Summer

The top picture is my kids playing with noodles while I try to get something accomplished. I read somewhere in a baby magazine that kids have fun sticking spaghettie noodles in a strainer well it isn't worth it! It took so long to clean up even with my chefs helping. The other pictures are from our weekend trips to the lake. This past weekend we had a blast and Clay my sister Rachelle's friend came up and it was good visiting with him. Carly is in love with him and for once she would just sit around the fire and stare at the bronzed beauty! Whatever gets her to sit down. It was nice to sleepin and not work on lesson plans. I am trying different ways to make my life easier and I will let you all know how it goes at the end of the week. Cole had fun at the lake and loves fishing. We took the boat out on Saturday and hung out on a beach which the kids love. I took a nap on the tube and actually started a pleasure book. Sunday reality set in. I took Carly to the pool while Travis and Cole went on the boat and just relaxed as she played. We left at 1:00 because Travis had to go to work. It was a quick drive home..... We are going next weekend for our final camping weekends. We have a couple weddings this summer and will spend the rest of our free time in Willow Creek. I hope everyone is having a great week.

Projects

Okay, so Travis and I have been working around the yard this spring and we have done little things that are finally starting grow. I love my yard and I love to work in it. I get all giddy when I come up with a new idea and I get even more excited about ripping something out that didn't turn out how I wanted it to, to put something better in it's place. I don't think landscaping has to be perfect, but I think you absolutely have to love it or your're miserable. We have a big yard and when I am having a hard time falling asleep I just think of what I would like to do differently in my yard. A couple of weeks ago I had subbed all day and I was worn out. It was a sunny afternoon and I just weeded the strawberry patches. I felt so much better and I was thrilled that I had been outside. I had put together a garden cart from costco and the kids made a house out of it. I ordered pizza and we had dinner in the driveway. Gardening just makes me relax!!! One of the pictures is of our dog kennel(castle)!ha. It needs a roof, but it can wait. I have been slowing adding plants to the outside of it, and it is really turning out nice. I think my projects will be put on hold for the summer besides one or two spur of the moment projects. I am really into brick right now and would love to make a new spot for our bbq possibly and outdoor kitchen...later. Anyways, I just wanted to post some pics of my roses, strawberries, playground, and oh yeah the dog kennel.

Update

Okay, the school semester is closing in on me and I have been working on two papers and still have a project to complete. I have five weeks of school left and need to make sure I don't waste any valuable study time. Cole is doing well in Preschool and seems to not be as shy as when he first began. Carly is forever spunky and her and Cole are best friends.... Travis has been working around our house to complete some projects before he goes back to work. He poured cement for our dog kennel and he also enlarged the kids playground and put more pea gravel into it. My parent's are getting ready to go to Rome on Thursday for 13 days. I am very excited for them but I am going to miss them. Well I wanted to say hi to everyone and give a Crazy Carmesin update and I will try to post more frequently...

Update

Hello, Everyone just an update on what the Carmesins' have been doing lately.... I had my first interview with the social science committee on Saturday. It went well, and was a lot easier than I expected. They asked each canidate 5 generic questions and then 1 specific question to the lesson plan that I had created. The questions weren't hard and I felt that they represented who I wanted to be as a teacher. On Sunday, we went to church, lunch, and then while the kids were napping Travis and I worked on getting our travel trailer all situated for next week. We are taking the kids to Shasta Lake to go bass fishing. I LOVE IT!! I love fish tacos (Yes, they are good, not fishy...) We go every year around this time and Cole is extremely excited to go. I have spring break so it will be nice to get away. Sunday afternoon we took Cole and Carly and our dog, Tippy, to the beach. It was a nice day for Mckinleyville and the kids had a blast. Since we are going to be gone next week I am having to work a lot to make sure the office is taken care and trying to get a firm grasp on my homework before the break. I need to dedicate what time I spend doing anything related to school on studying for my CSET tests that I take March 17th.... Anyway, I have midterms this week and then .....Graduation.

Oh yeah, Cole is starting preschool March 19th!!!! He is going to go to Dows Prairie Children's center. I have met the teacher several times and feel great about it. We went yesterday to pick up some paperwork and Cole was shy but warmed up really quick and then didn't want to leave. He is going to go two days a week in the mornings. I think it is going to be great for him to go somewhere that he isn't related to everyone and has a lot of interaction. He told me when we were leaving that "Mom, there isn't a lot of kids at my school." I said no there isn't, compared to the 25 2-3year olds in the church nursery! I think he warmed up quickly because there wasn't a load of kids. It was 8:30 and there was about 6. Wish us luck on our vacation and i'll post some cute pics when we get back

I have had a busy week. Cole and Carly have been really sick this past week. They both got flu shots this year but this flu was lethal. Vickie is out of town this week in Hawaii and thankfully my mom had school off because she watched the kids for me. I don't know how I would do it without the support of my family. I would manage but I would definately have to downsize my school load. Anyway, Travis has been working at the ranch in Salyer for the past couple of weeks and everything is looking great. My dad and Travis's dad ripped all the blackberries out and now Travis is rebuilding the rotten fence. School is going okay I have an interview for the credential program on Saturday. I had to submit a lesson plan on the Cold War in under five days and now we have an interview with two members of a committee and they will ask me questions specifically about my lesson plan. I am nervous but I have reread my lesson a couple times and at least I have the chance to expand my vision instead of the committee just reading it and that being it. I take two more tests on March 17th and I have to pass them. These tests are required to be accepted into the credential program and they are tough. I have one class at school that is very fun and that is the psychology of women. The class is funny and interesting and doesn't require extra out of class thought! I hope everyone has a great week and March is almost here......