Happy Birthday, Christie!

Happy Birthday, Christie! Have a great day! We love you!

Armchair Travel

I'm absolutely addicted to Google Map. Especially when you can get a street view. I love to fly over places and look down (my favorite thing about real flying), I love to look at maps and wonder what it's like to go to that place, and I love to look at new places. Google maps partially satisfies my wanderlust. Last night I was so tired after a long day at school, and then church and choir, but when I got home I wanted to check my email and online class discussion, but then ended up on Google Map and traveled to Australia and Tasmania. I saw some beautiful beaches, some amazing views of the outback, some ports and cities I've never heard of, and I ended up going to bed much later than I should have.
The other day I read about the danger of flooding in Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota where I have lots of cousins. So I got out our Saville family directory and looked up where they live in those two cities. There's a few who are close to the rivers there, so they've been in my prayers.
A few days ago I turned on an episode of "Planet Earth" that was about deserts. I immediately got out my laptop and flew over some of those deserts. It's amazing for those of us who live in populated areas to see how vast and empty much of our planet is. The views are incredible. Well, I better go! Maybe I'll have time for a short trip before school starts.

Mama Bear and her Porridge

I wish I had one of these costumes so that I could go incognito...but today I'm going to Avery's kindergarten class to be a "mystery reader" for "March is Reading Month". Since they are doing a unit on bears I thought I'd read some bear books and I'm going to bring along some "Mama Bear's Porridge" (glorified oatmeal). I emailed the teacher with the names of some bear books to make sure she hasn't read them and unfortunately she had read all but one (my least favorite), so I'm off to St. Paul's library to see if I can find another one (especially since she already read them "Somebody and the Three Blairs", my favorite). I'm also hoping to talk Papa Bear into coming with me. Have a good day everyone, and don't get lost in the woods!

The Camera's Back

Last weekend I left my camera in Gail's van after our lunch out for Judy's birthday. So I'm late in posting these pictures. These are some views from last weekend.

Springtime Regatta - 2009




Quinn at the headwaters:



Judy's Fifty-hmmpth birthday!

Where Will It End?

First, they tear down Ypsi State Hospital, then they tear down our old house in Waltz.... and now this morning I went by Joyce's other old haunting ground - Club 23 on the corner of Willis and Carpenter and now that's gone also! Where will it end?

Progress!

I'm sitting with my math student while she is taking her Iowa Test of Basic Skills Math test. This is the student that threw tantrums and cried and carried on when coming to school at the beginning of the year--all because of a severe anxiety about math. She came in with a smile on her face this morning even though she knew she would be taking this portion of the test. What progress! I'm sure she won't test up to grade level-- in fact I'll be happy if she tests at a 4th or 5th grade level even though she's a 7th grader. The progress is in her attitude about math and her lack of anxiety! Yayyy!