When are you ever going to work?

With all of the river-frontage, when are you ever going to find time to work?!

Cell phones still not working? You should be able to call the companies and get them to let you out of the contract.
CB

New House, continued

The view of the entryway.
The kitchen.
The living room.
The back of the house and the deck.

New House

Hey family! Kimm took these photos of our new house. It's still in the unpacking stage, but I thought you'd like to see what we've got up here in PARADISE. When are you all coming to visit us????

The front of our home, with all of our boxes in the garage!!! Clair is already planning his garden, lots of colorful flowers, bushes, and trees, and his very own waterfall!
The Washougal River marks the edge of our property.
The first peek of the house as you come in the driveway. It's a VERY steep hill that we have to go up to to get the mail - so we'll get into shape very soon!
The view off the deck in the back. There is a shed for wood, and then down the steep hill is the river.
Clair's office (not quite set up yet) and me, trying to figure out how to get better internet service.

Charlie the Unicorn

It's a magical leoplurodon charlie!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Or, Happy Valentime's Day, as my students say. Today is a great day! I don't have a specific valentine, but it's such a super day! Besides that's what nephews are for!!! ;) I got up WAAAY early this morning to make cinnamon rolls with pink frosting and red sprinkles for my roommates. Later today, I'm going to my old school (where I did my student teaching) to visit the kids for their Valentine's Day party. I'm excited.

I just love Valentine's Day - it's a great day to tell your friends and family that you love them. So, family, I LOVE YOU!!! Hope it's an awesome day for all of you.

Hare hair

I straightened my hair - hairs, really. Not permanently. Just for a change.

Although, who ever gave us the curly hair gene, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Also, any of you who know a really cute curly haired single guy....let me know. I could use one...

Also also, anyone know of any food photographers that would be willing to give an amateur some tips? I think this is going to become my new hobby.

Halloween Continued

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Clint's Dolphins

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Pictures from Kelsey's YW activity

I sent a number of pictures to be included in a YW slideshow and thought I'd share them with you all and embarrass Kelsey in the meantime.

The first is from Christmas. She received the purple down vest and was especially pleased with the U2 CD.









We all went on a Scout Family Campout to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and managed to get a pic of everyone in uniform.

Kelsey and the Venturing Crew have gone rock climbing a fair amount and she's become quite good at her new-found hobby!





Classic Kelsey stare--"Whaddya want?!"












Kelsey is gonna kill me for this one... Another Christmas shot. I don't remember what she was so excited about but it was good, whatever it was!











Kelsey on the paintball range! She had a ton of fun with the rest of the boys. Turns out that Cole kept shooting her by accident :(




Kelsey in full costume at the Holiday Bazaar where the Venturing Crew held a fundraiser.

I Am A Teacher

This statement really blows my mind sometimes. I can't believe it! Sometimes it's really scary to think that I am responsible for teaching these students all that they need to know in second grade. Whew! What a job!
Most days, I really enjoy my job. The kids are pretty good (with only a few that regularly cause problems, and I'm dealing with them) and I really like the team members that I work with. On Friday, we had our Valentine's Day Party. I gave the students a piece of paper shaped like a soda glass, with the words "Everyone likes you, and 'soda' I." I attached a mechanical pencil to the card and put it in everyone's bag. About 15 of the kids came up to me throughout the day and said, "Thank you thank you thank you for the mechanical pencils! We love them! Now we don't have to use the pencil sharpener anymore!" It was funny to see what a little pencil does to a 2nd grader!
I wanted to see what any of your memories of 2nd grade were. I remember learning to tell time on the Judy clocks (the yellow and red wooden clocks). I remember mean old Mrs. Harris who always yelled at our class, until she quit or got sick and Mrs. Lowry took over for a long time. She was nicer, but I don't think she knew as much.
Here is a picture I took of my class on Friday. They were being monkeys all day because of our party, and it was the last day before our 3 week vacation (I'm "off track" now, which means I don't have school until the 2nd of March. Instead of a summer vacation, I get periodic breaks during the year).

New Houses!

Well, it seems that a few of us are moving. For those of you who are out of the loop, or who don't check their email, here are some pictures of Mom and Dad's new house that they bought in Washougal, WA. Here is the front yard.

The back yard - there is a lot of forest continuing all the way to the river.

Here is the river bank that butts up to their property. Good fishing, so I hear. Trout, anyone?

And, I moved into a house at the end of December. It's not much outside, but it's huge inside with plenty of room for me and my 5 roommates. I really like living here. It's pretty much a party, all the time! ;)

Here is the outside of the house.

Me!

I am so excited about my FIRST BRAND NEW BED! Once I got my first real paycheck as a teacher, I "splurged" and bought a bed after sleeping on the floor for 2 months.