Cutest graduate

Last Friday was a very exciting graduation day for the preschool class at Little Huskies. In attendance was a lovely little girl with flowing curls and big blue eyes named Samatha (Sammi to her buddies). Much to my surprise, the entire class of 60 students were all doned in cap and gown. (The caps were a source of entertainment for many.) The young group walked into the theatre from the back or some walked and several sprinted. The kids were elegant when they accepted their diplomas and made is across the stage. Soon after the songs started and the kids cut loose with funny tunes and darling dances. After a cookie, we grabbed up the graduates and escaped into the warm sunshine of the afternoon.

Sammi was really excited because she was coming home to stay with her Aunt Becky and she did not want me to get out of her view in case I might escape without her. We left in good time to hit a barbeque at Kris' and Sammi was in heaven with a big playground and lots of kiddos her age. After about three hours of serious playground activity, I loaded the little doll up and took her home. She does love a bubblebath and played for a good while. We washed all the play out of those locks and called it a day. She did awake around 7:30am on Saturday morning and was thrilled we had a birthday party in the afternoon. We had a few errands and then hit the party. She loves her new found friend, Addy, and they had fun playing again. She was excited when we got home because she thought her Mom was here to play. She was crushed when she found out that Mom was going to take her home. Big crocodile tears spilled down her cheeks, but I assured her that we would do a sleepover again soon.

Sweet Sammi our new graduate posing in a flower bed with a kitten named Buttercup.

Becky

History with Hoover

Thursday, May 14th, we loaded a school bus with 70 lively Sixth Graders and headed for the Herbert Hoover Historical Museum in West Branch, Iowa. The noise level at 9:00am could probably have registered a 5.0 on the Richter scale. By 10:00am we were on the grounds of the impressive complex. They divides the kids by their classes and we had the tour of the grounds first. Adam, the tour guard, guided us to the birth home of "Bert" Hoover. Can you imagine five people living in a very small two-room house with no electricity or indoor plumbing? This is the bedroom that housed all five of them and was about 10 foot wide.

Herbert's Dad was a blacksmith and the kids thought the shop was cool. We then ventured to the one-room schoolhouse and this got the attention of the kiddos. The tour guide passed around slates and chalk and shared what school meant in those times. We learned more about Hoover in the Presidential Museum and library.

Hoover's parents passed when he was just a young fellow and he was shipped out to an uncle in Oregon. Hoover was in the first class at Stanford and graduated with a degree in engineering. After he made his millions, he eventually became President. He was a world traveler and was best known for his humanitarian efforts in saving millions from starvation. Belgium created a status of Isis and it rests on the grounds as a thank you for saving their children from hunger.

We then walked past the prairie and shared with the kids this would have been reminiscent of Iowa in the early days. They weren't impressed to say the least. We finished the walk with the grave of President and Lou Hoover. Massive 10 foot slabs of marble cover the burial site and sits overlooking the grounds. All too soon, we loaded up all 70 and headed back for the day. If you thought the trip back was quiet, you guessed wrong.

We could all gain a thing or two from Herbert and his life. We are here to take care of each other first and foremost. He also felt strongly that hard-work and kindness were a expectation, not the exception. Great day!

Becky