Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Summer Plans

Summer is quickly approaching. Yay! *imagine a fat woman now doing cartwheels. Wait! Banish that image from your head - don't want to give anybody nightmares.* I only have 7.5 school days left after today; then my summer fun quickly begins. I am looking forward to unlimited Camden time, plus extra time with Mark. I'm looking forward to summer projects and vacations. I'm looking forward to long hours spent reading, staying up late, and pursuing new interests. As I think about my summer and all I want (and have) to do, I realize it's going to fly by!

We jump start the summer with my youngest brother's wedding next weekend. We'll be traveling to my hometown in Idaho for a few days of wedded bliss and festivities. I get to miss the last day of school and travel several hours with a 1 year old. Now that should be fun. Anybody have good toddler travel tips for me? We haven't taken a trip of this magnitude since Thanksgiving time.

The following weekend, we pick my stepson Kolby up at the airport for his summer visit. He'll be with us for 6 weeks. I'm looking forward to having him and Camden bond some more. There is a 13 year age difference between the two, but Kolby is a GREAT older brother and I can pretty much bet Camden will worship him by the time he leaves. Kolby doesn't know it yet, but he's going to have a small shadow following him around most of the summer.

Kolby's first week here I have get to attend a three day conference. According to No Child Left Behind, I am not highly qualified to teach English since I only minored in it. So I get to take classes to become qualified enough to teach what I have been teaching for the past eight years.


At the end of June we'll travel back to my Idaho hometown for a weeks vacation. We're also going to celebrate our anniversary early. We'll be leaving Camden with my parents for a few nights while we have some fun. *GULP* I've never left Camden overnight before and I'm not sure how I'll handle being away. My mom will do an AWESOME job with him, but still, he's my baby!

In the middle of July Kolby will fly back home. And then I will attend another week long class in my quest to be qualified to teach what I have been teaching the last eight years. Mark will also start a summer class in July.

In addition to classes and travel, I want to repaint my upstairs bathroom and cabinets, as well as paint all the doors in our house. I also want to learn digital scrapbooking. If you're into digiscrap, give me your best programs, websites, hints, tips, etc to get a beginner started.

Writing that all down, my summer doesn't sound so relaxing after all. But I'll be busy mostly because I want to be busy. I get to do what I want to (except for the few classes). Summer break - one of the big perks to being a teacher. Something has to got to make up for the pay. ;)

What are your summer plans? What do you want to do and accomplish over your summer? Share with me!

17 comments:

Blackeyedsue said...

I LOVE your list! You are going to be so happy at the end of the summer when you have checkmarks next to everything on your list.

There is something so cute about an older brother and his baby brother.

Have fun on your alone time...I am SO jealous. T might be old enough for us to leave her overnight with some of her grandparents. Hmmm. That might make for some fun plans.

Lana said...

summer always goes way too fast! Sounds like you have fun plans. :)

Lei said...

Plans? Oh, have a baby and tread water, lol.

Momma G said...

Isn't there something so fulfilling about counting the days until summer break? Love that...

Diana Mancuso said...

I can't believe you "get" to go to the conference and take classes to become "qualified enough". Lucky you?

During the summer, I plan to work on my wedding album. It's only been about two years. Then I'd like to work on a baby scrapbook.

Also, I plan on getting myself geared and ready to return to French teaching in September. Hopefully, I will get to teach at one school as opposed to the two school craze of yester year.

How was it for you when you went back to work?

Kristen said...

Whew!! I think that summer will go extremely fast. Sounds way busy.

No huge plans for us. We are going to Idaho also in July for a family reunion. Excited about that, but not excited about the prospect of taking our first long trip with the young 'uns. Could be interesting.

Other plans; bible school, bible camp, and doing whatever I can to keep the kiddos entertained. :-)

Dawnyel said...

You are a busy lady....even when you're relaxing!! LOL!
Let me know when you come up to my neck of the woods!! :)
My summer plans are basically keeping myself cool and kick-starting my fun next weekend for my annual Memorial Weekend camping trip!! I'm getting Cam into a summer school program and into a program where he can keep his school skills going for his return in the fall to school full-time. Other than that I plan on being a lazy blob!! :)

Missy said...

Between traveling for a homecoming, traveling for a wedding, traveling for a baby blessing, helping my aunt move, swimming lessons for the kids, trying to lose some more weight, work on several paintings, and sew my kids school clothes for next year....I plan on finding some place cool and blogging! LOL

GiBee said...

STOP IT NOW!!! You are NOT fat! You are beautiful!

Just ask yur hubby! He'll confirm.

Go ahead ... ask him.

I'm waiting!!!

ShelahBooksIt said...

woo hoo for summer! I'm gonna get fat, lol.

Unknown said...

I plan on taking my children to the local pool a lot! I love my summers when I'm not lugging around a baby in a carrier and nursing :-)

Good luck traveling with Camden. Bring lots of snacks, toys, music, and drive FAST :-)...I'm assuming your driving.

Sounds like a fun summer planned, enjoy!

Missy said...

Oh, Rachelle, I thought of a digiscrap site you might like. It is http://twopeasinabucket.com/

Enjoy!

sheri said...

I'm excited FOR you to enjoy your summer break! Sounds like you're going to have a blast doing all the fun things you want to be doing.

Millie said...

Have a great summer... so far my plans are to try and stay cool, in our first un-air-conditioned home in 3 years. Yikes!

Gabriela said...

I love summer! It's great to have a to-do list because you're right, it goes so fast! We will be coming up to the States and basking in all of the conveniences that they offer! Spending time in our mountain home, visiting family in Utah. Being normal. Can't wait!

Anonymous said...

i recommend Photoshop Elements. I know you can get an older version (2.0 or 3.0) for fairly cheaply. there are tons and tons of websites that do freebies. http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=547 this one is great!

Nettie said...

I'm going to make lots of jam, go on a couple family trips, take the kids hiking, biking, swimming and to the library EVERY week! Okay, I know that's ambitious. But, hey I just want to have fun! Sounds like you have a great to do list!