Here's my list of this summer's highlights:
1. Memorial Day at the Bronx Zoo with DH and Little Sir (seeing them ride the camel together was the best!)
2. Running on the beach in the evening with DD and Little Sir.
3. Little beach get-togethers with DD and Little Sir, sometimes with friends, in between work shifts for us ladies.
4. DH getting a promotion!
5. Getting free tickets to Splish Splash and going spur-of-the-moment with DD and Little Sir...his first time!
6. 4th of July fireworks on the River front (on the 5th of July!) with friends.
7. BBQ with my Stony Brook grad buddies and all of our kids...I actually made a bunch of new career-friends, who will be my professional contacts for many years to come.
8. My birthday celebrated by an amazing dinner (DD's treat!...she shocked me) at Edgewater Restaurant in Hampton Bays, with my dad and his girlfriend, DD, DH, Little Sir and me. (No. One Son was away in Chicago at a wedding.)
9. DH getting an incredible deal on a used car.
10. Finishing my first-ever job of teaching special ed ESL summer school. I made connections with some awesome kids, learned a lot about this kind of teaching, and about myself!
11. The Long Island Game Farm with my dad and his girlfriend and Little Sir. (His little face, as he got to pet and feed the deer, sheep and goats was priceless!)
One not-highlight, but a prayer of thanksgiving:
Number One Son walked away from a terrible car crash with only minor injuries. The Jeep is dead, but it's replaceable. He is not.
Now, it's your turn. What are your Highlights of Summer 2008? (No fair just reading and not commenting.)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Last Day Off
Well, I had planned to do lots of fun things with Little Sir before I had to report for duty, but his allergies kicked in something fierce, and he ended up a very sick little boy. After living with the nebulizer, followed by steroids to get the lungs under control, he's now on Singulair which is better than previous meds. We lost a week of play time, tho', and he hasn't been to karate all month.
But, Wednesday was my last day to play, and we took my dad up on his offer to take us to the Long Island Game Farm. He's been asking us to set a date all summer. Wednesday's weather was perfect, and we had such a good time. I haven't been to the game farm in years, and I was surprised at how much they have there, now. The tiger show was great, and Little Sir was thrilled at how close he could get to all the animals. (We'd gone Memorial Day to the Bronx Zoo, and so many of the animal habitats there, while great for the animals, allow them to hide really effectively, making it disappointing as you trek across that campus to see your favorites. "All the good animals are sleeping!" he said.)
Probably the most fun was being able to pet and feed so many animals. He wants to go back really soon! I'm going to see if we can book it as a field trip for his school (it's $8.95 pp, group rate...about half price.) I'd definitely go as a chaperone for that one!
If you haven't been there recently, you should go. It's so close, only the Manorville exit, it's a shame not to.
But, Wednesday was my last day to play, and we took my dad up on his offer to take us to the Long Island Game Farm. He's been asking us to set a date all summer. Wednesday's weather was perfect, and we had such a good time. I haven't been to the game farm in years, and I was surprised at how much they have there, now. The tiger show was great, and Little Sir was thrilled at how close he could get to all the animals. (We'd gone Memorial Day to the Bronx Zoo, and so many of the animal habitats there, while great for the animals, allow them to hide really effectively, making it disappointing as you trek across that campus to see your favorites. "All the good animals are sleeping!" he said.)
Probably the most fun was being able to pet and feed so many animals. He wants to go back really soon! I'm going to see if we can book it as a field trip for his school (it's $8.95 pp, group rate...about half price.) I'd definitely go as a chaperone for that one!
If you haven't been there recently, you should go. It's so close, only the Manorville exit, it's a shame not to.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Freedom
I hereby am thrilled to announce that I have completed teaching summer school 2008! Yay!!! I can't tell you how relieved I am that it is over. And sad that there's so little of summer left to celebrate in.
And, I have a "Professional Development" to attend in my school Aug. 21st. Sigh. Not much of a break in between.
I am starting to get a little excited about September, my little brain whirring with ideas, making lists, planning to clean out my school cabinet (at home) and get busy sorting and planning.
BUT...I want some summery break first!
I am so tired. Have to find something fun to do tonight with Little Sir.
And, I have a "Professional Development" to attend in my school Aug. 21st. Sigh. Not much of a break in between.
I am starting to get a little excited about September, my little brain whirring with ideas, making lists, planning to clean out my school cabinet (at home) and get busy sorting and planning.
BUT...I want some summery break first!
I am so tired. Have to find something fun to do tonight with Little Sir.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Painting
I just finished one of those spur-of-the-moment projects. My back and knees are telling me they don't think it was such a hot idea.
DH and I have been planning to paint the house (inside) by the end of the summer, but our schedules have been hectic, and we're rarely together. Others I could enlist to help, also seem on the opposite schedule from mine. So, this afternoon, fresh from work, I decided that, since the weather was kinda cool and crisp for August, it was a good day to start painting.
The bathroom is the smallest room of the house, so I figured I'd tackle that and be done before DH gets home from work around 2 or 3 a.m. So, off to buy spackle and paint, rollers and all the necessary tools. Get home quick. Read the spackle container. Has to dry for 4 hrs. Perfect. I could spackle the few spots that needed it, then run Little Sir to karate class, go do my music lessons, and be back just in time for it to be ready to paint on.
So far, so good. Back home, spackle's dry. Make a quick dinner for Little Sir, and get started. Of course, he doesn't want to eat when I'm doing something much more fun, so, after making him eat a little, prepped the room and handed him a paintbrush and instructed him in the art of painting the low areas. I got busy with the roller.
Three hours later, both of us with more paint on us than I wanted, sore and sleepy, we are done! It's not perfect. It's gonna need a second coat, probably (even tho' the can says it's a 1-coat-er), and I have to re-do part of the trim and put the fixtures back up. And paint the little shelf and remount that. Then do the window.
But, not bad for a work-day project.
DH and I have been planning to paint the house (inside) by the end of the summer, but our schedules have been hectic, and we're rarely together. Others I could enlist to help, also seem on the opposite schedule from mine. So, this afternoon, fresh from work, I decided that, since the weather was kinda cool and crisp for August, it was a good day to start painting.
The bathroom is the smallest room of the house, so I figured I'd tackle that and be done before DH gets home from work around 2 or 3 a.m. So, off to buy spackle and paint, rollers and all the necessary tools. Get home quick. Read the spackle container. Has to dry for 4 hrs. Perfect. I could spackle the few spots that needed it, then run Little Sir to karate class, go do my music lessons, and be back just in time for it to be ready to paint on.
So far, so good. Back home, spackle's dry. Make a quick dinner for Little Sir, and get started. Of course, he doesn't want to eat when I'm doing something much more fun, so, after making him eat a little, prepped the room and handed him a paintbrush and instructed him in the art of painting the low areas. I got busy with the roller.
Three hours later, both of us with more paint on us than I wanted, sore and sleepy, we are done! It's not perfect. It's gonna need a second coat, probably (even tho' the can says it's a 1-coat-er), and I have to re-do part of the trim and put the fixtures back up. And paint the little shelf and remount that. Then do the window.
But, not bad for a work-day project.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Blahhh
Well, July has come and gone, and it's all been a blur. I distinctly remember going to see the 4th of July fireworks (on the 5th of July), but, other than that, all I actually remember doing is working, working, working and spending a little occasional down time with my kids.
I did have one visit with a friend, but it was to prepare me for an upcoming interview (she very professionally grilled me on my interviewing techniques, and gave me a mock interview. Very helpful. Constructive criticism is a very good thing.)
My summer job has taken up way more of my time than I had thought it would. I had wanted to go to the beach after work yesterday, but the reports from everyone on excessive jellyfish at the bay, and really scary rip currents at the ocean made me think twice. So, we visited my dad instead (haven't done that in a long time, either) which is always a good thing, and Little Sir got to mosey around his yard, watering everything in sight (including shooting the hose at a woodpecker at the suet feeder. Tsk tsk.)
On the one hand, DH and I have been doing a pretty good job of achieving our debt-erasure goals for this summer...paid off one loan, and are chipping away at my college loans. That eases the burden, that ever-present weight on our shoulders. (It felt reallllly good to make that one final payment!) But, on the other hand, summer is supposed to be memory-building family time, and we've missed doing so many things I used to find time for. Now that it's the beginning of August, I have to make a conscious effort to get to free stuff we like...the outdoor concerts, library events, parks and beaches as weather permits. I do not want this to be remembered as the Summer-Mommy-Only-Worked.
I am open to suggestions...if you hear of any good free family things, let me know! (Yes, I do check out North Fork Parents!)
I did have one visit with a friend, but it was to prepare me for an upcoming interview (she very professionally grilled me on my interviewing techniques, and gave me a mock interview. Very helpful. Constructive criticism is a very good thing.)
My summer job has taken up way more of my time than I had thought it would. I had wanted to go to the beach after work yesterday, but the reports from everyone on excessive jellyfish at the bay, and really scary rip currents at the ocean made me think twice. So, we visited my dad instead (haven't done that in a long time, either) which is always a good thing, and Little Sir got to mosey around his yard, watering everything in sight (including shooting the hose at a woodpecker at the suet feeder. Tsk tsk.)
On the one hand, DH and I have been doing a pretty good job of achieving our debt-erasure goals for this summer...paid off one loan, and are chipping away at my college loans. That eases the burden, that ever-present weight on our shoulders. (It felt reallllly good to make that one final payment!) But, on the other hand, summer is supposed to be memory-building family time, and we've missed doing so many things I used to find time for. Now that it's the beginning of August, I have to make a conscious effort to get to free stuff we like...the outdoor concerts, library events, parks and beaches as weather permits. I do not want this to be remembered as the Summer-Mommy-Only-Worked.
I am open to suggestions...if you hear of any good free family things, let me know! (Yes, I do check out North Fork Parents!)
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