Backyard Fun in Arizona

Nathan loved climbing up to the tree house and sliding down the slide as well as going "We-e-e" on the swing.

Nathan loves putting rocks of any kind in my beat up fountain. He spent hours doing that while he and his parents (Rachael and Jon) visited in April.

Sweet 16

Remember when you turned sixteen? I do! I remember I was so excited to be able to officially date, drive a car, and hang out with my friends until my, now later curfew of, midnight. For my 16th birthday party, I just wanted my friends (only) and I to do something that we hadn't been allowed to until that age. I also remember that I was selfish, self-centered, and thought my folks were "square."

On Friday night, I got to be an honored guest at a Sweet 16 party. I know I am way beyond 16 and I don't even teach 16 year olds. But at one time, I did teach kids who are now turning 16.

So, about three weeks ago, I get a phone call at school from a father of a former student of mine. He said,"We are having a surprise 16th birthday party for Erin on Mar. 28. We are inviting adults who have made an impact in her life and who have helped us mold her into the extraordinary young woman she is today. We would be delighted to have you come. You are one of only two teachers whom she remembers as really learning from and admiring and considers a role model." Needless, to say I readily accepted and showed up to surprise Erin. She was not at all embarrassed to be surrounded by 15 "Old" women and was truly touched that we would come to honor her. Little does she know, that that honor was what I felt as a result of her acknowledgement of me and my efforts as her 4th grade teacher. This experience is why I get up each morning and go to school hoping to make an impact in a 10 year old's life. Not necessarily an academic one, but one in which their character is changed for the better.

I completed a scrapbook page for her book and I included these words of wisdom:

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness
is trading what we want MOST for
what we want at the moment."

Enchanted

Ok, I woke up this morning so excited. Today was "Enchanted" day. Today was the day I could go to Target and buy the movie,"Enchanted." I didn't want to seem too eager (a 58 year old women pounding on the door at 7AM), so I waited until 9:30AM and hopped into my car and took off. I parked and non-chalantly strolled in pretending to look for paper clips or toothpaste. But, guess what, right by the check out counters, there they were, a whole display case full of "Enchanted." I walked over and said "excuse me" to about six other people standing in front of the case and plucked one from the back of the stack(Rach you know what I mean). I was so excited. I made sure I had the full screen version. I hate letter box. I put it in the seat of my cart and decided that I needed to roam around the store like I really needed something else to buy besides the movie. What would people think if they knew I had just come to Target for ONE thing? So I did buy some paper clips and some card stock paper and then I decided that I could check out. Which I did, and then carefully took the movie back home.
Well, how many times have I watched it since I brought it home? Are you ready?
NONE. It has set on my bed all day. I feel like I do when I have a new book to read. I sometimes hesitate to begin because then it will soon be over. I tried to coerce Zane into watching it with me, but he said, "Mom, I'm not quite ready for it." Whatever that means. Then I asked Eddie if he wanted to watch it with me. He said he was going to Devin's to watch the Sun's game. Then I asked Stuart if he wanted to watch it with me. He said he was going to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Sun's game. Well,I guess that leaves me and the cats. Or, maybe I will save it and watch it on Friday night when the "boys" are going to have an "Enchanted" party. At any rate, I am still excited that today, Mar. 18, was "Enchanted Day." Tomorrow is another story. It is "Tax Day."