It's a Girl!

I realized today that we hadn't yet posted on our blog that the verdict from the ultrasound is in and our little "bundle of joy" is a girl :) We are excited, it will be a whole new adventure especially when it comes to dressing a little girl... Katie is not too sure about that one but I'm sure it will grow on her :)

Pumpkin Patch

Here are some fun pictures from our visit to the pumpkin patch. Ryan is obsessed with pumpkins this year and that has really made the season a lot of fun so far!


Drumming on the pumpkin with Dad.

Helping Dad pick up the pumpkin.

We did it!

Walking hand in hand with Dad.

Ryan's "Girlfriend"

So here is Ryan in the car with our little friend Mia (a little girl I have babysat once a week since she was 5 months old). We were on our way to toddler time at the library and I look back and he's holding her hand! They are just too cute! I have more pictures that will hopefully be coming soon!

No meat!!!!

Ok so here is the deal! For some strange reason I decided that i was going to try to go one month with no meat! I am still not sure what came over me but it did. Well I talked someone at work to try it for me and it has turned into a little bet. Whoever does not make it the 30 days has to by the other person a meal with meat! Katie was not too excited about the whole idea. Having to cook different food make meatless lunchess that will get me thr the day it all seemed like too much effort. If you know me well you know that it is all about the challange! So yesterday was the first day and i did fine... we went shopping and have lots of meat replacements. Katies friend Junko gave us a great dish to try! It was great! katie isnt convinced. We will see how the next 28 days go!

a month later

ok ok ok i know we have been really bad about checking our blog and updating it... we have faster internet and a new computer and everything. Well I guess the real big news is that I have started my masters program and it takes alot of my time. Also I am working the after school program till 5:45  three days a week and I have class one day a week till 6 and young mens one day a week till 830 and it all adds up to no time. Ryan still dosent like me leaving for work in the moring. This morning he heald on to my leg and did not want to let go. 

My 4th grade class is great! I have a great group of kids this year. It took a little while to get them in shape and used to the 4th grade but they have all gotten on board with my program. I have a nice group of supportive parents who are willing to help any time. That really helps alot. This year at school extra activities as far as commeties and things like that have taken a back seat to all of the other things. Everyone at work understands. 

Ryan is getting a little less crazy as far as his sleeping habbits go. He wakes up less and dosent freak out as much... that kid is a crack up at night. he tries to talk to you so he  can stay up later. Sometimes we give in because i leave some mornings before he wakes up and am home after he is asleep. 

I am not complaing at all... well maybe a little. This masters program is great. It is alot of work but I am learning so much. I have a co 4th grade  teacher this year and I have been forced to more prepared and organized which has been great. The teacher i worked with last year took a different position at the school so she is still around to help when i have questions about things we did last year.   Maybe Katie will post some  pics soon we will see. 

Remembering 9/11

I'm not sure how many people remember the project a few teachers at my school worked on last year for September 11th.... but it is that time again. Let me explain. Last year we realized that many of our students were so young that most of them had no idea what happened on September 11, 2001. Inspired by the story of the aunt of a teacher at our school who was on flight 11 , the first plane that struck the WTC, we did not want our students to forget the many people who lost their lives and the heroes that emerged from the tragic and horrible events of September 11th. So we invited people to contribute their thoughts, reflections, memories and insights about Setember 11, 2001. We want to place all of these contributions in a collection to use as a resource in teaching about the historic day. There are so many lessons that can be learned from this event. Not only from the event itself but from its aftermath and how it has shaped the world in which we live today.

This is the invitation we used last year inviting people to share last year.

We, like elementary teachers all across this country, are now teaching children who were very small six years ago. They have no memory of the events of that day. We would like to preserve your thoughts and feelings to share with classes for years to come. Please write about what you were doing at the time of the attacks, how it has impacted your life, and your feelings as an American and please forward this to people who you think will contribute. You will be writing for children between 7 and 12 years old. Please join us in compiling these memories so that the children can be taught and as a nation we will never forget. Thank you

We have established an email account where people may email their contributions to. barton911@gmail.com Please send your reflections to us and encourage everyone you know to do the same and encourage everyone they know as well... you get the point.

Our hope is that you will repost this on your blog or copy it and send it to everyone on your email list. We would love to see this grow and grow then receive a flood of contributions. I am kind of reminded of a documentary I saw a few months ago called the paper clip project. A small school in a small town had the idea of collecting a paper clip to represent each person who died during the Holocaust. It was something that once it got rolling had lasting effects on the students involved and the community. I hope that maybe this project might grow into something will forever impact the lives of not only the students who pass through a few teacher classes but maybe an entire community.

Back to School Blues

Well not really blues but it sounded good. Actually I thought that the stress would last longer than it did. The hours leading up to my first online class were a little stressful and then looking at the course outline sent my stress level through the roof. After some calming words from my loving wife and lots of giggles and kisses from Ryan everything seemed okay.
This masters program is going to be alot of work and alot of time but the investment will be well worth it and we are ready to take it on. I figure it will only be harder with more kids. The work does not seem too hard.. mostly it is the time that is going to be required to get it all done.
We will be sure to keep you posted on the progress and any neat projects that I ( we) will have to do.