In a Groove

It's been too long since my last update, and that one was rather rushed. Our lives are in kind of a groove at the moment, nothing momentious, but stuff happens everyday. Here's a snapshot of the crew:

Chris, back from Deutschland, but his suitcase is still downstairs, mostly unpacked. That should probably be a secret, but I do strive to be transparent with the reality that is our life. He is working like a crazy man and when not working, is decompressing. Just in time to do it all again.

Ryan is embracing the 12 year old preteen that is him. Everything is questioned and his attempts at sneakiness are regularly thwarted. Poor kid. He doesn't stand a chance in that respect. Both his parents were sneaky decades before him. And if not sneaky, we work with kids and teens everyday so we really have seen it all. Otherwise, he vascillates between super sweet and crazy stubborn argumentative. Oh, and he realized he is taller than me. Darn it!

Josh is 3 days from being 9 and would like everyone to know about it. His obsession with all things Dr Who and Spiderman continue. Please bear that in mind when considering gifts. He asked me to tell you that. He is growing taller and smarter and more observant. I think I am in trouble with that one. Oh, and his days of sitting in my lap are numbered. He tries to fit, but, well, we'll see how long it lasts. He is lingering in the kid mode and I am enjoying it. I know that he will be a very different kind of preteen than his brother, more willing to bend, but also less open.

As for me, well, I am doing what I always do, school, home, feed the masses, chores to keep it all happening, school, sleep. I find myself keeping the ship afloat, but just barely some days. I love my online class this semester. Somehow having just one seems easier than it should. Work is good. My classes are full of mostly sweet, kind, smart, kids. They make me laugh and want to give them my best every day. Also, my teaching partner got named Teacher of the Year on Friday, and well deserved. I realized that every teaching partner I've had, except the one who quit teaching, has gotten teacher of the year. I'd like to think I had something to do with that, but most likely, I just get to teach with the very best!

So there you have it. No great tales, but good life chugging along.