Weekend

This is a much needed weekend. The first week of school is very hard. By Friday we were all dragging. Getting that stamina built up takes a lot of work. All in all, the week went very well. My class of 23 seems like heaven sent after having such large classes the past few years. I really notice that this year has started out a bit different from the past years. This year's class was all together in second grade and it makes a difference for me in third grade. In the past, the grades have been split into two classes and put together in third grade. This creates a problem of bringing them together for the first time. They have always seemed to be so rowdy and busy with more friends to visit with and more distractions to get used to. It has always make it very difficult to get down to learning. But last year this class was all together, so they are used to being together as a group. I can't believe the difference it makes. We are actually acting as a class the first week of school, and not like we are having a big birthday party all day long. It is wonderful. If the public doesn't believe how much a simple change like that makes in the education of a child, I could sure give them a lecture about it.

Today is the Olsen family reunion. I don't know how many people are coming but I am happy for the time to just sit and visit with "old" relatives. When we were younger we spent so much time together as a family. We would go to Grandma and Grandpa's in Moore for Sunday dinner. I have such fond memories of playing in the yard and the barnyard, in the milk house with Grandpa, making houses out of hay bales, playing on the front porch, closing all the doors to the hallway and being in the dark, playing with the wood chest of old medicine bottles. Sitting at the kitchen table looking out the big windows through the screened-in porch. Of course, playing in the post office. What geat memories. Christmas was spent going to each family (Wow, all two of them!) Thanksgiving with cousins all sitting at the kids table. Hot rolls, carrot pudding (which I still don't like but I love the family tradition of having it) Playing Andy I Over with the ball being thrown over the house. What fun we created for ourselves.

Garth will be leaving around 2:00 to catch his plane to Arizona. He will be helping Nancy, Dallas, and Tyler pack up and move back to Utah. My prayers are with him as he travels alone. I know I wouldn't like being alone in the airport but he is a big boy and can take care of himself :) I worry about him driving alone. I think he needs me to sleep beside him. My snoring keeps him awake! OK, I admit I sleep when he drives. But sometimes I am awake! They will probably get to Lehi Tuesday morning. I will be lonely here alone without him, but I have plenty to do to keep myself busy. I won't get bored from lack of things to do. But I'm not excited about three nights alone. It all makes me appreciate him even more.

Right now I can hear that he has gone outside and is already mowing the lawn. We are at the point where we can go a week without mowing and it isn't too overgrown. I guess that means fall is coming. Garth is such a wonderful person to keep the yard looking good. It is sure getting tougher for him with his bad back lately. He is going to Scott to get help with exercises to relieve the pain in his back, and it is helping a lot. He is just such a hard worker, never lets up until he collapses into bed. He was cleaning an apartment last night until 9:00, after putting in his hours at the school and more time at J&D Automotive. A full-time job, a part-time job, and his own business on the side. He is a marvel and I love him so much.

I'm off to get myself ready for the day.