Test Anxiety

So, some of you know that I have to take a math test next Saturday in order to be endorsed to teach middle school math. Well....

I found out about this wonderful news in September. No worries. How hard could a middle school math test be? I figured that I would need to brush up on my Algebra I skills and review some more geometry than what we cover in 8th grade math.

Then I ordered the study guide for this *&%#@ test. I started reviewing & studying, but I couldn't figure out why I was having so much trouble comprehending the graphing & function stuff in the study guide. It seemed way beyond Algebra I. So I had a student in Algebra II look over it for me (thinking that she could tutor me). She informed me that I needed a junior or senior to help me, because they were studying this in the upper level math classes. Great.

So, long story short, I am searching for a high school senior or college level student (who is good at math), and could pass for me in 15 years with a little wrinkle cream, age spots, cellulite, etc. I am offering a nice sum of cash to said person if they will take the test for me. Seriously.

The funny thing is, I keep having flashbacks to the 80's movie Spies Like Us. Remember when Chevy Chase was trying to pass the secret agent exam & he wore an eyepatch and cast & sling on his arm so that he could write answers on them? That was one of my favorite scenes from the movie! Oh & when Chevy & Dan Akroyd had to pretend to be doctors in the Bedouin camp in the desert! Anyway, I think I might try something like that.

Please pray for me on Saturday!

Go, Paige!

Paige won the league cross country meet on Thursday! She is excited to be the league champion for the second year in a row. She won her race by 42 seconds.

Here is an action shot during the race. I obviously need to work on my photography skills!


And...

Paige & Coach Mehl after the race. The conversations usually go something like this:

CM: "Well, what do you think?"

P: "My time was horrible."

CM: "Okay, so winning by 42 seconds isn't good enough for you?" Smile

P: "Well, yeah, but..." smile.

Smiles all around.

We're excited for next year when Paige will learn how to race. She will run a 4K in competition as a high schooler. There are some excellent freshman runners in the area, so it will be fun to watch Paige learn to compete with "the studs!"

Paige has a volleyball tournament on October 27 & 28. Then she will start basketball practice November 3. Whew!

Paige on YouTube

You can watch a little of Paige's cross country meet at Syracuse on YouTube. Just click on the link below. You will get to see two of her teammates win the 7th boys race & 8th boys races first. They are wearing red & black jerseys.

Paige said her form was horrible, but she posted her season's best time at this race, so it must not have been that bad!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSfQeKFqJ1I

Birthday Boy

Lane turned 8 on October 8th! He was so excited that he had trouble sleeping for about a week. Remember those days? The anticipation? Ahhh, to be 8 years old again.

Jason took brownies and juice boxes to Lane's classroom for his school party. In Lane's 2nd grade class, the birthday boy or girl gets to sit on a chair and then choose four "very strong" classmates. The chosen students then lift up the birthday boy or girl in their chair (with a little help from Mrs. Brown) the number of years old that they are. Lane thought that was awesome!

We had Caramel Apple Pie on Saturday to celebrate. Lane's present from Jason & me....a new garbage truck, of course! Complete with a conveyor belt to lift the trash dumpster up & dump it in the bin.

Have you been trying to check out "The Old Farmer and His Young Wife?

Well, if so I have news! They now have a new blog URL address. It is http://theoldfarmerandhisyoungwife.blogspot.com They have updated AND added photos!!

Be sure to check it out. The side button under "Friends and Family" will take you there.

Running, running, running

It seems that we are all running a lot lately! Life is crazy, but we are adjusting. I have come to terms with the fact that I won't get to watch the new season of Dancing with the Stars. I'll just have to read about it! I am ususally grading papers if I am home in the evenings, so no tv for me. Ho hum. One good thing about being so busy is that I am thrilled when I get to cook a meal for my family. No kidding. Not that it's gourmet fare or anything that lofty, but at least it's home cooked.

I ran a 10 K last Saturday. It was a beautiful morning, I felt great, and I ran a faster time than my goal. Bonus: I had a great time! It was fun, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Of course I only saw the winners when I saw their pictures in the newspaper on Monday, but hey, I did it! So yes, I am proud of myself. :-)

Paige is dominating the junior high girls cross country. She placed 2nd in a 2 mile race on Tuesday, but turned around and beat the same girl yesterday morning. Paige is having fun, and meeting some other runners from the area. She is already looking forward to high school cross country next year. She's ready! She knows what training will be involved, but she knows that she can do it.

Lane missed two days of school last week b/c of strep throat. Our schools have really been hit hard by illness already this year. I knew that Lane would catch the "bug" it was just a matter of when. He is feeling much better, but we'll probably end up with a second round of antibiotics. His glands are still really swollen. In fact, he named them: Fred & Ted. Only Lane.

Lane was upset that he missed school when he found out that his class got to "taste test" SEVENTEEN different varieties of apples on one of the days he was gone. He was mad. I love apples, however I didn't realize that their were that many varieties. Wow. BTW, if you get a chance to buy Honey Crisp apples, do it! I LOVE them. Last time I was in Dillons I spent $12 on Honey Crisp apples. Yum.

Jason is already counting down the days until basketball season. I think I said that in my last post (when was that? Two years ago?), but he is ready.

Sorry for the rambles. I will try really hard to post some pictures next time!!

Remember?

I made no promises to update regularly once school started. So. I see that it has been four weeks since my last post. Ready for a quick update?

Here we go:

LANE...
...loves school!
....is in the Super Speller Club. First reward is lunch with his teacher!
...purchased an awesome Lego race car. The doors open, mirrors adjust, hood opens, etc. Very cool.
...has been reading like crazy.
...is still obsessed with garbage trucks.

PAIGE...
...is in 8th grade.
...is playing volleyball. The team is not doing so well this season. She had a good game last week, though with a couple of hits and a block.
...won her first cross country meet yesterday. She is excited about the cross country season.
...continues to be a good role model.

JASON...
...is busy with his 5,000 different jobs.
...is already talking about the high school basketball season on at least a daily basis! I think he's excited and nervous.
...is currently finishing up a basement remodeling project.
...has been able to attend Paige's ball games when I can't go.


GWEN...
...does not go down to the basement while the remodeling is taking place. It wreaks havoc with her obsession with cleanliness!
...is adjusting to junior high math. This last week went smoothly. Stress level is lower.
...is still running, too. Going to attempt a 10K next weekend.
...is even managing to cook a few meals a week. Emphasis on few.