IKE update- Grand 1894 Opera House

As the 1 year anniversary of IKE approaches, there have been lots of memorial programs planned. Many places have put together power points with pictures of the recovery. There is a wonderful one at the Grand Opera House website. You can find it on the right side near the middle.

The Grand is the first opera house in Texas and was built in 1894. This is where Hunter and I graduated and where we have attended many concerts and plays. This is also where Caroline had her dance recital (dressing rooms were in Edna's room). For several years before Caroline we had season tickets in row N (one of the slides says the water came to row L).

Caroline's preschool is just down the street from the Grand and will be reopening on Monday with all new equipment and toys.

Caroline's advice

On the Sunday before my first day Caroline had this tidbit for me.

"Mom, you need to take a water bottle for your first day. Teachers talk a lot and you need to keep your cords wet."

Teaching at Rydell High

Every time someone asked about my first week at Ball HS I answered that it was like teaching at Rydell High (from the movie Grease). On the first day at Rydell, the secretary can't find the schedules or the bell schedule. On my first day at Ball, we didn't have bells, schedules, dress code policies or attendance rosters.

We were expecting 1800 kids to return this fall and the current enrollment number is currently somewhere around 2200. Lots of the new students are children of contractors and construction people who are here rebuilding Galveston.

Since I was prepared for a crazy week nothing seemed too outrageous. Including a fire drill during lunch which turned out to be a called in bomb threat. We got to spend 1.5 hours in the parking lot as they checked the building. I have definitely learned my lesson and will always evacuate with my sunglasses!

As the week wore on the offices got kids in the correct classes, I learned to go with the flow and it started to work. I am looking forward to next week when I can learn my students names (there was so much moving around this week that I just didn't even attempt it) and do some actual teaching.

I meant to take pictures of my room, but somehow I get home each day without any. I will remember some day.

As for the home front, going back was interesting. Caroline came down with a fever my very first day and had to be picked up from school. Thankfully Daddy got the call (my phone does not get reception in my room) and picked up poor Caroline. He was awesome and stayed home with C Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday she stayed with a friend of ours. Thursday she was finally fever free and went back to school. She likes her after school program (she stays at her school where they play on the playground or get help with homework). Hopefully next week will be less eventful.

Troop 26045's new website

One of my troop moms has started a website for Caroline's troop. http://troop26045.terapad.com/ Be on the lookout for new pictures of my girls.

The Kayak

During Hurricane Ike, I lost the kayak that Hunter built for me. Fortunately IKE brought a sit on top Ocean Kayak to replace it. Literally. It was in the front yard when we returned. So, after lots of scrubbing (and a new birthday paddle) it became mine.

The weekend of Caroline's birthday, the kids were in the canal constantly. John (being the oldest by a few minutes) was designated as the driver of the kayak. He would tow the girls around on "islands" (boogie boards tied to the back of the kayak) or rescue a swimmer.

At one point they all got in the kayak and took a tour of the canal. This trip ended in an attempt to go under our dock.

They made it, but there was lots of giggling and "JOHN, we won't fit!" along the way.

new birthday pics

I have finally added more pictures to the birthday post. Scroll down to see them.

First Day of First Grade

Caroline's first day of First grade went great. She was a little nervous the night before, which I thought was interesting. We went and dropped off all her supplies and met the teacher last week. She was across the hall from Mrs. Mullins last year and saw her in the halls all the time, but I think that the Kindergarten teachers used the phrase "Well, when you get to first grade..." a few too many times and it stuck in Caroline's head. As soon as we got there and she got with her friends in the halls she was fine. She is across the hall from her good friend (who was starting kindergarten) so Caroline put on her brave face for Maddy.

She has been practicing using her princess alarm clock (no buzzer for this girl- Cinderella sings to her), but yesterday she needed the added Dog Alarm to get out of bed.

She got a new backpack (like Diego's) and lunchbox this year (all pink camo). You may notice that last year's lunch box is going to school with Mommy. She also got a bunch of bows from a friend that moved away and no longer attends Trinity. She loves the giant "school" bows. Hopefully that means we won't have to have the discussion on why she can't wear camo bows to school ("But then no one will be able to see my hair. Won't that be cool?")every morning.

The best part of Caroline's day was definitely meeting the new kid. Ryan, her bestest friend from preschool came back from the storm and is in the same class. They will be great buds.

Being a WM not a WAHM

A many of you already know, Watt Watchers- the grant funded non profit I have been working for for the past 6 years- will not be funded for the next fiscal year. It has been a sad summer as we have worked hard to replace the funding and don't want to see the Watt Watchers program wither and go away (nor do the teachers and School Districts that we help). But with no funding on the horizon, I made the choice to make a change.

I am going back to the classroom. I have been working from home (WAHM is work at home mom for those not familiar with the lingo) since Caroline was born. Going somewhere to work has been a big change for my family. Poor Caroline is taking it like a champ. For the past few weeks she has told everyone we meet that her mom was going to lose her job (We are reading Kit Kitteridge: an American Girl right now about the Great Depression- probably not the best book to be reading while your mom is losing her job). Now her story is "My mom is a teacher. Not a teacher of teachers like she used to be, and not a teacher at my school, but a big kid teacher. She teaches about chemicals you shouldn't put in your mouth."

Monday Aug 10, I was hired at Ball High School in Galveston to teach science (Chemistry or Integrated Physics and Chemistry most likely). Wednesday Aug 12 I started New Teacher training and Monday Aug 24, the kids arrive. This has been a whirlwind.

A bit about my teaching background- I taught life sciences (bio and environmental) in a predominantly white upper middle class area in a brand new school with over 3000 kids. Ball High is , well it is none of those things. Ball lost 600 kids after the hurricane and is expecting 1800 kids to come back this fall (9th -12th grade). ALL students are on free and reduced lunch due to the hurricane (everyone was considered homeless for one year) and that number will drop to around 70% after September. The school was built in 1854 and I am teaching physical sciences. I have not seen my classroom but this picture of my hallway was in the paper yesterday. (these are some of the thousands of volunteers still here to help with recovery)

One thing is the same. When I started in Pearland I was a new teacher without any "stuff". What washed away in the hurricane from our house? My teacher boxes. So, I am starting back up without any "stuff". I have a stack of posters that Watt Watchers has published that I will use to start with. C and I may hit the teacher supply store this weekend to find some 'inspiration" posters and background material for bulletin boards.

So, say a little prayer for us over the next few weeks. C will start school on Tuesday Aug 18 and Daddy will be the one to take her.

Ice Skating in Summer

Becky and Marc (my Iowa parents) are on a road trip to visit family out East and Caroline and I drove up to Fort Worth to meet them for a few days (I know Texas is not on the way but how can you resist meeting up with a cute granddaughter).

Today we went ice skating at the Dallas Galleria. Caroline has never skated and I have not skated since I was in the ninth grade. For those of you counting that is almost 20 years.

Caroline did great! She had no fear and took off. No marching for her. I had not planned for skating when we packed so both of us were wearing capris. We bought her a pair of mittens and put a pair of knee high socks on under her capris. After an hour we took a five minute break and then went back out for another 30 minutes. By the end she was skating almost the length of rink and could skull and snowplow stop. I, on the other hand, did not retain much of my skating ability. I can honestly say I cannot "shoot the duck", sit spin, or do many jumps. Yes I tried them all.

At the end of the skating Caroline's pants were soaked through from falling. We had to buy her a new outfit at Children's Place to get her dry and warmed up.

I think we will definitely be ice skating more often.