After Christmas in Florida

WHAT IS GOOFY??

Atticus and I were watching Mickey Mouse Club House the other day and I was surprised to here the comment Atticus made, " Is Goofy a COW.....what is Goofy?" This is a very interesting & confussing topic because his mother is a cow and he seems more like a dog, but compared to Pluto...well, he definetly isnt a dog! I hope Atticus doesnt lose to much sleep over this. Enjoy the Stand By Me clip, it will make your belly jiggle, but WARNING those with sensivity ears beware.

Gilberto

This is the last week of my afters art program. I have to say it has been more work that I thought, but very rewarding. I have learned that I am not cut out to be a teacher... which I think I knew anyway (it takes a ton of energy and patience)! This group of kids, doing it the second time around, well lets just say I have had to warm up to them. It's hard enough keeping 1st through 3rd graders engaged let alone understanding Spanglish mixed with a lot of translation going on on the side lines. Is their even a word for Mode Podge in Spanish? I have learned to just laugh and move forward! Gilberto, the boy in the photo, likes to sing randomly in my class. He seems to sing kind of like a person with tourettes. It can startle you! I have encouraged it like I do with Atticus, but then it started to get old! I have no idea what he is singing because it is in Spanish. The other day I finally cracked and after asking him nicely to keep it down a bit I said in a firm voice," Gilberto, this is not a singing class....it's art!" Atticus laughed because he knows when mom is serious. Gilberto just gave me that puppy dog look and he has sung softer ever since. I am learning! Next adventure for me....girls on the run! for more info. on that go to www.girlsontherun.org

Christmas Eve 2007

MLK DAY

We had a great weekend watching Daddy jump into the freezing lake for the Lake Chelan "Fire & Ice Festival."
The weekend started with ice sculptures all over the main street using torches and chainsaws. We forgot our camera but Benny got some cell phone photos (whatever that is) of Atticus and Cozy sitting on a sleigh made of ALL ice (it took 6 hrs and only 2 guys)!! Some other favs.... a mermaid, a seahorse, and a mom bear holding its cub. Pretty cool stuff!! Saturday was the torch light parade (nothing like Disney's...hee!) and then everyone followed the fire trucks to the beach to watch the "Polar Bear Splash". We have video of Benny running in and then diving into the lake and then going back for a third time. Our other two friends (Dr. Lorinda Parks and her neighbor) just walked in waist deep and then back. Dad was not only brave, but FEARLESS!! A bonfire was made from all the locals christmas trees thrown in over that day. This reminded me SO much of Greg and his many christmas tree bond fires ALL but it was everyone in Manson and Chelan not Kaysville and Fruit Heights....oh, and no one went to court! Wait, no one ran around the fire naked too.... or that I didn't see!
The night ended with fireworks, of course. I think someone in the valley has stock in explosives because ever holiday here there are fireworks being blasted. We are always surprised by the firework show and how great it is!! Sunday night we had a potato bar dinner at our house with some docs from the clinic. Today has been spent with Atticus in bed sick! We thought somehow we escaped that germ, but with friends out of school sick and visiting dr. dad, hmm..... somehow it got us!
We also saw Hairspray this weekend (hoping Atticus will sing something else around the house besides Joseph & the amazing tech. dreamcoat)! I liked it and benny didn't really care to watch it!
I will make my black and white MLK cookies today and share them with friends....I might even listen to some James Taylor 'shed a little light' (the only song i know suitable for this day).
Hope some of you join us next year to jump in the freezing cold water and enjoy the fun Chelan has to offer....I think we already have JER Jensen on the list!?
Happy MLK to you all!!
Haley (argggg.....the one eyed pirate!)

Eye Surgery

Friends and Family~
thanks for all the well wishes and calls this past week as I had my eye surgery in seattle. I flew over from wenatchee monday and was back wednesday evening (30min. flight). Atticus and Cozy had a great time with Daddy and he renewed his appreciation of what I do everyday! I was glad my mom was able to come and help me out and let me shop even though I was told to go home and rest. The bright lights in Nordstroms was the last stop until I realized I was getting a huge headache! We also had a fun time having lunch with Mia!
The surgery was very quick, but intense! This is one surgery you can't close your eyes or eye and wait until it's over! It was 11 minutes total time and a couple hours of prep and just sitting in a nice recliner to chill. The pressure was comparable to the last c-section I had though I know that's weird because it was in my eye. I was glad for the valium they gave me otherwise I think I would have been looking for the exit as I did the last time i was under the knife (as Liz says, "In life, when someone offers you a valium... you take it"). All in all,
I am very impressed at how quickly the eye heals!
For the next month I am not suppose to lift anything over 30 lbs. I was concerned about this for a while, but weighed cozy and she is only 22 lbs. I miss sleeping on my stomach and an occasional ache or headache from light is about it! I wear an eye shield at night and my glassses during the day in case a toy gets flug my way...it has already happened.
In 3 months I will be able to get fitted for a hard contact and hopefully I will be able to see WELL through my right eye once again (it has been 10 years).
thanks again for all your love and support!!
Haley