New Job

Dad started a new job this week. About a month or two ago he felt strongly that he should look at leaving education and go back to his previous career. He went through a lot of exploring and praying and interviewing and praying some more and ended up taking a job as a Manager of Information Services. He enjoys being back in programming and really enjoys being able to do more of the systems analysis in addition to the programming he has done in the past.

Changing careers was a very hard move for him as he has LOVED being a teacher and has never found anything as fulfilling as teaching. However, because of salary freezes and furlough days it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to provide for the family as a teacher. Even with the income from me working part time as a teacher we still weren't able to make ends meet.

His students and fellow teachers gave him a great sendoff with parties and cards and posters. He was a loved teacher and colleague. He will be very missed at the junior high. We all wish him well in his new career and know that he will make a great difference and impact there too.

Green Dream

Ever since we moved into our house I have envisioned some type of garden boxes in the backyard. The soil is not good for planting most vegetables and so I have been limited, but this year I have all kinds of dreams as to what will be in our garden.

Dad, the kids, and I set out last Saturday to buy the supplies for making the boxes. We got a tip from a stranger while shopping and were able to find the wood at a discount lumber yard for a $100 savings!! We felt so blessed!!

It took us most of the afternoon to build one box, terrace the hill, and fill the box with the soil. The kids should have been in the picture. They worked so hard helping their dad and shoveling and moving dirt. We hope to finish the second box tomorrow and plant soon. I am so glad Dad was in charge of the project. He is so meticulous and gets the job done right. Thanks for making my dreams into a reality!!

Isn't She Lovely

This little girl is so adorable. We were leaving a school event and she saw this field with long grass. She said we had to take a picture in the grass before they mow it. I am so glad we did. This girl is beautiful inside and out. She wants so much to do what is right and achieve good things in life. I love you Little L.

Washington DC Trip

Dad and I were so fortunate to be able to go tour DC for Spring Break. We took a group of 17 middle school kids and three other adults with us. It was a fantastic trip with a lot of adventures and inspiring moments.

The trip started rough with our chartered bus not showing up to drive us to the airport, so we stayed up all night driving to the airport and then flying to DC. By the time we got to DC we were hammered and hadn't slept much in over 36 hours!! Being so excited helped us stay awake.

This is a sampling of the places we went. It would take too long to post every picture and talk about every place, so here are a few picts.

The first picture is us on the Potomac River.

Farther down is a picture of our tour guide Roy and his train whistle that he would blow whenever he wanted us to gather or follow him somewhere. He was such a great guide. He had so many stories to tell about everything.

I think he talked almost non-stop and everything was sooo interesting.

Below him is a picture of the 9-11 memorial near the Pentagon. Each person who died has one of these benches dedicated to their memory. We thought they resembled airplane wings.

While we were at the Arlington Cemetery we saw this black, horse drawn cart. It was pretty dramatic and special to have been there for that solemn occasion.

The silly picture of Richard in the National Gallery of Art you will only understand if you look carefully in the background for a statue doing the same thing (he, he.)

We were lucky to be able to spend an evening with Gary (Dad's brother) and his family. Our hotel was only 20 minutes from their home.

When we got home our kids welcomed us home with a big Welcome Home sign and we gave them some fun souvenirs and these shirts. They were very good for our babysitter and all survived the week without us.

Alice in Wonderland

Last week I took the kids to see the Eugene Ballet Co. perform Alice in Wonderland. It was very clever and the props and costumes were so much fun!! The youngest two were more entranced with this performance than with any others we have taken them to. It was a great experience all around.

Let's Go Fly a KIte!

This is a picture I shot of the kids after we had gone kite flying at the track last Saturday. They had so much fun. These kites are some that their Grandpa Vance gave them a few years ago. J Man had a kite but it was a dollar store kite and of course it broke. The other kids were kind and let him have a chance to fly their kites. I made Baby R this little "kite" out of a plastic bag and string. It is just the right thing for a kid her age and won't break or disappoint.

It's Always Fun When Grandpa Comes

I don't know if any of you remember the old primary song about when Grandpa comes, but that is how we feel when our Grandpa Baughman comes for a visit. He stops over when he can on his way north or south as he is traveling to and from home. We love his frequent visits and the kids are so fortunate to live somewhat close to one of their grandpas. On this visit we went out to Elmer's. The kids had a great time choosing what to eat and coloring their little books. I was so thankful not to have to cook dinner that night as I was leaving the next day for a trip. Thanks Grandpa, we love you.

Here are the song lyrics:

It's always fun when Grandpa comes, when Grandpa comes horray!

He always says the kindest things and in the kindest way.

He has a wrinkly, twinkly smile, he's jolly all the day.

It's always fun for everyone when Grandpa comes!!