A group of us at church are taking Spanish lessons every other Tuesday night. It's a lot of fun! I am remembering more Spanish than I thought I would. I really hope to become proficient enough that I can use it at work. I'm subbing as a paraeducator (teacher's aide) at one of the local elementary schools. I really like the school and the teachers and other paras a lot. I'm hoping to go permanent, but the job I posted for (which is the job I'm doing at the moment) is probably going to go to the son of one of the teachers there. That's a whole 'nother story that I'm not really happy about, but oh well. So far they haven't told me that the job is gone yet, but then again they never told the other sub who posted for it that it was gone either, until she asked the principal outright. *Anyway!* I was going to post about Spanish. I am really having fun with this. I took basically 3-1/2 years of Spanish in my junior high/high school years, and really liked it a lot then. I wish I'd been able to keep taking courses at college, but I dropped out and didn't get back into the swing of things here at the local college. I'm really glad for this opportunity, though, and hopefully will be able to keep my momentum up this time around.

I really do need to get better at this. LOL. I thought I'd post the Halloween pictures. Sarah went as an "80's chick" and Spencer was, of course, a pirate. Actually, he wanted to be a Star Wars character but the only costumes we found for that were horribly expensive. So he compromised on his character choice and went with a pirate. Isn't he cute?! You can't tell from this picture but Sarah has tights on and leg warmers, too. The side ponytail was cute, she crimped her hair and we pulled it up into the ponytail. (I never did get into that look. My hair was always too short, I guess. Plus the 80s just weren't "me".)

Argh! I really hate blogs. I can't get the text to go up by the pictures. It worked the time before. Go figure. Bleck.

The kids are OFF to school! Sarah started the 8th grade today, and Spencer started 5th grade. Wah! Next year I'll have a high schooler and a middle schooler, yikes! They were both raring to go and excited. Sarah gets to take high-school level geometry because she got a high score on the MAPS test (an assessment test given in Washington State), and Spanish, which she's excited about. Oh, and science. Not sure how excited she is about that one, LOL. Oh, and another year of honors English. Spencer has a teacher that Sarah had when she was in 3rd grade and just starting in the gifted program. Mrs. Devine moved up to teach 5th grade two years ago and seems to be really good with the older kids, too. Here are the pics: the kids chose their (new) outfits, both have new backpacks, and Spencer has a new lunchbox. Sarah wanted to have lunch in a plain brown sack this year because she has to carry her books around the whole time after lunch, and the actual lunchbox was awkward. That's okay by me ...

We are back from the Oregon Coast trip. Tired, cranky, and I'm sick. Sinus infection, ear infection, and bronchitis. Lovely! I didn't sleep much the whole time we were at the coast. The bed was too squishy and Alan's every movement made it shake. LOL. Oh well! At least I got into the doctor and hopefully will be feeling better soon. I certainly have enough to do to keep me busy without being sick on top of it all! Apollo (the royal cat) missed us horribly. Emily came over and kept him fed and his litter box cleaned out, but still, he missed his people! (He owns us, don't ya know.) Sarah is off to Beehive Camp at Ensign Ranch for the whole week. I miss her already and she's only been gone one night! Hope she's okay. I think the whole week long vacation and leaving the day after we got back was a little much. I tried to convince the gang to leave on Saturday so we could rest a day but I was overruled. Figures!

Oh, and the picture is of the kiddos on our last day at the beach! They had a good time, so I'm glad for them. Me, that's another story, but oh well. Save that for another post!

I am so horrible at this blogging. I really need to do better!! My sweet kids are out of school now, have been for a month. When does it start again?!! I love them but they are not doing exactly what *I* had planned for the summer. Here's a picture of Spencer with his teacher on the next-to-last day of school. They were pretending to be grumpy! We will really miss Mrs. Bales, she's been a great teacher to both Sarah and Spencer! She and her husband are taking a year off and having a sailing adventure up the Canadian coast. I'm just so glad I got to know her better this year when I volunteered in the computer lab. She's a great lady!

My sweet Sarah got glasses late in February. Here's a picture of her in them. I think she looks pretty cute ... older too! Which I'm not all that happy about, actually. But she's doing great in school and church and is turning into a great young lady!

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?