Kidstime send-off

4th graders

3rd graders

yummy, yummy cupcakes

the girls with their sweet smiles

the boys, chowing down

in the "dog pound"

Today was our last day at Calvary. There was many a tear flowing during my 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School class--mostly mine, of course. Nancy and Judy called me up in front of all the kids so they could pray for us, and my partner Laura made a huge tray of cupcakes. I had candy for our trivia game as well, so the kids went home all sugared up.

My piano students

I can't believe I'm leaving such wonderful students!

Gianna, the beautiful musical prodigy and softball whiz...

Shelia and Gamily, the wonder cousins who live down the street.

Chopped off

Just got my hair cut... the shortest it's been since the third grade! Someone remarked that it's "a good haircut for living on an active volcano." And it does feel quite appropriate: moving to a new area definitely warrants a chic new 'do.

Mammoth Lakes it is!

We've found a place to live in Mammoth Lakes, which is about 30 miles south of Lee Vining. We'll be in a two bedroom, one bath house, with no garage and a forested backyard. It'll be a lot smaller than what we're used to, and we'll need to rent a storage space, but the guy who owns it is letting us sign just a three-month lease. We hope to find something closer to Lee Vining by then. Sounds like Mammoth Lakes is quite the little boomtown during ski season... guess that means we'll be strapping on some skis this winter! Wonder if they make 'em in Jack's size?

Doggie drama

Brian headed to the Eastern Sierra the other day to find a place for us to live. I'm still teaching summer school, so we got Amy, our favorite babysitter, to stay with Jack. This was our first time leaving Jack with a babysitter for a whole day. Usually, Casey stays in the backyard when we have babysitters--or almost any kind of company, for that matter--but that morning, she was actually acting OK with Amy. I put her in the backyard before leaving, but told Amy that she could let Casey in if she wanted.
Fast forward to my second English class of the day. My cell phone started ringing. I apologized to my class--they can't leave their cell phones on--and joked that it was probably the babysitter. I told myself I'd check for messages at lunch. A few minutes later, I got a call from the office on my walkie-talkie: "Lisa, could you please call your babysitter?"
Luckily, I have an aide who can watch the class for a few minutes, so I went outside to check my messages. Amy's mom had left a message. Amy'd let Casey in, and when she went to put Jack down for his nap, Casey got in the rooom and wouldn't come out. What's more, she wouldn't let Amy get near Jack. She'd jumped up on the daybed in Jack's room and was lunging and barking at Amy!
Amy called her mom, who came over along with the Joseph Widmer PTC president and her son. They tried everything they could to get to Jack, including going outside to see if they could open the window and pull Jack through that. (Jack, meanwhile, was having a great old time, laughing in his crib at all the commotion.) They made an executive decision to call Animal Control, but then left the message with me asking if I might be able to make it there before Animal Control came. The message contained a lot of screaming and some barking, so of course I was alarmed. I didn't even bother calling them back--I went back in my class to grab my purse, tears already streaming down my cheeks, and checked in at the office to make sure I could make a run home. On the way there, I called Amy. Her mom answered the phone and told me that I didn't have to come; Animal Control was able to get Casey off the bed and outside.
Of course, Jack didn't really want to take a nap after that... but at least no one was hurt. And we can all laugh about it now. My students later said, "Man, Mrs. Marshall, you cry easily!" and kept asking what kind of dog I have. "She's a black lab mix," I told them... with issues. At what point do we consult a doggie psychologist?

Water boy

A small triumph in the weaning department

Since I have been teaching summer school, and Brian is home with Jack, our little one had to learn how to go down for his afternoon nap without nursing beforehand. I thought it would be a monumental, agonizing event, his first nap without "nummies." But Jack just turned right over in his bed when Brian put him down. No crying, or arms flailing, at all. I am officially down to two nursing sessions a day now. Looks like I'll actually have to start working out again soon!

Fourth of July

No fireworks for us, since Jack has an early bedtime... but we did see the parade in downtown Manteca this morning. Brian marched in a band with other MUSD teachers and students. Jack had fun watching all the trucks drive by, but was a little frightened by the Harleys... and the loud music.

Perspective on trains

Jack has recently discovered trains. They are featured prominently in several of the books he loves to read, and he likes to "chug" his body and pump his arm as if he's "choo-choo"-ing a whistle. We hear them from our house, as the railroad tracks run right nearby, but he doesn't get to see them often. Today at the Farmer's Market, however, a cranky Jack forgot his troubles and watched with huge eyes as TWO whole trains ran their course less than a block away. Driving home, I spotted another train several blocks ahead, with a line of cars waiting for it to pass. Any other day, I'd take a turn to avoid waiting for the train (not to mention the inevitable traffic jam afterward). But today? I headed straight toward the train. Pushed on the gas pedal a little more forcefully than usual, as to make sure I got to the train before the caboose sped on by. Jack watched with absolute delight out the front window. And yes, there was a huge traffic jam afterward. But it was all worth it.