It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!
The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Fill out the questions below
3. Tag 5-7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag. Have FUN!!
1.Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog. I buy the creamer, I go to Braum's for the ice cream, McD's has the best shakes - well, they're tied with Sonic - can't get enough. Hot chocolate? You can have that anytime.
2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Under another tree - "Oh! Look what I just found in the basement!! Santa must have dropped this on his way out!"
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Hey, I'd take either. But I think we're gonna look for some green ones on clearance after Christmas this year. J and I both agree that they are our favorite.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. It's hard enough to keep up with all the invisible mistletoe J seems to see everywhere.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The week of Thanksgiving...usually the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It was challenging this year, though. I don't know where anything goes. So I actually (almost) finished today - a week after Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Probably Granny Fancy's perfect mashed potatoes smothered in big, fat Reames noodles accompanied by homemade bread. Go carbs!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: Too many to list, but playing Christmas music duets - particularly "Here Comes Santa Claus" - with my Granny Fancy on her piano. Still doing that one.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm always the skeptic, so I honestly can't remember actually believing the whole Santa bit. I remember questioning my skepticism though when my sister swore, at a very young age, that she saw the shadow of Santa's sleigh on the wall of the bedroom. She's never been one to exaggerate.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. In fact Christmas Eve is our Christmas with my Mom, Dad, Sister, and her boyfriend. We begin the 23rd with a trip to SDC together, come back to the lake house for the annual treats and viewing of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", which we know verbatim, and then "A Christmas Story", of course.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Two trees: upstairs tree is a larger, prelit tree loaded with whites and golds from Mom's old front window tree I used to admire in her home so much. The downstairs tree is decidely the family favorite, with all of the 'meaningful', crafty, nostalgic ornaments of a variety of colors.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, love it, love it. Teachers and snow go hand in hand.
12. Can you ice skate? No. In fact I found out last spring at a birthday party that I can barely even roller skate anymore.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Yup. Engagement ring. Still have the little Charlie Brown Christmas tree he propsed in front of - and the ring, of course.
14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Sharing traditions and making new ones with my children. Experiencing the daily excitement of the activities we enjoy just at this time of year.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? ENGLISH TOFFEE, 'nuf said.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Since C was 1 year old (almost 2), we have never missed the annual Nutcracker ballet performance. I think I would rather eat Ramen Noodles for a month than not scrounge up the $$ for this special, special night we share. We get dolled up, go to dinner downtown, lately she takes along her special American Girl Doll who matches her, and enjoy a magical night at the ballet. It truly is just that, magical.
17. What tops your tree? A fiberoptic angel that moves - but lost her fiberoptic-ness this year :(
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving! The thrill and excitement of anticipating the reaction of the receiver after all the thought, bargaining, hunting, wrapping, etc. that has gone into the gift is a complete Christmas 'high'. Although, I do try and make it easy on family and have a (small) list. It's the thoughtful thing to do.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Still can't sing verse three without choking up. What a man - wrote my favorite song, AND my favorite poem ('Midnight Ride of Paul Revere').
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Kind of one of those that until 2 years ago, I'd have said 'yuck', but something happened when I had that first Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks and now I seek out peppermint/chocolate blended recipes this time of year. Love to stir them in my coffee, and also pop a piece in my mouth along with a Hershey's chocolate kiss.
21. What do you want for Christmas? I want a Christmas like Sara Groves sings about in track #5 on her new Christmas album: "To Be With You."
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? Isn't everyday a party around Christmas? I guess that's a no.
23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? PJ's! In fact, I don't even shop for Christmas 'outfits' anymore for us, it's all about the new PJ's.
24. Do you own a santa hat? No, but I have floppy reindeer headbands I'll be wearing this weekend at the Reindeer Cheer competition!
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? My family, His family, Our family.
I Tag: Angie & Becky - & anyone else reading this blog! You could just email it to me, ya know. :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Game On
Hmmm...Let's see. February 15th was the last posting. What in the world could have slipped in to my life about that time that might have prevented keeping up with this thing? Could it be:
1. That's about the time that MAP preparation becomes quite intense, on top of the job of maintaining the regular curriculum the rest of the day
2. Entire family took 6 weeks to fight the long-standing flu that was conveniently a non-covered strain by the flu shots we took
3. House was finished being framed, and so the decisions, price comparative shopping, and more intensive involvement was required
4. Wasn't there an ice storm?
5. Neighbor whose wireless internet service I was bumming got evicted (I never said I was perfect)
Honestly, there's really no excuse for the few minutes it takes a day - or week - to log in and write a few lines down. So, with my insomnia that hasn't seemed to fade since I'm staying home, I will do my best to find time to update, but, as the title says, No Guarantees!
I honestly do wish I had been a better documenter over these months. They were filled with changes and new experiences for the kids, and ohh... it just sickens me to think of all the funny moments I thought I wouldn't forget that I never wrote down. So, if you know of any, just send me a keyword and it will jog the memory, hopefully.
So there is no way I can pick up where I left off, but I can start with what is most fresh in my memory, and as I remember missed events worth writing about, I'll add them.
Fresh memory #1: Black Friday
I am not usually a participator in the Black Friday festivities. This year, however, there is quite obviously less stress in my life being a temporary SAHM (stay at home mom - although I hear that the acronym has other meanings...). I usually take one of the holiday days off and spend it in my classroom gearing up for the last month of the semester and decorating for the 'Winter Holiday'. This year, however, I partook in the 'wake your butt up at 2:40 am and stand in line at Kohl's with the other people who are shaking their heads in disbelief that they are there or else filled with amazing amounts of shopping adrenaline' route.
I had been tempted to head to the midnight madness at the outlet stores, but I knew I was gonna need sleep for the Kohl's and Sears rampages, and opted out. Maybe next year. My friend Ginger said it was worth the trouble, but not to go in the opening moments. It's all good at 1:00 am.
It was a surprisingly good experience, all the way around. We filed into Kohl's like regular, polite people - not the scrambling stampede I had pictured. I was with my very experienced friend, Becky, who had given me a number of tips the night before including to have lists attached to the adds in my purse. We hit the door, and she's gone - yelling out, "I've got my cell phone!" It was hilarious. My hand reached for the strap of the last shopping bag available (and we were not too far back in line) as I hear a desperate cry from behind me, "GRAB THAT BAG!!!" She wasn't talking to me. I got a little surge of excitement, and a rare streak of competitiveness, and realized the bag was entangled with another that someone ahead of me was trying to grab. She had a very intense look on her face and I got tickled at the entire situation. I had gone into the day thinking if I come back with nothing on my list, oh well. I'm only out a few hours sleep. She hadn't. I laughed harder, and in this, somehow got the bag. A few passersby were observing the incident and I felt them looking over it like vultures - "Perhaps NEITHER of them will get the bags!!! They're mine!!" I got the bag, and headed to toys.
Just this week, C was talking about her latest test, and that she got 100%, and observing that when she REALLY REALLY likes something, she gets a good grade without trying. We hadn't yet seen the test, and asked which test she was talking about. She said her science test. I said, with shock, "WHAT science test?" I'm a little bit obsessive about study guides, and hadn't seen one come home. She said, "The one about the states in the region." Oh, geography. I calmed down. She said she loves science-geography :) and wanted to know what kind of jobs they get. "Ummmmm.....archaeologists?"
That leads me to the first must-have toy, the interactive Leap Frog Globe, that had a significant price reduction. However, they were on the TOP SHELF. Panic set in, and as I stood there, Becky and a stranger approached, both wanting one as well. There were four. I dashed around looking for a clothes pole, to no avail. Then, I spotted mister tall, white and handsome, being a good husband, shopping with his wife - who looked a bit miffed when I approached him and asked him to get down three of those globes, which he did with ease. Oh, you tall people. The wonderful world you live in. So, success! We have globes!
That's all I needed so I headed to check out, and walked right up to the cashier. No problem. Hung around the front door waiting for Becky. A little too much time had passed, I figured, for her to find the fisher price digital camera she wanted, & wondered if all was well, so I called. "I can't find that (darn) camera ANYWHERE!" Just so happened that the general manager is my neighbor, & had been standing there talking to me. I asked him about it, he walkie talkied, and had a girl walking it up from the training room within minutes. Of course, this gentleman beside me overheard his request and stuck to me like glue, expressing how he was only there for that camera and really needed the camera. He even had memorized which page of the ad the camera was on: 17. Becky sensed the truth, that I was feeling a little pulled to guilt, and she assured me I needed to get rid of that feeling.
No one goes to the south side Wal-Mart expecting to get what they want on Black Friday. It's the busiest Wal-Mart - anywhere, maybe? I had zero hope. But we were in the parking lot already. We had planned to go to our hometown WMs on the way home as to avoid the popular WM, but went ahead and thought what the heck, let's just see. WOW. It had people, but NOTHING like I thought it would. I was #10 in line for the 50" plasma for J's birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Easter, Valentine's, and then next year's birthday & Christmas - oh, and my Christmas. They don't usually even carry that brand, they told me, but brought it in as a little catnip to dangle. A little scary buying something that pricey sight-unseen, but it was literally 40% of most stores' price, and up to 50% off on a couple of sites on the internet that I checked. 90 return policy didn't hurt, either. Got everything we wanted - except for the $2.00 Christmas Vacation DVD.
On to McD's for a refueling - or maybe just the first fueling (it was only 5:25 at this point!) Almost went deaf due to the teenaged boys behind us and their ultra-cool system. I wonder sometimes if the passengers in those thumping cars might have something to say, but has to wait until they get to the destination to express any thoughts or opinions.
Sears was the next stop. Walked in, got more bargains that you can believe for $90. Two pair of 'boots with the fur' for C, a karaoke system with instruments for L, 2 adorable winter coates for the kids, pjs & matching slippers for me, and several very (surprisingly - not a Sears clothing fan, really) cute clothes for C. Crazy. And would you believe their service ROCKED! Not to mention they had the tv on display that I had just purchased for 20% more as their short term doorbuster price and it looked beautiful. I felt better.
Hmmm..did a little more mall shopping. Fun, fun, fun. Shopping while the sun comes up. Tttthhhheeeennnn wwweeee sssttaarrrrttteeeddd ttoooo ssssllllloooowwww dddooowwwnn. We needed a pick-me-up. Off to meet Angie at a local winery for muffins & mimosas - but not before we made one more stop at another WM for a couple of forgotten items. We followed up the stop with Angie with a real meal from Panera, and then Becky followed me out to the house with the tv. Happy Birthday, you need to unload your present from her car because I can't, Jason :) Luckily, Uncle Travis was there, so it all worked out. They didn't seem to huff and puff nearly as much as the WM guys.
Will I go next year? Don't think I'll know until the night before. But I will say it was a much more enjoyable experience than I had predicted. I love surprises!! Except for overdrawn notices.
This return to blogging post got kind of long, but again, I have those fast fingers thanks to 15 years of piano, so it flies. I bet you read fast, though.
1. That's about the time that MAP preparation becomes quite intense, on top of the job of maintaining the regular curriculum the rest of the day
2. Entire family took 6 weeks to fight the long-standing flu that was conveniently a non-covered strain by the flu shots we took
3. House was finished being framed, and so the decisions, price comparative shopping, and more intensive involvement was required
4. Wasn't there an ice storm?
5. Neighbor whose wireless internet service I was bumming got evicted (I never said I was perfect)
Honestly, there's really no excuse for the few minutes it takes a day - or week - to log in and write a few lines down. So, with my insomnia that hasn't seemed to fade since I'm staying home, I will do my best to find time to update, but, as the title says, No Guarantees!
I honestly do wish I had been a better documenter over these months. They were filled with changes and new experiences for the kids, and ohh... it just sickens me to think of all the funny moments I thought I wouldn't forget that I never wrote down. So, if you know of any, just send me a keyword and it will jog the memory, hopefully.
So there is no way I can pick up where I left off, but I can start with what is most fresh in my memory, and as I remember missed events worth writing about, I'll add them.
Fresh memory #1: Black Friday
I am not usually a participator in the Black Friday festivities. This year, however, there is quite obviously less stress in my life being a temporary SAHM (stay at home mom - although I hear that the acronym has other meanings...). I usually take one of the holiday days off and spend it in my classroom gearing up for the last month of the semester and decorating for the 'Winter Holiday'. This year, however, I partook in the 'wake your butt up at 2:40 am and stand in line at Kohl's with the other people who are shaking their heads in disbelief that they are there or else filled with amazing amounts of shopping adrenaline' route.
I had been tempted to head to the midnight madness at the outlet stores, but I knew I was gonna need sleep for the Kohl's and Sears rampages, and opted out. Maybe next year. My friend Ginger said it was worth the trouble, but not to go in the opening moments. It's all good at 1:00 am.
It was a surprisingly good experience, all the way around. We filed into Kohl's like regular, polite people - not the scrambling stampede I had pictured. I was with my very experienced friend, Becky, who had given me a number of tips the night before including to have lists attached to the adds in my purse. We hit the door, and she's gone - yelling out, "I've got my cell phone!" It was hilarious. My hand reached for the strap of the last shopping bag available (and we were not too far back in line) as I hear a desperate cry from behind me, "GRAB THAT BAG!!!" She wasn't talking to me. I got a little surge of excitement, and a rare streak of competitiveness, and realized the bag was entangled with another that someone ahead of me was trying to grab. She had a very intense look on her face and I got tickled at the entire situation. I had gone into the day thinking if I come back with nothing on my list, oh well. I'm only out a few hours sleep. She hadn't. I laughed harder, and in this, somehow got the bag. A few passersby were observing the incident and I felt them looking over it like vultures - "Perhaps NEITHER of them will get the bags!!! They're mine!!" I got the bag, and headed to toys.
Just this week, C was talking about her latest test, and that she got 100%, and observing that when she REALLY REALLY likes something, she gets a good grade without trying. We hadn't yet seen the test, and asked which test she was talking about. She said her science test. I said, with shock, "WHAT science test?" I'm a little bit obsessive about study guides, and hadn't seen one come home. She said, "The one about the states in the region." Oh, geography. I calmed down. She said she loves science-geography :) and wanted to know what kind of jobs they get. "Ummmmm.....archaeologists?"
That leads me to the first must-have toy, the interactive Leap Frog Globe, that had a significant price reduction. However, they were on the TOP SHELF. Panic set in, and as I stood there, Becky and a stranger approached, both wanting one as well. There were four. I dashed around looking for a clothes pole, to no avail. Then, I spotted mister tall, white and handsome, being a good husband, shopping with his wife - who looked a bit miffed when I approached him and asked him to get down three of those globes, which he did with ease. Oh, you tall people. The wonderful world you live in. So, success! We have globes!
That's all I needed so I headed to check out, and walked right up to the cashier. No problem. Hung around the front door waiting for Becky. A little too much time had passed, I figured, for her to find the fisher price digital camera she wanted, & wondered if all was well, so I called. "I can't find that (darn) camera ANYWHERE!" Just so happened that the general manager is my neighbor, & had been standing there talking to me. I asked him about it, he walkie talkied, and had a girl walking it up from the training room within minutes. Of course, this gentleman beside me overheard his request and stuck to me like glue, expressing how he was only there for that camera and really needed the camera. He even had memorized which page of the ad the camera was on: 17. Becky sensed the truth, that I was feeling a little pulled to guilt, and she assured me I needed to get rid of that feeling.
No one goes to the south side Wal-Mart expecting to get what they want on Black Friday. It's the busiest Wal-Mart - anywhere, maybe? I had zero hope. But we were in the parking lot already. We had planned to go to our hometown WMs on the way home as to avoid the popular WM, but went ahead and thought what the heck, let's just see. WOW. It had people, but NOTHING like I thought it would. I was #10 in line for the 50" plasma for J's birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Easter, Valentine's, and then next year's birthday & Christmas - oh, and my Christmas. They don't usually even carry that brand, they told me, but brought it in as a little catnip to dangle. A little scary buying something that pricey sight-unseen, but it was literally 40% of most stores' price, and up to 50% off on a couple of sites on the internet that I checked. 90 return policy didn't hurt, either. Got everything we wanted - except for the $2.00 Christmas Vacation DVD.
On to McD's for a refueling - or maybe just the first fueling (it was only 5:25 at this point!) Almost went deaf due to the teenaged boys behind us and their ultra-cool system. I wonder sometimes if the passengers in those thumping cars might have something to say, but has to wait until they get to the destination to express any thoughts or opinions.
Sears was the next stop. Walked in, got more bargains that you can believe for $90. Two pair of 'boots with the fur' for C, a karaoke system with instruments for L, 2 adorable winter coates for the kids, pjs & matching slippers for me, and several very (surprisingly - not a Sears clothing fan, really) cute clothes for C. Crazy. And would you believe their service ROCKED! Not to mention they had the tv on display that I had just purchased for 20% more as their short term doorbuster price and it looked beautiful. I felt better.
Hmmm..did a little more mall shopping. Fun, fun, fun. Shopping while the sun comes up. Tttthhhheeeennnn wwweeee sssttaarrrrttteeeddd ttoooo ssssllllloooowwww dddooowwwnn. We needed a pick-me-up. Off to meet Angie at a local winery for muffins & mimosas - but not before we made one more stop at another WM for a couple of forgotten items. We followed up the stop with Angie with a real meal from Panera, and then Becky followed me out to the house with the tv. Happy Birthday, you need to unload your present from her car because I can't, Jason :) Luckily, Uncle Travis was there, so it all worked out. They didn't seem to huff and puff nearly as much as the WM guys.
Will I go next year? Don't think I'll know until the night before. But I will say it was a much more enjoyable experience than I had predicted. I love surprises!! Except for overdrawn notices.
This return to blogging post got kind of long, but again, I have those fast fingers thanks to 15 years of piano, so it flies. I bet you read fast, though.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
God is soooo good.
(Found this one in drafts from October 8th. Thought I'd throw it in.)
I think I met my quota today on answered prayers. I was on my knees so much today that there are carpet imprints! Both of my big ones were answered, almost immediately, and then Courtney came home with a smile on her face saying, "Mom! God was totally listening last night and he answered my prayer!" She had prayed for a little friend of hers to have a change of heart who had been giving her a hard time on the school bus. That was it. I think my jaws hurt from smiling so much. One more prayer, God: Let me remember days like these when I'm not hearing You like I should.
I think I met my quota today on answered prayers. I was on my knees so much today that there are carpet imprints! Both of my big ones were answered, almost immediately, and then Courtney came home with a smile on her face saying, "Mom! God was totally listening last night and he answered my prayer!" She had prayed for a little friend of hers to have a change of heart who had been giving her a hard time on the school bus. That was it. I think my jaws hurt from smiling so much. One more prayer, God: Let me remember days like these when I'm not hearing You like I should.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sebatical Rationale
(Another old draft I never posted from April 10th)
I never thought, as a child, teenager, or young adult, that I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom. I saw myself as a business woman first, which somehow grew into wanting to be a country music star (remember my day with Roy Clark?), into a music teacher, then a human resources manager. Here I am, an elementary teacher. All kinds of reasons why those others didn't work out. And what's fun about my job, is I can pretty much work in some facets of all those other jobs into this one.
There can understandably be a misconception that I am 'tired of teaching'. Yes, I'm a teacher, and teaching makes you tired. Particularly this time of year. However, there are some days I can hardly picture an August rolling around without the nervous and excited anticipation of the new lives I get to be a part of, the stories I get to tell them, the funny things they'll do that may or may not make it into the funny book...
I never thought, as a child, teenager, or young adult, that I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom. I saw myself as a business woman first, which somehow grew into wanting to be a country music star (remember my day with Roy Clark?), into a music teacher, then a human resources manager. Here I am, an elementary teacher. All kinds of reasons why those others didn't work out. And what's fun about my job, is I can pretty much work in some facets of all those other jobs into this one.
There can understandably be a misconception that I am 'tired of teaching'. Yes, I'm a teacher, and teaching makes you tired. Particularly this time of year. However, there are some days I can hardly picture an August rolling around without the nervous and excited anticipation of the new lives I get to be a part of, the stories I get to tell them, the funny things they'll do that may or may not make it into the funny book...
Friday, February 15, 2008
More funny book
I know what you want...you want more funny book entries. Well, lucky you. I have some.
* Winter 2007: Multiple coffee incidents. 1. Coffee came out of my nose while I was teaching and had gotten tickled at something a student said, innocently. Unfortunately, that was at the same moment my principal leaned in to say, "Good Morning." 2. "Rachel" accidentally caused a ripple effect avalanche that caused my coffee to fall all over the kids' just-finished chapter test. Had to return them all in that Friday's parent folder with a note explaining the strong smell of Amaretto. The next day, her sweet mother sent me a gift bag, so nicely decorated, with a sippie cup inside. The card read, "I heard you might need a new coffee mug." Love that family. 3. Same week, no kidding, got bumped at the coffee station in the workroom and hot coffee went down my pants. I had to greet my students at the door that morning and explain there had been yet another coffee spill. You would think I would lay off the coffee, but there is no way that's happening.
* Winter, 2007: Not funny, just freaky. Teaching the lesson on the importance of lining up your decimals, I tell them about Frank Fazoli, blah blah blah, and at one point in this made-up story that for some reason they always hang on my every word to, it gets to the part where the secretary buzzes in for the big boss, Frank. At that very moment, my cell phone (accidentally forgot to turn it off that day) goes off in my pocket. Freaky.
* Fall, 2007: We'll call him "Kevin", one of my personal favorites - happens to be autistic, and in his little, nasal voice, asks (always too loudly), "Uh, Mrs. Clark? Um..um...I need to go to the bathroom. I've gotta take one."
*We'll call her "Kylie", our first year teaching, we're in the stalls after school, taking care of business. She calls out, "Is that you, Clarkie?" I said, "Yup." She answers, "Well, you might want to get out of here fast, because I'm gonna be doing some damage." We hear our principal's voice answer, "Thanks, Kylie. I appreciate the heads up!" (our bathrooms were so cleverly designed to where the boys walk through the entrance to the girls' restroom to their own. She and I couldn't breathe for a minute or two.
Well, that's all I have. Really. The book is just blank after that.
* Winter 2007: Multiple coffee incidents. 1. Coffee came out of my nose while I was teaching and had gotten tickled at something a student said, innocently. Unfortunately, that was at the same moment my principal leaned in to say, "Good Morning." 2. "Rachel" accidentally caused a ripple effect avalanche that caused my coffee to fall all over the kids' just-finished chapter test. Had to return them all in that Friday's parent folder with a note explaining the strong smell of Amaretto. The next day, her sweet mother sent me a gift bag, so nicely decorated, with a sippie cup inside. The card read, "I heard you might need a new coffee mug." Love that family. 3. Same week, no kidding, got bumped at the coffee station in the workroom and hot coffee went down my pants. I had to greet my students at the door that morning and explain there had been yet another coffee spill. You would think I would lay off the coffee, but there is no way that's happening.
* Winter, 2007: Not funny, just freaky. Teaching the lesson on the importance of lining up your decimals, I tell them about Frank Fazoli, blah blah blah, and at one point in this made-up story that for some reason they always hang on my every word to, it gets to the part where the secretary buzzes in for the big boss, Frank. At that very moment, my cell phone (accidentally forgot to turn it off that day) goes off in my pocket. Freaky.
* Fall, 2007: We'll call him "Kevin", one of my personal favorites - happens to be autistic, and in his little, nasal voice, asks (always too loudly), "Uh, Mrs. Clark? Um..um...I need to go to the bathroom. I've gotta take one."
*We'll call her "Kylie", our first year teaching, we're in the stalls after school, taking care of business. She calls out, "Is that you, Clarkie?" I said, "Yup." She answers, "Well, you might want to get out of here fast, because I'm gonna be doing some damage." We hear our principal's voice answer, "Thanks, Kylie. I appreciate the heads up!" (our bathrooms were so cleverly designed to where the boys walk through the entrance to the girls' restroom to their own. She and I couldn't breathe for a minute or two.
Well, that's all I have. Really. The book is just blank after that.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
From My Funny Book
As you know, kids do say - and do - the darndest things. I have kept a book of some of these funnies, when I remember to write them down. I assure you that they might not be as funny here as they were in the classroom when they happened.
*We'll call him "Austin". Very sweet, but serious boy. We had read The Sign of the Beaver, in which the main character's cabin is raided by bears and the sugar, flour, and molasses were ruined. Austin instead wrote: "sugar, flour, and margaritas" in perfect cursive.
*We'll call her "Nicole". Super sweet, usually quite with-it girl. Someone tried to get me off track (happens a lot) and I said, "Oh..HERE we go!!" She raises her hand and says, "Where are we going?"
*At open house, parents sign-up for conferences for the next month. As I read out loud who was signed up for what time for the students to write an additional reminder in their assignment books, I got to 'Harriet Booker'. GARRETT was humiliated, due to his mom's very fancy writing.
*The Shamrock. This one is X-rated, really. I still crack up thinking about it, and St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner! I have a template for a very friendly shamrock we decorate to our own likes and personalities (i.e. the skateboarder shamrock, the cheerleader shamrock, the punk-rocker or Hannah Montana shamrock), then we attach limericks to them. 5 years doing this, and I never realized until one day as I looked up and realized that the 'stem' of the shamrock was centered, long, curved, and for 3-dimensional effect had a circular 'nob' on the end. The next year, the shamrocks were neutered.
*We'll call him "Ryan", and he had a pronounced speech impediment. He had written a story that was very touching, about two brothers who had all these adventures (Jake & Bob). At the end, they grew up and went to college and got married. The previous sentence went something like this, "Jake and Bob's parents had always wanted lots of grandkids." The next sentence was SUPPOSED to sound like, "Jake and Bob got married and had six." Innocent enough. But when Ryan said it, what we heard was, as the grand finale to his little story, "Jake and Bob got married and had sex. The end." All the air went out of the room. I couldn't breathe and clapped as soon as I could to distract myself, hoping 10 year olds were too young to catch on - they weren't.
*I like to have the students take their spelling words and make a story or play out of them. It's fun to see how different the stories can be using the same 24 words, and it lets me know if they understand the meaning of the words. This particular week, "wrapped" was one of our words. A very innocent paper about a gift-wrapping factory evolved from one of my more spelling-challenged students. It went something like this:
"Can you rape my gift?" the customer asked the worker. "Yes, we rape gifts all the time." So she raped the dollhouse, then she raped the rocking horse, and the weirdest thing she had to rape was a fruitcake!"
It went on like this for about a page. I was crying.
*Each week in spelling, the students do a 'cloze' activity where there is a story made up of spelling words, but the words are omitted. The students fill in the blank from the list of words. Anyway, sometimes, students can see that more than one word would work in a situation. Like this one. We'll call her "Michelle". Here is the excerpt from the story, the way is was supposed to read: "The next thing he knew, he was in the hospital wearing a cast from his calf to his hip." Unfortunately, Michelle will now be known for using another word instead of 'calf', because 'crack' was also on the spelling list that week. ...from his crack to his hip. I thought I could keep rolling and maintain composure, but not that time.
*We do class compliments. They are so sweet. And the kids really look forward to them. It was "Kirsi's" turn to receive compliments and a little girl named "Cheyenne" had a little trouble with it. They had never been too close, you might say. She wrote and then read aloud to the class, "Kirsi has always been a good pusher when she is trying to get off the bus." What do you say to that?
*I am seriously laughing out loud as soon as I read this just now from my funny book. I always tell the students to come up with a 'catchy title' for their Science Fair project to attract the judges. Last year's Science Fair might have attracted the wrong kind of judge. I had a student (whose dad actually did the whole project - very wrong - for him, oh well) title his project / experiment on how fast a car would go down a ramp, "A Strong, Natural Motion." Each time I think of that, I picture Barry White and some kind scene where there is red satin & dark chocolate all swirled around...
*Another science fair funny from last year. "Cody" & "Nathan" (not my brightest two, but very sweet boys) used a very different font, kind of hard to read, for their big signs on their Science Fair Board Presentation. Unfortunately, the "H" on the end of "GRAPH" had not been glued well enough and didn't stay put. When they put it up in the gym, you saw the category "GRAP", which with that font, looked like "CRAP". They didn't score too well, so it was kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
*We did a clothes drive last year for kids on a Central American country. I had this boy last year - loved him - (we'll call him "Nathaniel") he never knew thought how some things sounded until they were already out there. When the kids were asking what kinds of things they needed, the student council representative answered with items like: shirts, shorts, good shoes for hot climates, etc. Nathaniel raised his hand, so serious, and asked, "What about bathing suits? GIRLS bathing suits?"
*This might sound unconventional, but I arm-wrestled "Jared" in an effort to prove fact vs. opinion (it's a fact Mrs. Clark is stronger than Jared - it's an opinion that Mrs. Clark is a sore loser when she loses.) Jared did beat me - totally unexpected, that never happens - but then, lost his balance when I released his arm, and fell against the rolling computer cart, which had the angel "Nathaniel" from above had given me, the angel fell, and lost it's head, for the second time that year, and rolled across the classroom in silence. I don't remember who, but I heard, "It's my opinion that Jared is gonna be in TROUBLE!"
Gotta go. Hubby wants me home 'at 5 sharp' tonight. Hmmm...Valentine's surprise? I hope so!
*We'll call him "Austin". Very sweet, but serious boy. We had read The Sign of the Beaver, in which the main character's cabin is raided by bears and the sugar, flour, and molasses were ruined. Austin instead wrote: "sugar, flour, and margaritas" in perfect cursive.
*We'll call her "Nicole". Super sweet, usually quite with-it girl. Someone tried to get me off track (happens a lot) and I said, "Oh..HERE we go!!" She raises her hand and says, "Where are we going?"
*At open house, parents sign-up for conferences for the next month. As I read out loud who was signed up for what time for the students to write an additional reminder in their assignment books, I got to 'Harriet Booker'. GARRETT was humiliated, due to his mom's very fancy writing.
*The Shamrock. This one is X-rated, really. I still crack up thinking about it, and St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner! I have a template for a very friendly shamrock we decorate to our own likes and personalities (i.e. the skateboarder shamrock, the cheerleader shamrock, the punk-rocker or Hannah Montana shamrock), then we attach limericks to them. 5 years doing this, and I never realized until one day as I looked up and realized that the 'stem' of the shamrock was centered, long, curved, and for 3-dimensional effect had a circular 'nob' on the end. The next year, the shamrocks were neutered.
*We'll call him "Ryan", and he had a pronounced speech impediment. He had written a story that was very touching, about two brothers who had all these adventures (Jake & Bob). At the end, they grew up and went to college and got married. The previous sentence went something like this, "Jake and Bob's parents had always wanted lots of grandkids." The next sentence was SUPPOSED to sound like, "Jake and Bob got married and had six." Innocent enough. But when Ryan said it, what we heard was, as the grand finale to his little story, "Jake and Bob got married and had sex. The end." All the air went out of the room. I couldn't breathe and clapped as soon as I could to distract myself, hoping 10 year olds were too young to catch on - they weren't.
*I like to have the students take their spelling words and make a story or play out of them. It's fun to see how different the stories can be using the same 24 words, and it lets me know if they understand the meaning of the words. This particular week, "wrapped" was one of our words. A very innocent paper about a gift-wrapping factory evolved from one of my more spelling-challenged students. It went something like this:
"Can you rape my gift?" the customer asked the worker. "Yes, we rape gifts all the time." So she raped the dollhouse, then she raped the rocking horse, and the weirdest thing she had to rape was a fruitcake!"
It went on like this for about a page. I was crying.
*Each week in spelling, the students do a 'cloze' activity where there is a story made up of spelling words, but the words are omitted. The students fill in the blank from the list of words. Anyway, sometimes, students can see that more than one word would work in a situation. Like this one. We'll call her "Michelle". Here is the excerpt from the story, the way is was supposed to read: "The next thing he knew, he was in the hospital wearing a cast from his calf to his hip." Unfortunately, Michelle will now be known for using another word instead of 'calf', because 'crack' was also on the spelling list that week. ...from his crack to his hip. I thought I could keep rolling and maintain composure, but not that time.
*We do class compliments. They are so sweet. And the kids really look forward to them. It was "Kirsi's" turn to receive compliments and a little girl named "Cheyenne" had a little trouble with it. They had never been too close, you might say. She wrote and then read aloud to the class, "Kirsi has always been a good pusher when she is trying to get off the bus." What do you say to that?
*I am seriously laughing out loud as soon as I read this just now from my funny book. I always tell the students to come up with a 'catchy title' for their Science Fair project to attract the judges. Last year's Science Fair might have attracted the wrong kind of judge. I had a student (whose dad actually did the whole project - very wrong - for him, oh well) title his project / experiment on how fast a car would go down a ramp, "A Strong, Natural Motion." Each time I think of that, I picture Barry White and some kind scene where there is red satin & dark chocolate all swirled around...
*Another science fair funny from last year. "Cody" & "Nathan" (not my brightest two, but very sweet boys) used a very different font, kind of hard to read, for their big signs on their Science Fair Board Presentation. Unfortunately, the "H" on the end of "GRAPH" had not been glued well enough and didn't stay put. When they put it up in the gym, you saw the category "GRAP", which with that font, looked like "CRAP". They didn't score too well, so it was kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
*We did a clothes drive last year for kids on a Central American country. I had this boy last year - loved him - (we'll call him "Nathaniel") he never knew thought how some things sounded until they were already out there. When the kids were asking what kinds of things they needed, the student council representative answered with items like: shirts, shorts, good shoes for hot climates, etc. Nathaniel raised his hand, so serious, and asked, "What about bathing suits? GIRLS bathing suits?"
*This might sound unconventional, but I arm-wrestled "Jared" in an effort to prove fact vs. opinion (it's a fact Mrs. Clark is stronger than Jared - it's an opinion that Mrs. Clark is a sore loser when she loses.) Jared did beat me - totally unexpected, that never happens - but then, lost his balance when I released his arm, and fell against the rolling computer cart, which had the angel "Nathaniel" from above had given me, the angel fell, and lost it's head, for the second time that year, and rolled across the classroom in silence. I don't remember who, but I heard, "It's my opinion that Jared is gonna be in TROUBLE!"
Gotta go. Hubby wants me home 'at 5 sharp' tonight. Hmmm...Valentine's surprise? I hope so!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thank you, Wal-Mart
If you know me well enough, you know I carry a black cloud above me - particularly at restaurants - regarding various customer service experiences. Maybe you all do, too, and you just don't complain as much. However, Wal-Mart has been at the center of some real doozies out there. Remember that crop night? I think it took the full 6 hours of scrapbooking for me to calm down that night. I would even just not develop my pictures if I saw the lady with the Farrah Faucett hair working that day.
Wal-Mart is now on its way to redeeming itself. (Can't say that phrase without thinking of "Dumb & Dumber"). Last night was a frenzie of rush out to the construction site to see the windows, a dinner with friends at Rib Crib**, an 80 mph dash to gymnastics, then a 'quick' trip to the mall to get L a new winter coat, since he had his growth spurt late in the season. All this knowing I also had to hit W-M for the essentials due to the oncoming storm, thinking I'd be joining everyone else within the three counties.
Once there, I realized I'd obviously beat the rush - oh, yeah! No coats at mall or W-M, but plenty of helpful people. It was almost like the oncoming snow put everyone in a fantastic mood. No Jack Frost here. Then, thinking I'd bypass the huge line in the (two) regular lines, opted for the self-check out. Those people, when they see they are covering the self-check out lanes, must think of calling in sick or faking a migraine to go home, although give them 1 hour on the job, they'll have a real migraine. Everything I ran through and placed in the bag came up as 'skip bagging - see clerk for authorization'. Everything. She was so amazingly patient with me, and never stopped smiling.
Then, it was finally over. I could go home...except, where was my wallet? I had 'simplified' and put it in my coat pocket, no purse, but then took off the coat. It could have fallen out anywhere. I also quickly said, "I'm not gonna panic," to C. Then realized, if it had been found (and turnd in), I would have already been paged.
Thankfully, I'd thrown it in my Dillard's bag from earlier, and found it in the car. Walk in, pay with red face, unload car in freezing cold, realize I didn't pay for all the items up in the seat part of the cart. C looks at me like, "Oh my gosh. My mom is going to jail." We rush in, as I'm hoping my i.d. isn't being run through the FBI, and pay, again.
Thank you also, Wal-Mart, for taking all the bad words out of Fergie's "Dutchess" album. Now, we can listen to Glamourous again, until C figures out what all the silent pauses might be someday. If only I could edit my daughter's moves, now.
**Funny at dinner: I found out my friend's kindergarten son has informed her that his music teacher is the most beautiful woman in the world - and mommy is almost as pretty. I think he realized that might be backward and said they were the SAME amount of beautiful or something to that effect. The funny part is, his mom is a very attractive lady and reports that the music teacher is about 15 years older and has eighties hair. I'm sure his tastes will change!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Triple Blog Day
So I had to write this before I forgot. My sister, who lives about 3 1/2 hours away, recently called with excitement and urgency in her voice: "Hey! I am eating lunch in a parking lot across from an apartment complex and you will not believe what is parked there!" --- "What??" --- "A NEW van from the _____ Baptist Church down there!!" (meaning where I live). Then she begins her CSI - inspired speculations: "I mean, WHY would they have a church van up HERE?? You've got to call them tomorrow and find out if they've had a van stolen - doesn't your friend Ginger go to that church?" --- "Yeah - her whole family goes." --- "Well, then call her and see - she'll probably know." --- "I will. Wow! You might be a hero!"
Well, I forgot all about it until she called me later last week asking whatever became of the stolen van. So, I called the church right after we hung up. Here's how the conversation went:
"Hi - This may sound very weird, but my sister, who lives 3 1/2 hours away, called me and said that there was a new-looking church van of your church's up there in a parking lot. I talked to her again today and when she drove by, it's in the same spot. I guess I'm asking if you all have had a van stolen?"
"Ohhhhhhhh......that's my husband. Yeah, he's at a leadership conference he flew out of that city for and has a brother who lives there and said he could park there for free rather than the airport."
"Oh."
"Wow, your sister is very observant! Thank her for looking out for us."
"Oh, yeah - I will. Sorry."
So, tonight, I relayed the message to my sister, who has been waiting for the Fox News special report on how her expert detective work uncovered the stolen van operation. Through deep belly laughs and a little humble snorting on both of our parts, we kissed goodbye the appearances she had envisioned for her collecting her citizen of the year award. She now admits she might back off the late-night detective shows, but probably not.
One more, before I go to bed. This might gross you out, but when we first moved in to our glorious rental house, I hit up the local dollar store for a few items - which still seems weird, because it's not like I just got my own place or something, but it seemed I needed new rubbermaid items, etc. Anyway, I grabbed some very yummy-looking fig newton bars thinking, "Great breakfast on the go!" Congratulations to me. The appeal of those bars quickly dissipated when J pulled on of the cellophane wrapped snacks from the box - LOADED WITH WORMS, MOTHS, TOO MUCH TO GATHER IN THE SECOND I ALLOWED MY EYES TO SEE IT.
I've thankfully never had my own experience of getting rid of moths, or worms, to my knowledge in 13 years of living on my own. I think it's punishment for the disgust I showed to my parents' pantry when they had their run with them a few years ago. One of those attitudes like, "DO SOMETHING!! It's repulsive!!" As if they are an easy little varmint to get rid of. Not at all the case. We have now thrown out ALL of our pantry goods that were not canned - which were bleached and then replaced with multiple moth bars, bleach-cleaned shelves, anything I could spray in there and left alone for days before replaced. (You'd be amazed what they laid their little maggot eggs in - even COFFEE filters. YUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCK!!!!!) Every replacement food we've bought resides in the deep freeze, now.
Well, I didn't know how this had affected my daughter until tonight. As I sat here on the phone with my sister, breaking the news, I noticed that she had been doing some writing. I'm always interested to see what she has written and read:
The food we bot at "Dollar" "Tree"
and then nothing more. It's funny how she put Dollar Tree in quotes, and even individually. Must be the grammatical feature last week at school. She might have gotten distracted - or run out of room. I've noticed sometimes she just stops writing if she runs out of room. More fun to go start something else than get another paper to finish the thought. I wonder where she gets that...
Anyway, I'll let you know later how her story ends.
p.s. my hair appointment got postponed. I get to drag out the suspense of whether or not I will end up looking like Ms. Hollywood below.
Time Discrepancy
Just noticed the last blog (it's 2:13 pm) posted as 11:09, so just like my answering machine that has never kept the actual time, I guess this thing doesn't either. I'm working up the courage to post a picture or short video for your enjoyment, so thanks for being patient on that one. So we'll do a before and after kind of thing, and I'll post a picture of what my friend Chrissi, who is also my haidresser will make me look like tomorrow. HA!!! We'll see about that!
Before I go, gotta tell you about L's statement just now as he comes up to me saying, "There are tentacles in my pants!! Look!! They're gonna grab you!!" He has actually stuck Doc Oct.'s, from a very cool Spiderman toy, tentacles in his britches, like his sister, and is attacking various pieces of furniture. You can imagine what I thought he meant when he first said that! Reminds me of my friend Jennifer's daughter asking her what "Lust" means on the way home the first week of kindergarten.
Pajamas All Day Long
So it's 1:00 in the afternoon and we all still have our pajamas on. Received the very welcome 5:30 am phone call, "No school today!!" and was so excited I couldn't get back to sleep. However, with the lower body workout I did on Sunday afternoon making my legs feel like they'd been bludgeoned and then my muscles put through a medieval torture device, I decided I'd watch the trio of network morning shows until the kids got up. J was kind enough to hang some makeshift, dark curtains up the other day when I told him there were people driving around in the vacant field behind our rental house and that provided me with enough fake darkness to fall back to sleep - I'm embarrassed to say - until 10:00. But the body needs rest, right? The kids were of course jumping all over me from 9:30 - 10:00 playing 'cave' and finally the guilt got me up and making breafast.
I'm amazed that the framers are working today. It's insanely cold and putting on a roof on icy beams doesn't sound too cozy, but we really lucked out with our framers THIS time. Of course, last time, I wouldn't even get C out of the car (she was three then) because they frightened me so much. I think, collectively, they had 7 teeth between them. The 4 weeks, with perfect weather, turned into 9, but in the end, it all got done. Here it's single digit wind chills, and they're putting on a roof! J asked him when we stopped by yesterday if they needed anything and the lead guy said, "Yeah! A big, 'ol space heater the size of your house."
So we've played cave, had a breakfast the kids derived the menu for (scrambled eggs, blueberry waffles & yogurt), skateboarded back and forth in the kitchen, done a few crafts, built a couple of forts under tables and between ottomans, and now we're back to crafts - making signs for the forts. We'll clean it all up at 4:30 so when daddy comes home, we'll look productive.
I did manage to watch an episode of "What Not to Wear" that I couldn't take my eyes off of because the victim of Stacy and Clinton's (or Quentin's?) reminded me so much of my friend Jennifer - http://www.m-mphoto.com/ & her professional website (click 'about' for a pic):her blog: http://m-mphoto.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/index.html
Well, at this point, I'm sick of my pajamas, the roads are good, and we're off to pick out a bathtub against the kids' wishes, of course. I think at the end of this if I don't see HGTV for the rest of my life, I'll be fine.
I'm amazed that the framers are working today. It's insanely cold and putting on a roof on icy beams doesn't sound too cozy, but we really lucked out with our framers THIS time. Of course, last time, I wouldn't even get C out of the car (she was three then) because they frightened me so much. I think, collectively, they had 7 teeth between them. The 4 weeks, with perfect weather, turned into 9, but in the end, it all got done. Here it's single digit wind chills, and they're putting on a roof! J asked him when we stopped by yesterday if they needed anything and the lead guy said, "Yeah! A big, 'ol space heater the size of your house."
So we've played cave, had a breakfast the kids derived the menu for (scrambled eggs, blueberry waffles & yogurt), skateboarded back and forth in the kitchen, done a few crafts, built a couple of forts under tables and between ottomans, and now we're back to crafts - making signs for the forts. We'll clean it all up at 4:30 so when daddy comes home, we'll look productive.
I did manage to watch an episode of "What Not to Wear" that I couldn't take my eyes off of because the victim of Stacy and Clinton's (or Quentin's?) reminded me so much of my friend Jennifer - http://www.m-mphoto.com/ & her professional website (click 'about' for a pic):her blog: http://m-mphoto.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/index.html
Well, at this point, I'm sick of my pajamas, the roads are good, and we're off to pick out a bathtub against the kids' wishes, of course. I think at the end of this if I don't see HGTV for the rest of my life, I'll be fine.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Lucky
How we missed any damage with last night's multiple tornadoes, I don't know, but I am more than grateful. Our built - in - thirty - minutes rental does not have a truly adequate place to take shelter, but we settled with the laundry room, hoping we wouldn't end up underneath a washer or dryer! Both bathrooms are on the ends of the house. We laid piles of pillows and blankets and beloved stuffed animals on the floor, and brought L's twin mattress with us and pretty much made that bed for the night. J is too cool to take shelter from tornadoes. He likes to stand on the front porch and greet them. The kids were so calm and brave (even though they made references to the little bit of Desperate Housewives I was watching the night before with Wysteria Lane obliterated by a tornado - NOT the primetime to watch this week!) How we missed our basement!!
We got through two rough pass-by ?tornadoes? and then at about 2:00 things calmed down enough to return to the bedroom. Next thing I knew, J was waking me and said to get back to the laundry room - you all know what your houses sounded like then. Like the bricks were going to fly off one by one and head to the next town. The windows were rattling as if they were loose in their framing. We are fortunate enough to live very close to the siren pole - so there was that kid-friendly music for added effect. Cleared us again. I don't know how we kept dodging the bullet - but I'm so thankful we did.
Through it all, there was that gut feeling of our 90% framed house blowing away. "Uninsurable until able to be locked and enclosed" was what the insurance man had just said when recently asked. We would have been ruined - about $50,000 in labor and framing gone in an instant, with no return. But God is good, and heard my prayers, and protected our partial home over there. J went as soon as soon as he could this morning to assess it all only to meet the 84 lumber guy with a huge load for the decking. I guess it's business as usual for them!
One last thought was how sweet L was with his prayers last night. He was saying "Jesus" so often and thanked Him for our cars, repeatedly. We tried not to frighten them, but it was all very real and unavoidable. With weather like this, we have no power than to pray, duck, and cover.
We got through two rough pass-by ?tornadoes? and then at about 2:00 things calmed down enough to return to the bedroom. Next thing I knew, J was waking me and said to get back to the laundry room - you all know what your houses sounded like then. Like the bricks were going to fly off one by one and head to the next town. The windows were rattling as if they were loose in their framing. We are fortunate enough to live very close to the siren pole - so there was that kid-friendly music for added effect. Cleared us again. I don't know how we kept dodging the bullet - but I'm so thankful we did.
Through it all, there was that gut feeling of our 90% framed house blowing away. "Uninsurable until able to be locked and enclosed" was what the insurance man had just said when recently asked. We would have been ruined - about $50,000 in labor and framing gone in an instant, with no return. But God is good, and heard my prayers, and protected our partial home over there. J went as soon as soon as he could this morning to assess it all only to meet the 84 lumber guy with a huge load for the decking. I guess it's business as usual for them!
One last thought was how sweet L was with his prayers last night. He was saying "Jesus" so often and thanked Him for our cars, repeatedly. We tried not to frighten them, but it was all very real and unavoidable. With weather like this, we have no power than to pray, duck, and cover.
Monday, January 7, 2008
(Another old draft. I think I was delirious.)
4:33 am was the last time I looked at the clock this morning. I remember the lesson I didn't learn from back in grade school with the Science Fair experiment I hadn't completed, due the next day: procastination gets you nothing but stressed. I honestly didn't know I could still pull an all nighter - and it's weird how this has actually been a really great teaching day, too. It's that energy that comes out of nowhere. Being in a kitchen table chair from 9:30 to 4:30 has its residual effects. I need a donut pillow if I'm gonna do that again. Then Murphy's Law struck: the site was down where we load our grades onto from about 10:45 - 2:00. I just checked and checked over and over and it finally uploaded. You're probably thinking I will learn my lesson and that this won't happen again, but just wait until the end of 3rd quarter!
It was the weather's fault, of course it wasn't mine. We had beautiful weather after what seemed like a month of indoor recess style days - going from a 2 degree wind chill last week to a record high in the 70's yesterday. I couldn't work with all of that good air.
My sister said I shouldn't blog late at night. I might put something in here that would offend someone (already happened). So, since I'm sleep deprived, I'm just gonna keep it safe and show a video of D opening her new American Girl at H's family Christmas. Grandma Peggy hit a grand slam with that one!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
I love lists (I hear it's a first-born thing)
Today I'm going to list a few things I'm especially thankful for. There will be many, many things left off the list, because I need to get home to my crock pot dinner I'm dreaming of...
1. How S crawls into bed with me in the mornings and says, "Mommy, you're warmie," and falls back to sleep.
2. D's endless 'good days' and how I have the privilege of walking over to pick her up each day from school.
3. H's patience and seeming to telepathically know when an already-produced meal or drawn bath will be needed when I get home.
4. My 25 bright, shiny faces and little minds to mold.
5. Unexpected emails from friends with exciting and juicy info.
6. Champagne breakfast on New Year's Day - and every single thing on that buffet (ahhhh...the prime rib.)
7. Trees. I just love trees.
8. Low-fat cheese sticks with marinara sauce.
9. Christmas Break
10. Second Chances
11. Chart paper and colored sharpies
12. Country music songs that tell stories like, "I love this bar" or "John Deere Green".
13. Leftovers for lunch.
14. The gift of teaching American History & getting kids excited about it.
15. Scrapbooking stores (and gift certificates to those stores ; ) )
16. That the liquor law was lifted and our town will get some REAL restaurants now.
17. Christmas decorations and how they add magic to the house. (Yesterday S gasped with horror when I said, "We probably need to take down the tree." He thought it was a permanent fixture, I guess).
18. Email.
19. Heated seats.
20. Loving family and friends.
Like I said, this list could continue until next June (ahhh...June. warmie.) So I'll go check out the progress on the house from today. Another thing to be grateful for.
1. How S crawls into bed with me in the mornings and says, "Mommy, you're warmie," and falls back to sleep.
2. D's endless 'good days' and how I have the privilege of walking over to pick her up each day from school.
3. H's patience and seeming to telepathically know when an already-produced meal or drawn bath will be needed when I get home.
4. My 25 bright, shiny faces and little minds to mold.
5. Unexpected emails from friends with exciting and juicy info.
6. Champagne breakfast on New Year's Day - and every single thing on that buffet (ahhhh...the prime rib.)
7. Trees. I just love trees.
8. Low-fat cheese sticks with marinara sauce.
9. Christmas Break
10. Second Chances
11. Chart paper and colored sharpies
12. Country music songs that tell stories like, "I love this bar" or "John Deere Green".
13. Leftovers for lunch.
14. The gift of teaching American History & getting kids excited about it.
15. Scrapbooking stores (and gift certificates to those stores ; ) )
16. That the liquor law was lifted and our town will get some REAL restaurants now.
17. Christmas decorations and how they add magic to the house. (Yesterday S gasped with horror when I said, "We probably need to take down the tree." He thought it was a permanent fixture, I guess).
18. Email.
19. Heated seats.
20. Loving family and friends.
Like I said, this list could continue until next June (ahhh...June. warmie.) So I'll go check out the progress on the house from today. Another thing to be grateful for.
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