April 29, 2008

Today I had a meeting off campus. It was a Reading First meeting. I really like our Reading First trainers. They are a lot of fun. It was my principal, reading coach and me that went to the meeting. It was a nice easy paced day and they fed us breakfast, lunch and a snack.

We were finished by 2:00 pm and my principal told me that I could go home. That was so cool. I was home by 2:30. Michaela had choir practice today so I had about two hours to myself before I had to go get the kids. I worked on my paperwork for Career Ladder some. It was nice to have the house quiet and to myself unexpectedly like that.

Tonight I worked on some scrapbook stuff some more. But, I was really tired so I did not do much. I've really been motivated a lot. Joining the online scrapbooking group has really helped me. I really should focus on finishing at least one album, though. I've just been scrapping whatever draws me in lately. I've got a bunch of pages that need to be put into albums now.

April 28, 2008

It was back to work for me today. I found out today that tomorrow I will be out of the building again for a Reading First meeting. It's a meeting for the principal, reading coach and one classroom teacher from each building. Our Reading Coach picked me. I really wish she was not leaving us next year. I'm really going to miss her. I told her that when I see her at our all district in-service next August, I am going to make her feel really bad for leaving us. She laughed at me.

Tonight was gymnastics night. I guess I say that every Monday. But, then again every Monday is gymnastics night. It was time to pay for next month. Michaela got her t-shirt for their performance day in a couple weeks.

I took the clothes that Michaela and I had taken from her closet and drawers yesterday over to Stacey's house. Lauren was thrilled. She was having a ball going through them all. Some of them she will have to grow into as she's a very petite little girl and she is two years younger than Michaela, but we're definitely keeping her in clothes!! She was hoping the outfit that Michaela had on at church yesterday was in the bag. *LOL* Um, no that one still fits.

I sat and talked with Stacey for a while. I really enjoy talking with her. She's just a lot of fun and has a great sense of humor. Plus, it's nice to get to talk to an adult who I don't work with or am not related to.

I was going to get myself a burrito at Taco Bell before picking Michaela up, but the Taco Bell close to her gymnastics place is closed now. It looks like it's gone for good. I'm very sad about this. I hope her gymnastics place gets moved soon. The building they are moving to has an Arby's, Wendy's and Taco Bell close to it. I know I shouldn't eat fast food and I am trying really hard to cut back, but there are some things I'm going to enjoy once in a while no matter what.

It's Monday evening and I'm so wishing this week was over already. Tomorrow I don't think I'll have to go to the staff meeting, but I might. Hopefully, my principal will not expect me to go back to the building after our Reading First meeting. He usually doesn't.

Wednesday is just a regular Wednesday, although I do need to make sure I get my Career Ladder paper work done by then. That's when it's due. Because, on Thursday the other Career Ladder rep in my building and I have to go to the meeting where we go through everyone's paperwork. We have to decide if it is done correctly or if it needs to be fixed. This documentation determines whether or not we get paid for all the extra stuff we've done since last May. I'm sure that's going to be a long meeting.

Friday is a regular Friday and I'm leaving work as soon as I can. It's only Monday and I'm already ready for the weekend.

April 27, 2008

It was another day spent mostly at home today. That is once we got home from church. We went out to eat at Chuck A Burger for lunch. It was good. I like that place as long as we only go once in a while.

Michaela and I spent a good two hours cleaning out her closet and drawers today. I think we got rid of half of her clothes. I did this in my own closet and drawers yesterday and ended up freecycling 3 very large garbage bags full of clothes. Michaela's took up two bags. I will take them to Stacey for Lauren tomorrow night. It feels good to have that accomplished. I'll do Caleb's next weekend.

Michaela will definitely need shorts this summer. After the purge she only has four pairs left. Two of those are "nice" shorts that I'd rather she not play out in the back yard in. We will also need to get her a couple more one piece bathing suits. Other than that anything we buy will be gravy.

I worked on scrapbooking stuff again tonight. I got 8 page kits made. Then, I started on a page about Abby. The pictures on it are about a year and a half old, but they are some of my favorite pictures of her. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I've got the preliminary design laid out. I'll finish it sometime this week.

April 26, 2008

It's been another good day. Most of the day I've basically just been around home. I did clean up the kitchen some and got most of the laundry done. The kids have argued most of the day and pretty much driven Michael and I crazy, but if that's the worst we have to deal with then we're ahead of the game.

Michael took his motorcycle to the shop today. A friend of ours helped him because it could not be ridden. So, he came over with his trailer and they loaded it up on that. Hopefully, we'll have it back soon. We're going to have to pay extra on the license because we won't get it back before April is over and that's when the license is due on it.

Caleb had a birthday party to go to this afternoon. Michael took him to it. It was a swim party at a local recreation complex. I did not want to go and Michael hadn't been to a party lately so I "let" him go.

I spent a lot of time working on pictures this afternoon. I wanted to get the ones I took yesterday taken care of. Tonight I worked on a couple scrapbook pages. I finished two of them. I have really managed to do pretty good getting pages done lately. Maybe I should be more focused on which pages I do so I could actually finish an album. I need to finish our vacation album from last summer. Probably it would be a good idea to finish it BEFORE we go on vacation this summer.

The kids watched a movie in Michaela's room tonight. Michael fell asleep early. Caleb fell asleep watching the movie and I think Michaela was dozing on and off. I did not make them go to bed until a little after 10 pm tonight. Now, it's time for me to go to bed.

April 25, 2008 (De Je Vu)

I really enjoyed today. I did not go to work. I used my last personal day so that I could pick Michaela up from school. She had a half day at school today. This also meant that the kids and I did not have to get up quite so early and we did not have to leave the house until 8:00 am.

While Michaela was at school I did a lot of just nothing. I've now been introduced to Facebook and now understand the addictiveness of it. I played around on it and chatted on it way too long this morning. I did however manage to get bills paid. And, I went up to the park to get Caleb signed up for t-ball. Then, I enjoyed Arby's for lunch. I just love their roast beef.

After I picked Michaela up from school we went to Walmart. I got the weekly shopping accomplished and started buying her some summer clothes. She ended up coming home with three tops, a pair of shorts and a pair of capris. We stopped at Petsmart, too because that seems to be the only place that can keep the slim rawhide chew sticks in stock lately. I got two packages because Abby goes through them like crazy.

When we got home Michaela said she wanted to take a walk with our cameras. We went to the park instead. One of the parks close to our house has a garden trail that's just gorgeous. I've taken the kids there a few times to take pictures of them in late summer and early fall. In spring there's a lot of colors as things are beginning to bloom and bud, so we had a lot of fun photographing the spring colors. We went to another park across town that also has a garden area. But, they are more set up for actual flower garden stuff and nothing is growing there yet. The trees are blooming though. We enjoyed the time together very much.

By then it was time to go get Caleb from school so we headed that way. This has become a pain in the butt. They are reconstructing the main road that goes down to Caleb's school. You can drive on it coming back home, but the direction towards his school is closed. It's annoying, but hopefully it will be an improvement because that street was just horrible.

The kids played outside quite a bit tonight and Michael went to sleep early. I just kind of relaxed and worked on the pictures I took today. I've been watching "Ghost Whisperer" and "Moonlight" tonight. I enjoy those shows.

April 25, 2008

It's been a really good day off for me. I have enjoyed it a lot. I did not put a lot of pressure on myself to get a bunch of stuff done, like I usually do. Most of the morning I spent messing around on Facebook. I finally gave in and joined after listening to several online friends talk about it. It is addicting. I chatted with a friend on there for a long time this morning.

Then, it was time to get something productive accomplished. So, I paid bills. That's always so much fun! NOT! But, I always feel much better when I'm done with that. I also went up to the park and got Caleb signed up for t-ball. It starts at the end of May. He'll be playing at the park up the street on Saturdays through July. Which means he'll miss two weeks of it when we're on vacation.

I've contemplated signing up both kids for day camp at the park that week that that I'm still in school and their school is over. That would mean no Guppy for that week. It would be less expensive. Michaela does not want to go to Guppy. I'm a little hesitant, probably because it would be something totally new for all of us. I'm going to think on it some more.

I've also contemplated getting the kids and I season passes to Six Flags this summer. But, I don't know if we'd really go all that much. Again, it's something I'm going to have to think on for a little longer. It's not like we're going to be out of school next week so I've got time to decide yet.

Michaela had a half day at school today so I picked her up after lunch time. We went and did a little shopping. She ended up coming home with three new shirts, a pair of shorts and a pair of capri's. This means I need to get serious about cleaning out her closet and drawers. I think everything that is size 7 is going. She's now into size 10! She's getting so big.

She started asking questions about sex today. Gosh, I am not ready for this. I am proud of myself, though. I gave her very straight forward and honest answers without flinching too much. She was very eager to listen. She did say it was all really gross. I told her I hope she feels that way until she's about 30!

After we went shopping we went to two different parks with our cameras. This is what Michaela wanted to do. We really enjoyed ourselves. We just wandered around the garden areas taking pictures of all the pretties. I don't know if it is because it was a long winter and I'm just noticing it all more this year or what, but it just seems to be an extraordinarily beautiful spring this year. And, my allergies are going crazy! But, that can be controlled.

Tonight was very quiet around here. Michael fell asleep before 8:00 pm again. That's becoming a habit for him on Friday nights. Caleb fell asleep on the couch around 8:00 pm. Michaela was in her room making her mouse costume for the trial they are doing for her SOAR class. She did a really good job with it. I'll have to take a picture of her in it before she goes to SOAR next week.

Caleb was bummed that Michaela and I went to take pictures without him today. I reminded him that he and I were going to go just the two of us soon. I want to take him to get some pictures of him in his KG cap and gown like I did Michaela when she graduated from KG. That time will just be the two of us.

April 24, 2008

Today is Friday for me! I am using my last personal day for a day off tomorrow. Michaela has a half day at school so this way I can take her to school and pick her up. Yeah!

It was a pretty good day at work. My students and I seemed to get quite a bit accomplished. I'm proud of how hard they worked today. We had computer lab, too so that meant I got to talk to the computer lab teacher. I really enjoy talking with her. She's a great lady.

Tonight was quiet at home. The kids watched survivor with us and then went to bed. I ended up watching Supernatural and LOST and will be going to bed real soon. I've also taped Grey's Anatomy, CSI, and Without a Trace. Why are all the good shows on on the same night? I should have done some scrapbooking but I did not. I've been lazy about that this week. Maybe this weekend I'll get some done. Maybe even tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

April 23, 2008

It was a beautiful day today. I think spring is finally here for good. It's been a long winter, but that makes the coming of spring that much more special.

I've had some disturbing news given to me at work this week. It's nothing I'm going to get specific about. But, it's caused me to be a bit disillusioned. I just will be very happy when the school year is over. I'm very ready to put this year behind me.

A co-worker and I had a family curriculum night, today after school. We had about 15 parents sign up for it. Only four showed up and one of those had not actually signed up. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it is just frustrating when parents will not get involved. In any case, it's time I can log for Career Ladder.

April 22, 2008

Not much went on today. It was an uneventful day at work. Tonight was spent hanging out at home. I need to get some scrapbooking done, but have not done any since this weekend.

Here is a picture of a magnolia blossom I took about a week or so ago. I used photo editing software to make the sepia tones on it. I think it's pretty cool.

April 21, 2008

I think I'm suffering from burn out. I'm just not interested in work right now. I usually go through this toward the end of the year to some degree, but this year it's worse. I think all the crap that has gone on with the adults in my building has me just really needed my summer break. I hate to say this but I just don't want to look at most of my co-workers right now. Just having to be in the same room with some of them irritates me. No, it's not like that with all of them, but with enough of them to really make going to work difficult right now.

As for the kids, behavior has deteriorated some. It does every year at this time. They are getting tired and restless for summer, too. But, so far it's not nearly been as bad as they usually get. I will miss this class when the year is over, but I really will be glad when the school year is over.

I do have to say I'm feeling better than I was this morning. It took all I had to force myself to go to work. Of course once I'm there and interacting with my students I feel better. But, then after school I had a long talk with one of my co-workers that doesn't get on my nerves. As a matter of fact she's one of my favorite people. It felt good to talk to her and she is understanding what I'm going through and what I am feeling. So after talking her ear off, I feel a lot better.

Michaela has not been feeling good today. I think she's having trouble sleeping. She's been really tired and very irritable. She did not want to go to gymnastics tonight and I could tell she was really feeling some fatique so I did not make her go. Of course it's probably not helped that she's not had her medication since Thursday. Michael and I have had a really tough time remembering to go get it.

This happens every once in a while. And, honestly it's ok that it does because we're hoping that sooner or later she'll grow out of it so sometimes we need to see how she's going to react without it. Although, I have to say she's getting to the age where I'm starting to think she won't grow out of it. At least she's not near as bad as she was when she was little. And, we don't have to use an ihaler at all. I think we've had the nebulizer out once in 18 months, which is great for her. But, if she goes without her Singulair for a few days her body gets fatiqued and she catches upper respiratory diseases VERY VERY VERY easy.