June...this is for you

Using technology is great to stay in contact with family and friends far away. My sister-in-law June was so excited to see the living room furniture - she wanted to see how we have redone the bedroom. So, June these pics are for you.

Golf

I am sitting at the computer (suppose to be doing school work) looking at pictures. I came across pictures from the Hillsdale High School golf outing. Wow was that fun. My family was there and my girls were there. What could be better. Even though we were 4 chicks who stink at golf we had a great time.

The Family

The Girls - (some of them)

Look at the cutie pies Gloria and Joyce. Sorry Ladies I couldn't resist.

You Tube Clip

There is nothing more important than the Hillsdale County Fair when living in Hillsdale. Today is "fair day." What that means is that all the students in the county get the day off to go to the fair while the teachers go to professional development sessions.

Our PD session was all about how students think differently because of their access and acceptance of technology. The woman running the show mentioned Blogs. During a break some people were commenting on this blog. Sad to say the one thing I thought was the coolest - was overlooked by many, that being the movie of the boys dancing.

So to get all readers of this site into the 21st century I thought I would try a You Tube clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlDFYkUm7K8

This is a clip of Nate when he won the state track meet this past spring. I hope it works.

Homecoming in the Hive

What a great night for football. The hornets ran all over Albion. I can't remember what the final score was - I do know that there was a running clock shortly into the 3rd quarter(we love that), so that means that the Hornets were ahead by at least 35. I also know that Albion had 2 points (thanks to a safety - again.) So let's just say that the score was a lot to a little.

It was awesome seeing some of my (our) former students (and athletes) who are now spreading their wings in college. Jess was so excited to see Dan to tell him all about track at college. But I secretly think that Dan was more excited to see "his girl".

I am also very touched when students come up to me in their homecoming fashions. For some reasons the guys can't wait to show me how grown-up they look. Nights like these are what make being a teacher worthwhile.

Signs of Fall

In Hillsdale there are three ways that the English family knows fall is coming:

• First we close the pool. This year we closed it the weekend after Labor Day. The boys are gone and the neighborhood kids are back in school. It was funny though, the neighbor girls came over with their friends for one last dip right when we were done buttoning it up for the winter. Oh well, they'll have to wait until next year.


• The second sign that fall is coming is when Dan cleans out the fireplace and gets it ready to help take the edge off those crisp morning air. This morning we did have coffee in front of the fire.


• The last sign that fall is coming is the arrival of the Hillsdale County Fair. I was driving down M-99 and saw all the carnival workers getting things ready. The fair starts this weekend. For those of you who don't live in Hillsdale, this is a VERY big deal. It is so big that all county schools are closed on Monday so the children can go to the fair. You may think this is funny, but when we first moved here, many schools were closed for two days and some were shut down for the entire week so that kids could tend to their animals. This is a farm community after all.

HAPPY FALL

V I C T O R Y

Wow, what a great weekend for football. As a family we are 3 for 3. The Hornets won on Friday night against Leslie. The game went into overtime. I don't even have any kids playing and I was going crazy.(Nate is #52)

The Chargers beat Ashland by a score of 48-29. Dan and I went to this game. Nate did not play. Apparently the coaches are planning on red shirting him. Nate is fine with that; his philosophy is that he is part of every point that the offense scores , since he is on the scout team defense.


Busia and Papa made the trip to Bluffton to watch Matt play. Matt has some stats - rushing for 4 yards and getting a first down. Adrian won 20-0.

(We won't talk about the Irish)

Jimmie Hendrix

You know I never learned how to read music. At the elementary school that I went to, music was going to church and learning songs that would be sung at Wednesday morning mass. We never learned how to actually read notes.

I am a bit jealous of Matt. Not only can he play the trombone - something he learned how to do in school, he also has taught himself how to play the guitar. He owns three guitars and plays them on a regular basis.

Of course the first piece that he did learn to play was, "Smoke on the Water." You all know it - da da da, da da da da, da da da, da da.

We have furniture

We have an empty living room - I hope this stuff comes.

My thoughts Sunday night.

At around 3:30 I heard the truck backing up into the driveway. By 4:00 I had positioned everything in the room.

Now all we need to do is paint and get rugs and accessories. I also have a surprise planned for Dan for his birthday. SHHH. You can find out what that is after October 20th.

Football Friday

Every Friday night when the Hornets play at home the football coaches take turns hosting the coaches party after the game. This Friday was our turn.

Everything was ready. Chicken bought, beans in the crock pot and beer on ice. Usually the game ends at about 9:00, and the party goes from about 9:30 to 11ish. Well Friday there was a 2 1/2 hour lightning delay. It was midnight before our first guest arrived. At first I was afraid no one would show up - because it was so late - but then I remembered that no one had eaten any dinner. Even though the night was much later - 1:20 to be exact and everyone was dog tired, we had a blast.

Oh yeah, just because my friends left at 1:20 am- with their children doesn't mean that everyone left at that time. The coaching staff stayed until 2:30 looking at film.

Where's my furniture??

OK I bet you are all wondering why I have a picture of a furniture store above. Well, this year for our anniversary Dan and I decided to buy new furniture. We ended up at this store - Peerless Furniture in Lansing.

Our anniversary was 38 days ago and the furniture has been in for 15 and we still are not sitting on it. Every time I call the store they give me a line. Yesterday the manager - I will withhold his name for now - that it would be delivered on Monday. Apparently Hillsdale is on another planet and not accessable by truck.

I'll keep you posted. Wish us luck

Happy Birthday Nate!!!!

When I had the boys and people would tell me that time would fly by I didn't believe them. I was too busy changing diapers and chasing a toddler. Well, 19 years later I understand what they meant. Time does fly by. It seems like it was a blink of an eye when I brought Nate home from the hospital.

Now look at him.

If you see Nate in the next couple of days wish him a happy 19th birthday.

How I spent my summer

For the most part we spent our summer by the pool. Dan and I were able to get away for a few days to Vero Beach, thanks to Bill and Mary Ann Kessler (Sara's parents)

We did get to Al and Sara's house to hang out on the boat.

Back to school

Well tomorrow we - meaning Dan and I - go back to school. There are times during the summer when I think it would be great to not work. Then I remember that if you don't work, you don't get paid.

We are empty nesters now. Both boys are settled in at their perspective colleges. Matt at Adrian and Nate at Hillsdale. Both boys had their first football games on Saturday. We went to Matt's game. There is a possibility that Nate is going to be redshirted this year, so even though the Hillsdale/Gannon scrore was 54-7 Nate didn't play.

Matt played on the kick-off team. On his first time in he "politely asked a Defiance player what he was looking at." The Defiance player didn't think it was polite and he hit Matt upside the head. This all transpired in front of an official, who correctly flagged the Defiance player with unsportmanlike conduct, giving Adrian another 15 yards. Needless to say when that happened Dan and I were on our feet cheering!! Adrian ended up with the win.

Matt is the running back in this picture - the one with his hands on his knees