Better Late Than Never

This one was taken on her actual day. We went out to eat and then celebrated with a donut!

She equiped with a birthday ribbon and Hannah Montana shirt! Too cute!

The balloons were cute until someone pointed out that there were three sixes! very funny

Hannah cake had a guitar lip gloss on it and as always it was yummy

I know it is a month later...BUT I have Savannah's birthday pics to add to the blog. I was having some problems with my old picture program so Jen uploaded a new one called Picasa. It worked great. I am able to organize the photos and it does not freeze up like before. So about the birthday, my little rock star had a Hannah Montana theme. The day was sunny and brisk but it was a great day for the kids to run around and play outside. Everyone seemed to have a great time. All the people we love were there. Savannah got some great presents and was very greatful as always. She is very proud in the fact that she is the big 6! I cannot believe she is so big! I can remember all of her birthdays like they were yesterday. She is happy, healthy, and amazing!

Happy Halloween

Well it was another funtastic Halloween! Our theme costumes continue with The Pirates of the Caribbean. I was Jack Sparrow, Savannah was Elizabeth Swann, and that scary thing is Jen as Davy Jones. She actually scared a few kids who were out trick-or-treating! It was great! The weather was wonderful and so many people were out! We went to our old stomping grounds in Griffith and everyone was out in their driveways with fire pits ablaze...it smelled wonderful and it was like a movie type of Halloween. When we were done scamming candy, we went back to Laura's mom's house and sat around the fire, eating pizza, sloppy joes, and pumpkin pie (to name a few things) drinking and talking. I know it is a kids holiday but I love dressing up and I will do it for as long as I can!

My Little Mermaid

Today the little one started swimming lessons at the local YMCA in Crown Point. It was hot and smelly in there but she never noticed. The minute we walked in she was looking around taking everything in, wondering where to go and what group she would be in! They needed to evaluate her and she ended up in a group of kids just around her skill level. There is only one more group above her so she doesn't have that far to go. They really didn't waste any time, they got in the water and started right away. There where about 6-7 other kids in her group and they went up and down that pool. First they did two laps of free style. That was hilarious and took some time. They then used the kick boards to kick up and down the pool. Being a chip off the old block, my girl with those big legs was the best kicker passin' up other kids! GO BUDDHA! The next thing they did, Savannah wasn't sure she could do and was really nervous. They needed to float on their backs with their heads tilted back and use the kick board and again kick up and down the pool. She did fantastic. I could see the concern on her face at first, but half way down she realized she was kicking ass and I could see the biggest smile show up on her face...I was cracking up! They then would take turns swimming and kicking without the kick board with the lifeguard right in font of them. The next skill involved a device that looked like a giant Q-Tip! They needed to extend this odd device in front of them and swim up and down again. Again they swam with the life guards...Once down at the other end, they took turns properly jumping in the pool a few times, swam back down. I believe that was everything! Isn't that a lot for 40 minutes! At the end they are allowed 5 minutes of free swim and she took advantage. She jumped in and continued to do one somersault after another, and threw in a few handstands. I was tired just watching her! She had a great time and looks forward to going back on Thursday! This all stems to from her not making the LC Barracuda swim team. She needed to be able to swim a whole lap but only made it 3/4 of the way! :( They even gave her a second try but we had the same results. They were impressed with her skill and being so young so they told her to take a few lesson and come back. She remembers that and is determined to make the team next time! Nothing can stop her!

The picture is from my dad's house and pool in Florida when we were there this summer. She was non-stop swimming there and just wants to keep going!

STAR STUDENT

I know she is only in first grade, but she is doing so well. She has received her first progress report that has actual letter grades so I wanted to report her success!

Religion- All areas had a check plus (which is the highest non-grade mark)
Reading - 100% A+ "Great" comment from teacher and all sub-areas have a check plus
Language Arts - 100% A+ "Great" comment and all sub-areas have a check plus
Math - 98% A "Great" comment from teach and all sub-areas have a check plus
Social Studies - A and all sub-areas have a check plus
Science - A and ya the same as above
Art - all check plus
Gym - A
Music - A
Computers -A

The overall comment from her teacher was "Savannah is a very smart, well behaved girl. A pleasure to have in class!"

I am so proud of her! She loves to learn and I hope she keeps it up. Keep this email and ten years from now when she is in high school...I hope I can say the same.

Feast of the Hunter's Moon

On Saturday we took an adventure and traveled down to Lafayette to partake in the Feast of the Hunter's Moon. The feast is a portrayal of events that likely took place at a French outpost on the Wabash river. There were Indians, pioneers, and British soldiers everywhere. There were reenactments of dances, battles, games, and the making of tools and supplies. The food was interesting. Everything was done over a real fire just like they would have back in the 1700's. Buffalo burgers, buffalo or rabbit stews, catfish, ham and beans stew with corn bread (which looked like little pancakes) were just some of the things to eat. The giant pork chops Savannah and I had were fantastic! Merchants sold real pottery, tools, jewelry, perfumes, clothes, toys...and you could watch them make the stuff. The people also had tents set up that they actual slept in so it was neat to see how they "lived". Savannah was able to make her own necklace, she made a real sheet of paper, her own candle, got her own poppet (doll), played an old time game (something like catch but with sticks and a round thingy), got to pet a miniature pony, and just took in all of the sights and sounds. She learned a lot and she asked a lot of questions. She was really interested in the every day things they used like plates and spoons and even soap. They had different varieties and they didn't look like soap; she thought it was neat but smelled funny. It was really cool so make sure you check out the pictures below! It was a lot bigger than I thought it was gonna be...it was HUGE! They even had a pub/beer garden! I loved it and look forward to going again next year especially since I know what to expect. I know we didn't get to see and do everything that was there. When we came home, we could smell the fire smoke all over us! All in all it was a great day. It didn't take that long to get there and it was definitely worth the trip.

Proud, Proud, Proud!

Well, being the proud mom that I am I have to brag about the Buddha when ever I can. Being the amazed coach, I MUST brag about Savannah's form! I have been working with her since she could say volleyball and she has been improving a lot! She knows how to hold her arm up and to follow through on a serve, she knows how to hold her fingers for a set (but is not very good yet), and she knows how to pass the ball with fantastic form! For those of you who are not up on the proper form of passing in volleyball, this picture shows it really well! She has one foot slightly in front of the other, her knees are slightly bent, her hands are together properly giving her arms that needed flat surface, and her eyes are on the ball! She can pass the ball to herself about 4 or 5 times in a row and she was the only girl to get it over the net in gym class. She has been wanting to play almost everyday because she wants to improve! She has a raw talent here and she loves to play! I coached right up to two weeks before she was born (so it is in her blood) and I would bring her to the gym when I coached and she would help out. Needless to say she has been around volleyball all her life! I hope she continues to love the sport and does well at it. She continues to amaze me over and over again! She is just so fun to watch grow up.

This Hurricane has Kicked me in the ...

Well this time last year I was getting ready and very excited about my upcoming Disney vacation (memory to the left there). Right now I am not as excited nor am I looking forward to much! I feel like I have been kicked in the arse! Water has drowned out A LOT of people, in turn making me feel terribly guilty and bad for them. Guilty because I was lucky not to have any water or damage yet other people have...Sarah you know how I am about guilt...I constantly feel like I need to be guilty about something. Guilty because I had two days off from school, due to weather and yet when I looked outside I saw sun and dry land! Now for the real "kicker"! Grammy was suppose to be here for a visit this week and because Arkansas is next to Texas, they were hit pretty hard! The have been declared a disaster area by the governor and they haven't had power for three days! All of her phones were out so I had no idea until this evening! No major damage was done to their home, but her nephew had a tree fall on top of his house. Needless to say, she is not coming. I always look forward to her visits as does Savannah. NOW, I have been informed that the rest of the week of school has been reorganized. We were supposed to have our ISTEP testing and I have planned out the rest of my classes very carefully. The class schedule changes and I don't see all of the classes the same amount. I am very particular when it comes to my due dates and such....BUT NOW that has all been blown to hell! Not sure what I am going to do since we are moving ISTEPS to next week. It is as though I am losing a week of my classes. I don't even know why this is bothering me so much. I can adjust, wing it, change things...12 years of teaching I am sure I can figure it out! But for some reason I am way bummed and pissed about it! DAMN HURRICANES!!! My whole aura is off and it is *ucking things up! I even had to turn the computer BACK on just so I could vent...GUILT right here...OK why vent it could be worse! I could be swimming in my living room right now instead of sitting here...OK...I'll shut up now!

Hurricanes...in Indiana?

Well we have felt the wrath of Hurricane Ike! In some areas 9-10 inches of rain have fallen closing roads, expressways, and flooding sub-divisions all over. Some of my friends are stranded in their own towns with no way out. Most of the schools in the area have closed, including my own! Savannah is glad we all have a day off. I have been rather sick with a bad cough and so I welcome the rest. My friend Rhonda moved here from Florida because she was sick of the disruption it had on her life...it followed her up here! I can only image what the people of got the brunt of went through! At least it wasn't snow...I hate snow!

Another One Bite the Dust

Well the party animal seen above lost another tooth! The tooth fairy came and kissed her on the forehead leaving her mark of glitter :) and money under the pillow! The holiday weekend was fun. Toni, my sister, and the girls came over for a cookout and we tormented the neighbor across the street with fireworks...she hates them and apparently us too! We had a blast eating, drinking, and dancing in the driveway! Now it is back to school :( The picture is from when we were in Orlando.

First Week of School

Well the little Buddha has started 1st grade and she loves it! She is thrilled at the fact she has her very own desk so, in her words, "No one will move my stuff!" She has done well with going to bed and waking up. Me on the other hand...ugh! I feel as though I have been hit by a bus, and I have only had a short week!! It is good to be in the swing of things again. Kids seem OK so far. Dance classes resume mid-September and try-outs for the Nutcracker should be soon! Ballet, ballet, ballet!! So here is to a good school year full of fun, dance, homework, dance, grading term papers (right now I have 98 juniors and 26 sophomores!), uniforms, dance, several beers, and dance!

WHAT A SUMMER!

I know it has been a while since we have had an update, but we haven't been home that much!! The summer started off (first week out) with a trip to the water park and we haven't really stopped since! We traveled down to Arkansas to see Grammy and on the way back we went to see Elvis at Graceland (gaudy) and then drove through Nashville for a little walk around. We had everyone over for a great 4th of July! The kids swam until they were purple, we ate till we almost puked, drank till some of us left bottles of beer in the freezer until they blew up, and saw the best fire work show in our own front yard! We took the kids to Great America and stayed the night in a hotel and went shopping the next day at that big mall out there. We then traveled to Florida with Rhonda and Annie the dog...LONG 20HOURS!!! Had a blast at my dad's- in ground pool, shopping, more swimming, Universal Studios, more swimming! In-between all of the traveling there were numerous sleep overs, cook outs, swimming in the pool, visiting with Bobby & Laura and the kids, karaoke bars, hanging out at the campground with Rosie, Yahtzee and Jeopardy tournaments, lunching with friends, AND SLEEPING IN!!! I am tired but I can honestly say I was never bored this summer and because I was not coaching this summer, I was able to have so much fun with my family and friends. I was also able to get a lot of school stuff done so I am ready to get started! Jen will put up some photos soon to match the events! So kudos to a fantastic summer!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Ok, so this is a little late. But in my defense, I have been working on the yearbook, putting up a pool, etc. As I was going through yearbook pics, I found the Memorial Day pictures I took when Brandi, Savannah and I went to Rozann's camper at Yogi Bear Campground. There was a carnival there for the weekend, David cooked some delicious food on the grill (loved the pineapple), we went to see the band for a little while, and sat around the fire drinking. We had a great time and look forward to many more camp-outs! I love it there! Thanks Rosie for inviting us.

Pooling Around

The day began with 3 tons of sand being delivered and dumped on the street. In the middle there was a large thunderstorm. It ended with Savannah sleeping on the couch. It just seemed better to tell the story with the pictures. The pool went up on Sunday, June 8. The first official day of swimming was June 10.