It's Monday!

I have been working on a blog makeover the last few days. I'm really excited with the final product. I have finally figured out after 1 1/2 years of blogging how to add certain applications and details. It looks like a real blog now!! With all the time that I have spent, I don't think I will be changing it any time soon.

We enjoyed a nice, but busy 4th of July. It was fun to spend some time celebrating Lola's first birthday. She was so cute dressed in her holiday attire. I think the 4th of July is a perfect holiday for a birthday. You always get the day off. Lots of fireworks. Afterwards, we went to church. It was a small crowd, but considering if was a holiday it was a good turnout. Finally we made our way to my parents for dinner and a fireworks show. Of course, the best part for me was the homemade ice cream! It was nice sitting on the patio watching the fireworks. Sure beats fighting all the crowds! I think the Chinese students also enjoyed their first July 4th. They seemed to really like the hot dogs and hamburgers. One of them made the comment that the hamburgers sure tasted better than Burger King's!

I met a friend for lunch today at Paradise Bakery. I had their Asian salad which is always so good. For some reason I thought I needed the large salad. It was so big, I brought half of it home. We are getting spoiled in our area as several new restaurants have come in. Tonight we had Chipotle with my parents. I think they realized why we like it so much. My dad went through the line twice!!!

I guess this is my random news for today. Time to read my Karen Kingsbury book.

Cheri

Well, it has been a pretty nice Saturday here in hot Arizona. We have been experiencing very intense heat for the last few day, but have no fear there is a cool down coming. It should only be around 104 for the next few days!! As long as the air conditioner keeps running, I should be okay.

I don't usually spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but today was the opposite. I made my July 4th cupcakes to take to my parent's house tomorrow. I am very proud of myself that I have only eaten one all day. I have also enjoyed watching "Revolution" on the history channel. It presented a very detailed account of the American Revolution. It gave me goose bumps watching the struggle and finally victory those earlier Americans faced for independence. I love history! I think if I was not an elementary school teacher, I would have been a history teacher.

Tomorrow we have a busy day. I have Miss Lola's first birthday party to attend, Sunday night church and then dinner at my parents. They have invited some students from China to our little July 4th celebration. It should be fun! And best of all, I get some homemade ice cream!

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!

Cheri

Camping Trip to Sitgreaves National Forest

We just returned from a camping trip northeast of Payson this weekend. It was my first time sleeping in a tent. It was a lot of fun. There were things I wished came with camping, namely a real bathroom, but I survived. The temperatures ranged from the 50's-80's, so it was nice change from the heat in Phoenix. The scenery was really awesome there. Since Payson was close to our campsite, we came in town on Saturday for a little lunch. I found a neat antique store in town. I am starting a collection of antique silverware, so I was excited to find a fork from 1945. It was nice to get home to a comfortable bed even though the laundry was stacked high.

It is VBX week!! (They call it VBX for Vacation Bible Extreme). I will be working with about twenty 3 year olds which should keep things popping. I finished decorating my room on Friday and I'm pleased on how it turned out. The room is also used for Sunday School, so I had to staple things down pretty good. Let's just say my camel is not going anywhere. I am anticipating being pretty tired each day, but it should be a lot of fun. I always enjoyed VBS growing up, so I hope these kids do too. They are planning on having a camel, hissing beetles, rabbits, and snakes (all in appropriate containers except of course for the camel). The camel's name is Elvis and supposedly he doesn't spit, but gives kisses.

It is very, very hot in Arizona!! (I guess that is appropriate since the setting for VBX is Egypt). There is a big difference between 95 and 105!! Usually you can find some relief in the shade when the temperatures are in the 90's, but not so much above 100. I'm just glad I don't have to wear a costume this week at VBX. Shorts sound a lot cooler! It was even a little too warm shopping at some of the outside malls yesterday. I can't believe I said that!!

I also can't believe week one of summer is already over. Things should slow down a little in a few weeks. August 9th will be here before you know it! Hope everyone has a great week!

Cheri

We enjoyed a nice, but very windy Sunday. I don't think I have ever seen the wind blow like that in Arizona before. Kansas yes, Arizona no. While I was waiting for H's meeting to finish at church this afternoon, an elderly couple were trying to get into their car. I almost thought I was going to have to help push them in. The wind was taking them in the wrong direction!! I did get a good start on my new book Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. I love it! I will definitely be trying to find more time to read it this week. I go in spurts with reading. I will read several books and then won't pick up another book for 6 months or so. I hope to read more of her books this summer.
After a great church service tonight, we did some shopping at Walmart. And of course I forgot something. Nothing makes me more frustrated with myself than when I forget something from the store. I wish I could say it was age, but I have been doing this for some time. I guess there will be another trip later this week. It is becoming a Sunday night habit to stop at Chipotle for dinner. Unfortunately, it is not always Sunday that we have this habit. You would really think that after 7 years of eating Chipotle that we would be sick of it, but I think I love it even more now. Right next to Chipotle is Five Guys. This one has not opened yet, but we ate at a different one last week. It was good, but I still have to say that my dad makes pretty good grilled hamburgers.
I decided at 9 tonight to try a new recipe for chicken spaghetti. I don't think it's too bad. I would probably add more cheese next time. Tomorrow looks to be a busy day, so having supper all ready is great.
I guess it's time for bed. Hope everyone has a super Monday.
C.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Wow!! I guess April flew by! I have been a little blog in-active lately. I hope to do better this month.

I can't believe we are down to the last four weeks of school!! I ordered Painted Lady caterpillars a few weeks ago for our AVID classes to do some inquiry lessons. As of yesterday, they are all in their chrysalises. So, hopefully by next week we will have some butterflies. I did a form of this lesson over 10 years ago and I forgot how much fun they could be. Again, I'm not really teaching them anything new, but rather reinforcing inquiry skills they have already had in their classroom. In a few weeks the incoming 3rd graders will be coming over to tour the intermediate building. I have been asked to explain to them a little about AVID. I'm trying to think of a cute, clever, but short way to do that in 5-10 mins. Hopefully some idea will pop in my head soon!

I will be done with my second class from NAU this coming Tuesday night. This one has been so much easier than linguistics. The following Tuesday I start my ESL assessment methods class. It will be my first online class I have ever taken, so I'm looking forward to it. It only lasts about a month, so by the end of June I will have my ESL provisional certificate.

On a sad note, my father-in-law was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He is currently undergoing chemo every three weeks, so we would appreciate your prayers. Cancer is a cruel disease that knows no boundary whether it be a child or an adult.

I thought I would share something funny before I close. I usually wear glasses most days to school, but this week I have started to wear my contacts. I can't count how many kids were looking at me funny trying to figure out what was different about me. When they finally did the next thing they said to me was, "You look so much prettier now." I guess it's time to reorder some more contacts!!

It's time for Saturday house cleaning. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
C.

I can't believe that my spring break is almost over. As usual it went by too fast. I'm afraid Monday morning will be here before I know it. I had the hardest time sleeping in this week. 7:30/8:00 was as late as I could go. But I bet on Monday morning when the alarm goes off at 6, I will wish that I could sleep till noon. I don't understand it.

We attended our church's Good Friday service tonight. They had two, so we decided to attend the later one at 8. It was really good. They are planning 10 services on Easter!! I can't even imagine it!

The last few days have been spent doing a few of my favorite things. I went shopping with my Mom on Wednesday. Love THE LIMITED. Waxed my car on Tuesday. Yes, I did say wax my car. Had lunch with a friend today at the Elephant Bar. Yummy Yummy! I even found time to do some work for school.

I think we are going to head out tomorrow for a "little hike," so I guess I better get to bed. Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

C.