Another day, another sunrise.....

I like this sunrise picture, because you can see an alligator (aka "Bob") swimming lazily by...

Yes, it is another sunrise picture....if I have to get up at the crack of dawn, at least I get to see the gorgeous sunrises!! No critters out there today though...

We are beginning the second week of school. Hopefully, it will go as smoothly as last week did! Clay was really good about getting himself up and being ready to go by 6:30...and about coming home and starting on his homework right away. Another difference from the private school: at St. John's they rarely had homework on the weekends, and that was usually just Math problems. This past weekend Clay had Math, and and English assignment on the Holocaust which he had to complete online - and it took him about 2 1/2 hours to finish! He also had to work on a weekly assignment for his Finance class.

Paige didn't really have any work last week. They spent the entire week giving out locker assignments, buying PE uniforms, and going over policies and procedures. No wonder she is a year ahead in most subjects!! She was bored to tears. She is used to hitting the ground running the first day of school and coming home on the first day with at least an hour of homework! Hopefully, they will get going with academics this week! Tonight is the open house at her school, and Tim and I are anxious to see what the teachers have to say and what she will be studying this year. In other Paige news - she had a bracket come off (braces) and so we need to get her in to the orthodontist sometime today to get that fixed. They DID tell her not to chew ice...she said she forgot. Let's hope she remembers from now on!!

Paige has something to say....

I haven't written in the blog in a LONG time!!! Since before we went to France!! When we first got to France, the customs line was really long because somebody lost their luggage. Then we picked up Simon and Louise's brother, Gabriel at the train station and then we all drove about 300 miles to Clermont Ferrand which is also where Michelin is based. After spending the night there, we went to Vulcania and then drove another couple of hours to their house in St. Martin d'Aout. We swam and ate our first REAL French meal. Their house was really old, but cool. I liked some of the food (quiche, meringues, soups, the cheese, sausages) but I didn't care for other foods ( mashed corn, couscous with a sauce, salad that was just spinach leaves). My favorite thing that we did was the ziplining from trees. My least favorite thing was the go-karting because I had never done it before and I was so scared that I was going to crash, that I was going really, really slow and I STILL CRASHED!!

School is .... school. I don't like it, I don't hate it. Lunches are good, but the salads have brown lettuce and sometimes the food looks more like pig slop. My favorite class in Language Arts because Mrs. Teel is really cool!! My least favorite class is probably Science because (1) I already did the same stuff last year and (2) the teacher is kind of boring. Maybe it will get better. I hope so.

TTFN!!!

TGIF!!

I was up at the crack of dawn - again - this morning to take Clay to school...when I got home, (after first replenishing my coffee mug) I saw the sun peeking out from behind the clouds and illuminating them. It was beautiful, so I ran to get my camera and out to the dock...at which point the sun was disappearing already. Don't you hate it when that happens? There is a 70% chance of rain today, so I think that may be the only glimpse of sun we see! While I was out on the dock waiting for the sun to reappear so I could snap the perfect photo....I saw this guy...
Now, we see lots of manatees around here - but it is not often that they almost beach themselves! I think this guy must have been pretty hungry!! I also saw an alligator, but my battery was almost dead and the camera wouldn't focus - so no photos of "Bob"....which is what my son calls all the gators and stingrays we see in the lake. As in, "I caught Bob again today"....or, "there goes Bob". Why does he call them Bob? No clue!! Anyway, I HATE having to get up so early in the mornings, but it is kinda cool to see the lake waking up. I may have to make a habit of taking my coffee out there every morning and enjoying it!

Last night was the open house at the high school. It was very interesting, and I think Clay will do well. I like all his teachers and I am feeling optimistic about his first year of high school!! Paige's open house in Monday night - I'll let you know how that goes.

Tim and I have decided to list our house again - with another realtor this time. I really hope it sells!

Early mornings. Ugh.

O-dark-thirty...when we leave the house in the morning...ugh! I have relaxed my "no caffeine until you are finished growing" rule and am letting Clay have a cup (with a LOT of cream!) in the mornings. I must say that I am quite impressed with how well he is doing with setting his alarm and getting up in the morning. Tim and I got up with him the first couple of days - but now I am asking him to just wake me up about 15 minutes before we need to leave. He has also been very responsible about coming home and getting right to work on his homework...dare I hope that he has turned over a new leaf?? Time will tell....

Paige's school does not start until 9:30...she leaves the house at 9:00 to catch the bus, so SHE gets to sleep in! She is loving it, too!! Although I really dislike these opposite schedules - I am enjoying spending some time with Paige in the mornings - without rushing!

Tim left for a three day Tokyo trip yesterday. He will be home Saturday night. Tonight is the open house at the high school - I am looking forward to meeting Clay's teachers and hearing about what he will learning this year. I started cleaning out his closet yesterday (I'm wondering what part of "no food in the bedrooms" he doesn't understand??!!) and hopefully I will finish it up and get his room and desk and closet and drawers all organized today!