Just Beginning...

I am hoping that I will be able to find the time and the internet connections necessary to document my trip to China here on my blog that has been so neglected for the past few years. I have to admit that it was quite difficult to leave my family this evening. I am incredibly excited for this experience to go to China and learn about their educational system and explore a beautiful country that I never thought I would have the opportunity to see. But I will miss reading books with the boys, shooting hoops with them, hearing Thomas learn new words, my beautiful wife and her wonderful smile and contagious laugh, and even having Bubba come in during the middle of the night to lay by me in bed. So the journey began as I left home around 6 pm tonight to come up to Portland. My flight leaves early Saturday morning and it was cheaper to stay in a hotel close to the airport that offers "park and fly" parking and it also made it so I didn't have to leave home at 3:30 am. I decided to go to the Portland temple before the trip and I was so glad that I did. So here we go...Tomorrow we will fly to San Francisco, have a few hours of layover (hoping to watch some basketball while we wait), then off to Beijing, and finally our last leg will take us to Xi'an arriving around 11 pm Sunday night, Xi'an-time. Should be fun!

Heartache

Tuesday was a tough night for me.

First, I had to watch the Jazz fall apart once again to the evil Lakers. I always try not to get my hopes up when they play Kobe and his evil minions, but I can't help but wish that this would be the year that they destroy them in LA. Sigh. Maybe next year...

Then, I watched one of my favorite shows...only to see several of my favorite characters tragically die. I wanted to break down and cry along with the remaining castaways. I need to prepare myself emotionally for this show to end.

Angle of Repose

"What do you mean by 'Angle of Repose'?" she asked me...it is the angle at which two lines prop each other up, the leaning-together from the vertical which produces the false arch..."

I just finished re-reading one of my favorite books, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. It was one of those occasional literary experiences in which you wish to never leave the lives of the main characters. It also was a great reminder to me of how lucky I am to be married to such an incredible woman. I feel very blessed to be able to experience this life and the eternities with her, propping each other up in a perfect angle of repose to make our way through the different challenges and joys of life.

March Madness

This is a model of great parenting. Follow these steps:
1. Put child in cardboard box with a few toys.
2. Turn on the game.
3. Enjoy.

He looks happy, right?

2009 in Pictures

Since my last real blog posting in April, I became lazy and uninspired by this blog. So I have decided to post a few pictures highlighting the events from the past 8 months. Some life-changing and eternal, others less so.

First and foremost was the arrival of this new little critter into the family. Henry William Fuller was born on May 21 and despite the still sleepless nights, we are incredibly happy to have this beautiful boy number 3 in our home.

Although the birth of Henry meant an early end to my teaching year, I left my wife and three boys at home for a week in June to take 30 rambunctious 8th graders to Washington DC and Philadelphia. It was another great trip and I am looking forward to trip number 4 this next summer.

Summer was supposed to be a time when I was working hard on getting my proposal ready for my PhD. However, when an unexpected departure of my advising professor at the university provided me with a set back, I took the opportunity to relax...went camping with the boys, fishing, trips to the coast, and of course spending time with "Le Honnes".

Summer ended with a great trip to Utah to see our families--and especially for the kids to see their grandparents and cousins.

While we were in Utah, I ran my first competitive race since running cross country in high school. I ran the Provo Canyon Half Marathon with Amber. I had forgotten how addicting running can be. I loved it.

We returned home to a nutria epidemic. These nasty river rodents were invading our garden. Unfortunately, they had to be exterminated.

My long summer soon came to an end and it was back to school time. James started 2nd grade and Owen started his first year of preschool.

We decided to cut down the two giant blue spruces that were taking up our entire backyard. It was a big project, but a lot of fun.

Thanks to my good friends and their big tools that made the job a lot easier. We took them both down with no injuries.

This Halloween, we enjoyed the annual visit from Marge and Pops. James decided to be a wizard and Owen was a chef. Henry (not pictured) wore the pumpkin outfit that Kristine had made for Owen when he was a babe. It was a little bit of a tight fit (Owen was only 1 mo. old his first Halloween) but it worked.

Finally, we enjoyed our first Thanksgiving at our own home. We were sad to be away from family, but happy that we didn't have to spend two days traveling anywhere. We enjoyed the day with great friends and delicious food.

Battle of the Books Part III

I thought that I would at least make the effort of posting our new Battle of the Books list for this year. I have been a little overwhelmed with the whole process this year. Our principal decided last summer to get rid of our librarian in an effort to save other teachers' jobs and so the entire responsibility of Battle of the Books has fallen on me.

I was a little weary about the book list that we have this year, but have been completely surprised by how fun and addictive many of the books are. So here is the annual list. For some reason, I still haven't read some of the historical fiction. They seemed a little heavy and I have needed some light reading during the past few months. So here you go, enjoy!

Adam Canfield of the Slash by Michael Winerip
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
Any Small Goodness by Tony Johnston
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Maximum ride: the Angel Experiment by James Patterson
Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
Ranger's Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
Schooled by Gordon Korman
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Trapped between the Lash and the Gun by Arvella Whitmore
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy
Zen And The Art Of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick

The Alchemyst is a great read for anyone that loved series such as Percy Jackson or Fablehaven. I quickly read through the first three books and am waiting rather impatiently for the fourth book that will come out this spring.

Plain Janes is the first graphic novel that we have had on our lists. Pretty cool for a different style of reading.

The Wednesday Wars might be my absolute favorite. It is a must read for anyone who loves Shakespeare or works with youth in any way. It tells the story of a boy who spends every Wednesday afternoon alone with his teacher because all of the other students go to Catholic or Jewish seminary. He thinks his teacher is punishing him by making him read Shakespeare, but we all know that Shakespeare could never be a punishment. I loved this book.

My New Fun Find (thanks to Kristine)

If you were to ask Kristine to tell you one thing that she doesn't understand about me, she might answer that it is my obsession with buying and owning books. Kristine is perfectly fine with checking books out from the library and sometimes even waiting for weeks to get her hands on a book that she wants to read. Part of our difference lies in the fact that I enjoy reading contemporary literature, while Kristine tends to read older books.

Anyway, a few months back Kristine and I created a category in our budget called "Whatever I want." This provides us each with some money to just buy a few things for ourselves---just for fun. This has provided me with funds to go use my Borders Rewards coupons that show up in my email inbox and tempt me every other week or so. Therefore, my book collection has increased.

There are a few reasons why I enjoy buying a book. 1) I like the look of a full bookshelf that contains a variety of different types of literature. 2) I like to be able to loan a book that I love to a friend. 3) Occasionally, I like to reread a book (ex. My Name is Asher Lev, To Kill a Mockingbird). 4) I hate the pressure of a library due date that makes me feel like I have to rush through a book. 5) I have a dream of our future dream house containing a beautiful library full of books that represent many memories of different time periods of my life.

For the most part, I can read anything and enjoy it. However, from time to time, I read a book with which I make very little connection. Then these books still lurk around on our bookshelves and are visually distracting from the books that I love. So, Kristine found this beautiful website called paperbackswap.com.

This site allows you to post these sorts of books and then for every book that someone requests from you, you get a credit that allows you to request a new book from anyone else. For the cost of mailing a book to someone else, I can get a book that is new to me. Of course, this wouldn't be a site for those who frequent the library and are content not to own the book, but for me this is perfect. I am waiting for my first two books to arrive and already have 5 more credits that I can't wait to use. I look forward to the additions this will provide for my classroom and dream house bookshelves.

Soccer Mom (& Dad)

This year we signed up James for AYSO soccer. Two years ago we signed him up to play through Kidsports and it ended up being a kind of ridiculous scam with 6th grade girls teaching the kids how to play "Duck, Duck, Goose" with a soccer ball. Needless to say, it was a waste of time and money; although, I am pretty confident that James had a lot of fun.

So I convinced Kristine that we should sign him up through AYSO this year. Much to my surprise, the coach called and told us that they will have two practices a week and then a game every Saturday. We thought that having two practices a week was a little excessive, but after watching them play last Saturday, we realized that maybe two practices is not enough.

Saturday they started off their season playing in a jamboree. Each team played three games that consisted of two quarters each. It was hilarious to watch. James hadn't really played in a real soccer game before and his excitement seemed to get the best of him. The first quarter he just danced around the group that was following the ball, seemingly nervous to really get involved. The second quarter that he played, he finally started to kick it. However, he kept kicking it the wrong way. He would get so excited that he would just kick the ball, not caring which way he was supposed to be going.

While this was going on, Kristine and I were rather embarrassingly yelling things like, "That's the wrong way!" or "Get in there and kick the ball!" Poor James just kept looking over at us. I think we confused him more than helped him and he didn't understand what was going on--He was just having a whole lot of fun.

The team didn't win any of the three games. In fact, they didn't even score a single goal. However, they seemed to get better as the day progressed. His coach finally put James in as a fullback. At first we were a little nervous that he was too close to his own goal and if he kicks it the wrong way, it might be incredibly embarrassing if he scores for the other team. But James has a pretty good foot on him and was able to clear the ball away from the goal several times.

It was a lot of fun to watch. But Kristine and I both left the game feeling a little embarrassed that we couldn't help ourselves from being a crazy soccer mom and dad that just want our kid to perform well. So we scream and yell, instead of just being happy that our little 5 year old was perfectly content to just run around on the field with his friends.

DC Trips

As many of you know, for the past few years I have been taking students to Washington, D.C. along with a good friend of mine here at school. This is a great opportunity for our students to visit the nation's capital and to experience some of the things that I have been trying to teach them throughout their 8th grade year in US History. I normally don't read the comic strip Luann. (I am more inclined to read Zits or Baby Blues or one of our local favorites Stone Soup.) But for the past week Luann has been on a trip to DC and it has captured such perfect moments. I just wanted to share a few.



We have had some pretty similar experiences, but every year it is one of the highlights. I love going to the nation's capital and watching some of these students (many have never been out of Oregon) see these sights for the first time.

Here's hoping that our 35 or so students coming with us this year will have a great time, even after they realize that the only shopping that can be done at the mall is from those crazy street vendors selling the cheapest shirts imaginable.

Happy Valentine's Day

Last year, I shared my thoughts about Valentine's Day from a middle school perspective. This year, if I were to give a bad stuffed animal holding disgusting, cheap chocolate candies, I would give them to my television. I confess, I am in love with TV.

I used to have a love affair with movies. During college and before having kids, we would spend many nights at the cinema. We probably spent at least one night a week at the movies and were normally up to date with the movies that were up for awards. We had such a problem, that we even sunk as low as theater hopping--our most, 3 movies for the price of one. Now, we rarely go to the movies and if we do, it is either separately or to an animated movie with the boys and I don't think we have seen a single movie that is up for any awards.

In order to fill this void, I have resorted to a love affair with the tube. I love watching TV. I love sitting with my boys, one of them tucked under each arm, watching Ben 10: Alien Force or Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I love relaxing with Kristine and cheering on our favorite Survivor or analyzing whether we would dare do a challenge on the Amazing Race or trying to figure out what is going on during all of the flashbacks and flash-forwards on Lost.

I find it incredibly comforting to have a DVR that is full of shows that are just waiting to be watched. For example, I like watching Battlestar Galactica when I have two episodes to watch, because one just leaves me wanting more. But there are some shows, like Heroes or Friday Night Lights, that I need to watch the night that they air, because I just can't wait and I can't imagine why everyone doesn't feel the same.

I have an addiction. And for now, I am okay with it. This Valentine's Day, I declare that I am in love with my TV.

Why so sad?

I just finished reading two novels, Revolutionary Road and The Known World. I really wanted to enjoy both of them. There is so much about them that seem to fit right with my literary tastes. I love a book that deals with the complicated life of a married couple and I also love a book that delves into an historical context while providing a glimpse into what it might have been like for a single individual. It seemed like I would really enjoy these books.



However, I came away from both feeling a little bit more empty inside than when I started. When I read a book (and I can read almost anything, I am really not too picky), I want to come away with it feeling as if my life has been improved. I don't mean that it needs to be a life changing event; but most often I can find at least a few things that I can take away from the reading experience. It might be certain traits about a character that I find intriguing or enlightening. It could be a reminder of the the simple pleasures of life. It could be the poetic use of imagery and prose that somehow lifts my spirits. These two books, just left me feeling....nothing.

Perhaps it is the dreary, fog-filled, cold winter that we are experiencing right now or the economic situation of our country that we are reminded of everywhere that we turn; but these books seemed to make me more depressed. I don't know if I have it in me to read these books that seem to end without any redeeming qualities in the characters. This is coming from a person that used to be obsessed with Albert Camus and all of his existential novels. My favorite is of course L'étranger. Perhaps the stranger can sum it up best, "Voulez-vous, s'est-il exclamé, que ma vie n'ait pas de sens?"

The Beautiful Northwest

These photos were taken as we were waiting for the ferry on Vashon Island in Washington after a rocking Justin Roberts concert. (This dilapidated dock was not the one used by the ferry :)

Coming back....

(First congrats to our new POTUS, somehow I feel like we are living a great episode of The West Wing)

Just like all things, it is incredibly difficult to come back to something after such a long absence. I have a million reasons why I haven't posted, but don't we all have a ton of excuses. Nevertheless, to make me feel better, I shall create a list that will portend that I have been much busier than I have been.

1. Working full-time, going to school full-time, finishing my practicum hours to become a principal, and having an enormous amount of duties in my church have taken control of my life.

2. Having a pregnant wife that was insanely nauseous for weeks and weeks forced me to spend less time blogging and more time developing my homemaking skills.

3. I have recently become obsessed with CNN, ABC World News Tonight with Charles Gibson, and other news outlets.

4. It is too difficult to try to be an "active" Facebooker and a blogger.

5. I sit in front of a computer too much trying to put in grades for my students or reading some lame article for a class that I have no desire to look at a computer screen at any other time.

6. I have nothing important or worthwhile to say.

Ouch!

My heart hurts...

Election Fatigue

Is anyone else completely exhausted of this election? Doesn't it seem like we have been discussing these same candidates and same issues for years? Oh wait, we have. From the picture above (this is not a doctored image BTW), maybe McCain is getting exhausted too or just realizing his chances in this election are slipping away.

Last nights debate was by far the most interesting. However, I still couldn't stand to sit through the entire thing. I have become more and more cynical as the election has progressed and am looking forward to the end. Part of me doesn't even care who wins and just wants it to be over--okay, that isn't the truth, I do care who wins, but I do really want it to be over.


Unfortunately, (in what I think are some fairly desperate and ridiculous attempts by McCain to gain some points in the polls) the presidential election has turned pretty petty and ugly. However, nothing is as bad as the senate race in our beautiful state of Oregon. Jeff Merkley (D) and Gordon Smith (R-incumbent) have been slaughtering each other in personal attack adds for months. I am really struggling with choosing between either of them because I think that they have acted very similarly to my middle school students. It is like they are middle school girls that are passing notes and writing on the bathroom stalls a bunch of elaborated rumors about each other. It is pitiful and a poor example for the youth of America.

Luckily, only 18 more days.

The First Month of School

Here is a picture of me and James on our very first day of school---he woke up at 6:30 and as I was getting out of the shower, he opened the door and was completely dressed and singing, "Today's my first day of schoo--ool!" I just hope that he will always be this excited about school, I know that I was when I was a kid and still do, but this year was different.

I suppose that it has been long enough now that I need to face the reality of being back at school. Needless to say, it has been a rough adjustment back to work. I have never quite felt this way at the start of the school year. Normally, I relish in the back to school sales and look forward to meeting the one hundred or so 13 year olds that walk through my door. But this year was different.....I was annoyed that the sales on school supplies started at the beginning of July, a whole two months before school started. Don't get me wrong, I am still proud that I can get 100 folders for one dollar, but I just want to do that in August rather than before the fireworks of the 4th. And that was just the beginning.

I dragged myself to work the last week of August and attended my meetings, but had little motivation to put my room back together. Because we have carpet in all of our classrooms, they clean it during the summer and we have to have everything boxed up so that they can clean the floors. It is pretty obnoxious to have to pack everything up every year (perhaps it is a good thing, otherwise I would never sort through some of my junk) but this year I didn't care to put any of it back. I was overwhelmed by my class lists and couldn't imagine having enough room in my head to care about one hundred more adolescents. I also found out that I wasn't going to have the same prep period as my friends for the first time, and I know it sounds petty and childish, but I was real sad.

So now that we are a month in, I am slowly dragging myself out of my slump. I have some incredible students that are fun to teach and excited to be in my class. We have already had our Family Literacy Night and gotten Battle of the Books going and that is a huge relief for me. Something happens each and every day that reminds me why I love teaching---for me, it is all about the students. They make me laugh when they do something silly; they make me sad when I see them causing each other such heart ache; they make me proud when they accomplish something that they didn't think they were going to be able to do; and they make me cry when they share with me the hardships that no thirteen year old should ever have to deal with. I love teaching and am so grateful for the things that I learn everyday from these hormonal, drama-seeking teenagers.

Owen the Big Boy

In honor of Owen celebrating his big birthday, I just wanted to share a crazy story about how big he is getting.

A few weeks ago, Owen was sleeping and somehow lost his binky in the middle of the night. For those of you that know Owen well, you know how much he loves his binky at night (luckily he has always understood that the binky is just for bedtime and naptime--but he definitely looked forward to being able to use his pacifier). After some searching in the night, Kristine couldn't find the little binky and Owen was forced to go to sleep without it. Surprisingly to both myself and Kristine (and probably Owen too) he made it through the night. We decided to use this as a perfect opportunity to get rid of the binky.

Kristine is an incredible mother and when it was time for James to give up his binky, she made up the story (illustrated and all) about the Binky Dragon. When little boys and girls get to be too big for their binky, they wrap it up like a present and put it out at night. In the middle of the night the Binky Dragon comes to collect the binky and then takes it to a new baby that needs a binky.

So when we found the binky the following morning and unsuccessfully hid it, we decided it was time for another visit from the binky dragon. Owen wrapped up his binky--with the help of James of course.

Then we put the wrapped binky on mommy and daddy's dresser (because Owen was a little scared about a dragon coming into his room at night). The binky was gone in the morning and we haven't needed one since (Owen has said that the Binky Dragon took his binky to Charlie--maybe it was easier knowing that his little cuz was benefiting from his sacrifice).

Owen has been going through so many big boy changes that it has made me a little sad that he is growing up so quickly. He has made the switch into sleeping in the top bunk bed above James, he has made some progress with potty training, and it just makes me sad that my little trouble maker is growing up. But nevertheless, happy birthday my little Owie bear.

Battle of the Books II

I have recently posted about a few of these books, but I thought that I would provide you with the entire list. So far, I haven't loved these books as much as last year, but if you love fantasy and science fiction there are several that the students have enjoyed. So feel free to grab some of these and let me know what you think!

Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher
Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz
Atherton: House of Power by Patrick Carman
Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson
Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull**
Fire on the Wind by Linda Crew
Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary**
Half-moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer**
Minerva Clark Gets a Clue by Karen Karbo**
Peak by Roland Smith**
The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynn Jones
Sea Otter Rescue by Roland Smith
The Stout-hearted Seven by Neta Lohnes Frazier
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin
**Books I highly recommend

This year we only chose books that are written by authors that are from the Northwest or the setting of the book takes place here. If anyone read Beverly Cleary's books when you were little, you would enjoy A Girl From Yamhill. It is a memoir written by her. I loved it. Happy reading!

Daddy's Last Week of Summer Extravaganza

So unfortunately this past week was my last week of summer break. I was in a slight depression because after teaching summer school I didn't feel like I had relaxed enough. I know, I shouldn't complain...most of the working world would love to have several weeks off in the summer, so I will bite my tongue. However, since it was my last week of not having to go to work, James and I sat down and decided to plan out a week full of activities that we could enjoy together-just the boys (Owen was included). This allowed me to spend some quality time with my two favorite guys and gave Kristine a nice break so she could pursue all of her sewing adventures and go and look for fabric without two hooligans running and hiding under the bolts of fabric. So here is a report of our adventures.



Monday: We launched our Week of Fun at Chuck E. Cheese. I know, I know, Chuck E. Cheese can be kind of ridiculous and I still am slightly scared of the jerky robotics of the Chuck E. Cheese band, but we love to go--if only to play skeeball, the basketball games, and the new Deal or No Deal game. We had quite a bit of success and the boys were rewarded with some cheap plastic toys, most definitely made in China, that broke or were lost within an hour of being acquired. We finished the night by going to one of our favorite restaurants, Chicken Bonz.



Tuesday: Today we first went to the children's museum here in Eugene called The Science Factory. We played music on all of their new "Noise!" exhibits, screamed as loud as we could in the decibel measuring chamber, and the boys put on a fantastic puppet show. Then we extended our educational fun by going to the library. This is a weekly event anyway, but it isn't often that I get to take the boys. We had a great time looking through the books. Since James is becoming such a great reader, it is fun to try to find easy chapter books that he finds interesting. Owen mostly runs around, not listening, but the minute you hand him a book, he plops down right on the floor and reads. Pretty adorable. I also picked up a book that they had on hold for me, The Candy Shop War (see previous post), and it was a fun read.



Wednesday: We decided to have a movie night party. We went to the store and purchased our favorite treats and then put out a blanket on our floor and watched the movie of their choice, Alvin and the Chipmunks. We devoured licorice, popcorn, sour patch kids, and airheads as we watched those slightly obnoxious chipmunks learn the valuable life lesson that fame and fortune don't necessarily bring happiness....I am sure that is what James and Owen got out of it, not the subtle potty humor and annoying singing.

Thursday: We had planned to go camping, but had to postpone due to some much needed summer rain.



Friday/Saturday: James, Owen, and I took off for the Oregon coast to enjoy some quality camping time. We really wanted to stay at our favorite campground at Carter Lake, but it was full, so we ended up just north at the Lagoon Campground which is part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. It was a nice place as well. We enjoyed hiking, eating s'mores and hotdogs, collecting shells, birdwatching, and swimming.

I must admit that when I return to work tomorrow morning I will be going through withdrawals of being with my boys. I admit that there are many times when I have run out of patience and get tired of them ignoring me and constantly annoying one another and pushing each other's buttons; but for the most part they are the most brilliant, funny, wonderful people and I am so happy to be their dad.

Long Time Due

This summer I have been spending much of my time reading the new list of books for our Battle of the Books 2008-2009. So far I have been very impressed and wanted to share a few books that I have found especially great.

FABLEHAVEN by Brandon Mull



This is the first book in a series (three have been published, two will come out in the next few years). It is an incredible book full of imagination and adventure. It follows a brother and sister who discover that their grandparents live on a magical preserve. The story is somewhat like Harry Potter in the fact that it contains these fantastical creatures, but somehow it remains relateable and the characters are extraordinary. It might help that the author is a graduate of BYU :) The other two books are also outstanding and it is a great series that I would recommend to anyone. The author has another book out, THE CANDY SHOP WAR, which I am currently reading which is also excellent. Good stuff.

THE PENDERWICKS ON GARDAM STREET by Jeanne Birdsall



This is the second book about the Penderwick family. The first won the National Book Award for youth fiction. I loved both books. They are pretty simple books that are reminiscent of The Boxcar Children series or television shows from the 50s or 60s like The Donna Reed Show or Leave it to Beaver. It centers around a family of four girls, whose mother died of cancer, and their adventures. They are quick reads, well-written, and a beautiful portrayal of a close family that rely on each other. I really enjoyed the first book, but think that the second might be even better.

There is nothing better than having a great book to read. So take advantage of these last few weeks of warmth and sun and dive into a great book, I know that I will. If you have read something great this summer, leave a comment and I would love to check it out.