My Cutie Pie

I bought Henry a new toy recently- its made just like a tennis ball. Not the same shape, though. He just loves it. It comes up to bed with him every night- I keep stepping on it during my many trips to the bathroom.

Henry taking a break- its such hard work to keep a wild toy under control. Its like watching a rodeo.

I love this one- he put his paw through and started gnawing on the toy. Then he couldn't get his paw out. Bless his heart- he's not all that bright.

Gas Update

29.8 miles per gallon. Ha!

Nursery Photos

Just for you, T...
Poor Henry. He's so confused by this whole thing.

Scary Man

I heard about this on the radio today, and I laughed so hard. I wonder where I can find my own weird folk singer for my classroom...

Bob Dylan reportedly scared the children at his grandson's kindergarten after treating the class to a live show.
The "It Ain't Me Babe" singer has allegedly been dubbed the "weird man" by children in the class, in the Los Angeles suburb Calabas, where his son Jakob Dylan's child attends.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: "The kids have been coming home and telling their parents about the weird man who keeps coming to class to sing scary songs on his guitar.
"He's been visiting the school just for fun, but the kids don't appreciate they are in the presence of a musical legend. They just think of him as the weird guitar guy."

We've had a nice weekend. Very low key. We went to a Cinco de Mayo get together on Friday at a friend's house. Yesterday we put up the changing table in the nursery, and I've been rearranging it every two hours until I have it how I think I want it. Which lasts for another two hours until I go back and move more stuff. I'm looking forward to the next week at school. Tomorrow is a work day- no students!- and Friday I'm off. Three days with the kids- not too bad.

Today I learned that Troy still makes awesome banana bread. There's nothing quite like the heel with butter. Mmmmm...

Happy Weekend to All!

Its Friday. I survived another week. Grant spent about twenty minutes this afternoon trying to come out my belly button. My students were all nuts. The teachers are tired and cranky. But we've made it again.

Not much planned. I went to bed at 8:30 last night since we're going to a party tonight at a friend's house. I might stay awake until ten or so! I need to get to the library tomorrow, since I have some books that are due Monday. I've been reading up a storm. I liked "A Good Year" by Peter Mayle. It was a quick, fun read. "Ella in Bloom" was also good- I can't remember the author. I'm almost done with "The Ballroom on Magnolia Street" by Sharon Owens. Its been cute so far.

I've also been doing some Hardanger work again. I don't know why the mood hits when it does, but I just go with it. I'm hoping that this project is one I'll finish. I think I have too many started.

Today I learned that most dogs don't like the sound of rocks or coins shaking in a metal can. This can be used to discipline them. I'd never heard it before.

Gas

I've been driving my Civic for nearly a year. Gas prices here are at $2.89 a gallon for 87 octane. I'm turning in to a miles-per-gallon snob. I set my little trip meter each time I fill up, and after I've put more in the tank I get all excited about my 34 mpg or disappointed with my 27 mpg. Is that sad? I'm beginning to wonder.

Its raining here, which we need greatly. However, it has caused Field Day, the day I dread most of all, to be postponed from tomorrow to next Friday. Yippee! I'm off next Friday to attend a wedding. I GOT OUT OF FIELD DAY!!!

Today I learned that my dad's new chemo pills are sized for horses. Yuck.

Relay for Life

We had a lunch at school today to raise money for the relay team. We made a lot of money, but it was a lot of work. I helped with cookies, salad, and distribution. I think I'll discourage any coming lunches. I'm too tired, or too pregnant, to deal with this! However, the money is helping us get really close to our goal.

The kids have lost their minds. I want no more writing about bodily functions! It may be terrible that they're done with their portfolios- there's not all that much that we're needing to get done in my room. We are reviewing for their math SOL test.

Henry has done well staying out of his crate while we're at work. This is his second week of being all grown up, and he seems to be handling it quite well. No accidents or mass destruction.

Here's Henry, wearing an old sweater of Nana's with my assistant Gwyn. He's so much cuter than my sister's cats.

Today I learned that my principal doesn't trust the other staff at the school not to eat each others' lunches. We had to write everyone's names on their bag. Just in case.

Its been awhile...

I've decided to try this blog again. I started the baby focused one, but there's not all that much to write about. However, I do enjoy being a member of the blogging community. So here I go. If this fails this time, I'll give up. I promise.

Its hot and my ankles are huge. Guess what my OB told me? Its hot and you're pregnant. Its normal. Lucky me. My blood pressure is fine, though. So I'm in good shape.

Work is going well. I'm getting things all wrapped up, which helps me sleep at night. Boy do I sleep well at night! I wake up a lot to use the bathroom, but I'm dreaming and all. I had a dream last night that was reminiscent of Titanic. Boats sinking really quickly into the ocean. There were several other extremely surreal moments, but the boat sinking thing was really freaky. I felt like I was free falling in my dream.

Today I learned that sometimes kids with really big learning problems don't qualify for special education. Even if they really need it.

Spring Break

It's about darn time. Today is a workday until about noon, then we teachers get to officially start our spring break. I love my students, but I need these ten days away from them. We even had an episode of angry spitting on Wednesday. No, I don't work with llamas. I've been spending the morning getting things cleaned up in my classroom so that I'm ready for school to start fresh in a week.

I have a good bit of stuff to do over spring break, so don't worry about me getting bored. I just can't believe I'll be completely finished with school and grad school in less than two months. I've also been adding to my summer schedule by offering to work with more kids over the summer. I'm up to four definitely, one tentatively. Five kids should keep me busy.

Wednesday I learned that I can have my students mop the floor if they spit on it.

Better Day

We got so much done today! I'm very proud of my students. Behavior was much better after talking to another teacher and coming up with a plan. The kids, thank goodness, will buy into just about anything.

Tonight should be busy. I'm meeting a professor, baking cookies for a "spring table" at school tomorrow, and grocery shopping to bake aforementioned cookies. I guess busy is good. No chance to get bored. People keep thinking I'll be bored this summer. First of all, I don't think I will get bored. Second, is there anything wrong with being bored?!? I happen to think it might be welcomed to wake up with an empty day ahead. I know Henry would like that very much!

Today I learned that I'm going to have to raise a stink if I don't want to play golf this weekend.

Forever

I'm feeling the need to vent, so I figured this would be the place to do it.

I'm FED UP with my job right now. I'm desperately hoping that spring break (next week) does something to alleviate my suffering. The kids are nuts. The teachers are nuts. The administrators are nuts. I'm (you guessed it) nuts.

The weather is beautiful. Henry is great. Troy is wonderful.

Today I learned that measuring with beans is easier than using water.

My Special Valentine

One of my students gave me a valentine story.

"Once apon a time there was a girl and boy named Olivia and Darius Smith. They was going to the beach and they kept staring at each other while they were hanging with there friends. They were about to get a divorce but they madly couldn't resist each other and happily married each other and she became a smith."

You should see the drawing of Olivia and Darius that came with the story.

One Month...

...Left until comps. Fourteen weeks left in school. Only a small ounce of sanity left in my body.

School and school are going well. I'm busy with studying and paperwork and educational testing. The kids are ready for some snow days, but I don't know if we'll actually get any. This weekend I intend on studying and sewing. That always makes for a funfilled, exciting break from the daily grind.

Nothing new... Henry's fine, Troy's fine. I'm fine. Today I learned that kids can be hateful and then best friends and cruel and sweet- all in thirty seconds.

Long Time

I know, its been simply FOREVER since I posted. Right now I'm avoiding work, so I figured I'd do this. I fell down the stops last night due to ice, so my back is hurting. We got about six inches of snow on Saturday, which was beautiful. It was unfortunate that it happened on a Saturday. We had a one hour delay this morning, but I want some full days off. We still have six.

I've been dieting well, and I'm down to 180, ten pounds lost since returning from the cruise. I'm four pounds shy of where I was when I fell off the WW wagon. I'm proud that I'm doing it my way, and my way is pretty easy to stick to. Mom- have you found what your goal is yet?

Henry still has runny poo. He's also being a booger by wanting to sit on my lap in my orange chair. Its hard to do a crossword puzzle with him on top of me. We're waiting for the results of his latest fecal film.

Not much else is going on. Four months of grad school left. It seems like that's forever away, but I know its a blink of an eye. I just want to finish up so that my time is my own again.

Today I learned that every couple of months, you simply have to throw stuff away. Otherwise, your classroom becomes a junk pit.

Work Day

Today there were no students at school. I don't think I accomplished as much as I'd've liked, but I'm ready to teach again tomorrow. Its pretty boring at school with no students. I'm not really looking forward to going to class tonight, but that's one class closer to graduation, so I'm up for it.

Menu for January 22:
Frosted Cheerios 1.5 1 serving 165
Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A (fat free or skim) 0.75 1 cup 64.2
Chicken Club Panini 1 1 serving 320
Luna Lemonzest Bar 1 1 serving 180
Margherita Pizza 1 1 serving 320
Sandies Snack Bag 2 1 serving 200
Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A (fat free or skim) 1 1 cup 85.5

Today I learned that sometimes, there's no good way to arrange furniture in a room. Sometimes the room is just bad.

Food

I've lost eight pounds since Christmas. I'm doing it by keeping my claories at 1450 per day, give or take. I have 1 1/2 cups of frosted cheerios with 3/4 cups skim will for breakfast. (About 225 calories) I have a Luna bar for a midmorning snack- 180 calories. I have a Lean Cuisine meal for lunch- 240-280 calories. I have a Pria shake for a midafternoon snack- 170 calories. I have another Lean Cuisine meal for dinner- 240-380 calories. Then, I have skim milk and cookies (90 calories and 100 calories- I use the prepackaged cookies) for an evening snack. I haven't had much trouble with the hypoglycemia.
My favorite Lean Cuisine meals: any of the new paninis, the margherita pizza, four cheese canniloni, beef portabello, basil chicken, chicken with peanut sauce, thai style chicken... I really do like them. I've gotten used to eating the smaller portions. I used to be okay with them for lunch but not dinner. It seemed so small!
Tomorrow we're going to a Chinese restaurant for a coworker's birthday. I'll be having egg drop soup, thank you. The least unhealthy things there have cooked veggies in them, and I can't handle veggies. So the soup is pretty low calorie.
This weekend has been pretty slow. I've gotten lots of work done for teaching and grad school, which is nice. I'm working on doing lesson plans far in advance so I'm sure to get the VGLA done. However, tomorrow I'll be getting a new student on my caseload- woo hoo! Another eligibility meeting!
Today I learned that Henry thinks I'm a jungle gym when I'm lying on the sofa. He has no inhibitions about climbing all over me.

Marlarkey

The week is... sigh... over. I'm pooped! Things are really starting to get crunched here with classes and assessments and behavior and IEPs. However, I'll get plenty of rest and do lots of work this weekend. That will help a lot, I think.
Henry is feeling better. He's pretty well back to normal, so he's just obnoxious, instead of stinky and obnoxious. Boy do we love our dog! He'll have a good weekend- he likes it when we're both around to keep him occupied.
I think that's about it. I can't think of anything interesting.
Today I learned that you should never teach children the word "malarkey." They will use it to describe EVERYTHING.

Cold Day

Today I've been so cold!  When we arrived at school, we discovered that the power had gone out Saturday, causing our heating to stop working.  The school was freezing!  They had to get a part and fix it this morning.  It came on around 10:30.  At 11:00, our power went out for about 45 minutes.  The heat worked after that, but my fingers still haven't thawed yet.

 

I got a letter from the school administration building today informing me that I'm highly qualified in all areas of elementary education.  I knew I was, my coworkers knew I was, my principal knew I was.  Now I have the official paperwork that secures my title as "highly qualified," one of the biggest loads of bull#%$& to ever hit public education.

 

Now Troy and I are just spending a quiet evening hanging out with Henry.  I'm still cold.

 

Today I learned that its nearly impossible to schedule meetings with some parents.  Especially divorced, antagonistic parents that travel all the time and leave raising their emotionally scarred children with other people.

All is Right

In my little world.  Troy is home, Henry is being treated for worms (thank goodness for our new vet- we're switching permanently), and classes are starting.  I'm on the road to graduation!  I'm not too nervous about this semester.  It'll be a lot of work, but I'm prepared.  I've been scared of Dr. Polloway, but now I know how he is.  No surprises.  Work will be hard with IEPs and assessments coming up, but I'm in good shape, I think, to handle it.

I've lost 7 pounds since returning from the cruise.

This weekend was pretty uneventful.  I went to Walmart and Target just to get out of the house, watched 8 hours of Jane Austen movies in two days, and crocheted up a storm.  The one thing I didn't do as much of as I'd like was sleep.  Henry got me up between 5:30 and 6:30 every day.  (I do love him.  I'd love him more if he wasn't sick all the time.)

Today I learned that someone is passing a petition to reinstate the pledge in public schools.  I was very surprised- we say it every morning at my school.

Long Week

This week felt like it lasted a year. Nothing too bad, just so much work and stress already. I'm nervous about grad school starting because I don't know that I can handle something else. However, I've done it three semesters before and I'll do it again. This weekend is devoted to comps and crochet. I want to finish this afghan I'm working on. Hopefully Henry's tummy will be settled and he'll sleep through the night. I swear, I love that dog, but he's always got an upset stomach. If its not coming out one end, its coming out the other.
On a more pleasant note, I feel like I got a lot accomplished at work this week. The kids are starting to get worn down from the work of the year, even though we just came back from winter break. I'm motivating them with marshmallows. We're also reading about marshmallows, writing about marshmallows, and throwing them around a lot.
Today I learned that Friday afternoons are not a good time to do educational assessments.