Another great week...

I found my grandma’s recipe for Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread and Andrew and I made two delicious loaves. Andrew was a little apprehensive about adding the 2 cups of zucchini but the end result was a big hit. Dashing my anti-baking reputation, I shared a few slices with Andrew’s teacher and classroom assistant.

Andrew had a fun week at school. He is learning to type and has been word processing his fiction story of the “Invisible Teacher”…soon to be publish on a prominent blog sight near you :) Mrs. Wright, his Tlingit instructor, is teaching them in how to say the Pledge of Allegiance and “Trick or Treat.” She has threatened not to give candy to anyone who does say the magic words in Tlingit. Math-wise, Andrew is running around with a tape measure measuring everything from my leg to the perimeter of the living room. After breezing through his third grade math book, Steve and Mrs. Bidiman have decided to let Andrew join the fourth grade math group. He is excited about that.

We are reading a bunch….Andrew and I just finished reading a great book called “The Sign of the Beaver.” A pioneer story that tells of the awkward but lasting friendship between a Native American Indian boy and boy from Maine. Drew cruises through his own chapter books every week plus the books he picks out from the library. We are 9 chapters away from the suspenseful ending of Harry Potter Book 4...I am often seen trying to balance an umbrella and reading Harry Potter while walking to school, Andrew circling around me on his scooter. It is an odd sight but both of us love the story so much we try to fit it in where we can.

Wednesday, Hoonah had its first assembly of the year, culminating a three week sports eligibility period. Steve, along with his staff wanted to change the pervasive disregard for classes and the large number of students on the ineligible list. From consistent tardiness to blatant teacher disrespect and failing grades, the staff set into place a ticket reward system and a “three strikes your out program.” The assembly was to promote positive behavior and team building. It was a lot of fun…wig wearing wrestlers danced to a peace and love song from 60’s, the grades battled it out in a tug-a-war challenge, eventually won by the freshman class, a free-throw basketball tournament was held, and a math challenge was given to five guys and one girl. The senior girl took home the prize. At the end of the assembly, tickets that were given out for good behavior over the last three weeks were put into a drawing. Here is a picture of the students that won $10 in carnival tickets for the Nov. 9th Carnival. Each three weeks more prizes will be given out. The students are enjoying the positive reinforcement and the entire school is benefiting from a improved learning environment.

We can’t help but miss home, our family and our friends, but as we watch the news we also realize how blessed we are that Steve has a good job, we are all healthy and together. We are blooming where we are planted…it may be little more challenging for some of us to bloom in 29 degree weather but we're blooming nonetheless. Thanks again for reading and for your emails and comments. I am honored that you choose to share in our Alaskan adventure with us. Until next Saturday………..have a beautiful week.