This month included :
May 13- PPS Celebration of Excellence
I was voted in as the president of Parents for Public Schools of Syracuse. Each spring we have an award ceremony, honoring staff, students, parents, and community members that volunteer in our schools. This year we honored 11 people for their dedication and commitment to the children in the city. I was humbled just to be in their presence. As president, I had to sit on the stage for the entire ceremony and speak at the end. I spoke immediately after Superintendent Lowengard who introduced me by saying"I thought I was speaking at the end, but as anyone who knows her can attest, Susan Fahey always has to have the last word." There were several loud guffaws from the audience and I think Rob & Ian stood and cheered in agreement. A ton of work and very stressful...but I am glad it is over for this year.
May 16 - Ian's 18th birthday
Erin wanted to throw Ian a "surprise" party at our house. I was skeptical, but agreed. I couldn't fathom how Erin would be able to invite Ian's friends without being aware. I forgot how clueless Ian can be sometimes! We carried on as if it was just another birthday, trying to figure out where to go out to eat and baking a cake (chocolate with peanut butter frosting.) Ian was torn because he was supposed to go over to Erin's but he relaxed when I told him Erin
could go out to dinner with us. I carried in cases of soda, ice, chips, dip and stored them in the cellar while Ian read the paper and ate breakfast. While he was at Erin's later in the day, his friends came over and hid in the breakfast room. They arrived and Ian was surprised! It was fun.Rob grilled, the kids ate and I cleaned up. Interesting to have a party and be sober. I kind of liked it....
Although it was freezing, the kids swam in the pool and built a fire. Good memories.
Although it was freezing, the kids swam in the pool and built a fire. Good memories.Gardening
I decided to plant the circle and all my planters in Ian's school colors for the graduation party. What a bad decision! Once I make up my mind I am unable to waver, but someone should have grabbed my cheeks and set me straight. Ian's school colors are maroon and white. Did you ever try to find maroon or burgandy colored flowers? I spent way too much time at Hafner's and the Farmer's Market and a dozen other places trying to find the perfect mix of plants. The perfect mix of plants would have been purple and yellow (CBA) or red and white (Jamesville-DeWitt.) I was working frantically because I was going out of town for Memorial Day and I had this notion that all the good plants would be gone by the time I returned. Even funnier was how the colors of the flowers change in different locations, cloud coverage and whether or not I am wearing my sunglasses. They certainly looked maroon when I bought them but turned into purple by the time I they were planted. Must be the acidity in the soil. I enjoyed the challenge, shed some
tears, swore quite frequently but finally got the plants in the ground. The flowers and the vegetables are doing quite well.
This picture was taken on May 22, immediately after planting.
This was only 8 days later...I think the plants just might fill in by the 27th (although the million bells are changing from maroon to red!)
This is my favorite planter with this sweet burgundy geranium I found at the Farmer's Market.Memorial Day Weekend
Jenny and I took our annual pilgrimage to Cape Cod for the long weekend. Over the years, we have endured all types of weather and various illnesses. This year was the worst... cold and rainy on Saturday and totally overcast on Sunday. Of course, Friday and Monday were perfect! I had bronchitis and Jenny had Lyme Disease. It was ok....we shopped, we ate, we drank, we relaxed, we talked and talked and talked. We definitely needed that downtime before the marathon days leading up to the end of the year. I didn't take many pictures...
the view from our room...
when you stepped out the door
a flower box I saw in Chatham that I would love to re-create in Syracuse
Prom and After Prom
Ian's senior prom was last Friday night. For many years, the Corcoran PTSO has put on an After Prom in the Corcoran gym and commons area immediately following the prom from midnight to 4 am. I have worked After Prom in the past...but never had to plan the whole damn thing before. Our fundraiser spent the entire school year securing donations of money, gift certificates and various items that we used for raffles and silent auction items. There is pizza, wings, soda, casino games, inflatables, music and Guitar Hero for the kids. I never worked so hard to plan for something in my life and I WILL NEVER HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN! I am almost free. The last PTSO meeting is Wednesday and I can turn over the presidency to some other sucker.
Ian tells me the prom was fun. About the most he said...you probably need to check out his FaceBook page for the whole story.
Ian and Erin before the prom at Mayor Driscoll's house...waiting for the big white limo bus.
All the friends riding in the limo.
311, 313 and 310 Wellesley Rd at Onondaga Park for pictures. 
All the friends riding in the limo.
311, 313 and 310 Wellesley Rd at Onondaga Park for pictures. 
Wow- that was exciting! Kind of like when one of your favorite authors writes a new book :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, and the kids look so nice in all of them!