Wow, the time is going so fast these days - I can't believe we will be back there in two weeks. School is going really well - the children are loving the Christmas activities we have been doing - we will do them for this coming week as well - the last week will probably be mostly playing and watching videos (along with catching up on things they might not have finished). The teachers still don't know what they are going to be teaching next year - and the contract teachers have no clue where they are going to be (like me). Pam, the other Prep teacher, was offered a permanent teaching position up north, but she turned it down, so she is hoping that she will be teaching Prep next year at this school even though it will be a contract position, but even that isn't for sure as yet, which is frustrating her like crazy. There have been a lot of children who have registered for Prep next year, so there might even be four Preps or a Prep/Grade One split next year.
Dad's week was pretty normal - worked in the FHC, did Meals on Wheels, and SES (filled sandbags all evening). We have been going out almost every day and walking or bike riding - and it feels really good when we do. It's been quite hot here (humid, too - yuck), so we've been trying to go later in the evening. We either walk or bike ride down just past the private school around the corner and down the road from our house or we walk around the neighbourhood (there's a street next to us that has quite a slope to it so we get a good workout going on that street - it's a crescent - and sometimes we go around it three or four times). I have been doing well in my 'summer slimmers' group at school - I am coming in 2nd (grrr) and have lost 6kgs so far. Dad and I have been eating well, along with the exercising so that's really helped. I am hoping to keep going with the healthy eating and exercising while we are staying at Jennifer's.
Dad and I were invited out to some friends' for dinner on Saturday night - Dan and Lynne invited Dad and me and our friends, Robyn and Geoff. Dan and Lynne live by a river about half an hour from here so they have a great view from their home. It was so nice to have time to chat with everyone in a relaxed setting. We had a very simple dinner (roast chicken, ham, salads) and I brought a frozen cheesecake for dessert (no, Dad and I didn't have any). The best part of these get togethers, though, is just getting to know people better. Dan and Lynne are about the same age as Geoff and Robyn (about 13 - 15 years older than us), but we all get along really well and we had a really nice time just chatting around the table. We have been invited to a dinner at the Bishop's house this coming Saturday where we will have another chance to get to know some other members of our ward - we are looking forward to having people over to our house more often when we get back from Canada.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Another good week - I'm beginning to like this feeling. :-) I was busy at school this week - I am trying to get a whole bunch of assessment done for the end of the year. Sam (my TA) has been busy helping me do the assessment as well - I don't know how I would do this without her. Right now, many of the children are doing grade one stuff - I have divided the class up into three groups: 13 who are doing grade one work, 7 who are struggling a little and 3 who are struggling a lot. We only have three weeks left and, although that might sound like a long time, it really isn't with all that I have to do between now and then. I also have parent/teacher interviews this coming week - I have to make myself available every day from 3:15pm - 6:15pm - I don't mind doing that as that's what I used to do in Canada, but over there, I got a day off in lieu, but here you get no days off. On Thursday, Chantelle and I met up with Bronwyn (the grade two teacher I did the contract position for last year - Chantelle was her student teacher). We met at a little cafe on the beach - I got an iced chocolate (thought I would try something new, but basically it was a chocolate milk with whipped cream on top). We all had a great visit, though - Bronwyn reminded me that if I do not have a job in September next year, that she is taking four weeks off again and I could have that contract if I wanted to. We still don't know what we are doing, but at least it's good to know that I have something to fall back on.
Dad's week was a bit more exciting than mine. On Monday, he bought some insulation and installed this in the attic. On Tuesday, he bought some dirt to be spread around the perimeter of the house. On Wednesday, he put three bookcases together. On Thursday, he did Meals on Wheels and SES and on Friday, he worked at the Family History Centre. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Dad drove the SES four wheel drive jeep which towed a Santa's sleigh (trailer) owned by the local Lions' Club. Each year, the Lions' Club sells Christmas cakes and puddings and they ask other volunteer organizations to tow the sleigh and sell the cakes (those organizations involved then split the proceeds of the sales). These sales will be continuing throughout December, but since we are not going to be here for the rest of the days the SES will be selling these cakes, Dad volunteered his services for both days this weekend.
Yesterday (after having a very short Skype with Terri-Ann's boys and a very long Skype with Terri-Ann - lovely), Dad and I drove to the beach - what a lovely way to spend a Saturday. :-) This time we took a picnic lunch so that we could stay longer than we did last weekend. We had put on our sunscreen before we came down (yes, we learned our lesson from last week) and set up our chairs and stools under a tree and began reading our books. After a while, we went in for our first swim; then, lunch; then, more reading; then, another swim; then, more reading. We had to leave around 2:30pm so that Dad could get ready to go do his SES driving - we had a really wonderful day at the beach, though - we might just have to do it again next weekend. :-)
Dad's week was a bit more exciting than mine. On Monday, he bought some insulation and installed this in the attic. On Tuesday, he bought some dirt to be spread around the perimeter of the house. On Wednesday, he put three bookcases together. On Thursday, he did Meals on Wheels and SES and on Friday, he worked at the Family History Centre. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Dad drove the SES four wheel drive jeep which towed a Santa's sleigh (trailer) owned by the local Lions' Club. Each year, the Lions' Club sells Christmas cakes and puddings and they ask other volunteer organizations to tow the sleigh and sell the cakes (those organizations involved then split the proceeds of the sales). These sales will be continuing throughout December, but since we are not going to be here for the rest of the days the SES will be selling these cakes, Dad volunteered his services for both days this weekend.
Yesterday (after having a very short Skype with Terri-Ann's boys and a very long Skype with Terri-Ann - lovely), Dad and I drove to the beach - what a lovely way to spend a Saturday. :-) This time we took a picnic lunch so that we could stay longer than we did last weekend. We had put on our sunscreen before we came down (yes, we learned our lesson from last week) and set up our chairs and stools under a tree and began reading our books. After a while, we went in for our first swim; then, lunch; then, more reading; then, another swim; then, more reading. We had to leave around 2:30pm so that Dad could get ready to go do his SES driving - we had a really wonderful day at the beach, though - we might just have to do it again next weekend. :-)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
We've had another good week and a great weekend - this is becoming a habit - and one that we can definitely live with! :-)
Things went very well this week at school - the kids aren't perfect by any means, but they do seem to be working better and listening better and so I am feeling better about teaching here. Who knows what next year will bring, but I wouldn't mind trying to do Prep again. There is a possibility of a new position next year as there are a lot of Prep students enrolled already - but, it would depend a lot on how many leave the area, etc. Some of these decisions are made on 'Day 8' of the new school year - that's when I was offered the job last year at Kawungan to teach grade two. So, we'll see what happens - if I get an offer of a job, that would be good - if I don't get an offer, that would be okay, too.
Dad had a good week - nothing out of the ordinary - house stuff, church stuff, Meals on Wheels, SES. The guy who does the termite inspection came this week and gave Dad some more suggestions of what to do to make sure that termites are not attracted to the house. For instance, there was some moisture in the insulation in the attic and so Dad had to take out the moldy insulation and put in some new insulation. The inspector also suggested that Dad buy some dirt to fill in some low spots in the lawn caused by the settling of the lawn. These spots are close to the house and might collect water when it rains which might attract termites. This guy has been twice to our house so far and has given Dad some amazing tips!
On Saturday, Dad suggested we go to the beach - we haven't been there in ages - so, we headed out at about 10am with our beach chairs and our camp stools and our books. We sat under a tree on the beach - beautiful day it was, too - sun shining, nice breeze blowing, 29C - and read our books for about an hour. We then decided to go for a dip - only, it was a bit too cold for me at that point - Dad got in all the way, though. We then went back and read for another hour or so. During this time, I realized that my legs were looking a bit red and were stinging a bit - so, I quickly put on some sunscreen (Dad did, too), but it was too late. By the time we got home, our legs from our knees to our ankles were sunburnt and they were stinging a lot - we put some aloe gel on them to help cool the burn down - we ended up putting it on a number of times between Saturday and today. We did enjoy a nice swim just before we went home from the beach, though - the water was a lovely temperature by then and we spent more time than we were planning to enjoying the ocean.
That evening, our friends Robyn and Geoff came over for dinner. Our friends, Trudy and Peter were supposed to come as well, but Trudy has been unwell for the past two weeks and wasn't up to coming over. We had a really nice dinner with Robyn and Geoff and then spent some time after eating just chatting. We were going to play some cribbage with them, but by the time I suggested it, Geoff was tired and so they headed off home.
Dad gave a talk in church today - the theme was about the atonement and Dad's talk was about how knowledge of the atonement helps us in our daily lives. He focused on the need for us to live our lives every day committed to Christ (by following in His way - trying to be more like Him), by repenting and by living the gospel. As usual, Dad did a great job (his talk was 20 minutes long as he was the final speaker) and one guy even asked for a copy of Dad's talk.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing and it was lovely - after lunch, we sat outside enjoying the fresh air and the warm temperature and read our books. We made sure to sit in our chaise loungers underneath the roof which goes over the patio - totally in the shade. :-) What a great way to spend our day of rest. :-)
Things went very well this week at school - the kids aren't perfect by any means, but they do seem to be working better and listening better and so I am feeling better about teaching here. Who knows what next year will bring, but I wouldn't mind trying to do Prep again. There is a possibility of a new position next year as there are a lot of Prep students enrolled already - but, it would depend a lot on how many leave the area, etc. Some of these decisions are made on 'Day 8' of the new school year - that's when I was offered the job last year at Kawungan to teach grade two. So, we'll see what happens - if I get an offer of a job, that would be good - if I don't get an offer, that would be okay, too.
Dad had a good week - nothing out of the ordinary - house stuff, church stuff, Meals on Wheels, SES. The guy who does the termite inspection came this week and gave Dad some more suggestions of what to do to make sure that termites are not attracted to the house. For instance, there was some moisture in the insulation in the attic and so Dad had to take out the moldy insulation and put in some new insulation. The inspector also suggested that Dad buy some dirt to fill in some low spots in the lawn caused by the settling of the lawn. These spots are close to the house and might collect water when it rains which might attract termites. This guy has been twice to our house so far and has given Dad some amazing tips!
On Saturday, Dad suggested we go to the beach - we haven't been there in ages - so, we headed out at about 10am with our beach chairs and our camp stools and our books. We sat under a tree on the beach - beautiful day it was, too - sun shining, nice breeze blowing, 29C - and read our books for about an hour. We then decided to go for a dip - only, it was a bit too cold for me at that point - Dad got in all the way, though. We then went back and read for another hour or so. During this time, I realized that my legs were looking a bit red and were stinging a bit - so, I quickly put on some sunscreen (Dad did, too), but it was too late. By the time we got home, our legs from our knees to our ankles were sunburnt and they were stinging a lot - we put some aloe gel on them to help cool the burn down - we ended up putting it on a number of times between Saturday and today. We did enjoy a nice swim just before we went home from the beach, though - the water was a lovely temperature by then and we spent more time than we were planning to enjoying the ocean.
That evening, our friends Robyn and Geoff came over for dinner. Our friends, Trudy and Peter were supposed to come as well, but Trudy has been unwell for the past two weeks and wasn't up to coming over. We had a really nice dinner with Robyn and Geoff and then spent some time after eating just chatting. We were going to play some cribbage with them, but by the time I suggested it, Geoff was tired and so they headed off home.
Dad gave a talk in church today - the theme was about the atonement and Dad's talk was about how knowledge of the atonement helps us in our daily lives. He focused on the need for us to live our lives every day committed to Christ (by following in His way - trying to be more like Him), by repenting and by living the gospel. As usual, Dad did a great job (his talk was 20 minutes long as he was the final speaker) and one guy even asked for a copy of Dad's talk.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing and it was lovely - after lunch, we sat outside enjoying the fresh air and the warm temperature and read our books. We made sure to sit in our chaise loungers underneath the roof which goes over the patio - totally in the shade. :-) What a great way to spend our day of rest. :-)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
What a good week and a great weekend! I had a good week with the kids at school this week - I wish that things had started to gel much sooner than this, but I will take as much as I can get right now. We are still having to do too much assessment for my liking, but it's got to be done and so we've been working hard on making that happen. We had a Prep/Grade 1 meeting on Thursday where we had to present how our kids are doing on the goals we set about a month or so ago. Our Prep kids did very well on achieving the goals which was nice to report. I told the group that I had interviewed the parents of those children who were struggling with achieving those goals to help out at home and the acting principal seemed pleased with me doing that, so I was happy about that.
Our weekend was so good! We camped with our friends, Robyn and Geoff, for the weekend at a place called Yandina about two hours from HB so that we could go to Stake Conference. Dad picked me up from school on Friday and we drove to the campground. When we got there, Robyn and Geoff had already set up their tent for us and had supper organized, as well. We were all pretty tired that evening and so we headed off to bed early. They had put really nice thick foam mattresses in our tent and so Dad and I both slept like little babies. :-)
When I woke up on Saturday morning and the sun was shining in the tent, I figured that it was late - would you believe that it was only 5:19am - sheesh! I couldn't get back to sleep and so I got up - Geoff, Robyn and Dad got up shortly afterward and we were off to start our day by just after 7am. We started off at a local market - lots of plants for Robyn to look at (and buy some) and other stuff to check out, but not much interesting to Dad and me (other than a book to read in case I woke up early again which I bought for $4). After that, we drove to a city called Mooloolaba (a seaside town) - we walked the main street and then went to the beach where we had lunch, dipped our feet in the water, and sat down beside the water to talk and watch the boats go by. What a beautiful way to spend the morning. After we dropped off the guys at the Kawana Waters chapel for their priesthood meeting, Robyn and I returned to the campground to have a lovely swim in the pool there before getting ready for the evening session of Stake Conference. They served us a meal there which was really nice. There were a number of speakers at that session including one girl, Nicole, who had joined the church in HB and she talked about her journey to become a member of the church including the importance of fellowshipping new converts. Also, a marriage counsellor spoke about how to have successful relationships, not only with your spouse, but also with your parents, siblings and friends. There wasn't anything new in what he had to say, but it was good to be reminded of the importance of making time to develop and strengthen these relationships. After the conference, we returned to the campground and stayed up until 10:30pm chatting. What a wonderful day!
The next day we drove to the Nambour Civic Centre (the church rents this space out as there isn't any chapel big enough to hold all the people who would be attending Stake Conference). The speakers at Stake Conference were great - a young boy, a returned missionary, the Temple matron and her husband, the Temple pesident, the mission president and his wife, and our Stake president. It was wonderful to be spirituallly fed and to be among the saints of the Stake to which we belong. It did seem strange that we didn't know anybody other than those in our ward (and the Stake Primary president for me and the Stake representative for family history for Dad) - in Canada, there were always tons of people that we would talk with after conference - people who we had met over the years and enjoyed catching up with.
After a return to the campground for lunch, we decided to go for another drive and ended up in a little town called Montville. It reminded me of Niagara-on-the-Lake - very quaint and plenty of little stores to check out. We did a lot of stickybeaking in stores and saw a few things to buy (which we will do next time we are down in that area on a Saturday). The scenery on the way home was incredible - there was this one viewpoint we stopped at which was fabulous - I took tons of photos which Dad will download this week and I will post on the blog then.
We had such a wonderful time this weekend and are looking forward to doing it again when we come back from Canada. We get along so well with Robyn and Geoff and hope to be able to travel with them again, as well.
Our weekend was so good! We camped with our friends, Robyn and Geoff, for the weekend at a place called Yandina about two hours from HB so that we could go to Stake Conference. Dad picked me up from school on Friday and we drove to the campground. When we got there, Robyn and Geoff had already set up their tent for us and had supper organized, as well. We were all pretty tired that evening and so we headed off to bed early. They had put really nice thick foam mattresses in our tent and so Dad and I both slept like little babies. :-)
When I woke up on Saturday morning and the sun was shining in the tent, I figured that it was late - would you believe that it was only 5:19am - sheesh! I couldn't get back to sleep and so I got up - Geoff, Robyn and Dad got up shortly afterward and we were off to start our day by just after 7am. We started off at a local market - lots of plants for Robyn to look at (and buy some) and other stuff to check out, but not much interesting to Dad and me (other than a book to read in case I woke up early again which I bought for $4). After that, we drove to a city called Mooloolaba (a seaside town) - we walked the main street and then went to the beach where we had lunch, dipped our feet in the water, and sat down beside the water to talk and watch the boats go by. What a beautiful way to spend the morning. After we dropped off the guys at the Kawana Waters chapel for their priesthood meeting, Robyn and I returned to the campground to have a lovely swim in the pool there before getting ready for the evening session of Stake Conference. They served us a meal there which was really nice. There were a number of speakers at that session including one girl, Nicole, who had joined the church in HB and she talked about her journey to become a member of the church including the importance of fellowshipping new converts. Also, a marriage counsellor spoke about how to have successful relationships, not only with your spouse, but also with your parents, siblings and friends. There wasn't anything new in what he had to say, but it was good to be reminded of the importance of making time to develop and strengthen these relationships. After the conference, we returned to the campground and stayed up until 10:30pm chatting. What a wonderful day!
The next day we drove to the Nambour Civic Centre (the church rents this space out as there isn't any chapel big enough to hold all the people who would be attending Stake Conference). The speakers at Stake Conference were great - a young boy, a returned missionary, the Temple matron and her husband, the Temple pesident, the mission president and his wife, and our Stake president. It was wonderful to be spirituallly fed and to be among the saints of the Stake to which we belong. It did seem strange that we didn't know anybody other than those in our ward (and the Stake Primary president for me and the Stake representative for family history for Dad) - in Canada, there were always tons of people that we would talk with after conference - people who we had met over the years and enjoyed catching up with.
After a return to the campground for lunch, we decided to go for another drive and ended up in a little town called Montville. It reminded me of Niagara-on-the-Lake - very quaint and plenty of little stores to check out. We did a lot of stickybeaking in stores and saw a few things to buy (which we will do next time we are down in that area on a Saturday). The scenery on the way home was incredible - there was this one viewpoint we stopped at which was fabulous - I took tons of photos which Dad will download this week and I will post on the blog then.
We had such a wonderful time this weekend and are looking forward to doing it again when we come back from Canada. We get along so well with Robyn and Geoff and hope to be able to travel with them again, as well.
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