The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Mother

Savannah's all ready...asleep in her bed. Lorelei's dress all laid out... ...sweet dreams in her head. Now the boys aren't as ready...Bailey's stuff is a mess! But he's calm and not stressed, showered and stinking a bit less. Jonas is all smiles, he says he can't sleep.  But I bet in a few minutes, I won't hear a peep. This poem is a bit silly, but comes from the heart...because tomorrow another school year will start!!  :) Happy back to school everyone!

This week is already a blur and it's only Wednesday.  Just like I said before, time seems to be in fast forward once school starts again!  The final prep for back to school at the Boyen's has started! Sunday, we had a family trip to Office Depot for school supplies and haircuts for the boys.  John came along for school supplies, which was a great help, however it still took us nearly two hours! Monday, I returned to work for teacher prep days.  I'm teaching 3rd grade this year, which is a change again for me.  Yes...I am a gypsy teacher, changing grades yearly and schools too.  But this year starts my 3rd year at Carson.  I've never been at any elementary school for more than 2 years.  I taught for UTSA for 3 1/2 years and that was a major record!  I'm excited too, because I know this group of kids coming into 3rd because I had them back in 1st!  Our new team is off to great start. After a full day of data, staff development and a team meeting, I headed hom

...has been full of last minute appointments, regularly scheduled lessons and some back to school prep. I have not done any back to school shopping yet, I am avoiding it like the plague!  I guess because then I'd have to really admit school is starting soon.  I keep getting asked if we are excited for school to start...sadly none of us are.  Well, at least excited isn't the word I would use...looking forward is even a bit too strong.  In general we all love school, I know I certainly do love teaching and am looking forward to teaching 3rd again.  I think what we don't look forward to is the balancing act that going back to school causes.  It seems somehow, when school starts it is like life suddenly moves to fast forward.  Days and weeks fly by...summer is slow, and leisure.  But so it goes, I start back tomorrow (with a leadership day) and Monday starts the teacher work week, which is the kids last week off.  They don't even really get to enjoy it, since I'm at sc

*I started this post on June 18.  Must have got distracted by something!?  The moments range from May till July.* Being a family with 4 kids ranging from 13-6 years old, it seems that someone is always having some kind of major or minor milestone, even John and I. First dance for my shy girl. Big 6 year old! Solar car race. Daddy's birthday! Rainbow party for Lorelei's birthday. Lovin' her party. Mother's Day! First book report and diorama! First swim of the season. Spring concert for Bailey. Reader's theater and end of year program for Jonas. Kinder program. Kinder grad! 5th grade grad! First gymnastics meet. Baby girl lost her first tooth! Father's Day goodies for John. Lazy days of summer begin... For the baking birthday girl. Luau themed 11th birthday party. This momma loves a themed party!  Yummy Hawaiian pulled beef! We girls loved the luau. L

As if our trip wasn't already fabulous enough, we wrapped up our vacation with a trip to North Myrtle Beach.  Fueled with love and memories from our time with family in Hendersonville, we headed out Sunday afternoon for the beach.  The kids have really become great travelers.  It was about 5 hours from Hendersonville, thanks to some mis-directions on my part, which took us to Myrtle Beach instead of North Myrtle Beach.  I had no idea they were different!!  When we couldn't find the resort we called and the nice lady asked if we typed NORTH Myrtle Beach into the GPS and not just Myrtle Beach.  Oops!  The good part is we realized Myrtle Beach was not really for us...more for the young, partying crowd, not a family of 6!  Now North Myrtle Beach and the Tilghman Resort was family friendly and nearly perfect in every way! It was late when we arrived and some of us were a bit grouchy from going the wrong way and being lost, but all negative feelings were pushed aside when we ste