Pre-Trip Prep

Today dawned sunny and warm. After yesterday's rain which pinned us inside we headed out this morning for a run. We were not disappointed by wildlife. We were however camera less so you people get nothing, but we spotted two bunnies. A big hit for the girls who have heard me talk about seeing bunnies along the path and kept lamenting about why they never see any (could be the singing they do as we hum along). So needless to say two was a big hit. Plus we were able to catch numerous duck sightings. Chloe also established herself as coach today and announced we should run 6 today. I agreed but forgot about a pretty steep hill between the 3 and 3 1/2.

Tomorrow we are venturing off the Maine to visit Grammie Eva, or as Lexa likes to call her "Grammie over the ocean", for a few days. This required a few things in preparation. It is a seven to eight hour drive. So we stock up on movies for the portable DVD player. A little device I picked up for free with credit card points, and let me just stop right here and praise the inventors of such a little god send. It must have been a woman traveling great distances with children all on her own too. My kids get to watch one night of videos a week- period. But for this road trip it will be one after another. Whatever leaves me in peace is my motto. Take a look at this:

You are all seeping with jealousy I know. I actually am able to tune it out- I am quite proud of that talent.

I also bathed the dog for the trip. Nothing like eight hours trapped in the car with Mr. Stinky.

Cabbie always feels it is important to beat up your towel after your bath. It is best to work the indignities out one way or another.

Just to wet your appetites this is where we are headed:

Chickens Again

I made a discovery. There are chickens in my neighborhood. I was sitting on the deck sipping coffee and I heard the unmistakable clucking. After exploring I was able to identify the house through the bushes at the back of the yard. Yes, we are now a chicken integrated neighborhood.

It seems that this summer is the summer of chickens. I find them every where as of late. In fact the day I posted my entry about the seemingly endless hours I was trapped at Shelburne Farms with my own daughter lugging chickens around. The featured blog of note was titled the chicken lady. It was about a woman in California who raises chickens in the yard of her rental house. She even showed pictures of the chickens walking in the house. She listed off all the reasons she just had to have chickens. I don't get this.

My sister wants to get chicken too. I can not fathom this. Why I asked why chickens? "Because of the eggs," she said. She is not the only one to say this either. This seems obvious to you chicken fans. I am wondering is there some kind of egg shortage I am unaware of? Because my local grocery store seems well stocked. All I do is open the door to the refrigerator and lift the lid to check for broken shells.

I don't feed them, build housing for them, listen to them, or- most importantly- I do not need to touch them with their freaky flapping wings coming at me. I just pay the cashier and off I go. I just do not understand the desire to deal with all that for a couple of eggs. Plus I think the things are a bit carnivorous. While we were trapped in the Shelburne Farm chicken coop the kids were collecting the eggs. One little girl dropped an egg and it smashed on the floor. These chickens rushed at the broken egg pecking each other and eating it! I was horrified! This did not raise my opinion of the things at all. I'll take my eggs chilled on cardboard thank you.

The Deck is Re-Done

I spent my morning painting the deck railing! I stained the floor last week, but needed some time while the girls were with their dad to get the railing done. I am happy to say that while it clouded over and looked rather menacing a few times- IT DID NOT RAIN ON ME! Hooray. That feels like some kind of a record. I might be approaching compitent every now and then. I did notice the dog might have a few more white patches than he did before.

So, now we are enjoying being able to eat out on the deck and enjoying our view.

I have to say I really like how it came out. I was just about giddy with excitement over it. I went to Lowes to pick up a few more plants for the front of the house and I found myself bordering on bubbly with the people there. That is because I am truly pathetic and this is a highlight in my day. Possibly my week- we will see how things go from here.

What do you think?

Bike Bells on the Bike Path

I run a lot of miles on the bike path. I ran seven this morning and was reminded of an occurrence that I don't quite understand. Why are adults buying and using bike bells and horns? Is it just me or is this one of those things that really is not meant for those of us over the age of 8?


Today was a particularly ding ding day. Meaning as I am running along and astonishing number of times a biker came up behind me to pass. Instead of just going by me on the left (my preferred method- I can here you pedaling people), or saying, "passing on your left" or a version there of. These people ring a bike bell! I am not kidding you! Adults! It is crazy. Why do you have a bell on your bike? It is ridiculous!

The worst time this ever happened to me was back in April. I was running my last 20 mile run in preparation for the marathon. I had been running in the steady rain since mile 6. At mile 14 the skies opened up and I had to run through a torrential down pour, and then at mile 15 the thunder and lightening started. The bike path flooded in parts. It was crazy. I have never run through such horrible weather. I was praying that I would survive. And then at around mile 18 it stopped raining, things calmed down, and the storm passed as quickly as it started. I tell this story because as I slogged along for those final few miles soaked to the skin. I was passed by some bikers. Nice dry bikers who obviously found shelter from the storm. All four of them. They each rang their bell as they passed me. All four of them. I wanted to push them off their bikes. All four of them.

Today, a grown woman biking in the opposite direction approach a turn along the path. She honked her bike horn before the turn and then again at the next one! Her bike horn! Seriously! Why? Just stay on the right side and turn the corner. It is a bike path. It is quiet, serene, and peaceful. Or at least it was until you started honking horns at every turn.

It is the strangest fad I have ever seen and I hope it quickly runs its course. Although it seems like more are buying them not less.

Flower Planting and Backyard Swimming

I decided that since the painters really appear to be nearly done, maybe when they say they will finish on Monday; it really will be Monday. I gotta believe that they want the final check at some point. Plus they can't possibly want to store all their ladders and stuff in my yard forever right? Anyhow, I optimistically decided we could plant some of our annual flower gardens and planters. I didn't bother with the window boxes on the front yet since that is the part they need to finish.

The girls each planted seeds in their gardens back in April. Some of the stuff has come up, but others haven't made an appearance. So we picked out some new plants to add. Chloe talks to her plants while she plants them. She says they tell her where to plant them. Then she stretches their roots out and puts them in the hole patting them and saying, "Doesn't that feel better? Now you can stretch out." It is pretty funny. Alexa wants to copy her sister, but is more tentative. Then there is the added feature about Alexa not liking to get dirty. Here is the finished product.

Chloe's:

Alexa's:

It was getting pretty warm by the time we finished up. So I dug the pool out for them to fill and swim in after lunch. It amazes me that they will jump into this this. It is water fresh from the hose.

How many kids and inflatable toys can you fit in a small pool?

This is our newest invention. We are calling it Cabbie the weed eating dog. We pulled the weeds out; he carried them off and ate them. I can't explain him.

Fish poop and duck droppings

We spent a gorgeous 88 degree day (really hot for Vermont people) at the beach. We met my friend Alyssa and her two boys Brady (3 years) and Eli (3 months) at 10 AM just as the gates to the Sand Bar State Park opened. There was actually a line to get in- a testament to the fact that in a spring that has been extremely chilly and rainy people could not wait to jump into summer. It was a wonderful day. You would think with two parents there bringing an entire cart of stuff one of us could have remembered a camera. But nope- so you are all out of luck. I will just tell you everyone was cute as a button and repeatedly slathered in sunscreen.

I do enjoy being at the beach with my children. Except for all the sand (it is always stuck all over everything) and the lake water. I mean there are all these plants growing in it...plus the fish. Tons of little minnows swimming around your toes. That means you are standing right where they are eating... and peeing. Not to mention the ducks and sea gulls. I stood in the water and watched a sea gull fly overhead and plop right in the water next to me falls poo. I stared as it spread out through the water and looked over to see me own child joyfully dump a bucket of water down her front. Not a pretty connection I tell you. No it isn't easy being me. There is a reason I carry disinfecting gel everywhere I go.

I braved it though! I waded out with the kids. It even got so hot that I dove in. I pushed all unpleasant poo thoughts out of my head. I never gave it a second thought either. OK, well not much of one. Until I got home and took my suit off a pealed a long piece of plant off my torso. Ick, wonder where that has been.

We are gonna be up to our necks in feathers in a minute here

The girls and I headed out today for a four mile run on the bike path. I got the idea that it would be funny to have Chloe take pictures of what it looks like from thier prespective while we run. It also shows some of you out in the West exactly what it looks like to run on a path running along Lake Champlain. It is, to say the least, a beautiful place to be able to run. Just to give a clear understanding for those who have never been, we run a mile west from my house to the path itself. Once we get there we can go north or south following the path. The Burlington section of the path runs seven miles. At the northern end you can cross a bridge and continue into Colchester on their bike path. This is how I get my 20 mile training runs in for marathons. The girls and I typically head south. It passes a few places along the way with good duck viewing and potential bathroom stops should anyone need it.

Here are some of the pictures that Chloe took as we trucked along.

After finishing we stuck around Waterfront Park playing at the lake. We were approached by a few ducks while the girls were playing with sticks. I had stashed two pieces of bread in the jogger for them to feed to the ducks. We were very quickly invaded by the always aggressive sea gulls. At this point Chloe said to me, "In a minute we are going to be up to our necks in feathers here!"

You can see we even saw some of the newest arrivals to the lake, ducklings! Always a big hit.

In the end we had played so long that it was getting quite hot and close to lunch time. I requested that everyone walk up Depot Street hill today. Alexa was walking any way others were less willing, but complied. I took a picture at the top of the hill down as Alexa and I waited for Chloe. She was walking extremely slowly until I said, "Who wants to get back in?" At which point she broke into a run.

See Monday meant Tuesday

Things that I should be thankful for: one is that my house only has four sides so that means (since three are done) sooner or later these people have to be done with the month long project that has been painting my house. The painters arrived today after telling me on Friday they would be here on Monday. It was also about ten o'clock so I had the girls out playing in the yard and had begun the task of staining the deck. I figured since they are working on the front I would satin the deck only if they didn't show up today. That way I could still use the front door. I ended up staining all but a path down the middle so we could still enter and exit through the back door. I finished it tonight- after wrestling someone's Siamese cat off the deck four times, but that is another story all together.

So the girls and I headed to the library today. We were going to go there anyway, but we just made it more of an extended stay. Chloe is enrolled in the summer reading program through the library again this year. She was very excited to do it again- they read each week and go in to have their log checked and get to pick from a prize bin.

Chloe had always loved books. They are for her a complete salvation from any mood she is in and always have been. She was engrossed in books at three months of age and people would stop and tell me they had never seen so young a baby to animated at listening to a story. I could make her stop crying just by started to recite the story Owl Babies, "Once there were three baby owls..." I'll spare you all the rest.

One of the most amazing things about Chloe this summer is that part of her reading log includes books she is reading to me. She has been so proud to tell people that she reads at a first grade level. She told all the nurses at the hospital when we were there for her tests. " I am in kindergarten, but I read at a first grade level. " I told them we would work on spelling humble next. She was so proud of her report card and was determined that she was going to work this summer to amaze her first grade teacher with how well she reads. So we have been checking out "I can Read Books" for her to read to me She is really proud of herself. It is amazing to me to sit and listen to her read. She needs help with some words, but it also amazes me some of the words she gets all on her own. Yesterday she read the word "followed" to me. I couldn't believe she got it right off. It is really wonderful to watch her grow.

Now, the painter left today saying he would be here Wednesday and Thursday and that should be it. Has anyone unlocked the code to figure out which days that will really be? I could use some help planning my day.

Shelburne Farms

The painters said they would be here on Monday to work on the front. I guess I assumed that meant this Monday and planned to have the girls out- lead paint dust and all. We returned home to find that no one had been here. We had a fun day though and of course Shelburne Farms means chickens. Ah yes the chickens...

Some of us are more fond than others.

Some of us prefer the fake ones,

or the fuzzy animals.

Some just stick with the chickens.

Let's Talk about Pajamas Shall We?

OK now I feel I should begin this by saying I am not a prudish person. At least I don't think I am, but there is a trend in the fashion industry that is beginning to make me wonder. I noticed that all of Chloe's summer pajamas (yes, here in the great north we have summer pajamas and winter pajamas- made of fleece lots and lots of fleece) were getting rather small. I thought well we shall just pop out and pick out some new ones. Now see that was were innocent little me was unaware of the fashion industry considered my sweet little girl to be a 25 year old seductress.

I was shocked... disgusted... and then back to shocked again. I became one of those women who wonder around the clothes racks clucking her tongue, shaking her head, and muttering. Seriously people she is six! I am looking for puppies, kitties, flowers, penguins. Who is making these lacy, spaghetti strapped, plunging necklines in a size 6X? And better yet who is buying it?

Three stores and racks of clothes later I came away with two night gowns one Hello Kitty, one Little Mermaid- complete with slippers and a magic wand (it seems not to work I tried tapping my head and muttering there is no place like home a few times and nothing), and a shorts/tank top combo with a white cat. I cannot believe the effort it takes to buy little girls clothes for little girls. If it is in a size 6X or 7 people it is for a 6- 8 year old girl. That is anywhere from grades 1-3 just to connect that for people who are unaware.


What is wrong with these people who make and sell these products? Moreover what is wrong with the people who are buying it? As any one who has ever spent anytime teaching adolescent girls will tell you, you do not want to teach them that this is how they should identify themselves.

This sexually suggestive thing seems to be only directed at little girls. I looked at the boys stuff: trucks, construction equipment, sports. There were some with pictures of wrestlers. Personally I can not imagine encouraging your child to view these people as role models. Hey, we would like to to grow up and pretend to beat up other men (while dressed in a pair of nylon tights) and hang around with scantily clad women who appear to have the IQ of a gnat. But I have digressed. My point is that while the PJ's may have had pictures of wrestlers on them . They were not the wrestling attire itself. You don't see anyone buying Johnny I nice pair of tights to sleep in. Nope just the girls get the rock star knock offs.

I am afraid of back to school shopping this year.

Big Runner, Little Runner

We covered four miles this morning with the jogger. I really had to talk myself into four. I looked wistfully at the turn point for the three on the way by, but managed to push myself to the four. I felt tired at the start for no particular reason today so it was an effort to just get everyone out there. It was a good morning to run though- cool and cloudy. We played at Waterfront Park after climbing on rocks, looking at fish and ducks, and swinging on the big bench swings (one of our all time favorites).

I always finish my runs with the girls at the park for two reasons. One they like to get out and play after all the sitting, and two because I can walk the last mile home instead of running it. The last mile includes going up Depot Street hill which is one heck of a climb. When I run solo I consider it part of my training to run up it, but pushing them I can not do. This year I actually make Chloe walk up the hill- oh yeah it is huge hit with her. Today though Alexa wanted to run. She ran/walked all the way up. She was so cute! She also ran most of the way up North Street too! I think she easily covered over 1/2 a mile. She was so proud of herself. She said she was all sweaty and needed a shower when she got home just like mommy!

Later we did more bike practice at the Park and Alexa tried out her roller skates. You can see today I managed to get a picture of Chloe with the bike. We got some good practice runs in with out any panic/ screaming attacks. So it was a great improvement. She even balanced for a little bit. She is going to be great.

Alexa on her fancy roller skates.

See the bike is a much better fit!

Play time at the park.

The Many Faces of Friday

So here we have me on the first Friday of my first week of vacation. I thought I would feel more rested. I really did. Given the old phrase a picture is worth a thousand words I will show you some pictures and try to limit my words. I will begin by noting my day started with an 8 AM call that dinner with daddy was canceled for tonight. So my run solo was not to be, and as things began to unfold so was any run. Because people, sometimes the mom thing can take it out of you.

Event number one: the painters were back today to finish the back. They have been a little spotty as of late. I can never really get the schedule down. So yep they were knocking at the door early this morning. I was still in my jammies. Sigh. However this is the finished back! Yah Hoo! That means I can do the deck myself (note all of my friends are now about to become instantly unavailable. You know the ones who said sure we could help you paint the deck. Yeah you know who you are...) So this is all very exciting and hopefully soon I can move all the deck furniture out of the shed and on the deck. It is all still piled in there from the winter storage and if I crack my head on the table leg one more time trying to get the lawn mower out. I am afraid I will have done permanent damage.

Event number two. Chloe was too big for her old bike. So she picked out this.

It involved these. Sigh.

And me trying to put on the training wheels which I never could get on tight. So I decided to work with her on riding without. Sigh. If you know Chloe you already know about the screams, refusals, and dramatics that went along with that little endeavor. I however stuffed her on (literally picked her up and sat her on) and sent her around the path at the park three times. By the end she was giggling. I told her we would practice every day, and she would get it. Just like last summer when I taught her how to pump a swing, and she screamed that I was trying to kill her. She was going to fall and die and I was horribly mean. And then learned to do it and now is swinging away. Really people you have no idea. All this should explain why there is no picture of the child on the bike. Because after the struggle I was worn out.

It ended as Friday's do around here with movie night. The only night my children can watch TV. They each pick a video and I pop popcorn. We do it up. See, it all ended well.

Tomorrow we bike again. I shall begin my meditation now. I should also mention Marty (dear, sweet woman that she is) volunteered to work on bike riding with Chloe. Others? Yeah, just what I thought.

Running in the rain...again

Six miles in the rain...again. Since the last few training runs leading up to the last marathon, the marathon itself, and beyond, I seem to be running in the rain. It isn't the worst weather condition to run in. Snow is worse. Only because the footing is harder. Running in a couple of inches of snow is like running in beach sand. And if you hit a spot with ice under it look out because you are going down. But rain certainly can take it out of you.


I will say it wasn't raining when I left the house. That is harder, walking out the front door into the down pour. It is better to be few miles out when it starts. It isn't like staying dry will be an option, so you might as well keep going.


I had the surprise perk of the girls having dinner with their dad tonight too. So I didn't have to cover the distance pushing the jogger. I don't have a rain cover for this jogger. So if it raining at any kind of a steady rate we don't go. Way back in the one kid days my jogger did have a rain cover. That was a new one given as a baby shower gift. To think I use to think that was heavy. Ha! One little 6 month old. What a wimp I was!


Tomorrow looks like a forecast of morning showers. The girls are suppose to have another dinner night with dad. So maybe I can get another solo run in before the weekend. He canceled for the weekend so it looks like I will be plowing through the crowded weekend bike path with my partners. I will say people do usually give you a wide berth!

You Gotta Grab the Sunny Days

I am hoping that when the real start to summer happens the sun begins to shine more than just every fifth day. Today was the only day forecast for sometime with out rain. So we decided to pack in all the outdoor things we could into our day. We headed out for the beach. I like to take the girls to a state park called Sand Bar. It is about a 25 minute drive from our house. The sandy beach and very shallow water; plus the abundance of trees providing shade over the sand. Make it a great place to go with kids. State Parks around here conduct water tests every day to make sure the water is safe to swim in. The problem can be the excess of certain molds. Due to the heavy rain this spring it is a large problem. As the girls and I discovered this morning when we arrived at the Park to find it closed for swimming. You can imagine the idea of two children playing on a beach, but not being allowed to enter the water is not a very appealing option.

We were directed to Knights Point. Another state park about seven miles further up the road. It is smaller and the sand it not as nice, but it had the excellent feature of safe swimming water. We played here for about three hours. Although the temperature did hit 80 the wind coming off the lake was pretty intense. The girls had fun though- Alexa retreated from time to time to wrap in a towel, snack, and warm up. Chloe took to the 59 degree water just fine, and, of course, made an new friend.

Who wouldn't want a ducky floatie?

Peanut butter sandwich anyone?

Chloe floating with her ducky.

Summer Vacation Day #1

Today was the first day that I ran with the jogger since last summer. Ugh. I requested that no one grow, but apparently THAT didn't happen. Sheesh. So here are my summer running partners. We covered four miles today, not bad. I always feel like the mile should count double when you are pushing this thing. It is definitely a challenge. I can only use one arm to run since I have to push with one as well. We enjoyed ourselves though. We went early and covered most of the distance on the bike path so there is no traffic to deal with.

The Last Day

I finished my last contract day today. It is always a mixed feeling. As all teachers know, I'm not really done. I am only done with working with in the confines of the schedule. I am moving classrooms. So after the custodial staff gets the cleaning done, I will have to go in early in August and shift things from one room to another. I will have to ready the summer letter to students to be mailed with the summer mailing. I will go in to check the supplies I ordered for next year and to set up my classroom. I will also need to meet with my teammate and grade level over the summer to plan out what we will teach and when.

It will look a little different next year as Joyce and I are loosing our other teammate Paul. He is being shifted up to the middle school. We are all really sad about that. He is one of my few guy friends. He is married to my good friend Alyssa. Alexa and his son Brady are only a few months apart, and we all enjoy hanging out. I loved having him teach next door to me. We get along really well. I will still work closely with some great people. It isn't the same as popping next door and laughing over something or venting about an issue.

We will all adjust as is always the case with these things, and we will make it work. In this day and age with so many good teachers loosing their jobs due to budget cuts. We all need to be grateful for still being able to provide for our families and do something we enjoy.


Summer break is much needed to regain your emotional balance. This job can be very draining. You are involved very deeply with families. Some are wonderful to work with and some have so much hurt and pain in them; it can drain your energy to be in it daily.

You know... the thingy

I will be the first to admit that home repair is not my thing. I have almost non-existent mechanical abilities. I would love for other people to fix any amount of things for me. That said when things break in my house the only other occupants are 3 and 6. Thus by default making me the most qualified. So I simply hope a lot for things not to break. You might be surprised to know that doesn't always work out. I know I myself was shocked to learn that I don't always get what I hope for.

I went out to breakfast this morning with my friend Alyssa. We like to make a mad escape every now and then where we don't have to talk over small children. After our breakfast I went out for a 7 mile run. It was around noon so it was pretty hot and sunny. I dove in the shower when I got home. It was at that point that I became aware of my latest maintenance problem. I was standing in about three inches of water by the end of the shower. I appears the thingying that lets the water drain would not stay in is correct down position to allow for said water to drain. Now since I am using such highly technical terms you lay people might not be able to recognize what the thingy is. So I photographed it for you (and yes I did note the need for further tub cleaning as I did so).

So you see it should stay down all on its own, but it doesn't. So here we go. I feel I rather ingeniously solved the problem. I ran a wire behind the lever and held it up that way. TA DA! Instant tub drainage... at least for now.

Until I can get someone who will actually know how to fix it over to. Cherie, you might as well show Micheal this now because we all now the next time you guys come to visit it is on the list (my brother-in-law loves me to bits).

The accidental run

I set out to run 5 this morning and accidentally ran 6. I can already hear my sister Cherie snorting with laughter over that sentence, but it is true. I sort of forgot which route was 5 and which was 6. Its been awhile since I ran those distances. At the end of my race training my shortest distance was 10. I didn't realize it until I finished and was looking at my time. I was confounded has to how it had taken me so long. The good news is the 7 I was planning for tomorrow shouldn't too bad at this point.

I am already toying with what comes next. It is too early to say if I will run a fall marathon. At this point I will need to see how many long runs I can get in over the summer. The furthest I could take the jogger last summer was 6 miles. That was about the maximum for both the girls and I. Not sure that this summer would be any different. Could be less depending on how much heavier they are. My jogger is an old second hand one. I am sure they make better ones that roll and handle better, but it was free. I would love to get Chloe better at biking so she could ride her bike with me. Right now though I doubt she would willingly give up a seat to ride. She is a bit of a couch potato.

Flowers and the beauty of sarcasm

So I got to work today and readied myself for the 7:55 onslaught that results from the ever so charming announcement of, "All students please report to your classrooms." Now today is special, different, unique.. you get the idea... today is the last day of school (for students). Which means they hit the classroom door with more than a little gusto. It also means that some of them arrive bearing presents. This is always a sweet gesture from parents and children to say thank you for all the effort you put in to the job of teaching their child. Some children, of course, require a little more effort than others.

Now one of my students, a sixth grade boy, arrived carrying flowers. He thrust the bouquet at me and announced, "Here Ms. Galyean, it wasn't my idea."

I should pause here and tell you that for those of you who don't know me, (can't imagine why you would read this if you don't, but I digress) I am a sarcastic wise ass. My students know this and, quite frankly, it is part of my classroom management. It keeps their attention and keeps them on their toes. That said I could not let this moment pass by. I placed my hand on my heart, closed my eyes, and said, "Well, let me just take a moment to let those heart felt words sink in. Be still my heart with the overwhelming joy that has been our two years together." We went on to have what I affectionately call our teachable moments where I give them pointers on etiquette. Oh yeah they love that stuff- you can just imagine.

The day did progress rather uneventfully. Leaving me with a little energy when I got home for a short run. I decided to stop at the end and sit on the rocks at Waterfront Park and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine. I haven't run much over the last few weeks. Just a few miles here and there. That is pretty normal for me after a race. I cut it back quite a bit. I have run enough marathons to know that even though my sore muscles go away; I still have deep tissue healing to do. I will begin my regular running this weekend.

With next week being the first week of summer vacation it also means running with the jogger. Summer means almost full time parenting for me 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In order to get a run in I need to use my double jogger. I mentioned this to the girls a few days a ago. I asked Chloe if she made sure not to grow at all so I wouldn't have to push anymore weight this year. She looked at me and said, "Mommy that's sarcasm."

Ah maybe.

Last day of Kindergarten

Today was Chloe's last day of kindergarten! She becomes a first grader from this point on! We celebrated an excellent report card with an impromptu movie night complete with popcorn! I should point out mommy still has students for one more day tomorrow. We had a snow day this winter when her school did not- ah- paying for that now I tell you.

So her is our girl all set to go off to her last day of kindergarten!

And not to be out done here is Alexa. She is off to her last full time slot at day care. She will attend preschool two days a week next year and Linda's three. And yes, that is a cup of coffee she is clutching. It helps pep her up in the mornings. I'm KIDDING- she was helping mommy out- sweetie pie that she is. I took Chloe out to get presents for her teachers yesterday. Alexa picked out some pink flowers for Linda too. Alexa said, "I will miss my Linda. She gives the best hugs." AW!

Temporary Fame

There is one brief period of time in the year where if I squint just right I can almost imagine what it would be like to be famous. My school mails letters home towards the end of each school year letting kids know who their teacher will be next year. This year they mailed them home last Thursday which means kids received them over the weekend. For the last few days I have been walking through the halls so whispers of , "I think that's her.... That's Ms. Galyean..." Every time I pass a 4th grade class.

I have to admit it is kind of cool. I mean when else do people get excited to see me? On the other hand it puts me at a decided disadvantage as I really have not a clue who they are. I have seen the list and all, but the names don't mean anything. And trust me if the names do mean something. It isn't usually in a good way. It is usually in an oh-please-don't-let-me-get-that-one way. I have taken to calling them all sweetie, so they don't get sad that I don't know them.

Still it is cool though. You know, I am a public school teacher, so I have to enjoy the small things. There is only so much joy you can find in the recycled art projects they make you in art class. Trust me- no matter what they do to it- a toilet paper tube is still a toilet paper tube. And
you better just pray those art teachers pull that unit out in May, or your stuck with that thing cluttering up you classroom for months!

A New Way to Run

I may have stumbled upon a new way to approach running. At dinner tonight I asked my usual question of the girls, "What was the best part of your day."

Chloe: "I can tell you my worst part."

Me: "Oh? What was the worst part?"

Chloe: "Gym class."

Me: "Why?"

Chloe: "We had to run around the big field nine and a half times! I hated it."

Me: "That is a long way to run. Did anybody not make it?"

Chloe: "I am always last.... but sometimes I pretend I am first, and they are all following me instead!"

See it is all about perspective!

Did you know...

that teachers count down as much as the kids to summer vacation? I have four teaching days left and one in service day. Normally the in service days feel about twenty times longer than an actual teaching day but not this time of year.

I also don't know if people are aware of accuracy of your average classroom teacher in knowing the phases of the moon- without a calendar. It is something that I myself am able to do almost flawlessly. Those sceptics who don't believe that the moon phases can impact a person, has never spent a day running a classroom full of 21 whacked out bodies. Oh it has an effect. An effect that has my students pointing out, "She is going for the Tylenol again..."

I mention these two things: this being the last week of school and last night being a full moon, to make a request. If you know a teacher who just worked through this cosmically aligned day. Hug them, rub their back, make them dinner, feed them chocolate, lots of chocolate... cause people you just have no idea.

Floods

I started out thinking that I would write this yesterday, but the news about Marty was first in my brain and pressing on my heart. This story is directed at my sisters- as they will be the first to understand why this is so funny. I am including a piece of writing that I did back in 1998 when I participated in The New Mexico State Writing Project at NMSU. It was published in the anthology from the course which means about 15 people (including me) actually have a copy. Which looking at it all these years later I can find about ten editing errors in it now- ah well. I hope that it will help any one else who reads this grasp how funny genetics can be.

A few days ago I went up to check on my daughter Chloe who was playing in her room. She was sitting on the floor and she had about fifteen stuffed animals sitting on the small throw rug on her floor (the rest of her floor in hard wood). I asked why all the animals were on the rug. Her response, "There was a big flood and they are using this as a boat to travel down the river."

The following is the piece that I wrote in 1998 at NMSU:

Barbie and the Flash Flood

Barbie was the single most important toy in my sisters and my young lives. It drove my mother nuts sometimes, but she also fed our addiction. She once built us a Barbie house. House, that really isn't an accurate description, mansion is really a better word for it. She had my dad bring home an immense refrigerator box, turned it on it's side, cut off one panel and inserted various cardboard slats to break it into two floors and about eight rooms. Mom took wallpaper scraps and carpet remnants and create a Barbie house suitable to be seen in any Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. My sisters and I promptly arranged our inflatable Barbie furniture in various rooms and created hours of fun and excitement.

We would always base our play around a theme. One of our favorite story lines was the flash flood. The flash flood involved us imagining a huge wall of water suddenly striking the house. Barbie and company were forced to face torrential rains and horrid whitewater by rafting down the river on their inflatable furniture. We would tie all the furniture together and make one huge raft. It was awesome, Barbie was a real survivalist.

We would spend hours in our basement playroom dealing with our flood ravaged community. This would drive my mother to scream down, "That's it! You girls need to go outside and play, it is to beautiful to be inside."

So we would pack up Barbie and company and dig out our big metal Tonka trucks. Barbie would drive the truck into the backyard to go on a camping trip. Where upon she would set up camp and sleep in the back of the Tonka truck under the stars.

Now I know that in today's society Barbie is not viewed as a positive role model for young girls. In some circles there are people who would probably lecture me on all of the negative effects Barbie has on girls' self esteem and body image. But I really must disagree. Any woman who rafts a river on a piece of inflatable furniture, or handles a Tonka truck with such precision, is a true feminist in my book.

I can not tell you my urge to giggle when Chloe told me that her animal were escaping a flood. Oh the things we pass down to our children!

The Power of Positve Energy

I received some news today that has left me very sad. I decided to write about it with the hope that if enough people know and send good energy it will help. I have two amazing people who live next door to me. My neighbors Doug and Marty are old enough to be my parents. They are amazingly good to me. The first winter that I was on my own after my marriage ended we got this HUGE snow storm on Valentines Day. I mean it closed my school for three days! Chloe was four years old and Alexa was eleven months. That winter I had been shoveling my driveway out with Alexa in a backpack on my back. It was really hard work. That storm was so intense it would have taken me forever to open my driveway up. I think I counted three times that Doug came over with his snow blower to clear it. I never even had to ask he just did it.

The first time I ever went out on a date in ten years; Marty came over to babysit for me. She fussed over me and told me I looked beautiful. She gave me a total pep talk to get out the door. And now, of course, there is what they do for Chloe. Every morning they take Chloe into their house when I leave for work. She eats her breakfast, and then they do art projects together. Until it is time for school. Then they walk her to school. She has had the best year of school (preschool was so hard for her)and I know that it has a lot to do with the relaxed way she gets to start her day.

I was talking with Marty today as we so often do- over the backyard fence. I asked her is she was still willing to have Chloe over in the morning next year. I didn't want to presume. It is a huge commitment to have me at your door at 7 AM every morning. She mentioned that they love having Chloe in the morning, and she wants to do it forever. She said there was a small glitch. She went on to share that she has kidney disease. Marty's kidneys are failing. She is on the list for receiving a transplant. In classic Marty fashion she is more worried about who will take care of Chloe in the morning while she is recovering. She was adamant that it needs to be a very kind and loving person. I have no idea what I will do about that, but it is a problem that work out.

Marty is an amazingly kind person. She gives me regular pep talks. I can be talking to another neighbor and find out she has been talking about me and telling people that they just have to meet with me. She is like my own personal fan club. She is such a positive force in the world. I think they world needs to send Marty some good energy back.

A high heeled shoe

I own a pair of black sandals that have about a four and a half inch heel. I bought them in a rather depressed state about two years ago. Quite frankly sometimes you just need to go out and buy yourself a phenomenal pair of heels to put you right again. I think I might have worn them, maybe three times. It is one of the benefits of being divorced no one points out the number of shoes you own or complains that you only wore them three times. The last time I wore them was to my sister's wedding. It had the benefit of making me taller than my little sister which never happens.

These shoes spend most of their time on a shelf in my upstairs closet. They are known in our house as the bug killing shoes. About a year and a half ago this monstrosity of a bug was crawling down the hall. It had about 20 legs and long antenna. I have never seen anything like it before. The girls started screaming; I wanted to scream too. Instead I whipped open the closet door grabbed the nearest shoe (the black high heel) and squished it. From that moment on every bug is killed with the black high heel. Last night it was a big ugly spider in the bathroom. Alexa yelled, "Mommy a spider, get the shoe!"

I don't think heels are seen as very practical in some circles. So I just want to point out that it is very handy to always have a pair of heels around. You can squish the bug from a great distance away. The higher the heel the further my hand is from the impact.

The Teacher's Work is Never Done

I have been a teacher for twelve years now. Sometimes that amazes me because I can't picture how long it has been. My first class of 5th graders are done with college now. In my mind they are still 10 and 11. It is crazy.

Some people have a vision of teachers having the cushy job with summers off. Goodness knows I have put up with my share of razzing when someone finds out what I do for a living. It is usually pointless to try to correct them that the extra hours during the school year average it all out.


There is another week left of school. This means that there are papers to be graded, grades to be averaged, report cards done, and you still have to teach them for the next week. With that in mind I want to point out that tonight I have brought home reading journals and essays to grade. Before I can get to that, I am traveling back to school to deliver speeches for two of my former students who are graduating eighth graders. They asked me to deliver the speech at their eighth grade dinner. I am glad to be asked. It means whatever I did for those two years they were in my room; they left and felt a positive connection. So I will travel the 30 minute drive back to work deliver the speeches, drive home, have my own kids dropped off from dinner with dad, put my own children to bed, pack lunches for tomorrow, and then sit down to grade. Not sure when my day will end, but tomorrow I will start my day again at 5 AM.

I mention all this because when I am sitting on the beach this summer on a Wednesday morning. I earned my time off.

Preschool Princess

Alexa is excited to be starting preschool in the fall. It took a lot if searching and phone calls, but I finally found a spot I think will be prefect for her. Small, curriculum based, experienced staff, full day program (for the working people you know), and open early enough that I can drop her off on the way to work. I spoke on the phone with the director last week to make sure that her days would work (she will attend Tuesdays and Thursdays) and confirm her start date- September 7th! She told me that all I had left to do was drop off a copy of her vaccination record and a tuition deposit.



Since Alexa is the shy around new people and situations I took this as another chance to have her visit the school. I took a picture of her when we got home so people could see how she visited her school today. I think they have the general idea of Alexa.

Yes, she is wearing a tiara.

As a side note I bought the girls these dresses a couple of weeks ago. Since they still think it is a lot of fun to match one another I try to encourage it. Easier to keep track of them when they look alike you know. You can see how well my picture taking went over... well, at least with one of them..

The carpenter has arrived

Well, after a week of soggy rain delays it finally happened. The carpenters arrived today and removed some old rotting siding. Plus the weird overhang that was left by the previous owners when they removed an old screen porch. Which leaves me with a lovely new section of siding. The sunshine has also enabled the painters to be back at work. They have almost finished two sides now. It is all very exciting. I was able to finish painting the living room this past weekend. It is all begining to make this old house (built in 1894) feel fresh and new again! And I have almost regained a normal pulse rate after writing the check to pay for all of this work.



Ta Da
Now I just have to find something to do about this... the mess.

Children's Hospital

I think today may go on record for me as one of my longest days as a parent. Chloe was scheduled to go into the hospital today for some tests on her bladder and kidneys. We arrived at about 10:30 AM and as directed she had not eaten since the previous night. She was to say the least hungry and did not mind sharing her misery with everyone. I could not imagine how any group of doctors/nurses was going to get my obstinate and dramatic 6 year old through the ultrasound and then sedated with an IV for a VSUG. I was braced for the absolute worst.

However, these people were amazing. They whisk you in with such a positive energy. Chloe was such a trooper. She took it all, even swallowing the medicine without complaining (and as she will tell you it was disgusting). She held still (watching Happy Feat on DVD I might add) while they did the ultrasound. She had a few tears with the IV the first time around and none when they had to do it again because the first one wasn't working.

As a mom I don't think anything prepares you to have to walk into the hall while your sedated child is about to undergo a medical procedure. I was very close to tears myself. It was unbelievably stressful. I was so glad to see her start tossing around in the bed and pop her eyes open to get to eat peanut butter toast- a Chloe staple.

In the end the tests resulted some good information that we needed to know. So now her pediatrician can make the best judgment on keeping her healthy. I have a new respect for the people who work on the pediatric medical area and a new compassion for people who have to take their children there with any regularity. I am exhausted and it was only one day and my daughter skipped up the steps when we got home.

The true Chloeism of the day: Before we left for the hospital I talked to her about the fact that she might see some really sick kids there. Kids with no hair or tubes coming out of them. I wasn't sure what we might encounter there and wanted to prepare her. In true Chloe fashion she said, "Don't worry mommy I wont tease anybody." I told her I didn't think she would, but I didn't want her to feel scared. At the end of the day we were walking to the parking garage to the car and she said, "How come I didn't get to see any other kids to make friends with? I wanted to make some friends." You gotta love that kid.