BTW, her teacher is in a wheelchair——and her name is Mrs. WHEELER!

Gee, it’s a good thing you only have two kids! If you had three, you’d have to find a foster parent. Any more, and we’d have to call you Sybil! What a tough school! Talk about being “spread thin”! LOL

Tori – you’re on my list

Now.. the rules are….

1.The winner puts logo on her/his blog.
2.Link the person you received your award from.
3.Nominate 7 other blogs.
4.Put links of those blogs on yours.
5.Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve chosen.

PS. I’m not html savvy, so you can pick up the Blog Love logo from my blog.

I always love speaking to the few parents that do show up at my door. They tell me what the kids say about me and we all laugh. I am the ‘mean teacher’. Speaking of which, I have to finish my lesson plans for 8th grade and get them sent before I go to sleep tonight so I’d better get to work.

Looking forward to the upcoming blog entries!

Thanks for the welcome. I’ve been an audio engineer in my local church in Long Island, NY for 20+ years now and love it. It’s harder now with all the kids. We’re out numbered! Today I mixed FOH with Steven at my side. He has autism and gets over excited. It was hard doing mixing and parenting at the same time. But he loves music and loves praising God so it’s a good thing. We’re finishing our latest album and are gearing up for another. My wife Kathy knew what she was in for when she married me!

I remember going to see Amy Grant way back when at the Jones Beach theater. Russ opened for her doing some tunes from Medals. Wow! That was great. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Some time ago I was a Bill Gaither infomercial. Hey, there’s Russ! “Good to see you boy!”, I thought.

Hope I didn’t blab too much. Just wanted to fill you in a little. Much more to say but I don’t want to go on and on.

I just have to comment on the fundraising. Last year between majorette, marching band, youth group, prom committee, etc , etc. we had 16 fundraisers!! I rarely let them sell to grandma’s ( unless it’s something I know they always buy) It’s just insane…

Tori , I’m with you , just give them money to cover profit of what you could have sold – everyone wins and your not stuck with things you won’t use!! ( though honestly, there are some I just have to skip – I can’t afford it all)

To Barbara Lloyd, in the small town we moved to years ago , everyone knows everyone and is probably related to everyone ( I swear my kids have to be the only ones that can date in the school system!!) so ,the open house is more like a reunion :o)

BEG– So glad Jessica is going to have a Mr. Hoover to gaze adoringly at all year. Madi had a forensics teacher like that last year. She loved forensics…

Belinda– I just CANNOT bring myself to prevail upon friends and family for school stuff, so I always just write a check to cover a respectable $ amount of sales and call it a day!

Emily– Backdating? How does that even work (she asks breathlessly with pencil poised to make notes)? You’ve already volunteered for something? Teachers will LOVE you!

Momma Lloyd– Glad you like the pictures– way to go, Nephew Daniel!

Steve Weber– WELCOME!!! A brand new reader who comments from the git-go??? I think I love you!

I’ve been a Russ fan for many years, uh decades, and was wondering what was new. His site does not have a blog spot but yours does. Usually I’m not much of a chatter and my wife will tell you. I read a few of your posts including Madi’s adventure and am glad that all is well. It’s nice to see that God has been good to you and your family.

We are also a late bloomer family. 3 in all are Steven (12), Annika (4), and Timmy (3). They really wear us out but God gives the grace every day. This year all 3 go to different schools. It’s going to be tough.

Thanks for the pictures. I like the word syllabus too!

Memo to themema: that’s only in the lower grades…the little ones. At Char’s and Madi’s ages, they would be too embarrassed to reveal anything at all.

Gracious, I do like large pictures…and I am looking forward always to anything you write, Tori. Even if I do have to miss a meal or two waiting for it.

My first open house is in 2 weeks! I’m nervous. I’m already signed up to volunteer in the boys classrom and I’ve had my first PTO solicitation. Yikes! What am I getting myslef in to???

Fund Raisers are always the topic, aren’t they? I can never say no to kids when they come to our front door selling stuff because I can still remember, even though it was a long time ago, going around and selling all that stuff for our band trips. I just smile and order stuff from them with these flash backs of me standing there hoping and praying they would buy stuff from me so I could STOP going from house to house. Okay, have Madi and Charlotte send me information on stuff they are selling, I’m a good shopper and will always buy

More videos? We are ready!! Send them on girlfriend!

Our open house was wasn’t quite that cool. We aimlessly wander wherever we please , meeting teachers in random order. My 7th grader saved the best teacher for last , Mr. Hoover. Possibly the cutest teacher ever to grace the planet- about 24 y/o if I had to guess. Jessica is mesmerized- she will have a Great school year!!

I’m looking forward to the coming attractions…I’m not going anywhere.