The summer has officially come to an end here in Idaho. We sent the summer off with a bang, well actually a splash. We spent one of the hottest days of the summer at the water park, sliding, floating, sucking in way too much chemical water, and in general having a blast! On Monday, the kids picked out their favorite new outfits, packed up their new back packs with a small fortune in school supplies, and headed to their individual places of education. We have reached a milestone in our family. All three of our children have embarked on their own individual quest for knowledge.
Micah started Kindergarten. Much to his dismay he has discovered that kindergarten is a five day adventure. Yes, Micah you have to go to school every day now! "Oh, okay", he says with head hung and shoulders slumped in great disappointment. I am excited for him. Really I am, but also a little sad. He is after all the baby. I am entitled to feel sad, nostalgic and any of those other sappy feelings I reserve for only very special occasions. In nine months he will change from being read his bedtimes stories, to reading his bedtime stories to his parents. He will learn how to count really high, add numbers together, take numbers apart, and write whole sentences! He will see the world around him in a whole new way. He came home yesterday with a picture of himself and at the bottom he wrote, "I am a thinker!" It is true . .he comes from a long line of thinkers and he still loves the question why. He will start his journey from being a little man to being a big man!
Myranda has started fifth grade. She seems to have a great teacher. By the end of this year she will be introduced to the concepts of algebra, make her first public speech, write her own reports, and continue to out read her entire class. She will learn hard lessons like how to be personally responsible for her own education, how to navigate the raging sea of pre-adolescent girl stuff. She will also learn what it means to move from a child to a young lady (or so I hope). She will likely give up her baby dolls and barbies for 'tween CD's, hair gel, and dreams of being the lead singer in a girl band. She will discover that while her mother understands mood swings and irritability, her room is the only place these traits will be tolerated. In nine months she will emerge from the familiarity of grade school ready to face the uncertainty of middle school.
Mikayla has moved up the middle school ladder one notch. She appears to feel very comfortable in her new found status as a seventh grader. She LOVES school. Every day this weeks when asked how school went she has said "awesome." This year she gets to move from concrete to abstract math (aka pre-algebra), she will utilize her natural musical talent to increase her proficiency on the flute, and she will learn important life skills like how to play golf, ping pong, and tennis (thus the class appropriately entitled "life skills". She will delve into the great writers and stories of the past, and learn about the complexities of biology. In nine short months from now she will have finally made the transition from pre-teen to full fledged card carrying teenager! I believe she will exit this school year with a head full of knowledge, a heart full of love, and more confident in herself then ever. She is an amazing kid!
So it has begun, yet I must mention that after four long, heard grueling days of education our weary students apparently are in need of an extended break. Their first no school day is FRIDAY!!! Whatever. I must add that the girls who attend public school have Friday off. Micah who attends private school, must endure one extra day of knowledge gathering.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Life on the Other Side!
This is my fifth, yes I said FIFTH attempt to sit down and write something. I started to write about a very fun adventure our family took to Lake Cascade last weekend. After an hour of trying to figure out how to put the stupid pictures on the page, I have up. I will have to save pictures for another time and space where I don't have so much to do. Probably when the kids go back to school in a couple of weeks. Maybe then I will regain my sanity and any stray brain cells. This particular blog is in fact another attempt to avoid the thing I hate most about my job: case notes. So I thought I would just do an in general kinds of update for those who care to know. If you don't well, I suppose there is way more fascinating stuff out there for you somewhere in blogsphere.
So, like I said. Last week, on Thursday,we drove all the way around Lake Cascade. I am not sure exactly how big this lake is. Larger than either Cottage Grove or Dorena Lake, I am sure. I think it is at least fifteen miles long, half of which is nothing more than a gravel road. Found that out the hard way. Who knew that the sign on the road that said "restricted travel" really meant: "Hey city boy you're 'bout to put that fancy four wheel drive to the test!" Actually the road wasn't too bad in some spots, but it did lead to an extra hour in the suburban than we were were expecting. Not too fun for Mr. "I'm bored" in the back seat. We found a couple of nice beaches and ate, swam, and explored. Myranda thought she struck it rich when she saw the gold flecks floating in the lake. She actually did see a penny in the water. Micah discovered that plastic 4x4's do indeed float even when water logged. Mikayla's dressed up as a pirate for the day (her current obsession).
On Friday, we spent the morning hunting down Micah's birthday present. We were looking for some kind of portable gaming system, but since we have never used let alone purchased said system we were a little bit out of our league. We started with pawn shops to see if we could find a good deal. We found lots of good deals, if you are into guns, swords, and other interesting weapons. Okay, as every good hunter knows a cell phone is an invaluable piece of equipment. As our allotted time without Micah was coming to an end, Mike decided to call the list of pawn shops he had on his list. It was a bust . .nothing . .no one had anything like what we were looking for. But, hey! Melanie has a great idea! What about that add on Craigslist. It sounded like a good idea. Oh crap! We didn't bring the number. Now comes the tricky part. You see, we actually still use our mobile phones as well, . . .um . . PHONES! So on the side of the road in the "scary" part of Nampa Melanie does a crash coarse on browsing the Internet on a cell phone. Success! Phone call made, merchandise in question still available, now to find location. Southwest Boise! That's only thirty minutes and a lot of traffic from where we are. But wait! Redemption. There is a Dutch Bros. on the way home. Yes! We will sacrifice the gold fuel in the tank to make the trek. Item secured.
Saturday was Micah's birthday (see pics on Myspace). We started the day with a french toast and strawberry brunch. Brunch only because the birthday boys father dragged his sorry self down the stairs at that time. Well he WAS on vacation. I guess I"ll give him a breakthis time. Then we spent the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese with all the golden tokens, soda, and cupcakes a little boy could want. Then home to open family presents.
I don't recall what happened Sunday. I know we went to church, but beyond that my memory fails me.
Monday through Wednesday are work days for me. I work insanely long hours so I can have four days off in a week to be with my kids during the summer. Those three days go something like . .get up at the crack of dawn, drink coffee, shower get dressed, and drive to the office. At the office it is: how many people am I seeing this week? You scheduled how many new clients? Are the roofers ever going to lunch? What makes less noise a manual or pneumatic hammer? I haven't done billing sheets in how long? How many case notes do I need to type? Oh treatment plans are due this week? WHO wants to talk to me? Do I have to take that phone call? Welfare is doing their audit when (read: failed audit means loss of job?) Make phone call to Health and Welfare to report some horrific act being carried out on a young child so they can again do NOTHING! Console said child's parent on the phone in my best, "I have done all I can do voice," and go home.
Thursday was the dentist. I'll spare you the boring details. Back to school shopping, Dollar Tree Shopko, Costco, Winco, and Walmart!
Friday attempt to cook ahead a few meals, watch friends children, supervise play date with Micah's friend, buy stuff a birthday party, small group/friends 40th birthday party!
Saturday, finish decorating Mikayla's room, laundry,another birthday party
Sunday . . .well today I attempted to return the curtains that I have ordered and returned three times now. If I didn't love the curtains I would have given up. I feel sorry for Mike because he has to keep track of all the debits/credits that have now been made.
So now that I have totally avoided typing my case notes, I am exhausted. I think I need to go get some sleep. I don't think this week will be any less hectic.
So, like I said. Last week, on Thursday,we drove all the way around Lake Cascade. I am not sure exactly how big this lake is. Larger than either Cottage Grove or Dorena Lake, I am sure. I think it is at least fifteen miles long, half of which is nothing more than a gravel road. Found that out the hard way. Who knew that the sign on the road that said "restricted travel" really meant: "Hey city boy you're 'bout to put that fancy four wheel drive to the test!" Actually the road wasn't too bad in some spots, but it did lead to an extra hour in the suburban than we were were expecting. Not too fun for Mr. "I'm bored" in the back seat. We found a couple of nice beaches and ate, swam, and explored. Myranda thought she struck it rich when she saw the gold flecks floating in the lake. She actually did see a penny in the water. Micah discovered that plastic 4x4's do indeed float even when water logged. Mikayla's dressed up as a pirate for the day (her current obsession).
On Friday, we spent the morning hunting down Micah's birthday present. We were looking for some kind of portable gaming system, but since we have never used let alone purchased said system we were a little bit out of our league. We started with pawn shops to see if we could find a good deal. We found lots of good deals, if you are into guns, swords, and other interesting weapons. Okay, as every good hunter knows a cell phone is an invaluable piece of equipment. As our allotted time without Micah was coming to an end, Mike decided to call the list of pawn shops he had on his list. It was a bust . .nothing . .no one had anything like what we were looking for. But, hey! Melanie has a great idea! What about that add on Craigslist. It sounded like a good idea. Oh crap! We didn't bring the number. Now comes the tricky part. You see, we actually still use our mobile phones as well, . . .um . . PHONES! So on the side of the road in the "scary" part of Nampa Melanie does a crash coarse on browsing the Internet on a cell phone. Success! Phone call made, merchandise in question still available, now to find location. Southwest Boise! That's only thirty minutes and a lot of traffic from where we are. But wait! Redemption. There is a Dutch Bros. on the way home. Yes! We will sacrifice the gold fuel in the tank to make the trek. Item secured.
Saturday was Micah's birthday (see pics on Myspace). We started the day with a french toast and strawberry brunch. Brunch only because the birthday boys father dragged his sorry self down the stairs at that time. Well he WAS on vacation. I guess I"ll give him a breakthis time. Then we spent the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese with all the golden tokens, soda, and cupcakes a little boy could want. Then home to open family presents.
I don't recall what happened Sunday. I know we went to church, but beyond that my memory fails me.
Monday through Wednesday are work days for me. I work insanely long hours so I can have four days off in a week to be with my kids during the summer. Those three days go something like . .get up at the crack of dawn, drink coffee, shower get dressed, and drive to the office. At the office it is: how many people am I seeing this week? You scheduled how many new clients? Are the roofers ever going to lunch? What makes less noise a manual or pneumatic hammer? I haven't done billing sheets in how long? How many case notes do I need to type? Oh treatment plans are due this week? WHO wants to talk to me? Do I have to take that phone call? Welfare is doing their audit when (read: failed audit means loss of job?) Make phone call to Health and Welfare to report some horrific act being carried out on a young child so they can again do NOTHING! Console said child's parent on the phone in my best, "I have done all I can do voice," and go home.
Thursday was the dentist. I'll spare you the boring details. Back to school shopping, Dollar Tree Shopko, Costco, Winco, and Walmart!
Friday attempt to cook ahead a few meals, watch friends children, supervise play date with Micah's friend, buy stuff a birthday party, small group/friends 40th birthday party!
Saturday, finish decorating Mikayla's room, laundry,another birthday party
Sunday . . .well today I attempted to return the curtains that I have ordered and returned three times now. If I didn't love the curtains I would have given up. I feel sorry for Mike because he has to keep track of all the debits/credits that have now been made.
So now that I have totally avoided typing my case notes, I am exhausted. I think I need to go get some sleep. I don't think this week will be any less hectic.
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