Snow???

Those darn weathermen and women are already predicting snow! I'm not ready! It's been such a great fall that I'm not ready to give it up!

Sigh....

October 4

Yikes! I had to pullover to take this picture! Do you ever have those nightmares where you look in your rearview mirror and there's a person looking back at you? Here's what I saw on my drive back from Spokane today! Dylan was playing around with his Halloween costume and it really freaked me out!

October 5

Meet Ruth and Steve. They own Okanogan's only little coffee shop. I drive through every Monday to pick up a nice hot cuppo latte!

October 6

Check out the stash of squash I picked up at the Greenbluff farm this weekend! It looks so festve on my deck!

October 7
This was my lunch at school today. My friend, Tess, posted a picture similar to this on her blog and it made me hungry! So I made my own little fancy lunch and ate it in the staff lounge - in front of everyone!

October 8
I had to review the art in our school for one of my classes. This was one of the pieces I came across. It's been here since I started teaching here but I hadn't paid attention to where it came from until now. This sculpture was created by a group of elementary students in an enrichment class in the 90's. We have so many great pieces of art decorating our school. They are all there because of our high school art teacher who values the aesthetics of a building.

A Few More!

September 29

My favorite tree! This is the tree in our school parking lot. I have always loved the way this tree shows the seasons. It's full of pretty green leaves in the summer, bright, bold colors in the fall, sparkly ice crystals in the winter and tiny buds in the spring.

September 30

Did you know I have a student teacher this fall? Her name is Jill also. She's fabulous! I've never been able to work with a student teacher before so I was really excited this year. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to work with. Our kids are lucky to have her as our student teacher this year.

October 1

Friday night dinner! Yep - Papa Murphy's stuffed crust pizza. I don't get any but the rest of the family sure enjoyed it!

October 2

My sister, Erin, is in nursing school. We happened to be in Spokane on the night she decided to listen to everyone's bowels. Hmmmm.....

October 3

Dylan helped Papa pick apples and plums in the orchard. He always has such fun helping Papa outside. I think he looks forward to that more than anything when we go to Spokane!

September 24

And yet - more progress on the bathroom.....

September 25

Today was a day of soccer.....2 games for Dylan, 1 for Lyndsi, Dylan's in Omak, Lyndsi's in Oroville. Despite the hectic schedule, the day was perfect! And the games were fun.

September 26

We took Flat Stanley to a movie today. It was quite a treat as we all got to go with him! The movie was that Guardian movie. Dylan loves the books so we had to see the show! It wasn't bad!

September 27
This is my grandma's vanity table. When she passed away, it became mine. I love the way it looks in my house but I discovered something even better about it. It still smells like my grandma's house! I opened the drawer and this soothing perfumey, woody, musty smell came wafting out.....Ah, memories! By the way, happy birthday Erin- Sorry we didn't call!

September 28

Another day of soccer, this time with a couple of dentist appointments thrown in! Clean check ups!

Finally....More Pictures!

But first, another fighter to keep in your thoughts. Bill has just been diagnosed with cancer and will be needing lots of positive energy shooting his way......

September 19

Here's how what our bathroom tile looks like. One more step down! Steve is a weekend warrior these days! Little by little gets the job done...

September 20

I had to take some photos for a project for my Masters program. I used Lyndsi's as my photo of the day. Kind of a cop out, I know!

September 21
Every year we have a bat or two that hang out on our school walls for the day (outside of course!). Dylan spied this little guy. They are really pretty cute! Until they show their little fangs....

September 22

We have the meanest Tooth Fairy at our house! We first realized this about a year ago, when Lyndsi woke up at the nice late hour of 7 and discovered no money to be found. It was almost like the Tooth Fairy forgot about her! Oh such panic! Well, between Steve and I we found the missing money hiding underneath the mattress and came up with the theory that because Lyndsi made the Tooth Fairy look for her tooth (it never made it under the pillow because it was lost before it could get there), he/she wanted Lyndsi to look for the money. Payback in a way.

Whew....such quick thinking...

This time, our mean old Tooth Fairy left this measly quarter. We're pretty sure it's because, once again, Lyndsi woke in a panic when there was no money under her pillow. Fortunately, we were able to console her that it was only 3:00 am and the Tooth Fairy would be there soon. We just don't think our Tooth Fairy cares to be doubted and he/she grabbed the first thing he/she came across....

Another whew...

September 23

Flat Stanley came to our house for the week! Tonight we took him to a spaghetti feed fundraiser for Dori and then to the football game.

Fabulous News!

But no pictures. Not this time. Partly because this news deserves a space all its own. Partly because I left my laptop at school....ooops. Partly because it's late and I'm tired.

But mostly because of the good news part.....

For the first time in 2 1/2 years, my dad is in total remission from cancer! That means he has beaten this horrible disease 4 times! Celebration time at the Schumacher house!

Not only has my father become a living legend, he has also, inadvertantly, helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research. Two Team in Training cycling teams have raised money in his honor.

In fact, it is because of fundraisers like those that my dad has beaten this last stubborn case of cancer. The study drug he was on was paid for through cancer fighting resarch donations. So when you have the opportunity to donate to cancer research, rest assured that your money truly goes to a good cause.

Way to go, Dad!

In all the celebrating, keep those positive thoughts flowing to Dori and Joey and to Jenny, a young teacher from Omak who is battling her second bout of cancer, this time in her sternum.

And back to a celebration - my friend's husband, John Knighten has had a successful stem cell transplant. Congratulations, John!