Back in School
We have this long term plan.. that is getting shorter and shorter. To move to Missouri next summer. We're doing it, it's no longer a goal, but something set in place.
We have found a wonderful house plan. It's called Stonehaven. I look forward to calling my house "stonehaven." As in ... let's go to Stonehaven for dinner. Or, inviting friends and family to stay with us.. "Hey, come join us at Stonehaven." (If you clicked on the link... we're adding two dormer windows to this plan. It looks plain now.. but, the windows will make it look like a cape cod style home.) Ok, that's getting off track.
So, this house... it will cost more than our current house. I don't think a para job will cut it. So, I'm getting my teaching certificate. Missouri accepts the Passport to Teaching as a way for someone with a degree to get their teaching certificate. This is exciting news. So, I've enrolled. I've paid. Today I looked at the course work, and my head started hurting. It does recommend that you go to a quiet spot to study. Recorder music is probably not recommended. I am choosing this route, rather than finding a job that uses my current skills, so that I can still have summers and holidays with the children. I should be done with the program in 6-10 months. Plenty of time before we move. Plenty of time to job hunt, and have a job lined up before we move. It really was a happy day, when Jared found this program for me to check out.
Any who... I'm going to get my certification in general science for 6-12 grade. It should be interesting. I think the kids and I are going to do some fabulous science experiments this summer.
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Squeaky recorders
recorder from Heather on Vimeo.
Probably most third graders come home, and throw their recorder under their bed, after schools out, and it's no longer required. But not Alex. Alex plays it EVERY day. It's not quite as squeaky as one would dread... but he still has his moments.
He learned the Riley County fight song (Victor's March). I requested it. He then thought it would be hysterical to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. He's always a riot.
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I do not need AC
I keep saying that mantra over and over again. As I guzzle water by the gallons, and turn on all of the fans I can find. I do not need AC. I do not need AC. I do not need AC. It's not even June yet.
Caleb got his summer do. He says it's much cooler, up there on top of his head.
I'm off.. to make yet another two gallons of lemonade for the kids. Caleb has challenged me to a game of Monopoly. Star Wars monopoly. I got to pick my piece first. I went with the guy with the fishing pole. (Caleb tells me, that's Luke Skywalker, and a light saber.)
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We’re planners
We take turns picking our vacation destination. Last year was Jared, this year was me, next year, the boys. We've been doing this since about 2000. We've never denied being big planners. So, the kids have talked it over, and come up with a decision for the summer of 2009. We are heading northeast, and stopping at a few key places:
We'll only be two hours from Baltimore, which seems perfect for going and having a photo taken outside of Charm City Cakes! We might even been seen on the show.. as weird stalker people. We can always dream
I'm sure we'll find some national parks along the way, not to fear. Our route isn't planned out quite yet, but I'm sure we'll be ready to put TomTom to the test before you know it!
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In the days of dinosaurs
Caleb told me, that he can't image what life would be like without video games. He questioned if I ever had to live life without them. I shared, that we got the atari when I was 6, so I did have to go six WHOLE years without video games, which was pretty rough. He felt for me. Then, when I pointed out that Kevin was 12, boy, that was even worse. Then he thought about Granddad, who had to wait until he was an ADULT before he got video games. He told me he was glad he didn't live in the old days.
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Thank you President Bush
We have done our share. We boosted the economy. Our tickets to Disneyland and Sea World have been purchased. Our three big meals have been paid for in advance. We're eating at two character meals at Disneyland, and dining with Shamu at Sea World.
I'm glad we could do our part.
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Poor TomTom
Every year, we go on vacation, right after my birthday, so I request.. no gifts please, let's spend that money on vacation.
So, this year, at Jared's request... We celebrated my birthday a month early. After our flat tire, I decided that I wanted a GPS even more than I already did. I'm a geeky gal, love little electronic toys. So, I decided and researched the perfect GPS. Gary and Cheryl added to the money Jared was already going to spend, and I went up one model.
I'm now the proud owner of a TomTom. Which, we've named Tom Tom. Jared likes to mess with Tom Tom. He makes the wrong turn, and laughs when the nice lady tells him to turn around as soon as possible. That is what the above photo is. We are the small blue arrow. We're suppose to follow the large green arrow. Tom Tom is not happy.
It does indeed have a feature "help me", and you ask "where am I" and it tells you. GPS coordinates along with nearest intersections. Very fun. Now, I'm ready for a road trip. If we get a flat tire, AAA will have no problems finding us.
As a fun side note, Kansas State parks are doing a geocaching program, where you can find the hidden containers, and turn something in for prizes, attempting to find all of them in Kansas. Now we can do that! Summer plans are in place.
Happy early Birthday to me.
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It’s summer!
Surely my kids weren't the only people that sang School's Out on their way home. (No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks.)
Every last day of school, I pull out the boys' School Days book. They tell me their favorite memories, friends, ect, and sign their name. I can't find Jonas' book. I told him I'll look more tomorrow. I can't imagine where it would be. This is the first time he's gone to the same school as his brothers though, so, it's the first time I've done three at once. I imagine his is in a special spot somewhere.
We now have piles and piles of papers and supplies to sort through. The decision must be made.. what to keep, what to throw away. Jared thinks I keep too much. I only fill one rubbermaid container a year. It could be much worse!
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The most disgusting part…
In preparation for our upcoming trip to Disneyland, we pulled out The Raiders of the Lost Ark. I watched this movie many times as a kid, and we even had the atari game! Although, I played the atari game long before watching the movie.. and even today, as we watch it.. the movie just reminds me of the game.
So, the kids all enjoyed it. They cheered at the explosions, the gun fire, the melting faces and the excessive blood. It was fun fun fun for boys. Caleb stated, at the end of the movie.. that the most disgusting part of the entire movie, was when the natives of the island were naked (meaning their booty was exposed).
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Eventful Saturday
So, let me tell you about our Saturday. A nice little trip to visit the McNeel family was planned. No rushing, leaving at 11, aiming for arriving around 1. Perfect.
I have to admit.. I lost my keys, before we even got started. I was in the car, setting up the ipod, with the perfect playlist, and misplaced my keys. Once found... we're on the road. Making good time.
Then it happened. A flat tire. First the debate, do we change it ourselves, or call AAA. I somehow convinced Jared, we should do it ourselves. AAA takes an hour. I didn't want to wait that long. Here's the view.. while changing our tire:
We were close. The old tire was off.. it just needed to be jacked up a bit more. Then the jack slipped. The car rolled backwards just a hair, and came slamming down. We rushed the kids up to the top of a hill.. and started brainstorming.
I tried calling AAA, and couldn't get a signal, but low and behold, Jared got one, from on top of the hill. They said, one hour, but they would rush it, since we were on the freeway. We had no idea where we were, mile marker wise.. they weren't thrilled with this lack of information.. but, hey, eastbound I-70, on the turnpike.. really.. that's pretty specific!
So we waited. And waited. A stranger stopped, and offered us water, a towel to sit on.. a ride for me and the boys to McDonalds. We assured her we were ok. It had only been thirty minutes, they should be there soon. A nice police officer came by and asked if we needed help.. about an hour into our wait. We assured him, AAA is on the way, thanks though.
We were entertained by cars that honked at us and waved. One would think this would be annoying.. but, we waved and smiled right back. About 1 1/2 hours into our wait, we were hot, but we got occasional cloud coverage. That was semi exciting.
We started calling AAA at this point. Trying to get an ETA. Apparently they couldn't find us. They were still looking. About 20 more minutes they told us. We called 20 minutes later. They still couldn't find us. We assured them.. we were here.. still waiting.
Then another police officer came by. I told him AAA was coming. I asked him where we were, because they couldn't find us. We were informed we were 4 miles east of Lawrence. We didn't remember passing Lawrence. Oops. He changed our tire.. even though I told him AAA was coming. Although that was a kind act, he was not the friendliest police officer I've encountered. But, our tire was changed. Two and a half hours after we got our flat.
We treated the boys to a cold beverage, and moved on down the road.
We did have a lovely visit with the McNeels. As Caleb went to sleep tonight, he asked me when we were buying Rock Band. Here's a snippet of our visit:
family fun from Heather on Vimeo.
We made it home. No flat tire. I will buy a better quality jack tomorrow.
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