Quick update

I haven't had much time to post in the last few weeks. Starting school with a new job, and new schools for the girls, has made us all a bit crazed. My parents are a huge help. My dad and mom take the girls to school for me in the morning, and I pick them up after school. For those of you who don't know, I'm working a .5 job. I work from 8:30 to noon. It is awesome! I can run errands or do my homework after school. Sometimes I've just collapsed on a chair and zoned out to the boob tube. :)

J is doing awesome in school. She's made a really good friend, and is doing well with her school work. F is having difficulty with the new grade, new school, new friends. She is struggling with her academics. We work hard on her reading every evening after dinner. It feels like an uphill battle. I sure pray that we can get her caught up.

So far things are running fairly smoothly down here in Phoenix. (aside from my dog) We have a routine down. After school, we hop in the pool to cool down, then my dad makes dinner. After dinner, we do our homework. F and I usually do this until bed time. Jamie will zip through hers, sometimes with help from Papa, and then maybe get an hour or half an hour watching TV or the computer. It is a nice routine. We'll have to think of something different to do when it gets too cool to swim.

Joe is still up in Idaho by himself. He's awefully lonely. He leaves for The Netherlands at the end of September. He will be there until the end of March. He may get to come home for Christmas, we hope. At least he won't be at home by himself for as long as previously thought. We was maybe going to be over there for 4 months, and then at home for the rest of the time. That would have been too lonely for him.

I'll try to post pictures later. Maybe I'll try a slide show! :)

Good Bye, Maggie, My Sweet Dog

Maggie, my dog of only three years, is gone. She had cancer in her spleen. She seemed fine until last Friday. She's been acting off for the last few months, but we just thought it was because she was getting old. (She was 9) She went down hill fast today. So my sister took Maggie to her vet. They did xrays and saw a tumor. When they brought Maggie into the exam room, she was on a table, but she still managed to wag her tail when she was me. She was such a good dog. I'm going to miss her very much.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I haven't had a chance to post much since I had to report to school. Busy, Busy, Busy! I have three students, and am working part time. That is awesome!!!!!!!!! I've had fun planning for them too because they are all very close in ability. Fun, Fun, Fun! Since they are in my room all day, and we're working on periods, I planned an OT period, PT period, and an art/cooking/speech and language period. The OT, PT and SLP are excited to work with me on this plan. :)

The girls are doing great with school. They've gone two days. They were a little bored, but are making some friends, so all is well. :)

Oh, gotta go! I have to go read with Faith. I'll post pictures later. :)

Relaxing weekend away!

Joe and I took a relaxing weekend away, just the two of us. :) It was so wonderful. We went to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort. It was so relaxing and wonderful. We got there Friday night and at dinner at one of their restraunts. YUMMY! Saturday I had a pedicure. This entitled us to use their spa all day. They have an awesome pool the roof of the spa. No kids are allowed up there, so it is quiet and peaceful. It is probably more peaceful in the winter when all of the airconditioners aren't running. We watched the sun set up there, and then sat and enjoyed the evening air. It was very romantic. We are going to do this again for sure! :)