Still Here...

Hi! Really, "Hi!" to future self reading this. This fall, oh heavens, such a busy one! So, I would still like to write here, to catch myself up on the year, and I will, so the retroactively written posts may be a bit funny, but they are for us, Future Zackeys to read in the printed version of this blog. Thanks to the 2 of your who may read this for your patience! ;) 

Here is just a taste of what has been keeping me occupied: 

Being a full time teacher for 1st-6th Grade students (mostly 3-6 though) in mainly Math and Science courses at Edmonds Height K12 a parent partnership school in the Edmonds School District. I love this job, am daily overwhelmed by it, and challenged to be a better teacher, Mom, wife, business owner, parent volunteer, and so forth as well. Just for reference this is what is generally going on in our lives right at the moment:

Todd: very busy at Tulalip Tribes with grant season, a project coming to an exciting culmination hopefully soon, a new employee to potentially hire IF the budget cuts will allow, and more time needing to be at home with kids and helping around the house cause of Erin's new work! ;)

Quin: Just finished another season as a Green Dragon soccer player, in which he was quite fond of his role in the goal on occasion. He is also busy learning in 2nd grade, where he is a very strong Math student yay! He also goes to a before and after school program at the same spot Hazel goes to her preschool and they both love this place, have some nice pals there and I feel so relieved that it has all worked out this way. He has taken up a love for Beyblades cause of some play with them in his before and after program, and it's been fun for all of us!

Hazel: Has been really enjoying her time in her last year of preschool at the full day program through a local church. She has some sweet friends, a very nurturing and patient teacher, and a fun program to be in! She has been patient about waiting her turn to be a special activity since Q's soccer was about all the extra we could take on this fall. Hopefully she'll be back in ballet and swimming this winter! 

Erin: Ok, I get to share the most sine I'm writing this. ;) Goodness, it is absolutely fortunate that I have such an excess of energy given what I ended up taking on this fall! I started off this summer working on the silent auction committee (with 2 of us!) for the MW Madness giant fall fundraiser. It ended up culminating earlier than originally planned, which made for quite a busy September given I was also starting at Edmonds Heights! ;) I honestly STILL have to wrap up that whole job with my thank you notes!

Then, I had the whole getting the kids to and from childcare to work out, which has been fine, except I am daily later to work than I would like, and having to rush off to pick them up. It's a tight squeeze, and makes for lots of late nights up working, since I have yet to figure out how to fit it all in. Time management: the one thing I could tell you now should be my #1 New Year's Resolution! 

I am so incredible busy at EH teaching 9 different classes of students, starting a "Green Team", trying to muddle through the new teacher evaluation system, learning Danielson, and all the logistics of being in a new building with LOTS of new staff. It has been awesome, challenging, exhilarating, empowering, and so much more!And SO.MUCH.WORK. But I think I may get better at managing it all next semester, and I don't think parents or students see that I'm working TOO hard, or at least not most days.

I also volunteer to help with the Green Team at MW, as well as volunteer once a week for 3 hours to teach Art and help with Q's class every Friday. 

I've been trying my best to donate toys and books etc. to H's class to make myself feel better about not being able to be there as much as I'd like. I have been able to make it to some special events etc. which has been nice! 

 So, it's been busy. I'm looking forward to some time off for Thanksgiving this next week, and the 2 weeks off in December/January, but I know I'll have my mind on the upcoming new round of classes in January... ;) Oh and I'm still determined to plan and go on lots of trips for Spring Break and Summer Break so we can begin our travels to all 50 states before the kids graduate from High School. This next summer we plan to hit a number of new to us states on the east coast! It's going to continue to be a busy chapter in our lives, but I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Lovely pics thanks to Ron a teacher I work with, who quickly took them during Spirit Week at EH! They remain printed on my class door to remind students of my fun side, and that you never know who Ms. Erin might be today!

Last Days

Q on his last day of First Grade:

 Q has grown up SO much this year, he is such a more capable student! I won't even pretend that I didn't cry my eyes out while writing a thank you note to his teacher this year, she was SO amazing!

H on her last day of preschool:

Next year when H wraps up her preschool career, I'm sure I'll be all all sentimental! This year I thought it was pretty sweet how much she has grown and changed!

H Preschool Graduation Maplewood

Hazel had her preschool graduation today. I was a little late coming straight from a FH session, but it was cute to see the kids in their outfits, hear them sing, and have lunch with the whole crowd. Since H is doing another year of Pre K I know I'll have one more shot at getting her to keep her eyes open at a preschool graduation... ;)

She's had fun with her friends at Maplewood, and liked her teachers, she's a great little student!

Mud Run!

Some Mom friends and I did the Survivor Mud Run, it was awesome! It was tough, but I would do it or an even harder one again in a heartbeat! I loved it!

May Faire

Hazel and I had a lovely time at the Waldorf School May Faire today! After having such a wonderful time at the Winter Faire I happen to see that the May Faire was today and since we had no plans we went! We made her a flower crown, watched all the classes perform their dances, enjoyed fresh baked snacks, played on the fun natural playground, H loved the games (I took notes for Q's school carnival...), and it was an incredibly warm and sunny day! 

 

 

San Diego: day 1 Recovery + Aerospace

Our flight was a pretty late one (I was a deal seeking gal big time for this trip) so today needed to be fairly chill. We are at the Kona Kai Resort out on Shelter Island here in San Diego so we really needed to get a car (a sporty Mazda, which was so fun to drive!). While I went to fetch it, Todd and the kids had breakfast in the hotel's restaurant. Once I returned we headed out for Balboa park. This incredible park will certainly be our most visited destination this week I can already tell. Today we chose to visit just one spot given our tiredness and eagerness to also have time for the pool etc. So, we went to the Aerospace museum with our Seattle Museum of Flight pass! 

It was perfect, Todd and Quin especially loved it, we got to see a cute little 4D movie which was fun, and we didn't even spend a dime! 

I SO recommend using the reciprocal membership benefits! 

From there we stopped by whole foods to pick up some snacks and other essentials, and then came back to the hotel to eat, chill and then play in the pool! Q had a fun time with some boys, H was a giggling machine and had great time too. The hot tub was a hit, and H and I also enjoyed a game of giant checkers as well.

Back in our room we had takeout for dinner and vegged out, we're all tuckered out!

San Diego Surprise!

For the last month or so I've been planning a surprise vacation for our family for Spring break. It's been lots of fun being all secret about it, even Todd didn't know!
So, when the big day arrived, Monday April 1st, we had a very chill morning getting ready etc. and then in the afternoon with all the bags loaded we headed off. Our first stop was my former co-worker's home. They knew Florene was "helping us on our journey" but not how she was helping. She and her husband Jerry were a delightful distraction, giving us lovely company and a wonderful feast for dinner!
Then it was time to head to the airport and Todd finally figured it out! It wasn't until we got there and I said "April fool's! We really ARE going to California!" that the whole fam believed me! Q got pretty excited in the car though when he realized we were in fact heading to the airport, his smile was awesome in that moment!

We checked the car seats and headed to our gate for our flight and took off on our first big secret family adventure!