Coach Holmstrom & Mr. Holmstrom - Two very different people

It was brought to my attention by one of my seventh graders that I am a very different person on the field compared to the classroom. He asked me, "Why are you so nice in the classroom and so mean on the practice field." I laughed and quickly said, "You've only been in my class two days - give it time!" Really though I guess that could be a complement. The difference really is that in the classroom I like to be fun and talkative with the kids. They respond to that really well. On the field they need to know that it's a battle and nice guys always finish last on the playing field. That's my approach but it works.

On another note - I am having a lot of fun and I am not mean on the field - just loud! My first day I said something along the lines of "this sucks!" But really it is a lot of fun. The kids are great and it is really interesting to be surrounded by so many ethnic groups in one school. It is a bit like college and some of these kids are just as mature as those kids!=) Later.

1st Day of the Rest of my Life

It is 12:24 a.m. and I am still awake. Why you ask? Because I am no where near prepared for my first day of teaching. Forget everything that I thought would help to prepare me for this day because it aint! Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer goes to work for Brand-Lelend and he says to Jerry, "Old Man Lelend is bustin' my hump over these reports" - that is how I feel and I have not to begin - YIKES! Ah well, I guess I best get a move on and jump into to bed. 7th graders are fast approaching and I need my rest.

NOW I KNOW WHY SUPERMAN FLIES!

Because moving 2,000 miles in a moving van sucks! Let me just say that if Megan and I move back to Washington State we are not moving ourselves!

Here's the story. Last Monday morning my father and I went to get the moving truck from Budget in Moscow (highly recommend by the way). When I was quoted on the phone, this nice lady said to me that it would be $1,450 for the moving van. I was figurin' that, however what came next was the best surprise of all. She says to me, "My quote was a bit off and the truck is going to be a little less than I told you." A little less, I am think $20 bucks...try $600! Hello! I didn't know what to think - it was just so awesome. So anyway, we got the truck loaded around 11:30 a.m. and than I made a trip to the CUB. I had been waiting 3 years so I figured that I better go get some Coug gear and see the new CUB because I wasn't sure when I would ever get back to Pullman. So 2 hours later my father and I finally left Pullman for Midland, Texas.

REST OF THE TRIP IN BULLETS:
-Pullman to Boise, 320 miles, 8 hours - OUCH!
-Gas, $144.57
-Boise to Provo, 370 miles, 9 hours - YUCK!
-Gas, $170.29
-SLEEP: 2 hours - WHAT!
-Provo to Cortez, Colorado, 350, 7 hours - WHAT WAS I THINKIN'!
-Gas, $150.00
-Cortez, Colorado to Vaughn, New Mexico, 320 - ARE WE THERE YET!
-Gas, $170.00
-Vaughn, Nex Mexico to Seminole, Texas, 230 miles - STOP!
-SLEEP: 3 1/2 hours - WHAT A NIGHTMARE!
-Seminole, Texas to Midland, 75 miles - END TRIP=)!
-Gas, $125.00

MILES: 1635
HOURS: 36
TIME ZONES: 2
GAS: $759.86
TIMES HAVING TO REPEAT MYSELF TO DAD: 1,278,875,471

Thanks everyone for your help!

Headed for Texas!=)

Well Megan and I finally have been given an answer to our prayers. We look forward to our move to Midland, Texas where I will be teaching and coaching seventh grade. It is going to be hard to leave family and friends behind but we will be back. Washington is our home but we have this adventure ahead of us that is just going to be a real great opportunity for our family and we can't pass it up. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and encouragement - we will always be greatful!

Riding Bikes and Sleeping Positions

So they are a little small but click to see the bigger images.

On Thursday, Isabella told me she wanted her training-wheels 

off her bike.  So I said sure but that I wasn't going to put them

back on.  Check the results!  She is riding like a pro.  To the

right, Jazlynn sleeps with her butt in the air - much like 

her daddy when I was little.