KID'S DAY

The kids & I made a quick trip to Grand Mound again this weekend. It was Kid's Day & my children LOVE the little festival as much as I did when I was a kid. They have a blast seeing their friends there (my friend's kids, which is fun for us). They bowled, had lunch, ate snow cones, got tattoos, got balloons, rode rides, tried the cake walk & just had fun. Uncle Michael & Uncle Will were there too buying them pop & other junk! We were pooped by the end of it!

The kids & I went to Michael & Kim's and got to babysit Drew for a couple of hours while Michael & Kim went to a couple's shower. He was perfect & I can't wait to watch him again.



Jake bowling



Allie bowling



Me & Maddie



Kim, Allie & Ben on the Scrambler...Kim was all bruised the next day!



Allie with her balloon art & snow cone!

Maddie

Jake, Will & Michael


Ethan, Andrew & Allie (my childhood friends kids)

Drew smiling at his FAVORITE aunt!

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

Since school starts in just a few short days..."Back to School" is this week's theme. Here are pics of the kids with their teachers over the years.




Kindergarten: Jake & Miss Pins



Kindergarten: Allie & Miss Pins


1st Grade: Jake & Mrs. Wyckoff (this will be Al's teacher this year)


2nd Grade: Jake & Mr. Wagner

JOB NEWS

Two bits of news on the job front. One from my job & one from Scott's...

Scott was officially promoted to the General Manager of the dealership. His job description really won't change since he's been doing the job for about a year now without the title, but now he's officially the GM. We are really proud of him! He certainly deserves it!

As far as my job, after a month or so of going back and forth about whether to work next year or sub, I finally made a decision to resign & sub next year.

Long story short, I was called in mid-July and asked to work full time one on one with a Kindergarten student. I really wanted to stay part time & work with a lot of different students like I did last year. Our resource enrollment is down due to some rezoning of our district and so they couldn't justify keeping me part time with low numbers (the other para in our room has seniority). I was told to wait & see what opened up in the district after registration. I inquired about a job at another school and after weighing the pros & cons, decided that it wouldn't have been a good fit.

SO, yesterday I told my boss that I would just plan to sub next year. I went ahead and emailed all of the elementary principals & asked them to put me on their sub list. I got a call this morning from a principal asking if I'd be interested in a job sharing position at a nearby school. I told her yes I'd love to hear what was available. She is going to get some details together & get back in touch with me by Friday. It sounds like I can either take a job with her now (once I get the hours & duties), long term sub for her until she finds someone or potentially just sub for her off & on. She also gave me a "heads up" on a position in the preschool that will open up at semester. This is the principal that hired me a year ago, but I was moved shortly after working at this school. While I was there, I enjoyed it & I'd say if I can't be at Hansen, this is where I'd like to be.

I guess now I'm waiting again to see how this all plays out. I'm fine with whatever happens. I will have tons of time to focus on my volunteer commitments & the kid's classrooms if I just sub. I'll also potentially be able to travel with Scott when he has to go away on business if I'm subbing. If I do work half days, I definitely won't be bored, which is a concern of mine. I'll hopefully know something before the weekend since school starts in a week!!

CATCHING UP

I have posted lots of stuff...for some reason I fell off the face of the Earth over the past 10 days or so. I think I am caught up finally!

Allie had a dentist appt today. It was an appt. from HELL! We went to a new office & the road was torn up near it so we had to find street parking several blocks away. We waited 30 minutes to get in. Once we were in the office, Allie's Novocaine wouldn't take & she would scream everytime the dentist came near her. She was given some gas as well & at that point she couldn't sit still & kept talking about how much Jake likes pink...that made him mad! She acted like she was drunk. After the appt, the computer system wasn't working correctly so paying was a nightmare. We finally walked out of the office about 1 hour & 45 minutes later...Allie was happy from the gas, Jake was mad from the "pink talk" and I was furious about the appt from HELL!! The only bright side of the whole experience was that I didn't get a parking ticket!!

This week brings lots of pool time for our last week of summer, playdates for both kids, a doctor appt for Allie, a carnival meeting for me & Kid's Day.

DREW'S BAPTISM

Michael & Kim's baby Drew was baptized on Sunday. We were able to make it. The entire family was there & we had a nice time.


Drew being baptized

The whole family


My family

Thiel's


Allie & Nana hang out in a swing at Michael & Kim's

A QUICK VISIT

While we were in Des Moines, we heard that Scott's sister Kelley would be in the area too. She was taking her oldest Kate to visit various colleges for a couple of days. We were able to get together for a couple of hours at our hotel for dinner. Our paths haven't crossed in about 16 months so it was nice to hang out. Kelley's son Lucas has changed a ton...he was a baby when we last saw them!

Lucas, Jake, Allie & Kate

BLANK PARK ZOO

While on our mini vacation, we took the group to the Blank Park Zoo. It is a great little zoo & the kids enjoyed it.


Grace, Allie & Ethan

Allie & Grace on the train

Allie on a camel

Jake on the camel

Allie & Grace

ALLIE'S 7TH B-DAY

Allie turned 7 on Thursday. We had a gift opening at our hotel that morning. She spent the morning swimming & then we went to Applebee's for lunch. She was thrilled to get a sundae to celebrate.

My 7 year old!

POOL PARTY

The kids spent quite a bit of time in the pool at the hotel. There were 2 pools in one area & another pool in a different part of the hotel. They never seemed to get bored.


Grace & Allie jump into a pool


Grace & Allie hanging out




Jake putting suds on his face to make a beard

ADVENTURELAND

We took the kids for a mini vacation to Des Moines last week. We met up with my childhood best friend Amy & her family and with our college friends Annette & Gopher. We have been getting together for a mini vacation for a few days the last several years. I wonder where we'll end up next summer?

Allie was my little daredevil & rode every ride that she was tall enough to ride. She even cried at one point because she was too short to ride a big ride.

We were at the park from about 10:30 until 7:00. A great time was had by all!

Scott & Allie waiting to ride on the Space Shot


Isabelle, Ethan, Jake, Allie, Grace & Andrew

The kids & Scott on the Raging River

Jake & Me after a long day!

FRIEND PARTY

Allie had her friend party at Chuck E Cheese's last Tuesday. There were 13 kids there & I was mildly insane by the end. It was a moment of weakness when I agreed to having it at that mad house!

Andrea, Allie & Olivia

Al with her HS Musical cake.

Allie with most of her friends & Chuck E Cheese

Allie, Arianna, Olivia, Kayleight, Jordyn, Madison, Andrea, Madeline & Makenna.

Paul, Jake & Andrew

VISITORS

Michael, Kim & Drew came to visit us for Allie's b-day. They arrived on Friday, the 1st & we had a great time. Michael fell asleep on the floor on Friday evening & the kids pulled him into the kitchen. Jake put his hand in a bowl of warm water so that he'd wet his pants. Allie put Ready Whip into his hand then tickled his face so that he would hit his face with the Ready Whip. He was a good sport & the kids laughed 'til they cried.

Mandy, Ben & Maddie arrived on Saturday morning. Michael took the older kids bowling & out for ice cream. He learned a hard lesson at the ice cream shop. He ordered all of the kids LARGE cones & took them outside to eat them. It was really hot & the humidity was way up there too. The kid's cones melted quickly & he had a mess on his hands. He now knows to never order large cones & a dish works the best.

The rest of the family arrived on Sunday for Al's family party. She had a nice time, got lots of great gifts & had enough gift cards to purchase her DS that she has been begging for. A great weekend!!



Allie tickling Uncle Michael, note the shaving cream in his hand


Ben, Allie, Drew, Jake & Maddie


Nana & Allie opening gifts

Allie & her Hannah Montana cake



Drew, Kim & Michael

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This week's theme is "Fun with Dad"...


Scott messing with Jake...no clue what is in his eyes!


Scott trying to rest & the kids saying "no way"


Dad wrestling


Fun on the sleds!

NEW TEACHERS

I got the kids all registered for school today & they both got the teachers that they prayed for.

Jake will have Mrs. Marshall for 3rd grade. I worked quite a bit with her last year & she is a WONDERFUL teacher & an amazing person. She is a cancer survivor & beat that beast! (Jake's Kindergarten year she was on leave because she was diagnosed with cancer). We are looking forward to a wonderful year with her.

Allie got Mrs. Wyckoff. We ADORE Mrs. Wyckoff. She was Jake's 1st grade teacher & we enjoyed everything about her. Jake had a great year & we are certain that Allie will too. She even has several of her friends from Miss Pins' class in her new 1st grade class.

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

In honor of Allie's upcoming 7th birthday, this week's them is "Happy Birthday Allie!!"


Allie's 1st b-day was a MESS!


Her 2nd b-day


On her 3rd b-day...a princess theme (she is on the far left)


4th b-day & loving a cupcake


Allie's 5th b-day at Texas Roadhouse


And her 6th b-day...my how she has changed!!