Wow, it's been a while since I've had a chance to sit and "blog". There never seems to be a dull moment around here! We didn't get a day off for the Easter holiday and that coupled with April Fool's Day in the same week made for a high energy level in the classroom! Things haven't really calmed down until now when we finally get our SPRING BREAK!!!!! Yeah!! I don't know who was more excited - the students or the teachers. But after dealing with a cold, my Tuesday night class, planning for a Summer Institute training, attending the NCTM Math Conference in Salt Lake City for two days and the ultimately the stomach flu - I was burned out!! We have this whole week off and today (Tuesday) I spent most of the day reading assigned chapters, writing a paper and preparing to be a discussion leader (for my Reading Comprehension class), so tomorrow I'll be ready to play. Yeahoo!!
As for the rest of the family...they are keeping out of trouble, for the most part! :-) Scottie and Mason have both had a touch of the flu, but it hasn't kept them down like it did me. I guess I'm just getting old!
Tanna is just getting to be a little talker. She is putting sentences together and can mimic most anything anyone says to her. She is still as busy as ever and amazes all who come to visit by how fast she can climb and get into anything she shouldn't! She is not a fan of wet or dirty diapers so has taken to stripping down to nothing when she feels so inclined! This causes quite a stir and is much to her liking!! Potty training will start day one of summer vacation, if we can make it that long!! She is definitely a character and she fits well in our family!!
Mason is four and becoming very grown up. He's Scottie's sidekick and loves to keep up with him. However, he is not to cool for Barney yet! He loves to sing the songs from the show and imagine. He can keep himself entertained, but loves to put on shows and invite us all to his parties. I will miss this stage of life -- when he's just too cool for it all! He's also a good big brother to Tanna. He's either taking really good care of her and using his nurturing voice or he can be found "bopping" her upside the head for messing with his stuff. Either way Tanna benefits - she has a good playmate or someone to fight back --she loves it all!
Scottie lost his first tooth the day after Easter. He was feeling left out since he's already 8 1/2 and hadn't lost a tooth yet. But, after a couple days of wiggling it finally came out! He was so excited. He was pleasantly surprised to find money under his pillow from the Tooth Fairy. I thought she was pretty generous, but she left a note that she gave a bit more because it was his first lost tooth! I wish I would have gotten that kind of service! :-) He also is becoming a great reader and is a well behaved student!! Yeah! He doesn't love homework -- that's an understatement-- and wishes he could just major in playing with friends.
Well, for those who are still reading and haven't quit yet, here's the big news...No, we're not expecting! Whew!!!! My arm got twisted and we have joined Paige and Lynn in getting a DOG!! Augghh! I said never again, but since I put some conditions on what I would want if I ever did get another dog, the door was just left wide enough open to make it happen. I vowed that IF we EVER did get a dog, it could not be a puppy and would have to be very well trained. Well, that's just what we ended up with. And for all my moaning and groaning, I have to admit that she is a VERY good dog.
The short version of the story is that the Skelly's (our former neighbors) had a dog that they were no longer able to keep. They had asked me a while ago if I was interested and I said no. Well, this weekend Dave ended up going over to the house and fell in love with the dog before he realized they were getting rid of her. I went over later to pick up the kids, and was pretty impressed with her. We ended up talking about her that night and inviting them for dinner the next day to see how the dog would do at our house. Obviously, we had a good visit and I was talked into getting her. She (Bella) had formally been rescued by a dog trainer as part of his yearly requirement for re-certification. He ended up training her (very well I might add) and then finding a home for her. (The Skellys) Well, now we get to benefit from her training and are happy to have her. The kids LOVE her and she has been so good and patient with them. She is 3 years old and I am so grateful she is not a puppy. We've done that and learned how hard that is. So, although I said I didn't want a dog, this would be the dog I could be talked into. Hey, and the benefits are that Mark will never ask to stay at my house again!! Woohoo! Just kidding -- sorry Mark-- I did use you as an excuse not to get the dog. It wasn't an overwhelming deal breaker though! Sorry!! She is a short haired dog, but I don't know if that means much to you or Braydon! :-(
Anyway, life is always keeping us on our toes around here. I can't ever say that I'm bored. Our kindergarten teacher just told me she didn't know what she would do with herself this summer. She just recently got married and is expecting a baby in September. I told her to enjoy being bored while she can. Because I have lived that same scenario (well I can't say I've ever gotten bored) and she won't be bored for much longer! She's in for a ride of a lifetime!!!
Mason: (This is what he dictated for me to type)
