Week in Review

So I'm not really in the mood to blog tonight and I didn't remember to take my camera anywhere with me last week so this will be brief but I will try to hit the highlights (it's January so there's not that many!).


1. Erika stayed home from school on Monday to nurse her pounding headache. I had not made arrangements for a sub and couldn't stay home so Grandpa Boston brought Panda Express and a movie over at lunchtime so he could check on her and keep her company - Thanks Grandpa!


2. Got Magnet School applications in for Erika and Hailey. I already mentioned the one Hailey wants to go to but there's a fantastic new high school that we're hoping Erika will get into. It allows the students to pick a medical major and offers an enhanced curriculum with an emphasis on medical classes/training which helps prepare them for a future in the medical field. Erika wants to become an EMT and then a Paramedic so she's hoping to get into this school - very cool!


3. Kelcie swam and swam at swim practice this week. She took last week off because of her cold but she made every day of practice this week. Her first meet will be the last Saturday in February so she's practicing hard and really improving her strokes and her form.


4. Hailey joined an after-school tutoring math club so she can get some extra help with her math. She's never had problems before but this year her GATE (gifted and talented education) class meets twice a week during her regular math time so she has huge gaps in her learning and it is reflecting in her grades. A little extra tutoring will be very useful for her.


5. Eric joined a Race Team with a bunch of people that he works with - they sign up for various road races and fun-runs around town and do them as a group - they're called Team United. They're starting out with a 5K in March and Eric decided he needed the challenge in order to keep himself motivated. I'm really proud of him!


6. My first-graders are starting to grow on me and most of them are very sweet (and enormously talkative!). I think I might be growing fond of them!


7. I was grieved to discover a couple of days ago that one of my dearest friends here, Cristi, has allowed her husband to accept a great job in Texas. Her daughter Kayla is also Kelcie's best friend so there has been a dark cloud over our house since we heard the news. Although this is a great opportunity for them and they are excited about this new adventure, I feel like my right arm and left leg are being amputated! She has been more like a sister to me and a second mother to my children and I can hardly think of her leaving without getting a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I will have to fake my enthusiasm and excitement about her leaving because I am selfish enough to wish she could stay - at the same time I am sincerely happy for the good fortune that has come their way and I imagine I will learn to adjust!


8. To end on a happy note, sunshine has returned to the valley and my dark mood has lifted. As a direct result, I lost another four pounds at Weight Watchers this week for a total of 10.8 in four weeks and a grand total of 34 since I've been on this journey. It feels so darn good!

(Just had to include the hungry monster from W.W. cause he's just so darn cute!)