B is for Bobby and Bravo!

Letter of the Day:  B
B is for Bobby, my first-born son.
B is also for Bravo, that shout of praise at the end of a performance.  Did you know that Bravo is the praise word for a man, and Brava is the word to use for a woman?  My sister Joy, who is learning Italian and is also a performer - singer, actor, all that jazz (also sings jazz), gave me that quick lesson.  If the performers are mixed, then Bravo is fine.

B is also for baby.  This is a picture of Bobby, my first-born, holding his new baby brother when he came into our lives 13 years ago.  Bobby is offically a Robert, but he was Bobby as soon as he flashed me those baby blues!  When his little brother, Zach, was born, he felt him grasp his finger and he asked, "Is he as strong as Superman?"  As soon as we brought him home, he said, "When can he wrestle?" 

A few years later, twin boys entered the picture. Now, I'm a MOBO, mother of boys only. And, oh, boy, can that be a blast!


Bobby is a great older brother.  He is a defender against bullies, and loves to play games.  He'll graduate from high school next year, and plans to be some kind of engineer.  I can see him inventing new games.  Bravo, Bobby!


Journaling Prompt:  Do you have brothers or sisters?  Write about your wild rumpuses!

Muffins, Brothers, and the First Day of School

Quote of the Day:  And let me tell you, you boys of America, that there is no higher inspiration to any man to be a good man, a good citizen, and a good son, brother, or father, than the knowledge that you come from honest blood. - John Sergeant Wise

 
This is actually our second "First Day" of School.  The oldest, Bobby, didn't go on the first "First Day" because he's a junior and the juniors and seniors get the first day off so that the sophomores have a day in the high school for orientation.
 
So, on our second "First Day" of School, I made the traditional blueberry muffins.  As I explained to my guys, "Eating blueberry muffins on the first day of school is a tradition that goes back for generations in the Aalgaard family."  Then, I told them about walking the long driveway to the mailbox on my parents' farm to wait for the bus.  When it was really cold out, my dad would stand by the window and watch for the bus lights, then holler, "The bus is coming!"  When it flooded, we walked to the bridge over our big ditch in big rubber boots, or if it was really deep, Dad would drive us up the road on his tractor.
 

 
 

My boys have their own wheels.

The big one drives.

The three younger ones bike to the middle school, nearby.  No more stops at the elementary school for me.  My babies are growing up...sigh.

Today, I will claim my creative space.  I'm wearing my Scriptfrenzy t-shirt and I'm off to The Coco Moon to write Act 3 of my drama, Coffee Shop Confessions.

We all have learning and work to do.

Go, Create, Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a school memory.  Where did you go?  Were you ever the new kid?  What mode of transportation got you there?  Did you have a unique experience like tutoring, home-schooling on the road, or study abroad?