Signs of Spring

IS IT HERE YET?

I put the camera on "macro" mode today to see if I could capture some of the first signs of spring. Believe it or not, I think it's coming.

Goodbye Snow (sad face)...Hello Spring (smile!)

Here it is Spring Break once again. We've had a lot of fun in the snow this winter, but it is time to say goodbye. Looking forward to sunshine, drives home from work in the daylight, dinners on the front deck, soccer games and tennis matches.

Ice Skating on Leader Lake (hockey too)

Ice Skating in Winthrop

Big White with the Thompsons

Cross Country at the South Summit

A Sunny Sunday at the Loup

Last Day out at Mission Ridge

Daddy and Max at Mt. Baldy in Canada

OK, Making my Yearly Post...

...and thinking about starting a new blog. I love finding new teaching ideas on the internet during my "wind down" time each evening, and I've been thinking it would be fun to share them in some way. Plus...I miss the blogging world. Am I ready for it? Can I spare the time? Probably not, but Christmas Vacation is only 2 days away. We'll see....More later.

April...Fooled Ya!

What a Fun Day!!!

I was sitting here at home last night thinking....I need to have some fun on our last day of school before break. Everyone's stress level (and energy level) has risen over the week, and a good day of pranks and acceptable goofing off was in order. Thank you ProTeacher Community for your ideas!

I started the day by welcoming my students on their way in the door with my usual personal, individual greeting to each student, however, instead of saying "Good morning!" I said, "Good night," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening." I got some funny expressions and smirks right from the start. I continued to tell the students how I had been thinking of a special way to tell them all how wonderful they were and what a great job they had been doing in class lately. I said that I thought they deserved a treat to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break, and therefore I had come into school early that day to make them "brownies." They were thrilled and each gave a "woohoo." Next, I handed out "Brown E's" to each student.

The kids were laughing so hard that we decided to deliver "brownies" to the other two 3rd grade classrooms. The guilt brought on me by disappointed faces made me agree to bring real brownies after spring break (for the entire 3rd grade), but they all were laughing and talking about it all day. I gave my students extra brown e's to take home for the families. We had a "fake" test and played an unbeatable card game. The day ended with a pizza party that the students earned through reading 550 books on Dr. Seuss day, and I sent them home with a month's worth of assignments that had been piling up in the classroom. They finally took home their Ojibwa Indian tribe dioramas depicting life in the forest around the Great Lakes. What a fun project! I can't wait to do it again next year.

The Ojibwa in Spring and Summer

The Ojibwa in Winter

OK, Spring Break Begins!!!

THINKING ABOUT BLOGGING....

....Could it be? Do I even have anyone to blog with anymore?

I miss sharing our lives, but then....life is so darn busy I sometimes don't feel like I take the time to experience it myself. Anyway, I just wanted you all to know I am thinking about it.

Here are a few photos to share.

Zoe and her girl friends before the "MORP" (prom spelled backwards), the anti prom dance. This year's theme was "Love is a Hairy Mess," and the girls spent a couple hours ratting out their hair and dressing funky. They had a great time.

Jeff's Knowledge Bowl Team (Zoe included) landed a 3rd place spot at the district competition this year. They went on to state, but didn't make it to the 2nd round. That is OK though...Jeff still feels like a winner because he came in 1st place at Laser Quest, attacking teenagers with his laser gun before heading back home.

Max is officially a boy scout now! He earned his Arrow of Light, the highest achievement for a webelo scout, last month. He is so excited to be hanging with the big boys and getting involved in more community projects, fun adventures, and bigger challenges.

For Jeff's Birthday this year we took a three day trip to Schweitzer Mountain in Idaho. It was an awesome location. We stayed right on the hill. They had a quaint little village right there with restaurants, shops, and even a parade of skiers followed by fireworks at night. Unfortunately, after the first day of skiing, it rained the rest of the weekend and we were stuck indoors. We will definitely go back though. What a fun family spot.

So, Spring break begins in a week, and it will be so well received around here. We have decided not to go anywhere too far from home in the attempt to get the yard cleaned up, spring clean, get haircuts, take care of doctor/dentist/vet/automobile appointments, and just be home....together. This time of year is always so crazy, and we tend to forget about the importance of together time until it is gone. Soccer and tennis are in full swing, and I've been working harder and longer hours than ever before. We might even get in some spring skiing next weekend! Woohoo! O.K. Spring, here we come!

Summer Begins...Long Awaited Update!

OK, SO....IT'S BEEN AWHILE!
Let's start with the most recent news...School's out for summer (I can almost hear Alice Cooper singing)! It was a stressful several weeks at the end of the year, wondering if I would have a job or not. I was hired on a one year contract last year, and since there have been so many cuts to education in Washington again this year, I had received my "Thank you for your one year of service" letter awhile ago. I had my eye on a couple "possible" positions, but in the end my school district hired me full time (and ongoing) as a 3rd grade teacher to replace another teacher who is moving to 1st grade! What a relief! And I am so thrilled to be staying in the same school, classroom, and grade level as this previous year! Woohooo!!!

The hallways at school are looking awfully bare already! I spent the entire day (into the evening) cleaning, clearing shelves, emptying cupboards, and taking donations from other willing to share teachers. It is going to take weeks to get ready for next year. Who said that teachers have the summers off?

BACK AT HOME
The yard has been looking gorgeous with all the unusual rainfall this spring! Jeff helped me build three raised garden beds that are now overflowing (this photo was taken awhile ago), and Zoe and her friend Mike helped me dig a pond for my goldfish (donated by a student this year). We have tons of hummingbirds and even Evening Grosbeaks, which I've never had in the yard before. So cool!

WE BOUGHT A BOAT...
...which Jeff (and I) are thrilled about. He has been wanting a boat for years, and this one was small enough to keep in our driveway, came with a trailer and nice motor, and was the right price. It's not quite the fishing boat Jeff has always dreamed of...so we had to buy a trolling motor to attach to the front, and a few extra parts and pieces, but now we are set to go!

I know there is a lot more to catch up on, but I think I may just take off from this spot in life! Let's see if I can keep up! Have a great week/month...LOL!

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!