Pictures

Sam's first day of school (1st grade).

I took the kids to Paradise Trout & Berry days this past weekend. The kids had a blast playing on all the rides...

Sam trying to put her bean bag thing farther than her opponent's....No such luck.

My niece & nephew went nuts in here beating to death the stand & bop things!

The kids loved this slide thing. It went pretty dang fast. Sam did get a "carpet" burn of sorts on one of her elbows.

He flew down like this almost every time he went down!

Climbing to the top of the slide!

Sam, Jade, Nash & Jack - waiting in line for the giant slide.

The girls climbing to the top - you can see Jack at the end of the slide.

Nash climbing to the top of the slide.

Caleb found a new chair!

5 days down...

And only 175 more to go! But who's counting? ;)

The first week of school has been good. Much better than I had anticipated anyway! I have a fairly good group of kids. I am excited to work with them this year. I think they will be awesome. I did get a fabulous bombshell dropped on me a day this week though....our ESL teacher is only part time. Yea...you know where this one is going, don't you! Well, apparently since she's only part time, she can't possibly get to the 6th grade ESl kids that are legally required to receive services. Convinently (is that how you spell that?) enough it just so happens that if you are in the PROCESS of getting your ESL endorsement you are ELIGIBLE to TEACH ESL. Yea...so, now in addition to teaching my regular group of 28 kids (yes, I said 28) I also get to teach ESL to all the 6th graders who are eligible to receive servies during the day! Yay!! How, might you ask, am I going to do this? Well, it only required that we completely rearrange the schedule we spent an entire day building so that when we rotate for core subjects (writing/language arts, history & science) I teach Language Arts instead of History AND we don't just rotate according to homeroom - no that would be MUCH too simple - instead, we ability group the kids & place all the ESL an special education kids in one group! Ta Da! Problem solved! The answer to your question is, YES, I AM INSANE. I have absolutely NO idea how this is going to turn out, but we're going to take it and run....starting Monday :) Like I told Travis, "It's a good resume builder, right?"

Samantha has been enjoying school. I'm not too impressed with what has been sent home by her teacher yet - her only homework has been 1 side of a phonics sheet 2 times this week. Now I know that as a teacher myself I shouldn't be so critical, right? Well, I can't help myself! I think Sam's teacher is a first year teacher & despite my knowing (and telling myself I know) better, I don't like it! I have to keep reminding myself that the letters this girl is sending home for parents were written for people who ARE NOT teachers. I also have to remember that this girl teaches FIRST GRADE and not 6th. Some of the letters she's sent home though just flat out make me crazy! I think it's the way she words them and not so much what it is that she's saying. I don't know for sure but I guess we'll tough it out this year & I'll learn a valuable lesson in patience (I really wish God woud quit sending me those lessons!). Samantha also started dance lessons back up this week. We had to buy new tap & ballet shoes, pay a costume deposit & pay for her first month's lesson all in one swoop...that was depressing! I seriously wish that girl's feet would QUIT growing! I have to buy new tap shoes 2 times a year!

Nash had his meet & greet with his preschool teacher, Teacher Barbara and absolutely CAN NOT wait for school to start. In fact, he's been itchin' all summer to go back! He just loves Teacher Barbara & can't hardly contain himself when he talks about school. It's so cute to watch him, I really need to get it on video. He's turning into quite the big boy & I can't believe that this time next year he'll be going to Kindergarten. I hope some of the schools get full day Kindergarten back by then! Not because I think he NEEDS it, but because I think he's going to WANT it!

Caleb is walking/running around here like a wild man! He was only taking about 5-8 steps right before Trav came home. As soon as Trav came home last week he was off & running! He loves to have Nash or Sam chase him. His squeal can be heard throughout the house as he takes off running from his big scary sibblings & tries to hide! He LOVES to play the "I don't want this so I'm going to throw it on the floor & feed it to the dog" game these days. He also really thinks it's funny to hit ME in the face. Great fun, let me tell ya! He loves it when his brother and sister pretend to get hurt or fall down. He thinks it's quite hilarious and I have to admit that watching from afar, it IS!

Trav went back to WY on Tue. this week. He's had to be at the shop at 2:30 AM every day this week and has been working about 18 hr days. That's good right, more money...uh sort of...he got a bunch of hours on his last pay check & we about died when we saw how much they held out & couldn't figure out why. Come to find out, his taxes almost DOUBLED! Yikes! Being the positive person that he is though, he says, "Well, if you're payin' taxes that means you're makin' money." So, I guess I will adopt that mindset & keep telling myself that it's true!

The Friday before school started (the 21st) Trav brought Caleb down to help load up what I didn't need & get it out of my classroom. His parents had offered to keep the other 2 kids so after we loaded up we went down to the New Gate mall to use a gift certificate one of my former students had given me at Christmas. We bought tickets to go see The Proposal (HILARIOUS) and then ventured over to the food court because we had an hour before the movie started. Much to our surprise, we watched a kid STAB a lady right there in the food court! I started to wish I had carried my gun with me that day! Ironically, Travis & I had a conversation on our way into the mall about how much Trav was wishing he had MY gun with him because it was going to be dark when we came out. I told him he was being ridiculous & we'd be fine so to quit whining about it. I hate it when he's RIGHT!

As you can see, we've had an eventful week or so. To top it off, my aunt & uncle are in CHINA right now, picking up their newly adopted daughter. FuJiao is the same age as Samantha (about a week older) & we have been following along on their adoption blog daily. Samantha is as excited as though FuJiao was her sister that was coming home & absolutely cannot wait to meet her new cousin!

I hope your week has been an eventful one & that unlike me, you LEARN TO SAY NO when someone asks you to do more than you bargained for! :)

Exciting Times...

I can't believe that summer is gone! It went much too fast for me!

Tomorrow is my first day of school (again!). I am anxious about working with big 6th graders! I think I'll manage fine, it's just new so it's out of my comfort zone!! I could still use at least another week getting ready for things, but I guess I'll have to make due! Luckily for me, the things I still want to prepare I don't need for a little while!

Samantha had her first day on Thursday. My mom got her ready that morning & took her picture so as soon as I have a picture of that, I will get it posted. She is going to Canyon Elementary this year instead of Lincoln. She really loved Lincoln last year but since my mom couldn't keep her before school this year, we had to figure out something different. At least this year she won't have to be at the school building until 5 every day! She'll get to go to daycare with the boys after school gets out, so that will be a nice change for her this year. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Kowalis and I think she's a first year teacher. Despite being a teacher myself, it really bugs me to think that my kid is in a first year teacher's class. Terrible, I know! I'm going to have to remind myself that I was a first year teacher once too & just be patient!! Patience is a virtue I'm still perfecting!

Nash has his preschool meet & greet tomorrow afternoon. He is so excited to be going back to Teacher Barbara. I think next year when he goes to Kindergarten & has a different teacher he's going to be completely bummed out! He calls preschool Kindergarten & when I try to tell him it isn't Kindergarten, it' preschool - well, you should just see/hear his reaction!

Caleb is quite the big boy these days. He was only taking about 8 steps (at most) a day or two before Trav came home last Tue. Now he's cruising all over the place like a maniac! He thinks he knows how to do stairs too so I have to be really careful to watch that the other 2 don't leave the doors open b/c I just know he'll goes nose first down the cement stairs & land on his head! Yes, he does in fact take after his big brother! Lucky me!!!

On Friday my aunt & uncle left for China. They went to pick up their new adopted daughter, FuJiao. They will be getting her at about 1:30 am Monday our time. We are SO excited to have a new member of our extended family, especially Samantha who can't wait for another girl! FuJiao is only about a week or so older than Samantha but will be a grade behind her in school. All I know is that Samantha is as excited as if it was HER sister that will be arriving soon!!

That's about all that's going on for now. I will have to get some pix of my classroom up soon. Oh, & Samantha starts dance class again on Wed. so I'm sure we'll have a new first day of dance picture up soon as well!

Have a great week!

Help them out!

I learned not too long ago that one of my cousins & his wife are trying to adopt a child. I'm putting their adoption blog website here so you can help me spread the word for their search! Thank you!!
http://jandjadoption.blogspot.com/

Quotable Quotes...

Sometimes my kids say the most random things!

I took the kids out to see Trav's parents tonight b/c we haven't been out there in almost 2 weeks & I'm not sure when we'll make it back out there again. Anyway, we were on our way home tonight & Caleb was being fussy. Mind you when we're in the Saturn & all 3 kids are in the back seat, we get kinda cozy & personal. Well, being the fabulous big sister that she is, Samantha started singing to Caleb to get him to calm down & go to sleep. This girl makes up some good songs if you take the time to just sit & listen. Tonight I just happened to be listening & I'm glad I was b/c it was a great laugh!.....

Samantha: "Little Miss Muffett sat on her tuffet, eating her turds away..."

Yep...I laughed so hard I nearly had to pull over! I finally got control of myself & asked Samantha what it was she had said (thinking maybe I heard her wrong). She repeated the above & I again broke out into the giggles. I finally stopped giggling & was able to correct her. Try as she might though, it kept coming out "eating her turds away..." Even after I explained what "Curds & whey" are!! She' not usually the type to keep saying something incorrect once she's been told what it should be. Guess we'll keep working on it!!

Good Bye Baby Mullett

Well, my mom cut Caleb's hair tonight. I wore the cape and Caleb fed me the hair pick - yes, I said he fed it to me. He definitely did not want to hold still (be glad you missed this one Nat!). There are still a few straggler hairs but they will have to wait for another day! The pix aren't fabulous, but they will have to do. You might notice in one that his eyes are kind of red - he took 1 (ONE) 30 minute nap today & was up from 8 am until 9:30 pm. GRRRRR......

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE - I had Caleb in the ENT's office today (don't say a WORD) & he said that Caleb's ear looks fantastic! Holy cow! It only took 1 year, a zillion trips to InstaCare & CV ENT, 2 sets of tubes & 3 visits to the chiropractor (with about 6 more to come in the next 2 weeks)! Pray that it lasts!!!!!

Check out the cute little curls going every which direction - makes for some killer bed head! Not to mention it is sticking straight out on its own because he rubs his food in his hair when he gets bored!

This is the one that you can tell he's super tired.

Like how boofy it is on top? It was too long to mohawk again but not sticking straight in the air like his brother's hair does.

Well, he had to taste it too you know! My handsome little man...no more boofy mop top.

Not the best tasting object in the world! Notice the cute curls are all gone... :( I hope they grow back but I don't think they will.

Not quite so much boofiness on top now! The back is still kinda long, but we couldn't get him to look at his toes!

Wow

Seriously - you have GOT to check out this site if you haven't already (thanks Tannie, I'll be addicted now!!).
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Pictures

This first picture is just a random one. I saw this idea at school. This is just one of those plastic picture frames that holds 2 5x7 pictures in it that they made into a calendar! I took a picture so I can remember how to make them for Christmas!

My patient Nash - he does NOT look comfortable at all! He was completely exhausted...

The toothless grin....

Toothless...

Alright, I know, bad mother moment - I don't have a picture yet. But, to be fair, my camera is in my car waiting to go to school with me tomorrow!

On Monday night Travis got in the pool with the kids at my parents' house. Samantha had an incident & smashed her face against the edge of the pool. Crisis averted. (One mention of tooth pulling & you'd have thought I was slitting her throat!)
Skip forward to tonight. We'd been at my parents' house again & she'd been in the pool, again, but there was no face smashing incident. She ate dinner and everything was just peachy. Then....we got home. She decided she hadn't had enough dinner & wanted some toast & raspberry jam (the girl eats this by the truck load). I was off getting something for Nash when he comes & tells me "Mom, Sam got hurt." I go to the bathroom & find her with a mouth full of blood. She bit her toast & it must have bent her tooth funny because even though there was a bunch of blood, the stupid tooth was still in her mouth hanging on for dear life. After 45 min. of trying to convince her that she wasn't in fact dying and that she would feel much better if she'd just pull it, I told her I was just going to do it for her. Picture in your mind a child actually trying to climb the walls to get away from you and screaming like a wild banchee. I put my hand up NEAR her mouth & in her hysterics she swatted my hand away & hit herself in the face & knocked her own tooth out without me ever even touching it!
Meanwhile, Nash passed out in the hallway from exhaustion while waiting for me to help him put his pjs on. Now that the bleeding has ceased, & she has realized she is NOT dying, I think she might be able to eat her beloved toast again!

What We've Been Doing

He doesn't just blend into the woodchips...he likes to eat them too!

Well, our dad has been home for a week, so that's why I haven't been posting anything! (That & my computer has a virus & keeps wanting to DIE!!)

Here's a look at some of the things we've been doing while dad's been home.

Tuesday evening Trav decided we should go down to the park to play - I think he was procrastinating about getting ready to leave. Anyway, when we got there we saw a ton of people at the pavillion. Then I remembered "Ah, it's National Night Out Against Crime." So, we participated in the activities AND played at the park! Had some free dinner too! ;) Not to mention the pile of freebies we brought home. The Children's Justice Center was there & was just giving away free stuffed animals to all the kids (we LOVE the Teddy Bear Run!).

Life Flight flew in & we got to watch them land right on the baseball field. As soon as they got the all clear, kids piled into that helicopter faster than you can even imagine!

I decided to go to the Gang seminar & Trav took the kids too check out the ambulance, fire truck, etc.

If the girl would just let me do her hair...she wouldn't look like such an orphan all the time!!!

Call me crazy, but I think the kid is more the pyro type than the fireman type!


This is on the boat cop's boat.


We went to Willow Park on Wednesday...
Caleb discovered the art of going down the slide...head first....THANK YOU TRAVIS!

Caleb loved the swing & would have been content to sit in it all day long if we'd have let him!

Nash is a crazy man on the slides!

Samantha HAD to take her doll with us...

*I've also made several batches of jam & done 20 pints of green beans with my mom while Trav's been home.

*I've started making chair pockets for my chairs at school (my kids gets tables, not desks).

*I took the kids to the chiropractor - he thinks he can help with their ear "problems". I figure if he can fix it in a couple visits with a discounted co-pay, I'll try anything once! Travis is quite skeptical.

*The kids got to spend the night at Trav's parents on Friday while we went out & celebrated our wedding anniversary. We went & saw Angels & Demons - that was better than I thought it'd be. Then we went to dinner at Cafe Rio & stopped at Hastings. Trav's been telling me I need to watch "Yes Man." So, we rented that & then came home & watched that movie! It was nice to sleep in for the first time in forever!

*Trav took the kids out on his parent's boat on Sunday. I hear Sam got dumped off the tube, but she must have taken it like a trooper because she didn't say anything to me about it!

*Caleb has discovered the fun of corn on the cob & likes it quite a bit.

*Sam & Nash were swimming in my parent's pool with Trav & Caleb last night & Sam smashed her face on the edge of the pool. Didn't hit it hard enough to knock her loose tooth out, but she did make it bleed pretty good. I told her if she still has the bugger in there the next time her dad comes home he's going to pull it out!

*Only 2 weeks before I start back to work all day every day! I can't believe how fast the summer flew by! I should have expected it though. I'm bumed that it's over, but I'm also really excited to start working at my new school. We had a training on July 29th & the people I've met so far are great! I think I'm going to LOVE working with the other 2 girls teaching 6th grade. We still aren't sure what school Sam's going to be attending. She technically has paperwork at 3 different schools! She's enrolled at the same school she went to last year, but my mom can't keep her before school. So, I've filled out paperwork to transfer her to the other school in Hyrum that's just down the street from my daycare person. Waiting to hear if they have room to take her. If they don't, then she'll be going to school with me (much to Trav's dismay).

*Caleb's hair is in the baby mullet stage. I asked my mom if she'd cut it for me so watch for 1st haircut pix to come soon!

***Have a great week!***

Sears Portrait Give Away

The blog The Meanest Mom is giving away a package to Sears Portraits worth $260! Go leave a comment to be entered to win - contest ends August 7th so hurry!
http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/260-portrait-studio-package-giveaway.html