I know that I had ceased blogging, but since we have moved and I have a tiny bit more time on my hands at present, I thought I would blog a little update:
I have moved from the Washington DC area to the high plains in the Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico region. We are now in a town of maybe 40,000. I am still adjusting, but in general, I like it.
Fortunately, a friend from way back moved here a few weeks after we did. We are enjoying sharing the joys and pains of small town life and the quirky people we encounter on a close to daily basis.
I kinda quit blogging after I started going to Community Bible Study. Prior to that, I did several studies with online friends. This spurred me to post at least once a week. There isn't a CBS here, but I met a neighbor who is trying to get one started. I have been looking for a study until then (January?). There is a Beth Moore study starting in October. This week one church is starting Satisfy Our Souls: A Cry from the Desert by Frances Worthington. I would love to hear any input about her or this book since I'm not familiar with it.
A nearby college has a new printmaking instructor and no classes yet. I'm going to go over there and visit this week and see if there is a way to use the facility. I have a room here at the house to use as a studio, but it is jammed full of everything we didn't have another place for at the moment. It is the art studio/wrapping room/gift closet/kids' craft/computer equipment/scrapbooking room. Did I mention that it is about 6' by 15'? You can see that I won't be painting in there until I work on it a bit. :)
My children are back in school. I had significantly less forms to fill out this year. Okay...maybe not that many less, but not all at the same time. My daughter likes her classmates, but not her teacher; my son likes his teacher, but is struggling a bit with making friends with his classmates. I think sixth grade is a tough year to be a new kid. We have met some of our neighbors and like our neighborhood. We have been going to church and have been meeting some people there as well. All in all, life is good. Thank you, God for all the blessings.
I have moved from the Washington DC area to the high plains in the Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico region. We are now in a town of maybe 40,000. I am still adjusting, but in general, I like it.
Fortunately, a friend from way back moved here a few weeks after we did. We are enjoying sharing the joys and pains of small town life and the quirky people we encounter on a close to daily basis.
I kinda quit blogging after I started going to Community Bible Study. Prior to that, I did several studies with online friends. This spurred me to post at least once a week. There isn't a CBS here, but I met a neighbor who is trying to get one started. I have been looking for a study until then (January?). There is a Beth Moore study starting in October. This week one church is starting Satisfy Our Souls: A Cry from the Desert by Frances Worthington. I would love to hear any input about her or this book since I'm not familiar with it.
A nearby college has a new printmaking instructor and no classes yet. I'm going to go over there and visit this week and see if there is a way to use the facility. I have a room here at the house to use as a studio, but it is jammed full of everything we didn't have another place for at the moment. It is the art studio/wrapping room/gift closet/kids' craft/computer equipment/scrapbooking room. Did I mention that it is about 6' by 15'? You can see that I won't be painting in there until I work on it a bit. :)
My children are back in school. I had significantly less forms to fill out this year. Okay...maybe not that many less, but not all at the same time. My daughter likes her classmates, but not her teacher; my son likes his teacher, but is struggling a bit with making friends with his classmates. I think sixth grade is a tough year to be a new kid. We have met some of our neighbors and like our neighborhood. We have been going to church and have been meeting some people there as well. All in all, life is good. Thank you, God for all the blessings.
Above is my "first week of school homework." Sigh. Today is Thursday too, so I must get it finished today. Remember as well, that I have TWO students in this school, so all but the PTA form and directory form have to be filled out TWICE.
Has the school system not heard of a database? Could we not have the alternative of keyboarding our info in ONCE. I would be more than happy to schedule a time to come to the school to do this! In this day and age, it is ridiculous!
In case you're incredulous, here is a list of what the forms are:
1. Form for county system
2. Form for office file
3. Bus Form
4. Permission to Walk on Field Trips Form
5. Opt-Out of Media Form
6. Opt-Out of Family Life Form
7. Join PTA Form
8. Volunteer Form
9. School Directory Form
10. Parental Responsibilties Form (Whaahh?)
11. Outdoor Lab Form
Luckily, I could file 13 the Free and Reduced Lunch Application and the Student Health Insurance Application, because I think that would put me over the edge.
Almost enough to make me want to homeschool......nah, but I totally respect those of you less-selfish than me.
Speaking of homework, read BooMama's post about preschool assignments stressing her out. I sympathize.
I wonder if BooMama has to make the "all about me" poster too....I had to do my children's before I switched to digital and of course I procrastinated and didn't have the time or inclination to make reprints. I wasn't about to cut up and paste on a poster our "good" photos, but most of our rejects were rejects for a reason! I still have these lovely creations in the basement. I ran across them last month. What a riot!
BTW, if you didn't read my post about last weekend, don't miss it!
Labels: Children, Marriage and Family
A few weeks ago, my workaholic husband mentioned that he was taking off a few days before Labor Day. This was just prior to my going on a nine day road trip through nine states with my mom and children. Being the planner of said trip, I was slightly distracted and went, "Yeah, that's great. We'll do something fun." He suggested an amusement park a few hours away. "Well....maybe," I responded.
On the last day of our road trip, I decided where we should go. PHILADELPHIA! I think I went back in junior high school, but don't remember it at all. The Monday prior, I finally got around to making hotel reservations. I couldn't get a room at my first hotel choice, so I settled on the Hyatt at Penn's Landing.
Guess what was (unbeknownst to me) happening at this hotel all day Saturday and Sunday? 
My favorite phrase in the disclaimer is highlighted for you guys. I laughed out loud.
BTW, this lucky lady is going to Hollywood, but they made her run up and down the boardwalk several times to get the shot they wanted.
On the last day of our road trip, I decided where we should go. PHILADELPHIA! I think I went back in junior high school, but don't remember it at all. The Monday prior, I finally got around to making hotel reservations. I couldn't get a room at my first hotel choice, so I settled on the Hyatt at Penn's Landing.
Guess what was (unbeknownst to me) happening at this hotel all day Saturday and Sunday?
My favorite phrase in the disclaimer is highlighted for you guys. I laughed out loud.Simon, Paula, Randy, Ryan were auditioning Philadelphia contestants in the ballroom! Although sequestered all day by about twenty American Idol employees/security, we did get to see each of them on one of the evenings as they left.
Ryan shook our hands and said, "Hi, I'm Ryan." I grinned and impressed him by saying, "I know." Simon shook hands with the kids and signed autographs. Paula signed autographs. I didn't see Randy on Sunday, but took his picture getting in a limo on Saturday.
We also saw lots of wacko contestants like a lady (I think) with white boa and feather hat and a guy in a tiger print vest with a guy in a red wig dancing behind him. An AI security guy told my daughter to take a picture of this one girl in a bluish/purplish outfit who was being interviewed outside. She must be one of the talented ones. (Daughter has a low-res Disney camera, so if she is identifiable, I'll post them later. )
BTW, this lucky lady is going to Hollywood, but they made her run up and down the boardwalk several times to get the shot they wanted.Late Sunday, they had all the "moving on to Hollywood" crowd there taping on the escalators. We were told we could not take pictures of them. I didn't go back in the lobby to see them; we were chatting with Paula's hairdresser.
My kids thought this brush with TV personalities was really cool; my husband just rolled his eyes. We love him anyway.
BTW, we saw the historic sites, rode the Ducks, went to the King Tut exhibit and ate at some fabulous restaurants too! It was a terrific weekend.
Labels: American Idol, Marriage and Family, television, Vacation
Summer is half over and I've nothing to show for it.....except some good memories. :) Of course, these memories and photos will join several thousand others waiting to become beautiful pages....sigh.
What have I been up to? VBS crafts, shuttling my kids to various and sundry interesting camps they chose for this summer, planning the aforementioned trip up the east coast, and playing Webkinz. I am hopelessly addicted. My kids don't mind my earning them kidzcash though. I highly recommend Dicekinz, but you will need to buy some good dice. I did this by doing the quizzy's, Quizzy's Word Challenge and Cloud Storm. We've also planted a garden in the outdoor room and all the pets are enjoying farm fresh vegetables.
My diet has gone kaput, but I did go walking/running today. I hope others are having a more productive summer, but I'm enjoying my wasted one.
What have I been up to? VBS crafts, shuttling my kids to various and sundry interesting camps they chose for this summer, planning the aforementioned trip up the east coast, and playing Webkinz. I am hopelessly addicted. My kids don't mind my earning them kidzcash though. I highly recommend Dicekinz, but you will need to buy some good dice. I did this by doing the quizzy's, Quizzy's Word Challenge and Cloud Storm. We've also planted a garden in the outdoor room and all the pets are enjoying farm fresh vegetables.
My diet has gone kaput, but I did go walking/running today. I hope others are having a more productive summer, but I'm enjoying my wasted one.
I know that very few are waiting to hear my next installment, but we are (finally) in the throes of summer. My oldest (not quite 11) is away at sleep-away camp for the first time. My almost eight year-old wishes she was with there too....
Here is the gist of his first letter, addressed to me:
As sketchy as this is, it still tops my camp experiences. I am hoping he returns with experiences better than my memories of soggy bacon and forgotten underwear memories. Otherwise, my guilt will haunt me.
Here is the gist of his first letter, addressed to me:
"Dear All,
My first day of camp was rough. The a.c. broke tonight. It was so hot I
could hardly get to sleep. We got to see the red pandas; not the babies though.
So far, camp is fine. From, D."
As sketchy as this is, it still tops my camp experiences. I am hoping he returns with experiences better than my memories of soggy bacon and forgotten underwear memories. Otherwise, my guilt will haunt me.
