pour le bebe

Rollie and I are looking forward to the arrival of Grandbaby #10. Robert and Andrea are expecting a little girl in early September. All of my grandchildren (and a few of my friends children) have been swaddled in blankets that I have made. Karla's family calls them "cuddlies". I don't know how many "cuddlies" I have made in total. When Karla visited this summer she asked me, while watching me crochet the edging of a new blanket, if it is her fault that I seemed a little burned out on making blankets. Well, her family has definitely won the all time prize of the most "cuddlies" from Grandma, and I don't think that any of my other children are going to challenge her claim. The truth is I am not burned out on making cuddlies, some days I just have that "burned out" look. It comes with my age.

I just finished these blankets for Andrea's baby girl, ready to swaddle her when she arrives. It is a good thing that I have completed them. According to Jack, (who announced to everyone in the waiting room at the Doctor's office), "My baby is coming out of my mommy's tummy in FIVE minutes." I am not sure how long five minutes is for Jack, but I am ready!!!

I really don't mind making these at all. I have seen everyone of my grandchildren kept warm and wrapped like baby burritos, so I know that they are put to good use. In fact, at my last visit to Karla's I noticed one of my "cuddlies" in Jeffrey and Joseph's bedroom. It was faded and about 4 inches wide and 7 inches long. Way to go "cuddly"!

Papa et Maman avec les bicyclettes.

Due to soaring gas prices, it has come to this!!!

une aventure

This week I took a trip out of my comfort zone. I spent the week at a workshop for teachers who are going to teach Advanced Placement courses. I had the hope that perhaps I could offer a French AP class at my school. I spent the entire week in all day classes where the instructor, Christophe, conducted the class in French. It has been a long time since I have been in a French speaking only class, and for the entire week, all day long!! Oh la la! I am still trying to think in English today. We had to give a 10 minute presentation (another step out of my comfort zone), and I got very little sleep the night before.

In spite of the language challenge, I did learn a great deal and made friends with some other French teachers in the area. Their students are much different than the students I teach at Monterey Trail. When I shared some stories with my colleagues, they were greatly amazed. Most of them teach at schools where the students are predominantly very wealthy. I am not undaunted however. I learned that the AP exams can save students a great deal of time and money at college, and my students could really benefit from that option. I have hope that some of them can do this, although the French AP exam is considered one of the most difficult of the AP exams.

I also walked around the campus. It was at CSUS, my alma mater. It was fun to remember the "good old days" and compare the differences between then and now, not only the campus, but the students, the technology. Lots of fun memories.

Today I am greatly relieved to be at home in Elk Grove, back from my trip and comfortable once more.

Bienvenue

Welcome to my blog. After several attempts at creating a title for my blog, I have finally come up with, "Chez les Bowns". What does it mean? Chez is French for "at the house of", so welcome to the house of Rollie and Marsha Bowns.

I have been enjoying reading the blogs of my children and decided to create one of my own. Don't worry, Dad will still be putting out a family newsletter of major events, complete with his unique photographs. I, however, thought this would be a good way to keep everyone informed of our daily life. I am not sure if I can keep up with this on a very regular basis once school begins again the end of August, but I am willing to give it a try. So stay tuned.