swimming

This is a video of Taylor learning how to swim. She is doing really well!

You have to click on the link to view my blog rather than the link to the video if you would like to watch!

Taylor Swimming

Updates

Hey everyone. Things around here are busy as ever. Harvest is now in full swing and Mike hasn't been home too much. He hired two new drivers this year and is struggling with training both of them. They seem to be working out well but there is always the wonder if something is going wrong or if they are working as fast as they should be.

8th grade Algebra is proving to be as challenging as last year. The kids are entirely different than the group I had last year. I am also teaching a new curriculum this year. That makes things a little more difficult. The kids seem to be responding well, so that's a good thing. If the schedules would get ironed out it would make my life a little easier. But, I am doing the best with what I am given.

I am starting a test prep class next week to prepare me for the Math CSET. I have to take this test in order to get a single subject credential. That way I will have two credentials and be able to work in more areas. I will be able to teach K-6 but also be able to continue to teach Math in a single subject environment (meaning I don't teach anything else). I really hope that I can pass the test because I have heard that it's brutal. Wish me luck! I also only have one more test to pass to file for my multiple subject teaching credential. I am really excited. I will finally be done with school for a while. At least until I go back to get my Master's Degree.

Taylor is continuing to do very well. She misses Mike terribely but is doing ok. She got her first hair cut yesterday! We just trimmed the ends off. It looks very cute. Mike's sister Janette cut it for us. She cut it into a little bob. It is very cute! I will post pictures when I can.

August already???

Hello everyone. Well August is here and I am not really sure when it got here so quickly! School is going well. My students seem to be very good and respectful. I have a couple that I am not so thrilled about, but hey, there is always one.

Harvest has officially started at the Damas house. Mike's last day of his regular job was on Tuesday and harvest is now in full swing. So far he hasn't had to work very late, but I know it's coming. Dad is in charge of all of Braden Farms' hullers so Mom and I will be spending so husband-less evenings together. It will be nice to have some time with her.

Taylor is doing very well. She is getting very big very fast. The potty training has been put on hold because she was resisting a lot. So we will try again in September when I am off for two weeks. Other than that, she is doing great. She is talking up a storm and growing by the second.
I spent this weekend with the Damas women and we made apple and peach pies. It was nice to have some time with my mother-in-law and just sit and chat while cutting apple and peaches. Christina and I were in charge of pealing and cutting while Julie was put in charge of pealing peaches when she got home. It was a very nice day. This Saturday I get to learn how to can peaches. Who knew I would be so domestic?

I hope this finds all of you doing well. Hope to see you soon!

I survived!

Well I survived my first week back at school. I am teaching all new kids so that means I have to get to know a whole new set of kids with different wants, needs, and triggers. My first week went pretty well. Much better than it did last year. I was much more comfortable and easy going about the first day. Most of my kids are pretty well behaved and respectful. I only have one that is REALLY annoying. We will see what happens with him.

Mike is doing well. He is gearing up for harvest. His last day at his day-to-day job will be the 12th. All of his machines are ready to go and he is getting antsy. He is going to work very hard with very long hours this year...so it will be me and Taylor for the next few months. It will be a little lonely, but we will get through it.

Taylor is also doing great. She knows all of her basic colors and counts to 10! She likes to show off a little with it too. She is also starting to learn songs. Her favorites are The Wheels on the Bus and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. She tries her best to sing along and she knows all of the hand motions. She has also started gymnastics. She loves that! She loves to be around other kids so she has a great time. My mom takes her on Wednesday mornings. I am really excited for her.

I can't believed it's already August! Things are going by so quickly that it's a little scary! I don't think they will slow down anytime soon either. I hope this finds everyone doing well.

oh goodness

My goodness, it has been a long time since I last wrote. Things have been pretty crazy around here as you might imagine.

June came and went with little excitement. Mom, Taylor, and I went to visit Jamie in Los Angeles and made an impromptu visit to Disneyland. Taylor had so much fun. She loved the Dumbo ride and the carousel. She kept asking to ride the "elephant" and the "horsies". We spent the night with Jamie as well. That was fun and Taylor enjoyed seeing her Aunt Mimi.

The 4th of July was fun as well. We went to the Damas' house and bar-be-qued and lit fireworks. Taylor loved them. They scared her at first but after about three of them, she really liked them. She also really liked the sparklers. She wouldn't hold one by herself, but she played with me while I held them.


We also just got back from our annual Richmond family camping trip. We went up to Humbolt Redwoods State Park. It was really fun, aside from all of the driving. We got to go up and see the ranch where the men in the family hunt every year. That was really nice since I had never gotten to see it and it means a lot to my dad. My dad also took us to where my grandpa's ashes were scattered. That was really nice to see. Dad got to drive around and give us the scenic tour and I know he loves to do that. Everyone else is still up there and will return on Saturday.

I go back to work on Monday. I thought my summer vacation would be a little more relaxing, but that has not been the case. It hasn't been too busy, but busy enough. I hope this finds everyone is good spirits. Hope to hear from you soon!

This week

Well I made it though my first year of teaching!!! Yay! I am in training all of this week and next week though so I feel like I went back to school again. We are adopting a new math curriculum so I have to be trained in it. It's not really fun to have to do but it has to be done.

Taylor is doing much better with her fever. We haven't had a fever since the shots of antibiotic. She is finally back to her old self. She stayed with her Aunt Janette this week for a couple of days while I was working. She really enjoyed it. She got to go swimming and play with her cousins, Tyler and Ashely. It was really fun for her and I hope it was fun for them as well.

This weekend I am having my 'Summer Kick-Off' party for Gold Canyon Candles. I really enjoy selling them. I get to make a little extra money and I don't really have to do much since they sell themselves. Hopefully this weekend is a success.

Taylor starts gymnastics on Tuesday! I am really looking forward to that. She is taking a Mommy and Me class so really me and mom start gymnastics on Tuesday as well. It will be really fun I think. Taylor loves to jump and play and it will be really good for her to be around other kids. She spends most of her time with the dogs now so I would like her to be around some other kids. Sunday is Father's Day so that should be a fun day too. Not sure what we are doing for Mike yet but we will think of something.

I hope this finds all of you doing well. Hope to talk to you soon!

The Past Two Weeks

Well it's been a very busy two weeks. Let me update you!

We had Taylor's birthday party on the 25th. It was very nice. We had a lot of good friends come and some new ones too. Our friends Sara and Madison came over from Monterey and it was wonderful to see them. Taylor was in the pool for most of the day and had so much fun swimming with her friends and cousins.

During the week was business as usual. Mike had class and I had work. Taylor came down with a fever on Monday the 26th. She was not feeling well for a few days so I called her doctor. The doctor told me to let the fever go for three days. On Thursday we called the doctor back and she wanted us to come in. Mom took Taylor to the doctor and they took some blood to check for viruses and bacteria. Nothing came back with those tests so she said to watch Taylor through the weekend and see how she did. Well the weekend came and went with no change so Mom took her to the doctor again on Monday. They had to take more blood and do a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia. That test came back negative but her blood cultures will not be back for 4-7 days. The doctor did notice that Taylor's white blood cell count had sky rocketed so yesterday she gave her two injections of a general antibiotic. Today she goes back in for two more injections. Good news...she's starting to feel better and actually ate dinner last night. Bad news...they still don't know what's causing her fever and I am not sure they ever will.

This past Saturday was Brooke and Rocky's wedding held at my parents house. The wedding was beautiful and very laid back. It was really nice. She looked stunning and you could see it on Rocky's face when she walked out.

This is my last week of school. Tomorrow is the last day for students. I am very ready to have some time off. I have a job for next year! I will still be in 8th grade teaching Algebra, Algebra Readiness and Science. I think I will also still be teaching Journalism but that one is still up in the air. We will see.

I will try not to wait so long next time. I will try to stay more faithful to keeping this updated.