Back in the Full Swing. . .almost

My summer is just about over. Most of you have about one more week before the alarm must be set for the crack of dawn. I hope you enjoy that time, because the alarm plays no favorites!

In a past post, someone asked about the school supply list. Click HERE for a link to the school's lists. I will tell you that my students do not need to bring the zip-loc bags. Also the color of folders is not important to me. If your child prefers colored pencils to crayons, that is fine. I really don't get too concerned with the specifics. (A good handheld pencil sharpener with cover can be invaluable, though!) Parents know generally what a child needs for school; use this list as a guide, not necessarily a checklist. If something specific comes up, I will let you all know, but there will be more important things in our classroom than checking on everyone's gluesticks and crayon boxes. I will add that an item which will be on our wish list all year is boxes of Kleenexes.

Don't forget: This weekend is the Tax-Free Holiday. Go out there and save your 9%! Also note that the dress code will be enforced from day one. Our shirt colors are still blue, white, red, pink, and yellow. Be sure to have a belt or two!

Hopefully you all received the letter about our Meet the Teacher Night next Thursday evening. I hope that all old and new students can come by and visit for a minute or two. Have a good weekend and I'll see you very soon!

Finally. . . Summer Vacation

Summer school has ended and I have been able to hit the road and relax a bit. What am I doing? Spoiling my little nephew, of course! He is a lot of fun. As you can see in the video, he is quite a fan of watermelon.

He is nearly walking, but let me tell you he has got crawling down pat! Here I caught him crawling out of his play area. He gets beyond his boundary and then stops to smile at me, as if saying "I can do whatever I want. Just try to stop me!" And just look at all of those curls! (Please accept my apologies for my high pitched baby voice in both videos. I can't help myself!)

Kaleb is very close to walking. He will often get into a yoga pose in an attempt to find his balance. He finds this position funny.

Okay--thanks for indulging me. I have one more video to share. He is pulling up balancing very well, but is just too scared to take that first step. Here he was practicing climbing up using his dear auntie as a ladder!

So, that is about it for me. In just a few short weeks we'll all be back at school and into the daily grind. Enjoy what's left of your summer--I plan to!!

UPDATE: Our trip to the beach this afternoon was shortened due to the weather, but look at these beautiful shots of the storm clouds that came in!

I hope that everyone enjoys this wonderful day of food, family, fireworks, and freedom! We are all so blessed, and more often than not, we take that for granted. I think about how difficult it must have been for those men in 1776 to take that leap of faith. Although they knew the struggle and sacrifice that they would face, they could have only dreamed about what a great country they would leave to us 232 years later. We do have a lot of things wrong with the country today, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Even with the problems, the freedoms we have as Americans--including free speech and religion--are true gifts. So, before you eat that burger or hot dog today, take a moment and give thanks for the great gift of being an American!

"When opinions are free, either in matters of government or religion, truth
will finally and powerfully prevail."---Thomas Paine

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country"--- Benjamin Franklin