UPDATE

Regarding Ressa's baptism, I'm excited to say that Joey will get to baptize Ressa. This will be a great experience for Joey.

---STRANGE ANOMOLY---

As of 1:45pm on Saturday 9/29/07 my city had a cooler temperature than both Steph's and Barbie's. Now THAT'S one for the books!

Quotable Quotes

After nudging and calling and begging Ressa to wake-up this morning, she finally got out of bed. Once standing, she said to me slowly and deliberately: "I did not request a wake up call."

(Where did that come from???)

SPECIAL THANKS TO MARK!

Words can't describe how great it feels to wake up in the morning and find that Mark (who gets up very early) has been washing, folding, and putting away laundry the whole time. Everything sparkles and looks beautiful! I'm free to work on my math now and made some real headway. Thank you, thank you, thank you Mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Life as a Kindergarten Buddy

That's basically what I am now---a little boy's permanent kindergarten buddy. He has DS. His hair style reminds me of the old "mushroom" cut similar to the youngest boy on "Eight is Enough." He's cute and very sweet. He has been saying "no" a lot to the teachers and they have goals to teach him to say "ok" instead. I pretended to cry when he told me "no" the third time and then he said softly, "o-tay". I clapped and cheered him on. Then he kept saying "o-tay" over and over to watch me cheer. I've been potty-training the past two days and today there was some success. He started saying the name of the book I read to him while he sits on the potty. When he said it, I asked, "DO YOU NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM????" "O-tay, let's go!" he said. We had four trips in there today. The 1st time he had an accident while we waited for the principal to come stand by while I was in the bathroom with him. The 2nd time was a false alarm. The 3rd and 4th were success. I was reading a story to him the last five minutes before the bell and he said, "poopy." I take by the hand everywhere, all day long. The principal brought me latex gloves to wear in the bathroom which are nice. I went out and bought him a special seat to fit onto the usual public-type toilet the kids use in kindergarten. This special seat has the little guard for boys to not hose down the bathroom.....as had been the case! The principal will pay me back for it. I'm making sure I wear some sort of elaborate bracelet everyday so that when the kindergarteners have rug/story time I hand it over to him to help keep him interested and not want to run around wild. He can't hold a pencil or crayon well enough to have any good control over it, so I've also handed him a pen with a lid while he's sitting to practice putting the lid on and off. He has a little trouble lining them up, but then he gets it after a few tries. Now and then he'll say to me, "I miss you Mrs. ______." I was showing him flash cards of letters with a picture. When we came to"I" and the picture was an iron, I pretended to touch the iron and said, "Ouchie! Hot! Iron." Then he grabbed my finger and kissed it. Very sweet little guy. I've been told to be firm with him, but that just made him more beligerent. Today I just spoke very slowly and sweetly with a smile saying, "Please sit on your chair, please." (ok, I'm begging!) He slowly complied with what I asked every time. I'm just going to keep that approach. I'd say it's going great. It is the most active, most physically and mentally challenging three and a half hours of my day. I know it will keep me young and sharp. It's funny how the office secretaries who said my first day with him would be my last day now are calling me a miracle worker on day 2. I think they've just set the bar very, very low.

Ressa's Baptism

Please mark your calendars for Ressa's baptism. It will be on Sunday, October 28th at 4pm. We'll fit dinner in there at my house, either before or after...maybe grinders. Hope you can make it.

May the Force Be With You...

The girls were being so silly on Sunday. They went in the closet and each put on one of my robes. They love to sleep in their dad's or brothers' big t-shirts. Once they had my robes on, they looked at themselves in the mirror and started saying, "The power of ethalon!" "May the force be with you!" I don't know where they got all this. Then they couldn't keep the straight faces any longer and started cracking themselves up, pretending to be rock stars.

The First of 500 Steps to Becoming a Teacher...

Well, it sure seems like 500. I had my appointment last week with a counselor at the college to find out what it would take to become a teacher. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly:

1. There is an program through the college called "Gateways to Teaching" that spells out every move you have to make to become a teacher. They coordinate everything between the student, the community college, the university, and the prospective school districts.
2. "Gateways to Teaching" is not automatic. It requires an application, an essay why you want to be a teacher, and recommendation letters.
3. The 17 units worth of business classes I took at Orange Coast a hundred years ago don't do me a dang bit of good now, unless I wanted a 2 yr. degree in Business. No thanks.
4. The AP English test I passed in my senior year in high school actually satisfies 6 units of credit or 2 freshman English classes.
5. The job I have will satisfy two classes worth of "classroom experience" needed.
6. I like check-off lists, but they gave me a doozie.
7. The classes that are required in order to be eligible for the credential exams are laid out very specifically.
8. I need about 40 more units from Chaffey College.
9. I have to take Chemistry.
10. I'm going to be in school for the rest of my life.

Here it is basically, in black and white....and yellow marks what I need. Yuck! The pay is so good though, with having the whole summer and every holiday off, known to man, it's bound to be worth it. (IP stands for: in progress).

Discover Your Dog Breed!

discover your dog breed @ quiz meme

Pictures That Say a 1000 Words...or More

I took Ressa and Melody to Michael's Saturday and picked up some crafts we could do together. We got four of these wooden dolls that are about 1/4" thick and a foot long (only $1/each!). The face and clothes are drawn on but they used markers to color them in. They had fun doing it, but asked if they could bring them all in to church this morning. I said no, just to leave them in the car because they were sort of big. Well, Ressa brought them in, anyway. As it usually goes, Melody told on her and I just took them away and set them under our seat. After a little while, Ressa passed the sweetest note and picture over to me. I told her I'll keep it forever! She then asked, "Do you even want me to throw it in your grave too?" Now she was light years ahead of me at that point. Uhh...I've got time to think that over, right?? Then we both giggled. She thinks a little TOO hard sometimes. Hahaha! Double-click on it to read it better.

She drew this cute little picture on the back. She's been having trouble lately adjusting to a different school morning routine than she has been used to the past two years. She has always had me all to herself to stand with her before class starts each day. Melody's kindergarten always started 10 minutes before the other grades started. Well, this year, they both line up in the same playground area, but about fifty feet apart. I've been feeling a need to stand with Melody since she's younger and encourage her to say good morning to her teacher and friends. Ressa has been feeling isolated not having me stand in line with her for the ten minutes or so between us getting there and class starting. To resolve it, I had Ressa write on our big calendar on each school day "Ressa's line" or "Melody's line" and we decided the only fair way was to trade off each day who I stand with. They seem to be accepting that and both know exactly where mom will be going each day now. They are sure to remind me several times. This picture she drew reveals a lot and I hope it means she knows how much I do love her. They are both sweet girls and so full of love.

Here's one more she did during church today while sitting on my lap. She always wants to sit on my lap and I always let her (even though I can't see over her head :D. It means so much to her. She definitely does not want to grow up too fast. I can relate to how Ressa feels, from recalling how it felt to me as a kid. When a child is very smart in school, they love the independence/rewards it can bring to them in the classroom, but they certainly don't want to be treated like an independent at home. They're still young inside and want the same love and nurturing that any other child their age would want. Being book smart just means the electrical impulses and synapses are firing in great precision, but it doesn't mean they are self-sufficient in other areas.

Earlier this morning, she drew this and said it was for me to use with the little special-needs boy I'll be working with starting tomorrow. She said he might like matching up the animals with the right sound they make. She has such a big heart.

She even made me an answer sheet to go with it.

Austin's Crush...

This girl has been Austin's ongoing crush since last year. He won't stop talking about how cute she is. She was in his 8th grade class and is now in some of his 9th grade classes. She wrote the really nice entry in his yearbook last June saying things like, "you're a really special person, Austin and whoever marries you someday will be a very lucky...love always..." I don't think I can take much more of this. Austin's moving into this realm I knew would be upon us eventually, but I hate to see him growing up and going so "gah-gah" over the girls. I suppose it's natural and inevitable. But geez, how's he supposed to concentrate on the important stuff? Tonight was the high school Homecoming Dance, but I told him he can go to dances when he's fourteen. He's the youngest in his grade and I just don't want him growing up any faster than necessary. These girls arranged to have a group of 10-12 boys and girls meet at Mimi's Cafe for dinner together before the dance. Even though Austin wasn't going, I told him he could go eat dinner with them. He was thrilled and ironed about 12 shirts to earn $20. He wanted to buy dessert for everybody at Mimi's. They spent about 3 hrs. there and had a blast. Joey's off at the dance right now, followed by Denny's afterwards. Probably won't see him until around 1:30am. Thank goodness he's just a text message away...

"Even His Muscles Have Muscles!"

...says Ressa as she describes her picture to me. Notice the girls falling back fainting on either side. Hahaha!!! Apparently seeing Joey leave to the gym every day after school to lift weights is also making an impression on her. He's following the orthopedic doctors advice and not running too hard or being too harsh on his knees. The doctor said running can be enjoyable but it will result in knee pain and arthritic problems in the 40s and on. He suggested he limit the jogging to 1-2 miles and only run on a specially prepared school track, not on the street or sidewalk. He's doing great though. Last night he took Austin to the high school homecoming football game and had fun. They each sat with their own friends nearby each other. Joey just had to buy a new sweatshirt now that it's cold out...He came home with a bright red $65 Angels sweatshirt. I thought that was ridiculously high, but I threw in $20 toward the cause. Never mind the other sweatshirts and jackets hanging in the closet though. He trusts his keen internal awareness as to when something is out of style---the excellent condition of the item of clothing, of course, never comes into play. Tonight is the dance. He had asked the girl who is the head of the "Cougars for Christ" club on campus, but after asking her parents, she said she didn't know him well enough but was going anyway and hoped to dance with him there. So he's just going to show up with a buddy of his and hopes to dance with her and anybody else there. The tickets are $25/each. Talk about inflation!!!

Try Out Del Taco for Lunch!

My new favorite is their Mexican Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. It's even better than El Torito because of all the fresh tomatoes. I only use a fraction of the dressing they give me. It's absolutely delicious. You'll have to try it!

Countdown to Monday...

Well, I started my new job and it's going very well. It's bringing out the best in me, actually. I can't explain it, but it makes me work harder around the house in the hours before I go. It is motivating me to keep my car cleaned out better (from the kids' stuff), clean at home faster, style my hair a little nicer, dress a little dressier, etc. And after no snacking for 3.5 hours, I feel like cooking up something really good in the evening...and the family LOVES that. I am working in a kindergarten classroom of 20 kids, assisting the teacher. I love the structure of it. So many songs to sing that teach the children the months, days of the week, and so on... I was hired to be the shadow of a 6 yr old boy with D.S. who is in the mainstream classroom, but needs to be potty trained. I hear he has a VERY short attention span and disrupts the classroom quite frequently, so my job is to help him succeed in there. He has his own behavior card that he puts stickers on each time he does something he's suppossed to do. He likes to be read to while he sits on the toilet (prefers teletubby stories) and will wash his hands IN the bathroom, but prefers getting the paper to dry his hands from the wall OUTSIDE the bathroom. I am to carry out the bathroom ritual every 50 minutes to avoid an accident. I keep asking myself, "If I was hired to do what I do best...was I hired to potty train? What does that say about me?!?!" Oh well, the money's ok plus I figured out I get 27 paid, non-working days between September and June, plus 403b (like a 401k account), plus they offer life, accident, insurances, as well as accruing 1 vacation day per month worked (PLUS WE GET THE WHOLE SUMMER OFF, unpaid of course!) You get to choose between having your pay over ten months or stretching it over twelve. It's a 3 hr/day job, from 11:20-2:20, but the first day when the kinder teacher saw me heading out 20 minutes before class let out she said, "Oh no, you can't leave early....oh my gosh you will need to be able to walk ___ to his relative. I have to take kids to the bus, and stand with other kids...You just can't leave early." So I went to the principal who is my supervisor on the first day and asked him what we could do since it's a 3 hr. job. He said he'd get a special exception approved to make my job a permanent 3-1/2 hrs/day to go until 2:50. That still gives me time to pick up the girls at 3:05 since it's very close by. While meeting with the principal and RSP teacher, I suggested buying a special seat that fits onto the toilet for him to use. The principal replied that he would be happy to reimburse me for anything I bought to make the arrangement work out better for the boy. I feel like I'm Maria Von Trapp coming into a job where many have quit before me. It's some pressure, but I'm also older than most of my predecesors and willing to give it my best. I have not even met the child yet. He has been sick and will not return until Monday. I hope I can reach him and have things work out so the rest of the class is not so disrupted by him. We'll see. In the meantime, I've been having fun helping the kids, singing with them, playing at recess with them, cutting and tracing for the teacher, and stapling packets of paper together for her. It has been no different than being a 9th grade "T.A." I learned the song, "Mimi Mouse" and love the teacher and all her fun sayings. She must be from the south. She strikes me as exactly what I will look like in ten years. I love when she tells the kids, "Now you're cookin', good-lookin'!" Sometimes I can't believe I'm getting paid for this. The classroom environment is so structured and organized, I feel like bringing what I've learned right back home with me...which is a real plus. I eat lunch before I go at 11am and then just drink water till 3pm. I've lost 2 lbs this week just being busy. The girls are really excited about me having this job. When I asked them why, they said it's because they'll get to go play with a friend every Monday for an hour. That's the only conflict is that I get out 50 minutes after my girls do every Monday. They always have minimum days on Monday, but I'm in an afternoon kinder. So I worked out an arrangement with a friend from church who's daughter has one of those bedrooms out of a home magazine. The girls are very excited. Have a good day everybody...

Tomorrow Starts a New Chapter...

Tomorrow is the first day of my new job. I love the school I'll be working at. I found out I will be a one-on-one tutor for a six year old boy with DS. I will be attending the afternoon kindergarten class and be beside him to help him be successful at whatever all the other kids are expected to do. Sounds like a piece of cake on one hand, but then why am I so nervous also. I just counted up 27 paid days off that I'll get between now and next June. The teachers really do get some great benefits. I even earn 1 sick and 1 vacation day per month. That is so cool, considering it's only a 3-hour per day job. They have a 403b (like a 401k) to save money into as well as life insurance and all sorts of offerings. I also get to be a member of the OCTFCU (Orange County Teachers Fed. Credit Union) and that makes any of my sisters, brothers, parents, children, etc. all eligible to join it also. They have great rates on savings, money market accts, mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, etc. If anyone is interested, just let me know. Credit union rates are always superior to the banks. Just need to clean out my car, get a couple nails repaired, get my TB test read tomorrow morning, take the proof to the district and then I'm good to go. The biggest challenge in my life right now is figuring out how to read 30-page chapters in a World History book and NOT fall asleep after the 3rd page.

What Color Are You?

GREEN

You are a very calm and contemplative person. Others are drawn to your peaceful, nurturing nature.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Barbie Takes Her Show on the Road!

What an outstanding show!!! Wish I could snap my fingers and be in Calgary, Canada next month when they compete in the international Sweet Adelines competition. The theater was packed and we had seats in the fifth row back or so. Barbie was out in front on the left side, with us seated on the right, so we could see her really well. I loved their Phantom of the Opera number with all the "spooky" lighting choreography. The look was complete with all +/- 130 wearing their black sparkly outfits.

Mom and Dad, Marilyn, Jim, Mark, myself, and our family friend, Ellen were there. (Her sister married my dad's brother.) Ellen sang in the same group for 30 years. We heard lots of quartets of women and the special guests, Vocal Spectrum. They were a quartet of men who took 1st place in the international barbershop competition. They were awesome too and very entertaining. We were lucky to be able to go. Joey went to work, Austin hung out at the home of a couple brothers who are the same ages as Joey and Austin. Austin LOVES the mother's Spanish cooking (fish, rice, etc.) The family had fun with Austin since he'll try any types of foods. Austin took the dare to try a hot pepper and was doing ok until his face suddenly turned bright red and the mom panicked thinking she needed to call 911. He was ok and everybody got quite a laugh out of it. Joey picked him up on his way home from work. Ressa and Melody spent the night at their friends house where two girls in the family are THEIR same ages. They had a blast. It was a fun night for all!

Job's Set, School's Set...Time to Get Busy!

.....Oops! Can't forget the laundry :D I'm so excited just to have a job within my child's school district. It's just starting to "hit me." It's a strange, surreal circumstance I find myself in, that defies everything I ever thought about myself in the past. Ten years ago, I never would have believed that I could ever qualify for a job that gave me every holiday my kids have off, and doesn't have anything to do with accounting or a calculator. Things are running as smooth as silk, today anyway. The district wanted me to get my fingerprinting done before the "pre-employment" meeting at 1pm tomorrow. The only walk-in day for fingerprinting is Monday. I called and there was one appt. left tomorrow morning. YES! After one day on the job, I get my $48 back. I got my TB test scheduled for Monday am. While at the college, I remembered that I can get 3 units of credit for working 180-200 hrs. in a career-related job. Working 3 hrs/day, it should add up to about that through 12/21/07. I tried to add it at admissions, but found out it required a 10 min. hike across campus in the 95 degree heat to get a signature to approve it. I almost said "FORGET IT!" But then I thought, if it came down to graduating and I was short 3 units, I'd never forgive myself for not taking that walk in the heat. So I did and added the "class." Now I've got 13 units: Math online, History/beg. of time-1500 online, Speech (Tuesday nights), and Work Experience. Lots of reading, so I keep out my highliter and make notes all over my textbooks. Someone in the market for a used book will either love mine or absolutely hate it :D

This is exciting to have my "foot in the door" now with this job. I'm told that the position will be something to the effect of reaching out to other kids like the one in the picture below and challenging the common belief that society and the child himself has that they "can't do ANYTHING." My job is to help the teacher with games and other strategic ways to help the child read and comprehend, but doesn't get it with the normal teaching methods used in the regular classroom. Any progress is a good thing I suppose. I am excited though.

Woo-Hoo! I Got the Job!

You know what they say about slow beauracracies, but not with the schools around here. They called this morning and gave me a position as an Instructional Aide in the Special Ed. class at the elementary school just 1-2 miles north of me. The hours are 11:30-2:30 which will work out just right. Have to go get myself fingerprinted at the sheriff's department and have a pre-employment meeting Friday. Gotta run!

The Humiliation of a Bad Grade

It really surprises me that I pulled off that panel interview, in light of my news from the day before...I hadn't mentioned it up to this point. I spent four hours working on a film critique for my history class. It was on the Ten Commandments (the 2005 remake). There was a very specific, but short, format which I thought I followed to a "t" and still wrote it to satisfy the "2-3 pages, single-spaced" requirement. There was research that had to be done and I ended up with ten footnotes, citing three sources.

I got a 70%. That killed me. I've never met the professor, but I'll bet he looks something like this:

I found a picture of how I probably looked minutes after I found out...

On the bright side, I guess it's a good thing that it's an online-only class, otherwise I may have wound up looking like this:

Maybe I put too much pressure on myself. I wanted to quit so badly at that moment, but I humbled myself and decided to try to keep it very, very simple next time. He said I did not follow the format. Huh??? I spent four hours trying to follow it just right! What shocks me most is that I was able to recover from THAT letdown and walk into the panel interview the next day feeling confident. That's improvement for me...

The Terrible Truth About Lending

(Overheard from the mouth of a banker)

"If you need money to buy a yacht, we'll give it to you. If you need money for food, we won't. We like you most when you need us least."

...sad, but true!

Long Time, No Blog...

Much has been going on this past week or so--both stressful and peaceful, good and bad. When one comes along, it seems the other is not so far behind. But that keeps us humble, on our toes, and motivated to make our lives a little better. Now to recap the last week or so.

THE PANEL INTERVIEW

I applied for a job within our local school district for an Instructional Aide, specifically within a "special needs" class. It's only three hours a day and the pay is ok, for someone wanting to latch on to the lowest rung of the teaching ladder. I took an assessment (english, math, algebra, behavior questions, etc.) and they said I did good. This morning was the ever-frightening "panel interview." There were SEVEN on the panel, at a table about 3 times the width of what you see in this picture! I had a seperate table and chair. They were all assistant principals from the various middle schools and elementary school within our district. I really wasn't afraid though. My entrance into the district receptionist wiped out my fears and set the tone for the entire ordeal. I gave my name and said I was there for the panel interview. She put me down as if I was ON THE PANEL!!! Hahaha! That was funny. After a while she asked why I was still sitting there, that's when I clarified that I was the "interviewEE." I knew I had nothing to worry about from then on. All but one of them asked me questions from how I would manage behavior at a middle school to how I would motivate kids to learn in a kindergarten classroom. I was even asked about diapering an elementary-aged child with physical disabilities. I thought about that one and decided that between myself and all the 20-somethings in the lobby waiting to be interviewed, I was probably the most qualified. I said I'd been diapering for about 17 years and would certainly know what to do...no, I could handle it....YIKES! They liked the technique I shared, that I learned from a psychologist for help with the kids. (As far as middle school-aged kids goes, having them sit on a chair for ten minutes, BUT the timer does not start until AFTER they say "Sorry." I have never spent time on a middle school campus, but that's what I do at home and it works. It went very well and they even commented that I seemed so comfortable talking about children. It's been the focus of my adult years I must say. We'll see where it goes from here.

BIG BROTHER SUBS OUT THE BABYSITTING

I've got to hand it to Joey for being inventive and resourceful. He was all set to babysit for us last Friday. He didn't have to work and plans were made. By the time Friday came along though, and they had the big "Rally/Assembly" at school to get pumped up about the 1st high school football game of the season, his attitude changed about babysitting. "I WANT TO GO TO THE GAME!" he said. "YEAH, ME TOO," Austin chimed in as the uninvited passenger always hitching a ride to anywhere, 'cause if Joey wants to go, he does too! "Just take the girls along," I said. "Believe me, it will attract cute girls every time...they see how cute they are and come over with their high voices, saying, 'oh, they're so cute! Are they your sisters?' and you'll be so glad you listened to me!?!" Well, he didn't buy into it for a second. I left just insisting he take them along OR maybe call my friend to see if they could come over to her house. I sure didn't think he WOULD, but he jumped onto that idea like a fly on flypaper. He made about four calls and got them set up to go to one of my friends houses and they headed off to the game. The friend told me later that Joey spoke like it was an emergency that he JUST HAD TO something important for school. TOO MUCH!!! :D

SCHOOL STATUS REPORT

Austin and Joey are really liking school. They're out the door first thing at 6:10am everyday in time for 6:20 seminary. Lots of their friends are there and they hear something spiritual each morning to help them have the strength to recognize good and bad peer pressure and how to grasp on to one and turn completely away from the other. It's so good for them. Austin has about 3 of the same teachers that Joey had so they're always swapping stories about what goes on in the classrooms. Austin has Wrestling, honors English, honors Geometry, Spanish I, Natural Science, and Symphonic Band, playing the trombone. Joey has T.A., English, Anatomy/Physiology, Accounting I, US Govt., and Wrestling. Joey has hit the "my-younger-sibling-is-always-following-me-and-is-so-annoying" phase. I'm trying to convince him that it's normal to feel like that, but the younger one is just admiring him and wants to be like him...."don't disappoint or let him down by showing him a not-so-kind side of you and destroy what could be a great relationship all your life." I don't think it sunk in...we'll see. Ressa is pulling out all the stops trying to manipulate and find very clever excuses to not have to do the new nightly homework. No longer do we turn in the homework packet on Fridays. Nope, in 3rd grade, the work is due on a daily basis. Maybe it's not intentional, but we've made many a trip back to the school since the first week to march right back for assignments, etc. (even borrowed a book from a neighbor boy last night, to make sure she did her math.) She's a smart cookie, but I'm up to the task! Hahaha..... Melody is still battling shyness, but she's making some big strides in her artwork. All her papers are completed and she's excited to start on her homework each day. Every family needs some of those. She is so quiet around people though, to the point of turning her head and not making eye-to-eye contact with the teacher. At home, she's full of antics...talks, sings, plays, even gets bossy sometimes :D Now the teacher is wants her to have a hearing test. I'm up for any services they want to offer us, so I didn't oppose. I'm pretty sure that's not it. We practice at night, pretending she is standing in the school line and I play the teacher coming down the make-believe line saying, "Hi Carrie, hi John, hi Kristen, hi Melody." That's her cue to look at me and say "Hi." She likes to "play" that and asks to do it again and again. Sometimes just to get to reply back something silly she'd NEVER say to the teacher, and then gets a big laugh out of it.

HEALTH & FITNESS UPDATE

• Mark is doing really good keeping away from sugar and too many simple carbs. He keeps some groceries at work and puts together his own healthy lunch using the microwave most days.
• My mammogram, and all the annual tests came back normal. That's always a relief!
• Joey is working out at the gym and some nearby apartments all the time. His "young men's leader" from church lives there and invited the boys to come use the gym anytime they wanted.
• Austin loves to go along and asked me to take a look and see if his stomach would qualify for what they mean by a "six-pack." Hmmm. Uhhhh, hmmm. "I'm not sure, (we both laughed) but I'm sure you're headed in the right direction." He is swimming every day for PE right now before wrestling starts. He was thrilled to say the swimming coach walked past yesterday, saw all the boys swimming, and shouted to Austin, "HEY MOSS, WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' IN THERE?" "They put me in 'Intermediate.'" "COME SEE ME AFTER CLASS, WE'RE MOVING YOU UP TO ADVANCED WHERE YOU BELONG!"
• Outside of school, Ressa "heely's" everywhere. She has learned to take out the wheels JUST BEFORE class and then puts them right back in the minute we get out the school gate. She's asking me to put her in karate...been there done that...she hasn't though, we may have to revisit that arena.
• Melody is learning to "heely" right behind Ressa. Megan passed down hers to Melody and she's practicing in the house all the time. Can't wait till the temperature is out of the 90s and 100s so we can get back to normal outside activities around here. Our figures are begging for it! (all right, I'll speak for myself :D

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO BARBIE'S SHOW!

I bought mine...have you bought yours? Just click on the title, scroll down and click on "annual show." Should be great fun. I know Barbie has worked so hard preparing for the big annual show. It's Saturday, 9/15 at 8pm in La Mirada. We're sitting in the balcony only because I waited too long to get the tickets. Hope to see you there!

POST #300 - Austin's Mission Statement

(The following is the weekend's homework assignment Austin had to prepare for 9th grade Honors English. I thought he did a great job on it and wanted to share it here.)

MISSION STATEMENT

I'm the kind of guy that loves to try new things. I like to build big things. I’ve always loved sports and athletic activities. My favorite subjects are Math and English. I want to be a pediatrician when I’m older, because they make a ton of money, and I’m going to need a lot of money to support a big family. I’m smart, kind, polite, funny, careful, generous, and very athletic. I want to be on the RCHS Wrestling team (hopefully Varsity). I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; aka-LDS. I want to go to any of the three Brigham Young University campuses. When I’m older, I want to live in either Utah or Washington. I really like to go to amusement parks and ride new things, especially Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm. I hope I’ll be able to be in honors throughout high school. I have a very creative mind and I hope to finish my Freshman year with at least a 3.8 GPA.

I like sports because they can keep me busy and always active. I’ve always wanted to be a pediatrician, because when I was young, my doctor (Dr. Litwer) was so funny and excited and always found a way to make me happy, even in my trials. The reason I want to be on the wrestling team is because, my brother was a wrestler and he made it look really fun and worth my while. He even took some moves out on me, just for fun. I want to be in honors and have at least a 3.8 GPA, because I’m competitive with my grades and I’m capable. It will also help me get into a university of my choice. I want to go to BYU, because I want to be around students that share the same values as me. I want to live in Utah or Washington, because it is all about the coldness of the states.

Some major goals in my life are to:

• Become a pediatrician
• Serve a mission for my church
• Have a family
• Marry someone in my own faith
• Own a large, comfortable house
• Have children who want to grow up to be like me
• Get accepted at the university of my choice
• Read more often
• Spend more quality time with my family
• Become famous for something

One major goal for this year is to have no late or missing assignments. One major goal for the next four years is to be on the wrestling team and win most of my matches. One way to overcome having no late or missing assignments is to pay more attention and to study harder than expected. One way to overcome weaknesses on the wrestling team is to practice and train whenever there is time. I would also need to listen to my brother on ways to use moves.

Ashley & Mackenzie Move Out...

Well, that was fast. Secretly, I gave her four days, Mark gave her two weeks, and she left after three. Back to the boyfriend once again. This will probably go on like this for years, if he does not conquer his addictions. He has given her numerous reasons never to go back again...but she does. ...back to cottling, supporting, and cow-towing to this abusive man-child. May my daughters never learn this to be a viable option for their lives. Ugh! Poor Mackenzie!!!