Snow & Sitter

 We survived another epic snowstorm. Thursday morning Marc went to work and I said why don't you stay home they thruways are shutting down at 4pm.  We both didn't really think the forecast would be correct.  Unfortunately, it was, the snow started around 10pm and when I awoke there was 3.5 feet in our driveway.  Well, he was gone, so it was up to me to clear it out.  I felt like superwoman when I was the only woman in the neighborhood clearing the driveway.  When the snow is that high you have to do small sections and knock it down before you can snow blow it.  It was 3 hours before I came inside.  I had to keep heading out every hour or two to keep up with it.  We received 80 inches!  My entire body hurt from clearing the snow, my hands were so sore from holding down the handles.  

The amazing part is Marc made it home Friday night and finished the edges of the driveway and the top that I was too exhausted to do.  The plows came through on Saturday am.  I was really anticipating it would be Monday or Tuesday.  We ended up with Friday, Monday and Tuesday as snow days.  Luckily the snow stopped falling on Saturday.  The driving ban ended Monday am.

Sara started babysitting for a neighbor.  They have twin 3-year-old girls  and a 5-year-old bot.  She has made almost $150 this week!  A far cry from the $1.25-$3 I used to make.  We decided she could spend her first week and then start saving from here on out.  This family needs a sitter constantly, so hopefully Sara will keep busy.  

Wednesday, we went to the mall and my friend Andrea, and her daughter joined us.  The girls went off and shopped on their own.  It was so nice to not spend anything! We went for lunch to Cheesecake factory, but we were all too full to eat any cheesecake.   Its Saras birthday on Sunday so I had already purchased gifts but was sure she would find something.  Amazingly she paid for her own clothes and came home with a good chunk of cash.  

I really like this because some weeks I feel like an ATM machine.  Evans soccer consisted of trips to the convenient store, Tim Hortons or the hot dog stand on Lake Erie before practice many days.  His homecoming dance, football games, and movies with friends are a constant handout from us.   Sara loves to find a friend and head to the village to the coffee shop, Starbucks, and 7/11.  I don't mind giving them money but when its week after week it gets expensive.  Sara is super helpful and will do major cleaning for me.  Evan is a battle just to clean his own room. 

I would really like for Evan to get a part time job in the spring and something for the summer.  Most places pay $15 per hour.  I'd love for him to have some spending money but save the majority of his money.  His goal is to eventually purchase a car because he hates to ride the bus.  Riding the bus means leaving the house at 7:10 with me.  He gets out at my school and waits outside until his bus arrives.  This doesn't sound horrible unless its rainy, snowy or very cold.  He then takes a bus to his school that takes 5-10min.  On the way home he takes the shuttle to my school and then takes the bus home.  He usually gets home 10-15 minutes before me.  He will be eligible for his permit next February and his license the summer before his junior year.  

Back to school

 Wow.. that went fast.  Its been a busy summer of soccer practice, cottage life, and family.  Marc's Dad had a stroke right before we left for Florida for 10 days.  He will be in rehab until at least 9/8 and then we are hoping for 20 more days following that.  

Evan has been busy.  It started with Soccer and conditioning training.  He tried out for the soccer team, knowing he would make the Freshman team.  Well since there weren't enough kids for 3 teams, he tried out for JV.  Evan has only played soccer at school in the past.  He loves it but hasn't put in the same amount of time in playing that his friends have.  I was so nervous for him the team was cutting 5 players.  Well, we had great news, and he made the team!  So now its super busy, 3 games a week and practice 6 days a week!  Yikes!!

The kids officially start school on Wednesday after Labor Day and I started on 8/31.  This is year 22 for me.  After sharing my room for the past 4 years, I finally have it to myself again.  I am ecstatic!  Switching rooms every period was not easy. 

End of 8th Grade

 I just published 2 posts that I had written a long time ago.  If they were awful its because I hit publish without looking at them.  

Next week Evan graduates from 8th grade.  I can't believe how quickly time has passed.  He is headed to the local Catholic High school.  Evan took 9th grade Biology and Algebra this year.  I'm so glad  he is done with them.  Next year its geometry and Chemistry.  The public school I teach at does Chemistry junior year... so this should be a challenge.

This week Evan was awarded a $500 scholarship for high school.  He has applied for $2200 more in scholarships so I'm hoping for another one.  Evan is reading and writing at 11.8 grade level.  This is from his high school entrance exam test.  His vocabulary is amazing and he is very gifted with writing.  Math not so much, he could be very strong but has had a weak teacher without high expectations.  

I don't have many things on the summer schedule for him, he has aged out of most sports camp.  I would love him to pick up a lawn mowing or dog walking job.  Sara had her first job walking job a few weeks ago and it went well.  She has been approached by a few neighbors about babysitting.  I would love for them to earn some outside cash each week.  With the rise in prices everywhere and the kids wanting to have some independence, I feel like an ATM machine.  The kids have been walking the village after school and going for Pizza, ice cream, slurpies, and to the local coffee shop with friends.  I feel like between the Catholic school and Covid they haven't been exposed to managing cash and having outings with friends.  I have a hard time saying no to these outings,  although this week it was 2 days in a row for Evan but I think he only spent $15.  Sara spends every dollar and some of her own money.  Fortunately my kids were not spenders up until now so they have some thick wallets.

I'm eagerly awaiting the end of my year.  The juniors I have had this year have been a huge challenge.  Covid was not helpful for these kids.  I really feel like they missed a big maturity milestone and have very entitled, disrespectful behaviors as a result.  The parents are just as bad.  I've received more emails this year than I have my entire teaching career. 

 I did volunteer to teach a Cash for Crafts class this summer for 8 mornings.  I received a Cricut machine from Donors choose along with supplies.  When I figured out the pay it was a big help with the upcoming tuition bills.  My school is not very generous with funds.  They offered me $50 for supplies for 75 kids.  So I decided one week I'll have the kids bring t-shirts we can bleach dye them and apply something from my Cricut machine.  I'm thinking lots of Bills, school logos, and whatever they like as decals.  I also picked up black plastic cups from target for $.50 so we can do a decal on those.  I think we will do a wooden sign with a stencil.  A friend made grateful ones earlier in the year and used inexpensive wood.  Finally I have a friends daughter with a Etsy bracelet business that had sales of $60K, she started a business when she was 12 and it has grown tremendously!  I'm hoping she can come in as a guest speaker and another student that has a successful t-shirt business will come in too.  

We have our trip to Florida this summer for 10 days.  We have never stayed that long so I can't wait!  Hoping car rentals go down over the next few weeks.  I have found the rates tend to drop a ton at the end of August.  We have no real plans the beach and pool.  Evan has a few places he would like to visit and Sara will want to do some shopping.