Happy Retirement

Today I got recognized for 15 years at the school district and wished my partner in crime a farewell.  I have been with her the last 11 years.  Getting used to a new teacher in the room will be interesting.  Dawn and I, however different in many ways, shared the same philosophy when it came to education, discipline, and teaching styles.

Shes actually moving closer to me...building a new house out in the country a few miles down the road.  I told her to have a pool installed!



Happy Retirement Dawn!

Big Ball Game Weekend

Saturday, Canyon got to play with a broken ankle....because, why not!

He wasn't too sure about being pitched to so he used the tee.

Sunday we headed to Little Rock for our annual Travelers game.

Eating hamburgers on national hamburger day!

We stayed through the 4th inning and then hit the mall for some vacation shopping. We heard later we should have stayed because during the 6th inning, the Travelers got 13 runs including a grand slam. Also a guy caught the grand slam ball bare handed.

Monday it was back at the ball fields for the Memorial Day game and BBQ.

This time he wants Mitch to pitch!

He made it!

Coach/pitcher Mitch gave us a photo bomb!

Worst timing ever!

So I came home from work and Canyon was on his swing as usual. But he didn't wave and smile at me like usual. So when I was in the house looking out the window and he was just sitting there, I ask Sahara is there something wrong with him? She said that the stray yellow lab that has been hanging around got rambunctious with Hippie and managed to knock Canyon off of the swing. He came up to the chairs to get ice put on it. But then went running back out to the swing so she thought everything was fine. After getting him back to the house we looked at his leg and this is what his ankle look like.

It was now about 7:15 in the evening so off to the emergency room we went.

Borrowed wheelchair in the hospital.

Sure enough, fractured fibula. No!!!! Not right before summer. Not right before Hawaii. Not right before Special Olympics. Not right before the last two baseball games. He was sent home with crutches.

Cuddles on the couch because there's not much he can do. Crutches are not working out.

Two days later we went for a follow-up appointment. He was put in this huge boot and given a wheelchair. We were told that he's not allowed to put any weight on it for at least 2 weeks. At that time it will be re-xrayed and we'll see what we can do about Hawaii. Unfortunately this is the day before we leave for Hawaii. What a mess!

Published???

What is Sahara up to now?
She is going to be published with the help of one of her professors and his wife.
They are going to do research and a paper on long term grief of family members who lost loved ones due to man-made disasters.

It's hard to read because it is a picture of a picture, but apparently a ways back (1965) there was an incident at a missile complex in Ar and it trapped/killed 53 workers.  They will interview the family members who lost loved ones to see how it effected their lives long term.

She's nervous because she doesn't know anything about writing a paper to be published.  I told her not to worry, just do it because it's another star on her resume and she will be co-writing with 2 people that have been down this road many times.  This will be her 4th extra activity she participated in through her college years.
Main Street Mission Food Pantry
Reform Service Matrix Project
Internship for Veterans PTSD (soon to be started)
Long term grief/disasters research paper (next semester)

Happy Graduation!!!

Oh the big day is here!  Canyon graduates at 2 pm at Tucker Coliseum from Pottsville High!

The day started out fine.  We slept in and had a late breakfast.  We started to decide exactly what it was we were going to do after graduation.  Party at a park, at Old Bank restaurant, at the house... the weather was not very cooperative (it poured last night and we expected more rain today) so we decided at the house would be the best.  So, we scrambled around to make it semi clean and presentable and then realized if we were going to have it here (or at a park) we still needed folks, cups, and a cake.  Sahara went to the store and I hopped in the shower (1 hour till go time). 30 seconds after jumping into the shower, the power went off.  Now I have wet - unstyled hair to deal with.  I thought of just wrapping a scarf around my head but that looked a little pirate-ish.  I went that way, but took it off once in the parking lot and just dealt with flat wet hair.
Hoping the power would come back on for the party.

We found Tammie, Canyon's aide and made our way to seats.

I got several pictures from other angles because they were sent to me.  These are from Tammie as the kids were waiting to march out.  Oh, and we got the memo for dark or khaki pants, a white collar shirt, and dress shoes...but we didn't hear about a mandatory tie.  OOPS!  So this is a borrowed tie from Mr. Bradley the high school principal.  He wasn't the only one.  Luckily spares were brought.

Valaria (the Prom Queen), Canyon, and Cannon
Canyon was between these two and they were put in charge of directing him as much as possible.

Here he comes.  He looks a little nervous.

Unfortunately, this year the sound was turned down too much.  We really had to struggle to hear the speeches.  Mr. T, the middle school principal gave one about disappointments in life and how if you persist, eventually you can accomplish anything. In the end he mentioned that he will be sad that his coffee and donut days with Canyon will be a thing of the past.  He has been having cowboy coffee and donuts with Canyon since 4th grade.

Canyon's name is next and Mr.T gets in position to hand him his diploma.  Mr. T. asked if he would be allowed to hand Canyon his award.

And then he ushers Canyon off stage.

Can Canyon be anymore happier?!  He loves his Mr. T.





Cannon waited below to make sure Canyon walked back to his seat.  Turns out Cannon has a little experience here as he also has a younger brother with Downs.  I didn't know that until the day before.





They cross their tassels over and head back. 

Tossing their hats at the end.

I have never seen Canyon so excited and nervous but he did everything right.  He seemed to be really proud of himself too.

Along with Sahara and I, the others that attended for him were...

Dad and Rita,

Mrs. Van Es his teacher,

Mr. T.,

Jared's mom, Susan, and Jared's dad, Randy and step mom, Nicole.

Also Carrie and Mark, James' cousins.

Back at home and so glad to have power again.
Yay!  The cake didn't melt!

He had one gift and the rest were cards.  Man did he make out in gift cards and cash!

Sahara made him this shirt for the special day.

His gift was a corn-hole game.

He got so many cards that I had to display them on the door.

13 years at Pottsville.
It's all he knows and is going to be a big adjustment to be out of school.  

Congratulations Canyon!!