A crazy roller coaster summer( so far at least)

This summer started off with much excitement. We had our newest edition to help keep us busy and Fiona was changing so much. Also i had a new job at Sunset Ranch Elementary. Everything was going well, until we got word from Sara's school that her job would not be renewed next year. Before we could really process that news we left for 2 1/2 weeks of vacation in Canada with my family. We spent a day in Redding with great friends from college and finished the 15 hour drive later that night. It was along haul but saved us a lot of cash. The trip was awesome, we were able to take the girls to the zoo, the aquarium and many hours at the park. We even found some time to relax. It was a lot of fun and great to catch up with family and friends.
The two weeks flew by and we found ourselves back in the car for another 15 hours heading back to the California sun, which sounded nice until we actually got out of the car and realized how hot it actually was. Now we are home and trying to figure out just how to survive in this economy with 1 income. We are really excited about Sara being able to stay home with the girls, but we are looking for ways to make it actually work. I hope the rest of the summer allows us to relax some.

Bittersweet End

Now that the school year is finally over(YEAH!!!), I had to come to grips with how I really felt about leaving Rocklin Elementary. Although I'm really excited about getting the opportunity to help start a new school, it was much harder than I thought it would be to say goodbye to my old school. Rocklin Elementary has been my home for the last six years and a place where I have met many great colleagues and friends. Looking at it now I realize that I can relate this experience to where I have lived in my life. To me my home school will always be Rocklin Elementary, just like Canada will always be my home. Even if I'm not there at this moment, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I want to thank all of the folks at Rocklin El who made the last six years amazing. You guys are the best and I hope to still get invited to the amazing bulldog parties.

Presenting Ainsley Olivia Haviland

Well the waiting game is finally over(well 4 days ago it was) and we are so excited about the arrival of our second daughter. Sorry it took me so long to post but things have been a little crazy around here. Ainsley was born on Saturday May 8th at 2:10pm. She weighed in at 8lbs 15oz which is a little one compared to Fiona. We are all adjusting to the change in our life and trying to learn what life is like without sleep again. Fiona has been a great big sister, always giving kisses and hugs to her little sister. She still has her moments where she feels a little out of the spot light but overall she is doing amazing. mom and baby are both doing well and we are trying to take the time to enjoy this special time.

On another note, I will be busy this upcoming summer with a move to a new school. I have been hired to help open a brand new elementary school in the same district I am in now. It is very exciting and I'm sure it will be filled with challenges as well. I have truly enjoyed my time at Rocklin Elementary, but I believe the time has come to have some change so I don't become complacent.

And last but not least, my Canucks where knocked out of the playoffs last night and it seems like I am getting used to being disappointed by them. I guess every fan come to this realization eventually. The nice thing about this year is that I have a newborn to take my attention away from this. So it is time to break out the razor and shave off the playoff goatee.

Playing the waiting game...

As we wait for our newest edition to come and join us we have stayed busy working on the house and getting everything ready. It seems like we have more to do this time than we did with Fiona. So last weekend Sara's parents came down to help us work a little, while her dad and I worked on installing a new toilet and hanging some new chair rails in the dining room, the girls (Sara and her mom) went to work on the girls (Fiona and Ainsley) room making it look great and making the most of the space.

Fiona loves the room and she is getting closer and closer to being ready to sleep in her big girl bed. I would rather her want to on her own before I force her out for the new baby. I don't like playing the bad guy in my own house. At school it is a different story.

Sara had her most recent doctors’ appointment today and everything is still moving along (slower than Sara would like). We are less than two weeks away from the due date and Sara feels like things might be starting to move along, but then again it might not be. I’m sure we will find some way to pass the time and maybe Fiona will even let us get some sleep so we aren't already exhausted when little Ainsley gets here.

On another note my summer hockey season has started and i'm excited to be playing the mighty puckhogs again! We play Friday nights at skatetown in case any of you want to check out some comical entertainment.

One things leads to another...

Well now that March Madness is over and I have won another office pool (3 years in a row) I have to turn my attention to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. My team (the Canucks) have secured the 3rd seed and look like they can make an actual run at winning it all this year. As some of you know, with the beginning of the hockey playoffs comes the beginning of the playoff beard. The playoff beard got its start in the early 80's by the New York Islanders. A player starts growing their beard when the playoffs starts and does not shave again until they are either eliminated or they win the Stanley Cup. So since I think my Canucks can use all the help they can get I will grow a playoff goatee! last year it didn't help much but if I don't grow one and they lose in the first round I will have to blame myself.(because I obviously have a say in the outcome of the games....)


On another note, we are getting closer and closer to the birth of our second child. Fiona already gives us a run for our money so i'm not sure how we are going to handle two, but I guess we will figure something out. I will let everyone know when something happens.

Ready or not...

Well with less than a month until our next little girl arrives, we are busy around the Haviland household trying to get ready. Of course I say trying because doing anything with a two year old around is quite difficult. Fiona has grown up so much right before our eyes. I cant believe my little girl is two and no longer my little baby. Sara is now at the point where is is VERY uncomfortable and wants this to be over with. The girls room (they are sharing) is almost complete and we are trying to make sure the rest of the house is in order. But most of all i guess the craziest part is that Sara is due right in the middle of hockey playoffs. So hopefully she doesn't go into labor when the canucks are playing or i might be a little late to the hospital(of course i'm joking ladies/no i'm not gentlemen).

This morning Fiona went on an Easter egg hunt and loved every minute of it. She wasn't even fazed by the crazy adults blocking paths for their own kids. I guess next year i will have to make a clear path for Fiona and Ainsley. I should have let Fiona bring her hockey stick so she could have hooked those crazy adults out of her way.

Hopefully i will post more now that i can link it to my facebook account.

3 Reasons why summer is great this year.

So i have decided to write my top three reasons why summer will be awesome this year. I know what you're thinking...isn't summer always awesome for a teacher? and the answer is yes. But this summer has the makings of being even better. Also you must be wondering(probably not) why it has taken me so long to write about summer, and the reason is that i am still working summer school so officially summer is not upon me. OK, enough of that, onto my reasons.

1) Cruising......My parents decided to take myself, my wife and my two brothers on a Caribbean cruise this summer. This will be amazing because i have always wanted to try a cruise, but was never willing to spend my own money on it. Also it will be fabulous to see my family for a little over a week as we don't see each other much anymore with the 1000 mile commute it would take to see them. And enough rum in the Caribbean to sink a ship won't hurt either.

2) PS3....i know what you're thinking...."What are you 12?" and i answer..."i wish". Back to the world of no worries or cares. But let us be honest. Video games are not just for kids anymore. All those kids that played video games growing up, still play them today. The main reason i worked summer school was to get my precious PS3 and now it is almost a reality.

3) Baseball......many people thin that baseball is past its prime as we move into the generation where no one has an attention span long enough to watch one at bat, let alone a complete inning. I still love the game and the strategy that goes along with it. And even better this year is the fact that my Seattle Mariners and actually playing like a major league team this year. I know that is hard to believe but they are in contention for both the American League West and the Wild Card at this point. So i will sit back this summer, catch a few games in person and hopefully more on TV and see how the season unfolds.

Well there are my top three reasons for being excited about summer. My obvious disclaimer for those of you who are mad that i did not include spending more time with my wife in that list is this.....I always look forward to that and our love is so strong that i don't need to put that into writing on some silly blog.