dual immersion

Hooray!! Hooray!! We applied Nate to two dual-immersion programs and he got in!! He wanted to speak Chinese or Spanish (that's my boy!). The district offered French as well, but he wasn't interested in that language.

I filled out applications to approximately six different school, hoping that Nate would get in SOMEWHERE. It worked!! Nate got into the Chinese program at Ridgecrest elementary and the Spanish at Silver Mesa. I was hoping for the program at Alta View elementary, but Silver Mesa is still pretty close (I'll have to drive him myself).

My nephew currently attends a dual-immersion program in Farmington. He started in kindergarten and now he's in second grade. Whenever I speak to him, his Spanish is spot on! He speaks it with ease and correctly, too. By the time these kids get into High School they'll speak better than RM's and will be ready begin ANOTHER language! Can you believe it? Tri-lingual!

It will be tough for our Nader at first, but he's on board and is excited to speak Spanish!

Well blow me down!!

The other day, the weatherman said it would get, and I quote, "a little windy." He even said it while raising his eyebrows as if to say, "sure will be fun, won't it?"

I didn't think it would get so windy that the mountains, just mere miles from my house, would be completely obscured by dust. You can even smell the dust in the air. Inside the house! My nose is all ticklely too. Crazy!

I'm wondering how Mike's day is going. The SAR group got a "callout" for Willard Bay. Someone drowned a few days ago and they are helping with the recovery of the body. I can't imagine how big the whitecaps are; and knowing Mike, he'll be hungry when he gets home 'cause waves and Mikey don't mix.

Of course this hits the day before garbage day. Seriously, it never fails. On garbage day all the neighbors stuff gets blown into my yard. I haven't been drinking beer, I don't get the paper and I hardly use plastic wrap- yet all this crap ends up in my yard.

At least we're not in "stinky Idaho." Our friends, Liz and Travis, dubbed it as such. Liz is a Montanan to the core and Travis mumbles that he grew up in Utah. They even taught,then 3 yr. old Andrew, to hold his nose and say "stinky Idaho" in his cute, nasal-ly voice.

The wind never. stops. in Idaho. NEVER. Idaho Falls is a constant barrage of wind with dirt, snow and leaves mixed in. No wonder girls there use so much hairspray.

So batten down the hatches and hold on to small children. Let's hope we don't end up like Dorothy!

'Rents visiting

Mom and Dad are here "on business." That's code for signing the tax return forms at the financial planner's office and then spending the rest of the time visiting with friends and family.

We went to lunch at a the Bench family stand-by, Wendy's. Grandad fed fries and Frosty to baby Lena while Mom and I talked about the Karren's reception this weekend.

Of course we went by "the Wagon" (The Chocolate Covered Wagon) for some treats for my brother, Mike ( he loves those sandwich mints) and popcorn and truffles for others. I actually didn't eat anything when I went, not even a sample of caramel (is that good or am I insan?).

Afterward, Lena needed a napper-dapper so we visited while she slept. I introduced Mom and Dad to Facebook, which they have absolutely NO INTEREST in doing. So naturally, I desperately moved on to the family blog. I think they have even less interest in that although I said, three times, "I'm doing this for you guys so you don't feel left out." (I'm also doing it for you, Dear Reader!! Please don't feel left out!) Could I BE more desperate?!?

Evidently not. I moved onto the new topic: their 50th wedding anniversary. I had a nice sit-down dinner on a patio outside the institue building for immediate family and close friends, but Mom said, "No. Let's just go to a restaurant." I said, "I will plan it for you! Just give me a budget and I'll make it work!"
"No."
"We could set the table, etc to coordinate with the colors she had at her wedding"
"I don't even remember what we had!"

Dad breaks, "Michelle, WE'LL (pointing at himself and me) will plan the annivesary and all your mom has to do is show up!"
I like Dad's style.

I haven't given up yet- I still have the whole week to talk Mom into the dinner.

What's up?

Things are a-happening at the Seely's.
We finished Erik's cub scout requirements in the alloted year, which actually means "Erik's mom was on top of things." Cub scouts is great, it gives me an excuse to spend time with my guy and teach him different things. Conversely, it is tough to get all the requirements done AND electives at the same time. Like I said before, we got the requirements done, just not a lot of electives. Erik will be able to get his awards at the Blue and Gold Banquet that's coming up. YAY, ERIK!!

Nate is signed up for soccer with his "church" friend, Charley Francis. He is soooooo excited. I'm just hoping this round of soccer will go better than his first attempt (playing for 5 mins. and then acting like a snot to the coaches). He is sounding out words all the time and is moving along well in reading.

Lena has learned to climb stairs so we are in TROUBLE!!! The half flight isn't a big deal, it's the main flight of stairs that has us worried. I need to get together some preggo stuff and take it over to Kid 2 Kid so I can trade for some baby gates!

Mike and Josie have a Search and Rescue workout this weekend in Logan. Mike asked if I wanted to arrange for someone to take care of the kids for the weekend and go with him. Usually I would like to go, but when spouses tag along on workouts you do two things: hang out with members and spouses alike, and play victim. Usually not a bad deal, but this weekend is avalanche work. Playing victim would involve getting buried in a barrel under the snow. Normally, I would be fine with it, but I am NOT using a favor from a friend to watch my kids so I can get buried in the snow and freeze for a few hours. NO WAY.

Me? I'm just getting better and better at procrastinating laundry and housework! Aren't you proud of me? =) I have been making an effort to watch my diet and exercise, and the scale is showing smaller numbers from time to time. Nothing major, but it makes the effort somewhat gratifying. Mike is also in full "lose weight" mode and while the scale is slow to budge, it's easier to just look at him to see the difference- Yeah, Mikey babie!!

I'm siging off- I'll be more interesting next time! Love you!

Victory!!

For the first time in a few years, we signed Erik up for Jr. Jazz. We haven't had the best experiences with group sports and Erik, so we have shyed away for a while. But this year, he asked and asked to play basketball.

It's hard to say, "no." Basketball is a social sport. Kids are always playing in front yards, at church, and on teams. I mean, even I know how to play rudimentary basketball!

So we signed him up on a "recreation" league, you know, instead of the competitive league. What's up with that? I mean, these kids are in elementary school, for crying out loud! "Competitive" league, give me a break!!

Anyway....
So Erik has been going through the whole thing- practices, frustration ("I'm the worst one on the team!!"), games. Some has been good, some has been bad. But we've seen progress every week. He's improved his skills, he is more willing to go in and he even gets involved in the game. Unfortunately, the team has an awful record! The closest they came to victory was a tied game....until last Saturday!!!! They won!! They even buried the other team!! WOOHOO!!!

All in all, it was a better experience than indoor soccer. Hopefully we'll see Erik in some more sports in the future!

Aren't you funny?

Here is yet another video of the cutest little girl in the world. We discovered this little, I don't know what to call it, thing, that Lena does. Now we just pester her constantly to do it and she is happy to do her little head shake for us!

Time for a high chair!

Needless to say, we headed out to "Babies R' Us" the next day to buy a high chair! I do have to hand to the "Safety 1st" company. That bouncer seat never budged when she leaned out that far!