ABC: Awards, Bamboo and Cats in the family...

I know I haven't been good about posting to this blog. Many of the things that I write about are suitable for public consumption, so I post them to my public blog, which I hope you are following: www.jessicaguthrie.com. Plus, with Facebook easy to post photos to instantaneously, I'll admit I have been lazy about getting those same photos on here.

But here are some of the highlights so far in 2014:

Oreo is not just a cookie...

Yep, we have a cat. We are sill dog people, but since we can't have dogs in the apartment we live in in Japan, we got a cat. The boys are responsible for the daily chores for her and they've done very well. She was born Sept. 1, so she is only a few months old, and, fortunately, has some redeeming "dog" qualities, such as greeting us at the door when we come home. Rodney was the least excited to get a cat, and, of course, he appears to be her favorite Guthrie.

Exceptional Students

As you would expect from Will and Xan, they are doing very well in school. Both received two awards this semester, for academic achievement and for perfect attendance. The perfect attendance is especially significant because the boys are responsible for getting themselves up, dressed, fed, lunches made and to school on time. I'm usually still sleeping and Rodney's left for work. So proud to have such smart, responsible boys!

Xan's teacher, Mrs. Sellers, and the school principal behind the podium. The blond lady is another 2nd grade teacher.

Xan got Super Samurai for his class for Math. There is also a Super Samurai for Reading and then one award for Most Improved in both Match and Reading. Out of 19 kids, he is doing the best in Math. We are very proud of him.

Because I was in Okinawa for Jane Wayne Day, Rodney took these photos and posted them to Facebook in a timely fashion so I could see them. Thank you, dear! Will earned the Principal's Honor Roll, which means he only got one B in both first quarters. We are very proud of him. He was frustrated because he missed the Commander's Award by two percentage points. Learning has occurred...

Bamboo Fun

Also, while I was in Okinawa, the Guthrie boys headed out on a youth cultural trip Feb. 1, galavanting in the winter wonderland of bamboo forests. Luckily, the weather was mild, so they were able to enjoy themselves without freezing. This photos are also courtesy of Rodney.

They made a rice cooker out of a bamboo stalk. Bamboo is naturally hollow, but is closed off in sections where the white lines on it are. Rodney and Will liked the rice dish, Xan didn't even try it.

Rodney was in charge of making a totem pole with faces.

Will learned to carve bamboo - they brought me back a nice bamboo vase and cup.

On the bus on the way to the bamboo forest, about a half hour away.

Much to Rodney's disapproval, they gave Xan a saw. He came back without a scratch, so he must have been fine.

Some other odds and ends

Rodney plans to ref youth basketball this month. Good luck to him...

Rodney's unit had its holiday part Jan. 10 since most of the Marines were in Guam through December. We had fun but there were too many kids under 5 running amok.

Xan's writing is coming along just fine, but I wish he would follow his own advice. Except the dusting the wall part. Where did that come from? And I like how he indirectly blames the cat for the mess.