This is the life

Sorry it's been a few days. I know for some of you, whether or not I post on my blog is really the deciding factor on whether or not you have a good day. So, in case you're one of those people, I thought I'd let y'all know what I've been up to the past few days. Friday was my last day at work, and I didn't waste any time getting to Texas to see my family. I flew in Saturday and Chad picked me up at the airport and I've been visiting my mom and grandparents since then. Sunday we took a quick trip to Tulsa to see some long lost relatives I'd never met before (my grandmother's brother J.R. and others) and I got to see my good friend Sara. She is teaching math at a junior high in Tulsa and also doing yearbook. We laughed a lot sharing stories about our students and our adventures as first-year yearbook advisers. Sara is a lot braver than I am though--she's actually doing yearbook a second year. Good job Sara. Anyway, on our way back we were close to Shawn and Emma so we dropped by their place for a quick visit. Elle served tea in tiny little cups and I read her a few books, then we were on our way. Since then it's pretty much been shopping and eating at good restaurants. Today we went to two art museums and that was pretty fun. Sorry for the lack of pictures lately. By the way, both of my sisters-in-law succumbed to the pressure of blogging and the links to both their blogs appear to the right. I probably won't be posting as many pictures of the kids now that they have their own blogs to post. I'll be visiting Erin, Josh, Kellen and Bonnie next week, and also my friends Emily and Matt and their son Tobin, so look for pictures of all of them soon.

By the way, I have been sleeping until 10 every morning. I'm liking this summers off thing.

Sigh of relief

Well, it's over. My first year of teaching has officially passed. It's funny--I get mistaken for a student every once in a while, but today I got mistaken for a high school student twice at places off campus. I know that someday on the last day of school when I have a lot more years of teaching behind me I will think back to the day I finished my first year and the waitress at Chili's asked me if I was graduating from high school that day.

It seems a little anti-climactic to me--how quickly everyone, students and teachers alike, goes their separate ways. I have been counting down to this day for so long--one of my senior yearbook editors teased me all year that she was supposed to be the one counting down, not me. Now that it's over, it's a little weird. I'm not sad though--I know I'll see most of my old students around campus next year, and it will be good to see 150 new faces in the fall. The best thing about teaching, I have decided, is that there is always a new beginning, and there is always an end. I get to reflect back on what worked this year and what didn't, both with my teaching and my classroom management, and start over fresh in the fall. Until then, I get to enjoy eight weeks off seeing family and friends, going to Blue Haven and relaxing. I've decided it doesn't get much better than that.

The mischievous one

Every couple weeks Emily sends a picture of Riley getting into some kind of trouble, usually involving Josey. Here is a picture of her latest antics. That's lip gloss that Grammie gave Riley for Christmas that Riley is putting on Josey.

The countdown is on!

Okay, it is officially the last week of school. This Saturday I will be in Weatherford...I'm counting down the days! Here is a little breakdown of Chad's and my summer plans in case anyone wants to know when we will be where.

Wednesday 5/24-Saturday 6/17: Chad will be in Texas and Arkansas for his independent study paddling trip with Tyler Junior College
Saturday 5/27-Saturday 6/10: I will be in Texas visiting my mom, grandparents, Erin & family, and some friends
Saturday 6/10-6/17: Dad, Ginny & Mackenzie in Arizona
6/27-6/30: Lubbock
6/30-7/1: Amarillo for Matt Green's wedding
7/1-7/14: Camp Blue Haven
7/24-7/27: AP Summer Institute in Phoenix
8/2: Back to work
Sometime in late August: Chad goes back to school

So as you can see we have a fun-filled, busy summer and we are excited about getting to see so many family and friends and getting to go to Blue Haven. If you see any open dates there and want to come see us in Arizona, feel free! We love to get visitors.

3 more days of school...

Elle, Kellen and Bonnie

Here are some recent pictures of Elle, Bonnie and Kellen. Kellen got a taste of his first popsicle...Erin cleverly gave it to him while he was in the bathtub.

Oak Creek...not for the timid

Here are some pictures of our backpacking trip in Oak Creek Canyon. Like I said before, this hike was a little different than what we expected--for example, visualize wading or swimming through freshly melted snow, and that is what the water crossings were. I was timid at first (not quite wanting to get wet and cold...and look at that nasty green stuff we had to cross through!), but after a while, we just jumped right in. I tried to pick just a few pictures that show the landscape and also show a fairly close view of us. It was hard to decide which ones to put in here--we had a lot of really good shots.

I'm baaaaaaaaaack

Sorry for the little hiatus...things have been just a little crazy here lately. Last week was yearbook distribution at both campuses, and now that that's over, my life has settled down. You know I'm pretty busy when I don't have time to blog. Friday I took the day off, and Chad and I, along with Alan, Alan's friend Laura, and Caleb Montandon (Chad's 2nd cousin) went on a little backpacking trip along the west fork of Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona. It was beautiful and the weather was great. The hike was only 14 miles over two days, which seemed fairly mild at the time we were planning for it. But with all the boulder-hopping and crossing water that was sometimes over my head, I was extremely worn out and sore by the time we rolled back into Prescott Saturday night. We took lots of pictures which I will post soon.

The number of days left in school is down to single digits. Finals start next Tuesday (which reminds me that I need to finish writing my final exam), and then teacher check-out is next Friday. The very next day I leave for Texas to visit my family, which I'm really looking forward to. Chad will be in Tyler and then Arkansas for an independent study with Tyler Junior College. Okay, I'll write again when I have those pictures to post.

Cute kids...

In response to Erin's comment in my last entry, Kellen now calls me "Sey." You know, like Lesley, but without those pesky L's. This was especially exciting because yesterday I was talking to Erin and she asked Kellen if he wanted to talk to Aunt Lesley and he said, "Sey?" I got so excited. Then I talked to him and said, "Kellen, it's Aunt Lesley," and he said "Sey" again, and then I said hi and he said hi back. A few days ago he pointed to a picture of me and said Sey also, so I'm pretty pumped that my little nephew now knows who I am. That's probably the part that makes me the most sad about living far away, is that all our babies are growing up and they might not know who we are. But I have to say to our siblings, y'all are doing a great job of pointing to our pictures and telling those kids about their Uncle Chad and Aunt Lesley!

Another cute story...and Emily, correct me if I get this wrong, but a few weeks ago, right after spring break when we had seen all our nieces and nephew, Emily was driving around in the car and Riley saw a dark-headed, slender guy walking along the street and pointed at him and said, "Uncle Chad!" I thought that was so cute.

By the way, in another response to Erin's comment...I don't need to watch American Idol to be happy (although I do love American Idol). Who needs American Idol when you have a channel that shows two episodes of Dr. Phil and two epsodes of Oprah every single day? And let's not forget Deal or No Deal...(yuck.)

I guess that's enough typing for now, back to grading quizzes. Chad comes home tonight! Yay!

The yearbooks are coming! The yearbooks are coming!

Just got a call today from my publisher's rep that our yearbooks are on their way. Now, I know this is probably not very exciting for most of you, but it's my blog so nanny nanny boo boo. Our scheduled ship date was this next Monday, but they ended up going out today. Since my yearbook kids were so good about sending in all their deadlines early or on time this year (with me, of course, on their tail every minute) it means we get the books early. This is just one more sign that the year is almost over, and I have almost completed the milestone of finishing my first year of teaching--which of course, "they" say, is always the hardest.

This year will also close the chapter in my life of being the yearbook adviser at Bradshaw Mountain High School. Although this was a positive experience for me where I learned a lot, it was also very stressful and at times took over my life--even when I should have been focusing on the other 4 classes that I teach. So, I am taking at least a year off from advising a yearbook to get some more teaching under my belt, and then when I feel really comfortable with that I might consider advising another publication. Deciding to give up yearbook has made me realize how great the students are that I have worked with this year, and I will miss them. But I am looking forward to being able to come home and spend time with Chad, focus on my English classes, and best of all, not wake up in the middle of the night because of a bad dream about yearbook. Yes, that has happened many times this year (the latest one: we got all our yearbooks and the publishing company had put a big fat X over each student's school picture).

That's about it for now. We officially have 15 school days left, not including weekends. Not that I'm counting down or anything.