Update

The week started out on a low, but went uphill.

A member of our congregation died of stomach cancer on Sunday. She worked in the office and all three of her kids (who are in high school/first year of college) are very active in the church. She was only 45.

We also found out that the principal we thought would be ours will not, in fact, be ours. Instead, we have to hire a new one. In the meantime, we are losing more and more teachers, my husband being a prime candidate.

So on Tuesday I left town for San Francisco. I took a recently-graduated student up for her orientation, and we stayed with Jackie at her apartment. It was SO FUN and SO NICE to be away from all the turmoil of construction, grief, and indecision. I got home yesterday afternoon.

Today we ordered the cabinets for the kitchen and the vanity for the bathroom. We now have a very large credit balance with Home Depot. However, I am very excited about the new kitchen. It's going to be GREAT!

Nikki also came back from confirmation camp today. She had a great time.

I know this is not even remotely interesting or entertaining, but that's what we're up to. Just thought you'd like to know.

Summer

So we're one full week into summer now. Last week didn't count because my kids were still in school and I worked every day. But THIS week was VACATION!!

We camped Monday-Thursday at the beach with Caleb's godparents. FUN! S'MORES! TIDE POOLS! READING! It was awesome.

Friday I took the kids to do their work for a study (they're part of the control group and get paid $10/hour to take tests!). Then I came home to find the workers were done for the day and so we napped and watched "Return of the Jedi" on the wall for Friday Night Movie Night.

Today we went to the library's summer reading program kick-off at the park. Aside from the tragic loss of Caleb's balloon sword (he waited 15 minutes in line and it popped after 5 minutes), it was fun. Then another nap and dinner with Grammy and Grampy to celebrate their anniversary, which actually happened while we were camping.

So I'm sure I've put on some pounds, but I'm working on my THIRD book and I'm finally feeling like maybe it is vacation after all. YEAH!

The End of an Era

As a child of the eighties, I am shocked and saddened by Michael Jackson's sudden death.

I know there are lots of controversial things to say about Michael, but I'm not interested in those things. I remember the VERY cute Michael who sang and danced his way into everyone's hearts back in the seventies. I remember the EVEN MORE talented Michael who stunned teens like me by making amazing videos to songs like "Thriller" and "Beat It," which I watched ad nauseum when MTV was new and still showed videos. I still have the "Thriller Tour" t-shirt the people I babysat for bought me when they went to his concert. I still have the album in vinyl! I recently downloaded the album to iTunes because we needed to do some cultural background in American Lit (Vincent Price narrated "Thriller" AND starred in many movies written by Poe). For those of us who came of age in the eighties, he was our Elvis or Beatles.

It's so sad that he was so unhappy with his appearance that he destroyed his face and skin, and ultimately his body. I'm sorry that he was such a tortured soul. But he has left a huge impact on this world through his art.

Thank you, Michael, for your music. May you finally rest in peace.

DONE!

Schools out!!

It was a busy and wonderful final weekend with my seniors. Friday night we went out for pizza, rode on the rides at Belmont Park, and then cried our eyes out at a two-hour goodbye ceremony.

Saturday the Peer Helpers all came over for a pool party/potluck. They had a great time swimming, playing basketball and ladderball, and (oh yeah) throwing me in the pool. >(

Sunday they all had a bonfire at the beach, which I opted out of since I needed to do laundry. We also celebrated Mother's & Father's Days with Scott's parents/grandparents.

And yesterday was the big day! I had the honor of reading my kids' names for the final time as they received their diplomas. My favorite moment was when one of my students asked me to call her by my nickname for her as she walked across the stage. What a proud time for them. And since we did all our crying on Friday, I just had a blast taking pictures and loving being together one last time.

And now this year, which was so wonderful in every way that had to do with the students and so miserable in many ways that had to do with the staff, is over. Thanks be to God. It's summer!!! :)

Nothing in Particular

There's a lot of hard stuff happening at work right now and it's making me sad. I don't like to blog about sad. So I'm not blogging much.

Oh, and I found out today from a co-worker (who is not also my husband) that my husband is applying for jobs at other schools. This is about the tenth time he has done this (made a major career move and I find out from a co-worker, or after the fact). Every time he does it, we have a big discussion about how I should be the first person to know these things, not the last. And then he turns around and does it again. I have checked and I am not the only one who finds this disturbing.

See, that's why I shouldn't be blogging right now. See you in a week.

The only constant...

Change is becoming my best friend, which is really ironic since I've always hated it.

Right now, the administrators and a few teachers are deciding on a proposal for the future of our school. I have no idea what this means for our small part of the school. Regardless, our board member wants to tear the school down in a year, which means we either save our small school by moving to another site or our staff and students will be dispersed to the four corners of SDUSD. So I guess we have some work to do.

Devon has been a wonderful addition to the household. He's great with the kids and is working hard to re-learn math so he can pass his proficiency exam for his diploma on June 20. He's eager to find a job and start earning some money, but he has to wait for his ID to come in the mail. He has an orientation for a job-skills program on Monday. He's doing all the right things. I'm very impressed.

And of course, the school year is racing to a close. I will be saying goodbye to my beloved Class of 2009. In the meantime, I am getting the Class of 2010 ready for senior year by working on personal statements.

Oh yeah, and every day our house looks different. I'll post pictures again tomorrow.

Yep, Change and I are great buddies these days.

Birthday Pictures

Here are some pictures from Boo's birthday party. Fun!!

The boys had a great time in the pool!
Caleb's goddad made a BEAUTIFUL "rocket ship!" Notice who's driving it! ;)