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Over?

Well. Yesterday was my last day with Colfax-Mingo Middle School students. It was a bittersweet moment for sure. As a teacher I am in a unique position where I am able to meet and get to know so many people in a community. Over the last 5 years I have been a part of many families' lives. At the middle school we invest so much into the children of the community and to watch them literally grow up in front of you is something very special (It's a running joke for my 8th grade boys to say that they start the year shorter than me and end it taller than me!). I truly feel like I have helped raise over 300 teenagers (whoa, when you say it out loud it's no wonder I'm a little wacky!).

We always end the year at the middle school with a day of fun. In previous years we would go to Adventureland but with budget concerns we trimmed it down to a day of fun around the town of Colfax with swimming, golfing, bowling, disc golf, etc. This year we were even unable to do that much but knowing the middle school we ALWAYS find a way to have fun. We rented inflatables and a dunk tank and set them up outside the school and converted the grounds into a makeshift water park. I spent some time in the dunk tank and way too much time on the slip-n-slide (just ask my sore muscles). It was all in the name of fun, however. Pain will go away, but the memories of good times with young people will never go away.

The dunk tank (that's not me in it)

Me and my fellow teachers. (I am soaked from the dunk tank)

This is me showing the kids how it's done.

I don't think I won this one.

Last night was our annual 8th grade promotion night. This night is one of my favorite times of the year. Every year I get to spend the whole morning with the entire 8th grade class practicing for the ceremony. I love that time with them because it is so informal and we get to relax and have a little fun. I also get the opportunity to be with them just before the ceremony because they hang out in my classroom.

Me and (most of) my 8th Graders...

...or as I like to call them: my "crazy 8s"

I was also received the Educational Initiative Award and a check for $500 from the Mingo Economic Development Corporation for my work with the school discipline policy, my time spent volunteering for detentions, and for helping students with behavior problems.

It has been a great experience working at CMMS. I sometimes think that I learned much more than I taught. We are looking forward to forging new bonds and becoming a part of a new community in Spencer as we turn the page and begin a new season in our life. We are blessed.

More pics

Taking a Moment

Sylvia resorts to reading on her sister's bed under a blankie when Olivia is away at preschool.

There's never a dull moment when they're are here together and I think they really miss each other when they're apart. Today, Olivia told me that when she gets big, she wants to sleep with Sylvia in a big bed, like Mommy and Daddy's. Isn't that just the sweetest? Another fine example: when the girls are at Bible Study on Wednesday mornings with me, their little classes play outdoors when it's nice weather. Their teachers reported to me that when they see each other on the playground, they blow kisses at each other and pick flowers for one another! I think it's so cool that they have each other. They are quite the pair:)

Friday Night at the Rudens'

Laundry needs a foldin'...

Movie needs a watchin'.

Can you tell tonight was Matt's pick?

Does this count as date night?

Random

What a fun little crew we have. The kids got to eat one lunch this week in the girls' bedroom, as I've been busily painting away in the kitchen.

It's been quite interesting trying to keep these three corralled while I try to concentrate on the painting task. A novice, such as myself, maybe should not have picked a kitchen as my first major painting project. "Painting, no big deal" you say? Well, that thought may have crossed my mind too...before I tackled the monster project. Oh well, it's done now and yippee skippy, we've got another showing this Sunday:) Hope they're not disappointed the kitchen looks different than the pictures. Wouldn't that be lovely? Ha!

In other news...Joey's been acting sick for over a week no. Can't blame his molars anymore, since they're fully surfaced on the bottom. Soooo, I took him in to the pediatrician's office today. Yep, bilateral ear infection. At least I didn't let them get to the point of rupturing, like I did poor little Sylvia's when she was about this age. That was a definite "Mother of the Year" moment...NOT!

Can't wait for the sun to shine again. I get so down and blah when it's dreary out.

Gone Fishing

Wouldn't we all just love to be gone fishing right now?

As usual, Sylvia's got the right idea:)

Out in the gloom

Even though the weather's been...well, YUCK, these little darlings still enjoy the outdoors. It's nearly impossible to get a picture of Joey, but I did manage one decent one. He's SOOOOOO busy. (Joey busy, not Riley busy thank goodness..hee hee Kara)

Olivia is such the artist. Here, she awkwardly poses with her rainbow and fireworks, "like at the lake".


Check out Sylvia in her rain boots, capri sweats, ballerina skirt, and spring jacket. What an ensemble...that's all her! She enjoys the sensory part of sidewalk chalk more than the art itself, so she gets really close to the ground and usually rubs it all over her skin and clothes. I've even seen her taste it...just a couple weeks ago!


Looking forward to the sun and warmer weather this weekend.

Impossible Turkey Pie

What to do when you find leftover turkey in the freezer? Impossible Turkey Pie of course:) Cooking is an adventure for me, so I like to snap pictures sometimes.

Ingredients:
2 c. cut-up turkey
1 sm. can sliced mushrooms, drained (I omitted this 'cause I wanted it eaten)
1/2 c. sliced green onions (I used more like 1c.)
1/2 tsp salt (I used garlic salt....why do I even use a recipe, right?)
1 c. shredded Swiss cheese (I used Colby Jack for a bolder flavor...I know, ridiculous)
1 1/2 c. milk
3/4 c. biscuit baking mix
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease 10-inch pie pan. Sprinkle turkey, mushrooms, onions, salt and cheese in the pan.

Beat remaining ingredients until smooth and pour into pie pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

It plated well with sauteed green beans and fresh strawberries.

Matt voted to NOT put this dish into the regular "dinner rotation", but approved it for use of the turkey leftovers:) Winner winner, TURKEY dinner!

Early Bird

Olivia has always been an early bird. Her internal alarm clock goes off much earlier than most 5 year olds', but I've learned to love that about her. Getting up so early every morning assures that she won't miss out on anything!

Believe it or not, she likes to sneak into the bathroom on Saturday and Sunday mornings while I'm getting ready for work, blankie and pillow in hand, and snuggle up right there next to the "throne". She watches me dry my hair and tells me stories or sings me songs. That's right, Olivia is not a child that likes listening nearly as much as she likes performing. It's so funny that Sylvia asks me to sing to her all the time while Olivia asks me to be quiet so she can sing. Ha!

Olivia, I cherish our early weekend morning visits in the bathroom.

Thanks Miss Suzanne

Olivia received this adorable denim apron with her name embroidered on it from her preschool teacher. We've been so blessed to have Ms. S as Olivia's teacher this year. Any future teacher has some big young & talented shoes to fill.

This apron is one-of-a-kind, just like Olivia and her teacher:)

We're really going to miss Northwood and the wonderful staff there.

Happy Mother's Day

The girls got ambitious and creative in making cards for their Grandmas in observance of Mother's Day.

No card would be complete without a ton of smiley face stickers, right?

Olivia is getting so good at writing. It's fun to see her skills improve with every activity.

To all who Mother, God bless you!

"Cheese"

Here's our little ham, "cheesing" it up this morning.

He's starting to LOVE hats.

Dog & Pony Show

The kids LOVE performing for us...and we love to share, so here they are during lunch time today.



Olivia wanted to do animal noises, like Joey. I nixed that idea! She is so funny, vacillating between "mother henning" her siblings and reverting back to her baby ways. Sylvia chose to sing a song, the "B-I-B-L-E", one of her favorites.



Joey was pretty distracted by his mac-n-cheese, though his tummy was already filled up with his veggies and fruit. He's a BIG eater. What a contrast to his sisters!



Aren't they fun?

Being creative

Joey has been getting braver and is into climbing a bit and "riding" whatever he can manage to straddle. The footstool was the ridden (sp) subject in the pic below.

We've had to come up with some indoor activities lately, as the weather has been insanely windy and cool. Some acrylic paints and the easel were put to good use yesterday afternoon.

Olivia concentrated so hard at making her teacher's gift just right. She is in complete bliss when creating. Wonder where she gets that?

Hope you're all having a great week! We're celebrating teacher appreciation AND nurse's week. Doesn't get much better than that!

Another Big Kid

Look who lost a tooth! This was a first for any of the Ruden children. Woo hoo!

Olivia was quite excited to finally have that wiggly tooth out.

Her permanent lower central incisors (I think) are already through and crowding her tiny mouth!

The little tooth just to the left of the gap will be the next to exit her mouth. Yay!

Name That Blog

It has occurred to us that within a matter of months our blog URL won't make much sense anymore so we will be changing it. If you have any ideas for our new URL please share in the comments below!