Sentimental Thoughts From The Zoo

Today we went to Akron Zoo and I wanted to take some pictures just like when we went in 2004. In the picture where Tara stands with the wings, you can see how tall she has gotten by the words behind her. Oh how the years go by.

School yet?

Our levy failed again. The kids will have no gym, music or art and will have school for one less hour per day. There will be limited busing and many teachers have been let go. The system needs to be funded differently.

Anyway, I just walked past Emily's bedroom and smelled a powerful whiff of nail polish remover. Apparently she spilled the remover and just went about her business. Now the hard wood is somewhat ruined. Jay is in there scraping and trying to fix it. Ughhhh.

Meanwhile, Tara was playing school with me and accidentally socked me square in the jaw with one of her toys. I saw stars for a second.She's quite the little bruiser.

It's time for them to go back to school. It really is.

Happy Happy Happy

I got my grade in my dreaded, evil and otherwise horribly time consuming and anxiety producing assessment class!!!!!!!! I don't mean to boast but I got an AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I am on an A high. My dad said that he'd buy me a steak if I got a B. I love my dad. I was half expecting a C. I know that the true reward is in the learning and it is just a arbitrary token reward... blah blah blah. I don't care! I have bought into this token reward system and I am thrilled!!!!! Most importantly, I never have to relive that class and the book and the math.....

I was sitting in another class today and people were stressed over this and that in the class. I just sat and smiled inwardly. Nothing bothers me after that class! I guess in that way I am ... happy... I had the class. Well, let's not get carried away. :)

This part of the mountain is climbed. And what a mountain and a half it is.

Tara's a girlie girl. She would wear a dress in the shower, or out in the mud if I'd let her.

I just found ten bucks in an old purse. That rocks. :)

getting ready for school

New backpacks

Backpacks that are full of new stuff.

Emily's Smartie art

Ooooh I love to shop for school supplies. It is so fun getting a new notebook and crayons and all the other stuff. The kids and I came home and labeled everything and put it all in their new backpacks. They ended up choosing the same backpack just a different color. I think they inherited my joy in school supply shopping. I heard on the radio that a lot of people find shopping for school supplies stressful. It's funny what is fun for one is a chore for another.

I know there will be more trips to the store when the official supply list comes home on the first day. By then it may not be as fun. But today was great! I had a near flat tire coming out of the store, which hampered our further shopping for shoes and clothes. There's always tomorrow!

Done

It is so surreal to be finished with my assessment class. It seemed like it would go on and on forever. Now I am down to one class until the fall semester starts. Woopeee! I don't know what to do with myself!
The assessment prof cancelled the final and just gave us the points. I think he did it on a whim, although he said he planned it this way. But we came into class the day before and turned in our HUGE HONKIN 40+ page project and he started telling us how to study for the final. Then he said he'd email it to us. Then he just cancelled it!

I am not kidding when I say that I grinned all the way home. I am still in a partial perm-a-grin. Some other classmates were ticked that he cancelled it, thinking he shouldn't have strung us along. I, however, am not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Now, just as long as I get a good grade on that final paper, I'll be one happy grad student. :)