Maya's New Toy

So I think I have told you about Maya and her toys. She doesn't have anything nice to play with because she destroys everything, and quickly. Here's a little video of Maya getting a new toy. Oh and by the way, this toy is still fully intact!! Maybe she's outgrowing the shredding? Perhaps a new stuffed toy with squeaker as a test? Stay tuned...For now, here's her video.

Pumpkin Patch Fun 2010

Today was a beautiful, sunny day, and a hot one too! We decided to take advantage of the nice weather, and a free Sunday, and head to the pumpkin patch.

We went to this pumpkin patch a couple of years ago, and it was really nice, so we decided to go back today. There's all kinds of stuff for the kids to do-petting zoo, pony rides, train ride, hay ride, mining, a cornmaze, play areas, and lots and lots of pumpkins!

The boys enjoyed some mining for gems.

I enjoyed the gourds-lots and lots of them!

Oh, and the pumpkins! Lots and lots of pumpkins.

There was tree climbing...

And tree relaxing.

We measured the boys. Two years ago, Riley was just over 4 feet.

Quinn was just over 3 feet two years ago. He was quite impressed with his growth.

These are not our pumpkins, but I liked the look of them in the wagon.

Three boys riding the Joan Coach.

It was a very nice day, except that it was 88 degrees outside! Oh well, at least we didn't freeze. We came home and finished watching the Giants and Braves game. These games really are very good. The Giants came out on top this evening, and are now ahead in the series. Anything can happen though as those Braves know how to battle! In fact, they were behind by 4 in Friday's game, and were able to come back and WIN the game. It was a great game.

To see the rest of our pumpkin patch pictures, CLICK HERE.

Did you miss me yesterday? Yeah, I was asleep on the couch. Just when I thought things were getting better at school, all hell broke lose today. It started with my EL girl. She was howling and hanging onto her mother for dear life this morning. She did NOT want to come into the classroom. I feel bad for her. It's got to be so hard, not knowing what anybody is saying. She's been very happy, pointing at pictures in books for me to identify, smiling, trying to say things in English. She's very cute. I am not sure what happened today, but her mom could not get her inside. I called the office for assistance, and our secretary came down. It took two of us to get her inside the classroom. She is very strong. I am so thankful that her mom, willingly, handed her over, and simply walked away. She didn't try to hang around. Once we had her, the mom left. Between us, we got her just inside the classroom, and my secretary closed the door. I thought my student might try to leave. She didn't. She sat and cried. I sat with her for a little while, while the other 26 kids did who knows what? I wanted to cry too. I could feel her pain. I rubbed her back and spoke to her, then I let her be. I had to as 26 kids were on their own. She sat and cried for about an hour, then I went back and helped her to her feet, and to her desk. She was fine, all smiles after that. At least SHE was happy and content. Everyone else (well except for my 8 good seeds) fell apart after that. They can't listen. They can't sit. They sharpen their pencils non-stop. They talk talk talk. They complain about each other. They are bleeding. They have to pee. They want to go home. All of this makes for one tired, cranky girl. It was good to get home.

Today is Quinn's Thursday Folder day. This was the comment his teacher wrote in his folder today. See yesterday Quinn and I were watching the news. The story came on, a horrible story, about an 8 year old Fresno girl who had been kidnapped the day before. A good samaritan saw the story on the news, and saw the suspect's vehicle on TV. Then this guy is walking outside, and he sees the man's vehicle, driving by. This guy gets in his car and goes after the guy. He cuts him off twice, has words with the guy, and when a little girl's head pops up, he took action, cutting him off. The guy pushed the little girl out of the car. She's safe, and home, thankfully. The guy has been arrested. Anyway, so Quinn is watching and he says, about the good samaritan, "It's a good thing that guy wasn't apathetic." Apathetic is one of his spelling words this week. I was impressed that he used it correctly. I sent a private facebook message to his teacher, and today, this was the message in his Thursday Folder. Too funny huh?

After my crummy day, I went to get a pedi. I now have Halloween toes with spider webs and FAKE spiders. I am sure my students will talk non-stop about my toes tomorrow. Perhaps I should wear socks?

The Giants are playing the Braves tonight in game one of the playoffs. That's my rally rag! Go Giants (sorry Teri). It's a good game-still going on. The teams seem evenly matched. Should be a good series of games.

Very Random Tuesday Stuff

I didn't get around to blogging yesterday. It was a crazy busy day, and I fell asleep super early on the couch, then woke up and went to bed at 11:30 pm. I'm still tired today, and I can't seem to shake this headache. I've been dizzy in the mornings for awhile, and my ears have felt very stuffy. My ears feel more clear now, and I am less dizzy, but this headache is really bugging me. I think it's been 4 days. I pick up my new glasses tomorrow, and I'm thinking maybe that's why I am having headaches-because maybe the change in eyesight is giving me headaches. Perhaps I am just dead tired. Each day is a struggle at school. I got a new student on Friday, and she's the toughest one yet! Defiant and ALL OVER the place. The one plus is that her behavior is causing my other "superstars" to stop their annoying behaviors and stare at her like she has two heads. It's an interesting dynamic. Anyway, here are some completely random pictures from today and yesterday, in between my sleeping on the couch.

Here's an action shot of Quinn, during his game tonight. Doesn't he look like a soccer star? Go Barcelona-that's the name of Quinn's soccer team.

When Quinn and I got home from school today, we found Matilda sprawled out across Kevin's car, sound asleep. She woke up when she heard us pull into the driveway. She rolled all around on her back, looking cute.

I had another great mail day yesterday! I got all of these goodies from my friend Noelle, and her daughter, in Maryland! Cool huh? I thought so too!

I made a bracelet yesterday too. I used a recycled watchband. I'm very happy with it. I have two more bands, but they are thicker, and I am struggling with figuring out the ends, and how to connect to something in the middle. I'll work it out though.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America chooses THIS pumpkin.

I made my own cinnamon toasted almonds last night. I used a recipe from allrecipes.com.

They are ok. Not nearly as good as the ballpark almonds, but ok. Next time I'm going to try the recipe with brown sugar. I love brown sugar. Yum.

Giants and Pumpkins

The Giants won today. I am very happy that they get to go to the playoffs, and that they won their division. I just wish they had done it yesterday. Oh well, at least they won. We are all still thinking about yesterday's game, and all of the fun we had. Here are a few pictures that Kevin took of the boys, when they got to go onto the field, pre-game.

Walking into the packed stadium. I'm over there, on the left hand side, way up high, section 318. Can you see me? I'm the one wearing orange and black.

Two cool scouts and a whole lot of Giants fans.

Kevin and the boys were the last group that entered the stadium, but that meant the first out, and to their seats! Here it looks like they were assembling for the National Anthem.

There was a soprano who sang the National Anthem. She was REALLY good.

I put my pumpkins out today! I have over 100 of them.

More pumpkins-see the fabric yo-yo pumpkin? I just got that one. It's so cute.

These three are my most favorite pumpkins.

Jack-o-Lanterns! I love Halloween.

I went with my mom, her friend Janey, and my dad to the Alameda Antique Fair today. It's HUGE! They have it once a month-the first Sunday of each month, at the Alameda Naval Base. Being on the base brought back lots of memories as my dad is retired Navy, and he was stationed there. We used to go there a lot, and I especially remember going to pick him up after he had been at sea for 6-9 months. There's also an amazing view of San Francisco, right across the bay...

The antique fair is held outside, on the Naval Air Strip. Don't worry though, because this base is closed so we didn't have to worry about planes landing on us. It's an awesome view though. I would have gotten closer, to avoid all of that ugly ground, but there were two guys in a truck, and nobody around forever, so I got freaked out and didn't go very far.

We got to go to a Giants game today! It was Scout day at AT&T Park. We've had the tickets forever, and what a great weekend to go. The giants are one win away from winning a spot in the play0ffs (and their division championship). It would have been great to see them win that today, but they lost. Oh well, we still had a TON of fun! It was a beautiful day too!

AT&T Park, from across McCovey Cove.

The giant baseball glove-it's a replica of a vintage four-fingered glove. It's made out of steel and fiber glass.

Quinn and Riley, before they lined up to walk on the field, with the Scouts, as part of the pre-game show.

They gave away a house, and after the winner was declared, there was a balloon release.

Up, up and away!

It's just too bad that our view sucked. Seriously, look at that view! The bay on such a beautiful, clear, warm day! The field is pretty too!

The giant coke bottle and giant glove, and a sea of orange. There are two slides inside the Coke bottle. Quinn went down three times!

Quinn waves his rally rag!

A sea of orange!

Look at the view from the other side of the ballpark! That's the Bay Bridge.

Quinn on the seal statue outside of the park. I love how the seal is balancing a baseball on his nose.

Kevin and the boys and Willie McCovey.

We had such a great great time at the game today. The Giants play the Padres again tomorrow, and hopefully they'll win! Go Giants!

To see the rest of our pictures, CLICK HERE.

Finally Thursday!

Today was the last of my busy days-at least for this week. I've had a staff meeting, awards ceremony, a math meeting, scouting events, and today, a dentist appointment. I am looking forward to tomorrow, Friday, ahhhhhhh. If I can get through my day without losing my mind, it will be even better. We are going someplace super cool on Saturday. Details to follow.

I got my fabric order from Fabricworm. They are all flannel, except for the material in the front, with the blue bird. I LOVE them. I am not sure what I plan on doing with them, but they are yummy. Actually, the new edition of Stitch has a really cool pattern for square ottoman covers. I have two of those ottomans, and I'd like to personalize them.

Here's my smiling boy. Look at the giant drinks they serve at Boston Market. It's virtually a bathtub! It was also handy that he chose a drink that matches his shirt.

This is what Riley is reading right now. Have you read it? It's a REALLY really good book. He is liking it. It's a young adult book (9th-11th grade), but it's written in such an interesting way, and it tells a great story. If you get the chance, read it.

I ventured out this evening and got these folders to add to my Justin Bieber folders. I do have little girls who love JB, so sending one of his folders home, when they forget their own, defeats my purpose. I am on the search for more horrible looking folders-I don't think these are bad at all, but I am hoping the 6 and 7 year old girls will think they are horrible-at least until I can find folders that are worse. I sent a JB home with one of my girls today. She wasn't happy. Hopefully that means she will remember her folder next time, like tomorrow. When I asked her why she didn't have her homework, she said she had a headache last night. I have a headache tonight, does that exempt me from all of the correcting I still have to do? Welcome to my world.

Have a great Friday!