Teachers' week over = Students coming!

I just finished my teacher's in-service week, which is a relief, but can only mean one thing...the kids are coming!!! On September 2nd, my school will be bursting at the seems with over 1000 students. Some will be smiling, some will be crying, some will be excited, and some will be nervous (sounds like some teachers I know).

I have spent the last two weeks getting ready for the first class to come parading into my gym. I have never thought of myself as an authentic elementary teacher (way too sarcastic and don't enjoy signing in front of my students or at staff meetings), but little by little, I am seeing symptoms of "elementary-itis". For starters, this year I have made many more bulletin boards for my hallways and gym. These bulletin boards are compete with this year's Pinewood theme, "Be an All-Star", and decorated with carefully cut letters and stars, topped off with a colorful boarder. I am pretty surprised and impressed with myself!

Jocie will be starting the 4th grade (holy crap!). Her teacher, Ms. Hagaseth, is an awesome teacher who has lots of experience, is very caring, enthusiastic, and is HILARIOUS!! I just know Jocie is going to love her! Ella is already back at Missy's daycare (because of in-service) and is excited to be back with Missy and all of her daycare friends.

I must admit, I am a little nervous for school to officially start. But as someone once told me; it's good to be nervous because it shows you care about doing a good job. I'm pretty lucky to work in a school with not only great teachers, but great people. I know this year will be a great one!

These pictures were taken by the best photographer I know.....my step-mom Barb!

a girlie getaway

Last week was one of the best weeks of the summer! Jocie, Ella and I packed up the family truckster and headed north to good 'ol Maple Lake. We joined my mom, Jessie, Ali and Daysha for a sun-soaking, female-bonding good time. I did break the rule and brought a male with me; but only because this male can't live without me (Mario - my dog). Poor Carl had to stay behind because football had started and he was booked with driver's training. Although, I don't know if he would've enjoyed it too much anyway (WAY too much estrogen!!). He probably would have planted himself in front of the beer fridge in the garage after a few hours (no shame in that).

The week started out a bit slow due to the day and a half of rain. But when it cleared up, it was absolutely beautiful. We spent most of our time on the pontoon and at the sand-bar. Daysha and Jocie had a ton of fun tubing with Casey Anderson (Mandy's husband), and Ella had a lot of fun on the paddle boat.

Had a lot of fun, sun, walks (complete with bats), boating, talking, and cocktail hours. My only wish is that it would've lasted longer!

Pictures to come!!

The Summer Wrap-up

This summer has been a whirl-wind, and I can't believe my days are numbered. Gone are the days of sleeping in and working on my tan...which is what all teachers do in the summer, right? (wink, wink) Sadly, I still have a raging farmer-tan and am as sleep deprived as ever :)

Early this summer we were busy with Jocelyn's activities. She had two weeks of basketball camp, followed by night games of softball. And let me tell you, 9 year-old girls softball is a thrilling event (liar). Most of the time, I was busy chasing Ella around, trying to contain her in one area. Jocie also just finished VBS (Vacation Bible School) where Carl volunteered as a teacher (better parent then me). Joice played a lot with the neighbor girl Tessa, where they set up many make-believe pet shops with all of their web-kins, which is her newest obsession.

Ella is as "active" as ever. I am amused and astonished by her unending energy. Though she is hard to control at times, she has a great sense of humor and a big heart, so it is really hard to get too mad at her. She LOVES being outside riding her bike, playing in her playhouse, running through the sprinkler (or the "pickle" as she pronounces it), and her favorite of all, playing with her many babies. These babies have great names, thought up completely by Ella herself. Some of her babies include: Donna, Rosie, Kaiya, Leah, and Rock-n-Roll (her newest boy-baby). If you read my previous Blog, you already know that she is now potty-trained (Woo-Hoo)!

Being a mother and a teacher, I absolutely adore my summers!! Being able to go to the beach on a warm-sunny day, go on many bike rides, watch the girls play with our dog Mario in our backyard are all wonderful things. Although, there are some days I feel like Ms. Hannigan (the caregiver at the orphanage in the movie Annie), singing about "little girls". Walking around my house in a daze of motherhood wanting to retire to my bathtub full of gin, or in my case scotch...I am a Youngern you know....right, mom ;). In those cases I make sure to have a couple of beers after bedtime with Carl!!

Carl has had the best summer since we've moved back to MN. He is now a Diver's Ed Instructor (for you East-Siders--think Mr. Stinar but younger and hotter)! He loves having a schedule that makes it easy to go places on the weekends, and spend more time with his girls. I have taken 6 credits of elective grad classes this summer in order to get ready for my master's program that I am starting this fall (yuck). Is teaching the only profession that you have to spend a ton of money to get a raise??? Oh well...can't fight city hall!

Perhaps the high-light of our summer was our road trip to Detroit to visit our dear friends the Giersdorf's!! Justin (Dorf) and Amie opened their doors for us and showed us an incredible time!! We got to watch our beloved Twins play (and BEAT) the Detroit Tigers twice. We had great tickets for both nights. One night we actually sat in the ESPN Suite!!- thanks Amie! I was a huge loser and made "Circle Us Bert" signs and got on MN TV!!

Which brings me to our summer purchase....yes.....we bought a Mini-Van!! I was always one of those mini-van snobs, who said "I'll never drive a mini-van!" But my husband proved me wrong! He finally talked me into it, mostly because of the Detroit trip. He bribed me with it's DVD player, stow-and-go seats, and lower gas mileage than an SUV. If it would've had a beer tap or alcohol dispenser of some kind, it would have been a faster sale (think 12 hours with Ella)! I had to buy myself a tee-shirt that says "mini-van, mega-fun" on it just to make me feel better! I enjoy watching Carl trying new and exciting (for him) ways of configuring which seats should stay up and which ones he should put down. It's like watching a little boy play with his new LEGOS.

I am refusing to give up on summer yet! Next week the girls and I will be heading up to NW Minnesota's Maple Lake to spend the better part of the week at my mom's awesome lake cabin! If there is one thing I love, it is hanging out at a lake!!! So much fun to be had and sun to soak up. Carl is busy putting up a tent in the back yard for some "camping" with the girls tonight, I'd better run.

Thanks for reading...Cheers!

How the diapers disappeared!

We are very proud of our little Ella...she is officially a POTTY GIRL! We have been trying to talk her into this stage "girl-hood" since she has turned two, but she wanted nothing to do with the potty or the panties that came along with it. In the beginning, we tried the popular "potty chart" route; complete with exciting stickers to fill it in upon....successful deposits. But surprise, surprise....she could care less about it after a few attempts. Months went by without any interest, when we decided that enough was enough. My only goal as a mother this summer was to get her panty-clad by September. So I did what any loving mother would do...simply deprived her of all diapers :) On one sunny Monday morning, the panties came out and the diapers went away. Yes, I was up to my neck in laundry for a few days, but after she had a few successes (with rewards/bribes of gummy worms), there was no looking back for this driven and motivated three-year-old! In a total of only 5 days, she was foot-loose and diaper free, and loving every minute of it. She made sure to tell EVERYONE she came in contact with that she was wearing big girl panties. She often asked in return if they too were wearing panties.

There is nothing better then watching her face light up and hearing her proud shrieks after yet another success on the big-girl-potty. She is quite proud of her self, as we all are!!!