Mission Week One Accomplished...Oh and another Company Hits the "List"

Well,

I am pleased to report that this first week of school went very well. I am excited to work with these kids. I think it will be a great year. Everyone seems to be enjoying school, and back to school night last night was well attended. (Maybe it was the bribe of extra credit for the kids that got them to make their parents come- whatever it was, it worked).

On the down side I checked the mail. Let me explain. Today I got my second textbook (yea on that, I guess- except now I have to read it) and we got two unpleasant pieces of information. One from our mortgage company and one from one of our credit card companies. Long story short, we have to pay quite a bit more on our house payment (yucky) and we no longer have one of our credit cards. They raised our rate from a fixed 9.99% to a Prime+12.99% "which is currently at 16.49%. I think NOT! Any they offered me 1000 bonus points if we would keep the card- O0000, how generous. I was SO tempted to stay- NOT!

On a great note, we were invited to dinner by our friends. We had a great time and our kids got to play (or rather destroy- toys that is) with their kids and toys. I also mowed the lawn today and watered it. The poor lawn was a little thirsty.

Oh, another good note- our tree we had to cut down has put out two new shoots on the upper part of the trunk. Maybe there WILL be hope for it grow again. Time will tell.

Well, I really DO have to start reading my articles for class, even if I don't really want too. So a report on the reading later...

Later...

A Week From Today...

OK, so I am freaking out a little bit. A week from today (almost exactly) my wife and I will make the hour journey to the hospital to have our 5 and final child. I am excited, but it all seems surreal. We are still up in the air on the name. We like Eli, but my wife isn't 100% sold in it. We are also discussing Jeffery. I don't know. Guess we better work that out soon!

This week is my first "real" week of summer as both of my classes are over, and I am almost a little lost. I can't work in my classroom because the district still has not laid down my new carpet. I can't really plan anything until that gets done. I hate the feeling of knowing I need to get things done, but can't do them.

We have ourselves a busy week planned out. We are hoping to head to my sisters on Wed. and go swimming in the new aquatic center's outdoor area (like a mini-water park). I am not a fan of swimming, so it doesn't do much to excite me, but it WILL be nice to see my sister. My brother is also talking about going to Junction this weekend, just the adults, and seeing Harry Potter. It will great to take time to go and spend an evening with my brother and his wife. We don't do much with them and it will be fun. Friday is a church social that I am responsible for. Thank heavens for some good counselors that help out a bunch. I think that it will be a great event.

We had a major rain storm on Saturday night here. I was a little nervous wondering if the shed would leak. Well, it didn't as far as I could see. So yea! I still have some touch-ups that need to be done (caulking the trim and vents, etc.) and I will do them eventually, but I am done working on outdoor projects for a while. However, Saturday morning, I spent my 20+ minutes (more like 2 hours) cleaning out my tin storage shed. Since we were able to move a majority of items out of my shed that we had been storing there, I was able to clean out the area and de-junk it. Now when I go in the shed, I don't have to trip over bikes, scooters, and other "treasures" from our house. I can walk in, go right to what I need, and leave. The only down side to that shed being my shed, is that being tin, it gets a mite toasty during the summer and arctic in the winter. But, it is MY space! :)

We made a horrific discovery last night too! Something is killing one of my squash plants. I have checked it carefully for bugs and I water it frequently, so I am a little miffed that it is croaking. My grass is having issues again. I don't understand what is happening. Guess you just keep working and doing your best.

---update now complete---

Later...

8 Lousy Days!

Yep, That is all that is left before school starts. But in a way I am excited as well. It will be nice to be back on a schedule. Today was a good day. I woke up late for my meeting and was a little late. My counselors were waiting outside the locked church door for me when I arrived.
I hate being late.

When we got home from church I went to water the lawn only to find that the irrigation water was STILL out of the gravity ditch. So I had to start watering with city water (and we pay almost $4 per 1000 gallons- OUCH!) Thankfully half way through our friend and neighbor called and informed us the water was back in. So I was able to get our lawn watered for a much cheaper price.

Here is a picture of our yard:

Okay, maybe this is more of a picture of our house than our yard, and what a mighty fine home it is! :)



Here is another view of the house that has more of the yard in it:


We have really worked hard to get it looking this nice. When we bought the house almost 3 years ago, the weeds in front of the house were so tall that you couldn't see anything of the house but the roof! It took a long time but we slowly got the front yard ready to go. For two years all we had we a dirt yard. We were able to add flowerbeds last year and that really helped the yard. This year we added the grass in front. It really improved the house and yard. It actually looks like a house now. At least that is what my wife says!

Unfortunately this is happening to our lawn:

I am frustrated that these dead spots are popping up ALL over my lawn. We have tried just about everything from grub killer to more water to less water. I think that I just might be the neighbors millions cats using our lawn as a litter box. I hope I don't EVER catch them doing it or there is going to be a HUGE problem!


Well! I hope that you all have a great evening! I am enjoying the last 15 minutes of the Olympic coverage. Have a great night, and thanks for reading!

Later...