Animoto.com

Animoto.com

I'm in a technology class this weekend and we are working on some software that is available online. This is one of our projects. Fun! See the slideshow up above.

These are pictures from early this summer but they were the only 5 I had available to me yesterday.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Brrrr..... Fall lasted about a day here in Okanogan. It's gone from beautiful Indian summer to below freezing winter! There's even a threat of snow already!

Weather like this makes me happy to sit inside with the hum of the heater in background.

I've taken full advantage of this today. I'm home with Dylan, who was running a low temp and has a yucky cough. Two weeks ago he had strep throat and Lyndsi just went back to school today after her bout with influenza. Yuck!

I'm thinking positive, though - this is it for the Streeters! We are all filled to the brim with the antibodies we need to make it through the year. Yippee!

Through the Years

I'll bet you thought I'd disappeared! Nope - it's just fall! And if you remember right, I tend to go into overdrive supermom mode for a couple of months in the fall! I'm back to working full time, attending soccer practices and games, chauffeuring kids to dance and piano lessons, organizing Girl Scout meetings and, this year, studying for graduate level classes! I'll be back to normal again in January.....

The kids got their school pictures today so I thought I'd share. I'm always amazed by the changes in both Dylan and Lyndsi.

Dylan and Lyndsi at age 2 ...

through the years....

And now!

Oh - and we still have Lucy. I guess she's officially part of our family now. Sigh.....

Have You Met Lucy?

Check out this cutie! She's up for adoption if you're interested - though we've had her so long that we may decide to keep her! At one of Dylan's first soccer practices, this cute little puppy was playing with all the kids and having a grand old time. When we all got ready to leave, we realized that 'Lucy' didn't belong to any of us. Dylan walked with friend Lynell to the neighboring soccer team to see if Lucy belonged there. Apparently the little puppy was at the field when they all arrived. So, I suckered and took her home. She's now been here for almost 3 weeks! Other than her sharp little teeth and her very active bladder, she's been a joy to have around. Poor Ruth must feel like we're getting ready to replace her!

We've had some pretty spectacular storms lately! The kids stole the camera and shot these fun pictures of a gorgeous rainbow after a hard hitting but short lived rain, thunder, lightening and wind storm. Fortunately, this act of nature came with moisture to douse all the little fires the lightening likes to start!

We took a little bike ride today out to an area called China Wall right outside Okanogan. This was a very active mining area some time ago and there's lots to see. We biked to an old mine and found a geocache and then discovered an old, collapsed cabin that was fun to explore. We couldn't let the beautiful holiday get away from us without doing something fun! I'd kind of forgotten how many muscles you discover after riding a bike!

Dylan outside an old cabin

Dylan's friend Max joined us for the outing. Max's family let us use this towing bicycle while Lyndsi is young. My daughter, unlike me, loves speed and had a ball!

Happy Labor Day everyone....

What Happened to My Babies????

Today was the first day of school in Okanogan. It was also the first day of school with no more daycare issues! Whoo hoo! If Amy was still my childcare provider, I'd still be sending my kids to her. But she's not....so daycare hasn't been easy. However, we all survived quite well and we are now entering a new chapter in our lives.

Lyndsi started first grade. Her classroom is right across the hall from me and we are on the same bell schedule, which means we have the same lunch and recess times. So Lyndsi and I are going to see a lot of each other this year!

We had a few scant tears this morning as I left Lyndsi in her room to sit at her big kid desk. No - not mine, though I wanted to shed some of my own! I'm blown away at how my little girl adjusts to changes in her life.

The hardest part of the day for me was when Dylan announced that he wasn't going to ride with me but rather with Steve so he could walk to school from the high school (5 blocks away) - sigh - he's becoming so independent! Needless to say, I saw very little of Dylan today (though I did go peek in his classroom window for a few minutes!) Fortunately, my "little" boy met me at my classroom after school with a big hug and smile. I was consoled.....

Part of Dylan's excitement for the year is the fact that his teacher is an artist and a history buff. He knows a lot about real life pirates and he can draw their ships - AND - he can teach his students how to draw them also! I'm glad these are the things that excite Dylan.

One of the best things about being a teacher is that Steve and I get to experience the excitement (twinged with a bit of stress) of the first day of school. We both had great days, though we are both very tired.

179 school days until summer vacation!

Parker Brown

This is an email I sent out today. I'm posting it here also because I feel strongly about the whole thing. If you got this twice today (3 times if you're on Facebook!), I'm sorry!




Hi all,

I'm forwarding this site to you because the person writing the journal and the person she's writing about need lots of thoughts, prayers or whatever you can give them. Sometimes we feel so deeply about something and yet so helpless to do any good or to help - that's how I'm feeling right now. This is my way of helping.

I know Sarah and her family. Parker is an amazing little boy (read his journal back to the beginning to hear his story) and he has the most courageous family. Many of you already follow Parker's journey through his blog. Maybe you can forward this on to all your friends. I strongly believe in the power of prayer and positive thinking when it comes to medical miracles. If everyone who reads this gives just one happy or hopefilled thought to Parker........you never know.

My advice to those of you dealing with your own pain and fear - don't read Sarah's blog. She wouldn't want to add to anyone's turmoils. Instead, just send out a prayer for a little boy you don't know.

And some of you recieving this may not even know who I am! I have your email address for one reason or another or my email has been forwarded to you. Rather than pick and choose who in my address book should know about Parker, I'm letting you decide.

I've said this before, I don't care what godly being you pray to or whether you choose to use meditation or whatever. Prayers and positive thinking are the same in any religion or belief system.

So here it is - Parker's Blog: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/parkerbrown

Thank you,

Jill