T minus 14 hours

Seasons Greetings!!

I have never been so excited to have a vacation coming up...I am probably counting down the hours more than the kids...14 more hours with the kiddos and I'm free for a full two weeks. Since I graduated, I have not had a full 2 weeks off becasue the others districts always went back the day after New Year's...so excited. I don't know what I am going to do with myself...here are some ideas:


* Maybe put up my Christmas decorations...and then take them down
* Bake...cookies maybe? pie?
* Get my driver's license (haven't had mine since I lost mine 6 months ago..:( )
* Read one of the many books on my "unread" shelf
* Get my car washed
* Catch up on my Days of Our Lives drama
*See some of my friends I haven't seen since school started
* Any other ideas??

I love my kiddos but I need a break from them. I know a lot of them are very uneasy about spending 2 weeks at home, because they don't get a lot of attention and there isn't anything for them to do. So I am sending home color packets with math and mazes-they love that!

Until Friday, I am counting down the hours...and possibly the minutes :)

Change is inevitable...

It has already been a long week. I dreaded going back to work yesterday. I had been sick my whole 5 days off, and I was scared of being sick at school. I just have to give 150% of myself t my kids, and if I'm sick, that's impossible. I was also nervous because the first day back after a weekend is always rough, but coming back after 5 days off?? I knew it would be rough.

It was also a full moon last night. If you're a teacher, you've probably heard this before, but kids are CRAZY when there is a full moon. It seems like everything goes wrong. My kids were actually pretty good...I missed them and they seemed happy to get back to school.

I did find out that I'm losing 2 more students. I started out the year with 26, and I currently have 23. One transfered schools yesterday due to a lack of after school care at our school, and another one is moving on Friday. I am potentially losing another...her mother is a nutcase. She is saying that a 5th grader is bullying her at school and on the bus. I guess this girl jumped on my student on the bus, and she had a red spot on her head. THe mother took her to the hospital (by ambulance) and called screaming at our director. Her father came in and wanted the name of the girl and they wanted to press charges. My student told her mom that she had told me about this girl and I hadn't done anything...TOTAL LIE!!! Like I would allow another student to bully my student and not say or do anything. So it's already been a long week...

But tomorrow is already Wednesday. I have much to look forward to in the next few days. Thursday is Drew's Breast Cancer concert and Ann's going away party and Drew's birthday, Friday we are going out to celebrate Drew's birthday, and Saturday is Chad's and my 3 year anniversary. We are excited to spend the day together...

Hope all is well with you and yours...Christmas is inching closer and the carols are playing. Great time of year!

I am Thankful for...

Each year at Thanksgiving, I reflect on the past year and where I am in my life. I usually try to look at my hardships and difficulties and try to see them as something to be thankful for...so here is my written attempt at expressing what I am thankful for...

I am thankful for:

1. Having a teaching job

2. Hugs from my kids at the end of a hard day

3. Living in a nice home with a wonderful guy and my adorable kitty

4. I have my parents, my brother, all my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins

5. I am doing what I love

6. I have a great relationship with my parents, who support me in every aspect of my life :)

7. Working with great people!

8. I have a short drive to work

9. My family has a cabin where I love to go and spend time

10. I have lasting relationships with close friends

So there's my written attempt at putting my thoughts on paper (or blog). I hope you all think of what you have to be thankful for during this time, and focus less on what you don't have...BE THANKFUL!!!

Love to all!

Happiness is...

It's funny how much life can change in a few years. 5 years ago, I loved to go out, go shopping, go to the bars as much as I could, and was even studying for my last finals. Now, my favorite things include laying on the couch with Chad, spending time with my family, spending hours at Barnes and Noble or any teacher store, and having coffee with my best girl friends. Happiness to me now, is so much simpler than it was 5 years ago. If 21-year olds don't think they will change much, they are in for a surprise. Others things have dramatically changed...the wedding I wanted 5 years ago is completely different than the wedding I want now. My wardrobe has completely changed---gone are the high heels, tight jeans, sexy shirts, and "hoochie" outfits. I now love my Tsubo track shoes, my relaxed jeans, and my favorite grey and black long-sleeved t's. Don't get me wrong...I do wear the occasional hoochie outfit. 5 years ago, I dreaded going to the cabin on the weekends, especially in the winter. Now, I can't wait to get to the cabin and I would love to spend each weekend there..It's these simple changes that show me how I have changed in the last 5 years. I guess I'm a little reminiscent because my "little" brother is graduating from college in a month. Okay...enough blabbing...Here are some cute pics that are potential Christmas Cards....

This one is our favorite...we all look so scary :)

Still???

I hate being sick. I have had a cold for 2 weeks now and I am sick of it. I haven't missed a day of school yet, and I put 6 hours in today. I didn't plan to work that long, but I found so many things to do. My director came before me and left before me...that's when I knew I had to leave. It's so hard for me to leave with so much to do...but my wonderful momma brought me a surprise of my favorite apples, so that made my day.

Another week passes by...

TGIF!!!

I finally fully understand what that saying really means. I realized today that I need to slow down with my kids and focus more on management and less on academics. As much as it drives me nuts, my kids just aren't ready for full-on academics yet...we can't even walk through the hall properly and quietly So we practiced today...but we also got to have some fun.

We played the human pretzel...they loved it. We actually unknotted the pretzel with 20 of us...I was amazed at their teamwork. I knew they could do it!

We also got to play some more on our new playground...the kids love it! It's so much fooler than what we had as kids...here are some pics of my cuties...

I'm so excited that it's the holiday season...I love Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. I'm excited to hear Christmas music, decorate the house, and to see snow...I know I know...but it's not winter and the holidays without snow...

Looking forward to a relaxing, rejuvenating weekend...enjoy yours :)