Back-to-school 2015

Sorry for my absence--I have been juggling life :)

But I know my parents would appreciate some photo updates (since they aren't on Facebook & I don't seem to get any pictures e-mailed).

1st day of school for the kids was today (Wed., Aug. 26th).  Rusty & I had meeting Monday & Tuesday & I put in about 13 hour days (at the school) & a couple extra hours a day at home so after having the kids today--I was wiped out.  I actually came home by 5!

Brienna made dinner for us (baked chicken, mashed tators/gravy, corn, & stuffing).

 Ben's 1st day in 1st grade.  

 Callum's a Freshman in high school!

Emmalee & Ben (with Spike).  Ben was having a "it's-too-early-after-sleeping-in-all-summer" morning so the cat cheered him up. 

 Emmalee's teacher is her dad :)

"Mr." Stewart (aka Dad) with Ben & Emmalee. 

 Ben lost both of his front teeth the same day last week.  He lost the first one while Rusty & I were in town.  When we got home, the other one was barely hanging but he didn't want anyone to pull it.  He took a bite at dinner & the tooth started bleeding so I asked him to let me see it.  He said after it stopped bleeding & so he got a napkin & touched his tooth twice & the 3rd time the tooth ended up on the napkin.  He laughed!

He was super excited.   

For my anniversary, we got my ring repaired/diamonds replaced.  It looks so new and shiny! 

 Some of my back-to-school projects (this is at the elementary)

My fun bulletin board outside the computer lab/music room.  I share the room with the computers ;)  I'm at the high school in the morning  teaching 2 band classes & that's when the 2nd-5th graders use the computer lab.  Then after 11, I'm at the elementary.  I'm lucky that I get to teach all the elementary kids (K-5 about 75 kids) every day for about 30 minutes each class.  Then for the last hour of the day (3-4 pm) I teach drama back at the high school.

I forgot how challenging the first day(s) of school are (will be)!  And it didn't help that it didn't cool down last night (it was 70 degrees at 7 am) so it was super hot in the classrooms--to the point that I had to give the younger kids a drink break (it was at least 10 degrees cooler in the hall).  I am hoping for a cooler day tomorrow!!

November 2014--Thanksgiving

 Since Pamela has a big house, we all meet at her house for Thanksgiving.  

 There is plenty of space in the kitchen for many cooks :)

 I gave my mom a haircut

 Tiffany & Ethan made it 

 Ben was drawing/coloring while Tiffany worked on homework.

 Enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving meal! 

 My handsome hubby cooking.

 putting my feet up and playing a game with Emmalee

 My mom making rolls and pies.  yummy!

 Ben got a drumstick!  

 My sister Laurie (far left) also made it for the long weekend.  She is working on a puzzle (one of our favorite things to do at Pamela's)

It was a nice, relaxing weekend--great to get away from "real" life & take a break!

November 2014 Update--part 2

 We had a water leak--I could hear water from the long heating duct that goes through our house (on the floor).  So Rusty investigated, and discovered (of course) that it was in a place where it was impossible to get to from under the house.

 and it was hard to get to IN the house also.  It was under the cupboards, behind the washer & dishwasher.

I'm just thankful that Rusty is so handy & can repair things around the house.

He is finding what he does NOT want when we build our house (and what he will do when he builds). It was torn up for about a week--We only had a couple of "open" days during that week.  Rusty took a day off to get it fixed (and make a trip to Idaho Falls for parts).  I de-junked the cupboards (got rid of a garbage sack for DI & about the same of garbage).

It was a challenge to be without the dishwasher & washer (again) for over a week, but that makes me even more grateful when they are working.

I had Clark County Idol on Nov. 19th.  It was a bit more than I wanted to tackle, but over-all, it was a great success.  A few things that will need to be improved upon for the next time (if there is one)

The winners & participants.  All received $ awards ($10 to 4th-7th place, $25 to 3rd place, $50 to 2nd place, and $100 to 1st place)

Also in November was Veteran's Day program.  It was mostly a musical program, so I was running from the stage (band) to the bleachers (elementary--who sang & also played the recorders) & back to the stage for choir.  

The night of Veteran's day was the dinner where NHS helps at (serving, a short program, & clean up).  Plus the choir girls sang a few songs (while I played the piano).

On top of that, I worked all month on paperwork for the state of ID (education) to see what I need to do to get K-12 certified.  A lot of paperwork, phone calls, worrying & stress to finally get resolved with a "simple" answer.

November 2014 Update--Birthday week

 I am the National Honor Society advisor this year & due to the play-off football game in October, I had to reschedule our induction ceremony.  The only open date was Monday, Nov. 3rd.

So to celebrate my birthday, I printed off certificates & programs, got the refreshments ready & had the NHS induction.  This year, our new inductees were all boys.  We have 2 seniors (from last year) & then the new 4 juniors.

(Back: R-L=Me {Michelle}, Jorge Chavez & Mariah Farr;

Front: R-L=Landon May, Connor Grover, Zane Stewart & Luis Cano)

Rusty & I did go on a "date" to town the weekend before (out to eat & shopping) to celebrate our birthdays.  As you get older, birthdays are just another day :)

 Ben's birthday is the 5th of November (which was Wednesday).  But I had a choir commitment so we celebrated on Tuesday, the 4th.  

He loves his new Minion jammies!

 He fell asleep with his hand on his night light.

 He drew a picture of our elf-on-the-shelf (Snowflake) form a picture.  He did an amazing job!

 Our baby boy is now a big six-year-old!  Can't believe he is that old!

 He wanted a cheese cake for his birthday.

 So on his birhtday, I was in Shelley, ID at the District IV Choir workshop.  It was good for my girls to be able to sing with a big group (including some men/boys' voices).

The girls "palazzo" pants were a big hit.  They are super cute! WE were gone all day (8 am to 9 pm)

 And then on Thursday, Nov. 6th, it was Rusty's birthday.  For his birthday, we were at the high school for the fall sports awards night.  (Zane is in the orange shorts)

I thought I had a picture of Rusty, but I guess not!

So we had a lot going on during the week of our birthdays!

October 2014--Halloween Fun

 Carving the pumpkins--Is that Callum trying to eat pumpkin guts?

 Everyone did most of the gutting & carving by themselves!

 Ben was supposed to make a face like his pumpkin (the one on the right) but decided to go with a face like one he looked at earlier.

 Emmalee by her pumpkin

 Nice jack-o-lanterns!

 I love Callum's bigfoot!

 Since we have a 4-day school week, we had our Halloween parties on Thursday, the 30th.  So Emmalee & Ben decided to dress up in one costume for school  & another one for trick-or-treating.

Emmalee=Minnie Mouse

 Ben the jack-o-lantern

 Super cute!

 Before school in Dad's classroom.

 at Ben's party.  I was able to have the games at Ben's party (thus no pictures since I was in charge of the games) since the parties were during music time.

 We had a musical program before the parties--it was my first all-school performance.  Over all, it was a great performance.  I learned a lot & the kids all did a great job.

 A princess fairy for trick or treating (and at Spooktacular).  This is the last year I will be in charge of Spooktacular (I have too many other jobs/callings/volunteer positions.  I am still PTO/Booster club president)

 Ben was Superman (the helmet was part of my costume=a "quarter" back--a giant quarter taped to my back)

In the past, Ethan or Brienna have taken the 2 youngest trick-or-treating, but this year it was turn.

 I think we hit almost every house that had their porch light on--and they got quite a haul!!

Ben dressed up his jack-o-lantern so it would be "No-noggin" like on Curious George