Changes have been happening around here. A couple weeks before the end of school, Jeff got a call from the school district telling him they were going to recommend to the school board closing down his school but don't worry he will still have a job next year. This came as a bit of a shock even though we knew that the California state budget is a big mess and the education was getting a big cut next year.
Five schools (3 elementary, 1 K-8, and 1 middle school) were recommended to be closed. The school board voted and two of the schools were voted unanimously to be closed, one school was unanimously voted to stay open, one school's decision was postpone (will be closing as well) but there was definitely a debate over what to do with Jeff's school. Jeff loved that school and he was really sad when it was decided to close it. Even though we were told he had a job next year, I began to worry because in times like these situations (and promises) can change.
Three weeks later Jeff got the great news that he will be the new principal at a K-8 school. It's on the other side of the freeway from his old school so the commute will be about the same. Jeff's never had elementary experience so this should definitely be a learning experience!
Oh, and while he's learning about a new school, he will also be starting a doctoral program at the University of California, Davis. Crazy times will be happening at our house this fall!
Last week we went to see the SF Giants play the Oakland A's at the Oakland Coliseum. (The Giants lost, 1-5.) It was Robyn's first game. She did pretty well thought I'm thankful that the people behind us were so nice. She must have thought they were pretty cool because she wouldn't keep bothering them.
We had Father's Day dinner at our house this year. Annalise had her last recital that afternoon so the grandparents came up to see the performance and afterwards had dinner with us. While I was with Annalise at the recital, Jeff ended up cooking the meal. What a good meal it was! Jeff's a very good cook. 
After dinner the girls decided they needed to go swimming in the hot tub. Silly girls they may be, they did have a fun Father's Day with the family. Happy Father's Day Jeff!
In November, we bought a quarter of a cow. We bought it from a co-worker of Jeff's who has a farm outside of town. Every year she and her husband raise a couple of meat cows and this year they named the cows Sir Loin, Filet and Mignon.
The girls got a wagon ride after feeding the cattle.
They also have horses on the farm. We fed the horses apple treats (which really looked like small hot dogs) and the girls went for a ride. It was a really windy day but they had fun.
Thursday was a busy day for the girls. Annalise and all the fourth graders went to the Exploratorium in the city. I wasn't able to go with her on her fieldtrip but I was able to take pictures at Robyn's preschool's water day. All the kids came to school with their towels and in the swim suits. For half the day the kids got to play outside in the water. It was finally a nice day to do it. The weather has been unseasonably cool -- not that I'm complaining because it's nice not to have to run the air conditioning.
Another thing that happened this week was that on Friday we had a mishap -- or catastrophe depending on how you look at it -- with our washer. Our 13 1/2 year old washing machine decided to overflow. It didn't just overflow, it managed to flood the laundry room and soak the carpet in the hallway. This was the second breakdown in the past few months so we decided to buy a new machine. This decision was done with heavy reluctance on my part but eventually I calmed down and agreed that a new machine was needed. We ended buying a Kenmore front loader washing machine. It gets delivered on Monday. Oh joy, just in time to do more laundry....
