Baby K is funny stuff

Okay, so last Monday I had to have a root canal. It truly was not bad and over in just an hour. After it was over, the dentist showed me the x-ray to illustrate where he broke the metal tip of the file off in my canal. So today I have to go to an endodontist in Montgomery to have the tip removed and the root canal finished.

Last night, I was holding Baby K and we were talking about today. I told her that my beautiful niece would be babysitting them today so I could have another root canal. Her response was, "So you can have four children?" I laughed so hard at her. Then she started whining and said, "I wheely don't like it when you laugh at me. I am not funny." That just made me laugh harder.


In their stockings at MeeMaw's house, they had these grow clothes. It is basically a wash cloth folded up compactly and it "grows" in water. Well, the girls did those last night and K came in with it on her head, dripping water. She said she was taking a shower. My thought was that it was harmless fun. At least she and Emmy were getting along. Bro Man came to get me later to show me something funny. He has a big, huge wooden loft-type bed. On the backside is a built in wardrobe/closet. He opened that to show me two buck-nekkid girls "showering". They were using the backside of his bed as a pretend shower and had gone so far as to strip down to their birthday suits in their pretend play.

Never a dull moment! Happy Monday!

Merry Christmas!

My children woke me up at 2:45 to tell me that Santa had been here and it was time to open gifts. Then hubby woke me up at 4:00 to tell me that it was 4:00. Then Baby K woke me up a few minutes later because she was "skeered."So I am up, basking in the love of the Lord and the peace and quiet. Merry Christmas to all of you. Hope you have a safe and happy holiday!

A Christmas Eve to remember

Christmas Eve started out beautifully. Bro Man was at BD's, so the girls got up and got dressed in their Christmas pj's. We hung out listening to some good music and baking. I had the most patience you could ever imagine a mother having. I had to make a run to the grocery store with pajama-ed kids in tow. They were so cute and well behaved. The day was quite uneventful until... after nap time. That's right...the dreaded nap. Emmy only slept about an hour and woke up the spawn of Satan. She has been a downright meanie. We took a family trip to get Bro Man and the fighting ensued. Bro Man has been so grown up and sweet and concerned, despite a shaky start where he reminded me several times that I ruined Christmas for him this year. I was so proud of myself for completing the sewing projects that I needed to finish. I was cleaning the house. I went outside to empty the litter box and clean it out in the rain. I came back in to be greeted by the two cutest demons you have ever seen, clutching the baby dress from the last post. Only this time, it had been scissored. That's right, folks. They cut the dress. I have since banned them from the sewing room permanently, have phoned Santa to tell him not to come, and threatened to cut up their dresses. Only at this last thought were they upset. Then as I finish explaining the permanance of what they did, Emmy gets up and goes to get into cookie icing. I just sent her to bed; I am sure she did not go. But I don't care....she'll hide from me for a little while and I'll sit here enjoying my Christmas Eve sandwich...until 8:00, then it is the real bedtime. Merry Christmas!

Staying Busy

So I haven't blogged in a while and I am about to show you why. I am staying busy making Christmas gifts and Christmas outfits and decorations. I thought I would finally show you what I have been doing. This is a newborn dress that I made (minus the buttons). It is red corduroy with a red and white striped lining.





This is a $1 ornament I picked up at Walmart the other day and a mirror that I have had laying around for a few months. The white behind the tree are the ceiling tiles being reflected in the mirror.
I started these with plain glass ornaments. I added vinyl B's cut with the cricut, add a little ribbon and all done. I also picked up a pack of the fancy ornament hangers that will accompany this once complete.
The bottom picture is of two boxes of Christmas cards that I picked up at the dollar store this weekend. I thought they were so pretty, but once I got them signed, I dismantled them and stole the dove. A little ribbon tie on these will make lovely ornaments, don't you think?

Friends

I have decided to beat the depression that have overtaken me, and part of that is discussing the things that are haunting me.

I have been struggling for a while now with the fact that I have no friends other than my bestie/sister. But life pulls us in different directions and we don't get to talk to or see each other much. Today in the Wal, I ran into a family that we used to be very good friends with. I used to babysit her children after school every day, her son and my son were inseparable. We worked on many projects together at church, carved pumpkins together at Halloween, went trick or treating together, took the boys to the George Strait concert. We would get all of the kids in the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights. We had a special night a few nights before Christmas with just our families where we would have dinner and exchange gifts. But then we moved.....15 miles away... and we haven't done anything else with them. In fact, I don't even get email or phone calls from her anymore. And the last few times that I have seen them, it has been extremely difficult to even hold a conversation with her. She is always so preoccupied with everything else, no matter where it is. And I miss her. I miss them.

Fast forward a few years. I babysat a baby named Drew. He was born 8 weeks before Baby K. I started keeping him two weeks after she was born. So I had a 1 year old, a 10 week old, and a newborn. Things were okay and I managed well until they started crawling. And then I couldn't handle it many anymore. I told his mother and told her that I would keep him until she could find somewhere else. The very next day Drew was removed from my house permanently. We lost touch with them, even though my husband works with Drew's dad. More importantly, I miss the companionship that I had with them. The mother and I spent many hours together visiting, talking, shopping, playing with the babies. Our families went out to dinner together and went to the rodeo together. Drew's parents have since divorced, the dad remarried with another child, and I have seen Drew once in the last 2 1/2 years when I ran into Dad and new wife in Wal.

Keith and I have talked often about why it is that we don't have friends. Sure we have acquaintances, but I mean true friends. I have Leigh and without her I would be lost. But we live an hour apart. We can't just meet up any time we want to. Is this just life? Keith says the only reason that I was friends with the two aforementioned women was because they had to be nice to me while I was keeping their children. But I don't believe that. Because it went more than just "being nice." We actually did stuff together without our children, and with our children outside of babysitting hours. Am I wrong to long for this kind of friendship again?

I have been considering going back to our old church. We haven't been to ours in months now. I felt needed at our old church, and thought I had developed some meaningful friendships through work in the church. There are people there that I still see and hug every time I see them. There are people there that I miss amazingly. But the fact that in three years, they have not even attempted to contact me in any way upsets me. Why do friendships matter more to me than to the other person? (I know that church is not about me. But an important part of us feeling at home in a church is our relationships with other people.)

Another example is my former best friend (she has been replaced by Leigh). I just feel like I have always been more of a friend to her than she has been to me. I bend over backwards to see her and never once have I had the same. And now she is married. I get emails with pics of her and her husband or her family, but nothing personal in a long time. I get the occassional birthday party invite. But never a phone call. And when I call, she always has a reason that she can't talk and she's very sorry and she'll call me back at so-and-so time and she never does.

I know that life pulls people in different directions. We all have responsibilities to our spouses and our children. But why when we used to make time for one another can we not do it anymore?

The New Me

I am often a very sad person. I love to laugh, but I do not laugh easily. I am highly stressed most of the time. Nothing really seems to make me happy. And I see that reflected in my child. Bro Man, too, is unhappy most of the time--for no reason. He is quick to get his feelings hurt, not a great sense of humor, cannot laugh at himself. My concern is not for me. It is for an eight-year old who seems depressed.

It has occurred to me that I must change to see a change in him. I have changed alot since being married to Mr. Wonderful, learning to laugh at myself or not get my feelings hurt so easily. But he's only 8, and that breaks my heart. I am always telling him not to be so sad, but then I realized he is mirroring what he sees from me.

I am extremely hard on myself. I think that when I go to school for soooooo long now, that my job should come easily. Teaching is harder than I ever thought that it would be. And I am so hard on myself for that. I feel like there is some magical formula for these teachers whose classes actually sit down and do their work. And because I do not know this formula, I beat myself up. Bro Man is much the same way. If school work is not a breeze for him, he beats himself up. He calls himself stupid, or grumbles and complains about how hard it is. He is in third grade now and is learning a harder math.

I realized something the other night. I have been asking for a while now for God's intervention. But I don't think until the other night that I have been willing to accept it. I realized that I have been unhappy about my weight for almost nine years now. But I really have done nothing to change it. So, it is time to accept me for me. Either I have to be willing to accept myself as I am or be willing to change myself. I explained to Bro Man the other night that we only have one life, one shot at happiness in this life. It is too short to be upset or sad or angry all the time. We have to enjoy each other, laugh together, love together, worship the Lord together. We have to love the Lord with all of our hearts, our families with all of our hearts, and be happy.

I explained to him (and to myself) that is something seems hard, we just have to put more effort into it and try a little harder. We've always got a little more in us than we are willing to give. For example, I took Friday off because I was ready to strangle any given student. Not really--just really frustrated. When I came back yesterday, refreshed and with a new and improved attitude, it quickly blew up in my face. I thought that I came back with more energy and less stress ( I finished my online class.) I thought I had more patience, but then my students told me that I came back with a bad attitude. I think the perception is different because when I am refreshed, I attempt to bring some order back to the classroom in a very difficult class. They do not respond well to order, and they perceive it as less patient.

I have to realize that is isn't how they perceive me, because I know that I am doing the right thing by attempting to cease the chaos. I can only pray that my improved outlook will rub off on Bro Man the way that the unhappiness has.

Inspirations Manifested

Well, back during the summer, I undertook an inspirational project that I am just now getting around to posting. I posted a picture of a dresser back then. Here it is again: the before.

I used this for inspiration.

and came up with this, which I love. I think it is a pretty good representation of the chair. I have one more to do now. Come on Christmas break!!


Stay tuned for Christmas ornament idea and teacher gifts.

Mariachi Hell

Okay, so I was not in the greatest of moods yesterday. I am completely and totally exhausted. I was up for two hours yesterday morning instead of sleeping. Actually, I was up and down and up and down for two hours. It started at 2:30 when Baby K woke me up to take her to the bathroom. Gladly I did so because waking up during the night for the bathroom is a very big step in life for a newly three year old. When she finished pottying, she came to my bed with me--to share my pillow and my blanket while I am stuck clinging to the edge of the bed for dear life. Next, Mr. Wonderful looks at me and tells me he has one of his famous tension headaches. After fifteen minutes or so, he just would not stop talking, so I gladly moved to his side of the bed and massaged his back and shoulder while literally fighting to keep my eyes open. Fast forward fifteen minutes and I am back lying on my corner of the pillow. All of the sudden, the dog is chasing the cat through the hallway, dining room, living room in a circle (hardwood floors and a jingly collar). I get up and stop the madness. Lie back down. 30 minutes later I hear Christmas ornaments jingling on the tree. I go in there expecting to find them swatting the lower ornaments and find this:
(check back later to see picture. I have to get ready for work now.)

Jack wants to go outside. I let him out with some scolding words of how I am not staying up to let him back in. Back to bed. Yelping 30 minutes later at the door. Let him in. He comes in like a maniac making a beeline for the cat. Enter these words," Jack, get on that couch right now." He does. "Now go to sleep." He lays down. "Don't move again." He was still there when I got up at 5:00.

Sorry that was a long background story. I'll give you the reader's digest condensed version of this. School=Hell. And another incomplete AUM class project because I don't know how to design a website. Whole family goes to eat at El Rodeo. I am in a mood and realize it. But we walk into a packed, margarita drinking crowd and lo and behold a mariachi band. Now, I probably could have handled it better in its original context, but the mariachi band was playing Sweet Home Alabama in Spanish. In my ear. Thankfully, they stopped after they played it twice in a row. Towards the end of our meal they resumed eating and I respectfully denied their request for a song choice. They moved on to play Sweet Home Alabama AGAIN, but in English this time. Then Beat It by Michael Jackson, which was actually pretty good. I did not know the next two songs, but was so highly tickled by one particularly drunk nurse. She was getting a solo by one of the mariachi singers and she decided to up and sing. Baby K put on a little bit of a show, too. She stood in the booth, bouncing while holding on to the back of the bench, shaking her little toosh. It was too cute. She kept getting plumber's crack, too. Or as the kids call it, she was cracking. Insert a Happy Birthday song or three and let's call it a night. Time for a siesta!

Sad, but Beautiful

Head on over to my sister Leigh's blog to read first hand the sad part, but I have to tell you a beautiful story that has really touched my heart. First, a little background info. Leigh has a thirteen year old daughter that she has been having some trouble with. You can read about it here. She has gone to spend this week with her father in Florida. She got some money for her birthday and had planned to buy herself a new digital camera yesterday. Kayla, Leigh's daughter, received word Thursday that one of her best friends was in a car accident and was in a medically-induced coma. Yesterday, she called her mom and asked her to verify the latest information that she heard concerning Haley: that she had been pronounced brain dead. Leigh called and did in fact verify that information. On the phone Kayla told Leigh that she was not going to buy the digital camera after all. She was going to use her money to buy flowers and a teddy bear for Haley. I cry as I write this at the beauty of her unselfishness. See, you don't know Kayla. She has a very big heart, but she also loves to get her way. Sometimes one is blinded by the attitude and is unable to see that inner beauty. But she is so beautiful--inside and out.

I pray for her because I am all too aware of the pain of losing a friend. To a teenager, this is devastating. Heck, to an adult this is devastating. I remember being in college and hearing the news that my best friend's boyfriend had been killed in a car accident. We had company at the time, and I spent the next few hours in the bathroom crying. Even thinking now about that night when I found out Shane was gone is painful (13 years later). Just this school year I witnessed first hand the pain. A 16 yo GHS student was killed in a car wreck. Oh my gosh. It was horrible, even though I did not know her. She was the ex-girlfriend of my oldest, tough-guy nephew. He absolutely lost it when he heard of Amy's death.

Life is too short, people. I was reminded many times last night of Haley when I was frustrated with the never-ending demands of my own children. How quickly it can all be taken away. I am reduced to tears every time I think of how Haley's parents must feel. I had just finished talking to Amy's grandmother yesterday when Leigh called with the news.

We do not always understand the way that God works. We do not understand why people are called home to be with our Father. But this is what I do know: God would not take her without a greater purpose. While that may not be consolation to her family and friends, I just pray that whatever God's purpose was in taking Haley, that something positive will come from it, in some way.

A Good Time Was Had by Most

And by most I mean everyone except Ryan. Well, he had a good time except during pictures. Only three of us girls and our families showed up this year, but we had a good time nonetheless. Leigh and I made an afternoon out of photographing. I am posting some of the ones that I took; hopefully, she will do the same. Be sure to check them out. Here are a few, starting with Bro Man's attitude.



We nibbled on a bit of Cajun Turkey, ham, Leigh's sweet potatoes, corn and rice casserole, Jan's potato casserole, rolls, beer bread, dressing and giblet gravy, peas, key lime pie, mini cheesecakes, and pecan pie. Can you say yum?????

We left after many long hours of modeling for my girls and headed to my MIL's house for round 2. Thanksgiving dinner had long since been over there, but we participated in the clean-up round. Mr. Wonderful is adamant that nobody can touch his mom's dressing. He could (and probably would) live off of just that alone. And the darnedest thing happened while we were there--Emmy ate turkey. I know, I know. It's something you have to see to believe and the memory card was full. But guess what was even stranger than that....... it wasn't just a bite, it was two plate fulls of cajun turkey. I think that was the first time I have ever seen her eat anything of substance. Most of been all the modeling....hmmmm....that gives me a thought. Tomorrow we are off to the train car behind the library and maybe we'll just give the train tracks a try. I just don't know if I am brave enough...it's a busy track. We'll see what cleverness we can come up with.....

Happy Turkey Day!!

Oh my, you funny girl!

So Baby K is walking around carrying an empty kitty litter container. It's the big plastic jug type with the screw on lid. I asked her why she had it and she busted out with, "Because...Because....Because.....It's a corporation."

Whaaaattt? She's just turned 3 and she's talking about corporations. Who is teaching these kids these things? Maybe she's just got a head for business. Ryan will be the vet, Emmy the doctor, and Kendall the businesswoman. That's just fine with me.

Gift Hunting

For the first time in my life, I am having trouble picking out Christmas gifts for my children. Bro Man is 8 and his list consists of a new puppy and a dirtbike. Neither one of those is happening. Emmy is easy schmeasy. No problem for her. Baby K is proving a challenge as well. She is no longer a baby, but a big girl. I know that I want to get both girls big girl bikes, Emmy is getting a Tag Reading System and some books to go with it, a baby doll, some clothes, etc. Bro Man does want a baseball glove, so that is manageable. But here is where I run into problems. I do not want to buy toys. We have entirely too many toys now. I don't want to buy video games, because I want to encourage more active play and use of imagination. Bro Man has a birthday three weeks after Christmas, so we are back to buying then.

Here are my thoughts: I got him a movie to watch on his PSP. I'll get him one of those light tracing boxes because he loves to draw, a baseball glove, maybe one or two video games, and some new clothes. He won't be especially overjoyed, but we still have two other Christmases to attend, where there are sure to be toys.

Mr. Wonderful found some of those Disney princess dresses and shoes in Wal*art the other day and immediately thought of Baby K.

Wal*art's Black Friday advertisement came out yesterday. There was really nothing in there that I would be willing to get up and fight the madness to get. Mr. Wonderful found some SD memory cards that he wants, but they will be there later in the day. I would love the cricut expressions machine for $199, but don't want to spend that kind of money on myself.

I would love some ideas if any of you have them for an 8 year old. The rest of the crew I can figure out.

Where the "Crazy" part comes in

Okay,

So all of you are wondering where the crazy part fits into the "crazy and happy", right? Right? Just say yes ma'am. Thursday night when I got home, Jack (the dog) ran outside to meet us as he does every single day. As I open the back doors of the van to get the girls out, he jumps in and he jumps out. Well, Thursday night, about 2 hours after we got home, Jack still had not tried to come back in from outside. But my boss' dog would not stop barking. It was driving me insane. So Mr. Wonderful went outside to make sure that it was not Jack. (They are both Schnauzers and sound just alike!) He came back-nope. It was Dr. Farmer's. Another thirty minutes passed and the stupid dog just would not quit barking. Finally, I told Mr. Wonderful that I thought Jack must be in trouble or something because he would not come when I called him. I put my shoes on, gathered a flashlight, and headed out to find my baby dog. As I walked past the van, he jumped on the window of the van--from the inside. He had been shut in the van for two and half hours. I did not even know. But to make matters worse, I had forgotten my keys in the ignition and he had locked himself in there. It took us another 45 minutes to break into the van and get the dog out. Okay, I say we, but I mean I shined a flashlight and held a pry bar while my husband unlocked the door. I swear that Jack drank water for 15 minutes straight. Bless his heart.

Then last night, Baby K was wound up. It was like she was on crack or something. Just a whirlwind constantly. She was sitting in my lap and plop! I heard her drop something into my Diet Coke can. Well, I did not know what she dropped and she just kept saying "the blue ding." Well, when I emptied out the can, I found my SanDisk memory card for my digital camera--full of pictures. That's right, folks. She put my maxed out memory card into the Diet Coke. Rest assured tears were shed over that.

On a good note, I mended a pair of pants yesterday that have been needing repair for the past 4 1/2 years. I do not ever think about it until I want to wear them, and then I do not have time. So last night, I did it. I remembered the pants and by golly, I mended them.

Good news is yesterday started a 10-day break from school. Hopefully I can get some Christmas gifts completed that I am making and some sewing done and some laundry complete and some housekeeping done and some parenting, if there is time. Happy Thanksgiving, bloggy friends.

Struggling

Okay, I am seriously struggling right now. I am absolutely, without a doubt, miserable at my job. I am back to crying every single day. On top of that, when I get mad, all I can think about is what I missing out on with my girls, while dealing with 150 ungrateful teenagers every day. I traded in my own two pre-schoolers for 150 hellions. When I see the behavior issues going on with my own children that did not exist before they went to daycare, and the return to babydom from Bro Man, and I cannot help but think that those "extra" problems would be gone if I was not working. I am missing out on eating lunch with him for Thanksgiving at school, participating in field trips, being a class mom again, teaching Emily and Kendall to read and write like I did Ryan. I am missing out on the 597 extra hugs that I got every day. But the worst part is that I only want to sleep when I am at home. If I am not sleeping, I am taking out my bad day on my children, because I am completely determined that they are not going to end up like my students.

I came home crying last night. Keith's response was, "If it is that bad, then quit." Oh, you have no idea how bad I wanted to hear those words. But then...... I started thinking. He has been miserable in his job for quite some time now. But he hasn't quit. Because he has to provide for his family. He would love to quit. He wants to open a business for himself. No, we don't have the capital for it, but he would love to do it. I also started thinking that when I was praying this summer about a teaching job, that I asked God if the "right" job for me came along, then he would open the doors to it. And he opened the door to this one. Am I giving up on God's plan? Maybe all I needed was the reassurance from Keith that if things got too, too bad, I could leave.

But is teaching somewhere else going to be any different? No. So then what? As long as I have been in school, I could be a doctor by now. Why am I not? Do I just give up on teaching because the students are jerks? Because I know there will jerks, probably even bigger ones, in medicine. Why is it impossible for me to be happy? Keith mentioned the other night that because of work and kids' behavior, we don't even get to enjoy each other anymore, because "we" don't exist anymore. Everything is about being too stressed out or fussing at the kids. The last couple of nights I have spent watching hilariously funny movies with the kids. I have so enjoyed hearing them laugh. Even Keith laughed out loud from the music studio at the kids laughing. But night before last, I fell asleep at 5:30 watching the movie with the kids and slept all night long, even with them in the room with me. Last night, I made some DawgHouse dip and some beer bread before settling in to watch Garfield. But by 8:15 I was zonked.

I know that I am sick (sinus stuff, sore throat, earaches) and that is more than likely contributing to the inability to stay conscious in the evenings and probably my negative attitude toward my students. My fellow teachers warned me that it is easy to get burned out. I think I am there. I am not going to make any decisions right now. I am going to see how it goes between now and Christmas break.

My sanity is at sake, people. Help!

My BABY is 3!!!!

So, yesterday was the anniversary of the birth of my youngest child. The child who was born 35 minutes exactly after being induced. The child who caused me major pain while pregnant and throughout labor because apparently she did not want me to have an epidural. We have gone from this: and
to this:
Happy Birthday, Baby K!!! I love you my sweet baby girl!

I'm So Excited and I Just Can't Hide It....

That's right, folks. So excited. You wanna know why? Because I am the featured blogger today on SITS. What's that? You don't know what SITS is? Well, let me tell you. It is only the greatest social networking site in blogland. SITS features a blogger five days a week. All of the SITS girls go visit the featured blogger and leave some comment lovin'. I hear ya. You wanna be a part of it, too. Well, just click on the SITS button on the left side of my page and presto!! You're there. It's that easy!!

But look--don't be hatin' because I am the queen for a day. You can be too. Now get your scawny tale over there and see what the hullaballoo is all about.

Thanks!

Reaction to the Election

The next president has been decided. At the close of what is the most monumental election in history, Barack Obama, a black man, has won the presidency. I have been weighing my reaction to his victory, and this is what I came up with. Our country is in the worst financial condition that it has been in as far back as I can remember. I am typically a Republican, a conservative, but I totally agree that it is a time for change. No, I do not agree with all that Obama represents; we do not have the same morals and the same values. However, I wanted someone in office who would bring about change. I know that many voters chose Obama based on the color of his skin. I could not understand why race was playing such a big factor in this race until I heard two explanations of it. One of my students explained to me that Obama, a black man, has been where they are and understands their needs. But perhaps the best explanation came on the news this morning when a tearful ASU student explained the hope that Obama's victory brings to the black population. Black Americans everywhere are inspired by a black man's rise to the most powerful position in the free world.

My concerns about Obama also stem from comments made by the same students. Yes, I do feel that it is important for someone to understand an entire race of people. But our president needs to understand two races of people, an entire country filled with two major races and many ethnicities, along with many minority groups. But more importantly, our present needs to fix what is wrong with America for all Americans. Do I feel that Obama can do this? Do I feel that he can represent all of America? Yes. I am concerned about having someone of a different faith in charge of our country. (I understand that Obama belongs to a Christian church--I am not doubting that--but even Christian churches differ.) But that is what makes America what it is—the freedom for anyone, anywhere, to be anything.

Success

So....there really is a reason my blogging has dropped off. It's called reality. REALLY...I have not figured out how to be a working mom and a blogger, let alone a seamstress and a crafter. I want to be all of those things, and an amazing wife and housekeeper. But guess what suffers. All of them. That's right. All of them.

But this week being a teacher was really rewarding. The club that I am co-sponsor of hosted a breast cancer awareness walk. Now, I could not have done this without my co-sponsor, but most of the work fell on me. We all know me. I am not organized. But for once, I had a plan. It was just falling into place. We sold ribbons to the students for $1 each and they in turn got out of class 15 mins early to participate in the awareness walk. We set a goal of $500. As of Wednesday afternoon, I was worried. We only had $267 of our $500 goal. Thursday afternoon, we had $410. By 2:30 Friday at the walk, we had $648. Can you believe it? Of the 770 students, 648 were willing to participate in buying a ribbon to get out of class 15 minutes early. We had a pre-walk ceremony with 5 cancer survivors. We let each of them release a balloon with their names tied to them, then the club members released another 5 for people who lost their battles with breast cancer. It was so awesome to see that many young people participating in the walk--for whatever reason--all walking for a cure. The principal was highly impressed at the turnout and the willingness to participate. There were no problems getting everyone to do what they were supposed to do.

We capped off the walk by heading straight into the pep rally, at which the principal and one of the ninth-grade history teachers were "arrested" to raise money for the school since the state cut the education funds. The principal urged the kids to donate money. For every $25, he had to stay in jail for 1 hour. The 1st A.P. and the head football coach each donated a $100 bill. But we have a ways to go. We are still short about $4800. If we don't find some way to raise it, it will come out of our instructional funds. But I trust that we will find a way to raise it. I suggested to the PTO that we do a camp stew sale in January and talk to the local movie theatre about having a GHS night. Any suggestions of fund raisers that have been successful?

Letter

Dear Mother Nature,

I just wanted to remind you that it is October here in Alabama. I am not sure if you have forgotten or if we have done something to offend you. I am writing this letter to urge you to call off the hounds, to wave the white flag, or whatever it is that I need to do to get you to return us to fall. Two weeks ago, you had obviously taken us back to summer with 90 degree temperatures. This week, 40s and 50s. I just need consistency. See, fall is my favorite season. Spring is nice, too, but fall--with its beautifully colored leaves and football---oh, it's so good. And just in case I hold some special favor with you, I respectfully request that the leaves stay those beautiful colors and, preferably, remain on the trees. That would be a big help. I don't love raking. And I really get tired of strangers knocking on my door asking to rake my yard for money. Can I just tell them that I like the leaves?

I guess Coach Blackmon forgot to tell you that I am supposed to work at the football game tonight. Rain, combined with cold temperatures, does not make me a happy camper. If I must stand outside for hours taking tickets of people foolish enough to watch football in this weather, I need some cooperation for the cessation of this rain. Don't get me wrong: I can handle the cold. I can handle rain. I can handle wind. But the combination of the three may actually be lethal. Are you trying to kill me?

I appreciate your time and consideration of these requests.

Sincerely,

Loving Fall

Trials and Tribulations of childhood

Bro Man has always been extremely sensitive about his hair. He has always been very peculiar about how he wants it cut, exactly how much should be cut, etc. He makes sure before he leaves the house that it laying just so.

He was badly in need of a haircut. I took him to my SIL, the hairdresser, last Friday, but she could not cut it just then. And I am too impatient to wait on my off day for her to become available. I have let the hair go all week. But tonight I could not take it anymore. I have, generally speaking, always cut his hair. He prefers a style similar to a military high-and-tight but a little longer. In a way, I am very peculiar about his hair as well.

Tonight I got out the clippers and started the haircut. All was going well and we were talking and laughing. He asked about the time Mr. Wonderful was cutting his hair with the clippers and the blade came off. As soon as he said this, I looked down and the blade had come off, leaving a big bald spot on the side of his head. And all chaos ensued. It has been tears and drama ever since. Mr. Wonderful is in the process of giving him an official high-and-tight. I can't wait to see it--I've always loved the cleanness of one. I remember being a young teenager and seeing a particular soldier at the compound where my mom and sister worked, and yummy--with his high and tight.

We just pulled up some pictures of some men with high and tights and Bro Man thought they looked pretty tough, so he turned out okay with it. It's not completely done yet, and hopefully he'll let me take a picture when he is finished, but from what I have seen, it will be too cute on the handsome man.

Cloris-Septic

Yes, folks that know me know how I love me some DWTS. But I have decided that the show is rigged. There is no way humanly possible that people are voting to keep 82 yo Cloris Leachman on that show. She is a joke. She is on there for people to laugh at. She is not a contender, but like season's past, she has a better dance than she has had in past weeks, and all the sudden her scores jump up higher than some of the others.

Now take Rocco for example. As Bruno said--he didn't have a musical bone in his body. But he genuinely tried. Will he ever be a great ballroom dancer or latin dancer? No. He won't be. But he tried. He didn't get out on the floor and crawl around and pitter-patter during the jive. I understand that she is 82. But she does not have any business on that show if she cannot perform. And there is no way that people are voting to keep her on the show. I just don't buy it.

Do you watch the show? Tell me what you think.

My vote goes to Warren Sapp.

Reliving the Past

When Baby K was an infant and we had an event to attend, whether it was a family gathering or birthday party or anything with a crowd, she would get passed from person to person. The result was that she could not sleep that night from anxiety I can only assume. She would have to cuddle with me in my bed, under my covers, and I would talk in a very low voice to her until she fell asleep. Sometimes, when we would go to my MIL's house on Sunday afternoons, she would not get her nap. She was always very peculiar about going to sleep somewhere out of the ordinary. So when we got home, I would sit in the desk chair with my feet propped up and rock my sweet angel. She would go to sleep running her chubby little fingers through the back of my hair. Or she would stroke my face with the same little precious fingers until she went to sleep.

Baby K and I spent the day together Saturday. We went to Montgomery and picked out her birthday party supplies. She decided on Minnie Mouse. We had the best time. She was so funny and entertaining. She had everyone in the party store laughing as she walked through the store, talking on my cell phone to her brother and sister. One particularly hilarious event was when she stomped her foot, clad in her cheer-weeter skirt, and told her sister, "You don't talk to me like that." She had everyone cracking up.

This morning she woke up especially fussy and ill. Nothing made her happy. I turned on the radio by the computer and sat in the desk chair, with my little blonde bombshell in my lap, once again wearing the cheerleader outfit, carrying her Tinkerbell purse filled with pandas and a toothbrush. She sat facing outward, quiet and still, listening to the music. I was reminded of the times when we would sit in the chair and I would rock her to sleep. Eventually she turned facing me, and said in the sweetest voice imaginable, "I want to go to sleep on you." She leaned forward, placing her sweet face against my chest, and fell asleep. I had my feet propped on the desk, like I used to do. The only thing missing was her fingers in my hair. It was such a special moment getting to relive that experience, for what was the first time in almost two years, and may be the last time. See, my baby girl turns three next month. I cannot believe that the time has passed like it has. She has grown up so much over the last few months. She talks so completely clear and makes wonderful sense. In fact, she had a french fry today that looked like a rainbow to her. I love that she looks at things with a different approach. So while these special moments of babydom are dwindling, I will always have the memories and always have the future to make even more beautiful memories.

Oh Glorious Day!

Okay, this week has been hell at school. I have been so stressed out. The closer it came to the end of the week, the worse it got for me. I needed a break. So, knowing that we have Monday and Tuesday off, I decided to take today off and have a little "me" time. There are things around the house that I want to do--need to do--but my husband has instructed me to sleep all day. Do nothing but sleep.

I think I am going to try to get a doctor's appointment since I have been sick for over a month now, but I really hate the thought of going to the doctor. Well, here anyway. My doctor moved and now I am stuck with his partner that I can't stand. But I really do need to go, so I'll probably suck it up and go.

Other than that, it's going to be a lazy day. I wanted to go the movies by myself to see Nights in Rodanthe or Lakeview Terrace, but they don't start until 2:00. So there goes that idea. But I should get some much needed sleep today.

It's Me Again

I am sorry, Leigh, for I have sinned. It has been three days since my last post.

Okay, so my sister is on my case about my lack of posting. Well, here's the deal--as sad as it may be. This real world working stuff is getting in my way. It's in my way of blogging, it's in my way of laundry, it's in my way of getting enough sleep, and it's in my way of sanity. So I just have to try to squeeze in a post or two when I can. I am still reading my favorite bloggee friends every morning, even if I am not commenting like I was. It's not that I don't want to comment, cuz I do. I just am pushed for time to get up at 5:00 and be at school every morning at 6:00. Yes, folks, I go to work at 6:00 even though I don't have to be there until 7:30. That's when I get my work done--and they have blocked blogging. Sorry bootleg internet service. If I want to use my planning period to blog, then--by golly--I should get to.

On another note, one of my college classes ended last night--thankfully. I enjoyed the people in the class because we only had 7. We went out to eat after class at a place called Wishbone Cafe. This restaurant is wonderful and they fry nothing!!! That's right, peeps. No frying. Grease free. I had sauteed crab claws, a side salad, some jambalaya, and a dessert prepared especially for me because they were out of banana pudding. It was two huge chocolate chip cookies surrounding whipped cream and bananas, topped with whipped cream and some sort of red syrup. Really good.

Well, I am off to educate tomorrow's leaders. Oh gosh, I just scared myself with that thought!!!!!

It's That Time of Year

People come from miles around
From the farms and from the towns
To where excitement can be found
At the Alabama National Fair.

Bro Man went with BD last night to the fair in Montgomery. This left our girls in an uproar that they could not go too. So Mr. Wonderful thought we should take them to the local fair. We did and they had a wonderful time. It was so great to spend time with the kids without the fighting. It was a rare occassion that left me wanting to take them other places. But then we got home. Baby K asked about 8:00 to go to bed. She never wants to go to bed. But she wanted to go in my bed. With me. That was fine, I thought. I'll just lay in bed and watch tv and she'll fall asleep. But no. We ended up wrestling, tickling, playing, laughing until Emmy came to see what the fun was going on. So she joined in on it. Then I found Emmy's and my favorite show on tv: House. The three of us started watching House and that is when the fighting began. "It's my mama." "I don't want "Baby K" to cuddle with you." "That's my pillow." "Emmy's in my spot." (She wasn't by the way.) and on and on and on. By 9:15 we finally decided for them that they must go to sleep.

I am headed to Montgomery today to the Hobster and to pick up Bro Man. I am taking the three kids to the movies this afternoon to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Wish me luck!! Mr. Wonderful won't go because football is on.

Next Friday marks fall break at school. Hallelujah!!

My Husband, My Friend

Mr. Wonderful is an absolute saint. We had the discussion a few weeks ago, around our anniversary, that after 5 years of marriage, we still are not tired of being around each other. We still look forward to coming home every night and getting to see the other, talk to the other, hug the other. But today my heart is breaking. It is temporary, but, nonetheless, it is breaking. Mr. Wonderful left today for five days. He has gone on another work trip to Boca. Now I know that he was looking forward to it. He has not stopped talking about this steak house that he and Justin ate at every day three years ago when they were there for two weeks. He even booked their hotel directly across the street from the steak house, so they could take full advantage of it. But for some reason, this trip is affecting me more than the others did. I have been absolutely sobbing all morning long. I caused everyone else to cry this morning during the goodbyes. I have been a baby today. This is the first trip he has been on since I have been working. That means, that I still have to get up and go to work, but have to get all three kids ready for school, get them to my sister to be dropped off, get them all picked up, dropped off the places that they need to go in the evenings, go to school myself, supper cooked, kids bathed, etc. But that is not even what I am worried about. He kept saying, "I'll be back. I promise." But he can't promise that. I have allowed worry that something will happen to him to compromise my rationality. I allow thoughts to creep into my head of the phone call that I would receive if something happened to him. And thoughts of what life would be like, how miserable I would be, if he did not return. I know that God is protecting him. I know this. I know this. But he is the person that I think of first when I need to tell something to--like when these idiots at school do something stupid. I need to talk to him every night. Not only to know that he is okay, but because he is my best friend and I absolutely cannot, will not, go a day without hearing his voice.

Oh the pain!

I spent most of the day in pain. I was at school this morning, doing my normal stuff, and I got sick. I ran to the bathroom only to have a horrible bout of "the runs." But upon leaving the bathroom, I started having horrible stomach pain and was nauseated and very close to passing out. Out SRO escorted me to the teacher's lounge to wait on the nurse. After about 30 minutes of unrelenting pain, she called my doctor who told me to go to the emergency room. Mr. Wonderful came and got me and took me to the ER. The dr. there told me that he really wasn't sure whether it was a stomach virus or the early onset of gastrointeritis (sp?) or a case of constipation. He treated me for the latter of the three. Since being home, I have had several bouts with ye olde toilette, and have had severe stomach cramping. I took a short nap, but was worried I would oversleep and miss picking up Ryan before he gets on the bus.

On another note: I received a shocking email last night. It was requesting my help in planning the wedding reception of my best friend who got married yesterday. Without telling her best friend. Without even so much as a hint. I obviously would not have been able to be there because of school, but that was not the way that I wanted this to happen. She has been dating this professor for, I guess, a year or more. I guess the most shocking thing was hearing it from her sister. But, Geeg called me last night and I talked to her and expressed that I was happy for her, but was really quite angry that she did not tell me. I guess it really was not anger so much as hurt. Deeply hurt. She was the MOH at my wedding. Anyway, she explained to me that no one really was told except her immediate family and his parents. They did not even tell his siblings. So I guess that I am not hurt anymore.

The death of me

The Georgia Bulldogs are going to be the death of me. I love me some Dawgs. But the stress. I. can't. handle. the. stress. They always do this to me. They make a close game out of something that never should have been. The Sucky Carolina Gamecocks. I mean--come on. The QB's name is Smelley and the PK is Succup. They deserve to lose. But the Dawgs made it a close one. A highly superior defense fell apart in the second half and a highly superior offense struggled to find its stride in the first. Let me tell you why they are killing me. My blood pressure rises to a level where my head is pounding. I have to leave the room to regain consciousness or at least to avoid losing it. I think I am going to develop an aneurysm from this unhealthy rise in my blood pressure. But they won..and after all, that is what matters!! 3-0, baby. 3-0! So what if I am lying on the couch, bleeding internally. The Dawgs are winning!

We had a good day at my niece's birthday party. She had it at Pump It Up. I don't know if this is a chain or an individual place, but if you don't know what it is, it is so cool. They have two different play areas that are rented out for birthday parties. They have inflatable obstacle courses, a huge inflatable slide, a bouncy basketball court, and a round bouncy thing. It is a two- hour party. The kids (and some adults) play for about 1 1/2 hours, then you go to the party room where they serve the food and cake. It costs about $275 but there is no setup, no cleanup, they supply everything but the cake, and the kids are entertained outside of your house for 2 hours. This is definitely a consideration for Bro Man's party b/c it is in January and it ALWAYS rains on his party day. ALWAYS!

Well, the girls are spending the night with my parents and I have been awake since 3:30, so I think I am going to get some shut eye--while I can. Tomorrow I have to do lesson plans and read two articles in my textbook. You think I would take advantage of the girls being gone and get some of that done now--but nope. I am a procrastinator, and it would give procrastinators everywhere a bad name. And I can't take that kind of pressure. Just knowing that procrastinators everywhere would be blaming me...even thinking about it makes me break out in hives!!

Never Forget

Today is a day in history that I will never forget. I, along with my co-workers, had just arrived at work. My boss came in to tell us that the first tower had been hit. We were shocked and amazed. Then he came back a few minutes later to tell us that the second tower had been hit. It was then that we realized that this was not a chance accident. We did not know at the time that it was a terror attack. All we knew was what the news was speculating, and that was that the planes had been hijacked. My boss pulled a tv into the conference room, and the rest of the day, we spent huddled around the television. He did not complain that we were not working. I think he just knew. We all felt violated and scared and nauseated. How big was this attack going to be? Then the Pentagon. Then the fourth plane. Would this ever stop??? I think this fear was as great as the serial snipers from a few years back.


Onto another note, I had three students yelling at one another in class today. I told them to go out and got accused of being a racist because I did not send any white students into the hallway. OK, but the three students weren't white and the white ones weren't in the disagreement. I am so fair that it is not even funny. I have a feeling that this one will lead to a mama visit. Oh well. I did nothing wrong. I know that. The students know that. And so does the girl that called me a racist and then told the principals that I was being racist.

Tidbits

All of the kids stayed home from school Friday with Daddy. Coach Nick came and laid the new carpet, but didn't do it in the hallway. I was very disappointed to still have green carpet in the house, but the living room looks awesome. Mr. Wonderful told me that the hardwoods underneath the carpet in the living room were in great condition. So Friday afternoon and night, I pulled up the hallway carpet, pad, tack strips, staples, etc. It looks so awesome, though. The living room looks so much bigger now. We got rid of the huge light wood entertainment center and got a highboy entertainment center that is considerably smaller, but matches so well. I will post pics soon.

I found a super large mirror on clearance the other day for $25. It is a shabby chic kind of off white, so it will either adorn the wall in my bedroom or in the hallway. (I vote for the hallway.) With the way it would be positioned in the hallway, we can lay in our bed and see Baby K laying in hers.

A very sweet thing transpired Friday while I was working. The girls were laying in our bed watching a movie when Emily came out with a shocked, tear-filled look. Bless her heart. She had watched Baby K fall asleep and thought that she had died right there before her. Baby K falls asleep so fast. Emily was traumatized by her baby sister's apparent death. That brought tears to my eyes.

Oh, I had the most wonderful day with Baby K. We just have not had much time together since I started working. Yesterday, the girls and I spent the day together ( a very unpleasant one) despite it being my anniversary. Today, the whole family spent the day together. Baby K and I went our way and Mr. Wonderful took Emmy and Bro Man with him. Baby K and I laughed more today than we have in the last month. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. She is soooo funny.

We spent a small fortune at Wally World today. It was unintentional, but we did it. Ryan picked an off-brand Wii type game that was clearly marked $29.98 on the shelf. Mr. Wonderful let the girls pick a $25 slip 'n slide. He got a gas grill (hurricane possibility). We got an invisible fence system to keep Jack-bo in the yard. We got a few groceries and some batteries. Mr. W paid for their three things while I got the few groceries. Then Baby K and I paid for the other stuff. Ours totaled $235 dollars. He told me that his totaled $254, which is more than $60 of an overcharge. I looked at his receipt and Bro Man's game system was $80--needless to say, it and the slip 'n slide went back. $114 for those two things. Still spent too much money, but the grill is something that we use religiously and the invisible fence is for the safety of Jack and the neighborhood. (He bit a hole in Mr. W's brother's shorts yesterday). But in Jack's defense, he views baseball caps as threatening. Once Kyle took his hat off, Jack stopped attacking him. I think he is just defending his family, but Mom thinks he is dangerous. He gets after people all the time, but as long as they stand their ground he backs down. If they run, it is on like a chicken bone.

Just curious if anyone has used the PediPaws pet filing thingee that I have seen advertised on tv. Please let me know if this works before my dog punctures an artery and I bleed to death. His claws are so sharp right now.

Well, enough for tonight. I am going to be a better steward of time--and make more time for my family. Hopefully, I can go back to blogging and commenting soon. Just have to get adjusted to this whole new schedule.

Monday

Monday was the anniversary of the day that my life changed. Seven years ago to the day, I left the horrible relationship that I was in, and started my life over. I remember it vividly. My sister and dad showed up to my house that Saturday morning, and we had everything packed and moved out within about three hours. This was no easy task with a one year old under foot, but we did it nonetheless. It wasn't pretty, but it was done. We threw clothes, blankets, shoes, and anything else that would fit into a sheet we had spread on the floor. We folded up the corners, tied them, and moved on to the next one. We used suitcases to pack up dishes, pictures, knick-knacks, and anything else we could cram into them. It was a very emotional day. I wasn't just leaving someone that I had spent the last four years loving, the father of my son. I was leaving his children, as well. I was leaving my best friend who lived across the road. We loaded up my dad's work truck, my sister's car, my car and we headed off to my parents, where Bro Man and I would spend the next year.

My sisters, not wanting me to sit home feeling sorry for myself, invited me to a dinner they were having about twenty miles away. So completely swollen eyed from crying, I headed off to Twin #2's and Leigh's. Mom and Dad kept Bro Man for me. Oh, how heartbroken I was. I felt like the most horrible failure imaginable. Why couldn't I make that relationship work? How could I love someone so totally and completely and hate them so much at the same time? How do you still love someone when they obviously hate you so much?

After an afternoon full of prayers, I headed to a dreaded dinner. It wasn't that I didn't want to be around my sisters (and I am eternally grateful to them for this), I just did not want to be around anyone. I wanted to lay in my bed and cry and wallow in self-pity--exactly the things that my sisters did not want me doing. I prayed that God would harden my heart towards BD.

That night with my sisters is unforgettable. It was Twin #2 and her husband, Leigh and Twin 2's cousin-in-law. Now, CIL was cute, but they really were trying to fix him up with Leigh. And I so totally was not interested in meeting a man.

In October of that year, I began dating the brother of my best friend. Things got way too serious way too fast, and in three weeks, he was talking about marriage. He was really good to me. Really, really good to me. We continued to date for a couple of months. My whole family loved this guy and if my parents could choose someone for me to this day, I think it would be him. He loved my family just as much and wanted nothing more than to be around them. For the first time in his life since his divorce, he was a good dad. He called his girls every single night to talk to them. He paid his child support religiously. But I could not get over BD. And he understood that and still wanted to marry me. I just was not ready.

In November, Twin 2 called to tell me that CIL wanted to go out with me. Well, because of best friend's brother, I told her no. But my curiosity was peaked. I went to watch him and my BIL play in an old-timers football game for their high school. I broke it off with Best Friend's Brother just a few short weeks later. It was not until New Year's Eve that I went out with CIL. And I never looked back. Early September of the next year, I told him that I didn't know if I would ever be ready to be married. He told me that the trip that he had planned for my birthday was to propose. I was shocked. I didn't know what to say or what to do. It was about thirty seconds later that realized I could not imagine my life without him. I could not wait for the day that I could marry him. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this magnificent creature. For Christmas that year, I got my ring. And this weekend, after the addition of two more children, we celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. I still cannot imagine my life without this man. I love him beyond belief. He is my strength, my sanity, my everything. Without him, I would be nothing.

Crazy Tired

I am thoroughly exhausted this morning. Last night we had some pretty rough weather due to the tropical storm. It was barely raining at my house, so I ventured out to return some shoes I had bought for Hubby. Two miles down the road at the store, the rain and the wind were so bad, I felt like that hot, bald guy (wow, I never thought I would say those two words at the same time) named Jim on the Weather Channel when he stands on the beach while a hurricane makes landfall. The wind was so strong that I could barely walk. An umbrella was useless. Completely soaked, I did not even attempt to use my umbrella on the way out, fearing I might turn into Mary Poppins. I got home soaked to the bone to barely a drizzle. Two miles can make all the difference.

But on a good note, we had some yummy chili last night. It was just the right kind of day and night to curl up in the bed and take a nap (which I did) and to eat chili. If only I would have had some Georgia football to go with it. One more week and counting. That ought to get me through the week.

And good news, I finally got to turn in my new hire paperwork. The lady at the BOE was nice enough to grant me an August paycheck even though the cutoff date had passed for August pay. So now, maybe seeing some money will keep me motivated as well.

I am so procrastinating right now. I am so sleepy, so I am trying my hardest not to do lesson plans and homework. I also have to create a Jeopardy game as a study guide. I even cooked pancakes this morning to avoid the things I don't want to do.

Settling In

Thanks to everyone who has sent me a message asking how things are going. I certainly do appreciate the encouragement. Things have been tough--tougher than I could have imagined. But my professor pointed out to me the other day that I am basically thinking "white." I am expecting out of my students what I would do and how I would behave. I am setting the standards for them at what I think they should be for white America. Basically, I am failing to recognize the differences between the black students and white students. I am learning that I cannot be colorblind. Seeing color is one of the things that must happen in order to be a successful teacher.

After two especially rough weeks with three of my classes, a near fight that resulted in threats to shoot another student and everyone else in the room, a student pulled out of my room for bringing drugs to school with the intent to sell, I went to the principal. I laid it all out for him. I told him that I had no intention of coming back last Monday when I left the previous Friday. It was at that point that he realized that things must really be bad. Fortunately, I have a VERY supportive principal and assistant principals. They have agreed to help me in any and every way they can, without overstepping the bounds and running my class for me. My principal helped me to realize that most of my frustrations are at myself, not at my classes. But I am not a quitter. I refuse to quit and let these kids get the best of me. I love teaching the classes where there is some semblance of order. I made the principals aware of the sexual harassment from two students, so now those two will be gone if it continues.

I am stronger than they are. They have not seen strong yet. I will persevere and I will win!!!!!!! I. will. win. Losing is not an option.

The girls really enjoy their school. Hubby got called Friday at 2:30 that Baby K was throwing up. She was over it by the time I got home yesterday afternoon. I was up for three hours with Emmy during the night before she finally threw up. She says her stomach still does not feel good, but she has not been sick anymore.

Bro Man and I got up early this morning and headed to Montgomery. We spent the morning doing some shopping and thankfully got home before this tropical storm rain and winds started. We had such a wonderful morning. There was only one time when I had a problem with him and he immediately apologized for talking to me the way that he did. He was so very super sweet.

Well, I'm done for now. I promise this blog is not going into a rambling about teaching, but right now that is about all that is going on in my life.

I hate it!

Okay, I hate teaching. I hate the kids. I hate, hate the kids. I hate, hate, hate the drug-dealing and using kids. Oh, did I mention that I hate the kids??

Lettin' It Go

This post is here because I haven't really written anything all week, and I am lettin' it all out now. Both girls are in the pre-K programs that I wanted them to be in. We are just out $250 that we paid to the private school for Emmy as a registration fee when the K-4 program said they absolutely could not take her. But I would much rather cut my losses at that than to get caught up with that school. For my job's sake, I cannot possibly be involved in the private school. Baby K had a great first day of school yesterday. She stayed in her big girl panties all day. The teacher said they really didn't even know that she was in the room. But she was so worn out when I picked her up. Emmy starts Monday. Bro Man had a great first day, other than having this chick in there that has been stalking him since kindergarten. It really is a sad day when a kindergarten girl asks a kindergarten boy if he thinks she is hot. That's ridiculous!! I'll have to have a talk with the teacher about her. He says she is sitting by him and following him around.

My first day was kinda rough. We had a two hour homeroom, so I know them pretty well. First period and second period were only ten minutes. Third period was about fifteen when it was supposed to be thirty. Fourth was pretty good, fifth was okay, sixth was sheer and utter hell, and seventh was superb. After my homeroom was released, my reputation preceeded me. I had the audacity to make tenth graders walk in a straight line to the auditorium for the assembly. They tried me a little on the way there, but on the way back, we only had to start over one time for them to realize that I meant business. But then they all got blow pops when they got back to the room. Fourth period really had an aversion to walking in a straight line to lunch, so I made them a deal that we would try letting them walk their way as long as they were quiet. And three teachers complimented me on how quiet they were on the way. They get blow pops on Monday. I don't really remember fifth period, so I guess it was uneventful. Sixth period was out of control. There was never a moment that control was established. At the very end, I ended up saying, "If you say another word, you can see me at break on Monday." Most got quiet for the first time, but I have three scheduled for break detention. Three thugs. They won't show. You know why? Because I don't know their names yet. So when they get to my class on Monday, they will have two days break detention. And when they don't show, they will be my very first office referrals. Sixth period was so bad that the police officer at the school decided to stop in my class. So bless my ninth graders hearts come seventh period. I made sure there was control in that class. Oh, but I can already tell, they will try me.

Hubby is in a bad mood today. I am not really sure why. He says kids and house. I have been trying to help him with laundry today and I cooked supper and I took Bro Man to BD to see his grandparents who are here for the weekend from Ohio. But let me tell you why I am not in a good mood. A very simple little thing that just set me off. We have 2 1/2 bathrooms. The main bathroom is the one in the hallway. Everyone has always showered in that bathroom. About 8-10 months ago, Hubby put an aerating shower nozzle on the shower. I hate that shower head and have vocalized this many, many times. Since we moved into the master, the master bath has become my bathroom. No one else uses it. Slowly but surely, the rest of the family is starting to take it over. Hubby even told me that it was my bathroom. Today, he comes home from the store with an aerating shower nozzle for my shower. My. shower. I said "Why?" Because he wanted it there. "But you don't even shower in there?" Because he hated the other shower head. Oh, little lambs, it will not stay there. I will purchase one that I have been wanting and it will be on the shower in my bathroom. No kids. No husband. My bathroom. Mine. Mine. MINE! I swear I'll take a case of Diet Coke and lock myself in there.

Bomb Diggity

My husband is the bomb diggity. I just have to tell you. Now in the four years that I have stayed home, he has not been one to be much help in the housekeeping department. Really, the only time that he helped out was when I got really far behind on it, or when we declared laundry bankruptcy and took it all to the laundomat.

But Monday night I got home from my first day at school. I didn't get home until 5:00, and I came home to find that my husband was doing laundry. He told me that he was taking over laundry duty from then on. How awesome is that?

Then yesterday I got home at 4:3o again. He got home a few minutes later and immediately began doing laundry. But not only that...when he was home yesterday for lunch, he washed up the few dishes that were in the sink. So far, since I have started working, I have not had any cleaning to do.

Then today, I did not get home until 5:00. I packed up the hubby and kids and we went back to work in my room. He did lots of little things for me like putting things on the wall up high and decorating a bulletin board for me. He cleaned the markerboard and all of the desks. He hung a clock, and made some suggestions of things that I need.

Edited* Leigh brought to my attention that it has fallen solely on his shoulders to find daycare for our two girls. He did manage to get Emmy in a K-4 program at a private school and we are still working on getting Baby K somewhere, but the contact information is his. My principal and superintendent have made clear that they have the pull to get my child in where I want her, so I am probably going to have to make use of them as resources tomorrow.

It is for the above reasons that I nominate my husband as husband of the month. All those in favor say "Aye." All those opposed, say absolutely nothing.

Today

HI-HO, HI-HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK I GO!!

Emmy just got the memo last night that I am working now. She was so excited, but then started crying about how much she is going to miss me. Sweet babies.

Today is going to be emotional. It hit me yesterday, that my girls have never been anywhere or stayed with anyone for any length of time. They have always had food and sippy cups readily available. I am more worried about my two yo than Emmy--Emmy will love K4. Kendall is such a scaredy cat, and always wants her sister. We are going to try to get her into K3, but I don't think they will let her. She knows her abc's, can recognize most of them, and can count to twenty (probably even higher). That is more than most 3 yo can do.

Talk to everyone again this afternoon or evening. Have a blessed day!

Interview Results

I GOT THE JOB!! I START MONDAY!! YAH!

Phriday Photo Phinish

Time out. Need I say more? Before you look at the picture....look to your left. Go on. Do iiiitt. See the blue button. Well, as soon as you look at this pic of Baby K, press that blue button. Trust me--you won't regret it.



Okay, I feel the need for further explanation. Baby K is a screamer. When she doesn't get her way or she gets mad, she screams a scream that echoes in my soul. We have been unable to get her to stop this screaming. So now, as a result of her screaming, he gets a veeeerrryy long 3 minutes in time out. But this is how time out works at our house: Time does not start until you are quiet. If you start fussing during the time out, time starts over. So far this has been very effective, because they really do not want the original minutes, let alone extra ones. Baby K gets three minutes (she is 2), Emmy gets 5 minutes (she is 4) and Bro Man goes to his room. The worst punishment for him is to make him clean his room. Obviously she was breaking my heart in this particular time out and her hair was so big when it is usually so flat. I had to document it.

Getting My Way

I am going to tell you the truth. My husband is not one of those husbands who gives in when I get mad. And I really don't get mad often. But yesterday was one of those days. We made plans two months ago for six friends to accompany us to the Def Leppard/Joan Jett concert this Saturday. My husband tells me and several of the friends that he wants to go early and tailgate in the parking lot before the concert. This will help in two ways. 1)We always--ALWAYS--get stuck in traffic with the thousands of people who attend concerts. 2)The guys can drink their own beer and not have to pay $5 for one every time they want a drink. 3)(Well, I thought of a third.) We won't have to park 5 miles away.

Early to me means getting up there in the afternoon where we have time to sit around and chill out, all the while watching the losers who arrive close to time. Early to me means arriving at least 3 hours before concert time of 7:30.

My husband tells me the other day that he thinks we should leave around 3:00. Okay, lets do some math. The concert is 2 hours away. If we choose to stop and eat or do whatever, we will be cutting into my ideal tailgating time. I suggested two o'clock and told him why. He called me yesterday to tell me that he arranged with Jason (one of the guys going) that we are meeting them one exit away at 4:00. Um, what? Did you say 4:00? So, as loudly as I possibly can, I yell "NO!" into the phone.

K: What? Why?

Me: Well, because we are going to get stuck in traffic and that is not going to give us enough time to tailgate before the concert.

K: We're not going to get stuck in traffic 1 1/2 hours before the concert.

Me: Yes, we are. Trust me on this. We may not, but what if we do?????? Then you will have bought beer for nothing, because you can't take it in there with us. And that isn't even going to give me time to pee before the show starts.

K: Well, I guess you should have called Jason and made plans then, right?

Me: Apparently. But I shouldn't have to. I told my husband the plan last night.

K and Me: (Silence.)

I called my SIL who is going with Hubby's twin brother. She says early to her means 2:00. I told her Hubby wants to leave at 4:00, and she agrees that is assinine. I inform Hubby when he gets home, and believe it or not--he called him and changed the time. I was absolutely floored. I guess I made sense after all. Either that or he got tired of hearing me express my thoughts and feelings. It doesn't matter the reason. I.Like.Getting.My.Way.

Exposure

I normally would not share things about which I am unsure of. But I've learned something from Blogland. I need the support of people who really do care when there is something up in the air.

I have been praying for months now for a teaching opportunity if it is the right time and the right job. This has been placed in God's hands. While I have been disappointed that I have not heard anything from any of the local elementary, or any elementary school in general, I just have not worried about it. I know that when the time is right according to God's plan, the job will present itself and I will just recognize God's hand in it.

Today at lunch, I received a phone call from the local high school. They are looking for a history teacher and it seems for the second year in a row, they think I am qualified. I told the secretary that I had changed my major to elementary education. (I have a BS in Social Science and pursuing a Master's in education.) I never did interview last year, because I did not want to teach history. However, when I voiced that to my husband, he said, "Well, I don't want to work at the phone company." He told me that I was holding out for a fantasy--the fantasy of a perfect job at a perfect schoool. And it made sense. Is there such a thing as the perfect job? Probably not. I probably have the perfect job and don't recognize it. So I called her back and she was totally excited that I am going to interview.

The job is probably not going to pan out. The reason is that there is only 1 1/2 weeks before school starts. I would still have to interview (exactly 1 week before school starts), be reviewed for approval by the board of education, and the state board of education issue a temporary teaching certificate.

My reason for not wanting to share this news is because I don't want to have to go through telling you all that I did not get the position. If I do get the position, I am not stuck with it forever. I would love the opportunity to teach Sociology. Or English. I am passionate about those two things. I did love history as a high schooler. I only have to keep the position long enough to get my official certification, then I can either go to elementary, counseling, or administration.

Thanks for listening to me run on and on about this. I'll let you know how it goes.

Stoked

Okay, we have had some carpet now for a couple of years a little while that we need installed. We really did not know anyone who installed carpet and no idea of what a pad would cost or it would cost to install. I found out during ball season that Coach Nick does flooring, including carpet. I finally got around to getting a quote from him, but had nothing to compare it to. My living room is 280 sq ft plus a hallway. He quoted me $100 on the living room since I had not measured the hallway. To be fair, I had to get another quote. A guy that grew up near us also lays carpet. I have been trying for three weeks to get in touch with him. His wife finally decided today to give me his cell phone number. He quoted me $225 for labor and $135 for the pad. I called Nick back to give him the hallway measurements so I would be comparing apples to apples. He informed me that it did not matter how big the hallway was, it would remain $100. He said that Ryan is his godson (which I thought was sweet) and apparently I am that grandmother figure for Nick. He and Keith have plans to coach ball together next year again, so he figures that he'll be seeing us for the next ten years. I am so excited that he is willing to do that for us. It makes me feel special. And in my old age, I need to feel special.

Pendant Necklaces

My sister Leigh over at Graham Shenanigans got together a few weeks ago to make some pendant necklaces. We used the smallest tiles in the pictures. As you can see, I have not gotten around to attaching the metal piece to all of the tiles yet. But I was not happy with that. You could not see the design on the beautiful scrapbook papers we were using, so I went to buy bigger wooden pieces to use. The results are the bigger ones in the pictures, the rectangles, ovals, circles, and larger squares.


Please let me know if you are interested in any of these because we do special orders on just about everything we make.

Good News

Well, we have had no word yet on Jack's pathology report. Only--my vet is in my SS class, so he told me after class that it was in fact cancer, but that it would only spread from the site and he was successful in removing all of it. Thank the Lord!!

Bro Man had an episode Thursday at the doctor. We went to get his jaw checked out. He has been having some jaw pain and woke up Thursday morning with a swollen face. The doctor examined him and Bro Man chatted away. After the examination Bro Man laid his head on my shoulder and promptly passed out. This is the second time in the past six months that he has fainted, but this time it was in front of the doctor. Last time they tried to pass it off as if he passed out because we were pulling his tooth. But this time, he saw how quickly it happened and without warning. So the pediatrician is being a little more considerate about it. But the news with him is that his jaw is feeling better and he has not had anymore dizziness or problems with passing out. He was so mad at me because I would not let him go swimming Thursday afternoon. I tried to explain that I could not chance that he would pass out in the swimming pool in someone else's care. Of course, he did not understand.

Now, on to some advice. SS promotion takes place at church next Sunday. Emmy is supposed to be moving up. Her new teacher is a severely physically deformed lady. She is sweet as she can be, but Em is terrified of her. She has informed me that she will not be going to that class. I have tried everything under the sun to explain that she is nice and sweet and just looks different, but Em is truly terrified. How do I handle this? Do I go to class with her for several weeks until she gets a bit more comfortable? Do I just let her go to class with me? She can't go with me for the next two years until she gets out of that class? She can't continue with the 2's and 3's because she is 4. I just don't know what to do. Do I alternate weeks of her going with me and me going with her? Or do I just leave her home with Mr. Wonderful and the two of them come to worship service. She won't have a problem being out of the nursery since she will get to go with Bro Man to children's church.

Backyard Friends

Yesterday evening, we had a light summer shower. Well, it started as a small summer thunderstorm and just ended in a light shower. Mr. Wonderful came inside to get me to let me know about some hawks that were perched in a dead tree in the backyard. We watched them closely only to find that they seemed to bathing. It was really awesome and we have never seen them interact with each other that closely. Here are some of the pictures.

I love the way that these pictures turned out. While it is hard to make out that they are hawks, the blackness against the sky just looks cool.

It is amazing that we live in the city and have wildlife in our backyard. Then this morning when I took the dog out, I was amazed to find that they were still there. And then I saw why.
Run for your life bunny!! We actually enjoyed watching the chase one day, but only because the bunny got away. Nature is amazing!!

Apple 4G iPod Nano in Silver

Can you believe those girls over at SITS? For their final summer prize, they are giving away a 4gb apple ipod nano! That's just crazy. Do you know how happy Bro Man would be? This is a stupendous gift. Or as Jesse would say "Ridiculous." Yes, it is a sad day when I am quoting The Bachelorette. Well, if you want in on this prize, you need to run, not walk, but no pushing, over to visit Heather and Tiffany at SITS, leave them a comment, put the button on your blog, and maybe ask Heather from Nobody But Yourself to lay hands on you. (She has won the last two weeks!) Congrats Heather!

Oh Joyful Day

It is almost 9:00 and all of my children are still asleep. Two loads of laundry are done, and the house is as straight as it can get without waking up the kids. No, I did not drug my children. We had a long day yesterday. We went to aunt & unc's house to swim. The girls did not swim much, but I entered yesterday not sure how to swim and left swimming. I was so happy. Hopefully since there is alot of summer left here in the South, I'll get an opportunity for much more swimming. It was kind of like exercising.

And being the considerate person that I am, I remembered to put sunblock on my children. But not myself. So after 3 hours in the pool, my shoulders resemble something in the crustacean family. I don't do burned well. The girls still got a little pink even with the sunblock. They were only in the sun 1 hour, so I am glad they didn't stay out any longer. Instead, they helped uncle shell peas, and they loved it. Baby K was begging for more. Nobody had a nap and there was no early bed time last night. Thank goodness they are sleeping in. Sweet Emmy woke up around 7:00 and went back to sleep on the couch. I'm loving this.

Okay, I'm off to fold clothes. Have a blessed summer day!

You Don't Know Jack

Okay, so I am going to take you back through the journey of getting our dog, Jack. There really is a reason for me telling this story. I'll fill you in at the end. When I was pregnant with Baby K we got our first dog, a miniature schnauzer named Leroy. We loved Leroy. He was a great puppy, already housebroken (and named). We could just open the door and let him out. He would run around and when we called his name, he came. But with a rough last month of pregnancy and then a new baby, we just couldn't keep Leroy. One year later, we adopted Skippyjon Jones, a teacup chihuahua. He was 1 1/2 pounds and the absolute cutest thing you could ever imagine. But with a 1 yo, a 2 yo, and a 5 yo, Skippy did not stand a chance. He was constantly dropped and thrown. I was terrified Skippy would get maimed. So Skippy had to find a new home and he found a wonderful one. (She still emails me pics and updates on Skippy). One and half years later, and after many, many months of begging my skeptical husband for another dog, he finally relented. I searched for a few weeks until I found another miniature schnauzer. We named him Jack. Now, I know that I have fussed and complained about Jack some over these last few blogging months, but we love Jack and we adore Jack. He is so much a part of this family. In fact, he laid in the bed with me and Mr. Wonderful yesterday afternoon, sleeping on his back, sharing a pillow. I'll post a picture of this later. But over the last week and a half, Jack has developed some sort of growth on his shoulder. Over the last week, it has quadrupled in size, doubling just this weekend. I took him to the vet this morning, expecting them to lance it and drain it. Only it turned out that it is a tumor. The vet thinks it may be mast cell cancer. He surgically removed the tumor and is going to examine it for trace of mast cell cancer. This is beyond upsetting to me. As is usual, Jack is my baby. He matches me step for step every where I go. Every time I lay on the couch, he jumps up and curls up with me. We have a morning routine when he wakes me up to take him out. He stands with his paws on my stomach, and we just hug and pet and scratch for a few minutes. I hope that everything turns out to be okay. I really, really hope that everything turns out okay. It's got to be okay.

P.S. I waited to post this until I heard from the vet. It was determined that the tumor was subcutaneous lymphoma, but we are awaiting a final word from the pathologist. While any kind of cancer is serious, he is showing no symptoms of the lymphoma in his lymph nodes or his organs. His shoulder was a very rare place for them to find this kind of cancer. So I will continue to hold out hope that the non-pathologist vet is wrong. But Jack does have to his benefit that he is young and in very good health otherwise. He seems to be mad at me at times, but I think he is just still recovering from surgery and being in pain. He was also neutered while he was asleep today, so that might be what he is mad about.