NOW THAT SPRING HAS SPRUNG...

...I thought it was a good time for an update!

Spring Break started about 4 1/2 hours ago for me! Woohooo! Don't get me wrong...I absolutely LOVE my job, however, everyone needs a mental break! And as a first year teacher, I can't tell you how badly I need this week! I am continuously thinking of all these wonderful ideas for the classroom that I pick up from my experienced colleagues and friends. I've been through numerous trainings throughout the year that I wish I had time to ponder over so that I can figure out how to apply strategies I've learned to my teaching. And now...I have the time to do this (plus time to spend with my family which I believe we are all needing this time of year).

If this doesn't say spring.....

Last week those same pesky leprechauns visited again! I was telling my 3rd graders that these critters have been following me for years! I don't know what it is that makes them target me and my family spring after spring, but every year they are up to something. This year they played "nice" at home, only leaving gold nuggets, coins, and necklaces to wear without any mischief. At school, however, they made a huge mess! There were paper shamrocks and glittery confetti shamrocks everywhere, along with some messy gold covered chocolates! Since it was math time when we discovered the mess, of course, we had to add all the items and divide them by 19 (number of students in the class). I wasn't going to let those tricksters mess up my instructional time!

Here's what we woke up to at out house! Thank goodness the leprechauns also put a tasty corned beef into the crock. I don't think I could handle cooking dinner after a crazy afternoon of school like that! LOL!

Max totally picked out his own outfit to wear to school that day! They had a dress-up contest! He didn't win (I can't imagine why not), but I hear he had some tough competition.

Here's another photo to share, that I just love! Look at how big our little baby girl is! Zoe and her daddy have made some great connections this year now that he is her science teacher, her knowledge bowl coach, and her tennis coach! They spend more time together than ever before! I'm a little jealous actually! This photo was two weekends ago in Wenatchee (see more photos of the weekend below).

We had a fabulous mini ski vacation at Mission Ridge outside of Wentachee a couple weekends ago. Famous for their spring skiing, we had planned on hitting these slopes for weeks and finally headed south. Friends Steve, Lyndsi and Dylan joined us and then we all stayed the night with their family at a hotel in Wenatchee. It was a fun, but short weekend. I wish it could have lasted longer.

And as far as the skiing goes... I have never enjoyed it more! I've always had this hesitation and fear on the slopes. I have convinced myself to ski with the family for four years now because 1. I can spend time with the family, 2. I can get exercise, and 3. The view on a sunny day is fantastic. But...I can honestly say, this day I truly, truly enjoyed the activity itself, without the fear of getting hurt, falling, running into a tree, etc. The snow was perfect. The slopes were wide (and not so steep), and the runs plentiful! We took a different route each trip down the hill. Check out the map to see all the possibilities. Plus, the high speed chairs were awesome!!!

Talk about gorgeous views... If there hadn't been so many clouds in the far distance we would have been able to see Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, and Mount Adams. I can't believe I captured this blue sky with a cell phone camera! It was FREEZING cold at the top and covered in ice!~

One of the runs, called the Bomber Run, was named after a U.S. military B-24 Liberator heavy bomber that crashed into the hillside in 1944. They still have a portion of the wing hanging up with a memorial plaque and part of a propeller.

Smart Kids!!!
It has always been fun to watch Jeff's High School Knowledge Bowl team each year, but now that Zoe is on the team, it is even more exciting! Here they are at the regional competition last month, taking 1st place! The state competition is this weekend so we'll see how they do! What a bunch of posers!

Here's Zoe and her friends at the Mid-Winter MORP dance (Prom spelled backwards). The theme was Lady Gaga; everything strange, wacky, and unusual. They played the part!

I think that's good for one night! I'm looking forward to getting out into the sunshine with my camera more this week! Happy Spring Break!