Labor Day BBQ #2

     

     We had another successful Labor Day BBQ, which included delicious food, great company and plenty of sports/games.  This year we expanded from field hockey to include relay races, washers, half ball, and football.  We had so much fun, and we are happy that so many friends and family were able to join us.  We are already looking forward to hosting again next year!  Unfortunately, mom was not around this year (she was enjoying time with her granddaughter in Kansas), so there are not as many photos to share...

And a little video of the relay race!

Eva Marie Bourdon

    

      She has finally arrived and Ashlea and Nick have offically become parents!  So, you can now call me Auntie Sharon.  Eva Marie was born on August 31st at 3:50pm (central time). She weighed 7lbs and was 21.5 inches long! Here are a few of the photos that they have posted.  I am looking forward to many more photo updates, especially since mimi will be leaving on Saturday to visit for two weeks! 

Mommy & Daddy

Her zero onesie for 0 months old!

On side note - I survived the first week of school.  It was very uncomfortable, because it was so hot!  The good news though, is that the students were awesome and really didn't complain too much.  A very positive and cooperative group of kids, so it should be a great school year!

READY, SET, but don't make me GO!

     The students start school in ONE WEEK!  The first teacher workshop for MSAD 35 is Thursday, so today I decided to go into school and get my classroom ready.  I dropped Sage off at daycare by 8:00, made the drive to Eliot and stayed as long as I needed (which ended up being until 5:15).  I am happy to say that I feel like my room is in good shape and pretty much back together.  I have a few posters to put back on the empty walls, curtains to wash and put up, bulletin boards to fill, folders to organize and then actually plan out what I'm going to teach.  My classroom may be ready, but as usual I am just not mentally ready.  I know once Tuesday comes around the routine will feel comfortable and I'll get right back into it.  I guess that means that tomorrow I should focus on summer read: Rigor is NOT a Four- Letter Word (only 100 more pages to go by Thursday)!!  Goodbye summer vacation - you will be missed!

My desk - one of the few times it will be nice and neat!

Blank bulletin board for now - and my school library.  All of the books are scanned into Bookpedia this amazing program I found to track borrowed books!

A few of the blank walls that need some lovely math posters!

Bright Lights, Big City

     Mom, Jon and I took a quick trip to New York City at the end of July.  We left early Monday morning and made it just in time for check in.  We dropped our things off and then headed into the city, grabbed a quick bite to eat and then boarded the CitySights bus for the night tour.  

Times Square

M&M World (YUM)

Statue of Liberty in the distance

     On Tuesday we took our time getting up and into the city.  We started off in Central Park and walked around for a bit.  We did not have very much luck with CitySights (the buses did not come as frequently as they should have).  We ended up changing or plans and walking A TON to get to the Harbor Cruise.  It was nice to hear some of the information and history both on the cruise and from the bus tours.  After lunch we took the Uptown bus tour: Central Park, Apollo Theatre, Museums & Harlem.  We ended the day at Rockefeller Center and just before sunset we took a ride to the "Top of the Rock" to get some amazing photos of the city.

A few of the sights before the cruise.

The Plaza

On the Harbor Cruise

Freedom Tower being built

Top of the Rock

Central Park

Finally found a comfortable seat to wait for the sun to set, but then I was told to get down.

     After sleeping in on Wednesday we headed back to the city and started the day with the Downtown Tour: Times Square, Broadway, Financial District, and Battery Park.  We enjoyed some of the tour and stopped at Battery Park to catch the ferry over to Liberty Island.  It took a lot longer than we thought to go through the line and get over to the Statue of Liberty.  It had to be a quick trip and we did not get to see Ellis Island, because we had to get back for our NBC Studios tour in the afternoon.  We couldn't take any photos, but we got to see the studios of Dr.   Oz, Sunday Night Football, and SNL.  Afterwards we grabbed some dinner before taking the subway over to the Financial District and Ground Zero.  Finally, we headed back to Times Square for the 8:00 showing of the Lion King on Broadway!  It was AMAZING!

A few sights on the Downtown Tour

Structure originally in front of the World Trade Center

Tiles created by students to remember September 11th

Liberty Island

NBC

Freedom Tower being built & Ground Zero

Winter Gardens

     It was a quick and BUSY trip, and we fit in as much as we could.  Thursday morning we slept in, packed up and headed home!