First Day of School Pictures

So, I finally got around to getting the pictures uploaded. I thought you might enjoy seeing all of them...=)



Here is Hailey and Jeremiah on their first day...







Hailey and Jeremiah in front of their classrooms...










Here is Annabelle and William on their first day... the picture didn't turn out too great because Bella has her eyes closed but keep looking...I added a few more...









Here is Will...looking so handsome








And of course Annabelle...this is the front of the building where we check them in... and William grabbing a bike to head outside.










This last one is my favorite of the two of them. They really are eachothers best friends and it's so cute to see how William literally takes her under his arm and cares for her. Oh and P.S. .... Go Angels! Will LOVES his lunch bag!!!!

DMV...are you KIDDING me?!?

Oh my gosh. The CA DMV. Can you see my hair turning grey and steam coming out of my ears? If not...trust me... it is!

We had to get our car registered and our CA drivers licenses. I thought I was being savvy and made an appointment online. We walked in... got our number and waited for only a few minutes. I was stoked...until we got up to the counter and the lady snipped at us for not having paperwork! Um...why didn't the lady who checked us in (with the confirmation of appointment paper...so she knew why we were there...) give us paperwork? So...after filling out the paperwork and waiting for a bit... our lady went on her break! Yup, her break...it was only 10:30am...
So... I had to get a new number. Finally, after awhile our lady came back from her break. *sigh* I really don't like the DMV. Because I had a CA drivers license before, I didn't have to take the test so that was fabulous. =)

BUT can I just tell you ... when we went to get our drivers license in AZ, it was a pleasant experience... not a walk in the park...but at least the people were nice. When I got my picture taken for the AZ license I started to leave because I figured they'd send it in the mail like good 'ol CA...but nope! AZ prints it out right there. 5 minutes and I had my license. *sigh* Not the case in CA. I should expect my license in 7 - 10 days. Are you joking?!?! So, right now I'm driving around with my AZ license with a hole punched in it! and a piece of paper from the CA DMV stating "Temporary License"... lovely.

We were just glad to get out of there. We still have to get the car smog'd, which means we have to go back again. Oh and it was EXPENSIVE! Can I just say that it was more than a few hundred dollars! I remember when I got my license at 16... it cost me $12. Today... $28. But it's the stupid registration that kills you! Where in the world does all that money go? Cuz you know there was at least 100 people in the DMV this morning...all paying fee's of some sort... I'll remember all the money we paid when we drive down the street and hit our head on the ceiling of the car from all the wonderful bumps and pot holes in the road... =)

It's official!

Whew! I am, once again, an employee of Starbucks! I start Monday and I couldn't be happier! It's been a while but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm just glad my clothes will be smelling of coffee and not grease! =) I remeber in college when we had friends that worked fast food...not a pleasant smell in a dorm.
When I'd get home from work before, Will would always come and give me a big hug and sniff me! =) He said I smelled yummy from the coffee.

What's for dinner ...

Dinner... well... tonight we have Skaterama at the kids' school. Me, roller skating... yeah, I don't think I've skated in over a decade! lol This should be funny...moreso because Will wants to try and if Will is doing it then Bella will want to as well.... Look for pictures in the near future. I'm sure it will be a good laugh!

So, for dinner it will be simple.

Taco Salad. Mainly because I have everything on hand, it's easy and the kids actually eat it! =)

I add avocado to ours and I mix sour cream with a bit of salsa for the dressing. Hailey likes it just plain but the boys like dressing. Annabelle just eats whatever the other kids eat so she doesn't care...=) as long as she gets her pink bowl, life is good.

Classroom Fun...

So I helped out in Jeremiah's 1st grade class today. It was so cute to see the kids figure stuff out. I love my son's teacher. She is great with the kids and really has the classroom running smoothly. They are encouraged to be independent and it's fabulous!

Did I mention that the school only has 1 male teacher. 1! He teaches 5th grade... Even the principal is a women! =)

I want to help out in Hailey's 4th grade class. I think that as of now, I really like the 3rd grade level and I think I would like teaching that age...but I still want to check out the 4th grade. I'll be done in April with my degree...then off to the credential program... so... I have some time to decide but I think that I would do better with the middle ages. I have a lot of respect for those teachers that work with the Junior High and High School. I'm not sure I would have the patience...same with Kindergarten. I think that if I co-taught Kindergarten it would be fun but I'm not sure I would be able to do it all alone.

Jeremiah's 1st grade class has 20 kids... not too bad... Hailey's though...has 31! Holy Crap! 31 kids...wait.... 31- 10 year old's! Girls are getting to the "click" age and boys are realizing that girls exist, and girls are maybe thinking that boys are cute but they still stink and are gross... I think Hailey's teacher needs a HUGE hug and a LARGE cup of coffee! =)

So, all of you teachers out there... THANK YOU. Thank you for pouring into our kids' lives every day. Thank you for giving of yourself, your family, your time, your money, your love and your lives. Thank you for making school and environment that out kids want to go to and enjoy going to.

And, for all of us parents... volunteer in their classrooms if you can. Ask the teachers what kind of supplies they need and keep replenishing them when you can. (It's week 4 and she has already gone through a bunch of glue sticks...and erasers) Send notes of encouragement and appreciation. And teach your kids (as I teach mine) to be respectful and loving. To use manners and be kind. Spoil your kids' teachers because they are making a difference in your child's life. =)

Starbucks called!

Yup...I dropped off resume's at 4 different Starbucks near me and finally after 2 weeks I heard from one. She called at 6pm... and I just got back from the interview! That was quick! I think the interview went really well...they are hiring for the hours that I am looking for and since I've already worked for them, it will make the training/transition much easier. This one has a drive thru so I'm excited about figuring that one out! =)

Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers going. This would be a fabulous opportunity for us! The crazy thing is that the store opens at 4:30am! Whew! That's early!

I'll keep you posted.

First Day of Preschool!

William and Annabelle started their first day of Preschool. They were SO excited! Annabelle especially! She just practically ran into her classroom and wouldn't take off her backpack.

It was quite a wierd feeling to have no kids...none.. the house was quiet. I worked out for a little bit, till I got bored... then I did some homework...then I went and ran a few errands...OH... and I turned in some job applications.

I'm exicted about their next day at school. I think I might actually get A LOT of cleaning done! I might even be able to mop the floor without having to remove little ones...so maybe the floor with stay clean a little longer. =) Yeah right! But we can all hope can't we!?!?!