Wow, I can't believe it's August already. The summer is just flying by. I always thought it was a cliche when the adults would tell us that the older you get, the faster time seems to go, but I have found that it is an unfortunate reality. Like the fact that our baby is set to start kindergarten this year. Wow.... When she was born, Mike was in Iraq. In some ways, it seems like yesterday. In other ways, it seems like a lifetime ago.
Work is going well. I don't think many people know how much it takes to run a school. It is crazy busy. I have been giving tours almost every day and signed up 4 new students this past week alone and 10 more in the last couple of weeks. I should have my enrollment at 100 soon. I haven't hired an assistant yet, so I am doing everything myself. It's hard enough to do one job, let alone two. :-) But, to be honest, I was doing that for sometime since my predecessor was pretty inept and didn't last more than a few months. In that time, she managed to mess up more than I could possibly describe in a blog post. Every day, I am trying to "fix" more of her mistakes. Just keep in your thoughts or prayers in the next couple of weeks as I prepare for our state inspection.
I am looking forward to our annual trip to the New Jersey shore. This year, my parents rented the place for 2 weeks instead of one. I am grateful that Mike was able to get both weeks off. In the past, they didn't even give him one week and he had to do a lot of commuting. The post office is a horrible employer, abuses their employees (without the union doing a darn thing about it) and pays them wages that are a disgrace (we qualified for WIC throughout all of our childrens' early years because of his measily salary!) Now that I have a job, though, I am worried about being away for that long. I am trying to get everything together and am training someone on how to process the tuition payments that are going to come in while I'm gone, etc., but I have a feeling that my cell phone is going to be ringing! :-) At least, the 2nd week, the school is closed. It is the "prep" week for teachers and they will be transferring everything over from "camp" mode to "school" mode. But, I am looking forward to 2 weeks of sun, surf and fun (well, maybe more pool than surf since I just finished watching "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel, lol! :-)
Well, I just wanted to post a quick update. Back to getting the basement "kitchen" ready for "Tomato Day" tomorrow. Mom, Dad and Mike are going to be canning/jarring the 10 bushels of tomatoes. It is a day-long ordeal, but we get a year's worth of homemade gravy (sauce for the Italian-impaired, lol) as a result!
Love to all!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sorry so long no blog....
My kids have been on me lately for not updating the blog. :-) I figured the fact that I updated Facebook several times a day (with photos, no less) was enough, but much to my chagrin, they told me it wasn't. :-)
Summer Camp at work is in full swing, and all of the children really seem to love it. (including my own) They swim twice a day, we have really neat and educational entertainment (we had the "bug" guy this week. The tarantula was the star.) such as a petting zoo and magic show coming up and there is a special activity every day. This is all in addition to outdoor games, sports, etc.
I really enjoy my job, even though the hours are really long and it can be stressful at times. I don't think people realize how much goes into running a school. The administrator gave her notice and is leaving in a couple of weeks. I was asked to take over the position! :-) Actually, the owners told me several months ago that they wanted me to run the place (for all intents and purposes, I have been doing that anyway) and were considering terminating her employment. So, here I am. Who would have dreamed when I found the school for my boys back in September, that less than a year later I'd be running the place. Wow. God works in mysterious ways, doesn't He?
On the homefront, we (actually my husband and dad, but "we" sounds better, lol) opened the pool and the kids have been enjoying it after camp (not that they don't swim enough everyday) and on weekends.
I started teaching again last week. So, for the next 7 weeks, I will be teaching Colonial and Revolutionary America from 8-10 pm. I know the hours are crazy, but I love the material, I make the class fun for my students, and hubby and I earmark my teaching money for Santa gifts. So, we all do what we have to do, right?
I can't promise that I will be able to blog as much as I did when I was home full-time, but I will try to make a concerted effort especially for those who aren't on Facebook. :-)
Happy rest of the weekend to all!
Summer Camp at work is in full swing, and all of the children really seem to love it. (including my own) They swim twice a day, we have really neat and educational entertainment (we had the "bug" guy this week. The tarantula was the star.) such as a petting zoo and magic show coming up and there is a special activity every day. This is all in addition to outdoor games, sports, etc.
I really enjoy my job, even though the hours are really long and it can be stressful at times. I don't think people realize how much goes into running a school. The administrator gave her notice and is leaving in a couple of weeks. I was asked to take over the position! :-) Actually, the owners told me several months ago that they wanted me to run the place (for all intents and purposes, I have been doing that anyway) and were considering terminating her employment. So, here I am. Who would have dreamed when I found the school for my boys back in September, that less than a year later I'd be running the place. Wow. God works in mysterious ways, doesn't He?
On the homefront, we (actually my husband and dad, but "we" sounds better, lol) opened the pool and the kids have been enjoying it after camp (not that they don't swim enough everyday) and on weekends.
I started teaching again last week. So, for the next 7 weeks, I will be teaching Colonial and Revolutionary America from 8-10 pm. I know the hours are crazy, but I love the material, I make the class fun for my students, and hubby and I earmark my teaching money for Santa gifts. So, we all do what we have to do, right?
I can't promise that I will be able to blog as much as I did when I was home full-time, but I will try to make a concerted effort especially for those who aren't on Facebook. :-)
Happy rest of the weekend to all!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Kiddo #2's First Holy Communion
First of all, let me apologize for the long period of time with no blogging. My transition to full-time work has been going well, but it doesn't leave me with much time for computer-related interests, other than Facebook, which I can check periodically from work. Since I do not get in every evening until 6:30-6:45, dinner, recreational time with the kids and bedtime then consume the rest of the night.
Our Kiddo #2 made his First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. It was an absolutely beautiful Mass and he made us very proud. What an opportunity to receive Our Lord for the first time during the Mass which is the very epitome of who and what we are as Catholic Christians! And, how many kids can say they received their First Holy Communion from their own grandfather? :-) My dad is a Permanent Deacon and we were lucky enough that he could be with us on that very special evening!
God bless you, kiddo #2, we are so proud of you! :-)
Our Kiddo #2 made his First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. It was an absolutely beautiful Mass and he made us very proud. What an opportunity to receive Our Lord for the first time during the Mass which is the very epitome of who and what we are as Catholic Christians! And, how many kids can say they received their First Holy Communion from their own grandfather? :-) My dad is a Permanent Deacon and we were lucky enough that he could be with us on that very special evening!
God bless you, kiddo #2, we are so proud of you! :-)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Finally a real snowfall!!
The kids were right. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. :-) Although we have had an extremely cold and icy winter, there has been no remarkable snow accumulation. Nothing that could be played in or with or on. Until today...
We are lucky to have a neighbor down the street (right at the deadend) who has a very steep front lawn and who is generous enough to let the kids sled down it whenever they want. So, that we did for hours today. They got to use their new tubes and boy did they fly down that hill, into the street and a couple of times, all the way across to the other side! I even indulged myself and went down a couple of times. It was really fun!
Spring can come now....
We are lucky to have a neighbor down the street (right at the deadend) who has a very steep front lawn and who is generous enough to let the kids sled down it whenever they want. So, that we did for hours today. They got to use their new tubes and boy did they fly down that hill, into the street and a couple of times, all the way across to the other side! I even indulged myself and went down a couple of times. It was really fun!
Spring can come now....
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sorry so long no blog!
I can't believe how the time has flown! February is already almost gone. Well, with all 4 kids having a terrible case of the flu and with starting my new job, things have been even more crazy around our house, but we are starting to get in a comfortable, albeit tiring routine. :-)
We did manage to all get away for the holiday weekend last weekend, though. It was a nice diversion from all of the madness. My mom has to spend the entire month in D.C. for work, so we thought we'd go down and visit her and let the kids have their long weekend in Washington.
We left Thursday night, which ended up being the best decision. They had off from school on Friday, so we didn't have to use it for a travel day and could spend the entire day sightseeing. Since it was forecast to be the nicest of all of the days that we were going to be there, we spent the day at the National Zoo. It was a wonderful day, it wasn't at all crowded (I guess many schools in the metro area don't do long weekends for the holiday like around here) and the kids loved seeing all of the animals. I really loved the zoo. It is laid out well, the houses are beautiful and new and the animals have large, spacious quarters. We got to see the elephants (huge to our kiddo #3 who has a book about those very elephants), the pandas and even got to witness the feeding of an octopus. (really neat)
On Saturday, we ventured out to Dulles Airport to the Air & Space Museum's new (well, it's 5 years old now) added area. It is huge. It is literally an entire hangar. The highlight there is the space shuttle. Yes, a space shuttle! The Enterprise, the first shuttle, was donated to the Smithsonian, but they never had anywhere big enough to display it. It is really awe-inspiring to see how absolutely enormous it is. Also there is the Enola Gay, the Concorde and thousands of other aircraft.
On Sunday, we went to the Mall and went to the Museum of Natural History (the kids loved the dinosaur bones and animal exhibits) and the Air & Space Museum, which has so many hands-on things to do for them! We didn't even see a quarter of the museum! There is so much to see.
And, our weekend came quickly to an end. Monday was our travel day. We had a nice leisurely breakfast at the hotel (mom's hotel has a free breakfast every morning which the kids just love. The highlight is making their own Belgian waffles!) got to play a while in the room and then head to the train station for our return trip home.
Mom made it extra special. She went to the supermarket and bought all of the kids favorite foods and snacks and had the fridge and cabinets fully stocked for when they got there. (the unit has a kitchen which is a necessity with kids!) :-) She also sent dh and I to the movies on Valentine's Day, while she watched the kids, which was a very nice treat.
So, here we are a week later, getting back into the grind and feeling like we were never away! LOL. :-)
Until next time, which I promise won't be as long!
We did manage to all get away for the holiday weekend last weekend, though. It was a nice diversion from all of the madness. My mom has to spend the entire month in D.C. for work, so we thought we'd go down and visit her and let the kids have their long weekend in Washington.
We left Thursday night, which ended up being the best decision. They had off from school on Friday, so we didn't have to use it for a travel day and could spend the entire day sightseeing. Since it was forecast to be the nicest of all of the days that we were going to be there, we spent the day at the National Zoo. It was a wonderful day, it wasn't at all crowded (I guess many schools in the metro area don't do long weekends for the holiday like around here) and the kids loved seeing all of the animals. I really loved the zoo. It is laid out well, the houses are beautiful and new and the animals have large, spacious quarters. We got to see the elephants (huge to our kiddo #3 who has a book about those very elephants), the pandas and even got to witness the feeding of an octopus. (really neat)
On Saturday, we ventured out to Dulles Airport to the Air & Space Museum's new (well, it's 5 years old now) added area. It is huge. It is literally an entire hangar. The highlight there is the space shuttle. Yes, a space shuttle! The Enterprise, the first shuttle, was donated to the Smithsonian, but they never had anywhere big enough to display it. It is really awe-inspiring to see how absolutely enormous it is. Also there is the Enola Gay, the Concorde and thousands of other aircraft.
On Sunday, we went to the Mall and went to the Museum of Natural History (the kids loved the dinosaur bones and animal exhibits) and the Air & Space Museum, which has so many hands-on things to do for them! We didn't even see a quarter of the museum! There is so much to see.
And, our weekend came quickly to an end. Monday was our travel day. We had a nice leisurely breakfast at the hotel (mom's hotel has a free breakfast every morning which the kids just love. The highlight is making their own Belgian waffles!) got to play a while in the room and then head to the train station for our return trip home.
Mom made it extra special. She went to the supermarket and bought all of the kids favorite foods and snacks and had the fridge and cabinets fully stocked for when they got there. (the unit has a kitchen which is a necessity with kids!) :-) She also sent dh and I to the movies on Valentine's Day, while she watched the kids, which was a very nice treat.
So, here we are a week later, getting back into the grind and feeling like we were never away! LOL. :-)
Until next time, which I promise won't be as long!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
How appropriate
I was just reading Rocco's blog Whispers in the Loggia, saw this speech from one of Pope John Paul II's many trips to America and was really touched. I just feel that it is as appropriate today as it was when it was given over 20 years ago. (emphases original)
As I go, I take with me vivid memories of a dynamic nation, a warm and welcoming people, a Church abundantly blessed with a rich blend of cultural traditions. I depart with admiration for the ecumenical spirit that breathes strongly throughout this land, for the genuine enthusiasm of your young people, and for the hopeful aspirations of your most recent immigrants. I take with me an unforgettable memory of a country that God has richly blessed from the beginning until now.
America the beautiful! So you sing in one of your national songs. Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed, and blessed in so many ways:
- in your majestic mountains and fertile plains;
- in the goodness and sacrifice hidden in your teeming cities and expanding suburbs;
- in your genius for invention and for splendid progress;
- in the power that you use for service and in the wealth that you share with others;
- in what you give to your own, and in what you do for others beyond your borders;
- in how you serve, and in how you keep alive the flame of hope in many hearts;
- in your quest for excellence and in your desire to right all wrongs.
Yes, America, all this belongs to you. But your greatest beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person: in each man, woman and child, in every immigrant, in every native-born son and daughter.
For this reason, America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenceless ones.
The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protect the human person:
- feeding the poor and welcoming refugees;
- reinforcing the social fabric of this nation;
- promoting the true advancement of women;
- securing the rights of minorities;
- pursuing disarmament, while guaranteeing legitimate defence; all this will succeed only if respect for life and its protection by the law is granted to every human being from conception until natural death.
Every human person - no matter how vulnerable or helpless, no matter how young or how old, no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society - is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God. This is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition for her survival-yes,the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weakest and most defenceless ones those as yet unborn.
With these sentiments of love and hope for America, I now say goodbye in words that I spoke once before: "Today, therefore, my final prayer is this: that God will bless America, so that she may increasingly become - and truly be - and long remain one Nation, under God, indivisible. With liberty and justice for all"
As I go, I take with me vivid memories of a dynamic nation, a warm and welcoming people, a Church abundantly blessed with a rich blend of cultural traditions. I depart with admiration for the ecumenical spirit that breathes strongly throughout this land, for the genuine enthusiasm of your young people, and for the hopeful aspirations of your most recent immigrants. I take with me an unforgettable memory of a country that God has richly blessed from the beginning until now.
America the beautiful! So you sing in one of your national songs. Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed, and blessed in so many ways:
- in your majestic mountains and fertile plains;
- in the goodness and sacrifice hidden in your teeming cities and expanding suburbs;
- in your genius for invention and for splendid progress;
- in the power that you use for service and in the wealth that you share with others;
- in what you give to your own, and in what you do for others beyond your borders;
- in how you serve, and in how you keep alive the flame of hope in many hearts;
- in your quest for excellence and in your desire to right all wrongs.
Yes, America, all this belongs to you. But your greatest beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person: in each man, woman and child, in every immigrant, in every native-born son and daughter.
For this reason, America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenceless ones.
The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protect the human person:
- feeding the poor and welcoming refugees;
- reinforcing the social fabric of this nation;
- promoting the true advancement of women;
- securing the rights of minorities;
- pursuing disarmament, while guaranteeing legitimate defence; all this will succeed only if respect for life and its protection by the law is granted to every human being from conception until natural death.
Every human person - no matter how vulnerable or helpless, no matter how young or how old, no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society - is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God. This is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition for her survival-yes,the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weakest and most defenceless ones those as yet unborn.
With these sentiments of love and hope for America, I now say goodbye in words that I spoke once before: "Today, therefore, my final prayer is this: that God will bless America, so that she may increasingly become - and truly be - and long remain one Nation, under God, indivisible. With liberty and justice for all"
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What a couple of days!
The stomach bug has hit our house with a vengeance! It has gone through my husband, two of my children and my mom in just the last couple of days. I am fully expecting the other two children, myself and my dad to follow suit as the week ends. Hopefully not! Keep us in your prayers!
Also, keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on a new journey starting Tuesday. I will start full-time work at the school where my two oldest children attend. Kiddo #3 will start there on Tuesday, as well. As I am excited about the possibilities and experiences I will surely have, I am apprehensive and a bit wary of full-time work after 11 years and the repercussions of being out of the home for 10+ hours a day (more like 13 or 14 on the nights that I'm teaching at the college). Everyone has said they will pitch in and do their best to make the transition an easy one for all of us. Kiddo #4 will still be able to attend her preschool and "graduate" with her class in June. I will pick her up most days and bring her back to work with me where she will be able to play in after-school care with the children she most likely will be with in summer camp and kindergarten in September. A dear friend has offered to take her one afternoon a week to play with her children. For that I am very grateful.
So, as you can see, there will be a lot of change in our lives in the near future, but I think it will be change for the better. The children will have mommy in the same building with them and I will have an active, intergral part in their education. The salary of a small private school is nothing to brag about, but having half-price tuition is surely a blessing!
Click here to check out the school's website. It is a wonderful place and the boys are thriving there.
I hope I can report back and say the same for all of us
Also, keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on a new journey starting Tuesday. I will start full-time work at the school where my two oldest children attend. Kiddo #3 will start there on Tuesday, as well. As I am excited about the possibilities and experiences I will surely have, I am apprehensive and a bit wary of full-time work after 11 years and the repercussions of being out of the home for 10+ hours a day (more like 13 or 14 on the nights that I'm teaching at the college). Everyone has said they will pitch in and do their best to make the transition an easy one for all of us. Kiddo #4 will still be able to attend her preschool and "graduate" with her class in June. I will pick her up most days and bring her back to work with me where she will be able to play in after-school care with the children she most likely will be with in summer camp and kindergarten in September. A dear friend has offered to take her one afternoon a week to play with her children. For that I am very grateful.
So, as you can see, there will be a lot of change in our lives in the near future, but I think it will be change for the better. The children will have mommy in the same building with them and I will have an active, intergral part in their education. The salary of a small private school is nothing to brag about, but having half-price tuition is surely a blessing!
Click here to check out the school's website. It is a wonderful place and the boys are thriving there.
I hope I can report back and say the same for all of us
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