My first day

One afternoon while I was enjoying sitting in the shade pool side, reading a book, and watching the kids flip off the diving board; I received a phone call from a private school, right off post, asking if I'd like to come in for an interview for a teaching position.  I was a little shocked but agreed to go for the interview.  Why not?  Well they called me the day after the interview to offer me a full-time position teaching 5th and 6th grades.  And the best part was that I would have an aide for half the day!  I took the job and started getting my room ready August 1st.  This school also does home visits, si I had to schedule visits will all my students before school started on the 15th.  Class size is very small.  I have 11 kids.  The school is in it's 154 year.  They have seen better days with over 200 students in grades K-8.  This year there are 29 kids in grades K-6!!  There is some drama and there is no principal and all the teachers are new this year.  Even the secretary is new.  So there are some hurdles to jump but so far so good!  

My room was a mess and needed lots of work.  It was the 7/8 grade room and all the text books, etc all had to be moved.

Before

 After

 Ready for the first day!

 I took Miles to school with me on Thursday.  He was a big hit!  The kids loved having him in class and Miles enjoyed all the attention.  I noticed that Miles would go under my desk and nap and then come out circle the desks visiting the kids, nudging his nose under their elbow to put his head in their laps.
At the end of the day they gave him belly rubs.

 One kid really lived doing his math work while sitting with Miles.

This was an activity on managing everything you have to do and helping your classmates.

 Me working full-time means I have to be out the door at 7:15 every morning.  Justin leaves after the boys leave for school so that works well.  I also prep breakfasts and lunches for Justin and me over the weekend so it's less time in the kitchen in the morning.  I still get up early to get a workout in before school so having breakfast and lunch ready really helps.

The kids seem to have adjusted well too.  They get home before I do.  Caroline gets home at 3:15 and the boys around 3:30.  They get their snack, do their assigned chores, and homework before I get home.  I get home a little after 4 and get right to making dinner so we can eat by 5.  Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays Will has football from 6-8.  Caroline has karate Tuesdays and Thursdays.  And Justin and I go on group bike rides Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights at 6.

I am really loving being back in the classroom.  I didn't realize how much I had missed it!

First Day of School

The kids started 7th, 5th, and 1st grades last week!  They were ready and excited.  Really!  They love going to school and that makes me happy.  They were also ready to stop doing their summer workbooks!  Caroline is going to the Jr. High (7-9) on post and takes a bus to and from school for the first time ever.  

 Asked them to make a sad face!

 And a happy face!  Will is doing his "grumpy cat" face!  He did wear shoes to school.  I had the boys get up from breakfast to get the pictures before Caroline had to catch the bus.

 Dashing of to catch the bus.  She's had a couple of close calls this week and is still learning how to manage her time in the mornings.

Here's to another great year!!

The first part of August

We had lots to fit in before school started.  If you haven't already figured it out we stay pretty busy!!

First up, belt promotion.  

 My silly boy!  He has now decided not to continue karate and is going to play soccer this fall.

 Caroline is now a green belt with a black stripe.  She loves it and is still going twice a week.

 One of the summer reading prizes from the library was a 170 piece straw thing.  The boys had fun trying to get it to work.  Will ended up drinking all of Eric's smoothie and none of his own!

 Lili and Miles watching something.  But they are cute and get along.

 Will started tackle football!  He loves it.  Below is the first practice with pads and he was thrilled to hit someone!!

 Justin and I get home from a walk and are met with Caroline holding an injured bird!  We told her to put it under the tree in the field behind her.  It was gone the next morning.  I'm pretty sure the cat that roams the hood got it!

 Eric requested cookies, with ice cream, and rolled in chocolate chips for dessert one night.  So I made it happen and he was thrilled!  Just loved it.

 Hot summer days, a trampoline, friends, and a sprinkler make for some fun memories!!

Bike Race Finals

Wednesday night we went to the final race of the Late Night Under the Lights series.  Will won his age group race (11-12 year olds) and then also got 1st place for the series!  

 Summer series winner!  Look at that face!  He was thrilled.

 Eric's age group (6-8 year olds) had 21 participants in it!  So he didn't end up placing in that race.  He was in the top 10 though.  But for the summer series he won 1st place!!!  He was so excited.

 The Tour d France shirts that Mimi and Grandaddy sent from their trip to France helped them go faster!!

I should have done this map picture earlier but this is where they race.  The loop is about 3/4 of a mile.  The start and finish are right near that small parking lot on the north side.  The road is blocked off so there is no traffic to battle.

Justin also raced and got second in his category and 3rd overall for the summer.  He also enjoyed racing and all my boys learned a lot from this experience.  They are hoping we are still here next summer so they can race again!!