because we needed to make sure I was dressed in my yellow shirt and blue jeans so I could be sitting outside my classroom door at 5:45pm. 

We were performing our Lemonade performance for our families at 6pm.

Barbara, Mommy, and Daddy were all there...

 and they enjoyed hearing us sing 5 songs all about Lemonade and Fairy Tale characters.  The songs all had a lot of hand motions.

 Mommy and me after the performance.

I played outside with Knox in Mimz front yard.  When it got close to bedtime, I was having a hard time breathing, so Daddy got me some medicine and put me in a hot shower. That helped break up the phlegm in my lungs.  It was 1am before I was finally able to fall a sleep.

Daddy brought me home in plenty of time for me to catch the bus.  While I waited for the bus, I watched the videos Barbara took of Field Day and of my Laplante family at The Pond yesterday and, of course, I watched my dirt bike videos again.

This was a piece of my classroom work I brought home.  It says the same things Barbara has said to me many times about the importance of sleep for children. 

I came inside after school and did my reading page homework.  I need to do spelling and 20 minutes of reading after swim practice.  I had 20 minutes to play baseball in my front yard for 20 minutes with Julian and Xaiver.

Barbara took me to swim practice which is from 4:45pm to 5:30pm.  It was 78 degrees outside but the water was too cold for us to get into it, so we played games.  We started with stretching exercises and then jumping jacks.    Then plan was to play kick ball, but many of the kids were just too little, so most of the kids went off to play red light, green light.  I and four other boys and all the coaches except one who was with the little kids, played kick ball.  I played harder than I should have.  I take all games seriously and wanted to score big time.

Daddy came to my practice just as it got over and he took me home with him.  I'll spend tonight with him and the rest of the week with Mommy.

 Picture of Papa fishing in The Pond.

I woke up at The Pond.  We had biscuits and gravy, which I love, for breakfast.

We all just hung around talking and laughing and played Fascination.  Papa took AK and me for another ride on Massie.  I used the walkie-talkie again.

In the afternoon Mommy took me to Daddy so I could spend some time with him.  I rode my dirt bike in Mimz front yard until it was time for me to go to Faith Formation.  Daddy took me and picked me up.  I spend the night with him.

This morning Mimz left for a cruise and will return next Sunday. 

 This evening Kristan and her mother, Sandy, took Anna Kate ...

 ...to see Disney on Ice.  Anna Kate loved loved loved it!  She was dressed in her Bella dress.

Today was a very special day for me and my family.  I had my first communion at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 10am.  I wore a new grey suit Mommy got for me.

I arrived at 9:20am and went to the area where the children receiving their first communion were to meet and line up for the processional.  I think there were around 90 children.  

The pews are short near the front and get wider as they go back.  I was assigned a long pew near the back because I had a large family in attendance.   My Laplante family in attendance were: Mommy, Grandma, Papa, Uncle Andy, Aunt Kristan, Anna Kate, Bradley, Aunt Bridget and Uncle Chris.  My Watson family in attendance were: Daddy, Mimz, Uncle Scott, Aunt Jill, Aunt Kathy, and cousin Lily.  And Mimz' friends, the Finches, were also there.

My certificate saying I have received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

The mass was beautiful and everyone was very proud of me.  It was cold and windy but it didn't rain which was a good thing.  We managed to only take two pictures because it was so very crowded.

One of the Laplante family and...

one of the Watson family. 

I went to The Pond with Mommy's family to grill hamburgers.  I ate a really big breakfast but didn't eat much lunch.  I am like that sometimes. 

 I played with Anna Kate and Bradley just a little....

 Bradley really likes me.

Close-up picture of Anna Kate.

Andy and Chris took us fishing.  Papa took us for a ride on Massie, his cart he drives around the yard.   We had a walkie-talkie so we could talk to Mommy and everyone in the house.  Papa uses it so he can talk to Grandma from the yard or the pond.  (He could use his phone, but I think they think the walkie-talkie is different and fun.

 I helped Mommy wrap a gift from me to the new Baby.  I did all the cutting and taping.  Mommy did the folding.  Chris wanted to unwrap my gift.

 They were very pleased to get a Monk Monk.  I even brought my Monk Monk to show him to Bridget and Chris.  This was the very first gift they have received for the Baby.  They don't know if there baby will be a girl or a boy.

Barbara asked me if I wanted her to give Monk Monk a haircut.  I was firm that I did not want his haircut.  I like it just like it is.  Barbara has added new hair a couple of times.

We all played a game called Fascination while watching the Astros.  It is a dice rolling game that GGF made the box you use.  Andy had a perfect game once, Chris and Grandma both had the next best score of 2.  (Low score is good.)

Andy took measurements of the box so he can make a box for Bridget and Chris and for himself.

The Astros were ahead by 5 runs, but we ended up losing to the Rangers 6 - 5.  Bummer.

Grandma and Barbara drove up to spend the day with us.  They left around 6pm so they could get home before dark. 

Friday April 3, 2018

On a normal school day, I would like to stay in bed and sleep longer, but today I was out of bed as soon as I heard Mommy tell me it was 6:45am.  I was so excited about today being Field Day.  It is the best school day of the year.  We play all day.

All of my bus gang wore their Field Day shirts. 

We didn't need our backpacks, so I didn't take mine.  We were supposed to bring a towel but I forgot but it didn't really matter.

 Mommy filled out my application for early dismissal.  I always enjoy early dismissal.

This flyer let my adults know how field day would be ran. 
School starts at 8:14am.  We all went to the bathroom, and got a drink before we headed outside at 8:30am.  Barbara was there watching for my class to come outside.  My class started at station 8, worked all the way through station 20, then did stations 1 through 7.

Barbara took videos of my all morning session and Mimz took videos during the afternoon session.  The first session was from 8:30am to 10:30am.  Lunch break was from 10:30am to 12:30pm.  Barbara was there all day.  Mommy was there for part of the first session and lunch break.  Mimz was there for the afternoon break, since she volunteers at the hospital on Friday mornings.

I am the most athletic boy in my class.  Lily Kate is the most athletic girl.  We paired up for the two person events because we both could do most things at about the same level.  She is a little better at using a hula-hoop. 

I am much better at throwing a baseball and a football.  I had the hardest time with the large ball with a handle that you sit on and bounce around the course.  Smaller kids had an easier time.  Some of the events were using a type of stilt, riding a low seat on wheels while using plungers in your hands and walking like a crab, basketball shooting, golf, group skiing (sort of), 4 team tug of war, and two team tug of war.  In the two team tug of war, the girls beat the boys two times but I think there were more girls on their side.   

This picture is of my best friend in class, Teagan, and his dad.

We took off our shoes and socks before a fire truck soaked us with water from a big fire hose.  About half the class brought a towel which they used to dry off a bit. 

We got a Popsicle as a treat. There were a couple of hula-hoop activities. and different kinds of races.

We went inside at 12:30, to use the restroom, and wash our hands.  We all ate lunch in the classroom.  Some brought their lunch from home, some went to the cafeteria to get lunch, and some kids had their parents bring them food from a fast food place.  Mommy brought us Subway sandwiches.  I had a meatball sandwich, a drink, chips, and a cookie. 

Mrs. Havemann put the movie The Lion King on the TV and turned down the lights.  Some kids spread out their towel, ate lunch and watched it.  I watched for maybe a total of five minutes.  I mostly visited with the boys.  

Mrs. Havemann said we could play Texas Stride if we wanted to and almost everyone wanted to do that.  Mommy and Barbara watched me and talked with other parents.  There were probably about 8 parents there.  They talked with Teagan's dad about getting Teagan and me together this summer. 

Mimz arrived at 12:30pm so she was there for the entire second session.  At 2:30pm we were back in our room and I got to have early dismissal because I had turned in a paper saying I could leave early.  Barbara and Mimz both told me they really enjoyed the day and would be back next year.

Daddy was waiting in his truck for Mimz to bring me to him. We were going to the dirt bike track.