Buddy...

When I first got Buddy, our guinea pig, he was supposed to be a classroom pet. After coming home on weekends, he became another member of our family...Molly LOVES Buddy and I just happened to catch her "playing" with him tonight as I got dinner ready. She is changing so much and it's fun to watch her interact with other people, new toys, and now, animals!

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catching up

Jack's birthday kept us busy! After his party, we stayed at a hotel with a jacuzzi tub. This was what he wanted for his birthday! We had dinner and yogurt and then went for a swim! Jack was in heaven...all of that AND Star Wars was on (and you could see the TV from the water!)Molly loved it, too. But wasn't able to sleep well in the hotel bed...and 11:45 that night, I took her home to sleep in her own bed. We met the boys back in the morning, only to find out that they had had an exciting night. Someone had pulled the fire alarm at 2:45 that morning...and they had to evacuate!As I had been telling Jack, there was another surprise coming at Goofy's Kitchen. Here is his reaction...His friend from preschool (when he was 3!), Julia, happened to be visiting this week, so she and her mom met us for brunch. These two quickly picked up where they left off from our last visit. I love watching Jack with his friends!

As if that wasn't enough, we celebrated again, at Nana's on Sunday.......and again, with his class on Monday!

Then, back to Disneyland for more time with Julia (and a yummy dinner!)

On Thursday, Jack and I went back for more! This time, we met them at CA Adventure...

Friday brought another field trip...to Fullerton College. Over 1,400 Kindergarteners were there...While I was with my class, it was fun to run into Jack at some stations. We even got to sit on the bus together!

Saturday came (finally) and Jack and Ken went to a CSUF baseball game. Molly and I were invited to play at her boyfriend's house...and a trip to the park! Here is a picture of Molly trying to blow the dandelion flower! I am thankful for our busy times...it's nice to be surrounded by lots of friends and family.
Now, this week, we look forward to parent conferences...and counting down until Spring Break!

The Things You Find On YouTube

You have to see it to believe it.
Thanks, Steve, for the entertainment!

smartie pants

Everyone says that their kids are the smartest. Now, it's my turn...

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six

Dear Jack,

We celebrated your sixth birthday today...you had so much fun with all your friends at Pump It Up. It made us very happy to watch you.

Tomorrow is your real birthday...we are having a special lunch at Disneyland, with a very special surprise friend. I can't wait to see your face!

You have grown up way too fast...Mommies always say that time flies, and I have to agree...This is you, one day old. I will always remember those sweet, fat cheeks...

This is you, one year old. I will always remember you HATED when your hands were dirty...This is you, 2 years old. I will always remember how much you loved trains.

This is you, three years old. I will remember that you insisted on a "real red diesel engine" for your cake and that you still LOVED trains!This is you, four years old. I will always remember how you loved show and tell at St. Paul's, and how you made so many friends that year.

This is you, five years old. I will remember how proud you made me this whole year. You became a big brother and started Kindergarten. This is you, six years old. I will always remember how smart you are...how you can read Fox in Sox, without " getting my tongue all twisted", how your love for trains has now been replaced with Star Wars and Legos, how even though you sometimes get annoyed, you really love your baby sister, how you make me smile and laugh on the way to school everyday...Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you!

Wordless Wednesday

I couldn't pick from this series of pictures...

(remember, leave a caption for these in the comments!)

pink

I just got home from a 3 hour school board meeting.

I am thankful that our (mine and Ken's) jobs are secure,

but there are way too many teachers out there

that will be getting there pink slips tomorrow.

A lot of them are my friends.
If you want to know more about Pink Friday, check this site.
And, if you can, wear some pink this Friday.

The cat hates Sundays

We have dinner at my parents' every Sunday. I think the poor cat has a nervous breakdown every week.

You can run, but you can't hide!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

ZOO

Molly and I just got back from the Santa Ana Zoo.

The weather was just TOO nice not to get out for awhile.

We hadn't been since Halloween, and Molly wasn't walking then...

So, today was really exciting for her. She loved everything about it, but mostly being completely stroller free the whole time...next time, I wont even bother bringing it!

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Kindergarten..

There are some nights that I worry about school the next day.
There are some days that I come SO exhausted, that I don't want to get off the couch to feed my own family dinner.
Last night, and today are examples.
We had another field trip today...and I worried. And I am tired.
BUT, I am happy. I have been blessed with a wonderful group of 5 year olds, and today, they made me very proud.
They were so well-behaved...and so polite...and so thankful.
I love teaching at my school.
I love listening to the little conversations on the bus.
I love the fact that simply riding a bus gives them just as much joy as the actual destination.
And just like at home, there are moments where I feel overwhelmed, but, in the end, I am thankful.
I spend 6.5 hours with these faces everyday. I am so thankful that they are such fun little people.