Trying to get all of the Summer fun in

So, I go back to school Monday. I was given the good news that I do not have to go in tomorrow (Friday) because it is just Math training and I teach reading. I am going to go in for a little while so that other people don't get mad and complain that I didn't have to attend. I need to get things organized in my room anyway. All of my stuff is in one big heap because I changed rooms in the middle of July and haven't been back since.

Since I return on Monday I have been trying to get as much Summertime fun in as possible. Monday was Kevan and my 7th anniversary. We weren't planning on doing anything too exciting for lack of a babysitter, but as luck would have it one of our friends called and asked if the kids could come over and volunteered to watch our children! So, Kevan and I went to see Mama Mia! I loved it! It was very cheesy and the plot didn't make sense, but the spontaneous singing and goofy dance moves were just what I needed! Kevan on the other hand proved how much he loves me by sitting through it! He said he actually was expecting it to be better. He could not overlook major flaws in the plot line and seeing older women dancing around like teenagers made him uncomfortable. But, if you like silly and nonsensical movies of the Ballywood style, you would love it. Then we went to eat at Maggiano's for some Italian food. It is attached to the mall where we saw the movie. It is like a classier version of Bucca Di Beppo. However they have single versions of their family style entrees.

Then on Tuesday I took the kids to a wading pool near our house. We love it! It is free and the kids love the park that is nearby. We had a great time and then we grilled hamburgers and had corn on the cob for dinner. Yum! Nothing says summer like corn on the cob!

Yesterday, Zeke was at the daycare, so Maya and I cleaned a little around the house and then went shopping for things to decorate my classroom at the dollar store and Big Lots. The teacher store is so expensive, I refuse to shop there unless I absolutely need to. We then went to pick up Zeke. Then we came home and walked to the library and got books, movies, and CDs.

Today I took the kids to the zoo. We went and saw the bird show and Maya got to participate and throw a fake snake out to a bird that looks like a roadrunner, but isn't. The bird then proceeded to beat the snake on the ground. Zeke kepts holding his arm out trying to entice a bird to come and land on it. (He has not fear!) We also saw the Seal and Sea Lion show. (I had free tickets that were about to expire.) I was expecting something like the show I saw at Sea World as a kid. Needless to say it was nothing like it. The sea lions did some neat tricks and my children loved the show. So that is all that matters.

Tomorrow, I think it is off to the wading pool in the afternoon. Then they are showing Bee Movie at a park in the evening. I am hoping to convince Kevan that this would be fun and that keeping our children up past their bedtime would be a fine idea. I don't think he'll go with it, but you never know.

Then Saturday we are having some friends over for dinner. Sunday, Kevan and the kids leave for Family Camp. I am really going to miss them! I am truly sad that I am unable to attend this year. Well, that is a snapshot of our life. I hope you are all doing well!

For Mom, Happy Thoughts

Things are going well with our family. We have been busy with a variety of different activities. We have been trying to beat the heat and staying cool as much as possible. Triumphs for the week: Zeke pooped in the potty! (He also pooped in the tub and on the floor.) Maya was a wonderful big sister and helped me to get Zeke through the doctor' s office and comply with all of the doctor's requests. (He had a rash on his arm, which is just eczema.) She got weighed, her heart rate checked, and they took her temperature. Maya even laid down on the table to be measured for her height! I've been having a lot of fun spending time with my kiddos. Maya is such a young lady now and Zeke is talking up a storm and has a fabulous sense of humor!

I didn't get it.

If you want to hear more details about me not getting the job, call me.

I hope you're all doing well! I have to go and make dinner and will try to blog later. We have had a crazy, but fun week. Highlights: Kevan's parents came to visit and Zeke turned 2. I also have started teaching summer school for the next two weeks.

In Case You Were Wondering

Well, I still have not heard about the Reading Coordinator job. I am going to assume that I didn't get it because I was told that I could keep the classroom that I was working in. So, we'll see what happens. You would think that they would have let me know by now, but oh well! I thought for sure that I would have heard, but a lot of people were on vacation this week. Maybe I will hear this next week. Like I said, I don't think I got it, but we'll see. I just hope that whoever does get it works well with me.

Craziness

Well, let's see the past two weeks have been busy. With the school year winding down things have been nuts. The weather up here has been crazy. This morning is the first time in a long time that I have seen the sun. It has rained so much up here that I feel like I need to invest in a boat! We've had lots of social functions. Maya made her stage debut! I still have to contact her tap teacher to see about getting a copy of the DVD of the show. I hope that it was a very professional production because my friend, Jess, and I made fun of a lot of the show. (Not the children, we are not that cruel!) Maya's teacher is very eclectic. I honestly believe she sat down and said to herself, "Hmm... we're doing a show about the movie Enchanted...What part of the movie can I do without? None of it! I will need a dances with animals, but the well needs its own dance and the poison apple needs its own dance. While I'm thinking about the poison apple, let's have just one girl wear a red costume and dance to Hannah Montana. If I were a poison apple, that's definitely what I would be dancing to! Then let's have a dance of balloons and flowers! Yes! Let's have two adults dance. One that is slightly obese who is a very graceful dancer but around 40 and trying to dance to get into shape with a basket of flowers and the other will be in her twenties and just wear a very skimpy outfit and carry a mylar balloon on the stage. Oh! And all of my assistant teachers need at least three solos. If the music doesn't fit Enchanted I'll just tell a story to make it fit. Oh! And don't forget the queen's jewels! They were a very important part of the movie. Let's have some very inexperienced adult dancers dance in a belly dancer fashion. Oh that will be good! Oh and I can't forget at the end I need a prince! I will have my husband be the prince! He fits the bill completely. Sure he has a beer belly and is about 30 years older than the princess, but that's okay! He's a prince in my eyes. Oh... he can't dance though. I'll have her dance around him while his arms are crossed. Then we'll thrown in a few cute kids dances and the parents won't mind sticking around for 2+ hours. That sounds like a great plan!" (Sorry for the rant. :) ) Anyway, Maya was fabulous and danced a very technical dance like a pro! The only time she messed up was because she was standing next to two boys that attended only 3 classes and didn't know the dance very well and everyone else was doing the same thing as them and she followed the crowd. She knew she wasn't doing the right thing because she told me afterward. I think it may have looked better because it made the boys look like they knew what they were doing.

I was asked to interview for the Reading Coordinator/Coach's position at our school. I was told I would find out if I got the job by the end of the week, but here it is the end of the week and I don't know. I won't know until the end of next week because they have board meetings to discuss our strategic plan Monday and Tuesday of next week. If I am offered the position I will have to really debate as to whether or not I want to leave the classroom. I love what I do right now and am not sure I want to take a step away from teaching and closer to administration. Everyone around me seems to assume that I am perfect for the position because they have been asking me if I was asked to take the position. (People are kind of nosy in that way. I guess it's better than gossiping, but I know that it will just turn into them telling everyone else.) It's not that I would be crushed if I didn't get the position. I don't have the Wisconsin licensure to take the position. (Even though in Ohio I have a similar license to one of the required licenses here, Wisconsin didn't count it so it doesn't matter.) It would also take the load off of my back when it came to making a decision. While it would be nice to be able to make that choice for myself, I would understand if they hired someone with more experience and licensure. So, I will just wait.

Lots of other craziness has happened to us this week. If you want to here about it, give me a call. I have to go and watch my children. I'm thinking about taking them to the zoo today. :) Hope you're all well!

Our Last Week of May

Well, we have been pretty busy. We spent Memorial Day weekend with some friends from church camping. We had a blast. It rained Sunday night, but didn't sour the weekend. Maya loved being outdoors and getting her first chance to fish. Zeke just loved trying to run away and playing with the two boys from the other family that went with us. He just idolized the older of the two. So much that Zeke is still talking about him. This morning Kevan was asking Zeke who wanted tickles and Zeke said, "Duncan." It was nice to get a chance to talk to adults while having fun with our children.

Then we got back and returned to school. I got pushed into a door by an angry fourth grader, leaving my arm slightly bruised. But, I survived and the child has been reprimanded.

Yeterday Maya went to school and saw Mike Cameron, the Brewer's Center Fielder, and the racing sausages. She even got a free t-shirt out of the deal. The only things she remember about the talk was that Mike Cameron said that his mom was his role model. Then she began naming her role models. She named Zeke, but I am not sure he is the best role model. Yesterday at daycare there are two new twin boys in his class that cry a lot. Whenever they would start crying Zeke would point at them and say, "Stop it!" Nothing like a little tough love from Zeke.

Today we went out to eat at Vickie's Diner and Zeke was being his outgoing loud self. (I guess when my mother said, "I hope you have a child just like you." Zeke is what came about.) He was finished eating and the high chair's straps were broken. He stood up in his chair and started yelling, "Kooky!" (He learned it from a Nick Jr. show called Wow Wow Wubbzy.) Then he started roaring like a lion. It was pretty funny and luckily there were not many people left from the dinner crowd.

Well, I have to go and do a few loads of laundry and write some checks for bills. I hope everyone is doing well.

A Wonderful Whirlwind!

Well, we went to the wedding of my brother Mark and his new wife Mariella in Ohio this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. I love being able to visit with family and friends that I haven't seen for a while. We all had a great time. Maya loved being a flowergirl again. She looked beautiful. Zeke was a good boy for most of the wedding festivities and only bled a little when Maya and he were wrestling at the wedding. Maya loved being with the ladies in the wedding party. She loves to get dressed up and have her hair done and just hang out with older people. Kevan was wonderful and watched Zeke so that I could visit with people and read during the service. It was fun to spend time with my mom, Lisa, and my grandma getting our hair done. I don't think any of us pamper ourselves as much as we really should.

I hate being late. It feels like we were late for everything this weekend. Luckily we made it to the church on time for the ceremony. I felt horrible that Maya missed pictures with the wedding party. We got a late start to the reception and then got really lost finding the reception. Oh well! We had a wonderful time anyways and Maya got a special picture with Mariella at the reception.

We spent Sunday with Kevan's family which was very nice. I was very tired and was having a bit of a wardrobe malfunction and was late for brunch because I was shopping to repair the damage. But, oh well! We enjoyed our time with the Penvoses. Zeke is addicted to trains. When we were visiting Kevan's parents all we heard was, "Papa choo-choo! Papa choo-choo!" He loved sitting and running the electric train. He also enjoyed beating up their golden lab, Hunter. Luckily Hunter is a very good dog and took it playfully and Zeke returned home with all of his fingers.

Maya and Zeke were very sad to leave Ohio. Zeke kept yelling, "I-O!, I-O" throughout the trip home to Wisconsin. Maya had to have her window rolled down as we approached the border of every state that we traveled through and yell out the window at the top of her lungs, "Goodbye Ohio! (Or whatever state we were traveling through.) By the time we reached Wisconsin Zeke wanted to do it too and he yelled, "I-O" out the window. We had a great time traveling with our children. I honestly do not understand when people say that they need a DVD player to travel with their children, this may change as they get older. All we need to do is start singing or telling silly stories and everything is fine. With Zeke you just need to talk about the color of truck that you are passing and he is happy. When he is really tired, he just wants me to hold his hand or rub his ankle and he calms right down. For some strange reason this has always worked with him, from the time he was itt-bitty until now.

Well, now I need to approach doing all of the dirty laundry that I left in Wisconsin along with what I brought home with me. I hope everyone that is reading this is doing well!