so long September

At the beginning of the month, I would have never guessed that I would need to wear a winter scarf and gloves to school on the 30th. It happened.

Today, my lovely neighbor teacher and friend, Michelle and I took our classes out to the river for gym class. Two toads were found and the children had a wonderful time exploring just a little bit of nature. These days are just magical and fleeting.

it's a small world after all

This past Saturday, I attended a conference on the UW River Falls campus called Nature: The First and Essential Prepared Environment. It was a Montessori teacher who has an outdoor classroom near Milwaukee who was presenting things that he does with his school and things that we can take back to our own classrooms.

We had a lovely lunch and a woman who was not in our group sat near us. She was wearing a New England Public Radio t-shirt. I asked about her shirt and she said her son was the host of Morning Edition which as very impressive. When I asked what his name was, she replied "Henry Epp". I told her that I grew up with Epps and she asked me where I grew up. I told her the Epps were from Mountain Lake. It turns out that the Epps I know are cousins of her husband. My friend Susie is a cousin by marriage to the woman I met at the workshop. When I told her that my Mom taught was Becky, Susie's Mom, it made the world even smaller.

I wonder how many people we see and don't even have the time to make that connection. Our world is so large, but yet so small.

super lunar event

bleary eyed children in class today--many were up late watching the super moon. This series was taken by super photographer friend Carrie H. of River Falls.

 It was really pretty incredible and I got an opportunity to watch it with all of my children, my husband and my Mom (while on the phone). It was fun to look at the beautiful stars and airplanes that also shared the beautiful sky.

ren fest

Our family left River Falls early this morning, foregoing church and Sunday School to attend the 2015 Renaissance Festival.

Highlights according to the family:
the two shows--Danger Brothers and Puke and Snot
the elephant ride
the mermaids
Jacob's Ladder
leaving

It was a really beautiful weather day and as O was heading to bed, he asked if we could go see the Mermaids again ;). I think he took quite a shining.

happy 19th birthday dear Thomas Matthew!

Thomas, the strong, intelligent and talented is now 19. Happy birthday to you.

a photo of the now 19 year old at his Senior Prom

o and Momma

Just a day after I posted K's 4th grade photo, the two photos were delivered to River Falls Public Montessori Elementary. Here they are. No tears this year!

He's in Kindergarten

year 3 of 1-3rd grade

beata 2015

Here she is...a bona fide 4th grader

autumn

The equinox has arrived. One of my lovely first year students discovered the change in our class calendar this morning with the change of the season. He asked that if on December 22 he could change the calendar to the next season. I asked him what season that would be and he whispered "WINTER". His eyes were alight with excitement. I cherish these moments.

peace filled

Yesterday was the International Day of Peace. One of K's standout teachers, Mrs. K posted this on her wall yesterday. I showed it to my class this morning in our circle time and we've decided we will try out on the playground sometime very soon.

last day of summer

Today is the last day of summer! It's been a wonderful summer and it is looking like it will be a glorious fall.

birthday party birthday party!

The celebration of Mom's 80th birthday was really pretty magical. Kurt hosted a nice get together in his big pole barn and their were touches of Ross everywhere. A beautiful bench that Kurt's friends gifted him in Ross' memory, a nice game Ross made for a 4-H project years ago, his siblings, Jenna and Vance, his house, his farm.

It wrapped me in happiness to see that we will never forget that incredible young man but we can still celebrate family and all we mean to one another.

Those in attendance:
Vivian
Clarence
Kent
Abby
Kurt
Jenna
Cody
Vance
Kaitie
Kyle
Kim
Adam
Liana
Ryan
Cory
Joan
Evan
Trenton
Karen
Brad
Anders
Katie
Osten
Ruby
Loie
Tammi
Butch
Marilyn
Sydney
Chuck
Carol
Cameron
Ciera

The food was yummy and the conversation was delicious. Happy birthday dear Momma!

southern exposure and Happy birthday K and K!

On Saturday, after watching K and O play soccer, we headed south to 924 Mountain Lake Road. The weather this weekend was pretty incredible for a celebration of Momma's 80th birthday.

Also wishing my handsome and amazing brothers Kent and Kurt and very happy 53rd birthday!

believer yeah yeah yeah yeah

On Friday, Julie and I met in Turtle Lake Wisconsin to see one of my very favorite entertainers, Mickey Dolenz who formerly sang with the Monkees. It was a small venue compared to the last time I saw him at the Minnesota State Fair with an estimated 200 fans, but it was unforgettable. It was really great to hear him singing with his sister.

Julie got a great close up of the pair--just wish you could hear their voices weaving together.

after school yoga

On Wednesdays for the past two weeks, Maggie and I have been attending yoga in Lynn A's room at Greenwood. This week Michelle joined us. This coming Wednesday, the three of us will be traveling to New Richmond for our math grant meeting. I love the calming effect of yoga and am looking forward to my next class.

full swing

Now that the school year is in full swing, the days are slipping past too quickly.

Tuesday, September 15, beautiful day.

first time

For the first time in recent memory, September 11 didn't bring images of my second day of work at Artco to mind. The second day I dropped ACO off at daycare. The second day I was commuting 30 miles from our home in Idaho Falls (at that time apartment) to Rexburg, Idaho. I remember getting into the car, turning onto Woodruff and hearing of a commuter plane crashing into the WTC while we were listening to NPR. Then I heard of the second plane and it seemed like there was a state of emergency.

My parents and Leo and Loie had just taken off from Southern Minnesota to come visit us in Idaho Falls. They didn't hear of the events until they stopped for the night in South Dakota.

That was 14 years ago. I didn't think I would go through a September 11 without remembering, but it is possible.

125 strong

This morning, our church continued the celebration of 125 years during our service and at a wonderful potluck in the evening. Sunday School kicked off and the 126th year is under way.

Congratulations Ezekiel!

photos from the Ezekiel float at River Falls Days taken by my friend Carrie

soccer morning

K played at 9 am and her team France lost 4-3 to team Canada. There are two Katie Olson/Katie Olsen and three Finn's on her team. K played forward one quarter, in the backfield one quarter and then was goalie in the final quarter. She did a marvelous job.

O played Mini-kicks from 10-11 and it was a lot of fun to watch him in action. His soccer coach is so fun to listen to--he's from Australia, so he has a great accent.

picnic

The annual Montessori Picnic happened last night. It was great to catch up with families and the kids all had a great time playing outside. A was playing football, K was running with her buddy Noah that she met at a hiking camp this summer and O was just running with all his friends.

The food was spectacular and it was really nice to touch base with classroom parents that have moved to the next level.

swing of things

We are settling nicely into our routines and O captured an ant on the playground today. His sweet teacher gave him a tooth box to put his new little pet. He has affectionately named him "dinosaur".

comfort

The classroom is back to lovely comfortable temperatures! When we did our weather observations this morning, the outside temp was 68, the classroom temperature was 70, the humidity was 70 and the barometric pressure was 29.7. ahhhhhh.

Today after school, my friend Maggie and I went to yoga at Greenwood together. It was just so calm and a great time to take time to center our mind and body. Lynn is an incredible instructor!

soccer beginnning

K will be starting soccer this fall. Her first practice and meeting are tonight, so we will have more information soon.

putting the boat away for the summer

This morning, we drove the boat to the landing and took it out of the water for the cold months ahead. The dock is still in, but the boat is out of commission for the season.

dancing in the rain

On Sunday night, Ibby and I had a sauna and instead of jumping into the lake, I just cooled off in the rain because there was a fair amount of lightening. On our last journey out of the sauna, the rain was beating down so hard that it was like taking a shower...it felt so incredible! Thanks Ibby!

labor day weekend

Brad, Ibby and A have been spending many many hours this weekend preparing wood for burning either this winter or next. They have been at it since about 10am and are still going at 8:30pm. I hope they are taking plenty of breaks.

hot classroom

A really fun first week of school, but the temperature was REALLY REALLY high. The highest temperature I saw was 92 and the lowest was 77 degrees. We will be fondly remembering the wonderful days of warm temperatures when the outdoor temperature is under zero degrees.

happy birthday Ibby Gina!

on September 3, 2015, sweet Ibby Gina celebrated her birthday! Happy happy birthday to you.

1st day of school

The Olson family is back at school. 

Meyer Middle School Gold House 8 is where the 14 year old spends his day.

Greenwood Elementary 4th grade is where the 9 1/2 year old spends her day.

River Falls Public Montessori Elementary Children's House Kindergarten is where the 5 year old spends his day.

River Falls Public Montessori Elementary Lower Elementary is where the 43 year old spends her day.

4 score

80 years ago today Nels Sr., Annie, Bev, Ruby and Nels Jr. welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their happy home near Lewisville Minnesota on a Tillney Farm. Welcome Vivian Grace Pierson. I am so blessed to have such a kind, patient, hardworking, joyful, exuberant, and loving mentor and Mom.

Happy happy birthday.