Is it Friday yet?? I guess I can make it one more day. Got back to work yesterday. I got new carpet in my Reading classroom, so everything had to be packed up and then unpacked, and all the furniture had to be moved back into place. My English classroom has been moved, so I have that room to get all ready as well. It's coming together more smoothly than I thought. I'm really super stressed about the whole Lexi daycare thing, though. Baby girl does not take a bottle, oh no. She pulls faces, gags, and just generally lets you know that she believes you are trying to torment her and she doesn't appreciate it. I'm so worried about it, but I know things will work out OK. Right?

Courtney is at cross country right now. I'm really proud of her. She's not particularly in shape and not particularly a runner, but she wants to try something new so she's giving it a shot. She came home and told me she's supposed to be able to run 2 miles by next Wednesday and we both bust up laughing. We'll see what happens.

The basement is almost finished. Yippee! I think by Tuesday it should be all done, except for the cabinetry. The wet bar and the laundry room cabinets & counters will have to wait until I can make some more sweet moola.

Poem

I wrote this poem last year about the time that Spring Break was approaching and my students were starting to make me bonkers. It's completely made up of things that my students actually had said recently. I took it to a writing group that I was part of, and they convinced me to submit it for publication in the Utah English Journal. So I did, and and they are going to publish it in the October journal. Huh. Go figure! And, yes, the last question was one student asking another if I had just said "hell" since I never swear in class... and the answer was yes. I did.

Higher Level Questioning

Why do we have to read?

Are we doing something fun today?

I was gone last time. Did we do anything important?

Are you sure you’re not having twins?

Why can’t we ever have a free day?

Can’t we just play games today?
Why do we have to play this stupid game? Can’t we just sit and talk?
Why do we have to stay in our seats while we talk? Can’t we move around?

Why isn’t my Math teacher making me do this UBSCT stuff?

This class sucks. I’m already a good reader.
I’m getting out of this class.
I hate my teacher this year. Can I get back into your class?

I have 29% in your class. Do you have some extra credit I can do?

Why do I have to sit in that seat?

You e-mailed my mom and I got in trouble.

It’s not important. I don’t think I should have to do it because it doesn’t matter.

I left it in my locker.
I left it in my car.
I left it at my mom’s house.
I left it in my binder, and I lost my binder.

Can I bring it next time?

What page are we on?
Where are we at?
What’s the question?

Why do you take away my phone? Are you prejudiced against Jews?

Did she just say “hell”?

Car Problems

We were going to go camping at Perception Point today, but as we were getting ready to go we noticed that the Suburban was leaking gas. So Sean spent the better part of the day replacing the fuel pump. Fun! He probably saved us at least $500 in labor costs though, so that was really good.

Courtney left for the County Fair at 7:00 am with Skyler and his dad. It's almost 11:00 pm and she still isn't home. They were still watching the rodeo last time I called her, about 10:00. I wonder if they'll still like each other after spending this much time together.

Brittney went to a High School Musical 2 party last night at her friend Kaylee's house. She had fun. I haven't watched the first one, and don't really want to. :P We don't have cable so she was excited to get to watch it with her friend. She's all into Hannah Montana and wants me to take her to the concert in October, but that's a big fat "no". Guess I'm not one of the cool moms. Oh well, I'll deal.

Davis County Fair

We went to the County Fair last night. Mindi and Steve and their kids met us there. It's really small, but we had a good time. I would really like the kids to enter something next year. At least Brittney, anyway. I think she'd really like that. I may have to look into doing 4-H for her because I don't know of anyone around here who does it. She loved the table setting displays, and I think she'd like to do artwork, cooking, and/or vegetable growing.






Courtney got home from Girl's Camp today. I'm really glad to have her back. She's been gone since Monday. They didn't stay overnight on their overnight hike because they saw a bear! Yikes! She said it wandered through their camp, but it was trying to get away from them, not come for a visit.

Looks like things are about to get back into full swing. I'm almost back to work, soccer has started up, Courtney is trying to get her schedule fixed and going to the first football game tonight... bring on the crazy.

Goals

My goal is to lose 20 lbs by second semester. That means I only have to lose about a pound a week, so it's totally doable. My goal for this week has been to walk every day, even if it's just a short distance, and drink more water. So far, so good.

Monday. Blah.

Well, Heather went back home today. Bummer. It's been really fun to get to see her so much this summer. I may not see her again until next year. I've always wanted to have one of those families where everyone goes camping together and hangs out together and stuff. But with Scott and Heather so far away, and Katie so busy, and us busy too... Not meant to be, I guess. Courtney has a friend who has Family Home Evening every single Monday night with their extended family. They take turns going to different family members' houses and have dinner and dessert and everything. That sounds so fun to me. OK not every Monday, but once a month would be so fun. Meet at Mueller Park and have dinner. Go to Cherry Hill and play in the water. Go boating. Do a service project. But my family is too scattered out and Sean's is too busy.

I've been trying to get out and run some errands since 11:30 this morning, and for one reason or another it hasn't come to pass. Now it's time to make dinner and take Brittney to soccer practice, so I guess I'll never make it out. I have no clothes that fit me right now since having Lexi, and I can't seem to get any time to get out shopping. Maybe I'll have to go to work naked? Scary.

Courtney left for girl's camp this morning. I hope she has fun. She's on the overnight hike right now. Her backpack weighed more than she does, so I'm a little worried about her. Hopefully she'll have fun. I have a good time hanging out with her. I'll miss her this week.

Summer

I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by! I have to be back to work in a few weeks, and while I look forward to the structure and the challenge and the stimulation, I'm really dreading the logistics of it all. I have to get Courtney over to the high school and Josh, Lexi, and me over to my school all by 7:15. Ha! Should be interesting. Here are some things we did this summer:



Courtney and Skylar watching the 24th of July parade in Bountiful





WaveRunning at Pineview

Josh has been such a handful this summer, but he can be very sweet when he wants to be.



Brittney won an award for an essay she wrote on Kindness. Here she is the morning before the assembly where she had to read it in front of sixth graders from 4 schools. She did a great job.