May 22, 2010
We had one final grammar lesson and then we enjoyed a pot luck together before saying goodbye. It’s time for summer vacation to begin and also time for me to retire. I’ll miss teaching so much, but I’m looking forward to having more time to spend with my children and grandchildren.
But don’t worry ESL students because I’ll come back to visit you someday. Have a wonderful summer vacation and remember to practice your English.
Students who are promoting
Delicious chocolate cake
The whole class!
Front row students
April 2, 2010
What a great way to finish up our tour of Virginia and the D.C. area by visiting the home of George Washington. The view from the back of the house overlooking the Potomac River is wonderful.
We learned that Washington and his wife, Martha, typically had 600 or more people living on the plantation at any given time when guests, servants and slaves were all counted. Most of the food they ate was grown and raised on the property. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be a slave assigned to work in the cooking house or the washing house. No convenient refrigerators, stoves, or washing machines in site. What a lot of work daily living must have been!
Click on the link (Hungry Farm Animals) to see Raistlin feeding the sheep.
April 2, 2010
Paula, Chris and their children, Hannah and James, joined us for our visit to this famous cemetery. There is a really reverent feeling to this place, and it gives me a greater appreciation for the brave soldiers who serve our country in the armed forces and the sacrifices they make.
Walking to visit the tomb of the unknown soldier
The cemetery has such a perfect setting up on a hill overlooking the famous monuments we visited the evening before.
April 1, 2010
We went to see the Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln Monuments last night. The memorials to these great men are so inspiring and make me really appreciate the battles they were willing to fight for the cause of liberty.
The Washington Monument through the cherry blossoms
The Lincoln Memorial
March 31, 2010
Raistlin takes a picture of Nemo and Dori
Yesterday we went to the Holocaust Museum and also the National Aquarium. Both places were very interesting, but the weather outside was cold and windy. Today the weather promises to be warmer. Many of the trees are in bloom so we have plans to go and see all the cherry trees in blossom around the National monuments.
March 30, 2010
It seemed like Virginia/Washington DC would be a great place to visit during spring break. We invited our grandson, Raistlin, from Payson, Utah to join us for the adventure. We’re staying at Paula and Chris’s place in Springfield, Virginia.
Check out Hannah’s bronco ride
Raistlin in front of an educational display explaining crystal molecules
Chuck almost loses his hand to a dinosaur
Yesterday Chris had to go to work, and Paula stayed home with Hannah and James, but Chuck, Raistlin and I took the Metro to see the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and also the Museum of American History. My favorite part was the gems and minerals. Raistlin liked the ocean displays and human origins depictions, and Chuck’s favorite display was the original American flag that inspired our National Anthem.
October 26, 2009
This year the Advanced ESL class is in room 7. There are too many students to take a picture of the whole class at the same time. So first here is a picture of the left side of the class, and next is a picture of the right side of the class.
Our class finished the first civics module about calling the school to report an absence, creating a good learning environment and writing a letter. Everyone who completed all three tasks passed with an excellent score.
This 
week we will begin our second civics module. We will learn to identify street signs, talk to the police, and read a traffic citation. Hopefully none of us will get pulled over by the police, but we need to get prepared to talk to the police in English just in case.
August 1, 2009
I enjoyed spending time with my grandchildren who live in Texas. My son was out of town for a week and my daughter-in-law was taking a class to get her teacher’s credential so I helped by watching my grandchildren during the day.
We had lots of fun. One day we went to a water park. Another day we went rollerskating. The weather was hot so everyday we cooled off by eating lots of popsicles from the freezer.
One morning I saw an interesting insect called a cicada. The cicada was molting from its old brown skin and turning into a “new” green-winged sort of creature that can fly to the trees and make a loud buzzing-singing sound. This was the first time I ever saw anything like this before because we don’t have this type of insect in California.
July 7, 2009
Kelsey and youngest cousin James
The hike
Vacation time in Utah with my kids and grandkids was lots of fun. We went on a hike, had barbecues, went to a parade, let off fireworks, and did lots of visiting. The grandchildren had fun jumping on the trampoline. On Sunday, my son Jesse made pizza for everybody. He had to make 12 pizzas to feed us all.
My youngest daughter and her husband drove from Washington state, and the next youngest daughter and her husband flew from Virginia. Three sons live in Utah. One son and his family drove from the Dallas, Texas area.
My son who lives in Reno had to leave early, but we got to see him for a short time. My daughter who lives in San Diego couldn’t join us this year, but her three children came and it was lots of fun to see them again.
