Top 10 things I will remember about this school year

1. Starting the year with 15 students and ending with 8.

2. Taking 4 months to read Frankenstein. That was a 12th grade, unabridged, book I read with my awesome 7th & 8th graders!!!

3. Watching Seussical Jr. Musical and having to yell at the annoying 7th & 8th graders (not from my school - thank God!) behind me. Grrr! Don't get me angry during a play!!!

4. Having a student leave, then come back, then leave again, then come back.

5. Nominating one of my students for National Jr. Leadership Conference and sending her on an excellent trip to Washington D.C.

6. Crying when one of my favorite students left a month before school was out with only 2 days notice.

7. Finding out that 6 out of 8 of my students scored at or above grade level on district-wide tests.

8. Beating the students for the 2nd time in a staff vs. student volleyball match. Go old people!

9. Beating the students in the 1st annual staff vs. student kickball game. Old people rock - again!

10. Watching my first class of 7th graders mature into smart, capable 8th graders, and finally letting them go into the hands of the high school world. I will not cry! I will not cry!

One for me...dentist none!

Had my 6 month dental check-up today in case you cared. I have had a tooth that has been sensitive so I was thinking I would probably have a cavity. I started going to the dentist last year after not seeing one since I had gotten married (July 2001). I know - what was I thinking?!? Anyway, I have had a cavity the last two times I have gone. Tonight though, NO CAVITY! Yeah!!!! The hygienist did tell me though that she can tell I am right-handed. She made a good guess as 90% of people are right-handed, right? Well, she said that the recession on my gums is mainly on the right side and usually that means you are right-handed because you go crazy on the right side. Funny, huh? By the way, watch out Lindsay - gum recession is hereditary. Looks like we'll be buying each other dentures soon!!!

My new movtivational speaker...

Tonight we were at the park and the kids were making their own obstacle courses. You know, up the steps, through the tunnel, down the slide etc. Well, Josh was upset because he was trying to finish the obstacle course and Hannah came over to talk to him. She said "Josh it's not about winning, it's about having fun." Then, Josh in typical boy fashion says back "No, Hannah, it's about winning not about having fun." Maybe Hannah has a future as a motivational speaker and Josh has a future as an athlete.

Josh's musings

Today we made a trip to the store and when we were getting into the car, Hannah asked me if it hurt when I had her. I told her that it hurt a little bit. Then, Josh asked if it hurt Daddy when Daddy had him. I laughed and asked him why would it hurt daddy? Then I asked him if he thought daddy had him because he was a boy and mommy had Hannah because we were girls. He said yes. Then I explained to him that only girls have babies and not boys. Thankfully, that's all the further we've gotten in the "baby dept. discussions" but it was funny to hear him ask such a thoughtful question.

Cheating

I found this on a website and thought it was interesting. You can find this question and others here.

Write about a time you cheated and got away with it. How did you feel?

I cheated in 10th grade in Chemistry class. I was terrible in Chemistry. I remember Mr. Luidahl giving us these chemical equation worksheets and we had to balance the equation. You know, there is just some point where you quit after you have 36 hydrogens on one side and 24 on the other and you have been balancing the equation for 1 hour. So the morning after these worksheets were handed out, I would gather with my friends in the library and copy their answers. After all, I was just trying to keep my sanity right? I actually don't feel bad about this because Chemistry was a really hard class and Mr. Luidahl was a really hard teacher. I tried to understand but for the life of me, I was not cut out for Chemistry. To this day I still don't like that subject! At the time that I was cheating, I knew it was wrong and that I should really try to understand it for myself but I was so desperate to save my grade (and my toush) that I really didn't give it much thought.

Hannah's 1st Game

Hannah had her first soccer game/match, whatever they are called, today. The coach rotated everyone every 5 minutes so they all got a little playing time. Her team didn't win but they did a good job. She's the one wearing the pink socks in case you couldn't tell. Here are the pictures:

Keira's 2!

This last Saturday, my niece, Keira, turned 2. They had a family party and the kids swam in the pool. The temp was 83. I am a chicken so I don't get in until it's a lot warmer! Here are some pictures of the kids (William, Candace, Emily, Hannah, Josh and Keira) in the pool.

Keira trying on goggles

Josh swimming with his floaty

Hannah being the "lifeguard"

Andrew jumping in the pool. I caught him at the perfect midair moment!

All the kids hanging out