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!