Relaxing on "the Island" in July...

Government buildings at Victoria

 Each year we try to take at least one trip with our good friends, Dwight and Jeanie Shoup.  July 2011 found us on Vancouver Island, B.C. We visited Victoria, taking in the government buildings and the history museum. We also visited Butchart Gardens and took in some mellow music in the cool of the evening.

We  then moved up island to a small cabin at a B & B. What a gorgeous place!! The weather was cooler than usual, but we loved it since we had left triple digits behind in Kansas!!

Watching the sunset on Qualicum Beach.

We walked through old growth forests, and along more than one beach. All in all, it was a relaxing week.

Binocs and cameras... that's the way you'll see this crowd on a trip!

Touring an old lumber mill operation was a side trip.

Salmon running upstream- what a sight!

Two whaling trips gave us several whale sightings, gray whales on the west side and killer whales off of the east side.

 

It was a great week and certainly a place to keep on the list for a return visit!

Killer whales gave us quite a show!!

On Blogging Through 2011... and beyond

2011 is about to come to a close... WOW! Back in May I decided that I would like to start a blog, and set a goal of trying to add something about every 2 weeks. As June came to a close, my life became much more complicated. We took a great trip to Vancouver Island,....


and on the way home I was contacted by the director of our Special Education Co-op about a new job opportunity, and a week later I was hired as a Special Education Academic Coach for all schools in USD #470.  I am a mentor and coach for all SPED staff in the district. This resulted in a move from a classroom at IXL (I had been there 32 years) to an office in another elementary, a 1-week earlier start to the school year, and trying to figure out the job description of a totally new position! As a result, this is my first blog in 6 months!

2011 was certainly less eventful for us than 2010 (NO heart surgery). Rex & I are both healthy, working at "jobs" that we do not consider to be work, and blessed with family and friends that make our lives interesting. Rex still lives for his work with students as a Title 1 tutor, and finds much time to go fishing as well.  Scott and Kellie live here in Ark City, and our 2 granddaughters are becoming wonderful young women. We enjoy having them close so we can be involved with their activities and friends. Matt and his Kelly still call Thornton, Colorado their home, and have become avid skiers!

We were blessed to celebrate Christmas with a total of 29 members of the Tarr's in Bella Vista, Arkansas last weekend. Mom and Dad are still doing well and were thrilled to have so many of the family in residence for at least parts of the weekend. We plan to see some of Rex's family in a few weeks.

If you are interested in more details, stay tuned to the blog.  I hope to go back and journal about our trip to Vancouver Island and our fun Herndon gathering in August,and keep up with events... well that's a NEW YEAR's resolution so we will see!