Survior

I officially survived parent teacher conferences. GO ME! After only knowing these 4th graders for 3 weeks and struggling to complete their report cards - I DID IT!

I was really eye-opening to conclude that all parents truly know their kids. Even when I was telling parents their kids were failing certain subjects or that their social behavior needed drastic improvement, parents were not surprised at all. Often when I had to share less than desirable news, parents would say it was still an improvement over last years marks.

My friend (and master teacher while I was student teaching) sent me a wonderful gift. She sent me a beautiful flower arrangement with a note saying, "Have fun this week. You can do it!" I received it during school hours and the kids were having trouble understanding why I had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. It was so touching and sweet of her. Having those flower on the table with me during the p-t conferences made it feel like she was sitting there with me, rooting me on.

After this very stressful situation I am confident that p-t conferences with my own class and students will be a breeze.

One week off for Fall Break won't be nearly enough time to recuperate, but I'll take what I can get!

Fred Astaire in the Making

Kenny spent Saturday with Rick. First playing hard (and winning) in his team's soccer game (Go Bears!). Then doing daddy/son things.

Sunday found us sleeping in and then Ken and I went to his best friend, Abigail's 7th birthday party. It was a dancing themed party held at a local dance studio. Ken was the only boy there and took a good 20 minutes of cajoling and tough love to get him to participate. Once he got up and was moving he was happy as a clam. The kids were learning a dance routine from the teenie-bopper movie High School Musical 2. The song was called, What Time is It? Since Ken was the only boy in attendance the dance teachers gave him special attention. They named him Troy, after the lead male in the movie. When the girls had to do a "diva walk". Ken was asked to have an attitude walk and walk with his arms crossed. When the girls put their hands on their hips, Ken was asked to strike a pose with his muscles showing. Too cute and very fun.



In all honesty, I think Ken did an exceptional job of keeping time and remembering the steps. Dancing might be something he persues when he gets older. Someone needs to lift and twirl the girls.

My favorite part of the day was watching Kenny in the cake room flirting with the teenage dance teachers. ... a sign of things to come *grin*.

Girl Scout Camporee

Katie and I skipped soccer this Saturday to attend our local Girl Scout Camporee. Normally Camporee is held in the summer, but it had to be postponed due to the smokey air from local fires. I volunteered to be a helper-mom. It was fun, but exhausting at the same time. Our troop didn't have any adults as a certified "camper" so we didn't stay overnight - which I was thankful for.

We all met at the leader's house at 7:30am and headed up to Sly Park, Jenkinson Lake in Pollock Pines. We got there about 8:45 and set up our day camp in the same area as other troops who were setting up to stay overnight.

The girls had a busy morning activity schedule. Canoing, Swimming and Archery. Katie didn't enjoy the canoing, which suprised me considering how much she likes kayaking at the Russian River with the Ghidossi family. I think it was a bit too early and too difficult to control the big canoe vs. the one-man kayak. Katie vetoed swimming big time. The water level was SO low and the bottom of the lake so muddy, kids shoes were getting stuck in the mud. Katie just dangled her feet of the little boat dock and watched her friends swim in the mucky water. We had enough time to head back to camp for the girls to change into dry clothes.

Then we headed to archery. The lady who ran that event was a... crab apple. Each girl only got to shoot six arrows and half of those they didn't shoot by themselves because the teacher and helper would saddle up to the girls and "show" them how to shoot. Now I understand that archery is a big safety issue, but I felt sad for Katie and her friends. They seemed to like the bow and arrow and just needed some time to get the hang of it by trial and error. I was even wishing I could try it, as it looked fun.

From archery we went back to camp and ate our sack lunches, visted and sang silly songs. Then, the girls had SWAP time. Each girls brings a trinkety item on a safety pin, introduces herself to other girls from other troops, then they exchange the little items. Katie (and I) made little flip flops using foam, ribbon and a brad. They were cute and the ones she received were adorable. We still haven't had a chance to review them all.

After SWAPS it was time for badge rotations centers. The girls were working on their outdoor creativity badge and had to visit six stations (30 minutes each). Katie and her scout-mates: made lavender sachets, created a water-coloring inspired by nature, sang songs, picked out and practiced a skit (to later be performed at the campfire), wrote a nature hiku, and made a sun-prints using sun sensitive paper and things from nature.

Katie enjoyed the different centers, but got really hungry and got a stomach ached in the middle of it all. I am glad I was there to get her some Tums and snacks to soothe her pains. All the girls were hungry by the time we were done.

Bless our troop leader's heart. She had to think of so many things to pack, even for just a day visit. She remembered *almost* all of it - except the barbeque for cooking the hot dogs. Luckily a neighbor troop cooked up our dogs for us.

I've been neglecting to mention the interesting twist of this trip. Across the street from the Girl Scout campground is a public campground. It seems it had been rented for the day for a wedding. Seems simple enough - but the girls were magnetized to the event. Whenever we were at our campsite they would peak over and try to catch glimpses of the bride and groom. That was all fine and dandy. It makes sense, as the girls were raised on princess fairy tales that culminate in a grand wedding... but by the time we were getting dinner together the reception had started... and so had the party music. The girls were dancing and singing along (some not realizing the lyrics were not appropriate for 10 year olds). I certainly am not against rock music and being silly, but it really detracted from the "outdoorsy" feel the Girl Scouts were trying to promote for the day/weekend.

The leader and I tried to distract the girls and have them practice their skit they were to perform. They bought into that and practiced over and over; unless a really "good" song came on then they dance and sang to that.

Before the official campfire meeting time, the leader and I lead the girls away from the music and our camp, over a hill and to the waters edge. It was truly my favorite time of the entire trip. We found flat rocks and one girl taught the rest how to skip rocks. Hey, enjoying nature at Camporee... imagine that!


At campfire time we all the troops got together and took turns leading silly camp songs, throwing their wishsticks into the fire, and peforming their skits. Our girls did a great job (even if they had to do all this over the pounding sounds of the wedding reception just 100 feet away.)

When campfire time was done and the other troops went back to their base camps to settle in for the night, our troop took over the fire and made s'mores.

I was worried that all that sugar would amp-up the girls for the ride home, but the five girls in my van were fast asleep within 5 minutes of leaving the lake.

Katie and I made it home about 10pm. It was a long, dirty, fun day.

ps: I am SO glad we didn't stay overnight. I heard from another leader that the wedding party went on till 3am!

Runner Up Prize

I got disappointing news today. I didn't do well enough on my teaching job interview to get put on "the list" of candidates they call when opening crop up.

I did get the runner up prize though ~ a long term sub position as a Special Education teacher. I will spend 25% of my day at the local middle school and the rest at my kids' elementary school. It'll be a wonderful addition to my resume and a great experience to boot.

The kids have mixed feelings about it all. They really don't want me to go to work, but were brought to tears when they saw me crying and whining earlier today.

Rick is going to help out by changing his work hours so he can get the kids to school for me. Friends and family will pitch in here and there on days I need to work late (which I hope are few).

So many people have been praying, thinking good thoughts and just hoping things go my way ~ it does a heart good to know so many people are rooting for me. Thanks!

back to reality & feeling good about myself

I think I've finally recuperated from my mommies-only getaway this past weekend. Even though we were missing one of our "partners in crime" we really had a fabulous time. Skipping away with my dear girlfriends to a beautiful location (Capitola, Ca) without the responsibilities of parethood nor wifedom was the best prescription for a better me. We shopped, chatted, drank alcohol, took in the sites, ate yummy food, walked, talked, laughed, visited, stayed up late, snacked, joked, ate, ate, talked and laughed some more.

Even though I missed my kids and hubby bunches, it was lovely to truly get away from the daily grind of life and relax a little. It was hard to get back into the groove of being home (except my bed felt fabulous to sleep in); but now I am back to reality and feeling good about myself and where I am at in my life right now(and looking forward to the next time we can hang out together - if even for only a scrapbook night).