O...M...G...

So, my first year of teaching has been a piece of cake so far. I had 4 kids in the morning, 3 left at 11, and 1 stayed with my aide until 2:30. Wonderful! I had planning time from 11-when ever. I was leaving at 3:30 on the dot because everything was finished. I even VOLUNTEERED for 3rd grade math tutoring.

All of that is changing. . .

I still have my 4 kids in the morning and 1 of those that stays until 2:30. I have added another 3 year old on Tuesday (her 3rd bday), will get a 3 year old on Tuesday, a 4 year old on Thursday and twin 3 year olds in the next week. That does not include the 3 new kiddos that they are currently evaluating (2 of which will definately come). Without the new ones that are being evaluating, that makes 9! I am freaking out! I can handle it, but it is definately stressing me out!

Conversation with a 4 year old.

Today, I was in a PK classroom playing with the kids in the home center. One kiddo told me I was the mom, so I was sitting rocking the doll. Another boy comes up, and we have this conversation:

Child: You can be the Grandma now!
Me: What? I don't want to be the Grandma. Why should I be the Grandma?
Child: No, no, it's OK, you will be the skinny Grandma.
Me: Well, as long as I am the skinny one, I will be Grandma.


Love it.

New Hair

I have been wanting a new haircut since my last one in November. I hadn't made up my mind in November, so I had her trim my hair, and I was disappointed right away. I went tonight, and gave her some so-so ideas, and it turned out GREAT!!! I love it. It is exactly what I wanted! If you need a great person, let me know!

I am sorry about the christmas pics. Hopefully you got the gist of it.

Work has been fine. Kids came back crazy, and my lovely, wonderful, parent of a child with Autism is pissed again. Whatever. I understand that you don't want your child to have a disability, especially Autism, but at some point, you do have to understand that after many diagnosis' and professionals telling you something is not right, something is not right. I have a home visit tomorrow because this kiddo has been having some behavioral issues. I called Dad and he flipped out on me saying he wants her in all gen ed. It is not going to happen...at least not this calendar year. I won't recommend it and since I have her in my room most, I get the final say in where she goes. Dad did threaten again to pull her out and put her in private school, and I am about to say THEN FREAKING DO IT!!!!

Rant over.

So Blake has a new day care and he loves it. He has been doing great.

On another note, I can't find my camera....hopefully it will turn up soon.

Christmas 2008

What a crazy week we've had. My sister-in-law and her 4 kids came on Saturday the 20th, and left Christmas afternoon. They were pretty good, but the kids got bored pretty quick, and I don't have things to occupy an 11 and 7 year old. Oh-well.

I had fever from Sunday until Wednesday. And it didn't help that I was up until 2 every night and awake by 8. I am feeling better now though.

We went to my grandma's house on Wednesday, left cookies out for Santa before going to church and then opened presents after church. Blake was way too spoiled there! We drove home and a cranky Blake put out his cookie for Santa at home and went to bed. Kristina and I stayed up until about 3 getting the tree stocked and ready for 7 excited kids on Christmas morning.

All in all it was a great time, and Blake was the greatest! Christmas morning he went to the cookie plate and said, "MAMA!!! SANTA CAME AND ATE ALL THE COOKIES!!!"

I am off until January 5. I love being home, but also miss my kiddos at school!

Here are some pics of the week.

Blake made Christmas cookies


All of Great Grandma C's great grand kids


Santa came on the firetruck


The little cousins take a bath together


On the way to Great Nana's house


Cookies for Santa at Great Nana's house


Cookies for Santa at home. He was not very interested.


4 of the 7 kids were waiting.


Blake and Gabryel waiting patiently


Our living room!
Blake at 5:30 on Christmas night!

Advent Calendar

I have wanted to get an Advent Calendar for Blake, but didn't want a cheap-o one, so I googled "advent calendar" and came across a blog that is very crafty. I found what I thought was an easy, quick calendar. I bought the materials and got started yesterday while Blake napped. I worked on it for almost 6 hours last night, and have been working on it an hour today. I am more than half way finished, but still have about 8 pockets left to do. I HAVE to have it finished by tomorrow. It will be done, and I will post pictures.

Thanksgiving was nice. We went to my grandma's in Killeen, and I forgot the camera. Poki took some family pictures, and we'll see if I get them before Blake turns 5. I still don't have all of our wedding pictures.


***Here is the finished project! I only need the buttons.

2 months is too long?

I guess if I said not much has happened in the last 2 months I would be telling a story. School is going great, Blake is great, things at home are fine. Our washer is on the fritz. First, it would not run cold water, and then it stopped spinning. Joe replaced the part to make the water run, and now we are "helping" the washer spin. When it gets to the spin cycle, we start spinning it and eventually the pulley takes over. It's not fun. But it beats going to the washateria. We will probably get a new washer in the next 2 months or so, but we can't get one right now.

Trick or treating was so much fun on Friday. Joe and I agree that there was something missing, so we have begun to have a bit of baby fever again. Maybe we will start trying again in the spring.

We have been inconsistently putting Blake in underwear on the weekends. Friday night in the tub, he jumped up and said he had to pee. I put him on the toilet, and he peed. So, yesterday, I put him in underwear all day! He was dry from 8:45-2:30, had a poop accident, then napped, and was dry from 5 until 9. He actually peed on the potty last night too! This morning after breakfast, I put him on the toilet and told him to go pee-pee, and he did it! I am so excited! He is growing up so fast!!!

Blake has been dressing himself, putting socks and trying to put shoes on. He asked to go in the backyard jsut a few minutes ago, so I told him he needed to get dressed and he came out in shorts, a shirt, socks and shoes in hand. He is trying to get the shoe on now. He has just started, within the month or so, being really interested in dressing himself. He is very serious about it now!