First Day and Last First Day...and some Homecoming!

Seeing as this is (close to) the first of the year I thought I would restart the family activity blogging with another first...the first day of school! It was an exicting first day-the first day of high school for Grant and the last first day of school for Olivia. You'll notice in the pictures below that Olivia is not her typical fashionista self. That's because she is part of an organization called Link Crew. She is a mentor to a group of 8 freshman. When Grant had orientation this summer she and the other Link Leaders talked about life at the high school and introduced the incoming freshman to the building, activities, and how to balance school work and life. Because she's a Link Leader she had to wear her t-shirt. Last summer she was so distraught by this news (she received it in a letter a few weeks before school) mom thought that something serious happened...like she neglected to do her summer AP homework or she wasn't able to take the classes she signed up for. Nope. Just that she had to wear a t-shirt on the first day of school. SO, I am also including a second day of school picture of Olivia!

Link Crew shirt!

Lookin' fresh as a freshman!

with the bookbags on!

Second day of school...more her style

The Howard's were busy this fall and I will write up separate posts about Grant's soccer and Olivia's play but I thought I would also include some fun Homecoming 2011 photos. Leading up to homecoming is "Spirit Week" and a Pep Rally. Olivia is the President of Student Council this year so she had quite a bit of planning to do. Grant is a class representative on StuCo as well, but Freshman weren't elected until after Homecoming.

Twin day with Krista!

Twinnies!

Mismatch day

School pride day! Doesn't she look like a little Student Council President?!

Foxy sweater for the Newark Reds

Our Homecoming game is a football game on Friday night with a parade beforehand. The Senior Class elected Olivia as one of the four Homecoming Queen candidates! She was very excited! Olivia and one of her best friends, Krista were both Homecoming nominees and as a result they didn't have to march with the band (score!). Their band teacher was SOO excited for the girls. He said it had been a long time since anyone from the band was on the Homecoming slate.

Homecoming!

Close up

With Krista!

Posing by their ride!

with their band teacher Mr. Schwind

Grant and Olivia (he had to march)

Homecoming candidates minus the three football player boys

Olivia and her senior friends: Matt, Jeff, Krista, and Jeremy

The school votes on the 4 guys and 4 girl nominees and the homecoming candidates were announced at half time. Olivia won! My aunt Ann and cousin Maggie were also with us so I'm sure there is quite of bit of yelling on the video below!

Homecoming King and Queen 2011!!

Riding in the parade!

Homecoming King and Queen (with the cape and crown now!)

Mom taped the parade and the Homecoming announcement so please enjoy the videos below! First are some clips from the parade-Grant waving from the band and Olivia waving from the car.

Next up is Olivia getting announced on the field...and then the win!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation-Grant's Edition

Here's is Grant's edition of "What I did on my summer vacation"! (in case you missed them: Emily's Edition and Olivia's Edition) If you ask, he'll probably say nothing. But that's simply not true! Grant was very busy all summer. He went to several day camps in town for various sports; soccer, lacrosse and tennis. He also played on a travel soccer team. I managed to snap a few photos of a game toward the end of the summer in the  Bristol/Bloomfield area. It's a bit of drive but the foliage is beautiful!

Running on the field

Dribbling the ball

Kick!

skilz

I love this picture!

The team-G in the back left corner

Summer was not just all play for Grant...he started working! Grant had TWO jobs this summer. He worked at the Park Program day camp that Olivia also worked at but he was more of a "park ranger"...working in the snack booth and general maintenance. He, like Olivia, also volunteered as a helper at the Vacation Bible School week long camp.

If you've been around Grant in the summer (or really any time of year!) then chances are you know that he loves ice cream. Specifically Perry's Piece of Cake ice cream.

Last summer he purchased so much Piece of Cake ice cream-usually in a "Brownie Barge" sundae-that the owners gave him the remaining 3 gallon tub at the end of the season. Since he was about 8 years old the owners of the local ice cream shop, Bee Tees, have been telling Grant he would have a job as soon as he turned 14. So, right after his 14th birthday he started work. Here he is on his first day at the ice cream shop!

First day of work!

I mentioned Grant's birthday in the previous paragraph...

At the end of July Grant turned 14. Mom and Dad gave him a big party last year for his 13th so this year was more low key. Part of his birthday was the lacrosse camp (see below). We also went out to a Japanese steakhouse for his birthday dinner. He brought along his buddy Zach. We had lots of fun catching rice balls (I have an amazing photo of Mom doing this but she expressly forbade me from posting it!), watching the chef's cooking tricks, and eating the stir fry. Here are a few pictures from Grant's birthday...

Grant and his friend since Pre-K, Zach

ready to eat!

trying to catch rice!

onion flames

Happy Birthday!

Grant-taller than me and maybe even Olivia by now!

Also in July, Grant attended a LAX camp at LeMoyne College in Syracuse. Three other guys from Newark went too. It was a week long overnight camp and Grant was excited to stay in a dorm room. He picked out new maroon and gray sheets and towels (Newark colors) and stocked up on some new lacrosse jerseys. He stayed in a room with Teddy and his other friends Zach and Eric, shared a room in the same suite. They woke up bright and early (I'm still not quite sure how he managed to do this!), ate breakfast, and headed out to the fields for drills. They played scrimmages and had skill training all day and into the evening. I think they had some free time at night...I'm guessing there was lots of devouring of snacks, soda, and obnoxious 14 year old boy humor. Mom and Dad went out to see the final tournament and to pick Grant up. He had a really great time and came back feeling more confident about the sport. He spent most of the rest of his free time this summer outside, throwing with neighbor friends or against his lacrosse pitch back.

at his bed

another picture of the room-please note that the sneakers (black, white and purple) must match the shorts and t-shirt...gotta keep it fresh.

Grant and Teddy-roomies!

The dudes from Newark-Ted, Grant, Zach, and Eric

I should add that Grant has a bunch of friends right in our neighborhood that he spends quite a bit of time with during the summer. We have a basketball court that was frequented day and night as well as a trampoline. The tree house still stands but I don't know how much "Fort Wars" they played this summer! It's nice to live close to the park as well. The boys were often riding bikes to the park, down to fast food, or around to each other's houses.

As I look out my window, it's still not snowing here in Rochester...and I am NOT complaining! The lack of snow makes me think that it is still autumn and makes me feel like I might actually catch up this blog up one of these days! Until my next report...

The End of an Era

This spring the youngest of the Howard Family successfully completed his three years at Newark Middle School and is now a high school freshman. This is the first and only year that Olivia and Grant will be in the same school building!

In June, the 8th graders are honored at a celebration ceremony and then head off to the gym for the much anticipated 8th Grade Dance. I shan't regale you with the whole sad story of my 8th Grade Dance (picture 8th grade Student Council me-a la Patty Simcox-the last to leave setting up/decorating the gym only to attend the dance alone...at least I had an awesome new dress-from the Limited and sweet brown Mary Janes from Nine West-which I still kind of wish I had!) but I will state that I am very glad the powers that be decided to combine the "graduation"/awards ceremony with the dance. This (mostly) puts an end to the over-the-top dramatics that used to happen-dates, flowers, dinner out before the dance, limos etc.!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the Ceremony because a production I was in opened the following weekend and I had rehearsal. I did, however, snap some very dapper pictures of Grant on my new camera before I had to take off!

8th Grade Celebration!

Posing with Mom and Dad!

different tie!

Grant wasn't sure which tie but ended up with the dark blue one...it brings out his lovely blue eyes! :) Mom and Dad said that it was a very nice ceremony. Congrats to Grant!

A Little Spring Music

Each time I post I think I am closer and closer to actually catching up to the current week. Alas, we are just too busy in the Howard Family for me to keep up! It seems like there is something every week...and many things I want to share with all of you. Therefore, please enjoy a Smorgasbord or music performances from this past spring! In order to view the videos please click on the link at the bottom of the post or visit the actual blog site. I have posted two selections from Grant's 8th grade spring concert, Olivia's solo from Cabaret Night May 2011, selections from the group numbers are Cabaret, and a piece from Olivia's 11th grade spring concert. ♫

First up is Grant and the 8th grade chorus singing Heal the World...Grant has a small group solo about halfway through. (if you click the 4 arrows in the bottom rt hand corner you can watch in full screen)

Next is another selection from Grant's 8th grade chorus...with a bonus of his signature hair swish at the beginning of the video!

Each year the high school Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band performs at a special event called "Cabaret Night". Audience members sit at cocktail table and are served desserts and coffee throughout the night. Last year Olivia was in both ensembles. Members of Vocal Jazz are offered the opportunity to prepare and perform solos. Olivia worked on this piece with her voice teacher throughout the year and I think it was a perfect choice for this event. It is a song "Mix Tape" from the Broadway musical Avenue Q.

Here's Olivia jamming out in Jazz Band at Cabaret Night...

Below, a sweet redition of Buttercup...Olivia's an alto in the top row.

Lastly, Olivia's choir singing Bridge Over Troubled water

Olivia and Zoey...saxophone buddies at Cabaret Night

Norene and Olivia both part of Vocal Jazz

Spring Sports Season

Dig! That guy has wheels! Attack! Something about a crease...?

I'm still getting used to lacrossee (LAX) lingo! When I attend Grant's games I mostly just clap for goals and refrain from yelling anything from the sidelines in order to limit the possibilities of saying something that would embarrass myself/Grant. This sideline restraint is not shared by most fans. Lacrosse fans are definitely NOT a shy bunch! I'm always amazed at the shouts of "GEEEEET HIM" "SMASH HIM" "KNOCK HIM OUTTT" coming from parents around me. I mean, geesh! You never know whose parent you're sitting next to. There were games when the refs told parents to knock it off. I haven't seen a parent thrown out yet, but I won't be surprised when it happens!

Grant played modifed lacrosse in the spring of his 8th grade year. I am totally showing my LAX ignorance as I write this because I can't even remember what position he plays! I know it's offense...attack? I snapped some pictures using our video camera actually, and they turned out ok.

Below is a video of Grant scoring a goal! He's number 3. The tall black socks and bright orange cleats make him a little easier to spot on the field. In order to see the video you'll have to visit the actual blog page (click the link at the bottom of the email) and if you want to see the video full screen, click on the little arrows on the bottom right of the screen. Grant was so happy that I caught this on film. We watched it on replay several times at home that night! The goal pass starts at around :30 seconds in...

Here's another video from lacrosse season. The best way to find him is by looking for the orange kicks. You can hear the wind blowing in this video and it reminds me of how cold it can be watching soccer and LAX! On some of the fields it feels like we are in a wind tunnel. My high school sports career was never this cold. Tennis could get chilly but if it rained or snowed we couldn't play :) and basketball is obviously inside! I can't imagine how your body adjusts to running/sweating/working hard in the freezing windy weather!

I actually really enjoy watching lacrosse and I'm looking forward to learning more about the game and of course, cheering Grant on at the high school this year!

Grant also played baseball this spring/summer with the community center. Dad served as the coach of the team. It is no secret in my household that I think baseball is boring. There. I said it. I know it's the All American Pastime and I should love it, but I really don't. The game is slow. And long. There are plently of other American institutions that I love: Sesame Street, Broadway, McDonalds... :)

I will say that is always more exciting to watch any sports team when you know the players. Therefore, I happily cheer on my brother in whatever sport he happens to be playing. These pictures were right after I got my new camera for my birthday!

Here's a picture of some of the team after their last game-Grant's hair was so long this summer!!!

Olivia also played a spring sport. She ran track (hurdles and short distance relays) but alas, I don't have a single picture from her season! I will have to do better this spring. :)