Meet the Teacher!

Well the moment of truth has arrived…last night was Meet the Teacher Night at McGowen!  We finally learned who the victims …er…lucky leaders are! We actually knew who Crisana’s teacher would be because we received a phone call from her earlier in the week, reminding us of the upcoming Meet the Teacher and supply drop-off… Continue reading Meet the Teacher!

I love the smell of crayons in the morning…

It’s back-to-school time!  And you know what that means!  New crayons!! Seriously, is there anything better than a freshly-opened box of crayons, where all the tops are neatly filed and lined up straight in a row?  Or the look of a brand-new sharpened pencil, with the eraser square and pink, and the wood straight and… Continue reading I love the smell of crayons in the morning…

Brace Face

Okay, so Trey got his braces er, excuse me, his BRACKETS for his braces today.  The orthodontist will wait to put in the wires until we’re done turning his upper expander, in a couple of months. Trey sure is proud, as if having braces is a lifelong dream of his. But despite the wires, he… Continue reading Brace Face

Beach Party!

Today we had a beach party!  In Texas!  In 90-plus-degree heat!  In a parking lot! Seriously, it was the annual McGowen Family Carnival, one of our major fundraisers for the year.  We were looking forward to being able to go to the carnival this year, since we missed last year’s because of Taylor’s graduation. Now… Continue reading Beach Party!

Threads of Gratitude: Pencil Bag Edition

It’s hard to believe next week is the last week of school.  My baby has nearly finished kindergarten.  My firstborn is practically an elementary school upperclassman.  Where has the time gone? Before I begin feeling too melancholy, I want to focus on the positive.  What I’m most grateful for this year is not “things”.  No,… Continue reading Threads of Gratitude: Pencil Bag Edition

Lives of the rich and famous

My son is famous.  Betcha didn’t know that. He’s a great American, an elder statesman, and a valiant soldier.  My son is none other than Colin Powell. Perhaps I should back up and explain a bit.  The third graders have been studying citizenship this six weeks and as part of their culminating project they created… Continue reading Lives of the rich and famous

Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!

When my children were babies, our Saturdays weekends revolved around activities where we could be assured of being home in time for afternoon naps.  At least one of us would be tied to the house for a good three hours between lunch and dinner.  Sometimes I’d sigh longingly and be anxious for the day when… Continue reading Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!

Music to My Ears

Tonight was the annual Music by DESign Spring Recital.  It’s been 10 years since I first began teaching piano.  Wow…a whole decade of music!  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I’d be doing this for 10 years. Tonight was all about the students: their progress and their achievements.  For the first… Continue reading Music to My Ears

Yo-ho, Yo-ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me…

Ahoy, there, mateys!  ‘Tis I, the Dread Pirate Debily, and I’m here to tell ye landlubbers about my adventures with the scurvy young lads of Pack 303. ‘Twas their great “Graduation Campout” of ’09, and the weather had been a-fright all week.  Stormin’, and thunderin’ I tell ye.  But those scalliwags they set a course… Continue reading Yo-ho, Yo-ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me…