Catching Up...

This past week was truly the cloudiest and rainiest week we have ever had in 8 1/2 years of living in Las Vegas. All of that rain resulted in two things: 1) the most beautiful snow-capped mountains all around us - it looks like we're living in Utah! and 2) practically giving me seasonal-affectiveness disorder! After a week of no sun and constant rain I was in such a funk - I had no idea I had become so sensitive to the lack of sunshine but apparently I have. I heard a statistic the other day that said that Las Vegas has an average of 348 days of sunshine a year - it's no wonder that I start to go crazy without it!

In addition to our gray, wet, week, Hailey and Kelcie both had colds and were not feeling that well. They weren't quite sick enough to stay home so I gave them Airborne like crazy and doped them up for school and sent them on their way. That's the part I dislike the most about working - not being able to drop everything if the kids aren't feeling well. Fortunately it didn't come to that but I hate feeling like I can't be home if I need to be - I suppose that is the dilema of every working mother.

In other news, Erika sustained her first injury of 2010 and took a trip to the ER last night. She's playing indoor soccer right now and got slammed into the sideboards during the game. They stopped for dinner on the way home and she started getting really nauseated and got sick - a sure sign of a concussion. So Eric took her in to get checked out - the CT scan came back clear but she does have a concussion - no sports or PE for two weeks. She's bummed but I'm just glad it wasn't more serious! Two concussions in less than a year can't be good for your noggin...

Eric started teaching his two night classes this week - but was thwarted in his efforts. There was no class monday because of MLK day, on tuesday night somebody pulled the fire alarm about 20 minutes into class and everyone got sent home and then wednesday night the power went out about 30 minutes into it and had to send everyone home again. So the semester has begun he's already a week behind - he's not too happy about it! I'm sure he'll find a way to get them caught up but it was frustrating.

My first graders are...ummm...well...hmmm....fine. I can think of many adjectives that describe my experience with them but I don't know that they would reflect nicely on my students so I will spare the details. Suffice it to say, first grade will never be my first, second or third choices when it comes to teaching full-time! They're just too little for me - they can't work independently at all and it makes for very long days. I think I much prefer older students who can think and work more independently. I think that when it comes to teaching, you reallly have to find the niche that works best with your own personality - I know several people who are amazing teachers to those younger students but they also couldn't imagine working with middle schoolers - everyone has their own thing. Mine just isn't going to be the little ones!

And speaking of school, Eric and I took Hailey to a magnet school open house yesterday. There is a middle school here that is an academy of performing and visual arts and offers an amazing, enhanced curriculum of drama, dance, art, etc. Hailey has been interested in applying there for next year so we went down to check it out (clear on the other side of town!) and she absolutely fell in love with it! She wants to go there so badly - unfortunately it's very competitive to get into; there's about three kids applying for every one spot available. Qualified applicants get put into a computerized lottery so it's just pure luck if you get in. Hailey is totally qualified so we got her application in and now we just hope and pray that she'll get chosen in the lottery. We won't find out until March - Hailey has decided to petition the Lord every night until then!

Well, I think that sums up things at our house for the moment. We are keeping busy and mostly healthy which is about all I can ask for! I'm going to start putting my camera in my bag with the hope that I will remember to take some pictures while I'm out running around. More later!