Payton's school does this great thing where they have all of the parents come without kids and we get our kids' school schedule and go to each class in order. We get 5 minutes to hear the teacher talk, 5 minute passing period between each class and it lasts for about an hour and a half. We love it. Gives us a feel for how Payton's day goes.
Some random things from tonight...
- The district allows you to go on their website and receive live tutoring 4-11 each night. How cool is that?
- Payton's teachers and classes are awesome. They clearly love their job, love the subjects they teach and Payton loves her classes.
- One thing I love about the schools here is that they don't expect the kids to have a bunch of homework each night (though they do have some) but they allow the last period of the day for homework, extra help, clubs, etc. Her last class of the day is an entire class full of kids in the volunteer club that she's a member of. I love the idea that she ends each day with 20 kids who love volunteering just like she does.
- Eating lunch at 10:45 must stink.
- Payton's teachers adore her. In the past we've heard that she's so "conscientious" and today we heard "so confident." Both are accurate and very flattering.
- All of the discussion about how the teachers were preparing the kids for high school subjects made me a little nauseous. One of her classes right now is considered high school level. How did she get so old?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Weekly health update
Ran 20 miles in 8 days and gained weight. Turns out Michael Phelps diet doesn't work for Shannon Albert.
Wedding festivities meant lots of drinking, eating and drinking so the weight gain was to be expected even with running 20 miles this week.
Just returned from a 9 mile run and realized that I always dread the long runs but they are almost never that hard. Very comfortable pace, temps have been good and no bathroom issues. Afterward, I am pretty sore, exhausted, feet covered in blisters and black toe nails but the actual run itself isn't that hard. I expect a toe nail or two to fall off anytime now. It's like a badge of honor. :)
This week will be a total of 20 miles again but the food will be healthier so I expect the weight loss to return.
Also, Andy has lost a total of 25 pounds and looks great. He wants to lift and tone up but he has met his goal weight. Yea Andy!
Wedding festivities meant lots of drinking, eating and drinking so the weight gain was to be expected even with running 20 miles this week.
Just returned from a 9 mile run and realized that I always dread the long runs but they are almost never that hard. Very comfortable pace, temps have been good and no bathroom issues. Afterward, I am pretty sore, exhausted, feet covered in blisters and black toe nails but the actual run itself isn't that hard. I expect a toe nail or two to fall off anytime now. It's like a badge of honor. :)
This week will be a total of 20 miles again but the food will be healthier so I expect the weight loss to return.
Also, Andy has lost a total of 25 pounds and looks great. He wants to lift and tone up but he has met his goal weight. Yea Andy!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Wedding weekend: Thursday
We drove up to KC after the kids were done with school and got to Andy's mom's house around 6:30 or 7 for a family cookout and swimming party.
Uncle Nick hanging out with some of his nephews and nieces...
Celeste's dad and his side of the family live in France so we met them for the first time.
Kids in the hot tub...
We headed out at a decent time to rest up for the next day which includes a race, volleyball and rehearsal.
Uncle Nick hanging out with some of his nephews and nieces...
Celeste's dad and his side of the family live in France so we met them for the first time.
Kids in the hot tub...
We headed out at a decent time to rest up for the next day which includes a race, volleyball and rehearsal.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Top 10 things I like about Wichita
We've been in Wichita just over a year now and have had a chance to kind of learn our way around and figure out what we do and don't like about living here so far. So here's my top 10 things I like about Wichita (so far).
10. Movie theaters. Drive-in theater and Warren Theaters. I always think drive-ins are cooler than they are but it's nice to have one to go to when we want. Warren Theaters are just really nice. Love them. Love that each theater is different and has various advantages over others. Love that there's an ice cream shop inside the one by our house. Love that there's one within walking distance of our house.
9. Small airport. Easy to get in and out of.
8. Milder temps. The heat in Texas didn't bother me too much but it's nice that even when it's 102 during the day here, you can count on it being in the 70s early in the morning. That helps when we're heading out on an 8 mile run. And when you're trying to grow things.
7. Super convenient trash pickup. Don't laugh! They pick it up right by our house and we don't even have to take it to the curb!
6. Exploration Place. Love visiting there which is why we are season pass holders.
5. The kids' schools. They have been awesome so far. So much different from the Texas schools.
4. I can breathe. For whatever reason (less stress, better air quality, both?), I can really breathe here which is what lead me to start running.
3. My job. I love where I work and I have the best coworkers. Never imagined a place where I'd get to be my (weird) self at work. Now I can.
2. Having local family. We've never really had people near us and now that we do, we realize we were missing out. It's NICE, y'all.
1. Easy drive to Kansas City!!!
10. Movie theaters. Drive-in theater and Warren Theaters. I always think drive-ins are cooler than they are but it's nice to have one to go to when we want. Warren Theaters are just really nice. Love them. Love that each theater is different and has various advantages over others. Love that there's an ice cream shop inside the one by our house. Love that there's one within walking distance of our house.
9. Small airport. Easy to get in and out of.
8. Milder temps. The heat in Texas didn't bother me too much but it's nice that even when it's 102 during the day here, you can count on it being in the 70s early in the morning. That helps when we're heading out on an 8 mile run. And when you're trying to grow things.
7. Super convenient trash pickup. Don't laugh! They pick it up right by our house and we don't even have to take it to the curb!
6. Exploration Place. Love visiting there which is why we are season pass holders.
5. The kids' schools. They have been awesome so far. So much different from the Texas schools.
4. I can breathe. For whatever reason (less stress, better air quality, both?), I can really breathe here which is what lead me to start running.
3. My job. I love where I work and I have the best coworkers. Never imagined a place where I'd get to be my (weird) self at work. Now I can.
2. Having local family. We've never really had people near us and now that we do, we realize we were missing out. It's NICE, y'all.
1. Easy drive to Kansas City!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
And he's off to first grade...
Everybody here rides the bus so I won't have pics of Blake at the school, just at the bus stop. The kids at his bus stop are really nice and a few years older then he is - one 4th grader and two 5th graders. One of the 5th graders is the next door neighbor boy who Blake adores and is so polite. "Would you like me to walk Blake home after we get off the bus?" Sigh. Sweet kid.
I may or may not have teared up walking back home. Everything Blake does is like a mourning process on some level, knowing it's our last child to ever do that thing. So happy for him though - he's ready for first grade.
I may or may not have teared up walking back home. Everything Blake does is like a mourning process on some level, knowing it's our last child to ever do that thing. So happy for him though - he's ready for first grade.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
30 things you might not know about us
1.) We have never balanced our checkbook. We know how, we just don't.
2.) Blake and I don't like museums unless they are interactive. Or zoos.
3.) Our kids don't eat sandwiches. Or cereal. Andy and I love both.
4.) We all take naps. At least a couple of times a week.
5.) We've never been to Chicago. I think everybody we know has. We hope to go next year.
6.) Other than music, our house is very quiet in the morning. No TV, very little talking.
7.) We've never cursed in front of the kids except once last fall when I missed a turn and said the "d" word. Payton said "I KNEW you had it in you!"
8.) Stupid and shut up are considered curse words at our house.
9.) We never go into our backyard. Ever. Also have never used the hot tub that's on and ready to go. We go to parks, we go on bike rides, we walk but we never go into our backyard.
10.) We think our house is too big. We'd be good townhouse people especially given the previous item. The extra rooms we hoped to use for company usually go unused especially since Andy's family usually stays with Bob and Nicki.
11.) We have 8 loads of laundry per week. We don't know anybody else who has as much laundry as we do for 4 people.
12.) We've never owned a new car and probably never will.
13.) Our kids aren't allowed TVs or computers in their room (the TV you saw in Payton's room has rabbit ears and won't work after January. It's not hooked up to anything including satellite or a DVD player.)
14.) Although we love gadgets, we aren't early adopters of anything. We wait for them to come down in price. And I really don't like big TVs regardless of price.
15.) We always have music on in the house even when we aren't home. I like to come home to a house that feels "alive" so the music stays on 24/7.
16.) We don't watch the news. After 9/11 I felt the news was just too anxiety-inducing so we just started reading it instead. I never knew what Kerry's voice sounded like until the debates. We do watch election coverage and I can see us watching more and more news again. I love good reporters but with Tim Russert gone there's even fewer left.
17.) Clothes with words across the butt are not allowed. Especially for Andy. You know how he is.
18.) We talk to each other via cell in our house. Going up or down two flights of stairs when you're tired is too much to do sometimes.
19.) No rewards or punishment for school achievements. We want the kids to be self-motivated and not depend on us for their motivation. We can't accompany them to college. That being said, if grades or behavior ever got bad, we may have to figure out how to help fix it but it's never come up.
20.) As I've talked about before, allowance isn't tied to chores at our house. Learning to handle money and contributing to the household are different things in my mind.
21.) When we hear a phone ring, we very often don't answer it. Blake never even flinches like some kids I've seen who will say "answer it, answer it!" We call back later.
22.) We like to play games but never patronized the kids by playing the little kids games. All kids can play Uno!
23.) Payton begs us for a baby sister and Blake begs us for another dog. Life's a *&@(&, ain't it? :)
24.) If we leave the kids alone for more than an hour, Payton gets paid to watch Blake. Blake gets paid (a smaller amount) to listen to Payton. Any period of time under an hour is just called "being helpful."
25.) At dinner, we all take turns telling one thing that happened that day. Getting Blake to be serious and getting Payton to share is sometimes a challenge. I also thinks it helps the kids see us as regular people who have good and bad times throughout the day just like they do.
26.) I hate when the kids have homework. Hate it. We are so busy and I hate when the school takes up our evening time for schoolwork. Luckily the schools here recognize that so it's not as bad as it was in Texas but I know some parents who actually like it when their kids have homework.
27.) We tell the kids it's ok to hit back if they are hit. Doesn't make us very popular with teachers but also doesn't make our kids very popular as bully victims. Luckily it hasn't had to be tested.
28.) (Knock on wood) Nobody in our house has ever broken a bone.
29.) We never write the kids' social security numbers on anything other than tax forms. Not on medical forms, not on school enrollment.
30.) We've always based our lives on surviving on one income which has come in handy since we've both been laid off at different times. Going forward, we'll be relying more heavily on both incomes as we look at paying for teenager-y things including college.
I think every family has little things that would surprise people. What's on your list?
2.) Blake and I don't like museums unless they are interactive. Or zoos.
3.) Our kids don't eat sandwiches. Or cereal. Andy and I love both.
4.) We all take naps. At least a couple of times a week.
5.) We've never been to Chicago. I think everybody we know has. We hope to go next year.
6.) Other than music, our house is very quiet in the morning. No TV, very little talking.
7.) We've never cursed in front of the kids except once last fall when I missed a turn and said the "d" word. Payton said "I KNEW you had it in you!"
8.) Stupid and shut up are considered curse words at our house.
9.) We never go into our backyard. Ever. Also have never used the hot tub that's on and ready to go. We go to parks, we go on bike rides, we walk but we never go into our backyard.
10.) We think our house is too big. We'd be good townhouse people especially given the previous item. The extra rooms we hoped to use for company usually go unused especially since Andy's family usually stays with Bob and Nicki.
11.) We have 8 loads of laundry per week. We don't know anybody else who has as much laundry as we do for 4 people.
12.) We've never owned a new car and probably never will.
13.) Our kids aren't allowed TVs or computers in their room (the TV you saw in Payton's room has rabbit ears and won't work after January. It's not hooked up to anything including satellite or a DVD player.)
14.) Although we love gadgets, we aren't early adopters of anything. We wait for them to come down in price. And I really don't like big TVs regardless of price.
15.) We always have music on in the house even when we aren't home. I like to come home to a house that feels "alive" so the music stays on 24/7.
16.) We don't watch the news. After 9/11 I felt the news was just too anxiety-inducing so we just started reading it instead. I never knew what Kerry's voice sounded like until the debates. We do watch election coverage and I can see us watching more and more news again. I love good reporters but with Tim Russert gone there's even fewer left.
17.) Clothes with words across the butt are not allowed. Especially for Andy. You know how he is.
18.) We talk to each other via cell in our house. Going up or down two flights of stairs when you're tired is too much to do sometimes.
19.) No rewards or punishment for school achievements. We want the kids to be self-motivated and not depend on us for their motivation. We can't accompany them to college. That being said, if grades or behavior ever got bad, we may have to figure out how to help fix it but it's never come up.
20.) As I've talked about before, allowance isn't tied to chores at our house. Learning to handle money and contributing to the household are different things in my mind.
21.) When we hear a phone ring, we very often don't answer it. Blake never even flinches like some kids I've seen who will say "answer it, answer it!" We call back later.
22.) We like to play games but never patronized the kids by playing the little kids games. All kids can play Uno!
23.) Payton begs us for a baby sister and Blake begs us for another dog. Life's a *&@(&, ain't it? :)
24.) If we leave the kids alone for more than an hour, Payton gets paid to watch Blake. Blake gets paid (a smaller amount) to listen to Payton. Any period of time under an hour is just called "being helpful."
25.) At dinner, we all take turns telling one thing that happened that day. Getting Blake to be serious and getting Payton to share is sometimes a challenge. I also thinks it helps the kids see us as regular people who have good and bad times throughout the day just like they do.
26.) I hate when the kids have homework. Hate it. We are so busy and I hate when the school takes up our evening time for schoolwork. Luckily the schools here recognize that so it's not as bad as it was in Texas but I know some parents who actually like it when their kids have homework.
27.) We tell the kids it's ok to hit back if they are hit. Doesn't make us very popular with teachers but also doesn't make our kids very popular as bully victims. Luckily it hasn't had to be tested.
28.) (Knock on wood) Nobody in our house has ever broken a bone.
29.) We never write the kids' social security numbers on anything other than tax forms. Not on medical forms, not on school enrollment.
30.) We've always based our lives on surviving on one income which has come in handy since we've both been laid off at different times. Going forward, we'll be relying more heavily on both incomes as we look at paying for teenager-y things including college.
I think every family has little things that would surprise people. What's on your list?
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