Well, it's been quite an adjustment this last week.
I'd like to say that the kids are just fine with all the changes in our schedule and if you'd have asked me last week I would have told you just that...but we're on week two of me working full time and I'm beginning to see some changes in their behavior.
I like to be at work by 8 so that I can get the room organized and make copies and do whatever other small task that must be completed by 9, which means that the kids are having to wake up around 7:15. It was difficult to wake them at 8...7:15 is almost torture! I try to get everything ready for them before I enter their rooms, I try to have breakfast packed so that they can eat in my class while I buzz around the school, I try to be positive while I poke and prod them from their beds. I try. And I sometimes fail.
The behaviors I'm seeing are definitely due to them being tired. Hazel has been very full of tears. Tears at the drop of the hat. I checked in on her today and watched her laugh and play with some friends but then she saw me and literally began crying in one second. Big tears. I walked over to a confused group of friends and hugged her and reassured her that when school was over she could come and hang out in my room until we leave. In the end I had to leave her crying to get back to my room.
August has been quiet. It could be because he's tired, it could also be that he's just working so hard at getting his homework done so that he can retire to his room to read the latest Percy Jackson book. Or it could be that he wants to rush home to play the guitar Trey bought him last week. Either way, the boy is changing from a little kid into a big kid before my very eyes.
When they have to be in my room in the morning and afternoon they are amazing. I couldn't ask for better behaved children. They are patient and willing to help get things done so we can leave.
I'm adjusting alright as well. No more idle time for me...every minute is used planning time slots throughout the day. I've got a great bunch of kids in this class. It should be a great 5 weeks. I can tell you that I am very much looking forward to Sasquatch. And I am very, very much looking forward to my week long trip with Trey in June. The count down has begun.
A Many Family Blog
5/12/08
5/10/08
10 on 10 May
This month I focused on Hazel.
My girl loves to "organize" little things around the house, here are her shoes:
and her kitty- placed just right on the corner of the mantle.
Hazel also enjoys showing off her little cuts and scrapes.
She also loves holding my hand still...I love this too.
We went to a friends birthday party where Hazel showed her mad putt putt skills.
She did not enjoy the noisy lunch.
She LOVED being on the boat with Dave and El.
She always gets excited when we go to the dog park.
Because we almost always run into a puppy.
My girl Hazel has a style of her own.
My girl loves to "organize" little things around the house, here are her shoes:
and her kitty- placed just right on the corner of the mantle.
Hazel also enjoys showing off her little cuts and scrapes.
She also loves holding my hand still...I love this too.
We went to a friends birthday party where Hazel showed her mad putt putt skills.
She did not enjoy the noisy lunch.
She LOVED being on the boat with Dave and El.
She always gets excited when we go to the dog park.
Because we almost always run into a puppy.
My girl Hazel has a style of her own.
5/3/08
Turn and Face the Change
So I have been in a funk. It's been hanging around me for way too long and I just haven't been able to shake it. I've been exercising, I've been pampering myself, I've been trying to fill my days with activities...still, the funk lingers. It's really just been a bunch of me feeling sorry for myself, that an me being jealous and envious and...feeling sorry for myself. It didn't help that Trey has been traveling to super fun places these last few weekends, leaving me here to wallow in my own self pitty.
Anyway, I've had some sub jobs lined up for Friday and Monday but on this past Wednesday night I received a call from a kindergarten teacher. She needed a last minute sub for the next day because she's pregnant and her Doctor wanted her to be on bed rest. I love her class and welcomed the distraction so I took the job. What started as a one day position ended as a full time (till the end of the year) position. So, now I'm a kindergarten teacher.
When the principal asked me to take over I thought that it was a great idea. I've been the sub for this particular class all year and the kids would have a smoother transition if they had someone they knew take over. I also thought that it would snap me out of my darkness. And it's worked. All I can think about now is how I'm going to fill the days for the 26 children. How I can get them ready for 1st grade in just 6.5 weeks. And that's the other good thing about this position, I work really well with end dates. If this had happened in January I'm not sure I could take the job, but because it's so close to the end of the year I feel that it's totally manageable.
The other day I was walking the dog while listening to Erwin McManus (the pastor of my brother's church in LA). I listen to the podcast whenever I get the chance. He has this weird way of speaking about things that I'm dealing with all too often. So this particular sermon dealt with a number of things, but the thing I walked away with was that really in everything we do we should do our best. Nothing new really, I've heard it before, but with the mood I've been in I ended the podcast on a bitter note. I didn't have a "JOB", I continued to feel sorry for myself. Then all this happened. And as I was talking to my sister-in-law I realized that this was my chance to really make a difference in a group of kids lives. Let me pause here by saying that I know that working a "JOB" is not the only way I can make a difference...that I have two beautiful children to raise and I should strive to do my best for them...and I do. But like I said, I've been in a funk and I've been loosing sight of how to do that.
Now I go to work in the morning and miss my kids and am not only counting down the days till the end of this position, I'm counting down the days until I can play with August and Hazel for the summer.
And you know what else? I could are less that it's cold outside and it's MAY!!!! I don't have the time to lament the fact that the sun has barely shown it's glorious face as of late cause I'm too busy trying to find lesson plans!
So, that's that. Like so many of my friends out there in blogging land, I'm working now, full time, and trying to keep things together on the home front...but it's all good. And I feel the fog lifting.
Anyway, I've had some sub jobs lined up for Friday and Monday but on this past Wednesday night I received a call from a kindergarten teacher. She needed a last minute sub for the next day because she's pregnant and her Doctor wanted her to be on bed rest. I love her class and welcomed the distraction so I took the job. What started as a one day position ended as a full time (till the end of the year) position. So, now I'm a kindergarten teacher.
When the principal asked me to take over I thought that it was a great idea. I've been the sub for this particular class all year and the kids would have a smoother transition if they had someone they knew take over. I also thought that it would snap me out of my darkness. And it's worked. All I can think about now is how I'm going to fill the days for the 26 children. How I can get them ready for 1st grade in just 6.5 weeks. And that's the other good thing about this position, I work really well with end dates. If this had happened in January I'm not sure I could take the job, but because it's so close to the end of the year I feel that it's totally manageable.
The other day I was walking the dog while listening to Erwin McManus (the pastor of my brother's church in LA). I listen to the podcast whenever I get the chance. He has this weird way of speaking about things that I'm dealing with all too often. So this particular sermon dealt with a number of things, but the thing I walked away with was that really in everything we do we should do our best. Nothing new really, I've heard it before, but with the mood I've been in I ended the podcast on a bitter note. I didn't have a "JOB", I continued to feel sorry for myself. Then all this happened. And as I was talking to my sister-in-law I realized that this was my chance to really make a difference in a group of kids lives. Let me pause here by saying that I know that working a "JOB" is not the only way I can make a difference...that I have two beautiful children to raise and I should strive to do my best for them...and I do. But like I said, I've been in a funk and I've been loosing sight of how to do that.
Now I go to work in the morning and miss my kids and am not only counting down the days till the end of this position, I'm counting down the days until I can play with August and Hazel for the summer.
And you know what else? I could are less that it's cold outside and it's MAY!!!! I don't have the time to lament the fact that the sun has barely shown it's glorious face as of late cause I'm too busy trying to find lesson plans!
So, that's that. Like so many of my friends out there in blogging land, I'm working now, full time, and trying to keep things together on the home front...but it's all good. And I feel the fog lifting.
4/29/08
4/28/08
Pictures
We spent some time at the dog park this weekend. August and Hazel do such a great job at making the most of what we're doing. Hazel can be found collecting sticks and writing words on the table in the small dog area. She also loves to walk up to the dog owners and chat with them about how cute their dog is...
**this is supposed to say RAT, but it looks a bit like CAT. Hazel called me over to look at what she'd done by saying, "you're gonna be sooooo scarred by this!"
Every time we go to this park the kids run to this hill and start digging. I'm always on them about how gross I think it is because, well, we're at a dog park where dogs pee and poop on the same hill they are digging in. When I announced that we were going to the park they both ran for their gardening gloves so that they can dig without risk.
Of course Hazel has to lay on the ground to do the digging. It's always amazed me how different these kids are from each other. 
August, when he was a baby did not want his legs or arms to touch grass or sand. He'd try to balance himself on his bum while keeping his legs off the ground.
Hazel on the other hand would lay on the grass and wave her arms and legs around.
I'll always remember putting her on the sand at golden gardens beach and having her wiggle and squirm her way INTO the sand so that she could feel it all.
They are still this way. August does not understand why people put sandals on in the sand. Hazel longs to run in the grass/sand without shoes on.
Ahh, these kids.
**this is supposed to say RAT, but it looks a bit like CAT. Hazel called me over to look at what she'd done by saying, "you're gonna be sooooo scarred by this!"Every time we go to this park the kids run to this hill and start digging. I'm always on them about how gross I think it is because, well, we're at a dog park where dogs pee and poop on the same hill they are digging in. When I announced that we were going to the park they both ran for their gardening gloves so that they can dig without risk.
Of course Hazel has to lay on the ground to do the digging. It's always amazed me how different these kids are from each other. 
August, when he was a baby did not want his legs or arms to touch grass or sand. He'd try to balance himself on his bum while keeping his legs off the ground.Hazel on the other hand would lay on the grass and wave her arms and legs around.
I'll always remember putting her on the sand at golden gardens beach and having her wiggle and squirm her way INTO the sand so that she could feel it all.They are still this way. August does not understand why people put sandals on in the sand. Hazel longs to run in the grass/sand without shoes on.
Ahh, these kids.
4/26/08
Play Date for Dogs
Let me just start this little blog by commenting on the weather today:
it was both sunny and warm. The kids and I had an engagement in Bellevue at 10 this morning but by the time we returned to Seattle at 1 the breeze was even warm! It's been a long time since we've left the house without a coat...we kept thinking that we'd forgotten them somewhere.
Once we were home we spent some time in our backyard enjoying our neighbors and our neighbor dog, Niko, the Sheba Inu.
Tank and Niko play along the fence and call for each other when they are outside. Every once in a while we are able to throw one over the fence for a full fledged play date.
Hazel got the bubbles out and taunted the dogs with the floating soapy balls of fun while August sat at the patio table reading the 5th installment of Harry Potter. It was a nice afternoon. Later we walked to doggie playtime at our local dog store and wore Tank out further. He's now totally asleep on the couch.
Here's hoping for another nice day tomorrow when we'll get to have August's favorite friend over for a few hours after church.
Let's hope we can make it to the park so the boys can play basketball or soccer or throw the ball around.
it was both sunny and warm. The kids and I had an engagement in Bellevue at 10 this morning but by the time we returned to Seattle at 1 the breeze was even warm! It's been a long time since we've left the house without a coat...we kept thinking that we'd forgotten them somewhere.
Once we were home we spent some time in our backyard enjoying our neighbors and our neighbor dog, Niko, the Sheba Inu.
Tank and Niko play along the fence and call for each other when they are outside. Every once in a while we are able to throw one over the fence for a full fledged play date.
Hazel got the bubbles out and taunted the dogs with the floating soapy balls of fun while August sat at the patio table reading the 5th installment of Harry Potter. It was a nice afternoon. Later we walked to doggie playtime at our local dog store and wore Tank out further. He's now totally asleep on the couch.
Here's hoping for another nice day tomorrow when we'll get to have August's favorite friend over for a few hours after church.
Let's hope we can make it to the park so the boys can play basketball or soccer or throw the ball around.
4/21/08
Weekend and Teeth
So last weekend Trey surprised us with a quick trip to The Great Wolf Lodge...I'd say that it was a great time for all of us:
August's plans were foiled when he read this notice outside of the giant indoor water park:
He was sooo hoping to both pee and poop in the pool!
I think the next time any family comes to town we should plan on staying at least one night at the lodge. The water park itself is worth the couple hour drive and the hotel is pretty cool too. I think it's pure genius to have this kind of thing near Seattle, the fact that it's a huge INDOOR water park means that our LONG wet winters can easily be broken up by a short trip here. I can't wait to go again.
In other exciting news...Hazel has lost her first tooth!! She had been wiggling it for weeks but it finally came out during school when she was playing with her head band in her mouth. Apparently she was shocked by the blood and began screaming in her classroom. Some of her friends were very alarmed and it became big news among the kindergartners. Hazel went to
the nurse to recover and to call me. She made it through the rest of the day just fine.
August has himself a mouth full of messed up teeth and went in to get braces on his lower set the other day. Here are his teeth before the braces...let's see how they change through out the year...I'm sure we'll all look back on this picture and be amazed...shoot, for what we're paying we dang well better be amazed!!
August's plans were foiled when he read this notice outside of the giant indoor water park:
He was sooo hoping to both pee and poop in the pool!
I think the next time any family comes to town we should plan on staying at least one night at the lodge. The water park itself is worth the couple hour drive and the hotel is pretty cool too. I think it's pure genius to have this kind of thing near Seattle, the fact that it's a huge INDOOR water park means that our LONG wet winters can easily be broken up by a short trip here. I can't wait to go again.
In other exciting news...Hazel has lost her first tooth!! She had been wiggling it for weeks but it finally came out during school when she was playing with her head band in her mouth. Apparently she was shocked by the blood and began screaming in her classroom. Some of her friends were very alarmed and it became big news among the kindergartners. Hazel went to
the nurse to recover and to call me. She made it through the rest of the day just fine.
August has himself a mouth full of messed up teeth and went in to get braces on his lower set the other day. Here are his teeth before the braces...let's see how they change through out the year...I'm sure we'll all look back on this picture and be amazed...shoot, for what we're paying we dang well better be amazed!!
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