End of the School Year

The end of the school year has finally arrived! My last day with the kids was yesterday (Friday). We had a HUGE breakfast with parents, watched a movie I had made and gave out awards. It was a great success. Then the kids helped me clean and get the room ready for the end of the year. It's amazing how helpful they can be! I have a workday on Monday and then fly out to St. Louis on Wednesday to stay for a week. Hope to see you there!

The Parents' and Granparents' Visit

The weather was be-a-u-tiful while mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa were here last weekend. It was a bit rainy Saturday morning, but cleared upby that afternoon. We were able to do some sightseeing here in Ouray, go to the hot springs, eat good food together, and just hang out.

Of course by Monday the snow was moving in, and on Tuesday morning I had to scrape 5-6 inches of snow off my car before heading to Junction for my National Board test. It's hard to guess how I did on the six exercises... I thought I kicked ass on some of them but was really disappointed in myself on a few as well. I'll just ahve to wait until November when they post all of my scores for the assessment and the portfolio. Until then, I'm goign to try to forget about it.

It rained, hailed, and snowed for most of the week but has turned into a great weekend! 70s and sunny! Jeremy and I even went for a bike ride today (bicycle that is). Counting down the days until I'm back in the St. Louis reagion to see family and friends in June :)

Why we can't leave our first floor windows open...

At precisely 11:57pm there was a loud scraping noise and banging outside. We both awoke a bit flustered, not knowing what in the world would make that noise! Jeremy rushed down the stairs to look out our front window and witnessed a large black bear (it was really the color brown, but not a brown bear or grizzly bear) manhandling our bear-proof trash can to get at the one bag of trash inside of it. Some loud banging on the windows and flashing of lights finally scared it away. Neither of us was brave enough to go outside and get the trash can from the middle of road, so we went back to bed, although we were too hyped up and somewhat scared to fall asleep quickly. This morning when we woke up our trash can was back in its normal spot... a neighbor must have needed to get through on the road and moved it. However, there are teeth and claw marks, along with much mud to prove that the event was not just in our dreams...

Moab...

Yesterday we decided to go camping with some frieds in nearby Moab, UT. Our campsite was amazing, and we had lots of fun! After eating breakfast this morning we all split up to play at whatever outdoor sport we chose. Jeremy and I headed to Arches National Park for some hiking. Although we had done shorter hikes there before, today we did something new to me and hiked all the way out to Double O Arch. It was 4.2 miles, which doesn't sound like it should take an hour and 50 minutes. However, the scrambling up cliff faces and walking out on top of fins with sheer drop offs on either side took a bit longer than expected. It was wonderful!


Jeremy's new 2005 Saab 9-2x! Perfect for holding all of our camping gear, along with a massive amount of groceries on the way home :)


View from our campsite along the Colorado River.


Shortly after waking this morning.


There are actually flowers here! It must be spring! I would never have guessed considering the 3 feet of snow we've had in the last two weeks!


Jeremy and Rex taking in the vast beauty...


Me with beautiful and varried scenery in the background. This picture was taken by Jeremy of course.


One of many naturally formed arches in the appropriately named Arches National Park.

Spring Must Only Get One Week of Vacation...

...but teachers and students of the Telluride School District get two! So ha! Jeremy and I headed home yesterday amid beautiful blue skies. Although the temperatures were a bit cool, I could tell spring was on its way back. Proof of the winter storm still remain, as my car is still burried under over a foot of snow (even after two 60degree days in a row). However, today it was sunny and 60 yet again. We took a walk on the river trail for the first time. Melting snow gave me cold and wet feet, but that wasn't going to dampen my spirits. Jeremy even took out the motorcycle! Tomorrow I'm hoping to hit at least one if not two more trails here in our new home town.

Hmmm....

So we finally made it to spring break...unfortunately it was spring that took the break.

Jeremy and I decided not to spend money we didn't really have on a beach vacation, although this is what I really needed. Instead, we thought we'd spend a few days on the front range with his friends and family before heading home to enjoy our new home. Unfortunately the Rocky Mountains have been inundated with yet another snow storm. We decided our few day trip should be extended in hopes the snow will subside by the weekend. We've done a bit of shopping (including a new car for Jeremy), seen some movies, relaxed in the hot tub, and went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I guess it's been an okay first week of break all in all.

Hope everyone else is enjoying more spring like weather than we are!