The Great Outdoors

We just returned (on Monday) from our first Arizona camping trip. We drove about 3 hours Northeast to the White Mountains and stayed in Fool Hollow Campground. We chose it because it was on a lake (not in the way we expected) and it had showers and flush toilets. It is beautiful country up there and the drive there and back was amazing. We camped on a cliff that dropped down to the lake below. It was very windy the first night and the next day and very cold because of it. After the wind died down the temps ranged from a high of 64 in the daytime to a low of 41 at night...chilly, but not unbearable. It was nice to be cold for a change! The campground was nice, although because we had three vehicles they made us pay $15 per vehicle per night even though we were only on one campsite. We decided that since we were paying for it, we would just take over the site next to us too. I don't think we'll camp there again...there was only one hiking trail and although it was beautiful, it just wasn't that exciting. We had a great time and can't wait to do more exploring of this amazing part of the country!

Fa la la la, la la la la

This is a strange and exciting turn of events...the temp inside our little apartment is close to 80 (we turned the air off last night) and the current temp outside is 64. Weather-wise, I had quite a nice little stroll with the doggies. I feel like crap, my throat is closing up, and doggies behaved poorly, but what can you do? Ah yes, fall is coming to the valley. Just last night we were at Costco and they were making room for the parkas. Tomorrow we're driving up to Flagstaff, or "Flag" as the locals call it, and perhaps we'll even see some yellowing, deciduous leaves! Soon we'll be in full-fledged winter...you know, when the temp drops to about 50 and nothing much else happens.

Shadow Mountain

We got up at about 7 a.m. today and took the doggies for our morning walk. Our road pretty much dead ends into Shadow Mountain and since the weather has cooled off significantly we decided to make our first trek into the preserve. Initially there was a pretty steep hike and I was winded right away. There are several trails that are pretty flat and kind of circle the mountains, and one that goes way up. We stuck to the flat trails for now, but plan to come back often and eventually climb the trail that goes up. The dogs were pretty good, still need a little training especially going downhill. The views were nice although it was a little hazy...and we saw a coyote. We can't wait to get out and do some more hiking! Fall Break up north...here we come!

workin' for the weekend

Another week gone by and somehow we made it. Dave had a particularly rotten day yesterday. Just a bad day all around at work, and then to top it all off he got hit by a car on his way home. He's okay, just shaken up and upset about it...but the front tire of his bike is mangled. So, when he gets home today we'll be off to find him a new bike...and maybe some armor.

As for me, I've now made it through the first 6 weeks of school. My class is getting better as a whole, I still have those few specific behavior problems, but who doesn't? Only three weeks away from Fall Break and I can't wait! We're going camping up North where there are trees and water and temps that can dip into the 30s! It's kind of a gloomy, lazy day here...my favorite kind of Saturday. I brought lots of work home to keep me busy but I may find a cozy spot on the couch instead!

Mrs. Deliveries

Ah...school has started once again. I made it through my first three weeks and am now rewarded with a three day weekend. The trouble is, I've also come down with my first cold of the school year. I feel like I've accomplished almost nothing...last week we DIBELed our kids for three days in a row, had three sunny/rainy day schedules (because of the heat advisory we had indoor "recess" on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), we showed three full-length Disney movies because they aren't independent enough to work on their own while we test, and we still have DRAs to do which we figured will take us 17 hours if all goes perfectly. Hmm...when are supposed to teach them?? I know I have accomplished some things...they are much better at the routines and procedures, and can even walk in a semi-straight line semi-quietly. Boy the beginning of the year is rough! I had it good last year...not to mention I have 7 more students now than I did for most of last year. I won't even get into some of the behavior problems I have in my room...again, I had it good last year.

Dave is now biking to and from work most days...which must be brutal on the way home. He's irritated with one of his co-workers right now so that makes a lot of his days less-happy. We've both got Sunday and Monday off and are really excited. It's like having an actual weekend together! Can't wait to see everyone at Christmas time, take care!

Still hot in Phoenix...go figure

It has been relentlessly hot here the past couple of weeks. We are expecting the monsoon storms to arrive any time now...apparently they have a cooling effect. We have had a couple light storms and what turned out to be only a lightning and dust storm last night. No cooling yet though.

Dave has been riding his bike to work in the mornings and I have been picking him up in the evenings. So far it's working pretty well. It's going to be very hot yet when I go back to school so I don't how it will be for him riding home those evenings. I have been in to work at school several times already. Next week I'm going to a conference in Las Vegas and when I get back I only have three days off before I really start back. The first three days are really more conference-type things, but on Aug. 6 I'm back for teacher orientation and the kiddos start on Aug. 13. So the summer is coming to an end quickly. We had a wonderful 6th anniversary on June 30th and I hope Dave is having a great birthday today! (Although he's at work so it probably doesn't seem that great!)

Yeah...what else would "pop" be called?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
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What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz