Literacy Day 2007

Friday was Literacy Day at LJPS. All of the elementary students dress up as their favorite book character all day. In the afternoon they get to parade around the school and the middle school kids come to cheer them on. Kaitlyn went as SkippyJon Jones from the SkippyJon Jones books. If you have not read these books, you need to get them. So far there are just two: SkippyJon Jones and SkippyJon Jones in the DogHouse. They are about a little siamese kitten who believes he is a Chiuaua. He goes on fantastical adventures in his closet when his mother puts him in time out. The spanish accents and little "raps" make the book highly entertaining for children who get to watch their parents make fools of themselves! :)

Turkey Day at LJPS

Thursday was Turkey day for the Kindergartners at LJPS. The parents provided a huge potluck lunch and the kids provided a little entertainment. Dressed as Pilgrims and Indians, the kids sang "Albequerque the Turkey" and "The Thankful Song." Duane came and my students were conveniently with the nurse for the "Changes Program" (yes, that talk) so I got to watch as well. It was too cute!

That last Christmas Card in the box...............

You know how you always have to buy that extra box of Christmas cards because you need 2 or 3 more for your list? And then the rest of the box goes to waste? Well, instead of letting those cards waste away, forgotten in the bottom of your stationary drawer, why not fill them out and send them to one of the addresses below?


Any Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington , DC 20307-5001

OR

go to www.anysoldier.com

From this website you can request the address of a soldier who has volunteered to hand out packages that arrive addressed to "Any Soldier." Many of the soldiers are the supply OIC or NCOIC for their battalion and keep track of what items are most needed or wanted by their soldiers. They also send e-mail updates to the site so that you know if there are any current needs. You can click on "Where to Send" and "Search" in order to search for someone from your home state or from a specific service.

Sometimes we think we are too insignificant to make much of a difference in the world but this is one small way that you can be assurred of making a difference. Every soldier I know overwhelmingly prefers a nice letter from any American over a medal or an official visit from an important person. They especially love the little scribbles from kids so make it a quick afternoon project for your little one and drop it in the mail. Have fun!

Adoring Fans

Here are some pictures of the fans, watching their daddies jump. The kids of Rudderville piled into a pickup bed to have a better view of the jump. Aren't they the cutest?

Airborne!

One of the many things we love about being stationed with 6th RTB is the opportunities to watch Duane do his job. Because we live just down the street from the battalion buildings, the runway, and two of the drop zones we sometimes get to view a jump up close. Generally, jumps are done during the weekday when we are at school and work but this Saturday afternoon the RI's were able to do a Cadre jump on the airfield closest to Camp. My friend Trish, who teaches 6th grade, brought her little ones out and most of the neighborhood showed up as well. We packed a picnic, drove down the runway (literally) and staked a spot right to the side of the drop zone. We were able to watch 3 plane loads of instructors jump as well as a few HALO jumpers. Unfortunately for Duane and most of his buddies, there was a horrendous crash on I-10 right after the first load of jumpers went. This area is part of the air space they needed and it was shut down for a good 2 hours while the Life Flight helicopters came to the scene. This means that Duane and most of the jumpers circled for a good 2 hours in the plane, getting sicker by the minute. By the time they finally jumped, they were all in pretty foul moods! Of course, being met on the ground by a crowd of adoring kids improves one's mood pretty quickly. Here are a few pictures of the plane on our runway and of the jumpers in the air. Duane was the first out so he is the little dot closest to the ground.

All Hallows Eve

Here are the girls with some of their friends on Halloween. Because Camp Rudder is so small, only about 20 houses, we all do Halloween together. The parents decide on a time to begin the Trick or Treating and all the kids go together while the daddies of the house sit on the porch with the candy bowl and the mommies escort the kids around, cameras in hand. Once the kids have filled their bags and the mommies have taken a sufficient number of pictures, the "big kids" load up for the hay ride that 1SG. Pena puts together every year. While the moms of the little ones work on getting the bonfire started, the dads head off with masks in hand to scare the older kids as they ride through the "haunted" Ranger Woods. We roast hot dogs and marshmallows and wait for the sounds of screams and shouts that signal the return of the hay riders and all the dads. Later in the evening, the little kids enjoy a much tamer hay ride around the cul de sac while the moms and dads chat around the fire and attempt to sneak some candy from the Trick or Treat bags. The girls were fairies this year and had a fabulous time! Hope your Trick or Treating was full of fun!

6th RTB Fall Party

Princesses and Superheroes, fairies and ghouls, witches and ghosts...all were in attendance last sunday at the 6th RTB Fall Party. Held on the farm of a retired Ranger, our annual Fall event is always exciting. With a costume parade for the little ones, crafts galore, sack races, bean bag throws, apple bobbing, a pumpkin hunt and a scavenger hunt a good time is had by all. The girls loved every minute of playing with their friends and filling their candy bags.