HI EVERYONE!

Spring Is Springing!

Sorry I haven't published in a while. I've been very, very busy. In fact, Spring Break in a couple weeks will be spent in the beautiful little town of Healdsburg in a condo I've secured for the week. No airports or long drives involved.

I've been doing a lot for my work: going to a SIOP conference in Seattle, the CLMS conference in Sacramento, and many, many release days with my department and at the district office for a lot of professional collaboration. While my students barely recognize me (I joke with them that I should wear a name card), I am becoming well-versed in Professional Learning Communities, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (ibna.com?), and Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol: all very different programs, but all beneficial.

It was great seeing you all over the holidays, and looking forward to just a short time before summer begins (5/31/08 for me) and a new niece on the way.

Jen & I both turn 40 this summer--the sky's the limit on that one so far!

Love you,
Jocelyn

Maya figuring it out (whatever it is) and trying to explain to Jen what it is (without actually using words). It must be a new present!

Darling Maya!

This is the pattern of the quilt mom is making me. The colors are a bit different, and I think it will look even better. Good luck, and thanks for doing this, Mom!

We all read when it's fun

Random picture of my Strategic (read: English language learners) class all reading the Spartan Times newspaper that my club published. Brings a tear to the eye of this English teacher! By the way, that class is about 90% Hispanic, but I also have kids from Laos, China, and the Phillipines. Love 'em!

This must be Thanksgiving time, 'cause that's my couch and my sister & niece are on it! Good times--can't wait to see you all again!

Jen reading & Maya pointing to the picture! They're both so smart!

Seattle and Whidbey Island, February 20--25, 2008

I had a great trip combining business & pleasure last month. Seattle is such a worldly city, and Whidbey Island is such a beautiful place--you all have to go! Thanks to Bud & Kathy for a wonderful dinner & sight-seeing tour, and thanks to Mom & Dad for a fabulous rest after an intense conference. See you again this summer!

This is the view from the outlook Bud & Kathy took us to--it is like the outline from the opening credits of the old t.v. show with Kelsey Grammer. This is Queen Anne neighborhood (I believe that's how you spell it). You've got to check out those homes if you go!

Well, at first this just looks like darkness, but if you put it through the FBI forensic file process, you would see that it is a picture of Bud, Kathy, Jean, and Bill after a wonderful dinner in Queen Anne suburb overlooking Seattle. I swear!

This is Mom, Dad, & I in the Queen Anne's neighborhood looking towards Seattle.

This is the Mayflower Hotel where I stayed in Seattle a couple weekends ago for the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) conference. It has to do with English Language Learners, and was very informative.

I like that the hotel has been restored and looks so "old-school" against the backdrop of all of Seattle's skyscrapers.

Closing Up Shop For the Night

This is walking from my hotel down to Pike Place. I don't recommend hanging out down there after dark if you're a single woman, but it sure looks cool!

I went to Etta's near Pike Place for dinner the last night of the SIOP conference in Seattle. It's a crab cocktail--you spill the whole thing out on the plate (I asked). That WA Chardonnay paired very nicely, thank you.

This is Andaluca restaurant in the Mayflower Hotel. I had a nice breakfast--a couple eggs for $14--but a nice way to end the conference! I heard Andaluca is also really good for Mediterranean dinner.

Leaving Mukilteo, WA (mainland) to Whidbey Island to visit mom & dad. Mind you, this is February, but temps were in the 40s & 50s--nice!

Well, the flash didn't work, but this is looking from the kitchen toward the front of mom & dad's house. You can kind of see the dining room table and new office furniture in the front room (especially if you click on the picture to enlarge it).

Mom & Dad's backyard--actually, looking more toward the park & houses beyond. They've planted a few more trees and plants. It's looking great!

Kitchen table looking left to the park that borders their house and right to their backyard. Saw MANY types of birds--even a pair of mating bald eagles (well, those were a little farther away than the backyard).

Looking from the kitchen table--kitchen is to right. I think I got better pics of the kitchen in previous posts.

Mom & Dad's "great room" with the new red couch. That's where we watched the Oscars in style.

A guest room in the house.

Guest/craft room. Notice the new quilt--nice job, mom!

Mom & Dad's room

That's their new bird sculpture & the base that dad made for it.

That's my cobalt blue rental car in the driveway...great house, eh?

Remy, Dad, & I exploring the island (Mom's taking the pic) and taking a rest on a few wooden fish.

These are some wood sculptures in front of a B&B on Whidbey Island in Freeland (I think that's the name of the town). Cool little town with lots of artists, galleries, etc.

Looking toward another island and the mainland of WA from Whidbey Island

a bunch of birds on Whidbey's coastline

view looking toward mainland

This is a little church on the island--guess there's some construction next door...

These are the suspects in the mystery...the quilt store in this little shopping center is where mom & I spent some time finding the batiks for my quilt--poor dad & Remy explored the whole town 'cause we took so long (but, man, that quilt is going to look sooo cool!).

This is a cute little town on the island--I think it's Freeland? They had a murder mystery tour (probably to get you to visit all the little shops). There's a weird car at the stop sign; if you click on this pic, you may be able to see it.

This is a farm on the island where there are really good pies! Also, there are alpacas (or llamas, not sure which) that are afraid of dogs, wine tasting (I'd pass), and all sorts of goodies to taste and flora to check out.

This is Deception Pass coming from Whidbey Island to the mainland. It's deceptively high!

Flight home to Santa Rosa--I believe that's Orgeon's Mt. Hood from the plane (the wheel comes down from that wing). This flight is short and sweet!

Alexander Valley on the way to CLMS. Mustard is growing EVERYWHERE--in vineyards and fields throughout Sonoma & Napa counties. Also, the trees are all pink and white--spring's a'comin'!

Ellen, Letrice, "Becky Hiss" in the running for Educator of the Year (there at least in spirit), me, and Judy at our Region 1 party at the CLMS last weekend.

This is me in front of the state capitol; a bunch of us went there last weekend for the CLMS conference (Cal. League of Middle Schools). This was before Saturday's "big dance" upstairs at the Hyatt Regional party. Great DJs all night!

Ellen Friedman, my English Dept. co-chair and one-half of the "Strategic SuperDuo Dream Team" 03/01/08

Dec. 2007--Feb. 2008

CA's State Capitol Building at sunset, Sat., March 1st, 2008