SIGH!!!

Well, it's been a while huh? Life has been just a tad busy. We've seen the end of tax season, Easter holiday with family down "south", said goodbye to Rexie, produced and put together a 5th grade science project, went to the Little League opener (lost), attended Jr High open house - and lastly - but surely the BIGGEST - got through Sal's transition meeting!!!

Meeting was this morning. I was DREADING it! Thank GOD for my team from Salk. Dang, are they good. Mrs Legner asked questions and suggested things before I could even think. It's SO great to have her there. In these meetings I feel very overwhelmed and am usually just reeling with all the information put out and hardly have the sense to ask all the questions I have. Mrs Legner comes in and asks the very same questions I have and puts into my language what's going on. As a team we have decided that Sally will go into a cross cat class next year. She will still be with her "reg" classmates in PE and lunch but will be with children at her curriculum level for Lang Arts and Math. These classes are just like "reg" classes - in that they (the kids) switch every hour and such. So instead of going to biology or algebra class - Sal will go to Lang Arts in what they call a "cross cat" classroom. I really think things are going to go well. It's almost scary. In fact, on the way out of school Bill and I wondered if we had missed something because things went so smoothly.

I can't help but be in tears today. I think it's the combination of being so "up tight" about the meeting today and the fact that my tiny little 5.8 pound baby is now going into Jr High!!

At the open house last night they had a raffle and of course our little wishing wizard, Sally, won a back pack with Humphrey Jr High on it. She was SO proud (and Jack was So jealous).

Rexie the cat has been taken to Animal Control. She was really having a hard time lately with Mabel and took to putting "messes" all over the bathroom downstairs. Bill ran into an Animal Control lady last week and was talking to her about it and she said it would prob be best if Rexie found a new home AND she had just the home in mind. So on Sunday we said "see ya later, Rex." I was never a REAL big fan of Rexie, so I didn't have quite the goodbye of Sadie. :-)

Mabel has really turned a corner. She's getting much better. I think she's realized that she's next on the "pet evacuation" list. :-) I did happen to mention to her that I put down the very best dog in the whole wide world - I wouldn't bat an eye putting her down if she doesn't shape up. :-) (just kidding - don't go all PETA on me) :-)

Baseball began. Jack did well. He was angry that he never got on base. We tried to tell him that it's harder when someone your age is pitching to you. He did his usual Jack grumpus and walked away. Lord, give me strength.


Easter, where to begin. Bill, Jack and I (oh, and Mabel) started out Friday morning to Grandma's where we picked up Sally and proceeded to Aunt Jill's. "The Gang" then joined us that evening - Kennedy, Lincoln, Lex and Mad Dog along with parents - we all ate dinner and then colored eggs.


My Sister, the Egg Nazi, who usually only gets about 3 eggs per child - had 51/2 dozen eggs for us to color. Of course the children allowed them to sit in the dye for about 3 seconds and then proceeded to the next egg. So when they all went outside to play - *I* got to "re-dye" the one's that I wanted. :-)


It was a nice time. The "cousins" all play nicely - well, as nicely as maniac's. :-) They were upstairs, in the basement, outside - just all over being their crazy selves. The volume was such that when they went outside I thought I had gone deaf.


Mabel was in HEAVEN! She ran and ran and ran. Played with Tiny (the St Bernard) and Chunk (the Husky) and just smelled her brains out. She also got to meet her first cow. She stood on one side and the cows on the other and she barked and howled till they ran at her and then she took off and ran straight over and hid behind Tiny. My sister's house provides loads of entertainment without tv. :-)


So on Sunday the whole gang assembled again along with Aunt T and Mike's family and then Grandma and Grandpa. My Sister cooked up a storm as usual. She always side-steps the compliments on her food, saying it's no big deal. Well, it is to ME and granted we're not a picky family - but she really does a nice spread.

When we drove home on Monday, Sally AND Mabel slept!!!! Mabel slept the whole day and the whole night through. I couldn't figure out if she was so tired or depressed to have to be back on a chain again.

Through all this craziness I have managed to "kind of" keep up on the house. We had some major overhauling on Monday. Got a lot accomplished. So now we turn our eyes to Spring. I plan to get out summer clothes next Monday AND take a trip to Humphrey to sit in on a cross cat class. I'm really hoping next year goes as well as this year did. I can't imagine saying goodbye to my team (all of them). Jonas Salk has been a FANTASTIC place for Sal. It's so VERY hard to say good-bye.