New School Updates

Well, Mama and Goldie went over to the new school
yesterday and took some updated pictures of Mama's classroom and other parts of this beautiful new school. Mama never thought in a million years that she would get a new classroom, and this is like a dream (or nightmare depending on our mood) come true!!
These pictures show a couple of the walls in Mama's room. Notice the white strips between the panels on the walls. They have holes in them where you can hang shelving or other things. Mama thinks they are really cool! She can't wait to get in on Tuesday and start making it her own!

Here is a picture of the soon-to-be playground. Mama thought that it was going to be delivered this week, but she has not seen it yet! She hopes the kids will have a place to play come August 21! A class without recess is like having monkeys trapped in a cage!!

And here is a view down one of the two identical hallways. Mama's room is the third one on the left side. There is also a mini workroom for teachers down each hallway, complete with a faculty bathroom inside. WOW! The principal came around with his little notepad and assigned rooms a couple of weeks ago. Mama thought she would be in a different room on the other side of the hallway, but is fine with this one, too. They are all identical anyway..... except for the view out the window. TF (Mama's Teacher Friend that came with her from Wellsville) is sad that she does not get the view of the cows out her window. :(

Here are some pictures of the gym. The floor needs to be stained and finished, but everyone is thankful that it is at least installed! They thought for a while that the school might open without a cafeteria, but it is about finished as well.

The stage is really cool! Behind it is a really big music room and a ramp into the hallway. It seems very user-friendly... if one could say that about a stage. It almost makes Mama want to do another Opera with her class.....ALMOST.

Here is the view of the library with the glass windows. This is one thing that might not be finished when school starts, and it will take years to build up a collection like the one at Wellsville. Hopefully the little city library will help us out.
This is the front office.... or part of it. This office has a conference room, a principals suite (At least it looks like it compared to the one in Wellsville), a very large faculty room and a work room. There are also some other little rooms attached that Mama is not sure what they are for... maybe a sick room? Who knows! AND there is a bathroom in the office. Wow the secretary could probably even answer the phone from there! (Let's hope she doesn't!) This school has so much more than Mama is used to, that it will be fun for her to just learn what everything is for!

Goldie looks a little perplexed about the mess. August 21 is coming right up!

Here is a view of the front of the school. Mama and Goldie are so happy to see that the blacktop is finally being poured! It makes it look a little less like a construction zone. Oh, and they put up the outside lights yesterday! Cool!

What memories are being made here in our little town! Nobody will forget the first year of the new school! Mama and Goldie are so excited to get to be involved!

Remember, fellow bloggers, and even you lurkers, please leave us your favorite Back-to-School memories! Or, if you have a school memory that involves us in some way, we'd love to hear about it! Have a happy Back-to School everyone!!

A New Adventure

After 15 years at Wellsville Elementary, Mama Bear is moving to a brand new school just through the field from their cottage. Goldie is going with her, and they know that they are in for quite an adventure! Mama gets teary now and then thinking of the sweet friends and familiar surrounding of Wellsville Elementary. She never thought that she could leave that wonderful old school. Luckily, it is only 10 minuts away (if you drive the speed limit), and she plans to visit once in a while to keep up those familiar friendships!



As heartbreaking as leaving the old school is, mama and Goldie have really enjoyed watching the new school go up. They have gone over at least once a week to see how things are moving along... and sometimes they are even brave enough to tell the workers to "Hurry UP!!" School starts on the 21st of August, and everyone keeps saying that we will start on time. In May Mama took some pictures, and Goldie tried to star in every one of them! Mama plans to put some updated photos on the blog soon! But here is how far along it was last May:

This is one of the two identical hallways. It is pretty dark without electricity!

This will be the library. It is between the two hallways. Goldie is sitting where a big glass window will be.
Inside one of the "more finished" rooms. Mama loves the cubbies, but does not have as much storage area as her big old classroom at Wellsville.

A view from the tracks. Many of the neighbor children want to walk to school on the tracks, but the school and railroad are strongly discouraging this!!

This is going to be such a memorable experience for all that are involved. Our little town has fought for this for a very long time, and now it is finally here! It will change this little town in ways that nobody expected. We hope that it will only add to the wonderful community that we already have!

Hey, friends! In honor of our new school, and it being back to school time, leave us your comments about your most memorable school experiences... you know, the ones that you will never, ever forget! Mama, Papa, and Goldie will never forget the building of this new school!

Like Father Like Son?

When Papa Bear comes home from a long day of weeding, tree trimming, mowing, planting and sprinkler repairs and instalation, he is very, very tired! He usually sleeps whereever he lands! As for Fudgie.... nobody quite knows what his excuse is! Sleep tight boys!

Toothless Goldie

Well, it finally happened! At eight years, four months, and five days old, Goldilocks finally lost her first tooth! She tried to hang on to that tooth for as long as she could, but today that tooth just could not hang in there for one more minute.Then it just sort of fell out all by itself. Goldie had many offers from people who wanted to help her get it out, but alas, Goldie opted for the "wait and let it fall out method" and it seemed to work out very nicely for her. The tooth fairy has been waiting and waiting to visit Goldie's house, and now will finally have the chance! Mama and Papa are so proud of their little Goldie!

Mama Bear's Retreat

It is pretty sad when a "retreat" is really a science class that is helpful for your job, but that's the only kind of retreat that Mama Bear gets!!

While Goldilocks was vacationing at her cousin's mansion, Mama took off and headed up the mountains with Teacher Friend and Jilly Bean. (TF and JB for short.)

TF had a fancy RV and drove it up the mountain to Hardware Ranch where the class was to be held. Mama followed behind in her van and was amazed as TF manuvered her truck and trailor up a tiny road, turned it 90 degrees, and drove through the gate! It was like threading a needle!(WOW! Thought Mama Bear!) The director was right out there with a panicked look on her face, but no worries, TF got it through that tight spot just FINE! (Thank you very much!) Mama bear was wondering why they did not make those gates bigger for trailors, but then later found out that just a few feet down the highway was a road that was actually built for trucks and trailors and that TF had driven up the walking path!

Well, we live and learn. AND Mama learned to be impressed with the driving skills of TF! TF earned them a title that very first day. From that moment on they were known as the crazy RV ladies.

Now, one would think that it would not be a lot of fun to have classes that lasted from 9:00am until 9:00pm, but with three crazy RV ladies, EVERYTHING IS FUN! The classes were great, but it was after class that the games began. JB has a way of bringing out the crazy side of Mama, and the giggly side of TF. So while JB and Mama bantered, TF laughed her guts out and this is how it went all night long! TF says that JB and Mama kept HER awake, but JB and Mama both agree that if she would have just stopped her insescent laughing, then they would not have had an audience, and may have gone right off to sleep!

One of the highlights of the trip was when the three crazy RV ladies took a long walk down the road. After about a mile and a half, they discovered a beautiful little water fall and were all taken back by the beauty of the world we live in..... Yes, there was a serious moment on this trip! They took pictures, but none of them seemed to do it justice.

Another exciting adventure was the canoe trip in the wetlands! Mama and TF were excited about his, but poor JB was frightened out of her mind! Of course TF and Mama had to tease her mercilessly about this. But, in spite of everything, JB strapped on her life jacket and put her life in the hands of TF and Mama and went on that canoe ride! What a brave little soldier! (White knuckles and all!)
All in all, the trip was a real blast, and they all came away with TONS of stuff to help them teach science to their students. All three crazy RV ladies tried to stay longer, but home was beckoning too loudly, and the Hardware Ranch people needed a break! (They could not imagine why!) So, they had to return back to earth. They all dream of the day that they might be able to escape to their mountain oasis once again!

ISSI is FUN!!

Goldilocks was very nervous for her first day of ISSI (Intermountain Suzuki String Institute) until she met up with her little Violin Buddy from home. Seeing a familiar face always calms the nerves a bit.

Mama and Goldie did not know what a treat they were in for when they signed up for a week of intense violin training. They attended some great classes with wonderful teachers who sparked a new enthusiasm for music. Some of the highlights of their week were seeing Jenny Oaks Baker in concert, hearing the Fry String Quartet, and witnessing some great student performances.

Goldie's repetoire teacher was from Japan and she loved dolphins. She encouraged all the students to think of their bow as a dolphin. Each time they played she would tell them to have their "dolphins" swim in the ocean to make the most beautiful sound that it could. Goldie just had to get a stuffed dolphin to help her remember this class! This teacher also made a little dolphin counter for all 80 of the kids she taught at this institute. What a treat!

The next class she attended every day was a technique class taught by a cool guy from Sweden! He had a neat accent and taught Goldie and the other kids many fun things to do with their violins. They played them upside down and backwards. They also played while sitting and clapping their feet together! He even taught them some great exercises for their bodies and brains.

They even marched around the room and in the hallways. What a Kick! The very best part of this class was the Sweedish song he taught them called, "Spatanoose" (a spitting song).

Goldie's Master class teacher was a lady from Illinois. She spent 12 minutes one on one time with her each day to help her with something unique to just Goldie. She would assign her homework every day and then Mama and Goldie would have to find some time to practice. One day they parcticed out on the lawn with Goldie's little violin buddy.

Goldie's favorite teachers were even there! Keenanonie and the Viola Diva herself posed for this picture. These are the teachers that have taught Goldie from the beginning. The Viola Diva gave her a great start and then had to move away for graduate school (Mama says "Graduate school" is a swear word!). Keenanone has continued on with her until this time, but will soon join the Viola Diva in that terrible place far far away! Mama and Goldie hope that they will be able to continue on without them! If there is a will, there is always a way! We appreciate all the hard work of these two ladies and will miss them very much!

Dorothy and Toto

Last Halloween, Goldilocks was really excited to finally have a little dog to share it with, and so Mama, Papa, and Goldie put their heads together to come up with a costume that would include Fudgie in some way. Many ideas came to mind, but the one that stuck the longest was Dorothy and Toto! There was a BIG family Halloween party on Mama's side of the family, so it was a perfect year to really dress up! Mama went to the local fabric shop and found a pattern and materials, and went to work on Goldie's dress. Of course, Mama did not have a lot of time, and finished it within hours of leaving for the party. Mama dressed up as Auntie Em (pictures of Auntie Em will most likely NOT be shown!) and Papa dressed up as the scarecrow. AND of course Goldie and Fudgie were Dorothy and Toto. Needless to say, they (Dorothy and Toto) were the hit of the party!








Then, Mama got one of her "brilliant" ideas, and decided that it would be fun to take some pictures for the family Christmas Card. The neighbor across the street kindly agreed and took some beautiful pictures of Dorothy and Toto. The Christmas card was a hit and read, "There's no place like home for the holidays!"
The Dorothy costume did not stop there! It was worn for a violin group class held on Halloween, and also for the "Babes in Mendon Toyland" production at Christmastime. Mama Bear feels very justified with all the work that went into that costume after it had been put to good use. Next year may not be so fancy.