Weekly Preview and Review

I know you guys are out there - lurking, reading, but most of you are NOT COMMENTING! It's rather discouraging to post and get no feedback. How could you ignore my sweet little on-the-scene reporter just below? :-) How's that for a guilt trip, huh? LOL

David had a great week at camp! He said the speakers were great and the games were great. So, I guess it was GREAT! lol Two of his activities this past week were cancelled - the soccer game and the car wash - both due to bad weather.

For our 21st anniversary, we went out to lunch at a local Asian buffet. (Lunch is cheaper, you know! And we're all about budget!) We took the three kids who weren't at camp. They love eating there!

The week coming up has some activities on the calendar, but there is a lot more to do. We leave for camping on Friday, so there's menu-planning and packing to do. Bob has auto maintenance to do. And we need to take advantage of the nice weather forecast to continue painting. We need to stop by the library for the Summer Reading Club.

Sunday - Church, maybe an open house
Monday - My sister Denise is coming for the day! David (I think) has a birthday party to go to.
Tuesday - Work, VBS (J&S), Soccer meeting (L)
Wednesday - Work, VBS (J&S), pick strawberries?
Thursday - Work, VBS (J&S), Road Rally (D)
Friday - Leave for Family Camp (church event)
Saturday - Camping until July 5

Suzy Wagner Reporting

June Flood

The flood this afternoon was quite impressive. I've NEVER seen this much water around here, and we've lived here almost fifteen years. There was water OVER the road to the north (top right pic) and our poor neighbor's down the street had water pooling on their lot and running into their garage and I assume into their basement (top left pic - that's all water in their driveway and over their yard - hard to tell). The large middle pic is our kitty-corner neighbor's back yard. The rest of the pix are our own yard or the view from it.

Wow! It rained all day, something like 4.25 inches!

Circus Creatus, Water Park, Rose Trellis

A perfectly wonderful afternoon at the water park was yesterday's highlight. I met my friend Sherri and her son there and we spent the afternoon chatting and watching the kids frolic in the water. The weather was just right - sunny and warm, but not humid or too hot. I wore shorts and a tank top for the first time this summer!

Earlier in the day, we attended a library program (Circus Creatus) to kick off the summer reading program. Joel Tacey juggled, told jokes, and did magic tricks. If you want to see some pictures from a similar show, click HERE. We laughed and giggled throughout, leaving with smiles on our faces. We didn't sign out any books since we'd done that just the day before.

I accomplished a little editing, but then I bumped the laptop and it disconnected from the power source (the outlet). It no longer holds a charge, so it has to be plugged in. No problem, right? Just reboot. Except David is the only one who knows the password. And David is at camp. Oops. So, I had to try to recreate all my editing changes on the desktop computer, effectively halving the time I spent editing, which was further reduced by the time I spent trying to guess his password. Finally I texted him and he did reply later in the evening with his thoroughly predictable password that I ought to have discerned.

Bob's been painting. He and the kids had to scrape some of the areas on the porch where the paint peeled off over the winter. Why it peeled we are not certain. But, it's now repainted, but may need another coat. He's also scraped and painted two coats on the barn where we had the rose trellis. He took that down earlier this spring and cut the roses way back in preparation for painting. Once it is nicely painted, he will put up new trellis and the roses will be growing up in front of a yellow background instead of grey. The whole barn will probably not get painted for a while yet, but the rose trellis needed to be done first so the roses had somewhere to go.

My two youngest are outside playing in the rain. LOL I'm not going outside today if I can help it. I did go running outside the last two days after I realized that I can't exercise in front of the TV while I am camping in a couple weeks. I jogged (ran & walked) 2 miles Monday and Tuesday. My legs are SORE. lol But it's a good thing. I will keep the exercise time the same and try to increase the time actually spent running.

Weekly Preview

We are working on painting the house this week. I may try to pick strawberries this week, but they won't be ready until Wednesday, so next week will probably work just as well.

Let's see, what else? The SOF Leadership Committee is probably going to meet. I have some co-op work to take care of this week. Soccer stuff will wait until next week, I think.

We'll probably go to the local waterpark on one of the sunny days. We decided to get the membership again this year - instead of paying for Field School at the nature center.

Library Summer Reading Programs start this week, so we'll be taking advantage of that, and I'm sure more Suns will be earned in our own Sun and Fun program.

Sunday - Church
Monday - Work, David leaves for camp
Tuesday - Work
Wednesday - Work
Thursday - Work, Our Anniversary (no celebration this week)
Friday - SOF Beach Day, David comes home, David goes to a soccer game
Saturday - Work, David has a car wash fundraiser, Go to an open house

Weekend is over again.....

So, after Suzy's party Friday, I just kicked back and relaxed. David went up to the church and helped the Best Years Fellowship (senior citizens) pack up their garage sale. I got a nice email later saying what a great job he did. That's always nice to hear!

The kids watched something on TV and I stuck in some frozen pizzas. James had been visiting a friend and he didn't come home until bedtime. I showed my friend (who had been hosting James) what facebook is all about.

Saturday, David rode his bike up to the church again to see if they needed more help loading up the garage sale leftovers but they were done.

Then we headed up to town to the library and then to the soccer fields. It was Field Maintenance Day. Oh yeah, my favorite thing - GARDENING. NOT. Anyway, you'd be proud of me - I slung mulch and pushed a wheelbarrow. So did my kids! Even Suzy. She actually loved pulling weeds. James and David worked very hard. (Emily? Not her favorite thing either. She's going to need some practice on enjoying it.) Bob helped too. He can shovel more than I can, and he does it sitting down! He has some upper body strength! We worked there about an hour or so and then headed home.

The kids did their chores and I took a much needed shower, before heading off to the one-year anniversary of my book club! We gathered at an Italian restaurant for dinner and conversation before heading to the new apartment of one of our faithful members. Once there, we discussed our book (the play by Oscar Wilde - The Importance of Being Earnest) and then watched the movie. It's one of my all-time favorites -so witty and enjoyable! I highly recommend it!

Today David got up and rode his bike (again!) over to the church for Sunday School. The rest of us didn't aim for SS, but David really likes his class. Anyway, I was upset with him for not telling me that he was leaving, although I sort of figured he would. But he told me later on that he DID tell me; I just apparently wasn't alert enough to process it. Oops! LOL Next time, he better write me a note too. The sermon today was really inspiring to me. I hope it was to many.

This afternoon, my neighbor had to move out. She lost her house to the bank. They're coming tomorrow to take possession. That's sad. She's lived behind us for a long time - twice actually. She grew up there and lived there when we first moved here, but sold it and moved away for a time. Then she bought the same house again and has lived there for several more years. She has three teenage children. She passed on a lot of stuff to us that she couldn't take along - mostly clothes, but also a few other things.

So, that took up some time this afternoon, as well as getting David ready for camp. He leaves Monday right after lunch. He is so excited that I'll be surprised if he sleeps at all! He has the busiest summer of all of us!

I think I'm going to go finish my book and eat some popcorn with cheese sprinkles.

Perfect Day for a Tea Party!

The weather turned out perfect for Suzy's party today. I planned it in the sideyard. Bob set up the screenhouse and we decorated it. We had a couple easy games, a couple easy crafts, a couple cakes, a couple choices of ice cream, a couple of crying incidents, and a whole lotta fun. Several of the moms stayed, a couple brothers, and my friend Brandi took pictures for me! Thank you, Brandi!

Here's a slide show. As always, if you can't view it, click on it and it will take you to the Picasa album where you can view it. I made the slideshow too big and it covers up some of the sidebar, I know. Too bad. I don't feel like redoing it. :-) TIRED.



Off to go finish reading The Importance of Being Earnest....

A Little Blah-Blah-Blah

Going to my first AYSO board meeting tonight. Dinner - paid for! Woot!

Took the fam shopping today - Dropped the guys at Home Depot, took the girls shopping for party stuff. Cannot find a mini-tea set anywhere! Argh!

David had an eye appointment today - increased prescription, ordered glasses. Two to three weeks and they'll be in.

Party planning driving me insane. Why did I volunteer for this again? Eeeeeek! She wanted a nice easy sleepover. lol OK, when the sleepover sounds BETTER? then I know I'm insane.

Watched Galaxy Quest for the first time this week. Very funny! Laughed and laughed. David found it extremely amusing too. On my second disc of NCIS Season 1. We like it. Remember I was looking for a current TV show to watch on DVD? Think I've found it.

Just something I wanna say - Whining drives me batty. For some reason, and I'm sure it's not present company, this has come to the forefront of my mind.

No house painting has happened yet. Monday it rained. Yesterday Bob realized he had no masking tape. Bought some today. So maybe now we can begin. Oh wait, yeah, PARTY on Friday. @@ and it's supposed to rain tomorrow. It was supposed to rain today too, but it didn't. It better not rain on Friday.

Both the queries I sent on Monday got rejections the same night. Dang, those agents are fast! Edited some yesterday. Maybe I can edit a little more before I have to head out. I've been working on the laptop, since it isn't hooked to the internet. Then I don't get as distracted. lol

OK, I'm off! You feel free to hang out and do your thing.

School District Layoffs

The county's school districts are facing hard times. All are cutting costs, most are looking at lower student enrollment next year, and all are laying off personnel.

Lapeer - laid off 13 teachers, closing 1 school
Imlay City - laid off 8 teachers, 1 librarian, 1 dean
Dryden - laid off 2 teachers
North Branch - laid off 11 teachers, accepted 3 resignations
Almont - anticipating cuts of $400K, partly in personnel
(All districts mentioned cutting support personnel and most are making other cuts.)

This means getting a school job in Lapeer County is not a likely prospect for anyone for 2009-10. Why does this matter to me personally? Teaching is what I have been trained to do and the possibility of me going back to that full-time is still a very real one for next year. But not here, clearly.

So, where? If that is indeed the direction we are going....

Weekly Preview

I almost feel guilty having such an empty week when so many of my friends are coping with hectic baseball schedules. But, hey, we did soccer and it's done!

I'll be working on Suzy's birthday party this week. How did I get roped into making a cake? (I looooove bakeries! They're soooo GOOD at decorating cakes!) Not only that? I have to try fondant, which I've never done before. Suzy gave me puppy dog eyes, that's how!

Hopefully early this week we can get the co-op schedule finalized and online so people can view it.

The kids will work on their summer learning, especially if it is rainy or cool. I'm unveiling the exciting incentive plan on Monday. (Watch Cornerstone!)

Oh yeah, and we're going to work on painting the house if the weather cooperates!

Sunday - Church, David returns home, Youth Group Celebration (D)
Monday - Work
Tuesday - Work
Wednesday - Work, Soccer Board Meeting (L)
Thursday - Work
Friday - Suzy's Party
Saturday - Work, Soccer Field Work Day (all of us), Book Club!

Perfect Summer Friday

Yesterday was THE MOST PERFECT weather! Mid-70's, sunshine, no clouds, slight breeze, no bugs. Idyllic!

We trekked over to a local park to share Park Day with a few other homeschool families. Perhaps ten families? The kids ages 1-16 got along great! There were no "issues" - parents, you know what I mean! LOL The moms had several hours to sit and chat and catch up while the kids played near (in) the creek, ran on the grass, played baseball and soccer, and just generally ran around.

Emily went home with a friend and James brought home a friend. Before dinner, I made the drive to get the kids back to their proper homes.

On the way there, we saw two turtles in the road. Yep, we stopped. Picked them up. Brought them home. James' friend took one and we have the other. We won't keep him forever, just long enough to learn all about him. He's a fairly big one. I'm sure James will snap his portrait before long. His name is Skipperdee, Jr. (Pic in this post is from the web, not taken by me.)

Last night we walked down to check out the carnival down the street. Wristbands were $15 for just five or six inflatables and some carnival games! (School fundraiser) I'd warned the kids ahead that if it was expensive that I wouldn't pay. So, we talked to people for a while then walked to the gas station and bought frozen pop. (Yep, even me! I drank REAL pop, although I didn't finish it. But, it's one of my pet peeves that the scientists can't seem to make a Diet Frozen Coke. Sigh. But wait, if anyone KNOWS of one, you'd be my best best friend! Really! I'll buy you one! hehehe)

After that, the kids watched a movie and Bob started a campfire. On the spur of the moment, we'd decided to make S'mores and allow them the opportunity to sleep in the camper. Bob popped it up earlier today to check it out before camping seasons starts. I posted pix of the campfire time below.

Suzy chose to sleep in the house with me, but Bob and Emily and James took the adventurous route and camped in the yard. (Remember, David is at Cedar Point.)

I exercised (4th workout of the week! Met my goal!) while watching He's Just Not That Into You and then finished entering the soccer registrations. I'm amazed at what passes for PG-13 nowadays. No WAY would I let my young teen watch THIS.

Went to bed FAR too late, but slept in this am. The weather looks lovely, although maybe a tad chillier than yesterday. I think we'll hit some garage sales and maybe cook-out.

First S'mores of the Season

From Campfire June 5, 2009

From Campfire June 5, 2009

From Campfire June 5, 2009

From Campfire June 5, 2009

From Campfire June 5, 2009

From Campfire June 5, 2009

From Campfire June 5, 2009

Sweet Suzy, Dreamcoat Sighting, The glad game

Suzy's party will be here in the side yard. Bob is going to set up the canopy thing and we'll have an outdoor fancy tea party. The weather needs to co-operate!

By the way, the reason she has been sweeter lately is not for purely intrinsic reasons. She wanted her party and I wouldn't schedule it until I saw an improvement in her behavior. So there you go, Michele. Bribery works sometimes!

I entered soccer registrations this afternoon then picked the kids up from their last art class. David won't be doing it next year. The other two still will be. Bob had Suzy out at the farm checking the garden. I took the other three to the library after art and got some books. While we were there, I spied one of the actresses from Dreamcoat. No, I didn't accost her in the library and get her autograph. She's a high school student!

We watched a newer version of Pollyanna tonight. Surprisingly good! My kids all watched it and seemed to really like it! Masterpiece Theater broadcast it, I think in 2003. The kids also watched some episodes of Busytown (Busy World of Richard Scarry) that I had on VHS taped off Nick Jr. "Buh-buh-BUH! Face here!" :-)

Can't think of anything else, except David is almost intolerably bouncy because he is so happy to be going away to Cedar Point with his friend's family. They leave first thing Friday morning and come back Sunday.

Randomness

Randomness....

There's a redbox in the Kroger store in Imlay City now! YAY! I may just cancel Netflix, although when David heard me say that, he reacted with horror.

Suzy is playing across the street with her friends.
James is trying to figure out a way to fix the hanging basket he broke. (Anyone have an empty hanging basket pot?)
Emily is mowing the yard.
David is upstairs in his room playing with Legos and listening to Black by Ted Dekker. (At least I think that's what he's doing.)
Bob is working on the back porch. He's replacing the floor.
Lisa is procrastinating starting dinner. I think we'll be eating late tonight. lol

I took David to the thrift store to see if I could find him some more shorts. Ended up with another pair of shorts (white! ack!) and a pair of jeans. Got myself a long dress coat, which I have needed for YEARS. YAY! Also a fall coat on half price, 2 church shirts for James, and a smattering of clothes for the girls.

Suzy has been trying very hard lately to be sweeter and obey right away. It's very nice to see. I've been trying to reinforce it as much as possible.

I learned how to enter the soccer players into the online system. I am going to put some in tonight and see how I do. By the way, I am taking over for the current soccer registrar for the region. Right now I am Assistant Registrar and I am on the board, I guess.

Deb and Dar and I met last night and got the co-op schedule into some semblance of order. I've been emailing back and forth with teachers all day, getting their assignments straight. I have a phone call or two to make and I am waiting on several to get back with me. Then the schedule will hopefully be all set.

Suzy is going to have a fancy tea party to celebrate her birthday. I am looking for a place to have it since I don't like having parties at home. I am pretty happy she decided on this instead of a sleepover. Twelve little girls for two hours vs. five or six little girls ALL NIGHT on the living room floor? Yeah. lol

So, I have lots to do instead of blog, so I should get at it! lol

Give me my colored coat, my amazing colored coat!

No, I didn't take photos of the Dreamcoat production. I "borrowed" these photos from a friend whose child was in it. I put them here in case you'd like to see. The sets and costumes were REALLY elaborate. Many of the female dancers were really good! Most of the singing was lovely and one or two singers were really great! The story is just so humorous and energetic.

The three younger kids went again with me tonight at their request and we also took the little neighbor girl, who is in kindergarten. She loved it too.