I can't believe this many weeks has gone by since I blogged.
www.MyMemories.com has offered me the opportunity to share with my followers The new My Memories Suite Software digital download (a $40 value) free this week only. Just go to their website and place the Suite in your cart. Copy and paste this link: FreeTreatEE49 in the "promotional code" box. The discount will show up at checkout.
I have to admit, I am taking myself up on the offer and downloading the new software as we speak. I have used a previous version. I loved that rather than have to print my digital pages and put them in my scrapbooks, which I could never get all of them out of my house in a fire, I can save the pages to a cd and easily handle grabbing my cd's if I had to get out in a hurry. Pictures can be set to music as well and viewed as slideshows. There are tons of options for digital papers and embellishments and it's a great stress reliever too. I'm hoping to alleviate the guilt I feel about not recording memories as much as I feel I should. I have tons of paper scrapbooking products I have purchased over the years - I will use those for the pictures I have already printed or had developed -but I am going to be use this software for all the pictures I have not printed on paper, but am afraid I will lose from my phone or camera cards. Hope you can enjoy it too!
August was a whirlwind of last minute summer events. After our journey to Napa Valley - which I believe was the last time I took a moment to blog, we flew home on Kylee's 7th birthday.
Grandma and Grandpa Hunt had flown out while we were in Napa and stayed a few days with us. I had to work part days to make up for missing two of the three required teacher work days because of my niece's wedding events in Washington on the 23rd and 24th of August.
We drove back Sunday night and school began on Monday, August 26th, which was Lexi's 10th birthday. This year, all 5 of my children began at new schools without us moving homes. Steven and Chalyse both transferred to the University of Utah from Salt Lake Community College. McKenzi started Middle School, which is 7th grade in our district. Kylee and Lexi transferred from Westland to the school I started working at last December.
It was neat that when lunch time came, I was able to sit with Lexi in the cafeteria to celebrate. She had wanted me to bring a birthday cake for her class. I was not sure how I was going to handle getting a cake for her after having to drive 10 hours on Sunday to make it home - but we were offered an extra cake left over from the wedding so Lexi got her cake.
It has been a challenge to keep up with the house and yard work and be at school 32 hours a week, but I truly feel like I have the best work situation for my family. I get to be with my two youngest all day long - not directly, but they usually have an opportunity to wave at me, or blow me a kiss, or even come give me a hug during the day. Kylee was able to find me when she hurt her eye on the playground or lost her tooth during lunch last week.
We have figured out that it causes a lot less stress to pay the 80 cents for breakfast, than to try to get something healthy made for the girls and have them done eating by the time I need to leave for work - so the girls just get themselves dressed, hair done, teeth brushed and we arrive at the school a half hour before school starts. They go eat breakfast with the other kids - most of the kids of staff at the school are also eating and my girls have become friends with many of them.
After school, Lexi has band Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4pm so Kylee and I hang out in my office while she does homework or helps me color materials.
I have a manageable caseload and enough time to plan ahead.
I love that I work the same days and almost same hours as my kids have school and that I have them with me. The kids I see are great to work with and I feel like I am changing their lives for the better! I think my principal placed me well when he put me on the Sunshine Committee. We are planning to have a family work party in our back yard to celebrate the end of the school year - and I have to admit, there are moments when I find myself looking forward to having next summer off again. Summer is my favorite season and it has been hard to see it go!
Trent is recovering from his torn rotator cuff surgery (something we didn't know he was having until after the surgery was over. We thought he was just having a scope to remove some bone spurs. He woke up to being in a sling, with a pain pump, and weeks of physical therapy to endure). It hasn't kept him down at work. Against doctor recommendations, he flew to Virginia 3 days after the surgery to fulfill his previous commitments. I admire his tenacity and strength. I don't think I could have handled the pain.
I'm looking forward to getting my stitches out from my own minor surgery tomorrow. We had a wonderful time at the Fall Ball yesterday! It's great to have awesome friends and have opportunities to catch up with neighbors we don't see often enough!
Until next time, I'm going to go scrapbook before church!
Valerie
