balloons!

This is one of my absolute favorite things to do in Colorado. Every Labor Day, a huge balloon race/festival takes place downtown at Memorial Park. This has been going on for as long as I can remember. I have tons of childhood memories of watching the balloons take off in the distance from my back yard. Many years we were even lucky enough to have the wind carry them our way, right over our heads. One year there were even a few that landed in fields in our neighborhood. The biggest challenge about the Balloon Fest is waking up early enough to get down to the park. The balloons take off early, seriously early. We managed to get the family out this year on the last day. Windy, rainy weather put a bit of a damper on things this year. Surprisingly, Bree was a little bit nervous around the bright balloons. The loud noise from the heater and the warmth radiating from the fire caused her some concern. (I'm always secretly glad when she shows some trepidation, she is usually so fearless and that worries me for her safety.)

On a side note, I am feeling embarrassed that I am still so behind with this blog! Hoping the tiredness of the first trimester of pregnancy will end soon...

The North Pole

This summer we took a fun trip to the North Pole with good friends. Bree, Chase, and Kaity are at exactly the right age to enjoy this park. Many of the rides are geared toward toddlers and the kids just love them, and can ride them by themselves! It was a lovely summer day in August.

It's Not All Flowers and Sausages

It's Not All Flowers and Sausages: My Adventures in Second Grade by Mrs. Mimi


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mrs. Mimi is in the trenches. She is a real teacher who relates her experiences in the teaching world openly. I have to admire her stark honesty in this book, she didn't pull any punches and I wonder if it got her into some trouble at her school. This isn't a sappy, inspirational book about life as a teacher, it is true grit.

I was first introduced to Mrs. Mimi's blog of the same name by my teacher friend Marika. It was very exciting to see that a publisher discovered it and turned it into a book!

Mrs. Mimi talks about her experiences as a second grade teacher in Harlem. Despite the geographical difference, I was able to relate to just about everything in this book. I teach second grade in Colorado, and the teachers here have the same struggles as she described! Okay, so I'm not stepping over hair extensions and chicken bones as I walk into school, but I do see red when I watch the custodian dump the carefully separated recycle basket full of paper into the regular trash can with all of the other trash. I lament the extra work created for me by the "support" staff. I, too, have sat in a staff meeting while someone else presented an idea that I showed to her, without getting any credit for it. I am not in a "testing grade", but I get to spend endless amounts of time assessing my students rather than teaching them. I hope and pray the night before a field trip that the parents coming with us will be helpful and not "the pain in the ass" type.

I enjoyed laughing with Mrs. Mimi throughout this book. Amongst the ranting, she also explains why she loves being a teacher. To quote, "If I have learned anything about teaching in my short time in the classroom, it is that a teacher has to be willing to constantly reinvent herself, finding ways to stay positive and motivated." This book helped me do that, again. I am looking forward to taking it to school tomorrow and sharing it with a super colleague.

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summerime in the rockies

In July our family took a six hour drive for a long weekend in our favorite mountain town, Ouray, Colorado.

kiddie kutters

This was our first "real" haircut. Bree's scraggly locks were driving me crazy, so I decided they had to go. She seems to enjoy getting a "hair-cup" from Kiddie Kutters on Maizeland. There are toys and bright colors and, most importantly, lollipops. Did you notice one in each hand?

grandma and a hedgie

Bree loves spending time with her Grandma, and Grandma's pets!

Big news from Bree - she's a sister-to-be!

Our family is pleased to announce that a change is coming our way in April! Bree looks excited in this picture, but she doesn't quite understand just yet. I am feeling good, just tired, and about ready to give up on my regular wardrobe soon.

A very good friend of mine is also expecting. To read some of our thoughts throughout this journey of pregnancy go to...

www.bellychat.blogspot.com

the advantages of social networking

Thanks to that social networking site known as Facebook, I was able to reconnect with some old friends this summer. I hadn't seen my old middle school buddies for about (gasp - can it be?) 20 years or so. It was so nice to get to see everyone, we're all grown up and raising families. Twenty years ago we were awkward teenagers making our way through life and the halls of Gorman Middle School. How time flies!

saying good-bye to Aunt Judy

thankful for your presence in our lives ~ miss you

summer days with Panka

One of my favorite of Bree's words is "Panka" - her word for Grandpa. She got to spend lots of quality time with him this summer. Exploring his spacious backyard is a treat, especially when berries are involved. Raspberries are one of her absolute favorite foods. She couldn't get enough of them right off of the bush!

What could be better than a girl and her grandpa feeding the giraffes at the zoo?