Reading assessements.....

...if I hear the book about bubbles one more time my mind may just spontaneously combust!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LISTEN TO FIRST 

GRADERS READ ALOUD*

31 Years

Memorial weekend waaaay back in 1982, the Captain and I got married. 31 years ago...but our actual anniversary falls on Wednesday this year. I pulled this post from my LMNOP blog from 4 years ago since that blog has most posts in draft form, I decided to share here.

My mother- who did not have a formal wedding, and was married right after WWII, commandeered my wedding as her own. I did not have a hand in planning- except for the dress which I absolutely loved then- (GHAK!! I still fit in the hideous thing!) and I have told my children they will get to plan their own weddings and I will gladly help :)

May 29, 2009

  It was 31 years ago today...Sgt Pepper taught the band to play that the Captain and I got hitched!


...to think that the Captain was the age that Daughter #1 is when we got married...just turned 22, is a little frightening...
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the church during the ceremony...so we had to stage the photos afterwards....this is one the photographer got away with!

Our dog, Uncle Wally was supposed to wait in the truck...dressed for the occasion in his white collar and tie of course...but he was not happy waiting in the truck...so he jumped out and met us as we exited the church- he was a good boy and knew he should not go inside. He even came with us on our Honeymoon!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LAUGH HARDER*
CELEBRATE 31 YEARS*

RUN BIKE SWIM!

WE DID IT!

We ran...

 

She took 2nd place in her age group....I took 5th in mine...she beat me by 6 seconds.

Next we ran to the car and drove to SMAC where we quickly changed and signed in to SWIM ACROSS AMERICA!

We swam... 

 



This is after....Daughter #1 and I and then with our teammate Annie...she is 84! I set a PR in the mile swim!

Then we cheered on the other swimmers and the youth swimmers...and ate bananas and oranges and enjoyed the sunshine.

Then I went inside and I rode 15 miles on a spin bike. I really tried to do 15 miles in a half hour...but I just couldn't....35 minutes was the end result...and I tried to finish before noon but missed that by 3 minutes.

But what an adventure! I collected $669.00 for cancer research! 

And a total of $41K was given to UCSF Children's Hospital and Children's of Oakland for research! We all want to kick childhood cancer's butt!

LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*PARTICIPATE IN A BACKWARDS TRI*

The Very Mixed Up Tri...

It usually goes, SWIM BIKE RUN...
But on Sunday I will RUN SWIM BIKE...
It isn't an official Triathlon...it is a combination of events that just came together.

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA is an event to raise money for childhood cancer research- dear to my heart as Daughter #1 battled childhood cancer for 2.5+ years. Daily chemo- as in everyday. When I saw the flyer and heard the recipients of the proceeds speak about their research, I knew I was going to sign up.

BUT...it just so happened that the Swim was on the same day as our Hometown Days Fun Run...which I usually run in the 10K because I can place in my age group...but because I have to be at the pool for a 10 swim, I will only get to run the 5K which starts at 8:30.

Daughter #1 and I will run, then swim and then...we decided to complete the day with a bike ride of 15 miles....you know....just because it will make it a Tri, backwards non-the-less...and because. Because back in 2002 we didn't know if Daughter #1 was going to live through the night in ER- but thanks to cancer research, and all of those who went before her, she is alive to swim and bike and run.

SO if you can make a minimum donation of $25 to help SMAC out cancer, I will make you a personalized dishtowel or bar towel embroidered with whatever your heart desires and mail it to you.

Click on 
http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/PoolSwim/NationalPool?px=1218401&pg=personal&fr_id=2160

to see our home page and donate.....see below for a few photos of my custom embroidered towels that can be yours :) I can do any theme or name or idea!

 

 

(My friend's last name really is Lord)

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*MAKE A DONATION TO 

HELP SMAC OUT CANCER*

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I am fortunate to be a mom to 3 kids...well, adults now- but always my kids.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MY FRIENDS....

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LOVE A MOM*

Is it 12 or 13?

I can't remember my first one...but I do have many of these photos...although this is today's...I arrived just as the "Energizer" Station was being set up....there was coffee...(yuck!) bagels and banana...and a cool bike bag filled with goodies.

Last night I got out my work bike- BUT Daughter #2 rode it home from work and got a flat- of which I did not want to fix...so I took the wheel to the bike shop BUT the tire was too worn...I tried to take the Captain's wheel and trade it with mine BUT I couldn't get the quick release brake to release- sooooo, I got out my road bike- which cannot go off roading on the trail I ride to work. Sooooo I rode to the Energizer Station, got my goodies and took the bus up the big hill to work. So my bike ride was only about 3 miles. This was the first time I put my bike on the front rack of the bus- I had watched a YouTube of it and it was actually quite easy.

The way home I took another route straight down hill and added 3.7. Now that it is lighter earlier I can start riding my bike again...I am afraid of bobcats if I ride before sunrise.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK*

Coincidental Ladybug

I swear I did not make this up...

For Christmas, the parents in my class each pitched in $8 and got me a $200 VISA card. I have kept it in my wallet waiting for the right thing to come along.

Last week, my class field trip was a 2 mile walk to the the local public library. We had a tour before it was open to the public and while I was standing next to a giant ladybug bookshelf I happened to mention that I would LOVE one of those in my new classroom. I was sure the Captain could build one....but right now he desperately needs to finish the truck he is working on because this one car stuff is wearing on me. A mom was standing near me while I was drooling over the bookshelf....and on Friday she came to school with a $50 Home Depot gift card in hand with a note- "We hope you can use this to start your ladybug book shelf this summer."

Now The Captain is going to kill me....so I went online and found the ladybug book shelves for sale- $1,300!!!! (And $455 shipping!! AND $60 if you are not able to help unload the box from the freight delivery truck!!!) That is mortgage, tuition, food, gas....not a ladybug bookshelf! So I googled ladybug bookcase images and found one...I clicked on the link and it took me to a Dan's 2nd Hand in.....get this- Colorado Springs!!! Well, who has a son at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs?? So I got in touch with Dan himself- it was still available...then I woke up the boy at 11 and sent him right on over to check it out. If it was in good shape and could be taken apart then he was instructed to buy it- with my gift card!!! There are side shelves missing but I would have had to remove them on one side because it will need to go against the wall in my new rat trap of a classroom...I am so excited!! I swear my kids and husband think I am nuts but wouldn't you really, really love to read a book taken off this bookshelf?

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*WHAT WERE THE CHANCES OF FINDING ONE OF THESE?*

*Seriously for the first 20 years of my teaching I worked in schools  where there were no Christmas gift cards- no PTA money to use in the classroom- E.V.E.R.Y.H.I.N.G I purchased to use in class came right out of my pocket. I never knew there were places like this...so I am enjoying every second of it before I retire!!!

May Day

This morning 25 first graders and 29 fifth graders carried the colorful pots they decorated with petunias inside and knocked on the doors of neighborhood houses on the street leading to our school. If the neighbors answered the door, the children shouted "HAPPY MAY DAY!" 

If the neighbors were not home, they returned home to find the beautiful decorated pot of flowers on their porch. This tradition was school-wide at my old school and done by a few classes at the first school I worked at many moons ago. So of course it must continue at my new school.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*HAPPY MAY DAY!*