~Things are about to get BUSY~

I may be on here more intermittently than normal now.....my job has started back, football games, practices, 1 more class left (the one I am in + one more).....in this schooling I ventured because I was bored one Christmas break from school! LOL.


I am trying to construct a syllabus for my class, which is proving to be very difficult right now considering it is a new class for our school in some ways.......still only a paragraph on the page as of now :)  My hope is that that will develop over the next couple of days!

Hillary is so excited to start school! Cooper told me Thursday he really likes his football team, and I think he really enjoys his coaches, too! He loved the Hamburger Drill!



Brock has been picked up by his Coach all week because both Gary and I have been working....I am so appreciative of him doing that. Brock really loves his team and the coaches.....he has extra bruises this week from his first week back to the field....in a while!

The Cosmos scrimmaged Otter Valley, which were I think, 2nd in the state last year in Vermont. Below is the write up about the game. Several articles after this one will follow as it is football season here and reporters are real busy trying to get the scoop on all the teams! Off the record: score was 2 touchdowns (Cosmos) to 3 touchdowns (Otter Valley). But who's counting ?!?! Week after next, games start for everyone and season opens......hope I have time to update all the current news!!



I have had a full week experience of leaving my kids alone under the direct instruction of Brock....what did I get? Hillary greeting me at the door...shirtless, hair standing in all directions, pajama bottoms on, and eating a bowl of chili. Lordy mercy! It's been a week.......next week Grammy & Pappy will be here to see to their needs. I will do some math training and then Wednesday school will start for all of them! Here's to new a new school.....new experiences......new friends.....new learning! 


Well, it's hopping now.....Coop & Hilly are up .....Brock's at a friend's house.......It's beautiful outside as the cloud we were in earlier has diminished away to the bright (almost fall like) sunny day!

~Football, Fun, & Retreat~

I have to say.....the week has picked up! This week is a challenge.....Brock is having to rise to the occasion and keep organized! Next, week Grammy and Pappy will be here, and we can't wait to see them!! It's been almost 4 months since we've seen them!

This week brings Brock his first football practice....he really enjoyed! In addition, Coop and Hillary will have their first 'official' practices tomorrow evening in Bellows Falls.

This weekend consisted of Morgan showing me the 'ropes' in terms of good deals to be had around this neck of the woods. She took me to bargain stores ....and we racked up........I won't go into full detail, but we be eating some expired foods up in here!!!! LOL I love it. Cooper insists it was on the Cheapskates documentary where they went to Vermont.....lol.....

Today I had my first retreat....yeah, I don't think I've ever done a RETREAT....it was a great time with such good people. We concentrated on building relationships, reflection, and inspiration.....and throughout the meeting I often just thought ....this is amazing.....!!! I work with some amazing people! We collaborated....through many uplifting contexts through the retreat session....Oh, and I also learned my Vice Principal's family farm was used to film one of my favorite movies....Cider House Rules. I knew it was filmed in Vermont, but it was his farm!!! That is neat.


Cooper went to Bromley Adventure Park today with Hunter Walker, his mom, and grandfather. He had such a wonderful time....it was very kind of them to do that.....it made his day! He also spent the night over Hunter's Saturday and they rode 4-wheelers (ice water challenge ALS). Fun times!!!!

Today, was a close one.......Morgan and Joe so graciously offered to watch Hillary for me while I finished up my day of work....and Morgan, if you are reading this......Thank you from the bottom of my heart :)

Robin Williams passed away since my last post....felt I needed to document that. Such a talented person.......

Hillary practicing routes via her big brother....

Moring view :)

On my run this a.m. visitor......

Echo Lake.....Tyson, Vermont

Devil Dogs.....Coop's new favorite....oh me....

We ended our retreat reciting this poem.....from "The Moon is Always Female" ...one I have liked....

~Terriors~

I just love that mascot name....never heard of it....before...so vicious 'Terriors'~

Today was a good day.....enjoyed a nice run and then later bike path with Hillary.

I went for my first official day at work.....8-10 - it was so wonderful....I work with such great people :) Got my schedule and understand a bit more....9 periods in middle school here with many enrichments....which I think is good for this age....they need the experience of different things! Middle school is the age they kind of figure or crystallize their beliefs in themselves. In addition, they have A and B days so the classes and schedules are not the same every day. Interesting.

Later in the evening, I took Brock to football, and Coop, Hilly and I went to sign Coop up for football at Bellows Falls (they are the Terriors)- Boston Terriors, to be exact. So, while we were there.....Hillary saw the cheerleading....so as you might have guessed....she's cheering for Cooper! I love how they don't divide them up here into age groups.....it makes it easier for the ole parent!  Practice all the same and game days....(games on Sundays).

Finally got Brock to the pool .....it was hot enough finally for him I suppose!

The Rutland Herald did another article about the football program at Springfield High School! See below.....don't you just love this author's opening line......I do!

~Irony~

About 7 years ago on a hot summer day in Fairview, Tennessee......I met this lady while I held Hillary in my arms....tonight, our children met (once again) and we had a lovely dinner with the aided magic of an (AMAZING MAGICIAN) named Marko!
During that pool visit in Tennessee years ago...we talked about our passions and they evolved around this sweet state of Vermont! We are both here....experiencing it and what it brings to us, and of course, what we can bring to it.

The magician was just as funny as his magic. All the illusions were just amazing...but this one...oh, this one,.....I sit on 10 cards (and I counted them!) and Nancy (pictured below) sit on 10 (she counted).....he did a little turn of his magic wand, and I had 13 and Nancy had 7. How'd that happen...just how in the world?!!? Quite amazing....he was hilarious!

So, if ever in Vermont, go to Bradford and visit Colintina Exit.

~Blueberry Pickin'~

Well, today was around 70 degrees....beautiful late summer day.....got up early ...cleaned the house some....then we were off to finish up some business in Ludlow. On our way, we stopped by Singleton's ....just love taking people there to go by the bees' colony as you enter the building....lol

Gary, Hillary, and I had lunch at Cavendish country store...picnic style. Afterwards, we stopped by the upper falls area of Black River....it was so pretty. We saw some bear tracks there.....and Hillary and I waded out in the water a bit. Later, we enjoyed blueberry picking at Wellwood Orchard.....Hillary enjoyed the baby rabbits most this time!

We got home and grilled....Hillary and I headed out for biking....very pretty evening!

Here are some pics to document the day!

Here he is .....Paul....no shirt, neck tie, umbrella,....

~Today is one of those days....~

Beautiful day.......right temp, right weather.......sun, rain, storm, sun, rain, rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!!!! I count this is my first 'official' rainbow I've seen here....and it was so beautiful, but when are they not? right?

Anyway, on a much lighter note.....(I wish I had a picture)....but unfortunately I don't. We have a 'Crazy Paul' in the Springfield community....most of the time he wears some big pink 'fluffy' shower scrubs around his ears and holds his hands up as he walks....yesterday he was in a complete jail outfit....today: homemade pink shirt, pink shower scrubs from ears, and yelling to the top of his voice, "I LOVE WALKING IN THE RAIN WHILE IT IS SUNSHINING".....I do too, Crazy Paul!!! Even better, after football camp the boys had a truck that lost all its lumber out of the back of the truck and Gary, Coach Eno, Brock, and Crazy Paul all loaded the truck back up......:) I love it. I hate I missed that, too! Brock & Crazy Paul were partners in the mission.....:)

BUT....Hillary and I were riding bikes in the rain while it was sun shining on the bike path....We went both ways- full extent. We saw some pretty sights!!!

In front of house....today....

Great Heron at Black River on bike path

~Serene, sweet spot ~

 

This house sits on top of a mountainside (large hill) and overlooks some mountains of New Hampshire.....As I am writing..... there are big, fluffy white clouds painted on a clear bright blue with hawks and blue jays as music.......Here are some pictures of late:

 

Dusk one evening.....on top of hill above house.....great running hill for punishment :) oh yeah!

Bridge that crosses Black River below our house.....on way to bike path.

Had to go to Ludlow Tuesday to finish recycling.......Hillary and Ava joined me and we stopped at the library for the Tuesday craft......It was hot that day 90 degrees...can we say heat wave?!!

The side leg kick is the ultimate in photo shoots.......Ava style is what I will refer to from here on....lol

Hillary, Coop, and I hike to the top....Hillary prepares of course like we are camping and living on the land.....:)

Indian Pipe....

Biked on the bike path with Hilly after a run.....we met this friendly cat.....

Stopped to pick some blackberries!

Football camp for the boys.....Brock is in green shorts.

Coop in red. (Oh, and Union Street said today that Cooper's teacher will be Ms. Chambers....some of his friends on his ball team also have her :) good news!