Tammy’s Fabulous Blog

What a week I have had… its so nice to have D home.. just walked in the door, and I am free… its amazing what a difference it is not to be single parental figure!!

Monday was school, work and dance for Mady, homework
Tuesday I had to go to Santa Clara, so dropped the kids early at extended day, barely made the Intel shuttle, had all day meetings in Santa Clara, flew back, picked up the kids, went to cub-scouts and soccer practice, oh and then homework
Wednesday, homework, school, work, kids to sitter, and then Back to School night (both kids classes, one of me. Homework
Thursday, homework, school, work, dinner at Islands for school event, soccer practice, homework and then D just walked in!!!

its been a crazy week, and im glad we have 3 days off (actually kids have 4 days off, as they have Tuesday as well for Teacher work Day).

Max has had a heck of a time getting used to school, his teacher is super tough. He’s very strict and is really forcing them to listen, write and research as if they are in middle school. Of course I know this will only help him as he gets to the higher grades, but its tough to watch him struggle.  Today was a better day, and its great to see him happy.

Mady loves her teacher, loves her class and still loves to do homework!

toodles for now

Proud moment, and a lot of memories…
Walking around IDF, I noticed a 40 years of innovation wall, and on that wall I spotted an old “friend” of mine. An Ad that I created, gosh maybe 1997 or 1998, back in my corporate advertising days. It was a photo shoot I did in San Francisco, I remember all the fun I had there, it was a runway (like the models) but in colorful bunnysuits… ah, it was very cool. Anyway… i took a photo of it… and here it is:)

its like a proud mother, seeing one of her children all grown up:)

So… anyway, show is going well, seems real successful. We’re breaking records all over the place, and we’ve gotten some really great press. (ah my T on the keyboard just popped off…) phew it pops back on tonight is a blogger party, should be interesting… not necessarily my kind of blogs, but at least I can talk the lingo

tomorrow I get to drive home, probably around 2pm or so, cant wait to see the kids… Max with his black eye (baseball bat to the eye, accident at school), and Mady… being such a good sister, taking care of him.

ok i gotta run… toodles

Have trouble with my phone upload to flickr, so not sure I am going to be able to add pictures. Might try later today.
Got to the convention center yesterday, looks alot like it does every year, seems a bit brighter this year, seems a little less cluttered, so cleaner I would say, and there are cool things like a space shuttle, a giant skull, and some fun consumer electronics. So they definately have captured the wow factor. Curious to see how it looks with 5,000 people roaming around today.
Funny, as I am responsible for the website, which I do by updating every hour about what’s going on, but also helping out with the Upload Lounge, an area where we allow fellow bloggers, and podcasters to come in socialize with their peers and blog. The funny thing is, its a completely white area, white carpet, white tables, white chairs… everything stark! and they have decided to use that as the breakfast area… for 5000 people… so do you think it will stay white for more than an hour???? (we’ll see at 8am when the Upload officially opens and breakfast is over).
I guess I’d better get to work…
until later.

Im off to a business trip today. Ive been going to IDF in San Francisco since, well… I guess this is my 4th year, which mean 8 events (same event I went to Shanghai for in March). Ive changed projects at work now, and this will be my final one. It really helps being at the event enabling me to see first hand what is going on and updating the website real time. Knowing what is buzzing around the event, allows me to prioritize what is hot and what is not
I like the trips to San Francisco, becuase the weather is always cool, and crisp. And instead of dining with the troops, I bow out, and walk to the different shopping areas I love so much.
some of my favorites are Container Store (which is right next to the convention center), the San Francisco Center, which has Nordstroms and Bloomingdales, and then probably my most favorite is Macy’s. Never really seen another Macy’s that compares. They have one full floor that is dedicated to women’s shoes… every girl’s dream!
Im hoping to get out at least once this trip. gotta watch the budget though… so maybe only once.
i will try and give an update each day… maybe even a cool event picture
ta ta

Today marks the 12th anniversary of D and I’s wedding in El Salvador.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I remember having my wedding dress made the first week we was there.
I remember sweating like crazy, it is so humid there, and the family bringing in a huge fan while i waited.
I remember standing out on Sonia’s balcony while the vows were read in spanish (and D whispering them to me in English )
I remember having my name read as, Tammy Currin Halkyard, as this is the way its done in Latin America, you keep your Mother’s maiden name as well.
I remember the awesome wedding cake, it was called “brazo hitano”.
And I remember the power going out, in a lightening storm, and D’s brother-in-law pulling out his guitar, and singing spanish ballads to us.
Great memories of a wedding to a GREAT guy. Here’s to at least 30 more!!

Our official 12th anniversary will be Oct. 6th, when we were married in Yosemite

The first day preparation was full of excitement. The kids were really excited, i couldn’t believe it. They helped with their lunches, they added things to their backpacks, they wore their new clothes, and shoes and of course, both spent a good 5 min. in front of the mirror making sure their hair was just right (especially Max, as a majority of the kids havent seen him since his dramatic hair cut).

We took Mady to her class first.  She was very pleased with her desk assignment, she noticed she sat next to a boy she had in 1st grade, who needs a bit of extra help in school, so he has an aide. She is a wonderful lady that Mady adores. Well, apparently that adoration goes both ways, as the Aide asked for Mady to sit at their table, as she felt Mady was a great assistant and would do well in that position. so everyone was happy there!

Mady's First day of 3rd Grade

Then off to Max’s class, he did not want me taking pictures of him in class, so i took a few outside the classroom, in a group setting, he was ok with that. But a few of us parents, were really curious about the teacher, and his “cool” room, so we wanted to take a look… wow! What a great way to start off the year. The kids were all given book titles on a sheet of paper, and they had to find the matching author row of desks, and then they could select one of the 3 desks with that author. Max chose Huck Finn who is very familiar with, so he was the FIRST to sit down. Many did not know their authors… they were VERY hard! Apparently the teacher is very strong in English Lit, so that ought to prepare Max for 6th grade for sure… but to top it off, the one good friend, he found out late, was in his class… got the same author.. and sat next to Max… Max was at peace!

Max's first Day of 5th grade

The anticipation builds, today we went to check out the class assignments for the kids. School was packed like sardines, at 4pm (thats when the lists are posted). They hang the alphabetical list outside the kindergarten room (at least under some trees, on this 100 degree day). There are probably 40-50 people huddled around the list, not only checking who their teachers are, but then, checking all their friends, and their teachers… of course they need to know who is in their class with them.

So… Mady saw her teacher name first… came running to me… “I got Luchini!!” so that was good, she liked her teacher. Then Max checked.. “ah… McClurg” he wasnt sure about that, he’s heard McClurg makes you write a lot of papers,  not excited about that as a mom either, except that it just prepares him better for his future years of school.

Then it was back to the board to try and get better news for Max, all the people he was reading that were in his class, he was not happy about… oh but then he found a few he was ok with! so that was good.  So now we’re home and I ask what he thinks, Max said Great for the teacher but bad with the other kids in the class. None of his real close friends, except one, that he had in his class last year. So he will be fine, as long as he’s good with the teacher.

Mady, checked on all her friends, again, not a lot of them in her class, she does have some of the girls in her brownie troop in there, so that is good. She’s happy, so that is great!

So tomorrow should be good, I think their nerves have settled a bit now, as there wont be as many surprises. 

Max is looking forward to Mr. McClurg’s blue lobsters he keeps in a tank in his room, and the one field trip only his class takes, upon Mr. McClurg’s sailboat.

Mady is looking forward school in general, to see her friends again.

Tomorrow i will take pictures of their first day, and post.

This is Max’s last year at Lake Forest… wow how fast they grow!

Cant believe i didnt post on the weekend, and all the craziness of it… but we had fun.

Friday, I picked up Max’s friend Ryan and the 4 of us headed off to Santa Clara to meet Papa at the Hyatt hotel. We arrived at about 4pm and the kids loved the hotel room, they love that stuff. Then we headed down to the pool for a quick swim (well the kids did), then off to dinner. Great atmosphere at Tomatino’s and really good food.

Kids were excited to watch the opening ceremonies for the Olympics, so off we went, back to the room, and by 10pm… everyone was asleep

Saturday morning we headed over to Great America, perfect timing and Katie, Mady’s friend, showed up at the same time (with her parents) We spent the day running around hitting all the rides. Kids had an absolute fabulous time! I’d say the one thing that shocked me was the cost of the food… Lunch for 5 cost us $70… and that was just hamburgers and pizza

They have added a water park since I had been there last, and that was super fun. I was told I wouldnt get too wet on one of them, so I went on it… got completely soaked, and then there was no stopping me Went on all the water slides, as did the kids, we had a fabulous time. Was not crowded was not hot, was just a fabulous day all around.

About 5pm we decided to go back to the hotel, change, and go to dinner. Headed off to Piatti’s. Not bad, wasnt crowded, service was a bit slow, but it was nice.

Back to the room, kids played around a bit, and a bit more of the olympics, and off to bed. Up early, breakfast in bed then off to San Francisco.

Beautiful… did I say Beautiful day in San Francisco, the weather was fantastic! We parked at Pier 39 and walked down to the Wax Museum, where we saw the likes of George Bush, Angelina Jolie (and Brad Pitt) as well as Michael Jackson, Mozart, Princess Diana, the Olsen Twins, a full horror movie section, the last supper recreation, and many many many more. The kids were quite impressed, as way I, It has been a very long time since I had been there.

We then headed over to Pier 39, where we met Ryan’s family for lunch, Hard Rock Cafe, wow was that an expensive lunch! It was nice though, kids had fun (and there were 5 of them ) Then we just meandered around the Pier, and headed home about 4:30.

great weekend… pictures yet to be posted, I will get to that as soon as I can.

Tonight, we go to the school to get the kids class assignments, Im not sure if they are more nervous about who there teacher will be, or which friends they will have in their class… the anticipation builds!!

Tomorrow, first day of school!

Until then.

In talking with my sister, I was shocked to learn about her school registration fees, here are my notes;
My sister lives in Danville, CA, her two elementary kids (1^st and 2^nd grade) go to public school
She just finished registering them, and it cost her $790.00
I ask her… what is that for?
She said: Class Aides, Music, Art, PE, etc
But what does your PTA pay for (she’s a volunteer) and she said
Extra teacher requests, Library
But when she looks at the list of what makes up the $395 per child
$250 for the cougar fund, which is separate from the PTA, but they do fundraising as well and they fund the music program, class aides, art, PE etc
$15 yearbook
$30 library
$90 School supplies (each child!!)
Then she said… the $250 goes into the cougar fund that the pta manages
And the $90/child goes to the district for supplies
Then when school starts, she said each class has a room parent and all parents pay the room parent for parties up front $35-$40
The thing is she paid $536 last year
And $790 this year… WHAT? Whatever
And lastly, her high school son’s registration fee was $300

What is up with all that? We dont pay anything in El Dorado except for $10 to the PTC (optional) and then we do have to buy supplies for our kids, but thats a couple pencils, erasers, glue sticks etc. no where near $90 per child. 

She did say the $250 to the Cougar Fund was optional, but she said if you dont pay it, you are labeled at the school as not support the kids programs.

I guess this is what is happening as the school’s budgets start to be minimized and the government takes away from the more affluent communities.

Sad to say the least! And this is public school!

thats it for now