So we go out to get her.  Caleb is running down the street after her (that never works).  Then it’s him and I following her up and down the street, shaking a cup full of dry cat food for her.  But that sure doesn’t work.  Finally she goes up the tree in front of our house, the one by the street.  She’s never been up this one.

I keep shaking the cat food.  Caleb goes into the house and gets some wet food and a spoon.  He’s tapping on that, I’m shaking the dry food.  But the kitten only goes higher.  Finally I tell Caleb to go in the house and finish getting ready for school.  Maybe she’ll come down when she thinks we’re not trying to get her down.

Soon she starts coming down, but while she’s still pretty high, she slips, and down she falls!  She tried to land on her feet, but they were still spread out from trying to keep her grip.  So I think her feet hit the ground first, but she bounced off her belly.  Then she popped up quickly, holding one paw up as if it was hurt.  My first thought was, “Crap!  I don’t have time to take her down to the pet E.R.!”

But in a second she started walking without any sign of a limp.  She was moving a bit slower, though.  I think she was dazed.  She went under our car (again!) but I guess she didn’t feel like running much after that, so Caleb was able to get her.

I hope she’s alright.  I wish someone would have been home to keep an eye on her.  We’ll see.

But that didn’t happen.

And the stress began.  The teaching part was no problem.  Julie’s a pro.  It’s all the other things she has to do because she is the primary teacher, the only teacher, in the classroom for the rest of the school year.  And she finding all the little hoops teachers have to jump through, many of them seemingly frivolous, to show that the teachers are accountable.  In addition, report cards are coming up, and though the original teacher will have to fill them out, Julie is left with all the assessing needed to get the grades to put in to the report card.  Assessing 30 first graders isn’t easy, or quick.

So I think all of the familly is feeling the stress.  Mom has to stay later at school, because she isn’t just a regular sub any more.  And with Emma’s swim schedule, and Caleb’s lacrosse schedule, and other commitments already made, there’s a lot to do, when you include all the homework that needs to be done, dinners that need to be made, and general daily housework that needs to be done.

We’ll get through this, but sometimes it seems overwhelming.  I think in about a week Julie will really feel a lot better about her teaching situation.  The rest of us will still have to step up and help each other out more than we are used to, but I think we can all do that.  We’ll finish out this school year, and then see if Julie ever wants to go back to teach, full time or part time, again.  Maybe regular classroom subbing from time to time will be the way to go.

My sister told me she has one recommendation she gives to all moms going back to work full time:  pay someone to clean your house.  I hope we can do that.

The kids soon went to bed, and Julie and I stayed up watching Dick Clark a bit.  Then bed at around 2 (one service at church the next day).

Church went as usual the next day.  Caleb and Jane stayed home, but Emma came with us.

Woke up the next morning and watched the Rose Parade.  Headed over to the Grandma & Grandpa J’s for New Years dinner at about 4.  Jeff and Marsha came soon after us.  Watched the parade some more.  Ham for dinner, along with cream of asparagus and creamed broccoli, along with creamed corn.  A really good meal.

Got up real early the next day.  Grandpa made us Chipped Beef for breakfast, then Grandma drove us to the airport.  Only a little bit of traffic (a nasty looking accident that would cause Cathy and John to be later than planned).  We got to the airport before the Nortons or Grandma and Grandpa V.W..  I remember feeling very lonely as Grandma J. drove off, and it was just us to find our way.  Lucky for us the lines were small.  Found the Delta counter, and while in line Grandma and Grandpa V.W. showed up.  We checked in and went through security right after each other, and then waited by our gate.  We had about an hour.

John and Cathy showed up about 40 minutes later.  Grandma was really worried.  But they made it in time, and soon after they showed up we were able to board.  Unfortunately, Grandma and Grandpa didn’t have any seats on their boarding pass, so they couldn’t board right away.  Julie and I were on board before we knew there was a problem, but John and Cathy stayed with them to get thing straightened out.  Fortuneately, we all got on the plan with no real problem.

The kids were very excited for the take off.  It was Jane, then Caleb and Emma on one side (Jane got the window), and Julie and I on the other side (Julie in the middle seat).  The take off was uneventful, but exciting.  Caleb ended up feeling rather sick soon after, and ended up sleeping for about an hour.  When he awoke, he was fine.  The kids managed to keep themselves entertained for most of the fllight.  I think Jane listened to the iPod for almost 2 hours.  Julie and I chatted, slept, and read.

We were worreid about Caleb because there were no meals served on the flight.  We bought him an overpriced sandwich, and between that and all the snacks we brought, he was fine.

The landing was a bit turbulent.  I was really starting to feel sick, but soon after we landed I was good to go again.

Stay tuned for more.

The next day we went to Solina to visit the mission there.  Did a quick visit, and then headed to San Francisco.  The highlight was walking on the Golden Gate Bridge.  Drove through the city, headed for the Gharadeli Factory.  Found it, but didn’t want to pay for or look for a place to park.  So we drove down Lombardi Street and headed out of town.  Got stuck in rush hour traffic down town.  Joy

After getting on the Bay Bridge we made good time.  Still, we got back to SacTown tired.  I think we spent more time in the car then we did out of it, so I’m not sure it was worth it.  I wish we would have spent more time in Sonoma, maybe had lunch there.  That would have put us later in S.F., but getting home late would have been okay.

Wednesday we just hung out.  Relaxed.  The girls loved being able to hang out with Avery.  Jane loved that and hanging with Ian.  The weather was rainy and cold, but we were warm and toasty inside.  Thursday, Thanksgiving, was great.  Got to sleep in.  Didn’t help much in the kitchen (didn’t want to make it crowded in there).  The meal was GREAT!  Chris did a great job!  Julie, Chris and I ended sitting together at the end of one table.  Lots of turkey and mashed potatoes.

Friday was uneventful, but nice!  Emma and Julie went out at 10 for the Black Friday sales, but the lines were twice as long as last year.  So back home they came.  The plan was to go out at 4:30.  They left at 6:30.  No lines, and they got everything they were looking for (mostly clothes for Emma).  Julie and I went out shopping that afternoon.  Chris and Noah went out as well late in the morning.

Saturday morning was cloudy and cold.  We left at around 10.  The trip home was uneventful.  Last year when we left (before Thanksgiving) we left Jane with Grandma and Grandpa and the Joneses.  I was glad we had everyone with us.  Got home at around 7.

It was a great trip, and a GREAT Thanksgiving.  The food and company were good; very relaxed.  I’d do it every year, if I could.

The next day we took the cat and the kitten in.  They kept the cat, told us they would do the deworming the next day when we picked up Oreo.  Then of to Target.  Bought pillow and mattress covers.  Then back to grandma’s house for naps, reading, and hanging out.  Brought Jane over to the Goldens to swim.

Emma started back in swimming.

Tomorrow Julie will vacuum up, while I’m taking a work day to get my room ready.

Fed the everyone, then tore down camp (with everyone else). Emma’s tent was the last to come down, so I helped them.  Getting the camp down was easier than I expected.  Took Riley home with me in the truck (he was Caleb’s leader in VBS).  Jane and mom met us with Slurpies.  Cathy shooed her away while we unpacked.

Got home in good time, then unpacked.  After about an hour of sweat, took off for home in the Honda (pulling the the trailer).  Got home, showered, rested, and then to the dentist.

Caleb and George started lacrosse camp, and Julie brought them both down to meet me at San O. when they were down.  We went down to the beach after the kids went down.  Nice to hang out with Julie again.  They left as we were getting ready to make dinner.  Emma stepped on a mouse that was under her tent and killed it (but did not squish it – Victoria Wolfe actually took it from Emma and showed it to everyone).  My “Beyond Mouse Trap” killed one mouse the first night, and one the second.  Both caught before I went to bed.

The kids went down to the beach around 1.  Once they were gone, there was not much to do for the kitchen staff.  We just sat back and relaxed.  It was Cathy, Cheri, Christy and myself.  Went down to the beach with John N. after a while, but back up by 3 to help with snack.

Stayed up late reading while the Nortons got in bed (we’re sharing the trailer).  Slept well, but awakened by skunks again.