Tyler Turns 14!

I don't really feel old enough to have a 14 year old! But I guess I am, becuase I now have one. The big thing about turning 14 is getting your learner's permit. Tyler will be aloud to take the test for this when he can show some responsibility at home. So...when that time comes, ladies grab your children! Tyler's hittin' the road (with a licenced driver).

The highlight of Tyler's birthday (for him) is going to Red Lobster. I hate seafood and everthing there, seafood or not, tastes like seafood. The big deal for Tyler is ordering the whole Maine lobster. This actually turns dinner into an autopsy rather than a dinner. Here are some pix of the lobster event including him kissing the lobster as waitress told him to do.

By the way...he did eat the entire thing!

For his gift from us, he got a compound bow.

Abby Turns 10!!!!!

I can't believe that my baby turned 10 this week. I remember looking at her in bed with me on her first night with a panicky feeling running through me thinking,"I am in charge of this. If I don't feed her she could starve." Well, she no longer wants to be snuggled in bed with me and I did manage to feed her for 10 years now with out forgetting.

She wanted a Webkinz party this year and we had 8 little girls spend the night. WAY to much giggling! WAY too much screaming! WAY too much flitting from one thing to another! Here are some pix of my effort making a "Wheel of Wow" cake!

Family Pix

I know I have not posted in a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time but, as most of you know, I have had health issues. I'm doing better so I thought I would share the awesome pictures that my friend Megan Duerksen took.

GRRRRR!

The @#$% cat came back, BUT...he is not longer alowed in the house, just the laudry room and goes outside during the day. A happy compromise!

In Mourning (not)

What a crazy couple of weeks this has been! I am finally getting around to updating my blog! I'll post more pix of our life but wanted to convey some sad (not really) news. Our retarded cat is gone! After he peed in one of the kids rooms for about the 47th time, we decided to bannish him from the house during the day and let his in at night. We let him out a week ago and he has not returned. I am sad that the kids are sad, but am rejoicing that the only animal in the house(besides my children) is a Guppy named Lucky. Life is good!

First Day of School=Clean Slate (and clean desk)

Today was the first day of school and I was reminded that one of my favorite things about teaching is the fact that there is a beginning and an end every year. You get a "do over," a chance to look back and say, "that didn't go so well. I'll do it differently next time." It is also great that we get 2 months off for the "teacher amnesia" to set in so that by August you are saying, "last year wasn't so bad, I can do this again."


These are my before pictures. Before kids come and mess everything up...before I have meetings all the time after teaching all day...before I get too sick and tired of looking at those 4 walls and say, "Forget it! I'm going home"...before things get totally out of control and crazy!



You will notice that my desk is clean (this pic is also to remind me in April that my desk is brown underneath the mountains of paper and supplies), everything on the kids desks are neatly placed where they need to be AHEAD of time, and my group tables are free of clutter. You might also notice the Pepsi which I cracked open at 7:00 this morning!



I am hoping to take an after picture in May. It will be fun to compare!

County Fair

I am so proud of my kids for their fair entries. The Harvey County Fair started on August 1st and the kids entered in both 4-H and open class.

Tyler entered his honey and got a blue ribbon. He also participated in a 4-H archery tournament the week before the fair and qualified to go to the state meet in September!

Abby was the overall 4-H quick bread/muffin champion for her banana muffins. She also got a purple ribbon on her chocolate cake. On her crafts, she received 2 blue ribbons. She also did well at the archery tournament the week before but is too young to go to state. Maybe next year!