The Thankful Family

 I posted this last year, and love it so much, I'm doing it again.  I'll treasure this forever.

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When Vicki was in first grade, she had the greatest teacher ever--Ann Overton.  She asked the kids to do a project involving being thankful, and involving the family.  Vicki, David, and I all took this on, and the end result was a video that I replay occasionally, and totally love. (This was all done with VHS--no digital yet.)  I'll never forget helping her with this!  It was the best school homework project ever!  By the way, the kids pictured in this are now all adults---they do grow up fast.   Yeah!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

It's all about birds tonight.....up close!

So today was my birthday.  I work with teachers as young as my own children, and you know what?  I know more then them!  About everything except pop music......  and I have never felt so healthy.  The gluten free diet has been a miracle.  I'm just happy for everything, and am grateful to be 57 and healthy.

This post tonight is not about speech therapy. It's to show off the awesome pictures that my daughter, Vicki, has been taking on Kiawah Island (she is working there as a bird banding intern).  I love these.

OK, not a bird, but a 'rough green snake'. Most of you don't like snakes, but I do! 

Lots of bands!  Only the metal one is from Vicki's site.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Vicki with blue jay

Yellow-breasted Chat

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

I just love his hawk photo. 

Hard work becomes easy when your work becomes your play. Never underestimate the value of loving what you do.

Birdwatching in Arizona

This is a quick family update.  One of my twins, Vicki, just graduated with a B.S. in biology.  Her first love is birds, and as you can see in the photos, she watches them everywhere.

Birdwatching--Oregon

She just left for a bird-banding internship on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.  
I think she'll be happy there!

Birdwatching--eastern North Carolina

Birdwatching--Presque Isle, Pennsylvania

If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.
Charles Lindbergh

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life. ~John Lubbock

My lovely daughter just graduated from UNC Asheville.   Her major was biology; minor was ceramics.    These pieces were from her senior art show.  I'm in awe.

Take a kid to a Festival!

Today was the first day for the annual Festival for the Eno---so Alana, Vicki, and I went.  It's best on these hot days to go early, so we left a little after 9, parked, hopped on a shuttle bus, and got there right when it opened at 10.  Pictures say all.

For those of you who are Blue Ribbon Mentors, kids 12 and under are FREE!!!!   Teens have a reduced rate.  This will be going on Saturday and Sunday---pack a lot of water and check it out!  

Owl from the Piedmont Wildlife Center

The girls caught these in the Eno River

Bee lesson

corn snake

Spotted Salamander

Wading in the river, catching critters with nets

carving a giant sand castle

Eagle Sightings!!!!

Vicki doing what she loves to do!

looking across the bay at Erie

I'm still visiting the "Far North"--now it's Erie, Pennsylvania to visit family.  This has been a great trip--I've seen more snow in two days than the entire winter in Chapel Hill, the twins and I visited with my brother's and sister's families, we've spent quality time with my mom, and today, the twins, my sister, and I went birdwatching at Presque Isle State Park.

Andorra saw this eagle first!  I wish I had a better camera!

The Far North

Empty plane---most people head south for spring break; we are going north.

 No speech therapy magic going on right now---I'm on a short jaunt to the edge of the US; Cleveland and then Erie, PA for a few days.  Flowers are blooming in my home state of North Carolina, while here, they don't dare peek out yet.  The pictures say all.

Cleveland from above

Snow, and more predicted---high temps in the 20s.

I'll be back home Tuesday night.

The Twins are 22!

Happy Birthday to Vicki and Andorra!!!!

Make Your Own Dance Video (even if you can't dance)

Click here to see Video

(give it a minute once you click)

This post is unrelated to ipads or speech therapy, although I might try this out with my social skills group. It's just fun!   It's a nice way to incorporate a little technology, and a virtual shared experience into a session.

My family members are pictured. I hope they forgive me.

Check out Jib Jab if you want to make your own!

Salamander Art

What happens when a biology major is also an artist?  You end up with the most artistic flashcards ever!
 At UNC Asheville, Vicki is taking a class where she has to memorize species of salamanders. To help her learn the names, she drew flashcards---if it were me drawing them, they would be stick figures.  Take a look at her creations!

I love the zoom-ins for the toes

She drew all the important wrinkles.

The one on the right has a bit of a personality.

I wish I had half her talent!