So Much Fun I Gotta Stand On My Head

Pearce absolutely loves his new swing set. Well, for him it is a slide set until we get some size appropriate seats to swing on. His favorite thing at the moment is to run his trucks down the slide. Oh and to stand on his head after sliding down himself.

Fall Saturday

Pearce and I went running errands this morning. We picked up some shin guards, took the recycling to the center, then we looked at a barn at Home Depot. Pearce just had to. When I got home I looked up some under deck roofing systems. I'm gonna turn the underside of the deck into our barn. The happy side benefit will be added water collection for use on the veggies in the future.
Kristi is out with Regina and I'm here with a supposedly sleeping boy and a wide awake little girl. I get a little done on the dishes when not pulling Claire out of the "chim-chimmey". I hope to get a little more done on the front flower beds today. That'll mean more compost and a free reign to work on the back. If you've been here you know what a mess it is up against the house in the back. I also have at least 5 more trees to "prune" after the leaves fall. That is for composting purposes and weight issues. I'm waiting to take out some trees till they loose their leaves so I have a better chance of them falling where I want them to fall.

Andrew Elkins

Schools Back

I have had a disjointed summer. I didn't get all that I had planned to do done. I got a lot that I hadn't planned to do done. Pearce had an awesome time at soccer camp. We also had an awesome time with the family at his birthday party. I got the derelict cars out of the back yard and I removed the front of the chain link fence (didn't plan). I began to remove excess trees. By excess trees I mean the trees shading the Pecan trees in the back yard. I'm even tending the Pecan trees in the yard next door (no one lives there right now). Also the excess trees in the shade area of the "Back 40" (the extended part of the back yard). Where there are 5 or 6 thin little trees I plan to reduce the number to 2 or 3 so they can grow healthy. I'm also going to put some azaleas and rhodedendrons in amongst them as well. Got the swing set moved from Philip and Shelly's house (didn't plan). Still haven't got it set up. I'm planning on that rivaling a real playground when I'm finished (at least 2 slides.

Using What You Grow

I am using a cheese stuffed chili relleno recipe and turning it into a casserole.
We have (or had) four frozen 10# turkey breasts. Kristi got them some how. We cooked one the other day. Needless to say we have a great deal of turkey left-over.
Well, back to my concoction. I had the idea to try a casserole because the cubanelles were too small to stuff. I intended to use manchego and queso, but we had mozzarella and feta is cheaper than manchego. The meat would probably been ground beef if I weren't trying to get rid of the turkey.
I'll probably layer it peppers-turkey-cheese-peppers-cheese.
When it's all said and done I'll give the reviews. How Pearce liked it, how Mommy liked it, and how I liked it.

Andrew Elkins

Children are Awesome

Claire put herself on the shelf this time.

...And The Walls Come Tumblin Down

All that is left to do is disengage the chain link from the weeds and remove the gate posts (they're set in concrete). Then I can get to removing trees.

Playing With the Girl in the Mirror

Claire is catching on to this standing up thing and even taking a step or two (with maximum assistance). She loves playing with the little girl she sees at PT every week. Claire will even gives her big huge kisses.

Mending Fences

This may look like the opposite, and well, it is. I'm taking down the front side of the fence. This will make it easier to get to the play area. Taking down the front side will open up a flat space to put a pool.

Deer Gangs

Driving down my street I saw these fellas dancing around in a yard. I was in the truck so they wouldn't let me any closer. I don't think I've ever seen four bucks just hanging around together like this before. It was so cool. I love living on a semi-rural road.

Let Me At 'em

I'll show you how to do it just let me get down there Aunt Suzy.

Pond Time

Pearce was loving the pond at Susan's. We had a great time seeing folks and getting in the water.  Brooksie, her son, and Charlie played a lot of good music. It was a good reunion.

He really liked the new barn Susan and Ellen just finished the day before. He even liked the lawn tractor. I don't think he saw the Kubota.

 

...and little Stephen trumped Claire as the youngest Wells. His 11 weeks beat her 11 months. Oh, well, she's still the cutest baby in the world.

Sharks and Minnows

Escape velocity has been reached. Pearce finally let go of my hand today and had a blast. Here he is playing Sharks and Minnows with Coach Emily. He is having a blast. On the way to camp this morning he kept planning out which color popsicle he was going to get.

Chillin' After Camp

Pearce's first comment after camp was, "That's hot." We did us a little tailgating after we got cut loose for the day. No Pringles today Mom, but we did have chocolate covered pretzels and slightly thawed frozen juicebox. One side note on camp today. The only participants there without shingaurds were the two coaches kids, Pearce and Morgan's little girl. Kinda funny.

Pman and Daddy's First Day of Soccer Camp

He was Mr. Shy this morning. Tried to climb up my leg for the first 5 minutes. We struck a happy medium. I held his hand the whole session. We'll work on getting some separation tomorrow. He did kick the ball with one of the coaches until he realized what he was doing. The boy's got a death grip.

Summer Break Finally Begins

Yes, my last day of post planning was last Tuesday, but one or more of Chez Elkins has been ill beyond belief. Today we are all more or less back among the living. This morning before I launch into laundry and general house cleaning I am having a nice breakfast. A chicken burrito egg scramble with salsa verde, pirate coffee, and a small cup of cran-grape juice. All this and catching up on the Tour of California. This is when it's good that I don't have a lot of friends that follow cycling.

Princess Claire

Oh yeah, I'm cute and you know it.

If Only the People Would Listen

     Thank you for remembering teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.

     You are correct in that we did not enter teaching for the money, but in spite of it. Teachers do make a difference in the lives of children, again, unfortunately, in spite of the current system as often as because of it.
      If you are sincere in your belief that teaching is an honorable and important profession, please use the power of your position to begin a national conversation on teaching and learning and helping kids that does not begin with the “failure” of public education or discussions about “bad teachers.”
     We need spokespeople who will point out that more students are graduating high school than ever before in our nation’s history, that many of our students are succeeding at high levels, that there are high school graduates that are prepared for work or college, and that our fascination with standardized tests serves a political purpose and not an educational one.
     We need someone to answer the finger-pointers who blame teachers for societal issues or who believe that public education is failing because every student does not succeed. That’s not true and every politician knows it.
      We can do better, but we certainly deserve credit for what we have achieved so far.
      There is no “failure of public education.” There is a leadership crisis of monumental levels that has allowed public opinion and a standardized testing mentality to dominate the discussion about what teachers and schools really do.
      There are “bad” members of every profession, and every true profession, including teaching, has a method, a means and a clearly defined set of professional standards that can be, and often is, used to remove those who do not need to be in the classroom.
      The process is there; we simply need enough administrators with the courage and tenacity to use it as it is designed.
      Remember, however, that just as we can never eliminate every poor doctor or every unskilled police officer or every below-average air traffic controller or every ineffective politician, we can never hope to have every teacher in every school performing 100 percent to expectations.
      The problem is twofold: Whose expectations are we judging them by and what is the environment they are attempting to overcome? Teachers, after all, are people, and have the same issues, problems and failings of every other segment of society.
      At least 50 percent of the membership of every profession — teachers included — graduated in the bottom half of their class.
      To blame the relatively small percentage of teachers who perform below expectations in the classroom for the enormous number of issues we have in our profession that are a direct result of things beyond their control seems to me to be nothing more than an effort to find a scapegoat in an ill-concealed attempt to redirect focus and attention away from the failure of leadership and the lack of political will in educational matters on the state and national level.
      No Child Left Behind is a case in point. Developed intentionally without input from educational leaders, the sweeping federal education law is borderline educational malpractice and in its implementation morally indefensible.
       Its ill-concealed purpose is nothing more than the furtherance of the national voucher issue at the expense of public education.
      The sham of “adequate yearly progress” has degenerated to nothing more than teaching the test, not just in low-performing schools but in every school.
      The longer this evil illusion is allowed to stand and lead us all toward the nirvana of 100 percent of anything involving children, the more we will have to struggle later to overcome its ill effects. Fix it quickly, and include teachers in the conversation of reauthorization.
      Yes, teachers are willing to be responsible for outcomes. Before you begin that “value added” process that will shape evaluations and salary, show us the research that says this is sound, justifiable educational practice.
      Show us the studies that validate this approach. Talk about replications of studies that show this idea will pay an educational return on an enormous investment. While you’re at it, explain how teachers of exceptional children, band, art, physical education, chorus and career and technical classes are to be compensated for student progress.
      Then we can begin to discuss parent involvement and student motivation and how those are conveniently omitted from the “data driven” equation.
      Doctors, dentists, insurance companies, lawyers and every other profession you can name are allowed to take into account pre-existing conditions, prior records and personal history of their clients when computing recommendations, outcomes, professional services, treatments and payment.
      If you truly consider teaching a profession, can you offer them less? To attempt to hold teachers accountable for things they cannot control is simply indefensible. As you wrote, teaching is indeed a profession of “nation builders and social leaders dedicated to our highest ideals.”
      Please do not confuse teaching, as has happened so often in our recent past, with social engineering and societal reform.
      We cannot fix everybody, but we still try to help every child we can. Teachers deserve better than they are getting.
      You must be the leader out of the wilderness of blame and the wrong-headedness of equating progress with a standardized test score.
      Be a teacher. Lead.

He Shoots... He Scores

Pearce and Daddy went outside to play soccer today. Breaking in the new cleats. These shots I got of Pman before he noticed I was taking pictures are awesome. He looks like he's been playing for years.

Look Out Ronaldo

Got cleats will play. Pearce's first pair of soccer boots are looking pretty good. All he needs now are shorts and socks. He's got a soccer t-shirt and jersey. He's ready to go.... So is Daddy.

Well This is How it is Sister

They are mine and yes they are the cutest children in the world.

Baby Girl Having a Ball

We were shopping for soccer gear for Pearce, he's going to his first soccer camp this year, and had to get Claire a soccer ball.

Putting Down Roots

Pearce got gardening tools for Easter and some seeds. We planted them the other day. He has developed a hefty case of farmer's tan.

Getting All Worked Up

This is Pearce's reaction to all the weather hub-bub. Passed out in the basement is the same thing as passed out in his room. Of course if you look you will notice there is no room for anyone else in the QUEEN sized bed.

Lots of Water Falling From the Sky

We so love the new house. Awesome underground finished bedroom and toilet. We're here trying to keep Claire from waking Pman.

Andrew Elkins

Mowing With Daddy

We did a little late afternoon mowing on the new project mower. Pearce was even helping steer. I finished up on my own after dark. It has real lights and everything.

A Picture is Worth a Gajillion Words

The Otherside

Daddy Drives a John Deere

Well, I went to borrow a trailer from Rance and this JD LT170 was on the trailer. He said he was just going to toss out the body. Someone was going to give him $50 for the engine if he'd pull it. Rance offered the whole thing to me for $50 if I'd haul it off.
Let me think. It's a John Deere, it runs, it'll pull an aerator, it's an old John Deere, it'll haul yard trash, and it will pull a spreader. $50 will go to Rance at some point in the near future.
Small reality check. There is some cosmetic work to be done and a transmission job that will need to be done soon.
More details this weekend.

To Infinity and Beyond

Having fun around the new house.

Quality Time

Claire wanted some veggies so we sat at (or on) the counter. If you look closely at the TV you will understand why Claire's a little 'xasperated. She couldn't see the TV.

Parting Shot

We are completely moved. We have a lot of settling in to do. No, I did not take the camelia with me like I said I would.

Day 5 and the Power Tools Come Out

Andrew Elkins (@ralknz) 'bout to break out the power tools to replace a couple of shelves and make a decent back for a book shelf.

Andrew Elkins

Me and My Papaz

Mom and Dad came up today to see the new place. Yeah, they came to see the little ones. Claire's just as comfortable as can be with her Papaz.

Moving On Up...

The day is here. We are moving and this time we're paying somebody else to do the heavy lifting. I love it. I don't even have to take anything apart, or the best part, put it back together.

Painting, Painting

We started painting yesterday. This is Pman's room and that is wet Woodsmoke with an eggshell finish. We got Pearce's room finished and Claire's needs another coat. Ours has been prepped with Kilz but we still have to do the whole thing.

A Little Something From My Co-workers

Ole Baby

Come dance with me. Who cares what time it is I can't tell time. Just dance with me.

Welcome to My Hobbit Hole

How fun is this. They won't ever find us here.

Scoping Out the Park

People, you just got to see this. That plane is rolling over and over.

Raiding Mom's Picture Files

Look at Me

What speed demon. I can't wait to take my Pman out the river trail or the Viking Trail to ride. I think we'll get a big wheel first so he can learn to pedal first. Oh the joys awaiting me on the other side of the soccer season and move. Hey, we can even ride on our new street. There is almost no traffic.

This Early Morning Stuff is Too Much

I'm to young for coffee so my Dolly and Daddy are what get me through.

Vindication of Archaic Medicine

My regular bloodletting has finally shown results. The past 2 or 3 trips my blood iron has been above 16. The cut off for me is 13.1. Today it was at 13.4.

Andrew Elkins

Laissez les bons temp rouler

Thanks Mom and Dad for the coffee. We will let the good times roll.

Late Night Soccer with Daddy

Daddy got home from having no game and we watched Hotspurs embarrass the untalented AC Milan. Dirty old AC couldn't push or beat their way to a goal. Cool Crouch snapped one in and thanked the Italian fans for their appreciation. Best part was sitting with Daddy.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to all y'all!!!!!

A Spidy Cycling Afternoon

Pearce and I decided to enjoy the weather on the porch this afternoon. We first went for a walk and then we went back outside for some tea and found the bike.

Just Hanging

Not much going on. Sister was watching Daddy do the dishes so I just decided to hang out and help her watch.

What a Boy

Captain Awesome can't slow down long enough for a picture. That is one cute cape though.

Oh What a Day

Canceled practice at lunch. Another team in the region has a "conflict" with their high school. Still haven't got that taken care of satisfactorily. Dealt with a parent of a player I cut from the team.
But we're moving!!!!
Burned the chicken in the crockpot. You can ask but I'm not telling how. Our favorite Chinese place is closed on Tuesday. Who closes on a Tuesday?
But we're moving!!!!
The people in the house we want are closing Friday. Our landlord is letting us out of our lease with 60 days notice. During Springbreak, we will move into our new abode here in Rome.
It has a fenced in back yard (dog?) and a garage (place for projects?) more soon.