ESU homecoming!

OK most of these pics can be viewed on Facebook but here goes anyway. I was originally supposed to go with a friend, but she wasn't able to drive up with my. I was pretty nervous-nothing like going to homecoming by yourself. When i arrived i got the BEST parking spot and found my sorority with no problems! We won 2nd place for best tailgate, spent time at the alumni tent, hit Rudy's then Teddy's and so forth! It was great seeing so many poeple after 20 years! Around 9:30 My roomie and I decided to hit the road getting her back to her hotel, but I tripped-needless to say I thought I sprained my ankle, but it seems to just be bruised and is much better at the time of this posting. After I dropped her off to the hotel, I decided that I was done and left for home, arriving back to Nazareth at the early hour of 11:00 PM. Wow! & to think when i was in college-the parties would have just been getting started at that hour!

Look Out! Austin's on Patrol!

Austin is so excited to be a new member of the safety patrol. No messing around in the halls!

I'm coming out of the closet!

Just Kidding! My former classroom used to be the size of a large closet. My new classroom IS a former regular size classroom....AND........

Here it is! My Big room-its the same kind of set-up as the room I had when I came to Easton as a first grade teacher. ....(Click on the picture to view it larger)

The front of the room with my desk....
More of the front...
Back corner...
Back of the room...

First day of school!

Both Austin and Timmy were excited by their first day. Timmy is in first grade and Austin is now in fourth, but he attends the Nazareth Intermediate School. They have built a new school for 7 & 8th , so they 've reconfigured the grades. So far they both like school and love their time in aftercare. On Wednesday Austin told us he was selected for safety patrol and he's so excited by this prospect. that evening he was chosen as a goalie and went to bed singing the Spongebob song "It's the best day ever....!"

Back To school!

Somehow this doesn't seem fair. I was out last (a week after my kids) and am going back to school a week before my kids! Monday is my first day back.

This year I have a new room-no more closet-I shall post pics, next week as it's not done yet! There's still furniture and supplies that belong to a colleague in it. It's a full size classroom....HUGE! Our district re-districted so we lost teachers to a new building that was needed, and now all the interventionists have larger rooms. I might as well enjoy it though-as I'm sure it won't last. Here is a picture that shows my closet sized room from last year (it was pajama day), the room was about 7X9.

Check out my new iPhone!

OK I FINALLY got a new phone -I know, I know! I've deliberated this experience for the past 2 years. I had Ole reliable (Silver Samsung-I didn't even have a camera) since 2004! It's not even that I loved my old phone-it was motivating myself to the change.

Since I do a lot of data entry with school data I decided to go with the iphone (plus it was a good deal!) . I actually thought about it (in May) since a friend has one and just loves it. I also have a Mac through school ~so much of the data transfer is super compatible! The guy who sold it to was so great considering he spent an hour and a half talking to me about it (On Sunday) and I walked away saying "let me think about it for a few more days!" I had to check out the reviews and Consumer Reports, etc. How did I get so stingy? As I get older I seem to have to research everything before I buy!

When I went back (Tuesday night) I made sure he was working -let's face it he spent time on me and he was an intelligent person. He spent an additional 2 hours getting me set up and taught me how to use everything. He installed school apps., books (yes books! I can read classics at soccer games-if I want) and other apps. (all free -yeah!). I've got my banking and all e-mail accounts on it too! Oh yeah! Let's not forget Facebook!

I'm having fun with it. Today I ordered a cool green (my fav!) cover and a clip pouch for it. I am now operational! Just don't text me-I don't do that-plus it's extra! :)

Hey I wonder if I can blog from it?

Dollar Store .....Treasure??? See for yourself!

Today we stopped at the dollar store (usually this makes me groan inside 'cause the toy they pick breaks within an hour or a day if we are lucky) Today they picked a dinosaur fossil kit. This was the best toy ever! They were busy for 2 1/2 hours to complete the task. First you begin to "dig out" the bones form the egg of dirt. The kits comes with a small shovel and brush. This was similar to true excavation! Then you lay out the bones and must wash off the dirt. Make sure you've got them all. Last you piece it carefully together to create a model dinosaur! Check it out!

Couple more....

Ocean City, MD...2009

This year we went to OC,MD. The kids really like it there. Each day the weather was great! We did get incredible rain, hail, winds, and flooding on the second day, but that was after we got home from the beach and it lasted overnight only to clear up the following day. The hail, wind, and flooding was really intense. We ate in the Irish pub in our hotel and their roof started to leak! On Tuesday, we visited the Western-themed water park (sorry , no pics). We had a great time playing golf, riding on the water slides and our favorite- the lazy river ride! Of course we also walked the boardwalk and adopted 2 hermit crabs, which are now being called Volcano (Tim's) and Oreo (Austin's). Later in the week it was the Jesus on the beach Christian festival, so we got to see a beach baptism-I was impressed, more than anyone else. There was a new place called the Pirate museum, which we visited as well as the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. This year Timmy got really upset in Ripley's Museum and we had to move a bit more quickly. He viewed something that scared him and the dim lighting and crowds just made it overwhelming for him. Overall...the beach was our favorite activity....Austin spent much of the time on his boogie board and both boys loved playing in the sand!

More OC pics....

The sand...
The water....
The sunset....
Ray....not tan.....YET! The last 2 days he go burned then REALLY dark (as usual!)

golfing, we played a lot of mini golf! This was lost galaxy golf.

More OC!

Kids in the sand...

Our favorite place to eat...Mackey's, where you can dine on the beach! Too bad it was sooo windy this day, we ate inside.....

OC......continued

I know, I don't match, BUT I won't get burned!
Austin Just LOVES the Boogie board!

Land of Make Believe...1

Austin & Ray on the lazyriver......
Austin.........
Tugboat ride...-Tim refused to do this.......
I hate this ride and Timmy does too-so we explored Jenny Jump Mountain legends, house, and pathway......
T-Rex.......we also tried this, but Timmy panicked and we got off before it started. We did do the Star Jet, roller-coaster (my fav.), and some of the water park. There is a new exhibit-The Mining company, which they loved! The next entry shows that! There was a lot to do there-petting zoo, mazes, Santa visit (Timmy was excited by this one), and other rides too. The water park was their favorite!

Land of make Believe...2

The train ride....
Pretty as a princess-slightly crooked.....
Mining for gems-lots of fun and learning too-the boys LOVED this new activity!
Waterpark-the lazy river.......
Merry-Go-Round ride.......

Austin.........
Waterpark........Austin did all, but one, waterslide(he was too young) and loved them-Timmy wouldn't do the waterslides-we stayed at the pirate playground, wading pool, lazyriver, and he took a nap!