Thursday, October 23, 2014

October Update

Yes, it has been more than THREE WEEKS since my last real post (not counting the quick picture last night). All I can say is that I'm glad I take so many pictures... because I can look back at them and easily piece together what we've been up to for the past few weeks. And really, there haven't been a lot of BIG things-- just lots and lots of little things!

Since last month, I've been volunteering at the kids' school two days a week. It's been fantastic, but it's also a lot of work! On Tuesdays, I work with kids in Maya's kindergarten class for their entire school day. The kids all know me, and we generally do math groups on the days I go in. I also read to them during their library time. I love it, and I am also so proud of how Maya is doing in school. Her teacher tells me that she is at the top of the class and is a real role model for others, but I actually get to see it in action! And it's true! She makes us so proud! On Wednesdays, I help out with Niko's class, but that mostly consists of doing tons and tons of copies and prep work. It's more tiring than actually working with students, BUT another mom friend of mine volunteers at exactly the same time-- so at least I have someone to talk to! Niko's teacher keeps saying that she is going to have me work with students, but she has a student teacher at the moment which I think complicates things a little. So, we will see what happens there! I've also continued to be super involved with the school PTO. I just counted and sorted over $1300 in teeny-tiny Box Tops and got those shipped to the office in Minnesota... And now I'm running the PTO website. And I somehow volunteered myself to put together the school directory. And then the principal (who, coincidentally, is from California-- small world!) asked me if I'd be the parent representative on the School Improvement Committee (= more meetings for me). So, throw another thing on my plate! The fact is that I spend hours and hours at the kids' school these days. And when I'm home, I am going room by room through the house, trying to finish all my projects. It will take years. But I never rest! And I know that all my time at the school will be helpful when I get on the substitute list for next year. I have a good relationship with the principal and am a familiar face around campus. AND I get to see my kids (who are still young enough that they are excited to see ME)! So it's all good!

But anyway... That's the long way of me saying that I don't have a ton of pictures from this month! We run from event to event. Kids get home, do homework, change into the appropriate uniform for the day (karate, dance, scouts, soccer) and we're off! One big family thing we DID do, though, was our annual trip to AppleFest at the local ski resort. For the second year in a row, Gus' company held their annual family event there. And while it was very cold, the turnout was good and everyone seemed to have a good time. Probably because they gave everyone a ridiculous number of alcohol vouchers, so the beer was flowing freely... but as I recall, it was fun! And I took pictures:
And, inside the company's tent at the event, they did a little birthday celebration for all the October birthdays-- which meant Niko got sung to and got to help blow out the candles 6 days early. A great way to kick off his birthday week! :)
Niko also had his first Cub Scout den meeting this month. Led, of course, by the den leader... also known as Gus! Gus sort of accidentally volunteered himself for the position (we're apparently good at that), but has discovered that he really likes it. They've now had two den meetings and a pack meeting, and both of them are really loving it. I'm so happy that it's becoming such a positive experience for them!
In other random news... Niko earned his first purple stripe at karate. He will likely be taking a break from karate at the end of November, when our one-year contract is up, simply because we are just way too overscheduled right now. We ALL need a break. So he probably won't earn his purple belt before then, but he can always pick up where he left off if we rejoin it down the line.
Finally, a story, because it is too funny not to share! Last night, I was making garlic bread in the oven, using the broiler. I had it on a piece of parchment paper, which was a poor choice-- it started smoking and set off the fire alarm. So I went to turn it off. But in the meantime, I heard this: "Maya!!! We need to feel the door first before we open it! Let me do it!" I walked around the corner to see both kids on all fours by the front door. For the record, October is Fire Safety month, and they've been talking about it at school a LOT. But I just about died laughing! I asked them what they were doing, and Niko told me that they were going to go out front to our meeting place. haha! I guess it's good that they were paying attention!

Anyway... the next few days promise to be very busy, and will merit their own posts in the not-too-distant future. Tomorrow is Niko's last soccer game, and the Fall Fest at the kids' school. I'm also reading to his class in the library (an assortment of fun Halloween-y books). And then Saturday is our baby boy's SEVENTH birthday (sniff!). And Sunday is party day, where I will have 15-18 little boys at my house. Lord help me.

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