The Saga Continues...

On Monday morning, Richard, being the dutiful husband that he is, took my tire into Costco to have it checked. They said, "Sorry! You didn't purchase the tire here, so we can't look at it." Bummer!

So.... he continued with his quest. He took the tire into Sam's Club. They ran a battery of tests. They couldn't detect a leak in the tire. What the heck? Do they not realize that the tire was super flat just the day before?

I didn't believe this, so I had Richard take the tire into yet another tire shop. They ran the same battery of tests. They also couldn't detect a leak.

The two places recommended that we watch the tire for a day or two to determine where the leak may be coming from.

It's been almost a week now, and we are not detecting any leaks in the tire. The tire looks perfect. Go figure!

I guess that the adversary needs to come up with more than a flat tire to keep us from going to church!

Sunday Morning Flat

Yesterday, we noticed that my tire was flat according to my car's sensor system.

We didn't notice any flat tires; however, we went to the local gas station anyway to fill up my tires.

The sensor light went off. Yippee!

We celebrated too soon! This morning, Richard went into the garage for I don't know what, and he noticed that the tire was not just a little flat, it was so low in air that the rim touched the garage floor. Oops!

I strongly feel that this is the adversary's way of trying to hinder our eternal progression. He did want us to go visiting teaching and home teaching this morning, let alone go to church.

But staying true to what we believe... Richard changed the tire, and I was off to go visiting teaching with Addison. And... we were still able to attend our church meetings.

Yee Haw!

What Do People Really Think?

As a teacher, I like to tell my students that I am seventy seven years old. Wow! Even my seven year old daughter believes this. Scary, huh? What makes it even funnier is that my ten year old son plays along with it all.

Anyway... a few weeks ago, my daughter got a new girl in her class. Being that her mother is a teacher just next door to her classroom, she was at school early that day. So, being the social butterfly she is, she introduced herself to the new girl and her mom.

Addison: My mom is seventy seven years old.

Mom: Really?

Addison: And my dad has a pacemaker.

I wonder what that poor mother was thinking. Was she thinking that Addison was making this story up? Does Addison live with her grandparents? Or was she thinking that Addison's parents were crazy to have children at such an old age?

I wonder... What do people really think?

It's Been A Very Long Time!

I know! I know! It's been a very long time!

Now that school has begun, I feel like I have fallen off the face of the earth. So... I've decided to do what so many of you have done recently. An update on the Wood family!

School is going along fairly well. We have now been in school for almost a quarter now. This new year has brought about some amazing challenges but many awesome rewards. I have some great students in my class this year, and they are now beginning to understand the routines and procedures of the classroom and school now. Our principal kept stating that September 23rd was the magic date where something finally clicks in the students' heads to where the routines and procedures have become ingrained into their brains. We anxiously awaited that date! :) (The date has now come and gone. So what's the verdict? We are doing better! Thank goodness!)

Richard's health has been a challenge this summer, but we feel that we are getting to the bottom of it all. (He has another doctor's appointment tomorrow, so we shall see.) So hopefully, his health will be much improved very soon. Other than his health, his practicing of optometry continues to go well. It is so nice to see your spouse enjoying his profession and waking up each morning eager to start the new day!

Alex is doing very well in the fifth grade. He is enjoying his teachers, school work, and friends. I can't believe how quickly children grow up! He is anxiously awaiting the start of Oceanography. Alex is quite the trooper! Why you ask? He is continuing with his piano lessons and has started up with the violin at school. This means that he continues to practice thirty minutes a day of piano and an additional twenty minutes of violin every day except for Sunday. And... he doesn't even complain (too much)! Are we mean parents, or what?

Addison is also doing very well in second grade and loves that her mommy is just next door to her in school. She is quite the social butterfly and has made so many new friends. She has even become very good friends with a blind girl in her class. I love the many learning and teaching opportunities this brings to her. (She has even learned to type in braille!) She is also doing very well with her violin playing. It is so surprising to me how quickly she can learn the instrument and play her songs!

Aidan is growing into a happy and healthy young lad! He is now nine months old (today!) and reaching each and every milestone WAY too quickly. He is already crawling, cruising (walking) along furniture, and climbing up stairs (We've already had a tumble down the stairs last week.). Boy! Are we in trouble! He is a very happy baby! Aidan is always smiling. We are just working on laughing more. We were a little apprehensive about finding a new sitter this school year (We miss you, Amiee!), but he loves his new sitter! So much so that he is saying her name already but not so much with the "MaMa". How dare he?! Does he not know that I am his mother and that I carried him in utero and gave birth to him? :(

We hope that this helps those of you out there feel a bit more connected to our family. Keep checking us out! I'll continue to do my best at keeping things updated.

Back To School

Well... yet another school year has started! Is this good news or not so good news?

Seriously, though... I am WAY excited! Our profession (teaching) is one of very few where we can start over with different kiddos each and every year. It is so exciting to see the new bunch of students at Meet the Teacher Night. They are still so innocent and intimidated! Yet... they come back to school, and they're eager to learn. They may not know a whole lot because they are still young; however, as the school year goes on and as they mature, the little light in their eyes shines brighter and brighter. This is probably the best part about being a teacher!

My students seem excited to be in the classroom. And I have a bunch of cute kids! I am just looking forward to this next week, when we can forego all of the "getting to know you" activities and move onto the actual curriculum aspect of school and return to a more normal routine.

All I know is that I am wiped out these days! I'm not used to working so hard! This summer has actually been nice and relaxing.

I know, I know! Poor, baby! Right?

I also want you all to know that because school has started up again for the new year, I will probably not have as much of an opportunity to update my blog. It's been fun this summer keeping up with you all and catching up with old friends! All I can say is that I'll continue to try!

I'll do my best! Wish me luck!

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other!

Just like this one lone, white duck... Addison is also unique and wonderful!

She knows how to make others laugh.

She is in tune to those needing "loves".

She is always happy (except early in the morning).

She has an ear for music.

She is a great helper.

She is an awesome big sister.

She is a friend to many.

There are so many things that make Addison unique and wonderful!

But... all she needs to know is that we love her for who she is!

Making A Run For It!

All I have to say is : "Oh, my goodness!" Aidan is so squirmy wormy I get tired just watching him. He is not only jumping up and down and rolling around all over the place, but he has been doing the army crawl for over a week now, and... he is only six months old! Gone are the days of being able to leave him alone having all the confidence in the world that he'll stay put. Here are the days where he falls off the bed (The current count is now up to three. Are we horrible parents or what?), gets into whatever items are left on the floor or near it, and where Mommy and Daddy now need to vacuum the floor more frequently.

Ugh! What are we to do?

And... oh, yes! Those are socks on his poor hands. He is trying very hard to break his habit of scratching his poor little head and ears bloody. Is there a support group for that?