Two Weeks Alone in Florida

Erin leaves today for a two week vacation with her cousins in Florida. We are all sad. The boys were so generous to offer up the DS games and the DS itself so she would get bored on the plane. It's going to be so sad not having her around. She isn't scared at all about flying alone. She's the bravest of all the kids.


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New Student

I'm not sure if I've written about my new student that I took on in April.  Her name is Cameron and she just turned 7.  Her mother found me from Susan Barton's website.  I don't really want to take students in the evening because I'm busy with my own kids in the evenings.  But her mom, a former Nebraska Senator, was very persistent and was able to get the principal to allow me to come into the school and tutor her.   Cameron's teacher didn't want to pass her to the second grade but just after a month of tutoring, her test scores shot up on her reading and the principal called to say that he had no reason to hold her back.  We were all so excited that the tutoring has been so effective.  That wasn't a surprise to me though because I've seen it 10 times before in my other students.

I am so excited to be working with a mom that is so well known in this state.  That's because I felt that I really needed to get out there and educate the state of Nebraska on dyslexia.  But I'm shy and not a great spokesperson.  So with the mom's help, I am working  on getting some dyslexia legislation passed in the state.  That bill would require teachers to become educated on dyslexia and also each student tested and given help if they need it.  We have joined forces with the dyslexia association to get these laws passed.  I'm so excited.

I become so attached to my students.  My kids think that these students become part of our family.  I do really love what I do and I can't wait until Mario retires and I can take on more students.    There is nothing more rewarding, except being a wife and mother.

July Happenings

I realized it's been awhile since writing on my blog. That's not good since this blog is the only journal that I keep.

We have decided to adopt Sophie.  She's a pretty good dog.  She had big shoes to fill because we all loved Buzz and he was just a great dog.  Everyone loved him.  But we all love Sophie.  The only downside to her is that she has food allergies and we aren't sure what they are.  So she can't just eat any food off the ground at the park and we have to buy her more expensive dog food.  I enjoy walking with her around the lake each morning.  She normally comes up to my room between 6 and 6:30 every morning.  Occasionally she'll try to get me to walk her at 4:30 but I resist.

We went to visit Melissa and her boys in Missouri over the Fourth of July holiday.  Her mother-in-law is kind enough to let 6 of us crash at her lake house.  Then she and Melissa made all the food.  My big kids don't love going on vacations and they almost always want to stay home but they both enjoy going to the lake house.  Nate and Zach have so much fun exploring the woods, fishing, and swimming all day at the lake with their cousins.  We hardly ever see them when they are all together.

Mario switched jobs last week.  He didn't like his old boss or a couple of his coworkers so he volunteered to take a different job.  He will now do shift work so he'll work less days a month but he'll work weird hours including nights.  I think he'll like this new job and I will have more time to spend with him.

I had knee surgery yesterday on my right knee.  It was minor meniscal repair just like I had done on my left knee.  I had the lady registering me how much the surgery costs.  She said between 18-24k.  But of course our insurance only pays about 13% of that amount.  Fortunately I am not responsible for the difference.  Thank goodness for the military insurance.

Erin and I started taking quilting lessons from a sister I visit teach.  She is an amazing quilter and so I'm lucky she agreed to give us lessons.  Erin is making a quilt for her last YW project.  The material alone cost $95, so I hope she is happy with the results,  I think she will be since she has a professional teaching her.  I'm quickly finding that quilting is not a cheap hobby.

Erin leaves for Florida on Saturday.  She's going to visit Billy, Kristen, Gabriella, and Gina.  This will be her first time flying alone but she has flown at least a dozen times before with us.  So she should be fine.  I'm not sure I'll survive without her but I'm excited for her.  Eric leaves for scout camp on Monday.  So it will be down to just the four of us left at home.  We were hoping to go back to the lake house next week but Sophie may be sick so we don't know yet if it will work out.  She has been coughing  so we aren't sure if it's kennel cough or if she ate something that she got stuck in her throat.