I'm Ready for Fall!

It has been sooooo hot! It has made the first 2 weeks of school almost unbearable. The elementary buildings in our district are old and have no air conditioning. In 9 school days, we have dismissed early 3 times and was completely cancelled 1 day. Most days, the temperature in our upstairs classrooms are 90 degrees when we arrive in the morning. It doesn't improve when we are all in there together. The ground breaking for our new elementaries was 2 weeks ago. I can't wait for them to be completed!

The local news station said that this was the hottest August on record for our area. There were 25 days of 90 (+) degrees and 5 days of 100 degrees. We are 10 1/2 inches below normal on rain, too. Every one's lawns and gardens look so pitiful. We will probably have a short, fast fall. The leaves are so dry, they will turn colors early and fall with the first wind/rain.

Ethan is a sophomore this year and is playing soccer. The heat has made it tough on everyone. He has practice almost everyday after school. We will all enjoy it much better when the weather is cooler.

We had a great time this past weekend! All of our kids were home for a visit. Jay and Jamie came up from Louisville. Jay seems to enjoy his new teaching job. We've all been the new kid on the block (it's been 27 years ago for me!) and know what it's like to not have the materials we need. I remember very clearly how frustrating that was but I think you find how creative you can be and find out what you're really made of. Of course, you don't realize that until you've been there awhile. I tried to give him some support. Jay makes the 4th generation of teachers in my family. I'm proud of that, financially challenged but proud.

Maybe someday, we'll take them all out to eat more often when they come home. But, I kind of think that, for right now, they like to eat good ol' mom's cooking. I fixed pork chops, mashed potatoes, corn pudding, and brussel sprouts for dinner. I made one of Boomama's Mama's pound cakes and a buttermilk pie for dessert. Lots of sweet tea was made, too. I love it when they're all here.

Today, we just kind of took it easy. I shredded lots and lots of old papers. Tomorrow, it's back to that old hot classroom. I'll get my big water jug out again. We fill it with ice and water and make do the best that we can. If it snowed tomorrow, I wouldn't complain at all, at least, not for a few days.