Ooops!

I know, I know. A week ago I promised pictures. I thought for sure I'd get them up before today but no such luck! Well, here they are.....

Cheer camp and the young cheerleaders

Discovery Beach in Seattle

Auntie Erin getting paybacks in Seattle

This week was pretty much like the last few. School, work, soccer, bed, repeat.... We may have had a few unique moments here and there but pretty much life in general.

Steve and Dylan did go on a Cub Scout hike today. I was pretty disappointed that I couldn't go but I needed to spend some time at school or I would have gone insane tomorrow trying to catch up! Anyway, they hiked to a memorial in a canyon of a young boy who was killed by a cougar some years ago. The boys found a couple of geocaches and then the whole group roasted hotdogs and marshmallows. It was a beautiful day for being outside and I spent it indoors!

September in Seattle

I love it! The kids and I spent the weekend in Seattle with Robyn, Kim, Erin, Melissa and my parents. My dad has an appointment tomorrow in Seattle to figure out a plan of attack to rid his body of those darn cancer cells that keep appearing so he and my mom were heading west anyway. When I found out that Erin was also going to be in town I figured I shouldn't be left out of the party so I invited myself along!

The weather was gorgeous, as it can be in the fall, and our days were filled, as they are when we travel. We spent yesterday Pike Street Market and at the new sculpture garden downtown. Then we took our lunch, purchased from the market, to Discovery Park where we hiked (and I mean hiked!) down to the beach to eat. It was quite a walk to the beach - I think I figured out it was a little over a mile and all downhill - but we were able to refresh before hiking back up. Dylan played in the seaweed and collected shells while Lyndsi cowered from the bees.

Robyn and Erin had a party to go to so I spent the evening with my parents and the kids. We shopped at Whole Foods downtown, which I had been wanting to do for a while, and then had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory, one of our old haunts from our younger years. Back at the hotel the kids swam while I watched and then we all hit the hay. Everyone was asleep within several minutes of their heads hitting their pillows!

This morning we got to spend some time at IKEA - I know, the market AND IKEA all in one trip!! That doesn't happen for me very often! After lunch , the kids and I started our trek home while everyone else went back to Robyn's to spend the rest of the day.

The drive was long but the trip was fun and very worth the effort. Once school starts for the year, we don't do the quick weekend trips as often as we'd like so I'm glad I jumped on this opportunity.

Lyndsi went to cheer camp for a couple of days after school last week. She looked darn cute in her little Cougar cheer outfit while she rallied with the other cheerleader wannabes! She missed the performance Friday night due to our trip but she enjoyed the experience anyway.

Speaking of Lyndsi, my little girl is about to be toothless! Her front bottom teeth are so ready to fall out that one of them is turned almost backwards! The little smarty pants won't let us near her mouth to help the little buggers out!

Dylan is in full soccer swing. The season is actually about half over all ready. He missed two games this weekend and had one last weekend. I think we have 2 games this week but don't quote me on that! He still has his long soccer locks and pretty much looks the part!

I don't have my pictures uploaded yet but I'll get a few on to share, hopefully tonight.

Fatigue and Fall

They've both set in! Thank heavens for 3 day weekends, or in my case and in my opinion even better, 3 day work weeks! School has been in session for 2 weeks now and my summer slumbers are a distant memory. I'm exhausted! We only had 3 days of school this week because when you live in a rural community, the County Fair is a big deal so you get to take a day off from school. I always did enjoy the fair and now I've found another reason to promote it!

Let's go back to the middle of the week (after Labor Day but before Fair Day) when Lyndsi started back at Montessori. You might remember that Lyndsi started kindergarten this year, but because it is only half day kindergarten, she needed somewhere to go for the other half of the day. We opted to put her back in Montessori where she is familiar with the teachers and the program, rather than daycare. Her Montessori school has a kindergarten program as well as preschool so she will be getting a double dose of A,B,C's every day. Anyway, all I really wanted to say was that Lyndsi is back at school full time and all is well!

Again, not the outfit I wanted her to wear, but isn't she adorable!

Yesterday, the kids and I set out with about 30 other staff members and their families for an adventure on Omak Lake. Steve had a soccer jamboree so was unable to come - the team did very well, by the way. Our district was awarded a grant from a parks and rec. program to purchase 2 15-passenger canoes complete with paddles, life jackets and a trailer. Everyone was invited to take the canoes out on their maiden voyage so we accepted. How fun! It was a beautiful day and the atmosphere was light. We canoed for a little over an hour to a remote beach, where we stopped for lunch and play. The kids climbed on a rock outcropping that was reached via a submerged sandbar. A few adults even braved the cold waters. I did a little wading but that was the extent of my bravery! On the way back to the cars, one canoe load paddled along the opposite shore and were lucky enough to see a bear. We all pulled our weight with paddling and I think we even learned a bit. I'm feeling a bit sore this morning but nothing major.

Setting off from the boat launch at "Beer Can Beach" - yep, that's the name of the beach!

Max and Dylan in the front of the canoe.

Playing in the water

Lyndsi kept the rhythm with her paddle.

Man overboard!

Dylan went for a dunk in the lake.

Today is a "work outside and get something done" day. Steve has been painting the entry way, which is done, and staining the deck, which is not, so now I need to accomplish something. Laundry and yard work are on the agenda.

Oh, but before I go, guess what I found the other night? I opened the front door to let Ruth out for her nightly potty ritual and there, ready to greet me, was a little scorpion! I couldn't believe it! I looked at it for a couple of seconds, trying to figure out WHAT I was looking at, and then it curled it's little tail at me - I yelled for Steve and we tried to catch the little guy but he escaped. Hopefully I won't find him in the house some day! I'd heard we had scorpions in the area, transplanted from the south on the vehicles that come with the harvest season, but I'd never actually seen one. Pretty cool!

Have a great week!

School's Back In Session!

Check out this cute third grader! I've given up trying to cut his hair! He has a reputation with all the teacher's because of that mop!

And this year both kids are at school with me! Dylan is in third grade with Mrs. Baker again. He had her as a first grade teacher and was so excited to learn she'd be his third grade teacher also. After three days of school he still thinks recess and dodgeball are the best parts of the day! Although he has talked a lot about music and the long song the new music teacher played. I think he also kind of liked the writing project he completed about his summer vacation.

I was able to take Dylan to his classroom before school. He was seated next to best friend Max so he felt a little more relaxed, though you can't tell it from his eyes!

Yesterday Dylan showed up at my classroom door about an hour before school got out. He was crying and holding his nose. Poor guy had hit his nose on someone else's head! Yes, the blood came and then so did the tears. That ruined his whole day! His nose did swell a bit and Dylan was convinced he had broken it but all is well today!

I think I struggled with Dylan being in third grade more than I struggled with Lyndsi being in kindergarten! Every once in a while I would look around at the eager faces of my new second graders and a pang would hit my heart as I realized that Dylan was no longer among those fresh faces. As you may recall, he was in my class last year. I am happy that Dylan is so excited about school and I'm glad he's becoming more independent but I sure miss spending my days with him.

Yes, Lyndsi is a kindergartener! Can you believe it! I'm sure she felt some nervousness but she never expressed it. It helps that Reily is in her class and that she has been able to spend the mornings with her. They've gotten on the little kindergarten bus together and taken the "long bus ride" to school together. I was able to wait at school and watch the kids get off the bus. They were all so cute! Lyndsi says she saw me through the bus window but didn't even glance my way as she walked from the bus into the building. All those little kiddos look like little duckings following their mama (aka the bus driver)!

What a cutie! She and Reily planned out their outfits the day before. Not the dress I wanted but cute anyway!


Here's the little kindergarten bus - you probably can't see her but Lyndsi is in the window with her hand up. I think the bus driver was saying something to the kids.

I snuck into the class to snap a few pictures. I was trying to stay hidden but was seen, so I spent a couple of minutes with the girls and then went back to my own classroom. Don't worry, my students were at recess so they weren't unattended!

In the kindergarten classroom

My first few days of school were pretty typical. I was exhausted by the end of the first day, the second day was a little more exhausting and by the end of yesterday I was dragging out the door to go home. Somehow I always adjust and am able to make it through the next 9 months - rather successfully I might add!

I think Steve felt the same way about school but he is adding soccer practice to the end of his days. The kids and I went to watch the practice on Tuesday and boy, was I glad I'm not a soccer coach! Steve should be in perfect shape by November! He was working out right along with the girls. I hope his old bones can handle it!

I finished my assignments for my Master's class. They weren't hard but I was trying to do them after the kids went to bed so my brain wasn't functioning! Have you ever tried to write a critical analysis of Washington's RCWs on bilingual education after a full day of corralling 7 year old children? I don't recommend it!

I Can Handle It!

Or maybe I'm just fooling myself! I feel stronger and have caught up on my sleep so guess what I did? I enrolled at Heritage University! I am an official graduate student! In a little less than 2 years I will have my Masters Degree in ESL/ELL! Yep, I've officially gone crazy!



Actually, my last couple of days have been a bit bizarre. If someone had told me a week ago that I would be sitting in a History and Theories of Bilingual Education course I would have told them they had the wrong person! Monday morning I went to an informational meeting for a program being offered in Bridgeport. At this meeting, the facilitator happened to mention something about the first class starting that afternoon. Hmmmm....surely not for the program I was looking at, right? I have until September 18th to decide, right? Wrong! I have now started and finished my first Masters class! Woo hoo!



Believe me, I wasn't cheering last night at about midnight as I was sitting at this very computer, doing homework I hadn't scheduled into my week before school starts schedule! But, I signed on the dotted line and so now I'm committed! I may be committed in a different way soon. I'll let you know!



Despite my fatigue (already) and the fact that I never considered a degree in English as a Second Language, I have enjoyed this week's class. The instructor condensed it into 3 days because everyone in the program works for a school district and she wanted this class out of the way. We have sat and listened to lectures for many hours but I'm finding the information very interesting. Let's hope the rest of the classes keep my interest!



I'm kind of lying when I say that I have finished the class because I still have homework due on September 1st, but the class part is done. Yay!



The kids have had a ball with their friends since they returned home on Sunday. We've had lots of little rugrats running around here and both Dylan and Lyndsi have been to other people's houses, also. And, can you believe it? They've kept their rooms clean! They even seem to enjoy keeping them clean! No, I know, it won't last but I'm liking it right now!



We took them shopping last night to finish buying their school supplies. I love shopping for school supplies! It's fun to let the kids look for and then choose what is on each of their lists. Choices are limited as we stick to the 2 aisles at Wal-Mart so the kids feel like they get to buy whatever they want, even though I know they have some constraints :)

Check out those bedrooms!

They're clean! 14 hours, 1 garbage can and a whole lot of yard sale/giveaway bags later - I'm done! Wow were those rooms messy. Like pigsty messy! They even smelled bad. Now they smell like Pledge orange oil...aah......

Oh, don't worry, the kids are coming home tomorrow so by this time tomorrow night the rooms will be back to their lived in state!

Cleaning out the kids' rooms was one of my goals to get done this week, while they were away spending quality time with their grandparents in Spokane. I did it! I really wanted to yard sale away the evidence but I didn't quite get that motivated!

My lovely children come home tomorrow. I have really enjoyed this week of relaxed busyness but I am looking forward to having them home. I miss them! I think they're looking forward to being home. They've been gone from home for over two weeks. That's a long time for 2 little homebodies!

Yep - I miss the little buggers!

Who's In Charge Here?

And where have you been?! I know, I know...I've been gone a long time! But so much has gone on! AND I didn't have access to a computer that would allow me to make a new post. S0....

Am I off the hook yet? I hope so because I have had the greatest week and I want to share it with everyone!

Last weekend, which would have been the first weekend in August, was my (sit down for this announcement!) 20th high school reunion! I am old! We left home Friday morning, dropped the kids off at Nana and Papa's in Spokane, picked up Yvette, Jen and Denise and drove to Coeur d' alene for an afternoon cruise. I was a bit alarmed that I didn't recognize people on the dock! However, I was quickly relieved when I realized that no one recognized anyone! We have all changed quite a bit! After the cruise, the reunion group headed to the Spokane valley for an ice breaker at a small (and slightly scary!) bar. I had so much fun reconnecting with people I hadn't seen in 20 years! My old Indian Trail Elementary crew seemed to be in the majority and we rehashed old times many times over.

On Saturday, I got up with the kids and went with them and my mom and dad to Riverfront Park. The park was celebrating its 30th (I think) birthday so all the prices were reduced and a great deal!

Lyndsi, Jill, Dylan and Papa getting on the gondola ride at Riverfront park. The falls weren't as full as they can be but they were still pretty.

Saturday night took the NC Indians to Spokane Center Stage for dinner and dancing. Again, the reunion organizer outdid herself and made us all feel like we were the most popular person in our class. With party favors, prizes, good food, memorabilia and free drinks the evening was a success!

Steve and Yvette at Ella's Supper Club, Center Stage

Our final event was a bar-b-que in Audubon Park. David's Pizza catered the event and the kids had fun playing with water toys and in a whiffle ball game while the adults visited.

Some of my girlfriends from high school and I at the picnic

The rest of the week brought more fun as we shopped and played. Robyn came to town and she spent a day with us at a city pool. This pool was not your typical pool. Fountains and water slides sprayed water everywhere! It was so cool! Lyndsi wasn't able to go on the slide as she was a little too young, but the rest of us took our turn. It was a perfect way to spend a hot day.

Check out the buckets dumping on our heads!

Steve and Dylan shoot off the slide like rockets!

The Omak Stampede

My aunt and uncle were visiting my parents from Wisconsin and they have never attended a rodeo....until now! On Thursday afternoon we all headed off to spend the night in Okanogan and to attend the World Famous Omak Stampede and Suicide Race. The day was hot and the evening felt hotter! But the rodeo was fun and I'm pretty sure Aunt Coy and Uncle Don got their fill of the rodeo and powwow culture! Robyn and I stayed for a trip into the beer garden and some fabulous people watching! We even learned a new game called "Butt Darts". I won't go into the details but the name should give you a clue as to the nature of the game. No, neither one of us played! Though the winner took home $22.00!

Friday brought another reunion. This time it was Steve's turn. He's old, too! Shadle held their ice breaker at Snoops saloon in Spokane so I drove back from Okanogan in time to head off with Steve. Another fun evening! I spent most of the evening with Jenny, who married one of Steve's classmates, and Yvette, who wanted to see who she might have known. Jenny and I didn't know each other in high school but our sisters spent a lot of time together. Our husbands know each other so we have now created a friendship that I am very thankful for! I only wish I'd been a little friendlier in high school so I could have begun this friendship earlier. Anyway, Steve socialized the night away and every time I saw him he was with another group of girls!

We attended the picnic at Shadle Park on Saturday and then had dinner and dancing at the Country Club on Saturday night. After spending 2 weekends with Mike and Jenny, I felt a little lost when we ended up at a different table! However, I enjoyed talking with a couple of Steve's other classmates and listening to the program for the evening.

With the reunions behind us, it's time to focus on the end of summer and the beginning of school. Steve and I returned to Okanogan on Sunday and the kids stayed behind. They will be spending the first half of the week with Nana and Papa and the second half with Grandma Linda. I grudgingly went to school today. I got quite a bit done so I'm glad I did it, but I'm just not ready to go back! Steve completed the deck - woo hoo! He started it just about a year ago and it's beautiful! I just need to get a stain on it and our work is done - for now!