The end is in sight...

Yes, I realize I have been severely neglecting this little blog of mine, but I have good reasons, I promise. I am less than 3 weeks away from graduation and even closer to finishing up my student teaching experience and I can't wait! I don't ever remember being this busy before in the past, having at least something planned or needing to get done every single day. It's exhausting- but rewarding, too.

I am taking a mini-mental break from school work to write this post. I am going on Day 2 of being locked in our master bedroom, a place I am affectionately calling "Work Sample Central". My last work sample and last graded thing PERIOD for my MAT is due in 9 days and I am hoping to have it done {gasp!}... early! After a morning to trip to the zoo yesterday and a much needed 2 hour nap, I pretty much holed up in our bedroom pounding out my work sample. I am maybe a little over halfway done and today I plan on locking myself in here again until it is at least 95% complete. There are a few things I need to get from the school this week to really finish it, but I hope to have all the lessons, reflections, and other data written out... wish me luck!

Rick has been wonderful about giving me this time to work. He just left with all three of the kids to brave Costco- ALONE! He's wonderful and brave! He only makes fun of me because of where I am choosing to work. We have this amazing office with a big desk and comfortable chair, yet I choose to set up a table and hard plastic chair in our bedroom instead... for a couple of reasons: 1. There is a bathroom right here, I don't have to leave the area. :) 2. There is a TV in both rooms, but the bedroom TV has a DVD player, so I have been able to watch season 1 of Mad Men so I can return the DVDs to my cooperating teacher soon and 3. I love all the natural light from the 3 big windows in our room.

So, it's just after 10am here in beautiful Portland, and it's suppose to get close to 70 degrees today. I don't want to spent the whole day inside, so I'm off to plug away at these last 5 lesson plans and my assessment analysis. I'm all set- I have my Team Edward water bottle filled with cold, filtered water, I have a few healthy snacks (it is a nutrition unit, after all), a couple cans of Diet Dr. Pepper for my caffeine fix, and the speakers are playing songs from Pandora's Glee Cast Radio (think all Glee soundtrack songs, plus Broadway show tunes and a few other random movie soundtrack songs- right now I'm bouncing my head to Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It). :)

I'm ready to work! And ready to be free of this cloud that has been hanging over my head.

Thanks for being patient with me and continuing to read the blog... I promise when I finish this work sample there will be plenty of new posts! Including lots of pictures of the new house!

Easter 2010

We had a low-key Easter here at the Thames house, but the Easter Bunny did make a visit to the kids in the wee hours of the morning. The Easter Bunny brought almost no candy, just a few M & M's and some chocolate goldfish crackers, but the kids are now stocked up on pajamas, Disney movies, and books!

Riley's basket had Princess and the Frog and some new nightgowns.
It was hidden in the family room.

Riley, right after she found it...

Tyson's basket had a little Toy Story theme: the movie, Buzz pajamas, and some plastic soldiers. His basket was hidden in the living room, between the couch and the front windows.
Tyson with some treats and a new book.

Cooper alao received a movie, Toy Story 2, some books and a new soccer ball.
His was hidden in the kitchen, under the built-in desk.
Cooper playing with his Elmo Easter eggs.

We searched for baskets first thing in the morning, had a quick breakfast, then made it just in time for the 8:30am church service. After church we stopped by Starbucks, then bribed the kids with it to get them to sit for pictures! :)

Riley was able to re-use her flower girl dress from December- it doubled well as an Easter dress!

We colored a few eggs before lunch, then spent the rest of the day laying around being lazy, watching a couple of the movies the kids got.

Outside of not spending the day with any extended family, it was fun! Rick and I laughed a little when we threw together bean burritos for lunch- not your typical Easter menu item. But, Rick grilled a couple more tasty steaks, so we had a wonderful dinner. Cooper napped in the afternoon while the rest of us curled up with popcorn and watched Princess and the Frog.

I hope you all had a relaxing and fun Easter, too!
Happy Easter!!