This is all I Got Today

We are spending the weekend at the Van Auken B and B in Oshkosh.

The Van Aukens are camping.

We biked the Rawley/Mariner bike trails yesterday.

I planned to upload a number of the pictures from our ride, but the computer is not being cooperative tonight, so I am leaving you with just this one teaser.

I was just ready to begin the ride.

More to come tomorrow, I hope...

Today at the B and B I organized and cleaned for Courtney.  I believe in earning my keep while I am here. 

I cleaned up Tizita's room, she has a bit of her mama in her, reorganized the playroom, and redid the guest room which was going to be Natnael's room.

It all looks good and I will share those photos when I get back home.

Annual Memorial Bike Trail

 Memorial Day 2009 - Cold and rainy

 Memorial Day 2010 - Beautiful warm day

 Memorial Day 2011 - Very cold, dressed in layers to stay warm
Just back from our annual ride on this trail.  I cannot load the new pictures right now, so I will leave you with these blasts from the past and add more tomorrow.
It was a great ride in case you were wondering.
Best weather yet.

Perks

One of the perks of being a teacher is the gifts.

I usually get them for Christmas, my birthday, teacher appreciation week, and now at the end of the year.

I especially like the end of the year gifts since they usually include plants and other garden items.

I got the flowers from Owen.  He picked them out himself because he knew I liked daisies.

 Morgan picked out this balloon for me because she knows I like princesses.

I do like princesses, right?

 This is the third year that I have gotten a pretty plant from the Duddeck children.

Last year it was roses, year before that daisies, this year geraniums and allysum.

 Some lavendar from Carlee as well as

these homemade sprays and deodorizes made with essential oils.

They smell so nice!

There were a few other gifts but these were my favorites so far.

Today was the last day of school.  I am going to miss the kids, but need a break.





Another school year comes to an end

Our school had its Spring Sing last night.

We tried something new this year, instead of only involving the Preschool and Kindergarten classes, the whole school took part in the performance.

Our school band played a few numbers to open the program, followed by a piano duet by two talented students.

My Preschoolers took center stage next.

We had made them little birdie costumes by sewing scarves onto the sleeves of colorful T-shirts. 

Elastic ponytail holders sewed on the corners of the scarves held them to the kids' wrists.

We also put feathers on the back of the T-shirts for their tails and made headbands for their heads.

They were the cutest little birdies ever!

Here they are shaking their little tails during one of our songs.

The audience laughed so hard at their cute little tails swishing!

We also received very loud applause after our numbers.

Here were our seats for the remainder of the show.  All 39 of my preschoolers sat on these two lines and never moved.

They enjoyed the rest of the program which included songs by the other classes, choirs, and more band numbers.

It was indeed a fun evening and my kids made me one proud teacher yet again.

I am going to miss this class of kids as they move on to Kindergarten.

They had line following down to a fine art from the start and it made my job so much easier.

In ways, I am ready for school to be over on Friday, but in other ways, I am sad to see this year end.

Happy Birthday dad

My dad would have been 84 years old today.

He died when he was 62.

At the time, 62 seemed rather old to me, but as I get closer to that number, I realize how young he actually was when he died.

He died unexpectedly but so often we see God's perfect plan in the timing of his death.

My dad died before almost all of his good buddies.  He has such a soft, sensitive soul that it would have hurt him so much to see those he cared about suffering.

We like to think that God took him early so he was spared all of that.

Now most of his good friends are with him up in heaven and I like to imagine the great birthday party they are having today.

As much as we would have loved to keep him around for many years, we never wish him back.

We think about him often, laugh about the good times, and often drink a toast to him.

Today we will do those things.

Happy Birthday, dad!

See you soon.

If you see Natnael running around up there give him a big hug and let him have a big piece of you birthday cake today.

The Bachelorette and Donald

TV at its best!

A few seasons ago, I declared on FB that I would never, ever, no not ever watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette again. 

I don't remember the exact reason right now, but I think it had something to do with the Bachelor changing his mind and taking his second choice over his first.

Whatever it was, it made me very mad at the show and I was going to boycott.

Well, that didn't last because I was back watching the very next season.

The Bachelorette is back on and my Monday nights are something to look forward to again.
I am not all that excited with Emily, but I will watch anyway.
And I am not going to the spoiler site this season.  I am going to let myself be surprised!
Oh, the drama...

Then there is Donald!

Dancing with the Stars has never really interested me all that much.

But, Donald Driver has added a new dimension to that show.

Last night he and his partner were decked out in the Gold and Green, the audience was filled with people wearing cheeseheads, and he did some amazing footwook and lifts.

Yep, Donald is representing WI well.

Tonight we find out if he won the whole thing, if not, I may have to protest that show, too.

Glacier River Bike Trail

On Saturday we biked the Glacier River Bike Trail.  It starts in downtown Fort Atkinson and goes 8 1/2 miles to the Jefferson/Rock county line.  The last time we rode this trail was in 2006 when our bikes were new and we had just purchased our bike carrier.  It was a rather warm day in the high 80's and there was a very strong wind which was blowing against us all the way on our trip out.  Our only comforting thought was that that same wind would be at our backs on the way back in. 

There is a mile of off trail riding at mile 4.  One rides on a country road down to the Rock River boat launch and right under the highway 26 bypass. 

This a view of the river from under the bridge.  It is a pretty spot, but smelled like dead fish.

The trail is paved for all but about the last two miles which makes it an easy ride, which I am guessing would really be easy if there was no wind to ride against.

For the most part, the ride is alongside highway 26, but the tall trees keep the highway hidden.  There is a covered bridge along the trail. 

I was busy snapping a picture with my phone and uploading it to facebook.  Oh, the beauty of technology!

Another picture of the bridge.

This is the view from out of the window of the bridge. 

And here we are on the tailend of our journey just entering Fort Atkinson again.  I actually thought as we were starting the trail and my legs were so tired that I was losing my ability to ride my bike, but as we headed back, I realized the wind was just making it so difficult.  Next weekend we go on our annual bike ride at Point Beach State Park.  I think I am ready for it!