Another Day, Another Dollar...

We had a very productive first week of summer. We knocked out dentist appointments, visited with the orthodontist, got haircuts, went swimming...and opened savings accounts. The latter was not high on their list of fun activities. In all actuality, they were downright bitter about it! Those smiles are not real!

Thanks to their weekly allowance and a myriad of uncashed checks from Mimi, they had accumulated a decent reserve in their piggy banks. I decided that I wasn't going to let them keep blowing it on random junk every time they got the urge. It was time to learn the value of a dollar. In all fairness I only made them put half of their totals in the bank. Although a bit disgruntled, Alex understood the basic concept and begrudgingly agreed that it might be nice to save for "something really big." On the other hand, Carter acted like I was trying to steal his money. His head was positively spinning! We put in a call to our personal banker and Papa explained the concept of interest to him. The phrase "the bank will pay you to keep your money safe" seemed to make him feel better...until he got on-line the next day and realized he hadn't been paid "one single cent" for keeping his money for "one whole day"! Life lessons are not always fun!

Holding up their ziplocs of cash and checks.

The lady in new accounts was so patient in explaining the entire process.

She even taught them how to fill out their own deposit slips. Carter wanted

Alex to go first so he could watch.

While filling out his deposit slip, another customer came over and said, "it's so refreshing to see young kids being responsible. You are doing such a good job with them." While I was secretly feeling a moment of pride, Carter made eye-contact with me...then rolled his!

Making their first deposit

Posing with their receipts...although they wouldn't admit it, I think they were both a little proud!

Summer has arrived!

One of the many, many things I love about Maumelle is the awesome pool. It's like having a mini waterpark in our backyard! The opening always signals the beginning of summer...and it has officially arrived for 2011!

Cannon ball for Carter (while holding his nose!)...

...and for Alex.

The boys are officially getting older. This year they are

more interested in the basketball area than the slides!

First run on the red slide...

...and Carter's first run (holding his nose!).

Hanging out with buddies Wyatt and Jackson

Carter bumped into his friends Landon and Jacob.

Playing a little football

Perfect timing! The ice cream truck was rolling up the

street when we got home. Another thing I love about Maumelle!

Entrepreneur or Con Artist?

It all started a few months ago when Carter and his buddy, Owen Counts (the non-Galbraith boy pictured below), unearthed a gold earring at the park. They were 100% certain that it was real (it was not!) and 100% certain they could sell it for millions (if only!). After a bit of a power struggle, it was decided that they would share custody of the earring until the perfect buyer stepped forward. This is how it all started...

Fast forward a few weeks...Carter's dreams of riches are growing more and more grandiose by the minute. He's going to buy a real Star Wars ship and light sabers for all his friends! Owen's fabulous mother, Lisa, indulges their fantasy even more by purchasing a bag of "jewels" at the local Dollar Store. Now, Carter has dreams of opening a "Lemonade and Jewels" stand this summer (he gets extra points for originality!). We'll be loading up the truck and moving to Beverly before you know it! Feel free to admire the jewels and place your bids on E-bay...

This is where I thought the story ended...at least until the grand opening of the stand in early summer. I would be wrong! Now, I must confess that Carter DID keep telling me he WAS selling his jewels for $1. However, I didn't catch the present tense. I thought we were still dreaming about our future sales and the concrete pond we were going to put out back. WRONG! I was cleaning out Carter's backpack filled with a myriad of end of the year junk, when I discovered the small, white jewel box nestled in the bottom. Imagine my shock (and horror!) when I opened it to find three remaining jewels and a wad of $1 bills. My little guy had been selling them at school. How he didn't get caught, I will never know! According to him, he took the jewels to school on Monday to let everyone appropriately salivate. He told them that they could own one of their very own for the bargain price of $1. On Tuesday they started flocking to him with their dollars in hand. He did let his good buddy Carl take one out on approval. Needless to say, he's a bit disgruntled that he hasn't received payment in full.

I don't know whether to be impressed with his entrepreneurial skills or horrified by the scam he's running. I mean, seriously, jewels? As for Owen, we'll be cutting him a check for his half in the very near future!

5th Grade Graduation

Alex had his 5th grade graduation on Thursday, June 2nd. It was very bittersweet. I remember walking him in to kindergarten on his very first day in 2005.

This is him walking the very same walk on his last day of 2011. He officially looks like a middle school student...only using one strap of that backpack!

This was the very last year that I will ever have both of my boys at the same school. I'm pretty sure it bothered both of them a bit more than they would care to admit.

Alex has been blessed with wonderful teachers each and every year at CHEMS. This year Mrs. Keith (we call her the resident rockstar) started a 5th grade student council. Elections were held in October and Alex tied with Grace Krebs for President. We were so proud of him. It was a big step outside of his comfort zone to campaign. This included making a speech in front of the entire 5th grade which consisted of about 120 students. This is one of his fabulous posters! We had so much fun coming up with slogans. Our other favorite was a black and white poster hung over the milk freezer in the cafeteria. It said, "Got Alex?"

This is Alex and Grace posing with their student council awards at graduation. As co-presidents they delivered the opening (Alex) and closing (Grace) addresses during the graduation ceremony.

Alex did such a great job delivering his speech. As someone who absolutely loathes public speaking, I stand in awe of him speaking in front of 200+ people. I was thankful he went first so he wouldn't have to be anxious during the entire ceremony.


Alex received an award in every "category" on the program: all "A" honor roll/graduation certificate, the President's Education Award (awarded on the basis of maintaining a 3.5 GPA and scoring proficient or advanced on the standardized test), an ALPHA award (gifted and talented), and a student council award. He could only hold 3 at a time for us to see!

After the actual ceremony, they had a picnic lunch and yearbook signing party. We stayed long enough for Alex to pose for a few pictures and sign a few books...then we headed out to lunch! Eating hot dogs in 100 degree heat didn't sound too appetizing to any of us! This is Alex with his gaggle of girls: Mikaela Pinili, Bushra Sardar and Amber Hobbs. Alex and Mikaela have been in the same class every year since the first grade!

Hanging out with the guys: Wyatt Chandler, Timmy Huckabee, Christian Wilson, Alex and Javion Collins.

Alex and Mrs. Keith. We love her! She worked so hard to prepare Alex for middle school. She didn't coddle and didn't give a million reminders. It was a struggle in accountability for him, but I know he will fare better next year because of her guidance.

Before I was married...

How do you celebrate 15 years of marriage? At casa de Galbraith it's with a bowl of cereal and a few loads of laundry. We even toasted with a Nyquil nightcap...

Before I was married, I always envisioned anniversaries celebrated in tropical locations. On even numbered years, we would take the kids. Odd numbers would be just us. We would come up with fabulous gifts that corresponded with the "anniversary guidelines" (you know, one year = paper, two years = cotton, etc.). We would laugh about that one time in 1998 when we had that "silly little argument." And we would marvel at our unprecedented parenting skills. We had no idea our DNA would manifest perfection personified! That was all before I was married...

Now, I know that anniversaries can fall in the middle of the week...on a school night, no less. I know that you decide ahead of time "not to do gifts this year" because braces are on the horizon and piano fees are due. I know that husbands get horrible colds, but still offer to "take you somewhere special" between the breaths of his hacking cough. I know that I don't want him to be miserable, so I decline with the promise of "we'll celebrate this weekend." I know that our perfect offspring are fighting over a basketball in the driveway. I'm pretty sure I heard my dear husband tell one of them to "suck it up." Does that qualify as unprecedented parenting? I know that our tropical celebrations are always in Destin and always with the kids...even and odd years. I know that anniversaries can end with a peck on the cheek and the sentiment, "I hope you don't catch this." And I know that 15 years later, I wouldn't have it any other way.

June 1, 1996

May 6, 2011

Despite not feeling well, Russ and the boys surprised me

at my school with these beautiful flowers. According to Google,

the 15 year gift is supposed to be a watch, but who keeps track of that stuff?

Only Carter...

Driving home from the lake this weekend, I glanced in the backseat and saw this...

I did a double take and he gave me a little smirk. Gotta love a kid that can pull off that look!

Cicada Mania...

After being underground for 13 years, the cicada's were out in full swing this weekend! The boys weren't even born the last time this particular species emerged! As our resident professor, Russ had read up on them and gave us a full lesson on their life cycle.

Apparently, they come out of the ground every 13 years and mate. The sound that you hear is the male mating call (sidenote: after he mates, he dies...kind of a raw deal). The female lays eggs on tree branches/leaves. When the eggs hatch, they fall down and proceed to burrow into the ground. They spend the next 13 years sucking on tree roots and growing...only to emerge, mate and die. I've wanted to be alot of things in my life, but I don't think a cicada will ever be on the list! Seriously? Sucking on a root for 13 years?

I think their tragic story made them all the more fascinating to the boys. Some of the "sicker" ones were slow enough for us to catch and photograph. I love the one of Alex laughing! It's hard to believe that the boys will be 24 and 21 the next time these red-eyed wonders make an appearance...that thought might be depressing enough to make me go find a root!

Mimi's Magical Beds...

It's a well kept secret that Mimi has magical beds at her house. Upon hearing of Alex and Carter's impending arrival, they spontaneously produce gifts to celebrate the joyous occasion. I'm not exactly sure when the tradition started, but it's been going on for as long as either boy can remember. When we get to Batesville (about 45 minutes away), they will start pondering, "What do you think will be on our beds this time?"

I've tried to teach them to NOT expect it every time...these warnings have fallen on deaf ears because it DOES happen EVERY time! You could expect nothing less from magical beds! Occasionally, the beds experience a touch of dementia and have to produce cash or candy at the last minute (the boys are equally thrilled with these last minute productions). But most of the time, there is some thoughtful gift that says, "We love you and are so glad you're here." I'm so glad Mimi found these beds. They are giving my boys far more than gifts...they are getting wonderful childhood memories.

A sneak peak at the magical beds which are also cute and functional.

On our most recent visit, Alex's bed held a 4th of July shirt and a box of football cards...

...and Carter's had the same shirt and a very welcomed Yoda!

Carter's New BFF...

After discovering him on his "magical bed", Carter and Yoda did some serious bonding. They were virtually glued to each other the entire weekend...and it is still continuing back at home!

Yoda hitched a ride on Carter's back down to the water. He

sat on the dock and watched Carter practice his jumps. Good

Jedi training!

After coming off the lake, Yoda diligently followed Carter

inside to change into dry clothes. All refreshed, they're

walking down to the patio for a snack.

Yoda loves to snuggle and take a nap on the boat.

It was little windy on the water, so Carter was very careful
to cover Yoda's head with his hood. We can't have him
getting an earache!

Memorial Day...

We spent Memorial Day weekend at Mimi and Papa's...i.e. the lake. The weather was absolutely warm and gorgeous, but the water was still FREEZING! This didn't deter my crazy boys from jumping in...all three of them! Here are a few highlights:

All suited up for the first swim of the season.

Carter screaming, "It's coooooolllddd!"

Taking the first boat ride of the season.

Carter's jump off the dock...

...and Alex's jump off the dock.

Swinging with Papa while waiting on those burgers to grill.

Russ and Mimi chillaxin' on the patio.

Taking a quick time-out from their water gun/missile fight.

Carter driving the boat. Papa let him make the big turn

at the end of the cove. He was so proud of himself!

Worn out.