A great summer read.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The Morning After...
I heard little noises at about 6:00 this morning. 
At about 7:00 they all emerged in parade fashion, singing, left, left, left-right-left as they marched. They had all chosen red, white and blue outfits so they could match. I couldn't resist a couple more pictures!!
At about 7:00 they all emerged in parade fashion, singing, left, left, left-right-left as they marched. They had all chosen red, white and blue outfits so they could match. I couldn't resist a couple more pictures!!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Slumber Party!
Guess what is going on at our house tonight!
It is very hot here, but that didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of sleeping in an un-airconditioned room in the warmest part of the house! These are five very happy children, and I am relishing every moment of this summer with them. I am not known for spontaneous (or even planned, for that matter) play dates, but this summer is dedicated to the cousins. So when they asked when they could have a slumber party, I said, "How about tonight?" They accepted the offer with squeals of joy. Of course, they will wake at the crack of dawn and continue right where they left off this evening....with those giggles I hear coming from the other room. It is music to my ears!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Learning to read...
Yesterday, we went garage saling. This has been a favorite Saturday morning activity for several years that started when my mom was looking for things for the church nursery. It saw me through baby equipment and clothing, some home furnishings, kids clothes, and of course....books. The kids think it is a great treat to come along and sometimes you find that special something that makes all the junk worth while.
Yesterday, Seth found a brand new Dover wild animals coloring book for a quarter. The VERY ONE that we had been looking for at Barnes and Noble the day before. They didn't have wild animals, so we had to settle for cats. And, there it was, buried below some books on bird watching. We were all so excited! Sure, we only saved $3.75, but it was more about the thrill of the hunt, and the victory of the find.
I saw an old reading text book that took me back to my first grade year. It was the very same reading book I had used in school. (I was in the bluebird group, you know the one that they cleverly named to protect other children's self esteem, but everyone knew it was the highest group.) I showed Annsley the book and said, "These are the books they used to teach us how to read. " She looked perplexed, laughed, and said, "Who learns to read with one book? You should use thousands of books to learn to read." That's my girl! Well indoctrinated at a young age!
Yesterday, Seth found a brand new Dover wild animals coloring book for a quarter. The VERY ONE that we had been looking for at Barnes and Noble the day before. They didn't have wild animals, so we had to settle for cats. And, there it was, buried below some books on bird watching. We were all so excited! Sure, we only saved $3.75, but it was more about the thrill of the hunt, and the victory of the find.
I saw an old reading text book that took me back to my first grade year. It was the very same reading book I had used in school. (I was in the bluebird group, you know the one that they cleverly named to protect other children's self esteem, but everyone knew it was the highest group.) I showed Annsley the book and said, "These are the books they used to teach us how to read. " She looked perplexed, laughed, and said, "Who learns to read with one book? You should use thousands of books to learn to read." That's my girl! Well indoctrinated at a young age!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
This strange feeling...
Yesterday, I had this strange feeling. I seem to remember it from distant times. We woke up, ate breakfast, spent an extended time reading out loud. We progressed quickly to our modified summer school schedule. The kids finished by lunch, which is the goal. And then it hit me....I have nothing hanging over my head right now. I had just turned in two assignments for my master's classes. I had finished the development of the summer school online class I'll be teaching. I didn't have to plan lessons. I had no meetings.
It is the feeling of summer! I remember this! I could get used to this!
It is the feeling of summer! I remember this! I could get used to this!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Where I'm From poem....
I read several of these last month and I was so moved by them. I tried to write one of my own and was frustrated by my lack of memory and poetic words to describe my true feelings. So, I deleted my attempts and promptly forgot about the task. However, Diane at A Circle of Quiet reminded me, and I thought I'd give it one more shot. I think it is a valuable exercise even if my poetry skills are not what I wish they were. Hey, that is a part of Where I'm From, right? So, for better of for worse....here you go.
I am from laughter, from music, from love.
I am from the four seasons,
from the brilliant color of fall and the excitement of a new school year,
from the smell of snow at twilight, sledding down the driveway, and making snowmen in the front yard,
from endless lazy summer days, swimming and going to the lake,
from long-awaited springs bursting with new life, and the freedom of the first bike ride of the season.
I am from a huge front door with my mom waiting on the inside.
from sizzling onions and smells of food preparation,
from sounds of the piano from the living room.
I am from roses on the table and an abundance of multi-colored flowers growing in the yard.
I am from summer spent on the Oregon coast and Christmas spent singing carols and the ability to laugh when times are hard,
from Grandma Nadine, Grandma Verna, Grandpa Tick and Grandpa Herb.
I am from "work hard" and "play hard" and confidence that occasionally crosses into pride.
From “Now we’ve had our accident for the day.” and “Always do your best work.” and “Pursue Jesus with all your heart.”
I am from my Dad’s crazy mnemonic devices and memorizing the state capitals on long car rides.
I am from baptism in the river. I am from a deep love of the Bible and what it holds for all man. I am from the battle of hymns versus choruses that often still takes place in my own heart. I am from teaching Sunday school with my mom and youth group mission trips. I am from summers working as a Bible camp counselor and work crew.
I am from forgiveness.
I'm from Washington, from comfort foods and from a little dessert after every dinner.
From summers on the farm with Grandma Verna,
from riding the combine with Grandpa Herb.
from listening to stories of childhood from Grandma Nadine,
from riding in the boat at the lake with Grandpa Tick,
from going on special dates with my dad,
from wanting to be just like my mom.
I am from Grandma Nadine’s jewelry box and the family pictures stored in her hutch, now in my living room,
from the upstairs closet at Grandma Verna’s farmhouse where there were treasures untold, but peppered with a little fear at the depth of the dark closet.
I am from comfort and blessings and riches, both earthly and spiritually.
I am from and will continue to be from deep gratitude to God for all these.
I am from laughter, from music, from love.
I am from the four seasons,
from the brilliant color of fall and the excitement of a new school year,
from the smell of snow at twilight, sledding down the driveway, and making snowmen in the front yard,
from endless lazy summer days, swimming and going to the lake,
from long-awaited springs bursting with new life, and the freedom of the first bike ride of the season.
I am from a huge front door with my mom waiting on the inside.
from sizzling onions and smells of food preparation,
from sounds of the piano from the living room.
I am from roses on the table and an abundance of multi-colored flowers growing in the yard.
I am from summer spent on the Oregon coast and Christmas spent singing carols and the ability to laugh when times are hard,
from Grandma Nadine, Grandma Verna, Grandpa Tick and Grandpa Herb.
I am from "work hard" and "play hard" and confidence that occasionally crosses into pride.
From “Now we’ve had our accident for the day.” and “Always do your best work.” and “Pursue Jesus with all your heart.”
I am from my Dad’s crazy mnemonic devices and memorizing the state capitals on long car rides.
I am from baptism in the river. I am from a deep love of the Bible and what it holds for all man. I am from the battle of hymns versus choruses that often still takes place in my own heart. I am from teaching Sunday school with my mom and youth group mission trips. I am from summers working as a Bible camp counselor and work crew.
I am from forgiveness.
I'm from Washington, from comfort foods and from a little dessert after every dinner.
From summers on the farm with Grandma Verna,
from riding the combine with Grandpa Herb.
from listening to stories of childhood from Grandma Nadine,
from riding in the boat at the lake with Grandpa Tick,
from going on special dates with my dad,
from wanting to be just like my mom.
I am from Grandma Nadine’s jewelry box and the family pictures stored in her hutch, now in my living room,
from the upstairs closet at Grandma Verna’s farmhouse where there were treasures untold, but peppered with a little fear at the depth of the dark closet.
I am from comfort and blessings and riches, both earthly and spiritually.
I am from and will continue to be from deep gratitude to God for all these.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The cousins are here!!!
You may remember that Danny's sister, LaNae, and her husband and three kids moved last summer to California to attend seminary. This has been such a sad thing for our kids because they are best friends. However, they accepted a summer internship position here and arrived yesterday for an eight week stay!! The kids were counting down the days (and the minutes) until last night when they got to be together. They are staying with Danny's parents and it was so fun to all be together again last night. We are all looking forward to a summer of lots of time together. Life is good.
Friday, June 09, 2006
No more homework, no more books....
No more teacher's dirty looks. Oh, wait....I'm the teacher.
Today was our last day of classes at TEC. We still have conferences next week, but all the lesson plans are over for the year!! Woohoo!!
I told Annsley that she is now officially a 4th grader and Seth is officially a 2nd grader. They thought that was really cool. They had a year book at school this year, and the kids were so cute having people sign them. They had *me* sign their yearbooks! :-) Yesterday, they had a school variety show. Seth played the piano and Annsley and a friend did a scene from Taming of the Shrew. It was so cute. She also did a Readers Theater and played a song on the recorder with her music class. She was in her element! I just love the experiences and classes that they get at TEC. It is such a perfect fit for our family.
I don't have the total weight off my shoulders because I still have several obligations that will be following me through the summer, but at least I will have more time to do them all.
Next week our home "summer school" starts. We will be dropping a couple of subjects, reading more, and enjoying our extra two days a week.
Happy Summer, everyone (Will someone give the sun the message that school is out?)
Today was our last day of classes at TEC. We still have conferences next week, but all the lesson plans are over for the year!! Woohoo!!
I told Annsley that she is now officially a 4th grader and Seth is officially a 2nd grader. They thought that was really cool. They had a year book at school this year, and the kids were so cute having people sign them. They had *me* sign their yearbooks! :-) Yesterday, they had a school variety show. Seth played the piano and Annsley and a friend did a scene from Taming of the Shrew. It was so cute. She also did a Readers Theater and played a song on the recorder with her music class. She was in her element! I just love the experiences and classes that they get at TEC. It is such a perfect fit for our family.
I don't have the total weight off my shoulders because I still have several obligations that will be following me through the summer, but at least I will have more time to do them all.
Next week our home "summer school" starts. We will be dropping a couple of subjects, reading more, and enjoying our extra two days a week.
Happy Summer, everyone (Will someone give the sun the message that school is out?)
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Funny metaphors from high school essays....
You have probably seen these before. I had, but I couldn't resist posting them so you can all get a little chuckle!
Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's winners.....
1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.
3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.
9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.
10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.
11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.
12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.
13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.
14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.
15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.
16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.
18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.
20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.
22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.
25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.
Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's winners.....
1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.
3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.
9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.
10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.
11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.
12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.
13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.
14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.
15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.
16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.
18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.
20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.
22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.
25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.
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