Wow, it's been a long time....
Since I don't know how much you have heard over the phone or conversation, I will just pick up from here! Well actually this post won't be very informative, but it has given me something to think about for a few weeks.
When you spend much of the day at a junior high, with memories of your own junior high experiences 20 years ago (yes twenty!)... It really is a little disconcerning at first. Here are a few things I have remembered from my own experiences with added insight as an adult.
1. Quarters. Yes, quarters are the currency that moves the population. It is interesting to see the same quarter marked with fingernail polish come in and out of my cash box 3, maybe 4 times during a lunch.
2. One poster I laugh at every day says, "If you fight the paw, you get the claw!" As a student, I remember feeling pretty proud to be a cougar and felt like we were a sporting force to be reckoned with... (GO RMS!) Now, I see very young, gangly, gawky kids feeling the same way I did; only now they don't seem so ferocious.
3. Fads. In the late 80's it was all about tight pants, beads, make-up, long hair, and layers. Today it is tight pants, beads, long hair, and layers.
4. The same stereotyped kids still exist: jocks, cheerleaders, emos (my day grunge), nerds, mollys, and cool kids.
What I didn't expect was to care for these kids. Yes, I knew I would give them the best that I knew how, but didn't think I would emotionally care for their best welfare.
Lastly, seeing and hearing quite a few of these kids stories, I appreciate my own parents and KNOW I am lucky for my upbringing and family.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Junior High
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Thank You Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bill!
Abby received a belated birthday gift from her aunt and uncle today. Sorry the film is grainy and clicks. I didn't want to miss a minute of her dancing in her new "dress-up", and yes, the music is coming from her skirt! It has motion detection (who knew?) so it plays when she does! She absolutely LOVES it. This particular dress made its debut at Lowe's, to pick up fixer-upper stuff for the house. The skirt made everyone giggle, myself included...
Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bill sent her two more skirts, each playing a different melody!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Abby turned 3 today!
Really, I can't believe how fast time has flown. I am so very humble to be Abby's mom. Thinking about the last three years makes me smile. She is a beautiful little girl inside and out. Here are some of my favorite pictures of her though the years...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
1st and 2nd Day of Preschool
Abby started her first day of preschool on Wednesday. I have been a little sad, but mostly excited for her. I worried whether she would be able to adjust to so many new changes, i.e. getting on the bus, school, going to a sitter until I got off work, ect. and it looks like I worried for nothing. I went with her the first day, and she didn't even bat an eye when I left the room.
This morning was her first day getting on the bus. She was a little worried about it, but I tried not to cry in front of her. I did really well, and so did she!
There are only four students in her TC class (TC = Total Communication, speaking and signing). I think there are about six or seven in the auditory only class next door. All the kids in the classes wear hearing aids or cochlear impants, and all of them are as cute as can be!
We are going through that funny smile stage... When I ask her to smile, this is what I get
After class is over, the kids get to play on the equipment to wait for the buses. Abby's teacher is in the yellow (Ashley), the teacher's aid is in black.
Abby getting on the bus this morning.
Our Visit
As previously mentioned before, our family just got back from visiting my parents in Washington. We had an absolutely fantastic time. While we were there, I was able to see cousins/aunts/uncles I hadn't seen in about 10 years, and friends I hadn't seen since I'm not sure when! Abby did terrific on the plane. I think she has the flying "bug" from her dad. Every time we took off or landed she would "woot, woot" and cheer. She loved looking out the window to look for clouds, houses, trees, etc. All in all, the trip couldn't have been better! Here are some of the pictures I took:
I have to include the Space Burgers, SOOO Good! It was Mike's first Space Burger experience!
The main road leading to Royal from the freeway
Sagebrush and Grease wood, It can be very pretty... who needs forests???
I wish I had gotten better pictures of the landscape/fields, before I knew it our week had gone by!
This wasn't intentionally funny, but it made me laugh. In Royal your exercising and 
Just some of the friends from high school, I was able to see!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Who is that baby?
This is one of the pictures my mom gave me... As I looked at the kitchen in the background, the baby in coveralls/romper, playing with measuring spoons; and if the picture was given the sepia treatment, you wouldn't know which era it was taken.
The picture is taken of me, in 1975. Wasn't I cute?
A Great Day!
Abby and I just got back from a week in Washington, Mike met up for the weekend... I will post those pictures and report soon. We had such a fun time. My mom and I went through old pictures and showed me slides I hadn't seen, made pictures of some that were of me. Who knew I had more than two candid infant pictures, very exciting! I have posted one of my favorites. Looking at this picture, I realized immediately this was probably a great day for the following reasons: I have a BIG smile on my face, I am wearing what I called my "twirly skirt" and matching (I thought) sweater...side note, a hand-me-down from my cousins Marci and Becky, and lastly, I am spending time with Brad. I loved it when he played with me.
