The Results Are In

A trek through the creek *** one 4 inch crawfish in Calvin's shorts (the shorts under his shorts).
A swim in the pond complete with friends, games, and laughter *** one sliced knee for Calvin and two slices on Jacob Luzier's foot.
A ride to the E.R. in Newton, KS *** 10 stitches, altogether, for Jacob and 5 stitches for Calvin.
Calvin's weak stomach when it comes to blood, needles, thoughts of blood and needles... *** 3 filled "goody" bags at the hospital.
A chance for Wesley to night fish *** 4 lb catfish and Wesley's Sunday dinner!
Three boys sleeping in the same room *** a very late night.
A three-day-weekend with the Luzier's *** three exhausted Graham kids!

Hai Ku

Calvin's Poetry Contest has got the whole family making new poems, and even lyrics to hopeful songs! This Hai Ku is inspired from my view on the 14th floor overlooking Downtown Dallas:
Breezy summer day
Frequently out my window
A brown hawk glides by

Close your eyes, Mommy.

Those words are usually followed with, "And hold out your hands." The first question I always ask is, "It's not alive, is it?" Then I make sure it's not slimy or used to be alive. That was the drill this past Monday when we got home from school and Lelia stood before me. After the normal questioning and I was allowed to open my eyes, the image to the right is what I saw. Introducing the 2009 K.B.Polk Elementary School Third Grade Science Fair winner! Way to go, Lelia Elaine! She did her project on Freezing liquids and learned much from all her research. That event gave us just one more thing to celebrate!

Earlier that Monday I interviewed for a Receptionist position at a Law Firm located across the street from the hospital Lelia was born in 8 1/2 years ago. I was offered the job at the conclusion of the interview and accepted the offer Tuesday morning. Now we get to celebrate big!

Update: Poetry Contest

If you have read the two poems in my previous post you will be excited to know Calvin's poem was was chosen as one of sixty finalists in the Dallas Public Library Youth Poetry Contest. He will attend an awards reception in April when the top three winners will be announced. The contest was open to kids from grade 2-12. I love having such creative kids!

More Poems

Every year the Dallas Public Library has a poetry contest. We decided to have the kids sit down and see what they could come up with. Lelia decided not to enter.

Owls

by Wesley Hugh Graham

6th Grade

There once was a dog named Owls

Whose howls continually curdled his bowels

His bowels made growls that curdled the howls

Of that poor dog named Owls

Seasons

by Calvin Russell Graham

5th Grade

The seasons come, the seasons go

From Spring's green grass, to Winter's snow

They go by, but I wish they'd stay

If only the season would not turn any day

The Spring with its cooling mists

Can I get any more of this

Sometimes Spring gives us pounding rain

A soothing sound that cools my brain

Summer brings scorching sun

Making swimming very fun

It gives us a few cloudy days

But after that, more sunshine rays

Autumn comes through with cooling breezes

The more you rake the more it teases

By making more leaves come down

In very lovely shades of brown

Winter snows and snows and snows

So your garden never grows

It starts and then it ends

Because the seasons are about to begin