Where Has The Time Gone?

WOW! It's hard to believe my last post was in JULY!!! So much has gone on since then. Of course, school has started for both Ryan and I. AGAIN, Ryan was chosen as STAR STUDENT for the first week of school out of over 150 kids on his "team". I was placed in Second Grade, which is one of my favorite grades. (First and Second tend to be my favorites!) I'm with a teacher I worked with for my first two years at Brookdale. She changed from Kindergarten to Second Grade several years back - so it's nice to work with someone I know so well. Unfortunately, the only slotted on classroom for supported education students, thinking there were only 3 children qualifying. Two more students moved in that have IEP's so they were placed into my care! YES, 5 students (2 with autisim and 3 with learning disabilities). In addition we have 3 low students one with behavorial issues that require constant monitoring. I feel like an octopus at times - but since I was with two of the students last year I know them well enough to know their abilitities. It's the new students that I need to get to know better. They have been sending someone in to assist for about 1/2 hour during literacy since two of the children do not know the first grade sight words. I have been helping the teacher keep up our classroom blog. Visit us at http.//sandersscoops.blogspot.com to keep up on all our adventures.

In addition to this classroom blog - you will see at the right side of this blog under portfolio - I have designed around 20 blogs for teachers and the office. I've set up almost all of them and created a header and layout for all. Check them out - I even have teachers contacting me from other schools!

Ryan joined football again this year. He made starter for special teams and is very excited. He chose to keep his same number from last year (THE BIG 49!). He mentioned that the jersey felt a little tighter this year!! He has a big game at the high school football field on Wednesday against their rivals - so he's been practicing and reading his play book to prepare. He spent the night at grandma and grandpa's last night; so I decorated his bedroom door to surprise him when he gets home tonight. Yes, it's 3 dimensional! GO TRAILBLAZERS!!!

Among everything else, it was my birthday at the end of August. We celebrated at Hugo's Frog Bar in downtown Naperville. I received many generous gifts from family and friends and a message on my answering machine reminding me of how old I am!! Thanks Jacob!!!!

I hope to update MY personal blog more often - or at least as much as I update the office blog and the school blogs!!!

Until then.................

Summer's Flying By

It's hard to believe that 1/2 of the summer is already gone. This past week Ryan and I visited Cantigny. I wasn't sure what to expect, but after seeing some wedding photos a friend showed me that were taken there, I thought it might be something to go see. Ryan had been there on a field trip there in 5th grade - but it was primarily for the military tanks and museum. I was pleasantly surprised that even the area with the tanks was interesting and the grounds was absolutely breathtaking. After dinner, we decided to take Bill over to see the tanks and even though the museum was already closed he was fascinated to read and see all the tanks, including the tank his father operated during the Korean War.




Last week Ryan was in Football Camp. We had to get up a lot earlier than we've been use to and frankly we hated it! Friday the boys along with Ryan's friend went to see the Batman movie, The Dark Knight and then Saturday they went to the Sox game with Dave, Dan,Kim and Jacob. I, of course, enjoyed the time to work on the computer and enjoy the piece and quiet.

I can't remember if I mentioned in my previous postings that I was offered a new "role" at GOGO. After being a little overwhelmed at first, I'm finally able to organize myself between the two different office's accounting. The other office is located in Mahwah, New Jersey. I'm hoping to take on another office soon. Since Flight Center bought our company, they have been eliminating people in my position. It was such a shock to be one of the 2 people picked out of the entire country to be given the opportunity to assist the auditing department in auditing other offices finances. The entire company was put on the same monitary "retainer" and has to work on a commission incentive to produce business. They offered me a higher retainer in addition to working on my own personal incentive to reduce errors in both our office and the Mahwah office. So far, so good!

I still have not received word from the district on my "temporary" assignment for the next school year. The previous principal told me not to be worried about returning - I am the only part time employee at school. They have made "special arrangements" to keep me employeed at our building. This year we have a new principal who doesn't know me - so I'm hoping my special schedule is still exceptable!

I'm off to create a slide show of the Cantigny pictures......................

Dog Days of Summer

It's hard to believe we are already at the end of June. We've been out of school for two weeks and Ryan and I are sure enjoying not having the rush every morning to get out the door on time! Unfortunately, we had an aunt pass away right after summer break started. I worked closely with my cousins gathering photos of their mother so I could create a memorial disc to show during visitation services. After pulling an all nighter, I finished it the day of the wake. Everyone seemed to enjoy watching the disc and the family seemed sincerely grateful. My cousin asked if I could remake the disc to include 60 more photos she found at her parent's house. I just completed the disc and even though all the pictures were scanned into the computer and were old and not always vivid - I was very happy with the results.

For Father's Day we spent the day at my brother's house and a local fest. Ryan enjoyed a ride on the paddle boat.

Thursday night I went with my friend Julie to watch some of the first graders - now second graders play coach pitch baseball. Afterward we went to Boston Blackies for a bite to eat. Today we signed Ryan up for football camp the week of July 14th. Not too much else going on.