Third birthdays

Three years ago my friend Karen became a grandma and today she was working on prize bags for her granddaughter's birthday.
Ah! toddler birthdays. Jono's first birthday we went to play miniature golf with the Schlichters at the Putt-Putt place in Hamilton, forgot the camera though. JJ got a fire engine for his third birthday. Katie, and JJ went to King's Island for birthday 5 and 7 courtesy of the Andreas. Then there's the party we had for Jonathan. It had a circus theme, a pinata, bunch of balloons to throw at a clown, and fun on the climbing tower. My favorite part was the water balloons.
Somewhere there is a picture of JJ in a stripped shirt from that birthday party. Who can forget Jono's party at McDonald's right after Lita was born? Joe's first birthday party with friends was there, too!
Good times cake and ice cream and the simple life. What is the first birthday party you remember?

I love my Job!

Where else can you say good morning and have 21 kids say it back? Where else can you be exhausted and yet get up the next morning anticipating an adventure?
I remember a kindergartner asking me to marry him. Thank you Bamadele Babjedi. Isn't that a great name?
I remember a first grader building me house on blocks. Literally he used blocks of wood from the wood pile with a drawing on it of a house.
I remember a first grader saying the pledge backwards because we forgot one day.
I remember another first grader standing in the drinking fountain to wash his shoes so he didn't get into trouble from him mom. Then there was another one walking down the hall on his hands because he just felt like it.
Just on Friday as we are walking to recess~ one boy asked, "Can we study robotics?" Well,no, not next week; next week we are studying eyes and how they work.
But it got me thinking, who do I know that could come in and teach something about that?
Teaching is a good thing. I am so lucky, I love my job!

Back to School Time

It is almost ready to go. School is almost in session. Where did the summer go? It melted away in trips to the doctor and to the pool.
I am truly lucky to have a job that I love! I can't wait to see the class and get started. I hope that things go well this year.
Can't think of anything more I want to say!

Birmingham, Alabama

One of the places I want to go someday- Besides Savannah, Georgia-is Birmingham, Alabama. I want to climb the statue of Vulcan there. One of my favorite writers Anne George comes from Birmingham. She writes mysteries with a humorous twist. The mysteries happen around the town. Her humor makes me want to go there and experience both the statue and the town for myself. I love her two characters Aunt-sister and Mouse. I really relate to Aunt-sister in that we are both big, bold and bossy.

The Dentist

Today I went to the dentist. When I was brushing my teeth, the tooth brush bumped my front tooth and cracked it. So I went to have it filed the porcelain one not the real tooth. The sound of drilling and the taste of tooth dust is till in my mouth.
Later today the receptionist said there was a cleaning opening so I had my teeth cleaned in the afternoon. Wow! That was sore on my jaw and the sound of scratching is still in my ears.
In between I played school.
Then tonight we had soup and crackers for diner. I was biting the cracker when my tooth broke in half! so now I have an appointment for the dentist agin on thursday at 8:30 a.m. bright ad early.
Did I ever tell you the story of why I have a dead front tooth? In 10th grade you have to take gym or at least in 1967-68 you did. One of the activities in the winter is gymnastics and that includes trampoline. As I was learning to do a flip on the trampoline and the gym teacher was holding on to me, I flipped over her and landed on the floor. Actually it was one of those blue gym mats. My teeth bit my leg and it was loosened. So I had a root canal. To prevent infection the dentist gave me antibiotics, which gave me an intestinal problem that lasted for months. (probably was only a week but it seemed like months) The only good thing that came out of it was that in the end I weighed all of 120 pounds, and stayed that thin for 8 years. So that is the story of the dead front tooth. It didn't turn black though until 2000 or so. At that point it was time to get it capped and now I have to get it recapped!

Birthdays

This is a week of birthdays. Several of my favorite people have them this week. August is a good time to have a birthday, but a bad time to be pregnant. It was so hot, and humid.
I remember when Jonathan was born, I was in labor and didn't know it. Katie and Jj were at the pool and I couldn't have a baby yet. So I went home. When Lita was born, well, Rachel was there to help with all those children. It was a scarey night when she was born because I was worried something was wrong with her. All turned out all right, though.
Happy birthday to all of you with August birthdays! Cupcakes for you!

Looking at Things

Have you ever been to place that is so restful that you just want to sit and enjoy the peace? Eagle Harbor is like that. Being there helps you to regain your perspective on life. Being there helps you know what is and isn't important. Being there makes you remember who created the world. Being there let's you know who is in control and that you will not be forsaken.
I like walking along the beach and feeling the chilly water between my toes and hearing the lap lap as is covers them. The sand is rust brown and different from the sand at the ocean. I like sitting on the beach and seeing the shimmering water just before sunset. I like standing on the rocks and looking out and seeing nothing but water. The wind blows through your hair but the sun is warm so it doesn't feel chilly. Sometimes the big lake is rough and tears over the rocks with a wild abandonment and you realize how those little grains of sand got that way. But then in the evening it calms down. All is peaceful.