Today Miss Bailee started 6th grade - her last day of elementary school. She was excited and nervous ... more so than any other year. She also took MUCH longer to decide what to wear, how to do her hair, etc. She even put on lip gloss. Decked out in skinny jeans, a camisole, and a rib tickling sweater she did NOT look like a little girl. She's a young woman now.
This is the first time that I was able to fully participate in the first day of school. Usually I'm the first one back at work. It was fun, and gave me one more reason to envy all those stay-at-home moms. Hard not to resent the fact that I've had to work through all of Bailee's growing up years. I figure that by the time she's in high school I'll be able to retire (if the economy recovers); just in time to cramp her style. ha ha
Our shortened school year feels strange to everyone, as it has thrown off our ingrained schedule for going back to school. Mom is frustrated by the weather change and the fact our days are noticeably shorter. The two week delay makes a big difference! Everything feels different this year. Not that it is a bad thing - I loved the long summer; though I wish it hadn't been so hot. I've watched the Port Townsend, Washington temps at friend Marsha's house with great envy!
Tomorrow is my zero to sixty day. First day back at school - a work day AND Back to School Night. It's bound to be crazy, because you always learn many new things that have to be dealt with during that first Faculty Meeting. The fact that we have a new principal this year will make that doubly interesting.
So, I'm wondering what Bailee and Diana are up to. I hope things are going smoothly for Diana (though that seems an oxymoron when applied to the first day of kindergarten). I hope that sixth grade is NOT as scary or hard as Bailee feared and that she comes home excited (she loves school, so I think that's pretty likely).
Beginnings are fun ... and scary ... and wonderful.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The Last Weekend of Summer
It's the last weekend of summer. Monday heralds in the being of school and a return to "normal life." I just hope that it is a better year than last year.
I am feeling shortchanged, because I don't feel well today. I'm as pale as a sheet (as my Mom always said) and my stomach is inventing fun ways to torture me. Ick. I think I picked up the bug Bailee had yesterday ... but I think I picked up more than my share. :) Oh well, life is never simple.
I managed to get a great deal of school stuff done early this morning, before the bug hit. I'm thankful for that. Now I'm listening to the rain and thunder, watch "Barefoot Contessa" on Food Network, and catching up on some computer stuff. Diana and Bailee went out to see "Nanny McPhee 2" and Mom is out shopping. Do I feel sorry for myself? I sure do!
I am feeling shortchanged, because I don't feel well today. I'm as pale as a sheet (as my Mom always said) and my stomach is inventing fun ways to torture me. Ick. I think I picked up the bug Bailee had yesterday ... but I think I picked up more than my share. :) Oh well, life is never simple.
I managed to get a great deal of school stuff done early this morning, before the bug hit. I'm thankful for that. Now I'm listening to the rain and thunder, watch "Barefoot Contessa" on Food Network, and catching up on some computer stuff. Diana and Bailee went out to see "Nanny McPhee 2" and Mom is out shopping. Do I feel sorry for myself? I sure do!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Oh La ...
The last few days of vacation are dwindling away. Bailee is trying to cram in as much playing as possible. I'm trying to finish projects. Diana is already in the thick of things, so she's a lost cause. It is hard to let go of summer and the freedom it brings. The chaos of summer does make one yearn for the routine of the other months though. I hate to admit it, but it's true. Those more respectable and regimented months have their own special charm ... and after a few months of rolling about in all that summer offers one can get a little sick of it. The time has come, and though I'm trying to hang on to the fun, it feels right to be going back.
Bailee had a visit from the two sixth grade teachers who will be working with her this year - Mrs. Perry and Ms. Lawrence. They're meeting their students and bringing them packets about sixth grade. I am very impressed. This is the nice part about smaller schools in a small geographical area.
Diana is off to Back to School Night. She has to work from 6:00 to 8:30 or later. Another one of the upaid demands which districts make. We will attend the one at Bailee's school tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also Bailee's twelfth birthday. It is really hard to grasp the fact that she is now a young woman. She has been such a joy in our lives.
Bailee had a visit from the two sixth grade teachers who will be working with her this year - Mrs. Perry and Ms. Lawrence. They're meeting their students and bringing them packets about sixth grade. I am very impressed. This is the nice part about smaller schools in a small geographical area.
Diana is off to Back to School Night. She has to work from 6:00 to 8:30 or later. Another one of the upaid demands which districts make. We will attend the one at Bailee's school tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also Bailee's twelfth birthday. It is really hard to grasp the fact that she is now a young woman. She has been such a joy in our lives.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Goodbye Summer!
Summer officially comes to a close for us on Tuesday. That will be Diana's first day back at work. My first day will be the 31st. Bailee will start school on the 30th. So long summer! It's been ... hot, busy, hectic, and crazy.
Of course, this is all the official side of things. In reality, we've been working at our schools or on school work all month. This is the time we do all the window dressing, preparations, etc. that make the rest of the year work. All that remains is to add kids and stir.
Of course, this is the perfect time for the state of Idaho to catch fire, so it did. There's a large fire in the Arbon Valley (west of Pocatello), but our prevailing winds are funneling the smoke on a direct route to Idaho Falls. It's stinky and miserable. There was a 50% chance of showers today, so now we are all really praying that comes true. A downpour is much needed!
During the past week we have had high winds and high temperatures - the perfect combination for drying everything out to a crisp. I don't think there is a scrap of vegetation that isn't ripe for a wayward spark. Even our yard is in a sorry state. You just can't seem to keep ahead of the heat and wind. Right now I look at the yard and dream of snow.
Of course, this is all the official side of things. In reality, we've been working at our schools or on school work all month. This is the time we do all the window dressing, preparations, etc. that make the rest of the year work. All that remains is to add kids and stir.
Of course, this is the perfect time for the state of Idaho to catch fire, so it did. There's a large fire in the Arbon Valley (west of Pocatello), but our prevailing winds are funneling the smoke on a direct route to Idaho Falls. It's stinky and miserable. There was a 50% chance of showers today, so now we are all really praying that comes true. A downpour is much needed!
During the past week we have had high winds and high temperatures - the perfect combination for drying everything out to a crisp. I don't think there is a scrap of vegetation that isn't ripe for a wayward spark. Even our yard is in a sorry state. You just can't seem to keep ahead of the heat and wind. Right now I look at the yard and dream of snow.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Where is the HOLD Button?
I need to press the HOLD button. I really do. Where is it? Time is going way too fast, and school is approaching before I feel ready for it. Last year left me feeling so beat up that I just haven't recovered yet. :) I need time to slow down. The last two weeks have flown by like a lightning flash. Who needs that? I sure don't.
The hot water heater is finally installed, permitted, inspected, and functioning. Such a relief. Whew! All the red tape is there to make sure things are done right and are safe, but it certainly adds some nice drama. Like our family needs more of that, right?
We went to see the movie SALT this past week. It was really good, but certainly had you going right up until the very last second! What an ending!
We've been working in Bailee's room for the past week. Getting rid of things, organizing, etc. I wish that I could say that we're done ... it won't be long though. We just have to decide on the best organization plan and sort through the toys and games. Stuffy Land has grown to unmanageable proportions, so we need to "thin the herd." That's something Bailee is NOT happy about. I blame Diana. She was a stuffy collector too (and passed on her collection to Bailee when she was little), and feels the same way about all that fiberfill. I'm the heartless and evil super villain in this scenario. Wah-ha-ha-ha! I teach 5th grade, so it's a role I do really well.
Our weather felt an awful lot like FALL last night. I found that kind of exciting. I don't like the pounding heat of summer, so this was like a parole for me. Unfortunately, now that it feels cool enough to actually get out and do things ... well, we're back to that HOLD button. It's probably buried under stuffies!
The hot water heater is finally installed, permitted, inspected, and functioning. Such a relief. Whew! All the red tape is there to make sure things are done right and are safe, but it certainly adds some nice drama. Like our family needs more of that, right?
We went to see the movie SALT this past week. It was really good, but certainly had you going right up until the very last second! What an ending!
We've been working in Bailee's room for the past week. Getting rid of things, organizing, etc. I wish that I could say that we're done ... it won't be long though. We just have to decide on the best organization plan and sort through the toys and games. Stuffy Land has grown to unmanageable proportions, so we need to "thin the herd." That's something Bailee is NOT happy about. I blame Diana. She was a stuffy collector too (and passed on her collection to Bailee when she was little), and feels the same way about all that fiberfill. I'm the heartless and evil super villain in this scenario. Wah-ha-ha-ha! I teach 5th grade, so it's a role I do really well.
Our weather felt an awful lot like FALL last night. I found that kind of exciting. I don't like the pounding heat of summer, so this was like a parole for me. Unfortunately, now that it feels cool enough to actually get out and do things ... well, we're back to that HOLD button. It's probably buried under stuffies!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Another Road Trip and a Crazy Night
Bailee at Yellowstone Lake
Square Ice Cream in Swan Valley
Diana and Bailee at the Square in Jackson
Grand Teton
Bailee cooling off at Yellowstone Lake
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Grizzly Print
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
We took another road trip this week - this time to Yellowstone Park. After going to Grand Teton (Nat'l Park admission is now $25) we had a week's free pass to other parks. I'm all for saving some bucks, so we were off on Friday morning.
The park was beautiful. It was so green! There were also wildflowers everywhere you looked. We did the full loop - Madison, Old Faithful (it seemed bigger and longer in the past), Grant VIllage, West Thumb, Lake, Fishing Bridge, the Mud Pots, Canyon, Mount Washburn, Dunraven Pass, Tower Falls, Roosevelt, Mammoth, and Norris. We left at 8:00 a.m. and returned home alittle after 11:00 p.m. A LONG day, but really nice.
It was so warm that we saw very few animals until the late afternoon. We ran into what we were sure was a "bear jam" around Madison, but found that it was -- an elk. Those of you who remember Yellowstone from the old days will appreciate my surprise. I'm sorry, an elk is just NOT that exciting. Some things about Yellowstone never do change, and one is how utterly lacking in common sense the "tourons" are (this is my word for tourists/morons). They walk right up to the animals, chase them, and in every way act like idiots. One buffalo was lying down and looking at them as they approached with a look that all but said - "It's just too hot to be bothered with killing you - but then again ..."
We also got to see classic touron behavior at the mud pots ... a scientist from California was guiding a group when several started hiking right across the crust of the feature (right past the signs that say to STAY ON THE WALKWAY). He went ballistic. I loved his tirade - "The crust isn't safe! It might give way ... and then you'll die. Maybe here, maybe at the hospital - but you will die!" You have to love tourons.
We saw lots of buffalo looking fat and happy, but hot. Saw a few shy deer, lots of little critters of course. The best sighting there was a squirrel at Old Faithful. It looked like a stupid dog show - so many people had canines in tow. Well, this squirrel was frisking around a tree when he walked right into a dog. He was up the tree in a flash ... but he was very unhappy about having his frisking activity curtailed. The dog couldn't decide what to do ... his owners were fascinated by this smoking, spurting, burbling thing (which was kind of impressive), but then the squirrel would start scolding and the dog's head would snap back to look at it. I'll tell you, it reminded me of the dog in the movie UP -- "Squirrel!" Too funny.
A grizzly bear had visited the mud pots earlier in the day - leaving footprints all over. The ranger who was stationed there said that it looked like it was chasing something - then gave up the chase. He figured it got close enough to burn the pads on its feet. It jumped the fence and took off across the parking lot. Huge muddy footprints - right through the crosswalk. Even the wildlife are more responsible than the tourons!
We saw a long antelope on the way to Mammoth, but the highlight was of the canine variety. We saw the wolf pack by Mount Washburn (though they looked more like gray specks. I guess it was worth driving up the mountain and over Dunraven Pass (once more I was attacked by an attack of vertigo). My favorite sighting was a fox that crossed the road right in front of us carrying its dinner. I've never seen a fox in the park before. Very cool, very pretty. Bailee was thrilled.
Bailee had a great time shopping at the various gift stores. She ate lots of Wilcoxsin's Ice Cream (it was a hot day after all). That was a real trip down memory lane for Diana and I. We both remember Dad's half gallon of Butter Brickle ice cream that was a fixture in our home freezer. Sure wish they sold it outside of Montana.
We missed a horrible thunder storm in Idaho and one that was hammering Paradise Valley north of Mammoth. I also got 43 miles per gallon - unheard of! I guess the van (which Bailee christened Fudgie likes mountain roads).
Now, on to the crazy night. Last night we got to bed very late. Bailee had a stiff neck and a headache, so we were taking care of her. It was also pretty warm upstairs. Hard to fall asleep. Around 3:00 I heard something and got up to check. The back light was on and mom was taking out her dog. Okay. I turned around to head back upstairs and saw this flash of green light out in the yard. Strange! It flashed again and again and again ... and I called mom over to the window to check it out. I finally grabbed my glasses and turned on the outside light again ... it was the Anti-Barking Birdhouse we got to discourage our vocal American Eskimo, Caribou. A neighbor's dog was throwing a fit down the block and setting it off. Needless to say, it obviously didn't discourage their dog. Very strange.
It was back to bed - but then we were all jolted awake by one of the smoke alarms blaring at 6:00. Shoot! It only went off a second or two, but we trooped around the house from top to bottom looking for trouble. We didn't find any. Needless to say, today we are all tired and thinking of naps.
The park was beautiful. It was so green! There were also wildflowers everywhere you looked. We did the full loop - Madison, Old Faithful (it seemed bigger and longer in the past), Grant VIllage, West Thumb, Lake, Fishing Bridge, the Mud Pots, Canyon, Mount Washburn, Dunraven Pass, Tower Falls, Roosevelt, Mammoth, and Norris. We left at 8:00 a.m. and returned home alittle after 11:00 p.m. A LONG day, but really nice.
It was so warm that we saw very few animals until the late afternoon. We ran into what we were sure was a "bear jam" around Madison, but found that it was -- an elk. Those of you who remember Yellowstone from the old days will appreciate my surprise. I'm sorry, an elk is just NOT that exciting. Some things about Yellowstone never do change, and one is how utterly lacking in common sense the "tourons" are (this is my word for tourists/morons). They walk right up to the animals, chase them, and in every way act like idiots. One buffalo was lying down and looking at them as they approached with a look that all but said - "It's just too hot to be bothered with killing you - but then again ..."
We also got to see classic touron behavior at the mud pots ... a scientist from California was guiding a group when several started hiking right across the crust of the feature (right past the signs that say to STAY ON THE WALKWAY). He went ballistic. I loved his tirade - "The crust isn't safe! It might give way ... and then you'll die. Maybe here, maybe at the hospital - but you will die!" You have to love tourons.
We saw lots of buffalo looking fat and happy, but hot. Saw a few shy deer, lots of little critters of course. The best sighting there was a squirrel at Old Faithful. It looked like a stupid dog show - so many people had canines in tow. Well, this squirrel was frisking around a tree when he walked right into a dog. He was up the tree in a flash ... but he was very unhappy about having his frisking activity curtailed. The dog couldn't decide what to do ... his owners were fascinated by this smoking, spurting, burbling thing (which was kind of impressive), but then the squirrel would start scolding and the dog's head would snap back to look at it. I'll tell you, it reminded me of the dog in the movie UP -- "Squirrel!" Too funny.
A grizzly bear had visited the mud pots earlier in the day - leaving footprints all over. The ranger who was stationed there said that it looked like it was chasing something - then gave up the chase. He figured it got close enough to burn the pads on its feet. It jumped the fence and took off across the parking lot. Huge muddy footprints - right through the crosswalk. Even the wildlife are more responsible than the tourons!
We saw a long antelope on the way to Mammoth, but the highlight was of the canine variety. We saw the wolf pack by Mount Washburn (though they looked more like gray specks. I guess it was worth driving up the mountain and over Dunraven Pass (once more I was attacked by an attack of vertigo). My favorite sighting was a fox that crossed the road right in front of us carrying its dinner. I've never seen a fox in the park before. Very cool, very pretty. Bailee was thrilled.
Bailee had a great time shopping at the various gift stores. She ate lots of Wilcoxsin's Ice Cream (it was a hot day after all). That was a real trip down memory lane for Diana and I. We both remember Dad's half gallon of Butter Brickle ice cream that was a fixture in our home freezer. Sure wish they sold it outside of Montana.
We missed a horrible thunder storm in Idaho and one that was hammering Paradise Valley north of Mammoth. I also got 43 miles per gallon - unheard of! I guess the van (which Bailee christened Fudgie likes mountain roads).
Now, on to the crazy night. Last night we got to bed very late. Bailee had a stiff neck and a headache, so we were taking care of her. It was also pretty warm upstairs. Hard to fall asleep. Around 3:00 I heard something and got up to check. The back light was on and mom was taking out her dog. Okay. I turned around to head back upstairs and saw this flash of green light out in the yard. Strange! It flashed again and again and again ... and I called mom over to the window to check it out. I finally grabbed my glasses and turned on the outside light again ... it was the Anti-Barking Birdhouse we got to discourage our vocal American Eskimo, Caribou. A neighbor's dog was throwing a fit down the block and setting it off. Needless to say, it obviously didn't discourage their dog. Very strange.
It was back to bed - but then we were all jolted awake by one of the smoke alarms blaring at 6:00. Shoot! It only went off a second or two, but we trooped around the house from top to bottom looking for trouble. We didn't find any. Needless to say, today we are all tired and thinking of naps.
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