Summer at Random....

Fireworks in the back yard....the legal in PA kind, which are soooo much fun! Ray puts them onto a board, and the kids stand behind orange "safety cones". They like to create a safe perimeter area. When it's all done to make sure the fires are out, the kids use their super soakers to soak the board!
Timmy swimming-not sure why the instructor is so close-he's swimming without assistance.
Timmy looks to be contemplating this dive, but he is not-He is the only one in his class who jumps off the board without any assistance.
Austin getting ready to do his seated dive... & the boys playing in the hot tub at Grandma's house in NY......

This is the first summer where I will be teaching 1 class for 1 week in August. In the past it was a multitude of reading/math camps, dance camps, summer dance classes, reading/writing classes, etc. This year it's just us! I am working an ANOTHER grad class in my attempt to obtain master's + 45. Austin and Timmy are reviewing math and reading at home, with some science mixed in too.......Click a photo to make it bigger.

Recommended Reading...pace yourself!

I just read a very difficult, yet profound book: Columbine by Dave Cullen. Columbine seriously affected me, as I was teaching at the time (in the Poconos) and I remember our principal coming to each of our doors saying "there's been a shooting in Colorado, some parents are picking up their kids" . Yes, parents picked up their kids in our small elementary school of K-3! Kids were absent the following school days. After that things really changed in schools! Doors were locked, Id's were checked, and schools now devised trauma bags, emergency plans, drills, and lock-down procedures. Now that I have children-they too are exposed to this and see it as a regular part of their day. As a teacher, I know these extremes have been beneficial to protecting our kids. For those of you in education, law enforcement, or are parents, this book is very interesting. Did you know that the previous protocol for a shooting is to secure the perimeter? (At Columbine, a teacher bled to death because help did not come for 3 hours-the shooters, Eric & Dylan, died shortly after the carnage began of self-inflicted gunshot wounds) Because of the Columbine investigations, SWAT teams and the FBI now recommend charging an active shooter- (this is what was done with the shooter at Virginia Tech).

Lemonade Sale to Benefit The SPCA

At Shafer Elementary there is a K-Kids service organization that performs charitable and volunteer work throughout the community. The group has raked lawns for the elderly, sent cards to the troops, made bird feeders at a nursing home and participated in other community service projects. This year, our son, Austin Pasquel joined the K-Kids. As a way to involve more families, the K-kids and their leader, Miss Sheetz a teacher at Shafer, decided to become Saturday volunteers at the SPCA in Easton. Unfortunately, over the winter Austin developed serious pneumonia and asthma difficulties so we weren't allowed near allergen triggers, including animals. Since he was never able to walk the dogs and do the volunteer work at the shelter, he decided to sell lemonade at a yard sale we held recently. He did an amazing job sitting all day selling his lemonade for 25 cents. Many people were supportive of the cause and we thank them for coming out. This week Austin will be visiting the SPCA, also known as the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, to present them with a check for $24.80!

Yard sale & benefit Lemonade/ice pop Stand....

In the Fall we signed up as a family to volunteer at the SPCA. Over the winter Austin developed serious pneumonia/asthma and we weren't allowed near allergen triggers. Since he was never able to walk the dogs and do the volunteering, he's decided to sell lemonade & ice pops at our yard sale tomorrow & Saturday. So if you are close, or know people who are (that shop yard sales) Please help to spread the word! The details are below:

HUGE YARD SALE & LEMONADE/ICE POPS STAND(stand profits will benefit the SPCA)!
Fri & Sat - June 26-27
8:00-2:00
152 2nd Street, Nazareth (close to Tatamy & Easton)

* Just off Tatamy Rd/ Friedensthal Rd
*Just off Rt. 191/Friedensthal Rd.
LOCATED NEAR THE NAZARETH MIDDLE/Intermediate SCHOOL & NEW NAZARETH MIDDLE SCHOOL-follow posted signs
*Large dresser
*Outdoor ladder
*Wheelbarrow
*Filing cabinets
*Kids's playhouse, slide, mini basketball net, boys bike with training wheels, Elmo sprinkler
*Toys-Bob the builder, Thomas, trucks,games, preschool games & puzzles
*Adult & children's movies
*household items-picture frames, computer paper
*Clothing-lots of boys, some girls, men's & women's -shoes, boots, soccer cleats

****KIDS ARE ALSO SELLING LEMONADE TO BENEFIT THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY SPCA!!!!

ALSO >>>>>FREE ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE!

Austin's Birthday Party for friends at Da Vinci Science center in Allentown...

Austin & Nick.......
Austin & Lucas......
Birthday cake.......


We had a party for Austin's friends at the science center. Only a few made it, but that made for a really good time....We explored all of the center, had birthday treats, a show about Nitrogen, and one more turn at the exhibits. Make sure you check all the postings (click on any photo to make it bigger) .........

Learning about weather, bugs, fossils, etc......

Digging for fossils........
The electric ball.......
Channel 69 News weather report...
Touching a snake......
sea life exploration tank.....

More photos......nitrogen show....

Here is our demonstrator making ice cream with nitrogen....yummy!
Touching the carpet after nitrogen was poured onto it....BRRRRRR!
Getting our ice cream....
Austin's balloon "head" traveled to Mars and immersed in nitrogen-this results in a very flat balloon-due to a loss in flexibility
Wearing flight suits as part of the emergency response team...
Working to put the body parts back together.....