Updately-like

Let's start with Satchel...he's officially an elementary student now which means he is upstairs with the 6-12 year-olds. He is SO excited. After his first day he came home and immediately wanted to pick out a book for his book report (due in October) and decide on his costume for Halloween. (The elementary kids make their own costumes and then there's a costume contest.)



Coincidentally, we got a catalog from Costume Express and he has been carrying it around like a bible. He carefully studies every page and is taking his costume very seriously this year. As of now he wants to be a Skull Biker so he can ride his bike door to door for candy. (Don't ask me what a Skull Biker is, because I have no idea. Which is probably good since I'm sure my explanation of "Psychopath" will give him nightmares.)

Jiro asked me when he was going to get to move upstairs to the elementary and I said, "When you finish all of the work downstairs." Since then he has been very serious about doing exactly that. At his school's open house today, he showed us several new things that he learned recently.



Satch and Jiro aren't the only ones who started school recently...Warren did too! He's working on his Masters in Elementary Education. He's taking two night classes and two online classes. (And he joined a Kendo club that meets on Wednesdays. (He won't let me post a picture of him in his suit!) Anyways, he's gone three nights a week! Hello, Roller Derby payback!! And yes, he's still got his day job. Obviously, Team Oster likes to stay busy.

Anyways, I see where the monkeys get their good work habits from, because Warren has been diligently reading all of his chapters, leaving lengthy comments on his class discussion board, and completing assignments ahead of time. Today we went along with him to the Oak Court Mall where he rented a wheelchair in order to see what life was like for physically challenged individuals for his Special Education class.



I've been busy working at various fairs for actual work purposes. Because of the Delta Fair I missed opening night at the Shell. Warren and the boys went though and said it was wonderful. (They even hiked home, in the dark, through the Old Forest!) On Saturday, we all walked over for the kids' performance by Teatro de la Rosa. Sadly, it was a bit of the bust. I was VERY impressed by the Shell's makeover and the crowd assembled, but the Teatro wasn't all that exciting. Plus it was only about 45 minutes long, so not only did we miss most of it, when it was over, there was still an hour and forty five minutes until the next show. In all fairness, maybe the first half ROCKED! Or maybe they were catering to ages 1-3. Or, maybe I'm just spoiled rotten by Rock-n-Romp. No matter, it was fun to get a taste of what's to come.

Satchel was only interested in climbing trees and Jiro was focused on the free candy.



And scaring the crap out of me.



The only other thing of note is that I am in the process (a very long one!) of uploading all of the essays from Fertile Ground, the zine, onto a blog. It's been fun taking the stroll down memory lane! I'm on #7, so only 9 more issues to go! Once I get all of the content online, then I will start implementing my "New, Improved Online Presence" Master Plan.

Stay tuned!