Parker Graduates and Makes the News!

Whew! It's finally over. No more High School for this guy.

And who handed out the diploma's? The School Board President, his Dad, of course.

He didn't give out hugs to everyone. Only Parker.

He did it!

Parker celebrates among family...

...and friends.

Parker requested going to his favorite Chinese restaurant after the ceremony. Grandma Gibson wasn't able to go with us, but in the picture is Parker, McKay, Sister Jenkins (Parker's Seminary Teacher and Mom's friend), Mom, Bryson, and Brother and Sister Burek (great friends of the family). Of course Dad was running the camera.

The next week, in the local paper that covered the Voorheesville Graduation Ceremony, what picture is used to represent the night's actvities? None other than the School Board President hugging his son.

That's our boy!

5th Grade Graduation

The lights weren't bright so it's a little blurry, but here is Bryson receiving his diploma.

Bryson and his teacher, Mr. Burch. He's even taller than he looks in the picture. What better teacher for Bryson than an enthusiatic, smart, former European Basketball League player?

Here's Bryson with a bunch of his 5th grade friends.

His music teacher, Mrs. McCormick, absolutely loves Bryson.

And here's Bryson with his bus driver, Ron, who has driven him since Kindergarden.

990 hours later...

Parker graduates from Seminary!!!

Leaving the house at 5:25 am every school day for 4 years for a religion class requires a lot of dedication and we are so proud that he completed all 4 years and graduated.

For the record, 990 hours represents the driving and wait time for the parents in the mornings (of course 550 hours were parents driving which was extra sleep time for Parker on the drive in and back), while he was in class 440 hours over the past 4 years.

Way to go Parker!!!

Gibson Turtle Relocation Program

One of the downfalls of living in upstate NY with a picturesque stream running though the back yard is the critters that come along with it. One of the less desirable ones is the snapping turtle. They are big and dangerous. Have you ever seen a turtle that is a foot plus across it's shell, has a tail like a dragon's and can snap your finger in half with a quick bite? We've only had two sightings in the 6 years we've lived here, but both times we made sure to catch them and take them to a nice home far from our house.

Bon Voyage Snapping Turtle!

A Cure for Shyness?

Speaking of fun field trips, Bryson had the chance to go with the 5th grade to the Saratoga Battle Fields (if you know your US history this was one of the most critical battles of the Revolutionary War) and then on to Lake George for a boat tour. I usually send a disposable camera so I can get some pictures of the field trip, but this time I had an inexpensive digital camera that I sent with Bryson with strict instructions to have people take pictures of him. I had no idea what I was in for when he showed us the pictures when he got home.

I have to preface the pictures with a clarification that Bryson is my child that gets embarrassed so easily. He usually won't ask strangers questions even if he really needs something and gets totally embarrassed when we ask (for example asking where a restroom is). When in public, he doesn't want to draw any attention to himself in any way. Call it shyness, or just embarrassment avoidance, but he gets really anxious if he might be embarrassed in public.

With that in mind, you can imagine my surprise at the results when you match Bryson + friends + digital camera. 247 pictures later...

There's a picture of him with the 2nd Mate on the boat.

And playing Titanic's "I'm the King of the World" at the bow of the boat even though he hasn't seen the movie.

And a picture with the cook on the boat.

Oh, and a picture with the Captain.

Bryson posing with a moose (in view of the public) in front of a store.

And riding on a merry-go-round.

I've seen him around his friends before and he still has the shyness thing going on. Add a digital camera and watch out! Shyness cured.

I wonder why education costs so much in New York?

It might have something to do with the completely cool field trips the kids get to go on. Boston, The Bronx Zoo, and New York City in Middle School. It lightens up a little in High School, but only a little. In May, McKay's Biology class got to go on a Whale Watching trip off the coast of Massachusetts.

I think the best field trip I got was to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City in Elementary School. And the zoo was really cool if you had the money to buy a plastic lion out of a vending machine that was molded while you wait. I guess that's what you get when you compare the state with the lowest spending per pupil (UT) with the state with the highest spending per pupil (NY). I have to admit I'm a little jealous of all the adventures the boys get to have in school.

Speaking of adventures; for Parker's Physics class this year they had to build a boat exclusively out of cardboard and duct tape. Then they raced them in the High School swimming pool. How cool is that?

Gibson Twins Mystery Solved

What do you get when you mix Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails with Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice? We see both pony tails and crew cuts in our future. It's a boy and a girl.

After a 2 1/2 hour level 2 ultrasound, we now know more about our babies than we would if they were born today. Development looks good. All the right body parts in all the right places. With a level 2 ultrasound they measure and take pictures of everything; heart, brain, bones, skull, abdomen, kidneys, bladder, liver, etc. Very thorough. Since it's a high-risk pregnancy our doctor recommend this thorough scan which couldn't be done at their office. We went a an office that had the latest and greatest in ultrasound technology. It was amazing. They even let us see the babies in 4-D (that's 3-D where you can also watch them move over time). They're wiggly little things, especially the girl. I have been feeling them move consistently for a few weeks now, but I don't think I feel a hundredth of their actual movements.

Here are some 3-D pictures of each. The first one is the girl. The second is the boy.

We did have them check for Bryson's crooked pinkies and David's abnormally large, but nice-on-him ears. No indication of either. The boy seems to have a little bigger ears than the girl which is just fine.

Upon first measurement there was a size difference between the two babies. The doctor then came in and measured and found the difference as well. The fear is that one is not thriving as well as the other for some reason. But after the doctor sat at the computer for a minute we were relieved to find out that the girl (smaller twin) measures exactly right for her age weighing in at approx 11 oz, right at the 50th percentile. Our baby boy is just a big kid at approx 14 oz. He measures a week ahead of his age or close to the 90th percentile for his age. Nothing to worry about.

So when we were finally done with the ultrasound, we posted the results on facebook for everyone to see, then headed out for some lunch. People at work were already bugging us to know what the babies are, so we stopped by a bakery and had them make up trays of cookies in pink and blue with tags that said, "It's a girl" and "It's a boy". Then we sent out an e-mail to the company. Telling them the mystery of the gender of the Gibson twins can be solved by coming to the break room. We didn't think to snap a picture until they were half gone.

Overall I am amazed by the technology and the fact we could get a sneak peak at our little ones. Wish us luck on this adventure!

Happy Birthday, Happy Home Run!

It seems like Bryson just had a Birthday and here it is again. It's hard to believe he's now 11 (which in our house we call 11teen because kids start getting that teenage attitude this early). I fixed him breakfast this morning, then had to send him off to school. Soon after he got home we had dinner of his choosing, fried chicken, and a quick party before wisking him off to a baseball game.


David captured some good action shots of Bryson playing at short stop and center field.

During his first at-bat he was caught out on a popfly . But his second hit proved to be magical. Watch it here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ozgssuSgI4

Yep. An out-of-the-park home run. And it cleared the fence by nearly 10 feet. He makes it look so effortless. The umpire was the director for 2 plays Bryson's been in, so he knows Bryson well. You can hear him reminding Bryson to touch home plate in all the excitement.

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

And great hit!

That's what family's good for!

Earlier this month we were able to go out and visit Mia and John in Austin, Texas along with visiting David's sister, Joyce, and his brother, Jon. We traveled out with Dorothy's son (little) John (17 yrs) as well so he could hang out with Uncle Jon and check out the music programs at the local colleges. We also wanted to help little John get used to flying since his Dad doesn't like to fly much.

It was great spending time with family and it helps to reinforce how great family is.

Uncles are good for playing with playdough with you.

Families are good for having picnics at the park.

Grandpa's are good for buying you giant "Texas-sized" donuts.

Brothers-in-law are good for mowing and edging your lawn and sanding the new "used" playset (not to mention passing some frustrating levels in Mario Universe so you can get to the character you want)

Grandmas are good for making you Red Sox pajamas to match Uncle Bryson's. They're also good for fixing you German Pancakes for breakfast (with extra powdered sugar if mom's not watching).

Dads and Stepmoms are good for designing and installing an entirely over-engineered rain gutter on the back of your house.

Grandpas are good for remembering your Birthday even while you're away from the rest of your family. Happy Birthday little John!

Uncles are good for teaching you how to make sand castles and for playing Mario Kart with you. They're also good for putting you to bed and believing you when you need more stories more songs so it takes 4 times as long as when mom and dad put you to bed.

Teenage sons are good for...ummm...uhhhh...oh yes...testing your internet connection wherever you may be.

Uncles are good for trying to hide in your favorite hiding spot with you.

Moms are good for helping you paint your new playset.

So is Dad and Uncle McKay.

And Grandpa.

Sisters and Brothers-in-law are good for hosting BBQ's with great food. (Joyce and Bruce)

Grandson's are good for making you smile!

By running though the wild Blue Bell fields of Texas.

Daughters are good for turning out beautiful in every way.

All this and so much more...that's what family's good for!