Back in the Saddle Again

Well, it is two weeks in and I think I can come up for air for a little bit! The beginning of the school year is always so insane, I can hardly believe all that has to happen each day. I do have a pretty great class...so far. I have enjoyed the first couple of weeks and what we call the "honeymoon period." This is the time when they still walk in a nice quiet line because they are a little bit afraid and not sure what might happen. :) I like this time of year!

However, I am pretty grateful for the weekend. After a week of meetings and late, late nights, I am looking forward to some R and R. I am also very excited because Lucas and I are headed to the parents tomorrow to see Spencer and Sarah for Spence's birthday. They are in town for the weekend and that is pretty exciting!

The pic above is my room this year. Mom took this the day she came and helped me organize all of my cabinets; something I am so grateful for!

Hope your September is going great! Miss Wood

One Last Hooray!

Well, sadly, summer has concluded in the life of us. Lucas has started his new job at Corvallis Clinic (which he loves!) And I return to work Monday. This is a sad day, truly. Before giving into the daily demands of life back at work Kendra and I spent some time in Bamfield with my brother (but no Sarah, we missed you Sarah!). After a very uneventful trip up to Bamfield we spent time boating, hiking around, and spying on neighboring boaters. The weather was outstanding, though the wildlife count was not so much. We left with a measly count of: 1 Heron, a few eagles, propoises, and two elk. Yes, those are all beautiful animals, and each was enjoyable to look at but we were in it for the gold-whale and bear. We saw no sign of whale at all and A LOT of bear poo. Sadly the poo never took us anywhere, though every pile was always fresh...sad day.

After chilling in Bamfield we started our trek out...leaving at 5 am in order to be in Victoria in time for our 10:30 am ferry. Unfortunately, we didn't quite make that ferry. The bottom line is this: lost on endless logging roads with no gas and no map....oops.

Five hours later we popped out on some road and alas we made it to Victoria in time for the 3 pm ferry. Yikes! :)

However, fun was had by all and it of course makes a good story! Now, I am sadly back to work. Yesterday mom came down and helped me organize cabinets so I at least feel better going Monday. Who doesn't feel good when their cabinets are organized...right Jess? :)

Hope ya'll are doing great!

p.s. Bamfield pics are posted on the web album!

Where were you at 24?

We celebrated Kendra's 24th birthday this weekend which brought up the question: where were you when you were 24? For some of us that wasn't too long ago and for others it was a bit ago...
If you want to see our pictures from our great birthday extravaganza be sure to check out the album! http://picasaweb.google.com/misswood23.

A summer adventure!

Yes, I do still know how to post on my blog! I am sure no one actually checks it anymore because I havn't posted in so long, I will have to send out an email telling people to look again! :)
Well, as many of you know Lucas and I have finally arrived back here in Oregon. I spent two weeks in Virginia with him, helping him to pack and leave. Then we left Richmond for a trek across country. We stayed a night in the Appalachians right on the border of West Virginia and stopped to see some family of his. It was a gorgeous spot, just buggy!
Next we drove to Monticello, IL to see my family. We spent a couple of days there visiting and eating! :) It was wonderful!
From there we drove across Iowa and up to South Dakota. We camped in Canton and enjoyed a pretty great lightning storm. We drove across South Dakota making many stops (see photos) and enjoyed the high speed limit!
Next we stopped in Wyoming to camp and then headed on for Montana, after staying one night there we finished off the drive to Albany; stopping twice to eat with Mom and Les who were making the same drive (Lunch in Spokana, dinner in Clackamas!)
We had a wonderful trip and are now getting settled back in to normal life. If you would like to see pictures from our trip please look at my album posted on http://picasaweb.google.com/misswood23.
Ta-Ta

A white spring break?

"I'm dreaming of a white spring break?" That is certainly not how I remember the song going.
Tonya and I took the twins to Lincoln City Thursday and Friday. Thursday was beautiful but verrrrryyy cold day. We looked like we were at Mt. Hood and definitly a stark contrast to the two teenaged boys who were wake boarding in their shorts...real smart!
None the less, we had a lovely day Thursday playing and hanging around. Friday, however, was a much different story. We woke up to find an inch of snow on our car and drove through blizzardy snow all the way back to Siletz...unbelievable. Not only that but spent yesterday in the snow as well here in ALBANY! Just crazy!
As you will see below, spending most of break gone gave the dogs the wrong impression about the use of my bed. Needless to say we have re-established who the bed is for!!!
Today was spent freezing as I cleaned stalls and put the horses out. They don't seem to mind as much with their big fur coats. Liam is acting exceptionally bossy as he is the only one without a blanket. I think he believes he is much tougher than the other boys with their blankets on.
Hope you are all staying warm in your winter wonderlands!

When the Cat's away the mice will play

Spring Break

Well, after much concern I am finally putting up a post. As noted earlier I was quite sick, however recently I have been more occupied with parent conferences, report cards, and field trips. Thankfully, it is now spring break. I have spent the first part of break visiting the family up north. Although not the family waaaayyy up north (although I did talk to Spencer and Sarah, so that gets partial credit!) Anyway, I spent the weekend with Mom and Les, Cheryl, and Grandpa. Doing various exciting things like shopping, doctor visits and daily walks with Sam. Other then a somewhat unfortunate event with a sidewalk curb it was a lovely weekend. As always I am grateful not to have my alarm go off at 5:30 am and for the slower pace (even time for an afternoon nap!)
After surviving TWO field trips in the past couple of weeks I am now trying to get ready for the next. In May the kids and I are headed to the horse ranch in Sisters for a long eventful day! Still havn't decided what to do with my banister sliding student (aka the student who slid down the banisters in the state capital buildling) and whether he will be attending the horse ranch...hmmm any safety concerns here?
I should be spending this break with Lucas, as many of you know, but unfortunately with his dad in the hospital he was unable to travel. I thought about visiting him in Virginia but with my resistance to selling my kidney to buy the $1000 plane ticket we are spending break like we do every other day: on the phone.
I havn't planned tomorrow's activities (one of the joys of spring break) but I do think it might mean a drive to Eugene to visit Megan.
Hope you are enjoying your week, break or not, and stay warm! Snow anyone?