A sick day

We are home today, Avery and I.

She is home with a fever and I am working feverishly to finish my portfolio which is due on Thursday. Argh!

Halloween fun!

Once upon a time there were three kiddos out to... well, I guess their only real goal was to score some candy. And that they did.

A black cat, a zombie goalie and Tinkerbell.

This little one stole the show. She was too cute for words!

Thanks Aunt Bob for the girls outfits! They loved them. =)

Snow day part 2

A day for sledding with some friends...

D and B are on the far right...

Bales headed down the hill...

D having to walk back up again....

Aves version of sledding was hiding out in the car. Sounded good to me too!

SNOW DAY!!!

Luckily for us it was already a planned day off of school for the fall break. It is a beautiful, cold and snowy day and the kids are making the most of it.

Too bad I couldn't get a picture of the abominable snow dog, but I was too busy trying to save my carpets from her. When Lucy came in, her fur was matted in snow from the neck down! I had to kennel her while I took care of the kids and then I threw her in the tub! She is cleaned up and running wild now.

And I love having a 10 year old! A little brib money and I get a cleaned off driveway and sidewalks!

Happy Birthday to Grandmama!

A video from the grandchildren =)

First day of school

Here comes trouble...

Bailey's first day of second grade...

Dillon's first day of fifth grade...

The monkey... just cause she is cute too...

And a sassy fourth grade teacher...

The new school...

...started this week. The teachers reported on Thursday for the first day of meetings and planning time and all of today we were able to work in the room crossing things off the huge list of things to do. Classroom library, postcards, class lists, special needs for students, and the little things here and there to do.

Bridget, my cooperating teacher, and I hashed out yesterday the 16 week schedule of what I am taking on and when. Math will be the first block that I take on and I will take it on the 5th day of school! I felt more relieved when she was able to readily give up a block so quickly and I will have full control of the class by the first week of Oct. That was one of my concerns, that she would not be willing to hand over parts of the class to me. I will then be in charge all of October and November with a quick change of hands back in the three weeks of December.

So all you super supportive friends and family out there...You wanna transfer some math lessons over from the Everyday Mathematics teacher lesson guide over to the Regis Lesson Plan Template for me? ;) Just kidding!

I just found out that every lesson I teach needs to be in the Regis Template before the lessons are taught, even the highly scripted math and skills blocks. And since I am taking over the math block on the 5th lesson, I need to get started right away. I only have 58 math lessons total to transcribe over the semester =) Then there are the other 4 blocks of the day... yikes.

It looks to be a paper heavy, lots of curriculum pre-reading, fun and exciting couple of months!

all in a day's fun

Whisky barrel fun

Here is my newest fun project... a whisky barrel pond next to my back porch. I have been loving it and today my friend Collen brought me over some lilly pads!!! How cool is that?

A peek into Avery's party

We had so much fun! It was great to see Avery's friends from Ms. Kellie's and Ms Kellie herself.

Avery, Audrey, Spencer, Bailey

Avery, Cameron, and Audrey

"baby Thea" and her mama Natalie

Her must have monkey cake!

Happy Birthday pretty girl...

Birthday girl!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Avery!!!

Overhead at the party...

During dinner Dillon says something that I find offensive... I roll my eyes and start to walk away when one of his friends pipes up...

Dude, I have learned that if you say something offensive like that to your mom you are in for one of two things. One- a very long talk with a lot of head nodding on your part or Two- big trouble.

A few moments later another friend says something along the lines of how his mom wouldn't punish him for doing that. Someone asks him "Well, what would she do?" "Nothing." he replies...

"nice parenting" another one replies.

Dillon has a birthday party

Dillon's birthday is just around the corner and he decided that he wanted to have his party this weekend. We planned out an outing for 10 of his nearest and dearest and a sleepover for just a few. Unfortuately summer birthday parties usually do not work out well because of vacations. So only 3 friends were able to come and all spent the night as well.

The party starts with some laser tag and lots of quarters for arcade games... so fun and so loud! The boys come out of the tag room excited, yelling, hot and sweaty. They are having a blast. Another game and then it is time to head out.

We pick up some sub sandwiches, chips and soda and then head home. Not quite ready to eat yet, the boys start in on the Wii. A little while later I convince them to come eat, open presents and have some cake. More Wii follows.

More Wii...

More Wii...

More Wii... (a little chasing the dog)

More Wii...

10:00- lights out. I tuck them all in, snug as a bug in a rug, and turn out the lights.

Kevin and I head upstairs to watch a prerecorded show.
11:15ish- we turn out our lights.

11:30- unbeknowst to us the boys have resumed playing Wii and continue to play until God only knows.

What we do know is that they were playing when the sun came up.
The TV was not turned off all night.
They were still playing right up until the last child was picked up.

9:30 am- I had to work in the nursery at church this morning and so I packed up everyone and we headed out to church.
9:45ish Dillon falls asleep on the steps to the balcony in church.

9:50 He heads down to the nursery with me and sleeps in the baby room.
11:00 He is awoken by a baby that has woken from his nap and Dillon is now shaking and nauseous.
11:10 We come home and he can barely crawl to the couch, he can not even make it up to his room.
11:45 I text Kevin that HIS boy is acting like he had an all night bender... much laughter comes from the other end of the line.





4:25 I wake him because the family is heading out to Family Night at the pool.

Finally he is able to sit upright, he heads upstairs and returns with bathing suit on. Once we are at the pool he is mobile again, plus one of his friends from last night was there. His parents also report 6 hour nap. I am surprised they are even talking to me. =)

And Dillon is not even a teenager yet! What is yet to come?

my accomplishment

I have been hiding something from you all...

I have been on a diet.

I have been on said diet for 4 months now.

I have finally hit my goal.

and I did it on vacation!

25 pounds lost.

A look before....

And 25 pounds lighter...

Yeah me!

Ahh beach week....

Beach week for us is all about....

The history...

This is my grandmom, my dad's mom. She has been coming to OC since she was very little.

Big floppy hats stolen away from others

Playing with cousins and seeing lots of family...

Losing yourself in the moment...

(Dillon, Bailey and cousin Andrew)

Surfin' the big ones.....

Surrey rides on the boardwalk...
(Dillon, Andrew, Bailey, Avery and Isaac plus unseen adults that actually do the leg work)

Ridin' the rides and big grins...


Evening hours beach fun...

Great pictures....

Great views... (and not so great views)

Thank you Mom and Dad for another great beach week!!!

another page or three

Can you tell what is on my mind right now? =)

New family picture