Summer School Ends...

Monday was the last day of summer school. This marks the 5th summer I have taught Algebra 1 out in Nampa for the summer. Each year I love the people I work with and the pay check, but each year I swear at the end of the summer I will not work the next summer. Right now, I say no, I am done, but who knows what next spring will bring.

Last weekend was Grandma Bonnie's annual July barbecue. I was so fun. There are tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins, laughs. It is a great time to catch up and see everyone. Thanks for the great time on the farm Grandma!!

LJ FINISHED SCHOOL!! LJ finished his last class a few weeks ago and I neglected to mention it on the blog- shame on me!! He is an official university graduate with his Bachelors in Health Sciences and a minor in Psychology. Way to go LJ- I am so proud of you!!

And last but not least, South is coming down. I have been by South Junior High every day for the last two weeks watching as they tear it down piece by piece. The gym is now all gone and they are on to the main building. The new school is coming along with great strides being made each day. I snuck into my classroom today (trespassed) and I am confident that over half of my boxes are missing and there are at least 10 things in my room that are not mine. The anal retentive part of me is going nuts wanting to get in there- next Monday, August 4th, we are supposed to be able to get into our rooms. I will be in there with bells on waiting. I want to get my classroom set up now! I can' t wait any longer!! :)

More later-
Kari

Brenton B-day

Sunday, July 20th was Brenton's 4th Birthday. We had dinner, cake, a pinata, and presents to celebrate. It was fun!! LJ insisted on buying Brenton's his first gun: a red ryder bbgun, so they can hunt coyotes together in Elk City. :) Happy Birthday Brenton!!

Braddock
Kim & Jake
Brenton & the pinata
Matt, Jake, Jayson & LJ finishing off the pinata

LJ, Rick, Kellie, Jayson, Braillie, Brenton
Jayson & Brenton and his new coyote hunting gun
Batman & Hulk
Kellie, Payton, & Anita
Brenton bashing the pinata

Pictures of Payton

Here are the first pictures I have of Payton Matthew Overall. He is just over 3 weeks old now. Welcome to the family!

Elk City Again

Last weekend was another weekend in Elk City. Rick, Kellie, LJ, Jayson, Jake, Brenton and I all went up. The goal for the weekend was to finish the add on to the shack and get the roof on the new part. That mission was completed thanks to long hours and hard work put in by the guys. I did not work hard; I read two books, slept, played with the dogs, and watched tv. It was a nice relaxing weekend for me.

The shack now expanded.

Washington DC

I just returned from 8 days in our nation's capital. If you have never been, I highly recommend it!!! I love it there. I traveled with 50 teachers from Idaho to represent ID at the National Education Association Representative Assembly. Over 9000 teachers gathered to set the agenda for the NEA for the next year. Of course, there was time to play and enjoy the sites! I was able to see the White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Air and Space Museum, Museum of Natural History, National Archives, Holocaust Museum, all the monuments, Ford's Theater, and so much more. The best part was the morning runs along the National Mall- being right where history comes alive! What a great way to spend our nation's birthday- right in it's capital!!

View of the reflecting pool and Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial. One of my favorite views!!
The capitol building
Washington DC as seen from Robert E Lee's Home in Arlington National Cemetary
Pointing to Idaho in the World War Two Memorial- one of my new favorites!!

Dinner our first night there- Laurie, Me, Steph, Cindy, Andrew, Tanya, Kristin, & Becky
Cindy & I @ the FDR Memorial
Scott, Andrew, Steph, Me & Michelle @ Arlington National Cemetary
Teacher-Astronaut Barbara Morgan and me- she received the NEA Friend of Education Award
Me, Steph, Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne, and Cindy- on 4th of July we attended a private party at the Dept of Interior right across from where the fireworks were shot off! It was awesome!!

Payton Overall is here!!

Welcome to the world Payton Overall. Matt (LJ's brother) and AJ welcomed their first son to the world on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. He was 9lbs and born via C-section. I don't have any pictures yet, because I was in Washington DC when he was born, so stay tuned for more to come.