Reading Challenge #2

I have kind of been slacking with the goodreads.com book group. But, now that field hockey is over I feel like I have time do more of things I enjoy, like reading, scrapbooking, etc. So, here are my reading choices for the November Reading Challenge (Nov. 1st - 30th). We'll see how it goes, because last time I only finished 7 out of the 10 books (and I think it took longer than a month).

1. N for November................................Names my Sisters Call Me
2. Group B-day book........................................Elsewhere
3. Geography: New York.......................Once Upon a Blind Date
4. Fall Theme (Orange, leaves, pumpkins).....Frogs & French Kisses
5. Time Change (Any word assoc. with time)....................Timeline
6. Native American Heritage Month.....Second Glance
7. 1 author 2 names (Book #1)......Naked in Death (JD Robb)
8. 1 Author 2 names (Book #2)...Dance Upon the Air (Nora Roberts)
9. Romantic suspense...........................Ricochet
10. Group Book Shelf.................................The Host

One Season Ends & Another Begins

The Marshwood field hockey season if FINALLY over (3-2-6)! It is always a bittersweet feeling though, because I truly enjoy working with the girls, but the season just drags on. We had a terrific last game, we ended up winning 2-1, against Kittery. It was a really competitive, and close game! We had a successful team celebration at Smitty's in Sanford - took 50 girls along with a few parents to see Where the Wild Things Are. Here are a few of the team photos from this year. I have to hand it to Tami (7th grade coach), because she had 30 girls alone on the 6th/7th grade team and she was able to get all of them in to each and every game! It was not an easy job! But now, I am looking forward to having my time back after school to prep, plan or just head home if I want to. Just a few more uniforms to collect and then we are completely done!

8th Grade Team

On the same day that my Marshwood season ended, my adult league at Seacoast United started. We had an 8:30 game, which is late for me (especially when I have to drive back to Scarborough afterwards). We played pretty well considering we hadn't played since April/May. But, I am sooo out of shape and I am still a little sore today (shins/legs especially). Now, that I have some more free time I need to get my butt to the gym, so that I am not in pain for a week after playing Monday nights.

Hopefully there will be more opportunities for blog posts now that coaching is over with. We shall see...

What was I thinking?

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but since school has started it has been CRAZY busy! Teaching Algebra and now Geometry (ugh) is certainly keeping me on my toes. I am also trying to get the hang of the new Pre-Algebra text. Three preps on top of a one hour commute each way makes me feel like there is no time! Field hockey has finally started to get better, we are now 1-1-2. We travel to Saco Middle School today. This week I feel like I can finally breathe and slow things down a bit, because the students have testing all day. So, that is why I have some time to blog. So, I thought I would share a funny little story about an adventure I had here at MMS. Oh, the things I am willing to do for my students & literacy. What was I thinking???!!!

At the end of September we had an all school assembly to celebrate summer reading and literacy. We had volunteered one of the teachers on my team to be the leader at the assembly, and when I came into the gym he asked me if I would help. Little did I know, he was tricking me into being the leader.

During the assembly the principal would ask questions related to the summer reading books, and it was my job to get the answer from my students. If I was called on I would share the answer and our team would get a point. I knew that the top two teams would be competing in the end for a prize. So, I tried to raise my hand slow and avoid being called on, but my plan did not work, because my team was seated at the front of the gym. We ended up winning and I (as the representative of our team) would be going up against the other 8th grade teacher. Thankfully, the 7th grade team lost or I would have been going against the wrestling coach!! Here is what the team competition involved...IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL!!!

We had to race across the gym floor in these ridiculous, smelly, gross costumes. The best our of three runs was the winner. I won the first one, and then the second one they put us closer together to make it easier to push each other down. I decided (stupidly) to make it a little more entertaining, so I dove on the floor for the book (and won). Then I couldn't get up and everyone was laughing/taking pictures instead of trying to help. Finally, they made us spin around and then try to find the book, and the only reason I won that round is because the other teacher dropped the book. So, in the end the 8-White team won!! But, wait the story gets better...

After the assembly I proceeded to teach my classes, but my neck/back started to ache. I soon realized that I had seriously hurt myself when I dove for the book. The costume had sprung me back when I landed on the floor and my head snapped back, causing whiplash!! I actually had to fill out workman's comp paperwork and iced my neck. Ridiculous! Oh, but it gets even better... at the end of the day I was looking back at some of the photos and noticed an unfamiliar person in the background. When I asked who he was, I was told that he was from Foster's Daily Democrat! AHHHH! A small article appeared in the newspaper about 4 days later. As if I wasn't humiliated enough - what was I thinking?

Sage goes Swimming

Two weekends ago we were in Hampden at my mom's and Sage had her first real swimming experience. Earlier in the summer Mike and Dave took her kayaking. She fell in a few times trying to go back and forth between the two kayaks. She really did not care to be in the water at all, but we just thought that it was too early in the season and the water was too cold. I thought for sure we would have better luck in August in the swimming pool. Even though she doesn't even like taking a bath, I thought after swimming around she would really enjoy being in the water.

But, I was wrong! She does not like to be in the water at all! Mike tried to coax her in with some treats, but she was not very trusting. She would sniff close to him and then quickly retreat. Mike finally had to pick her up and bring her into the pool with him. She was so cute swimming around, but she did not really enjoy it. She just kept swimming to Mike or trying to swim to the edge instead of going after toys.

As soon as she was out of the water she was running around like crazy, trying to get dry. She was rubbing up against the floats, deck, and towels to try and wipe the water away.  Shortly after that Mike picked her up and took her in for another swim.  She swam around a bit more than before and actually would go towards the toys, but again did not really seem to enjoy it at all.  Hopefully as she gets older she'll have more opportunities to swim around in the water, and she'll grow to love it.  I have my doubts though. :(

Move # 3 - Storage to the House

Move # 3 was a success!  We were homeless when we came back from the honeymoon on Sunday, and by Monday at 10:00 AM the house was ours.  Mike went immediately to Budget to rent a truck and fortunately he had his dad and brother Phil meet him at storage to start loading everything up.  I also lucked out because Mike's mom and Sarah met me at the house to help me clean before everything was moved in.   

The bottom floor was pretty much ready to go when the boys arrived.  They brought in most of the furniture for downstairs, and then the rest went into the garage.  Once the upstairs was vacuumed and cleaned then they started assembling beds and bringing in the bulky furniture.  We did what we could, but by 5:00 we were all exhausted.  So, we took a little break.  Mike's mom started to put together dinner and I went to pick Sage up from daycare.  She was certainly confused when we arrived at the house.  But, she just walked around, sniffing and exploring the place.  I think she is very excited about her new home!  

After dinner, Mike's family headed back to Littleton.  Mike and I did a little more unpacking and then went to bed early, because it was a long day.  Plus Mike had to go back to work on Tuesday.  The process has certainly been very slow - unpacking, organizing, and finding a place for everything, but we are getting there.  I should be able to post pictures of the house all put together soon.  Especially, with our new living room furniture!

Move # 2 - Dunstan's Landing to Storage

I think we were a little crazy to even think about moving out of the apartment the day after the wedding, but we did it!  We woke up Sunday morning, went to church and then met up with family for breakfast.  Afterwards we went to Mike's apartment to 1. clean up from the girls getting ready, 2. pack up what was left lying around, 3. load up the truck and 4. ship it all to storage.  

Thankfully, Mike's mom was able to stop by and pack up all of the refrigerated items.  My mom and grandmother helped me with packing up the leftover things.  Mike along with his brothers, sisters, my brother, and his dad were able to work on loading the truck and making sure that it would all fit!  It probably took about 3-4 hours to load it all.  Then after my family headed home, Mike's family went to storage to unload everything.  Kelly was a huge help with stacking and organizing things, so that it would all fit from the truck into storage.  It was a close call!

While they organized the storage unit I stayed behind to clean and vacuum the apartment. I even had time to take a little nap on the not so comfortable floor.  When they returned an hour later, we packed up what was left into the cars.  Phil and Jane went in one car, because they were headed towards Boston.  Then the other five of us and Sage crammed into Mike's car to drive to his parents house in Littleton, MA.  

Once we arrived we had a lovely dinner, opened a few gifts, organized our luggage for the honeymoon and then went to bed!!!  Unfortunately, after the wedding my camera decided to stop working, so I do not have any photos of the moving preparations.  But, I was able to snap a few when we got back and started to unload it for move # 3 - into the house!

Thank you to everyone who helped!  We could not have done it without you!

Honeymoon

After the wedding on Saturday and then all of the loading, packing and moving we did on Sunday, we were looking forward to the honeymoon. We left Mike's parents early in the morning and they dropped us off at Logan Airport. By 8:15 we were in the air and headed to the Dominican Republic.

The airport in Punta Cana was all open and looked like a bunch of huts grouped together.  It didn't take very long to find our luggage, but just as soon as we had it in our hands there were workers there to grab the bags and whiz around the airport looking for our transportation.  We just tried to keep up with the guy, as he wheeled our stuff to a bus that would take us to the resort.

Our room was not available upon arrival, so we tested out the buffet and lounged around for a few hours. It was of course very HOT, which I enjoyed (Mike not so much). That night, once it had cooled down, we walked around the resort a bit, tested out the train system, viewed the casino and then watched a magician show. When we got back, Mike tried to fix the alarm clock and accidentally tripped the power. We had some difficulty communicating that to the staff at the front desk - that we needed lights, they thought we needed towels. Unfortunately, they did not show up to fix the problem until the morning, so we spent the first night without AC.

Tuesday we enjoyed our first cocktail, while waiting for our meeting with the transportation Co.  They gave us info about the resort, the activities and of course the excursions available. We decided to book the ATV/Buggy experience. Later in the afternoon we headed to the beach for the first time. Mike of course spent time under the shade of the palm trees, while I soaked up the sun and the water was pretty warm.

On Wednesday was the excursion.  We were the first to be picked up, so we spent about an hour on the back of a pick-up truck, with not very comfortable seats.  When we got there they explained the safety guidelines and agenda for the day.  Unfortunately, we only had $5 with us, so we could not afford to buy the bandannas needed to cover our faces.  So, we resorted to using our t-shirts!  Our buggy was not very good and we ended up stalling 3 times.  The scariest part was when it happened, but the rest of the group kept driving.  Once we were started again, we had to try and catch up to them, while driving on the side of the road, with regular Dominican traffic whizzing by. 

On the buggies and ATV's we visited the beautiful Macao Beach and a cave with a swimming hole.  Then we returned to the ranch and had the opportunity to go horse back riding.  Mike of course ended up with the smallest horse and it refused to go anywhere.  One of the guides had to keep hitting the horse to get it to catch up with the rest of the group.  I thought my horse was going to be stubborn as well.  But, once the guides started going, my horse took off and at least stayed with the group.  It was quite the experience! 

For the rest of the honeymoon we spent time at the beach and in the pools. Again I spent my time in the sun, while Mike relaxed in the shade.  We of course took full advantage of the swim up bar.  We also experienced the flea market, which was quite stressful. The people would follow us around waiting for us to buy something.  However, we did not see anything we liked, so we bought all of our souvenirs at the local mall.  It did actually rain the very last night we were there, but it only lasted about 10 minutes.  

The food was the most difficult part of the whole trip.  Each night we had to call and make reservations at one of the restaurants.  The first few times Mike thought the staff had hung up on him, after finally getting through.  We realized later that he was just put on hold, so that they could get someone who could speak english to take our call.  We tried the Thai, International, French, American Grill, and the Italian restaurants.  We were certainly full each night, because of all of the different courses, but the food was not very impressive.  We would rather stick to the breakfast & lunch buffets.  Oh well.

Overall, we had an enjoyable, memorable, and relaxing time, but we were of course anxious to get home on Sunday. Phil and Jane picked 

us up and we headed back to Mike's parents. Sage was of course very excited to see us. We enjoyed a nice dinner, made a plan for the 

morning, and then went to bed. It was going to be another early morning - heading back to Scarborough to close on the house.