A Cerney Periodical

 Are summer birthdays the worst or best? Depends on who you talk to, for me, the best! But Alice and I were both a little bummed that we weren't able to do anything with her class during classtime, so we asked her teacher if Alice could have an "unbirthday". She started a trend. The next week was followed by four other "unbirthdays". Here is hers! I mean, Alice in Wonderland themed of course. We are not allowed to make food for school! So I splurged on Whole Foods cupcakes cuz they are pretty darn good. Dressing the part. A great day is a day with hugs, cupcakes, and a crown. A Very Merry indeed. But we are very excited to celebrate the real day in Branson!!

 Some highlights from the last quarter of school! There were many themed days. Brock only picks the ones that appeal to him to dress for, here he is on Ken Vs. Barbie day...as Allen. Not picking side obviously. Alice on Zoo day...starfish! Kings and Queens day...  Brock's school has a Festival of the Arts event, part of which where they are given a theme and every classroom decorates their room for an immersive experience. Brock worked so hard on his room, cutting out, "5000 leaves". He took his role as manager very seriously and went above and beyond. Entering, "The Enchanted Forest". On that theme, his class went with a four elements/ seasons lens. Here is "Winter", these ice sickles are now in Brock's room. Winter town. Full room with bestie Theodor and their beloved homeroom and literature teacher, Mr. White. Fire/ autumn town. This is Bartholomew. Brock, as manager, was dismayed there his underlings had made a horrible looking tree. I suggeste...

 Brock was given the assignment of memorizing the poem "If", by Sir Rudyard Kipling. It is a wonderful poem, here was his submission to his teacher. They were also called on at random times through out the year to recite various verses impromptu in class. So deep.

 Ah, the pomp and circumstance of a Kindergarten graduation.  The wonderful Principle Korth at the podium... The event began with the graduates singing a song to their teacher: And then the main event! Then we adjourned to the playground for cake and popsicles.  Alice with one of her closer friend, Chloe. And her AMAZING teacher who we will miss so much, Ms. Heintzelman! It has been a really good year! Alice has bloomed in reading and math and particularly in her interest and understanding of sociology and science. She even made a few friends! I can say I learned more from than even Brock's first year of public school. I began volunteering on Friday mornings in December after her school received 100 new refugee students from Venezuela (her school went from 200 to 300 in a day!). I did not want to volunteer in the classroom, but instead wanted to help out with admin, but that was not where humans were needed, so I ended up in the neighborhood third grade class. This was wa...

 It has been our new annual event for me to take the kids somewhere close-ish so Matt can have the house for his baseball draft. With the show extended for as long as it could, it was time close it and I got to have a weekend! We went to Milwaukee and stayed in our favorite hotel there, the legendary Pfister. No trip to Milwaukee is complete without a trip to the Mars Cheese Castle. This year we all wore our matching shirts that were purchased there seasons ago! ding ding ding. Curd time. The esteemed court of cheese reigns supreme! Alice and Matt discovered how wrong our bug book was a while back with correctly representing the body of an ant. Alice pointed it out at during our visit to the Milwaukee Public Museum how an ant is supposed to look. Now that's an ant. Christening the hotel room with some madness. We love this hotel. The pool is great with a great view and warmish water, and there are happy hour snacks, a delightful breakfast and even late night munchies. We feast! Fin...