I watched Sophia and Avery after school today and played with Carson after he got home. Then it was time to play outside with Dad.
And then the ball hit his hand, and it really hurt, the tears started, then he had to explain things to Mom.
Stonegate Bike Club
This week, two bike clubs in West Sacramento began. On Tuesdays, Stonegate. This is a beautiful new school. Rain threatened but didn’t materialize, but it was cold and windy.
Until today, we weren’t sure if this bike club would happen. Would kids show up? Yes, four students! 
Crab feed
Last-minute invitations are so fun! Jim and Lucy invited me to a crab feed in Rio Linda but the tickets were all sold out. Thinking I was only going to meet them for a drink at the American Legion Hall, I got a call, Lucy got a ticket for me!
Jim, Norma Snell, Archie Sanders
Our table:
At left, Nicki & Jim Williams. Lucy is next to Jim
One of my favorite families from my teaching days, the Tomlinsons:
Ken, Sarah, Julie, AnnaMarie
Favorite story: I was visiting with a friend when this young man came back to his seat (the one I was sitting in) and told me I was his teacher. I love meeting my students all grown up but never recognize who they are (like from 1980s when he was maybe 10), so I asked what his name was. “Robbie Bell.” Of course I wanted a picture. Then I asked him what my name was. “Mrs Reeves.” (Smile) Uhhh, no, Arlete Hodel. “Oh yeah, maybe that was it.” LOL!!
TGIF
At the Rio Pub, although a few of us still call it Klein’s (the original name). I thought I was just meeting Val, but quite of few staff members at Regency Park Elementary also showed up. 
Val Sills, Joni O’Connor, me
It was Dr Seuss Day everywhere:
ELPAC testing
Monday was our last day at Northwood.
Then we moved on to FC Joyce. We had a very nice testing space – unless we were relocated for one reason or another.
This 1st grade Afghani boy was the opposite of the Skip-it story from last week. He read all four passages out loud accurately but so fast that I encouraged him to slow down so he could be sure of his answers to the questions. It didn’t matter, he got them all right. Hurray!
Friday was Dr Seuss Day and all schedules were disrupted.
The librarian:
Little League practice
A new sports season has begun.
Sophia stayed warm and dry in the car. She said she was about 85% better.
Thursday @ Merrilyn’s
On Wednesday. Avocado egg rolls and Cheesy artichoke crab toasts – both were delicious!
We miss you, Phyl.
Sports weekend
Carson was proud to be moved up to an independent gymnastics group.
Avery at indoor soccer on Sunday afternoon:
Sophia’s cold turned into walking pneumonia. She missed a few days of school and stayed home today to recover.
Lake Wildwood music
After work I drove up to Maria and Tim’s in Penn Valley. There was a special event at the clubhouse.
Maria and her sister Theresa
Nate, Maria, Liam, Tim, unknown photo-bomber
The special event was the band Pork Chop:
As always, loads of fun. Thanks for the invitation, Maria!
ELPAC testing
Another week, another dollar. We were at Woodlake and Northwood Schools this week. Biggest interruption this week was a whole-school fire drill. Teachers hold up a green paper if all students are accounted for, red if someone is missing. Everyone is silent – mostly.
Are you wondering what else I did this week? I obsessed over a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle of Cinque Terre in Italy. Every spare minute. Sigh.
arletelouise 