Teaching A Way of Life - ProTeacher Community

Teaching A Way of Life

Since I can remember I have always wanted to be a teacher. I remember playing school with my cousins in my grandmother's basement and always being the teacher! I feel like that NASCAR commercial: "Some say NASCAR is not a sport, they may be right it is a way of life." I say "Teaching is not a career...it is a way of life."

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	My dear sweet son... by: Ilvtching, 02-08-2010 has been having bouts of anxiety lately. I had called it separation anxiety before, but now I am not sure if that is accurate or not. It all started two Thursdays ago. I got a call at school saying he was very upset and crying that he wanted me. It ripped my heart out, but there was no way I could go get him as I had a meeting to run (if you read my last blog you know how THAT went....and thanks Hifi...the next time one of my kids needs a timeout.... ) so I had to send him to childcare as usual. I busted out of the meeting ASAP and he was totally fine when I picked him up! Monday I drop him off with our neighbor who has children that go to my son's school as well. We take turns taking the boys to school. The dad calls me about 20 minutes after I leave to say that my DS is crying and wants me. I talk to him and he says he just wants me! He is fine in school all day. Tuesday, he cries and I decide I will take him to school (didn't figure it was fair to make the neighbor take a crying child to school). He ends up spending 1/2 of the day in the counselors office (and his teacher was gone Mon. and TUes), before he can finally pull himself together. Wednesday, my DH has to take him to school as I have a staff meeting. He does fine all day (we bribed him with dinner out on Thursday for no crying). Thursday I have to go to a conference out of town. He gets a little teary when I have to leave, but holds himself together all day at school. Friday morning I get a call from him and he is just sobbing! He wants me. My parents had to drive an hour to take him to school for my DH (he had to be to work early). He didn't want to go to breakfast or anything. I called his teacher to give her a heads up...she said he is totally fine and he was all day! I took him to the Dr last night to get a well child check...just to be safe. There is nothing physically wrong with him. She did assure me that I am doing the right things with him as far as the anxiety goes...but it still rips my heart out every time he cries like that. She also ordered blood work to check his thyroid...she said that if it is not working just right, it can cause emotional ups and downs. She also will have them check his white blood cell count due to an enlarged lymph node. He has had it since he was a baby...but I just want to be sure. Anyway, I was sure it was about being separated, but today he started getting teary because he doesn't want to play basketball..IT DOESN'T EVEN START FOR ANOTHER WEEK!!! My mom and I both told him it is too late to back out now and that he needs to try it for this year and if he doesn't like it he won't have to play. I love my son and I worry so much about him. I just hope this is a phase and we can get through this. I am sure he will...but not sure that I WILL! Amy 6 Comments
	A Little Whine... by: Ilvtching, 02-06-2010 I am so sick and tired of working my butt off on things to make my school building a better place...only to have other staff members (who did nothing mind you) pick it apart! Our staff wrote a grant of sorts to for a state funded program to help make your school a better place. The basic idea is that if you can cut down on behavior issues, your reading scores can improve. You have a "leadership" team that represents your school as a whole and they work their tails off. I am a co-leader of this team. We have to attend 8 workshop days (so far we have attended 3 and they are horrible, but that is a whole other post). Also, we have to schedule one work day (1/2 day or all day) each month to complete the work that is "due" before the next workshop. So that is a lot of time out of my classroom. The idea is that with the grant you hire subs so you don't have to work after school hours (which is nice). So now our School Improvement meetings are devoted to this program (they coincide very well). The whole idea is to work towards common behavior expectations throughout your building. You pick the areas, set the expectations and then all of the students are taught the same lessons so they all know the expectations. It is a great idea and we have worked really hard to create a behavior matrix and all the lesson plans that go with it. On my own time, I type up all the lesson plans, make folders for everyone (really cute ones I must say) and created a wiki with all of this information on it. I send out invites to everyone on staff and really encourage them to go there and give their input/feedback about the lesson plans and behavior matrix (mind you they got a preview and we all know how to use a wiki). We took all the suggestions we got (like 3) and used them to change the lesson plans to reflect them. The lesson plans were on the wiki for at least 3 weeks. I sent e-mail reminders EVERY week for the staff to go there and make suggestions etc. So fast forward to Thursday. We have a meeting to go over the plans and the matrix. As soon as one staff member gets her folder and opens it she starts complaining about the wording on the matrix and then starts in on the lesson plans. I was soooooo ticked! It just made me so mad. I had asked and asked for input and got nothing. So she waits until the meeting when we are just going over it to complain. Luckily, the other co-leader is very calm and she handled it well. Then I nicely, yet firmly reminded the complainer that the wiki is where ideas would be appreciated. The things she was complaining over were things that had to do with ONLY her class. It had already been explained that it had to be kept broad so it applied to the whole school. That her ONE class (it is a tough year) would have to have some added instruction FROM HER! GRRRRR!!!! I ended up leaving the meeting in tears...there were several other things that happened that day that just all built up! I am just so dang frustrated that people can't seem to play on a team and TRY to work together. I know I didn't explain this very well, but I can't give too many details or she would know it was her (if she was on here). I have to admit, I felt so much better after a good cry. Now I am ready to take on the week. Not looking forward to the next meeting, I am sure it will be just as much fun! I am sure that the next one will be better! 4 Comments
	Off she goes.... by: Ilvtching, 01-24-2010 my sister that is. She if off to Asia for a month by herself. Needless to say the family is going to be nervous for the next month! My sister has always been the independent type. She has gone on trips and done things that the rest of us in the family would not think of doing. She has gone to South America and traipsed through the jungle and to Africa as well on Safari. So her latest adventure (that is giving my parents a few more gray hairs) is a month long trip to Asia by herself! She leaves tomorrow morning and her first stop is Bangkok. She is there for a few days then heads to Sumai for 7 days of sand and sun. The next leg of her trip, she will be with family in Cambodia. My cousins are missionaries there and she will be staying with them. While there, my aunt will join her as well (it is her son they are staying with) and they will visit the Killing Fields and Angor Wat. The final leg will be Vietnam. She will return home on February 22nd. I am really happy that she is doing this, but nervous as well. Her communication will be limited as it is very expensive to call. She will blog and call my parents....so that is good. I will be praying for her safe return (and any prayers you can offer would be greatly appreciated). Amy 1 Comments
	Christmas was so awesome... by: Ilvtching, 12-31-2009 This Christmas was the best! It lasted for days, but all the family was together! Christmas Eve my sister, her new bf and my parents came to our house. We had chili, potato soup and cornbread for dinner. We just hung out and talked and we had a chance to get to know her boyfriend. It was a lot of fun...we just ate and hung out...very low key. Christmas Day...my son was up early 3:00 am! I convinced him to go back to bed! He was up by 6:00 and everyone else got up and we opened gifts. My 7 year old DS played "Santa" and handed out all the gifts. This was the first year he was soooooo excited about Santa visiting! He loved all his gifts and my mom and dad LOVED their new computer monitor! The look on my mom's face was PRICELESS!!!!!! We had a big family breakfast and just chilled for a while. Then we packed up and headed to my parents' house for the weekend. We had my dear uncle over for dinner and showered him with gifts...it was so great to watch him. He told my mom that it was the BEST Christmas he has had in years! He is the only one left in his family, his daughter and wife have both passed away. So he only has my mom and us! It was so fun to watch him open gifts and really be appreciative of all he has! My mom and dad gave my hubby and I our gift too! WE LOVE IT! My dad made us a trailer to transport our new kayaks on! We are so excited! I don't know who was more excited my mom or us! It will carry all three kayaks and will be so much easier than our current method! They are storing it for us for the winter...can't wait to try it out! The day after Christmas my brother and SIL came home and it was my Grandmother's Christmas. My dad's entire family gets together every year for dinner. It was a nice dinner and is always nice to see everyone for a short visit. We left a bit early and my cousins came over for home made icecream and a beverage or two. We told funny stories about each other and just laughed our butts off...it was so much fun!!!! After they left, my family played games and we laughed so hard. My mom loved it! She couldn't stop talking about all day on Sunday! On Sunday it was my mom's turn to make another big dinner for us! We had fried chicken and it was just our immediate family and Uncle Bob! We played more games all morning and after dinner we all had to head out. It was such a great time! It was so great to be with my family! We only get together all of us about two times per year as my sister lives on the west coast. I just love my siblings Happy New Year everyone...I hope you all had a great Christmas as well!!!! 1 Comments
	It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.. by: Ilvtching, 12-20-2009 The tree is up, stockings are hung, presents are bought and wrapped. All that is missing is the family from out of town and then it will be perfect! I am very much looking forward to Christmas this year (ok, who I am kidding I look forward to it EVERY year!). Friday was our last day before vacation, but I took it off to help my mom with her church bakesale. She makes 90% of the stuff they sell so it takes her a lot of time to make everything. So every year I take a day off work and help her make the chocolate goodies. We made the Rolo Turtles, Gingerbread Men, and a ton of Pretzel Rod molds. I also helped her make Nutter Butter Santas. It was a lot of work, but so much fun! We also made Candy Cane blossom cookies....just like Peanut Butter Blossoms (chocolate kiss cookies) but they are sugar cookies with Candy Cane kisses on top...cute and yummy!!! The sale was a big success and they didn't have much left over! THe next three days are going to be spent cleaning the house....baseboards, touching up paint scrapes, you know...the stuff you NEVER do when you CLEAN your house! Thursday the FUN begins! My parents, my sister and her boyfriend are all coming down for the evening. I can't wait to see her, I haven't seen her since JUNE! That is far too long! We also get to meet her boyfriend....looking forward to that. They will all spend the night and be with us on Christmas morning (we have the only grandchild). That afternoon off to my parents' house to spend the rest of the weekend. My brother and his wife are coming up on Saturday and staying the weeked too. I am sooooo excited to have my whole family together for Christmas. It seems so rare lately that we are all able to be home together for any amount of time. I just can't wait until Thursday....Merry Christmas to everyone! 2 Comments
	WOW..time Flies by: Ilvtching, 11-16-2009 I cannot believe how bad I have been about blogging...it has been over 3 months since I blogged last...I vow right now that this will not happen again! It has been a very busy last month of summer and beginning of the school year. In August, our district hired a new Superintendent. He is very awesome. In the same month, they finally hired us a new principal. He is awesome as well. With so much awesomeness going around you would think life would be awesome as well....it is yet VERY busy and overwhelming! Our Superintendent needed some help with a class size problem...so he came to a couple of us on our school's staff and asked for ideas. WHAT A SHOCK! That has NEVER happened in the years I have been here...new super....new ways! So we gave him our take on the issue and we worked together as a staff (at this point with no principal) and now 1/2 of that plan has become a reality! We are doing nongraded literacy in our lower elementary wing. We took all of the first and second graders and assigned them a teacher for reading based on their levels. So I teach first grade, but teach 2nd grade literacy. They are struggling readers and it is very tough. I spend TONS of time planning and never seem to get ahead. We are all doing Daily 5 and Cafe. It is a great idea and we have already had 1 other school come to visit to see how we are doing this. We have a two hour literacy block...uninterrupted! I keep my literacy kids for writing as well. It is so overwhelming for me because I have only taught writing for the past 5 years...not reading. So I am hoping next year the planning time will be a little bit less as it may get easier for me and I will have all my resources around since I am spending so much time on that this year. We also share kids for math. Math is not my favorite thing to teach, but truth be told, I LOVE my math group. They are the lowest but they are so eager to learn and soooo attentive! My favorite hour of the day by far! I have so much on my plate this year! I am co-team leader of a school leadership team...it requires at a minimum 8 days out of my classroom....MINIMUM!!!! Eeek! I also serve on two other committees....I know I should give something up, but I feel like no one else is stepping up and they have been given plenty of opportunities to do so! So much more to talk about, but I will save something for another day...just not three months from now! Oh, and Suzanne, where have you been? I miss your blogs! You too, JKB! Amy 3 Comments
	Wonderful Family Weekend by: Ilvtching, 07-30-2009 We have been planning a camping trip for several months and this past weekend it finally came along! We had such a great time. My mom and dad have a pull behind camper and we left Friday morning for Mackinaw City. We stayed at a state park up there....it was great. We were just off the lake and the weather (for the most part) cooperated. Friday we arrived and set up camp. We were in lot #1...who doesn't want to be #1 right? Well it was a very unlevel and difficult lot to park a camper on. My dad handled it like a pro...the camp host (which I had NEVER hear of before) wanted to hire my dad on a retainer just to park campers on that site...he said in all his years as camp host he has never had someone get it the first time! Why is it with all the careful planning my mom and I put into this trip, list upon list upon list, do you still have to take that trek to Walmart? My husband and I can never seem to go camping without having to run to a box store to purchase something we need. So this trip was no different. Even though it was cold, my son got in Lake Michigan and played in the water for a while. He loved it! Those rocks on the bottom were just begging to be thrown! So of course he obliged. Saturday we went to the Michilimackinac Fort and Mills Creek Discovery Park...WHAT FUN!!!! My son and DH could've spent all day at the fort, they were really getting into it. We saw a demonstration for shooting muzzle loaders and they "shot" a canon. It was really neat. They passed around the 6 lbs cannon ball and explained that when they use the full powder load (which they didn't for the demo much to my son's dismay) the ball would travel ONE MILE! WOW. We had to literally drag my hubby and son out of the Fort! We headed to our next destination. We headed to Mill Creek....as the name would suggest it is an old mill. They do demonstrations and have tons of nature trails. They also have some new adventures....we did the FULL adventure! My DH, daddy and I were able to walk a steel cable canopy bridge, zipline and climb a rock wall. It was so great. The bridge was pretty cool. It was basically a steel cable bridge, that held up a board that you walked on...very bouncy. The zipline is 425 feet long and was soooo fun...I could do that all day! The rock wall was very difficult for me...I didn't make it to the top, but had fun trying! We also rented Kayaks that day and spent some time out on Lake MIchigan. The lake is so clear you can see to bottom for a long ways out. It is so blue also. My hubby and I paddled out to a point and got a lovely view of the Mackinac Bridge....he and my son also paddled around...my DS LOVED it! We also went to the Soo Locks. This was pretty cool...the concept is mind boggling enough but to see it in action is even more impressive. W saw a Coast Guard ship get raised up and moved along...too cool. We also spent a lot of time riding bikes, walking and playing on the beach. Oh and I had to order the 30 Day shred in the hopes of losing all the weight I gained from EATING all day! We had a great time! Worth every pound I gained! 4 Comments
	NASCAR weekend... by: Ilvtching, 06-22-2009 Last weekend was the annual Sprint cup race here in MI...which means it was our annual visit to Brooklyn, MI and MIS speedway. Every year, we spend the weekend with our friends who live about 2 miles from the track. We traveled down Friday night and just hung out....pretty low key. Saturday morning started out with breakfast...complete with Mimosas...mmmmm. I had never had one....YUMMY! Then we headed over to the track to visit the fan plaza and the flea market. It is such a great place to people watch! My hubby and I stayed for the Truck Race which was awesome since He Who Must Not Be Named didn't win...and it was HIS own FAULT! Saturday night, we hung out playing cards and then played Rock Band. I have never played EVER and they finally talked me into singing! What a blast! The hardest song they chose was Beat It by Micheal Jackson...that man has one HIGH pitched voice! Sunday, my friends had to be at the track by 7:30 since he works for the National Guard and helps organize the guard help at the track. They also had some promotional thing going on that they had tickets for. They usually get free tickets for the race but didn't get any this time. I made breakfast for everyone that was still there and then my friend's cell phone rings. It seems that our friends got three tickets last minute for the Acceleration tent. These tickets were SWEET...they included breakfast and lunch, drinks, and prizes. They also included watching interviews with drivers and the Grand Marshal who happened to be Kid Rock. They also included tickets to the race and an AWESOME gift bag. We also got a pit pass to wander the pits before the race. These tickets cost $280 a piece and we got them for FREE!!!!! We got to see Kid Rock and Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne, and Dale Jr.! We were about 25 feet from all of them. It was so cool. We had some drinks, wandered the pits and then came back ate lunch, had a few beverages and discovered in our gift bag that we also got free rentals for headsets! What an UPGRADE!!!! The race itself was so awesome as well. KB didn't do well and the finish was so cool! I have attached a few of the pictures I took...enjoy! 8 Comments
	I hit a kid... by: Ilvtching, 06-02-2009 while pitching during baseball tonight! My assistant who always pitches, was running late tonight, so I had to start the game pitching! It took me a couple pitches, but I thought I had finally gotten into the groove when BAM...nose shot! It didn't actually just go from my hand, through the air to his nose, it was high and inside...he swung in self defense and it hit him in the face. It gave him a bloody nose and all...EEEEEEK! I felt so bad! He was fine and no one was out to lynch me..but I could've cried! When the nose stopped bleeding the little man came up to try again (yes, I was still pitching) and he got a hit! Well, the next inning my asst was there and when the little guy got up, my asst. says "I bet your glad to see me!" Everyone just laughed! Well that little joke came back to bite him....he bounced a ball off one of our kids helmets....thank goodness for helmets. He was fine and ended up getting a base hit with the next pitch! Despite those two ooops...We played a great game again tonight. One of my great hitters, hit a triple! It was awesome! A very sweet hit...to right field no less. We only had one little guy who didn't get a hit (on his second try). The kids had a blast! I was a cheering fool and they are learning! Now we get a few days off...we don't play again until Monday...thank goodness, I need to focus on the last few days of school...IS IT FRIDAY YET? 2 Comments
	Take your Base... by: Ilvtching, 06-02-2009 Game two! The coach I played against tonight is my mentor coach! I had a great time and learned even more from him tonight! The weather cooperated with us tonight and we had a beautiful night to play our game...well there was that mud pit between first and second, but hey the kids loved it! The kids hit very well and even their fielding was pretty good. We played my mentor coach tonight. My son's first year of T-ball, Coach Mike was his coach. I learned so much from him...my son cried for the entire first two practices and Coach Mike was great for him. By the end of the season, Ryan was sad to see the season end. Coach Mike was great with the kids, he really wanted them to learn and stood by the doing what was best for the kids so that they had fun and learned the game. So last year I decided to coach T-ball and I used many of the techniques that he used with the kids the year before. We had a great season-- the kids learned a lot and had so much fun! This year I decided to coach even though my son moved up to Pee Wee (coach pitch)...Saturday I was a wreck...trying to make lineups, making sure they all played infield, outfield, keeping track of outs, runs....it was stressing me out! So today, I got to the field early and Mike was there. I picked the man's brain and got some great ideas! It was awesome...so now I will be less stressed. Now, to my big oooops of the night! My assistant coach pitches to the kids....I stand behind the catcher and help chase balls. Tonight I was throwing balls back to him, and I threw the last one as he turned away from me....you know when you panic and everything leaves your brain? I couldn't think of his name or anything and it just missed hitting him in the head...I thought of his name at the last second and he jerked just enough that it hit him in the shoulder instead..whew....Of course my parents had to tease me about it a bit. I told him, his wife told me to! Playing ball was a lot of fun...and we remembered to cover second base! Hifi...impressed? Two blogs in three days! 1 Comments
	Take me out the the ballgame by: Ilvtching, 05-31-2009 This is the third time I have tried to type this blog. I had it done twice and somehow managed to hit a button and delete it….GRRR. So here is the final try! I am coaching baseball again this year. It is not T-ball anymore, but coach pitch. The kids get three swings and misses or 7 pitches. If they don’t hit it, they are out. Luckily, we don’t keep score! Anyway, so today we have our first game. We have only had three practices with the whole team there and this league really stresses the fundamentals. It is really difficult to teach all the fundamentals of baseball to 14 kids in 3 practices! Plus, I am not an expert…I have played though, so apparently that qualifies me to coach! So today, things are going ok. My kids are not near as good as the other team. Every inning I put the kids at different positions. I fully believe that they need to find out which position they like while the game is noncompetitive. Anyway, by the third inning, I have talked to several kids about covering second base when the ball goes to the outfield. So we are in the third inning (luckily no one has been beaned by a ball being thrown to second while that person isn’t looking) when a ball is hit to center field. Well no less than THREE of my kids cover second base. It was hilarious! To make matters even more comical, we actually managed to the base runner out! I think it was pure intimidation…but hey we took the out! My parents (they are a great bunch) start hooting and hollering for the kids. I am so excited that I yell “woo hoo, we have learned to cover second base.” We were all laughing! I felt a little like I was back in my classroom though. I teach and teach, model and model, practice and practice…then it comes time for the test and the kids look at me like I have three heads. That is what I felt like today…tell the kids to go to a base…they stare…and their hitting was a struggle today too! Well, it was only game one and we did have fun. There were some wonderful things that happened…we can only improve! We are supposed to have games on Monday and Tuesday as well…I hope they are not cancelled due to rain! Stay tuned for more Baseball stories….I am sure to have some good ones with this group! 4 Comments
	Sorry, Hifi... by: Ilvtching, 05-30-2009 I have tried three times to post this and somehow I keep deleting it! GRRRRR...guess it will have to wait! 0 Comments
	Where has the time gone? by: Ilvtching, 05-17-2009 The title of this blog has two meanings! I can't believe how fast this school year has passed AND I can't believe how long is has been since I blogged last! It has been two months since I last posted on my blog! TWO MONTHS....where or where has the time gone???? I know I have been busy, but I just didn't realize how busy until I saw that! I have been checking the boards faithfully and reading everyone else's blogs, but neglecting my own! I guess I just don't feel like I have anything "earth shattering" to write about! This school year has also just flown by (I am soooo not complaining). This class has been really tough! I like most of them, but will admit it is the first year I have a student that I just can not like! I have tried so very hard to like this child, but this child has made my life miserable all year and I am ready for this child to MOVE ON! The second grade teacher and I are good friends, so I know I will be hearing this child's name on a daily basis...but they will no longer be my worry and stress. I have been yelled at all year by this child and I don't think I can take too many more eye rollings and temper tantrums (did I mention I teach first grade?). I just once want to use my dads line about eye rolling...but it is really not appropriate and I need a job! I am coaching baseball again this year! I have moved up and am no longer coaching T-ball. WOW...what a difference a year makes! I think I am in over my head this year! Luckily I have a great group of parents again and they are willing to help out. It amazes me that some of them have really good baseball skills but are not willing to coach. They will help out (which is awesome) but didn't sign up to coach. I am glad they are on my team....some nights I feel like the queen....I am just the figure head. I get to be there, but everyone else does the work! Games start soon and it is going to be so much fun! I am also looking forward to summer vacation! We have already reserved a camp site up north (about as far north as you can go in MI and still be in the lower penninsula). We have never camped here before, but have heard great things! My parents are taking their camper and we are staying for 5 days! On the way home,we may suprise our son and stay one night in a Great Wolf Lodge! My parents have never been and my son LOVES that place! It would be during the week so it would be affordable! Only 13 more days with students and then FREEDOM!!! Ok, not really, as I have to close out my room etc....but I am looking forward to working on my own time to organize and close out another year! Oh, one more way the title fits! My VERY first class ever, they were Kindergartners, graduate from High School NEXT year! WOW! I am just blown away. I am going to make the 2 hour trek to see them graduate next Spring! LIFE IS GOOD! See ya all BEFORE another two months passes! I promise! Amy 0 Comments
	Navy mom AND wife... by: Ilvtching, 03-14-2009 Well, it turns out that not only am I a NAVY mom, soon I may be a NAVY wife also! Since before my son went into the NAVY in June, my husband has been looking into going back to the NAVY (in the reserves). He wanted to go back as an officer though. So we spent quite a bit of summer contacting recruiters, doing HUGE amounts of paperwork (I mean they want to know what size underwear you wore at 5 years of age) and a LOT of waiting. The first board was held in October. They ripped his package apart. The hardest part of that is they gave no constructive criticism what so ever...the things they shredded are things that can not be changed. Our second/third years of marriage were pretty tough. He was working full time, attending law school nights full time, in the National Guard, his son had moved in with us and was playing sports, we had a toddler, I had had a miscarriage and we were in counseling. Not the easiest time of our lives by a long shot. So he ended up dropping out of law school and getting HONORABLY discharged from the Guard. Well the first board just looked at it as he quit all these things. Well, we had to make our family our priority for a while. So he re-did the package (HOURS of work) and submitted an explanation of why he quit those two activities. He also had another interview with some higher up in the Navy...this guy liked him. He also re-took a test and scored a couple points higher! So he turned in his package again for a board that was supposed to be held in early February. We still hadn't heard anything in early March...so he was getting antsy. We got the call this week that he has been recommended for a commission. He is so excited! All he has to do now is pass a physical. Then he will be in the Reserves and going once per month to Chicago....about a 4 hour drive. Thank goodness that is only the first year and then he will be closer to home for those weekends. It will be so great for us...he will be doing something he loves and I will get some weekends of just me or just me and the little man. It will be good for both of us to have our own things to do...especially him since he works with mostly women at his regular job. With this, he may meet some guys he can hang out with on a more regular basis! It will also help us out with some extra money...who couldn't use that?! Two NAVY boys in the family...WOW! 3 Comments
	I'm in a funk... by: Ilvtching, 03-08-2009 There is a lot going on right now and I think it is starting to take its toll on me! This week I just have not been myself. I am in a downward spiral and I don't know how to snap out of it! I have been eating horribly this week. The funny thing is, I haven't really gained much weight, but I feel yucky...(really descriptive term I know). My jeans feel tighter and I am mad at myself for having NO self control! I am a comfort eater and always have been...not that I am over weight, but I have been trying really hard to be healthier and it was working and I was feeling great...then I derailed. UGH! There has been a bunch of junk going on at school. Without going into too much detail...I was chosen/volunteered to be the team leader on a major project. We held a meeting, it was decided we wanted to do the project and everyone there agreed. Well, then the drama started. One person was absent from this meeting and I forgot to get someone to bring them up to speed. Another person starts talking with the first and BAM...it is like highschool all over the place. They are talking to everyone but me (who they need to talk to) and going on and on and on. The people they are talking to (to their credit) said they needed to go to me! Well they won't. I even offered to meet with them and apologized for the oversight, but they have yet to meet with me. UGH! One of them I didn't really care for before all of this and now I just can't even stand to look at them....now they have put themself on team and I will have to work with them closely...Double ugh! I am also on a couple of other short-term committees. They will only last until May and meet once per month. I am also on one other committe that is long term (which I LOVE)...so there were a couple of meetings this week. Also, I seem to the be only one around that attends board meetings. I feel that if you want to know what is going on in the district, you need to attend. If you want to get something changed, you need to attend and let your voice be heard...if you don't do those things, then SHUT UP about all that is "wrong" with where your work...I am at the point of telling people that I swear! Also, why do people run to the admin instead of keeping things quiet? We have a couple people in our union (yes, I know they are a touchy subject) that just can't seem to wait to tell the admin everything we discuss in our meetings...hello???? That doesn't help the situations any! I have done nothing for school this week. Each night I didn't have a meeting I hung out with my son and hubby. Then I just vegged in front of the tv...instead of doing my report cards, conference notes, looking over and planning assessment...you know all the stuff conferences and report cards entail. So next week I need to make some changes: 1. Get back to eating better. After my son's b-day there is no excuse for not eating better. 2. Get some exercise. Every day this week I set the alarm early to walk and just shut it off and slept in instead. My teaching partner has offered to walk after work and I think I will take her up on it! It is fun to walk with someone and we can get out our frustrations after work before going home. 3. Realize I can't make everyone happy and that I have to be the bigger person (though this is easier said than done it MUST be done). 4. Realize I am only one person who can do so much. Do what I can and delegate what I don't want to do! 5. Realize that I have it good compared to others in this world: I have a job, a wonderful family, a beautiful house and super friends (virtual and otherwise). Thanks for listening...I can feel the funk fading away already! 3 Comments
	WOW! It's been a while by: Ilvtching, 01-31-2009 I just looked to see when I last posted...New Years! It seems that life has been crazy busy lately The past couple of weeks have been nuts. Between my hubby and I we have had a meeting every week night except one (per week). He is his unions president (meetings seem to go in streaks) and I am on several committees. No...apparently that word is NOT in my vocabulary! My hubby also seems to be going through some kind of identity crisis. He is sick of the people he works with (it reminds me of middle school the way some of them behave) and does not like what his job has evolved to. He likes doing police work, not sitting behind a desk and that is basically what he does all day. He is so ADHD that he NEEDS that on the road time to change up the day. He has a new work partner, new boss...things are changing and he is struggling to adapt. Of course this is all my wifely opinion! But of course wives are always right. He has applied to the local police force, but we can't afford for him to get paid minimum wage for 16 weeks while he attends the academy. We may try though if that is what he really wants...it could be ugly! School is driving me crazy. My kids are giving me a run for my money. I have a couple who just set the class off. I got a new student who is sweet, but we are her 5th, yes 5th, school THIS YEAR!!! UGH! So you can imagine how low she is. Grandma now has custody and I think there will be more consistency. The paperwork and politics for the first time in 12 years have me wondering what other job is out there...and then I remember that I live in MI and the answer is NONE! My youngest son is growing up WAY TO FAST for my liking! He is going to his first sleep over tonight and as a mom I am struggling with that. He is so wonderful...no better son. His report card was awesome and not only is he smart (ok, I may be a bit biased) he is also kind and funny. He is going to be 7 soon. That just about kills me! I can't believe the time has gone by so fast. I will try to be better at blogging. I have missed my PT friends! 1 Comments
	I am so proud by: Ilvtching, 01-02-2009 of my Dear Stepson. Many of you know the struggles he has had with his mother this past year. Quick re-cap of last year with his mother: Step dad (who doesn't breathe without her permission) kicks Stepson out of the house in the middle of the night....no cell, no car, no money. Two drunk guys pick him up, take him to an all night diner, buy him food and let him call us on their cell. We get there (at 3:00 a.m) and they give US gas money. We go out of town for the rest of the weekend (President's Day) and when we get home there is a message from the POLICE...his mom called them saying he ran away and could they do a welfare check. ** He calls her to say he is safe and she tells him she is done with him and won't call again. So it has been many month since he has even thought about talkng to her. He needs information about his 1/2 brothers for is military security clearance. After exhausting all other options, he calls his mother. He talks to his stepdad (who is glad to hear from him), gets his info. and leaves a message for his mother to call him. She doesn't. He calls again to talk to his stepdad (who is an insurance agent) about insurance for his car. Did mom get the message? Yep, she is mad at my DStepson for running away and REFUSES to talk to him....WTH? He gives up...flash forward to December. It is her birthday, so he calls her. She talks to him...rants and raves at him...how could RUN AWAY and not say goodbye....and on and on and on (for the entire phone call) mind you he was KICKED OUT (on her orders I am SURE). After that she is constantly texting him, to the point where he calls my hubby and asks how he can get her to stop...it is annoying him. Well, good luck with that...she feels entitlted. So he is home this week. He went to see his mom on Tuesday and she was all upset because she wasn't invited to HS graduation, Navy graduation, and on and on (did I mention SHE had him kicked out?!). He did not rise to the bait, he just sat there and took it. When she saw that she couldn't bait him, she stopped! I am so proud of him. He was respectful to her when he had every right to speak what was on his mind. He didn't fall for her "oh woe is me" crap...didn't give her money...he just hung out with this little brothers and extended family AND ENJOYED HIMSELF! It may sound weird to be proud of him for this, but if you knew his mother you would understand...master manipulator! Thanks for reading this! Amy 6 Comments
	Holly Jolly Christmas... by: Ilvtching, 12-29-2008 it's the best time of the year! We had snow and MANY cups of cheer! After reading many blogs and posts about the triumphs and tribulations of so many of my PT friends, I am SO very grateful for the wonderful holiday I spent with my family this year. I am so lucky to have both of my parents to share it with as well as my siblings. We all may not see eye to eye all the time, but we love each other and get along well. We spent Christmas Eve at home this year. I spent it with my hubby and son. I made Lasagne in the crock pot and it was sooooo yummy! We watched a movie together complete with popcorn and when my little guy went to bed, we played Santa. I LOVE playing Santa. I wrote a letter to my son from Santa...my hubby thinks I am a total freak...but I don't care. I love this stuff and he won't believe forever! We actually ate the cookies he left out, they looked like little Rudolphs and in the letter I put that Santa ate one and that he took the other to show Rudolph! He was soooooo excited about that. On Christmas morning, the little "elf" was up at 5:30. We have a "rule" in our house that you can't be up until the first number on the clock is a 6. So I sent him back to bed....his comment to me is "will you wake me up when it says 6"...sure kid, no problem. Of course I fell back to sleep and before I knew it, he is standing beside my bed..."mommy it is 6:09"...so we unwrapped gifts. I usually video tape it all, but this year I chose not to. I wish I would have! He had a running commentary the whole time and was just totally cracking me up! He just loved everything he got..but his favorite was his gift from his dad and I...a RED RIDER BB GUN!!!!! Santa left his some cute little targets in his stocking...he was downstairs with my hubby in a flash to shoot it! This was the first time in 8 years of marriage that I was able to surprise my hubby with his Christmas gifts. I got him and ipod, but wrapped it in a big box stuffed with newspaper and two cans of Manwhich. He was SHOCKED! I also got him (and I) passes for the Richard Petty NASCAR experience. We get to ride shotgun for 3 laps at full speed! It is going to be so awesome! My mom, dad and sister came up that morning and we prepared and ate breakfast together. We watched some movies together and made dinner. We decided to have Chicken Enchiladas this year...mmmm they were good. My mom took my little guy home with them so Hubby and I watched a movie together and just enjoyed the quiet. Friday, we headed to my parent's house. My brother and his wife came for the weekend as well. So our whole family was there. My grandma (my dad' mom) always has a big dinner..so we headed over there. It was nice and we got to see all the fam. For the past couple of years, my boy cousins have come to my parents' house for cards, drinks and tons of laughs. This year we plotted all through dinner and came up with a plan. We had my sister talk to my uncle and we convinced him and then we worked on my aunt. Before long, we had them not only convinced to come over, but make homemade icecream as well! Cha-ching! WE HAD A BLAST!!! We played Loaded Questions...that game is a RIOT...add those boys in there and LOOK OUT!!! We had cocktails, ice cream and laughed until we cried! My mom said she just loved listening to us laugh and have fun. Saturday, we had a big family breakfast and opened gifts (again). We helped my little man play with his new toys and had dinner...chicken, home made noodles, mashed potatoes...mmmm. Later the girls went shopping and the boys stayed home to recover from dinner. Of course, we played games when we got home and had some more laughs! Today we had a big family breakfast and then everyone came here becuase...BRAD MADE IT HOME YESTERDAY! WOO HOO!!! So we were all together for about 2 hours this afternoon just catching up with him and getting some updated pics. I am so thankful for my family. I cherish each Christmas we share together and hope that one day, when they are gone, that I wll be able to be as strong as those who have lost loved ones. Reading some posts here have made me realize how precious these moments are and how very lucky I am. Happy Holidays to my PT friends....thank you for your friendship and insights. Amy 4 Comments
	Life is good... by: Ilvtching, 12-25-2008 I am sitting in bed, with the laptop and the dog, watching a movie, enjoying the "quiet"...I am thinking LIFE IS GOOD! My aunt and uncle were getting rid of a HUGE TV and thought we would appreciate it...so we inherited this FABULOUS tv in our living room. That allowed me to move a small one into my room...now I can watch school closings from the warmth of my bed. I am so grateful to them for this gift...we love it! I am also looking forward to spending time with my family. This weekend I spent some time with my mom, dad and sister. She managed to get home (from AZ) before the snow storm hit (round 2) here in Michigan. We decorated cookies and had a surprise 40th anniversary dinner for my parents (more on that in a minute). Thursday, my parents and sister are coming here for dinner. Friday my entire extended family is going to be at Grandma's for our annual Christmas dinner (which has been a tradition since before I was born and I am 35). On Saturday my brother and his wife will add themselves to the group and we will spend the day at my parents' enjoying each other and great food! Saturday night (late) my DS is SUPPOSED to be home from the NAVY (more on that in a minute) for a week...so Sunday we are hosting a family brunch here so my fam can see him before they head out for home. My parents celebrated their 40th anniversary in November. My sister lives out of state so she organized a surprise dinner for my parents for when she got home. So Sunday after church we all headed out for the restaurant to "meet my aunt" for lunch. Imagine my mom's surprise when she walked in and there were 14 people sitting at the table (there ended up being 20 of us total)! The weather was pretty rough, yet some of them had driven 2 hours to be there. My mom was pretty overwhelemed...it was great. My grandma brought pictures of my parent's wedding and we had a great time going through those. My parents were so pleased and surprised....it was awesome! Brad is supposed to come home on Saturday. However, he called to say he may not be able to since he was irresponsible and didn't turn in some paperwork. I was really hoping the military would help "cure" his tendancy towards irresponsibility. I really want him to come home, but the other part of me says that in order for him to learn to be responsible they need to say he has to stay there because he didn't do what he needed to. We won't find out if he can come until Saturday morning...I feel bad for the guys that were supposed to ride with him...he just doesn't think sometimes how his actions affect those around him. I love this time of year and am looking forward to some quiet time at home. It seems that there is a mad dash through Christmas...then things quiet down and are much more relaxed! I don't make resolutions, but my hubby and I have set some goals for ourselves this year! Eat out less (he is trying to keep the 30 pounds he lost off and that is hard to do when you eat out) Use the money we would have used to eat out and get our credit card paid off. I really WANT to get that card paid off this year! I am committed to doing it and I think I have him on board as well! ** Scale back our calendars a bit. We both have a tendency to say "yes" to extra things...we are going to really evaluate our options before saying yes (and help each other feel ok with saying "no"). I wish everyone here the Merriest Christmas and Happiest New Year! Amy 5 Comments
	This and That by: Ilvtching, 12-07-2008 I don't seem to post much about school on this blog...so today may be a milestone day! At the end of this school year my teaching partner is retiring. I am so sad about it. We work very well together and I have just loved learning from her. It will only be my 4th year of teaching first grade. I feel like I have so much more to learn, but next September I will be the "senior" first grade teacher in our building! YIKES!!!! This year we were "given" a third teacher in our building for first grade. She is great and we work well together also. I am hoping that she will be able to take my partners place (it is a long story and I won't go into it) and she would like to stay. I really hope she gets to stay since we are already planning some things for next year! It could be bad if she has to transfer somewhere else! Anyway, I have been using PT to find a bunch of new ideas for next year and found a WONDERFUL website posted here. It is for K but I can use many of the ideas with my first graders. www.kidscount1234.com It is fantastic. I have printed off the sheets for the calendar binders and that is so exciting for me. I teach the low kids math and our math series is WAY to hard. The math oriented kids do OK with it, so you can imagine how our low kids do. I still have kids who can't consistently get through the teens when counting. It is frustrating some days. So I finally reminded myself that the math series is NOT my curr. but a tool to help me teach the curr. Other than just counting on a daily basis (which gets boring) and doing calendar (while few pay attention anyhow) I decided to try calendar notebooks. We are going to start them next week (get into the idea of them before break) and then go full steam ahead after Christmas. It will keep them actively engaged in calendar and they will be learning concepts we need to cover in math as we do it. They will write the number for each day of school (something they struggle with now) and do some graphing of weather (which we are working on now also). There are many other pages that you can add each month depending on what you are learning about. I am planning to start them with a 100's chart of the # of days of school, the weather graph and the tally chart. I will add or delete other activities each month. If you haven't arlready checked out that site, you may want to. Also, she references the www.jmeacham.com site. Click on the calendar link and then calendar binder. You can print out her sheets as well. It is nice to be excited about teaching again. It has been a tough year, but it feels great to me that something this "small" can rejuvenate me! Amy 2 Comments
	I feel lazy... by: Ilvtching, 11-25-2008 I am lacking in movitation this week! I should qualify this by saying when it comes to school! I am one to bring home work, most nights. I haven't brought anything home this week...NOT ONCE! On one hand I am proud of myself for leaving work at school...on the other hand I panic because there is so much to be done. Are we all this nuts? I am not brinigng anything home tomorrow either. I have decided I am going to spend one day in my room this weekend (probably Sunday) and prep everything for the last three weeks before break. Then I can have more evenings like this for this busy month. I went back to the hand surgeon this morning. He was impressed with how well it has healed up. I finally really got to hear what he did while he was in there. He actually removed the damaged ligament and the new scar tissue will reform in the ligaments place. Sounds freaky...but hey, I have full use of my hand with little to no side effects, I am NOT going to complain. So I don't have to go back anymore unless I start having problems. This morning we were up at 6:00 am to shovel snow. My son was up by 6:30 and we made a snowman in the front yard. He had dressed himself in his outdoor gear...I had to laugh when we came in he still had his pajama's on underneath it. We came in, ate breakfast and watched Frosty the Snowman (both versions). After we got ready for school, we had a short play date! Boy it was a busy morning! Fun...but busy. The snowman is adorable... Suzanne, A HUGE shout out to you! You were so right about the CD...I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I listened to it today and I can't wait to be home for 4 days so I can listen to it more frequently. It really got me into the holiday spirit. You are such a wonderful person and friend. I wish you a very peaceful and happy Thanksgiving. Amy 0 Comments
	November is almost over! by: Ilvtching, 11-23-2008 I just can not believe that November is almost over. Where did it go??? November was a blur of meetings, conferences, inservices and even MORE meetings. It seemed that every day after or during school I had a meeting of some kind...IST, technology, adopt a family for Christmas..the list just never seemed to end. I also only had one full week of November where I was in school everyday and I wasn't even sick! I was just being pulled for inservices or a learning conference (trust me that is NOT a complaint). This week will prove no different. I have a follow-up with the hand surgeon for my hand (had a cyst removed this summer)...I wanted to take a whole day, but felt guilty for all the days I have missed, so I only took a 1/2. Yesterday I took the day and went on a field trip with my youngest son. We had a BLAST! We went and saw a movie about bugs in Imax 3D! It was awesome...the bugs were so huge...the kids were so well behaved and HILARIOUS! Every time a big bug would come on the screen the little boy next to me (who was just so polite and sweet) would say " I'm freaking, I'm freaking"...it was hilarious! Then we went to a bug house and the kids were able to touch real bugs. The kids were allowed to hold beetles, hissing cockroaches, walking sticks and pet a tarantula...I did pet the tarantula...just felt like a big cat. No one, not even the kids, would touch the bugs! I felt bad for the guide, he obviously loved the bugs and REALLY wanted the kids to as well....didn't happen! I am looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday! I would love to kiss whoever decided Thanksgiving should always be on Thursday, thereby giving us a 4 day weekend! My NAVY son is beginning his journey home on Wednesday morning and should arrive on Wednesday evening...we are all very excited about it! Thursday, we will head to my parents and spend one night with them! Friday, the NAVY boy has some business to attend to, so we will head home and he can take care of all that and I am going to see Twilight with some girlfriends. Looking forward to that. Saturday will probably be devoted to hanging out with the boys (DH and my two sons) and Sunday will be back in the classroom getting ready for 3 more weeks of school before break...ONLY 3 MORE WEEKS.,...15 DAYS...WOW! Then two WHOLE weeks off! Just have to make it through the next 18 days...YEAH! Have a Happy Thanksgiving all! Amy 3 Comments
	I love Fridays... by: Ilvtching, 11-07-2008 especially when I don't have to go to work! We had PT conferences this week so we had today off. Conferences went well, I only had one parent not show up. Of course, it was the one I ABSOLUTELY needed to talk with. It is the mom of the child I blogged about before...the one I don't want to give the rewards to! His behavior is ATROCIOUS and getting worse. He throws fits, yells at people and I just can't take it anymore! But alas, his mother didn't show up. So I think instead of a conference I am going to ask for an IST and let the school Psychologist lead the meeting (they worked with this parent last year as well). I also had my own son's conference last night. He is doing great and I am soooo pleased. He wasn't sure at the beginning of the year that he would like first grade, but now he loves it. He loves to read and write and I credit his teacher for a lot of that! He is just thriving in her room and I am so proud of him! So today we had off to compensate us for the time we worked this week. Of course I got up at normal time and got my hubby off to work. Then the dog and I laid on the couch all morning watching crappy morning tv. I finally got myself up and around and went shopping (with more money I don't have). It was actually fun. I always buy my family a photo calendar each year. I usually get them at Micheals craft store, I was sure I was out of luck this year, but I found them...they only cost $1.00. I LOVE that I can make all of them for about $3.00 or so. They look so cute and the fam LOVES them! I am making my hubby dinner and just hanging out. I LOVE A DAY OFF! ME!!!! I am impatiently waiting for the new James Bond Movie to come out on the 14th (mmmmm Daniel Craig...he is so HOT and the best Bond EVER). Then the following week is Twilight! WOO HOO! Life is good! Tomorrow is our 5K for Girls on the Run...then we are done! The weather is supposed to be REALLY yucky...rain/snow. Please keep us in your thoughts for warmer weather! Amy 1 Comments
	Torn about rewards... by: Ilvtching, 10-31-2008 I am so torn...I went to talk with my principal about my moral dilemma of rewarding students who are just doing what they should be doing in the first place! I have a little guy in my class that is outright DEFIANT. If you correct him for any reason, big or small, he flies off the handle. By fly off the handle, I mean, throwing a stomping fit...not screaming, but the ugh's and no's are getting to me. He kicks things, throws things, not people yet, but we are getting near it! I am working with the IST team, but they want to offer me a behavior plan where he earns tickets and get rewards...but I have a serious problem with rewarding him for doing what he is supposed to be doing in the first place! AUGH! My principal assures me that it would only be for a short time and we would wean him off completely...but in my experience, that often never happens and the behavior doesn't improve. I know that the situation can't continue in this manner, but I also have problems rewarding him for being a brat (which is what I feel like I would be doing). His parents don't know what to do with him either...so they aren't really supportive. I did fill out a rating scale for him, but nothing has happened. I am calling mom, yet again, tomorrow to see if they did anything with it or not. Any suggestions anyone? Thanks Amy 7 Comments
	Restful weekends??? by: Ilvtching, 10-19-2008 Is there such a thing as restful weekends when you are a teacher? It seems like all of my weekends are spent doing ALL of the things I can't seem to do during the week! This weekend, like most, has been jammed packed with things! Friday night I convinced my hubby to take me out to dinner...so that was nice. But over dinner we made a list of all the things we wanted/needed to accomplish this weekend. It was overwhelming! Yesterday,I was up and out the door by 7:30. I went and worked in my classroom for a few hours. Home at 11:30 and then out the door by noon for Mother/son bowling. It was fun, but the mom's didn't really get to bowl this year...so not as fun as last year. Plus is was soooo crowded...ack. Get home around 2pm and mow the lawn...bagged it all up and took it to the compost center. While I am doing this my hubby is working on replacing the ridge cap on our roof. Then I started cleaning the house. Picked it up, vacuumed and started laundry. Then I started dinner. Didn't finally sit down until 8:30 pm...worked on correcting papers for school..then chatted with the girls on PT. Today-- my son actually let me sleep in until 7:30...that is amazing...he is an early riser! Well, I get up and can't believe my luck until I see the living room (the one I spent a couple hours cleaning) blankets and toys everywhere. It seems that he was up and playing in the living room. We leave the house by 8:45 to go shopping. We head to Target (get new pants for the growing weed AKA six year old boy)...he LOVES to try on clothes. This is a good thing because he is so skinny, he has to try on EVERY pair of pants to get a size and then he has to have adjustable waistbands to boot! After Target we head to Kohls...this takes forever! My hubby has lost 30 lbs so he needs new clothes. He HATES shopping...so this is torture. I did manage to find two pair of pants that don't need to be altered for myself and two sweaters and a pair of boots. We get some lunch at Qdobas...MMMMM. We headed to Sam's club...and finally Meijer. We got home at about 3pm and had to unload a TON of groceries and put them all away. Now my hubby is off hunting (grrr...not too happy with him) and my son and I are picking up and finishing laundry. I still have a ton of school work to do and I need to get my office organized. I am taking a break and watching a few mintues of the race...I would love a nap, but that is not going to happen. We also found today, that it looks like out printer cartridges are no longer being made. We looked at three stores and couldn't find them. I am really bummed...I love my printer (though it is old). SO I am going to try to find some on line. Ok, enough complaining. At least we both have jobs and we can afford clothes and groceries. That is what I need to keep in mind! Amy 0 Comments
	One frustration down... by: Ilvtching, 10-15-2008 One of my stressors has fallen by the wayside! Today I went to Physical Therapy to be re-evaluated and YEAH...I don't have to go back! I love the girls in the office, but coming to work 10 minutes after the kids two days a week was challenging! I made all the goals she set for me except one...my grip didn't improve. But she said that may be because I am a weakling (well, not her exact terms, but her implications)...so now my mornings of finding care for my son or worrying about getting him to school late are OVER!!! I gained 20 degrees in my ability to bend my wrist forward and doubled her goal for my pincer grip! I am one happy camper. Now I am looking forward to November 8th...then PT conferences are over and so is my volunteer committment! WOO HOO!!!! 2 Comments
	It's been a long time... by: Ilvtching, 10-13-2008 Wow, I didn't realize I hadn't posted here in a month! Things are finally settling down (I shouldn't say that...I may curse myself). So maybe a few updates are in order. Mother -in-Law update She is out of the hospital and the mental health building. She is on an out patient basis for the time being. We found out she had about 15 Doctors and we are not sure if they were aware of all the drugs she was taking. I know that my FIL was not aware of it! Now, she has one and he is slowly giving her back medications and ONLY the ones she MUST have. My SIL is finally moving out (thank GOD)...she is a huge stessor for my in-laws and once she is gone (moving across the country) my in-laws may have some peace and time to heal (together). I feel sorry for our Aunt who is inheriting the SIL (by choice mind you) and I doubt it will work out for long...we shall see. NAVY Update I believe my son has found his nitch in this world. He seems to really love being in the NAVY and being somewhat on his own. He is attending classes, being on guard duty and just loving life right now. He has free time to be a civilian and he is loving that! Right now, he is visiting my in-laws for the night since tomorrow is a holiday! THey are thrilled to see him...he hasn't seen them in 6 years. School year This school year has been tough so far. It just seems that there has been never ending drama. I am hoping that things are really starting to settle down. I have had a crazy schedule since school started and in a couple more weeks it will settle down. I have GOTR two nights per week until 5:30. So I can't stay after school and work those night. Then on Tuesday and Friday mornings I have PT for my wrist. I decided to do therapy as my wrist didn't have the range of motion I had hoped for after the cyst was removed. So I arrive at school 10 minutes after the kids on those days. I am getting re-evaluated on Tuesday and hope there is an end in sight. Also, having my son in the same grade I teach has been harder than I thought. He doesn't go to my school, but it is hard to teach first graders all day and then come home to one at night too. He is doing great which I am so proud of and his teacher told me she would like about 20 more of him! My class is getting better. I have one little guy that I just can't seem to get to follow directions. One week he was in the office every day and I DON'T send kids to the office! So needless to say he was acting horribly. He had a screaming crying fit in the hallway, because I asked him to put his coat on...I mean laying on the floor and everything...it was awful. I am making progress on one of my other students though. We had a great day on Friday. The other one I was having major trouble with, was put on meds last week...WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT! He can actually focus and learn something! I will try to be better about blogging...lots of times I feel like I have nothing "important" to say. Amy 3 Comments
	Avoiding.... by: Ilvtching, 09-15-2008 otherwise known as procrastination...I realized this weekend that I am becoming very good at "avoiding" anything to do with school outside of school hours. One would think that was a good thing, until one (being me) sits down to "catch up". It has been a CRAZY start to the new school year. My son graduated from Boot camp and I missed a day of school the FIRST WEEK...I have NEVER done that before! Then the following week, I am so sick on Thursday and I stay home on Friday. See a pattern? So two weeks, two missed days of school...if only I had enough sick days to keep up this pattern. So if all is right in the world, this Friday may be the first Friday of the school year for me! Next week I also have a follow up with the hand surgeon. So that is a 1/2 day down the drain...nope, not a Friday...pattern broken. My class this year is small...thank God. Because if I had 27 again AND had this group, I would be in a rubber room. I have several boys who are going to do me in this year. They are VERY active, and a couple are down right defiant! I am hoping to connect with them...last year I don't feel I really connected with my students (well, with 27 I guess that is not suprising). Actually all three of us have some little corkers, which is why they separated them in three this year and not two classes. We will start switching kids this week, so I will get a first hand look at the other classes as well. Avoiding...oh yeah, that is the title of my blog...guess I should write about how I avoided school work this weekend. Friday I was home sick. Got up, moved to the couch, hugged my kid as daddy took him to school and then slept on the couch until 12:30...HEAVEN! The rest of the afternoon, I made my hubby get me all the stuff I wanted and read a book....HEAVEN again! Got dressed 5 minutes before picking up my son from school, came home and hung out with him and watched some cartoons. Managed to avoid it Day one! Day Two of Avoidance---Lay around in the morning and finish my book. It is raining...have fun play time with son while watching a movie with hubby. Play on the computer...laugh my butt off when my son and hubby play superheroes...that is a whole other blog and believe me you WANT to hear that one! Everyone is going stir crazy...so I come up with a great plan to go buy a computer desk....we decide as a family that this is a great idea. We leave to go shopping (and are gone for SEVERAL hours) thus I am successful in further avoiding work. Get home, eat dinner and start assembling desk, tearing apart my "old" office, move all my stuff downstairs into our spare bedroom (NAVY kid is NOT moving back in, might as well put it to good use). Finish desk and too tired to move...leave new office downstairs for tomorrow...WOW, I have successfully avoided school work again! WOO HOO!!!! Day Three---starts off well in the avoidance area. My parents are coming to an early dinner....better get the house clean and we have to get the computer hooked up! SO I clean and fold laundry while hubby moves cables and get the computer hooked up. Forgot some groceries, run and get them. My mom and dad arrive! We hang out for several hours, with my mom and I making dinner together....avoidance is going great! Then they leave and I finally think I have to go to work...so I go in and stay for less than an hour...not so bad...but I have a bag FULL of things to do for school. Get home and ask hubby to help me move the furniture and set up my new office downstairs...avoidance going again. Tuck the munchkin into bed and now there is nothing to do but schoolwork. So I finally start working on it. I am actually amazed at how much I got done in such a short time. This week avoidance will be easier....I have something going on every night this week! If you made it this far you deserve a gold star! But since there isn't one in the smilies will you settle for my lifelong gratitude???? Amy 1 Comments
	Chicago...Navy Graduation... by: Ilvtching, 09-07-2008 I am sitting in a stinky hotel room waiting for my DS to call and say we can pick him up for liberty today...my hubby is taking a nap and my six year old is watching Transformers (the cartoon version) WOW! Thursday night we left Michigan around 5:30. We arrived at our hotel at 11:00 (MI time). It was a HORRIBLE drive...it was pouring down rain (thanks Gustav) and there was construction everywhere. If my husband is nervous driving it is BAD...he doesn't get nervous about much when driving. We finally made it to our hotel and we didn't get lost once (of course I WAS the navigator). We walk into our hotel room and OMG...IT SMELLS AWFUL! It smells like a basement that has been closed up for years...just REALLY musty. The room is really clean, but Gosh it STINKS! For a Ramada I am soooo NOT impressed. Friday morning I am up earlier than I would to go to school. We get ready, eat and go out to catch the free shuttle...it is full (10 minutes before it is even to arrive) and the next one comes like 40 minutes later...we decide to drive the 4 miles ourselves...that was craziness in itself! There were sooooo many people trying to get to one place. We finally get on base and every car has to be evacuated, all doors left open, every compartment left open, hood up, you name it, it had to be open. You have to show your ID. It was crazy. We finally park and get inside and have a hard time finding a place to sit. It was an awesome ceremony....very long, and I am guessing full of traditions. Afterward we finally find the sailor and he gives us big hugs and says "lets get out of here"... We spent the day just hanging out and he LOVED that. It was great to just be "free" he said. We went to the mall and the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. He was online chatting with friends and making phone calls to catch up. Today we were going to go into chicago, but he doesn't want to. He just wants to hang out and relax. So we are going back to this mall so he and his dad can watch a movie and we are going to get our family pictures taken. Then hang out at the hotel and swim. We are also going to get some McDonalds (well he is) and we are going to get some deep dish pizza. Thanks for all of your support with this adventure! Amy 4 Comments
	Finally ready... by: Ilvtching, 08-31-2008 My room is done and everything is ready to go...finally. School starts on Tuesday I finally managed to get my room totally put together and leave with two days left of summer vacation! Now I just have to get my house put back together and all will be right with the world. Here is the link to my class pictures: http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...view=slideshow Suzanne, we are a little concerned about my stepson...we haven't heard from him, phone call or letter, in two weeks. We still plan on heading out there on Sept. 4th for his graduation on the 5th. I haven't really had too much time to think about it, but it is really bothering my hubby a lot. We had a family letter time today and all three of us sat down at the kitchen table and wrote him a letter. My six year old drew a submarine and then wrote: Brad, I miss you. It was so cute! We do know that he is going to CT when he is done with basic, for submarine school....we just don't know how soon. He may get a week off for leave or he may not. After sub school, he heads to Georgia (for quite a while, like over a year). I have to arrange for a guest teacher to come to my classroom Friday as we will be in IL. I had it all set up, but she was offered a two week job...who can pass up two weeks for one day? We are leaving Thursday night so I will miss all day Friday. My hand is healing really well. It still hurts if someone hits it, if I try to lift something heavy (which I am NOT supposed to do) or if I turn it just right (it is not always the same "just right" either)...but the glue is gone and it looks great. If I can keep kids from grabbing it next week when school starts, I will be golden. Well, I am off to watch X-men United (mmmmm Hugh Jackman) and enjoy my last few hours of summer vacation! Amy 4 Comments
	This and That... by: Ilvtching, 08-24-2008 There is so much going on lately and there is much more to come with school starting on the 2nd of September! The wrist is healing well. I only took pain meds for the first couple of days and boy did it KNOCK me on my butt!!! One night for example, I slept for 8 hours...took my meds in the morning and went back to bed for 5 more hours...4 hours later took another dose and slept for 3 more hours...I know it also helps the body heal...so that is cool. I saw the Physical Therapist and she said it looks good...it is actually all yellow as it is just a gigantic healing bruise! It still hurts randomly and it makes it difficult to work in my room...I am not allowed to pick up anything heavy...and after a long day in the classroom it really aches. Last week I had a meeting of some type EVERY day except for Friday. I even learned to do CPR one handed. So after meetings all day, I went and worked in my classroom all evening. It made for some long days. So I decided not to go to school today and to spend some time with my family and a friend doing some shopping. We headed out for Staples first for Teacher Appreciation...I LOVED it! We received 25 packs of pencils, a flash drive, a big pack of Post Its (I LOVE LOVE LOVE Post its) some tape, two rulers and the people were soooo nice. I think I am going to write a letter to the store and thank them. We also hit WalMart, the local teacher store, Hobby Lobby, Big Lots and Target. OF course we also went out to lunch...mmmmm. Tomorrow my son (6) and I are going to try to go to my room and work. But we have to grocery shop, yard work, and clean the house too...so we shall see. I am having a staff party at my house on Tuesday...so I need to get some work done around here! Next week is our three days of mandatory PD AKA "waste of time"...I could REALLY use it to work in my room...but oh well. I will just have to make the most of my time. I am really trying to get my files organized and set myself up for a good year. I have a lot of after school commitments in coaching this Fall so I need to get my act together. September 5th we are headed to IL to see my son graduate from boot camp...so that will be great...get some deep dish pizza...miss a day of school...ahhh that is the life. Our numbers are low right now, so here's to hoping I keep less than 22 kids in my class! 2 Comments
	Totally Freaked out! by: Ilvtching, 08-14-2008 I hate needles and all that stuff...which is why I did not keep up the family tradition of being a nurse...blood I can handle...needles..not so much! I have had a Ganglion cyst on my left wrist for quite a while now. It bothers me when I have to flex my wrist for long periods of time (like mowing the lawn with my push mower) and it has doubled in size in the past month or so. I went to the DR. in May to have her give me my options....I decided not to do anything then...but now that it has doubled in size...well I had to have something done. I called the DR and she referred me to a Hand Surgeon. I went on Tuesday. He is a great guy...VERY VERY personable and down to earth. He is easy to talk to, funny and explains things so you can understand them! He gave me the same options my other Dr. had (and my mom too, she was a nurse for 27 years)...the only way for it to be gone for good is to have it surgically removed. So I opted for that. When I left the office yesterday, my surgery would be scheduled for Thursday, Friday or Monday. Geeze...that narrows it down! Anyway, I just called and it is scheduled for Friday at 1:00. That means I have to be there at 11:00 and no food after Midnight...guess I will lose a couple extra pounds (even without weight watchers )...They are going to put me totally out (thank God...won't have to see anything that way). He said it is going to be very painful for the first two weeks...so that means by the time school starts, it should be better! He is prescribing Vicaden (sp?) and to expect more pain in 6 weeks when the body realizes it is healed (???). I am such a wimp when it comes to pain...it won't be in a splint or anything, no bandages...nothing. He said he will suture it on the inside and glue it on the outside. He wants me to do all my regular stuff that SAME day. YIKES! I have CPR class on Tuesday and he said "yep, you can do the compressions, but it is going to hurt like h3ll"! Thanks for that! I guess I won't be saving anyone any time soon! Ok, enough freaking out! I just hope the Vicadin doesn't mess me up too much, I have to give a speech on Saturday for my friend's 35th Wedding Anniversary Party...I would HATE to mess that up...especially because I am trippin on meds! If you have read this far....THANKS! 4 Comments
	Busy Times... by: Ilvtching, 08-06-2008 Boy, I still don't know where summer went! But I do know that August is going to fly by even faster than the rest of summer...there are very few "empty" boxes on my August calendar. It always seems to happen....August hits with a flurry of activity! My husband starts commenting on how little he sees me and then BAM...it is back to school! This August promises to be no different...well maybe a bit more BUSY! Today is a playdate in the morning and then an 1 1/2 hour drive to stay with a friend over night. My son and I are looking forward to the trip...it has been a long time (3 years) since we have stayed with our dear friends. We used to stay at least once per month before we moved. Though our visit is not purely social....she is going to help me with 6-Traits and Lucy Calkins. Wednesday a bunch of us are getting together to "camp" out at one of our co-workers houses. Yep, we are sleeping in tents and having a campfire and the whole nine yards...I CAN NOT WAIT! It is going to be so fun! Friday I am heading to my dad's family reunion. I am camping with my parents so it will be lots of fun. I don't feel like I have seen them much this summer. We've been busy and they have been gone on several motorcycle trips this summer! Next week has the most open boxes on my calendar! Saturday I have a suprise party for a dear friend and her son asked to to speak. I am nervous, but it should also be easy, as she is a wonderful friend/person! Ok, here is where it gets NUTS! The last two weeks of August are PACKED! 4 days of grade level workshops (I love my grade level team so this will be educational and FUN). Then 3 days of mandatory inservice. Ok, I know for a FACT that one morning of those will be worth it, since I am presenting! But who knows about the rest! At least the weekends are plan free at the moment...that will make my husband happy....he may actually get to see me! My son will be staying with Grandma for couple weeks (not straight through) so I can get my room done also. Farewell summer...hello school! 1 Comments
	A New Day by: Ilvtching, 07-31-2008 Today is a new day and I am determined to have a much more positive outlook on things! No more feeling sorry for myself! Yesterday's blog really was liberating to write. Sometimes it is hard to verbally express what you are feeling...you need to get it out, but somehow saying it out loud somes more like whining than writing it! Besides, I didn't want to burden my hubby with that stuff...I am always the happy one around here! So today has started off great! My hubby has "inservice" (I dont' know what they call them in the business world...conferences????) today and he didn't have to leave for work as early as normal...so he let me sleep in! I woke up at 8:30 in a panic (why was my house so quiet???)...my hubby had left for work and the dog and my son were watching a movie! WOW!!! What a way to start the day. Instead of lounging around in my pj's all day (not healthy to do all the time btw)...I fixed breakfast and showered right away! I weighed myself this morning and FINALLY broke the 123 mark...woohoo!!! Only by a 1/2 a pound, but a 1/2 a pound is still a 1/2 a pound right??? What I think really lifted my mood, is that we received a letter from my son at bootcamp. That just really made my day. It had been a week and a 1/2 since we had heard anything and I know my hubby was getting a little worried. He sounds really happy and he seems to love it...he craves routine (though he never would admit it)...his mom has never provided that for him, even when he was little. So doing the same thing everyday at the same time is the life for him! Plus, it keeps him out of trouble! He graduates on Sept 5th (if all goes according to plan) and I can't wait to see him! He is also back to calling me mom again! When his dad and I got married he always called me mom...then when he moved in with us in Feb. it was Amy. That was just strange to me, but I didn't push the issue...now that he has been away it is mom again...guess he might actually miss us! So today I am going to try to do a little bit of school stuff from home....just get my feet wet and see if that gets me motivated to get in there and get things set up. I think a big stumbling block for me this year is that they added another section of first grade to our building...so now we have three teachers not two. It is great, but hard because we had such a great system worked out and I feel like I don't know where to start planning...just now sure how much will change...that is my biggest concern. Thanks to everyone who responded so positively to my last blog. You are all such wonderful "friends" and it helps to know that I am not alone in feeling this way! Amy 0 Comments
	Don't want to go back... by: Ilvtching, 08-04-2008 I can not remember a year that I did not want to get back into my classroom and get ready for the new school year...I will be starting my 12th year of teaching and have NO desire to get in there and get going! I am a little concerned that I am not more gung ho on going back to work. I am only a little concerned because we still have one month to prepare for kids (we don't start school until after Labor Day)...but usually by now I am chomping at the bit to get in there and get my room ready at least! As I sit and think about it, there are probably several factors that have contributed to my "less than enthusiastic" approach to going back this year. 1. My principal...our building had a HORRID year last year. Our leader was not really leading us and we need a strong leader in our building for our kids. We have the most difficult building in the district. It was almost like we were being sabotaged at every turn. We thought our principal might leave this year, but alas hasn't! 2. Tired of working my butt off for "peanuts". I am so tired of going above and beyond for the kids and their families and getting paid squat. I live a comfortable life, but get frustrated when I can't do some "extras" for my own kids! 3. My teaching partner is retiring at the end of this year. This makes me so sad! We get along so great. When we first started working together she said she had at least 4-5 years left to teach...well the situation in our building has gotten so bad that she is leaving this year instead. I am going to be totally lost without her...we are great friends...but I talk to her every day and plan with her...this makes me sad! 4. My son will be starting first grade. It just kills me that he is growing up so darn fast! He is my baby! 5. I have tutored kids all summer! I actually really enjoy that..but it hasn't really let me get totally out of teacher mode. The good news is I was supposed to lose two students and gain another....but I haven't heard anything from the other mom...so maybe she won't call me back. I guess that is bad of me, but the more I think about it, the more I just want August to hang out and enjoy summer! 6. August is already filled with activities. Four days of working with my grade level team, 3 days of inservice (useless) through our district, family reunions, baby showers,...everyone wanting one last Hurrah before school starts. Those are all the reasons I don't want to go back! But I do have so many positive things going on and I can't forget those either. 1. I HAVE a job! 2. I have a wonderful family that I am VERY proud of. 3. I have a home that I love with great neighbors. 4. I love my co-workers. We get along so well...we get together outside of school and have so much fun!!! 5. I love teaching...I would love to just shut my door and do what I do best...teach and love those kids! Now instead of moping around, I need to get myself around and get ready to face the day! 6 Comments
	Camera Craziness by: Ilvtching, 07-29-2008 Who knew the world of Digital cameras could be soooo overwhelming!? My point and shoot camera finally died and I have started researching SLR cameras to replace it with. Boy, did I ever open a LARGE can of worms. Let me start by thanking Pteach55's gem of a husband. He answered all my questions and gave me the website to popphoto...that place rocks...more information than I can possibly sift through! THANK YOU!!!! My camera (a Kodak Easyshare) stopped flashing about a month ago...it has been HORRIBLE (I am lost with out my camera)! So I finally took my camera to a repair shop and they told me it would be ABOUT $140 to fix...WTH? I decided I could buy a new and better one for that....so I started doing some research. I discovered that I know WAY LESS than I thought about cameras and photography in general. I know I want a camera that takes GREAT pictures, has auto focus, and can zoom in for far away shots (you know, grade school assemblies, NAVY bootcamp graduation, etc). But it also needs to take decent photos of people in motion...I have a six year old...anyone with one of those, knows that they don't sit still...much! So do they make such a camera...maybe...I am still not sure what I want! I was positive when I started this whole mess that I wanted a Nikon...then my friend (thanks Jenn) got a Pentax K10D and loved it...she compared it with the Nikon and three others. So I started researching Pentax...yep, that's what I wanted...or was it??? I went back to Nikon, held one, played with it and left the store POSITIVE that's what I wanted...enter my own internet research....I went to wanting a Canon to a Sony (all in one day mind you). I have tentatively decided on a Sony A200....notice the tentatively in the sentence. For $700 I can get two lenses with it if I order it from Amazon.com...seems to be a great camera for the money AND you get a second lens. I think I will ask Pteach55's hubby for one more piece of advice and then make a decision and go with it! That will make my hubby happy....I will get off the computer, stop calling him in here every two mintues to ask him what he thinks (he could care less btw) AND he might actually get lunch in this millenium (sp??). I am trying to be a smart consumer...I didn't work all summer long to waste my money on a camera I may not be happy with! Amy 5 Comments
	Crazy Days... by: Ilvtching, 07-13-2008 It has been a wild couple of days...so today I welcomed the chance to spend a Saturday doing what we normally do...grocery shopping, cleaning up and napping! The whirlwind started on Thursday with my Stepson leaving for the NAVY...it was a miracle, but it was the one time his recruiter picked him up that he was actually ON TIME! Miracles DO happen! Poor Brad kept saying he wasn't nervous, but we knew better. So it was like a ton of build up and then he just kind of left. He has never been an emotional kid, but I swear when he hugged my husband he was getting a little misty eyed...of course he will deny that to his dieing day! My hubby was kind of lost all day...just pacing and basically driving me INSANE! I had tutoring and the little guy to keep track of so it wasn't as stressful for me. Friday morning we are up at the crack of dawn...we had to leave the house BY 7:30 to get to the swearing in on time. The recuitor told us it would take place anywhere from 9:30 to 11:30 (gee, the military that alwasy insists on promptness can't be more specific than that????). So we arrive at 9:30 (it is an hour and 45 minute drive from our house). We get to spend about 20 minutes with Brad in the waiting room of the MEPS center. Then it is time for the ceremony. A Major (can't remember what branch of service) is going to perform the swearing in. He leads us into the room and tells us the ceremony is about 30 seconds long (he wasn't exaggerating either!!!) There are 8 "kids" going in that morning and he has them introduce themselves, their branch of service and job. Then he does the swearing in (30 seconds) and we are done in about 7 minutes. Then we get to take some pictures (it was a cool room with flags and plaques) talk with Brad for about 5 more minutes and then we are off. After all that, we go to Detroit (a 20 minute drive) and visit my hubby's recruiter. He is trying to get back into the NAVAL RESERVE as an Officer. So we spend an hour with her (did I mention she looks like she is about 15???) Now it is time for the long trek home...all this time we have our 6 year old with us...he is SUCH A GOOD BOY! I am home for literally long enough to load the pictures on the computer, download them to my ipod, and leave again! I drive another hour and 20 minutes to have dinner with friends that I only see once per year! It was great fun... On the way home, my hubby called to let me know that Brad had called at 10:30 (MI time) and that he was there, safe and "ready" to tackle the next day. My husband talked about it for the next two hours! He has mentioned Brad about 1,000 times today and really misses him. I think it is different for me, because he has only been with us for 4 months solid and other than that we rarely saw him in the past 4 years. I am very proud of him and can't wait to get a chance to talk to him in two weeks (the next time he gets to call). If you have made it this far in this post and think about it, please keep Brad and my hubby in your thoughts...Thanks! Amy 2 Comments
	THE Graduation Party!!!! by: Ilvtching, 07-01-2008 Well, the last party to celebrate my DS graduation has come and gone. Thanks to all of my PT friends for their sending rays of sunshine our way...the rain clouds parted and we had an AWESOME day! As many of you know, I was freaking out this morning because it was raining and in two hours I was going to have people coming for an open house in my garage! When my parents came at 12:30...it was still cloudy but not raining. By the time our first guests arrived, it was sunny and beautiful...not too hot and there was a breeze! We had an awesome time! I was so excited that my very first prinicpal (he hired me!!!) drove over an hour, by himself to come! He didn't know a soul and still he came. I haven't seen him in years (we keep in contact via e-mail) and when I saw him walking up the driveway, I ran out to him and gave him the biggest hug and started crying. I was just so amazed that he would drive all that way to see me and give a gift to a child he didn't know. It honestly made my entire day! I think I embarrassed him a bit, I didn't mean to, I was just so blown away! We had such a wonderful visit! He has always been my favorite (and BEST) principal. There will never be another one like him. Another one of our family friends from my old school also made the drive. I knew they were coming, but was still thrilled they made it. They were very close with my son, so it made his day to see them and get to talk with them before he leaves for the NAVY. Many other family and friends came and it just mean to much to me and to Brad. We pulled out a favorite game that we call the "swearing game". My hubby and his best bud are the "unbeatable duo"...unfortunately for Brad, they are still holding that title. It was just a laid back, all around, fun day! We had one family that stayed to help clean up. The last guest left at 6:00 and we had EVERYTHING cleaned up and put away by 7:05!!! It was awesome. SO tomorrow I don't have to do ANY cleaning! Brad was pretty emotional for him today. With his situation, he tends not to show emotion. He thanked me today (on more than one occasion) for the party. One time he leaned over to me and whispered "this is one hell of a party!!" I have to admit, it made me tear up. After everyone went home, he thanked me again and it just really made me feel good to know that he truly enjoyed himself and realized all the work that went into it!! Our theme was Red, White and Blue since he is going into the NAVY. I had all the tables covered in white plastic tableclothes and star/flag confetti on each table (you can see the center pieces in the picture). I LOVED his cake...it is VERY good and so cool! All of his pictures (for people to look at) were on Red and Blue boards. The food was in cute little white bowls with r,w,b,stars on them (I got them at the dollar store along with the centerpieces). A bunch of us went in together and bought him a laptop..he LOVES it! He also received and Ipod from his grandparents and a very cool book on the history of the NAVY from one of my teacher friends. It has been an awesome, exhausting and emotion day....but I wouldn't change how anything went! ME! PS...Bethany...you buy me a ticket and I will plan any party you want! 9 Comments
	Last T-ball Outing by: Ilvtching, 06-29-2008 Tonight was our last T-ball "game". We were hoping to play a make -up game, but the other team couldn't come so I decided to have the kids play the parents! Monday was our last official game. So I asked the parents to come to the field this Friday night ready to play! So they did...boy we had a bigger crowd to watch the fun than we had at ANY of our games! It was such a riot. In the crowd, we had aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas. They were cheering for the kids and heckling the adults...it was such fun. As I looked around at the kids and the looks on their faces I knew I had done the right thing. I had an awesome group of parents this year. They were very supportive and helpful right from the get go. They were hamming it up with the kids tonight. They were shanking throws, dropping balls and babysteppin it to bases so the kids could get them out! One dad decided to pitch (on the field with me and the kids) and the was so funny. He would fake a wild overhand warm up and then toss it underhand for the parents to hit. Then he had my husband lead off and he gave the ball to our little first baseman...when Allen led off, the little guy tagged him....boy the kids thought they were so sneaky....they just giggled and giggled! The kids hit the ball so well. We have been pitching to them for the past two games...so tonight we didn't use the Tee at all...they all hit it from a pitch...boy can those kids hit. That had nothing to do with me. TOnight was the first night NO ONE played in the dirt and everyone was engaged and paying attention to the ball. My assistant looked at me (as he was running the bases for the grown-ups) and said "I think this is the most fun they have had all season"....I TOTALLY agree with him! I am such a sap though. As I was coaching first base, I looked around and watched the kids smiling from ear to ear and parents just kicking back and enjoying their children, I couldn't help but think "This is the way it SHOULD be for kids (and their parents)". I wish more parents would take the time to hang with their kids in that capacity... I handed out medals last. I had them all sit on the "blue" line and the parents were so cool. As I put the medal on each kids neck they clapped and cheered for that child. It just melted my heart. I was so thankful to the parents who thanked me for coaching and for their child's good experience. I felt so great. I was hesitant to coach...wasn't sure I would be good enough for some parents. I am very glad I did it! Thanks for reading this sentimental mush! Amy 3 Comments
	It's almost here by: Ilvtching, 06-23-2008 Sunday is my son's graduation Open House. I am not sure if I am ready for this! It is hard to plan when you really don't know how many people will show up. WARNING: RANDOM THOUGHTS FOLLOW It was really hard to come up with a guest list in the first place. Many of our family members (well from my hubby's side) live out of state. So I don't really expect any of them to come. I mean if my hubby's own parents aren't coming why would the aunts and uncles??? Ok, I won't go down that road. My son is like "we should've had people RSVP"...well that is not really how open houses work. But we are keeping it very simple...grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, potato salad, grape salad, pasta salad and chips. We also bought some pop, water and beer....KISS is my motto! I love to throw parties, but am really nervous about this one. The weather (as of right now) is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL....80 and sunny. Since he is going into the NAVY we are having a red, white and blue theme. I am not doing graduation decorations...We have cleaned out our garage (which is nicely painted and has a NASCAR theme going....) I have all of his pictures up on a board ready to go. That was really hard because I don't have ONE SINGLE picture of him as an infant! NOT ONE!!! His mom didn't tell my hubby she was pregnant until my son was 4 months old. Since we are not on speaking terms with her, we have no pics of him as an infant. When this party is all over, I am going to call my MIL to see if she has any. She has managed to comandeer some other things from when DS was a baby, so maybe she has some photos. It would be great for his scrapbook that I am working on! We have big gaps in ages for his photos, but we all had a great time strolling down memory lane. We were up until 1:00am laughing and sharing stories behind the pictures and I LOVED every second of it! July 10th is going to be a very tough day here. We thought the transition of him moving here on such short notice was going to be the hard part...we were wrong. It is going to be his leaving that will be difficult! My younger son is going to be the most affected. He LOVES his older brother and LOVES having him here. Yesterday they were in the basement and my older son was showing the younger one how to play electric guitar...he even hooked up the amp for him (boy was that LOUD). Ok, enough rambling, I have some errands to run and parties to plan! 0 Comments
	T-ball Tales by: Ilvtching, 06-21-2008 Ok Bethany, I have a couple funnies for you from the game tonight! It was a lot of fun and not too hot...finally a game night with no thunderstorms, tornadoes or rain! Friday the 6th was to be our first "official" game. Well, we were all there and it started to lightning...the sky was very threatening looking so they canceled the game. BUT, they decided to still take pictures and just do it inside this little shed that is on site. We had just handed the lady our money, when BAM! The tornado sirens go off (of course meaning one has been spotted). You have at least 75 people crammed in this little shed...kids are crying, parents are trying to be calm...but basically chaos ensues. They tell us we can not stay in the building, but must leave. It is pouring down rain, then starts to hail...the wind is blowing...it was VERY VERY Scary. I live a mile from the field so I chance it and get my kids home. Needless to say, NO GAMES. A tornado (or strong winds I never heard which) did some SERIOUS damage only 2 miles south of that little shed on the ball field...SCARY STUFF!!!! Our next game is Monday the 9th. Well, it stormed in the afternoon so they canceled all the games. Well...that is what the e-mail said. Then later she (the lady in charge) changed her mind and decided T-ball could still play. BUT she didn't call me and I had no idea until the other coach called me and asked where my team was. She didn't "un-cancel" until 5:30 and we played at 6:30. She had also sent an E-mail....I didn't have a chance (or reason) to check. Oh well, another game canceled. I have managed to reschedule them both! Wednesday, my assistant coach was the coach (we were at Great Wolf Lodge). They did well. One of my kids decided to become a Holy Terror and hit another kid. That didn't fly with the assistant's wife and she dealt with it....kid didn't show up today! Today's game was fun. We played a team that is coached by my Union president...he is a great guy. One of my kids comes up to bat. He takes some really big practice swings (you know the hilarious over the top type) and then barely hits the ball off the tee. I mean the bat went farther than the ball...it was funny! Then the other team is up to bat. This little guy struggled all night to hit the ball...so he missed three times and on the third time when he goes to pull the bat back up to try again...he hits the ball BACKWARDS...it was so funny! The sidelines cracked up! One baserunner started barely running about 1/2 way to first. The first base coach says "hey little man you have to run fast so you don't get out"...to which he replies "but my shoes ran out of gas"! The base coach and I just cracked up! He was soooo serious! We told him to fuel up because the next batter was the last one and he had to run from first to home without stopping....it was so cute! At the end of the game, we all shake hands....it is so funny to watch them figure out how it works and which hand to have free so they can slap fives. My kids did well today. We still have kids "fighting" over the ball and one little guy who runs from playing third base to try to field a ball way over on the first base side....he just doesn't understand why the ball won't come to HIM! He will make a great shortstop someday! We have another game on Thursday....can't wait to see what that brings! 4 Comments
	Family Vacation... by: Ilvtching, 06-15-2008 We just returned from spending two nights at the Great Wolf Lodge. It was so much fun and the boys just loved it! We took our six year old there about three years ago...he was really too young to enjoy himself. TRANSLATION: Dad and I didn't really enjoy ourselves fully either! But this time, we took both boys and we had a blast! We upgraded our room...it was awesome. We had two queen size beds (one for each boy) and my hubby and I had our own bedroom within our room! We also had a bar that seated 6 and a mini-fridge and a microwave. We also had a living room area and a walk out patio. IT was GREAT! We learned our lesson last time about how expensive food was there. So we packed out own this time and only ate out once. It was so awesome. They have awesome ice cream though...mmmm. I could resist that and my oldest HAD to have some fudge! The water park was a blast. My youngest who went on nothing last time did EVERYTHING this time. This is the kid who HATES water in his face! He did all the body slides and the tube slides as well. It was great watching the two boys play together and then of course DH became just as big a kid! It was hilarious to watch him...he said it made him feel young again...I just laughed as he could barely get out of bed on our last day! So this weekend, I sent the older two to the NASCAR race here in Michigan. I am really bummed that I am not there...this is something my hubby and I do together EVERY year! But I felt that he and the NAVY bound son needed some male bonding time together...so I decided to give up my ticket. I am really regretting it about now! The next big step? Graduation party...then he will be off on his own! But that is an entirely new blog all its own! 2 Comments
	First T-ball Scrimmage by: Ilvtching, 06-03-2008 Oh my, it was so much fun tonight! We had our first T-ball scrimmage...it seemed part sandstorm, football and T-ball! Tonight was a blast! We played another team for our practice...overall the kids did a great job! There were some pretty funny moments. It is really dry here right now, so the field was as sandy as the desert! The kids were loving making sand piles and kicking it! At one point, one of the base runners couldn't even find second base...it was totally covered in sand...it was really funny...she is kind of running in circles around where it was trying to find it...even the coach had a hard time finding it! Then we had one of the other team with her face practically buried in the sand...WTH? I still haven't figured that one out! My team was in the field and this little girl (she is a small one) hits the ball, it goes into the field but in front of the pitcher...she runs out, picks it up and throws it to first base....oh my gosh we just cracked up! The next time she gets up she runs to third instead of first...then we finally get her to first and when the next batter is up she cuts across the middle of the field to get to third! It was HILARIOUS! She is so tiny and cute too! On my team, we incorporated tackle football into our game! I had three kids going for one ball (several times) and they literally tackled each other to get it and be the one to throw it to first! One of them was my own son (well I am trying to get him to be more assertive...maybe it is working TOO WELL)....It was a blast! Today at school was our Field Day. My kids did really well and had a blast! One mom who has given me grief this year was helping out with one of the water games. She was explaining one of the games and was demonstrating (without the water)...I offered to show the kids how to do it (with water of course) and she agreed....so I got to douse her with water...boy it was awesome! We both laughed about it and of course the kids thought it was hilarious!!! At one of the games, the volunteer running it, asked how many kids loved their teacher...(believe it or not they ALL raised their hands)...then she said "who wants to see their teacher get a water balloon over her head" ....they all went nuts and I got SOAKED!!!! THEY LOVED IT!!! Of course a parent caught it all on video (my digital camera)...I am going to try to incorporate it into my end of the year DVD. Graduation went well yesterday. My SS's mother didn't show up, he made it through the ceremony and IT IS OFFICIAL!!! WOO HOO!!! I am burnt to a crisp..but it was worth it to see him graduate! His mother has not called or sent a card either. He is not very happy with his mother. He isn't calling her or talking to her which is a good thing. It has been a crazy day...only 5 more left! 1 Comments
	Ahhhh....Saturday morning... by: Ilvtching, 05-31-2008 Is there anything better than a Saturday morning...well maybe! I can think of just a few things better than a lazy Saturday morning. Here is my short list: 1. CHOCOLATE (a KING size Snickers preferrably with a HUGE glass of milk)...especially when you've had a REALLY stressful day with the kids. 2. School being out for summer (oh, we aren't out yet...but only 6 MORE DAYS) 3. See Number 2! Can you tell I am ready for school to be done? Monday is field day...I am looking forward to it with my class...but my teaching partner will be gone and her class will be NUTS...so I already feel bad for their guest teacher...she will be pulling her hair out by time she leaves for the day! Oh, can I add a number 4 to the list? A self cleaning house...kind of like those self cleaning ovens...you lock the doors, set the timer and it does its thing...oh to dream...then I wouldn't have to spend the weekends cleaning this D#$N house....it is all my fault my hubby says...he wanted a condo! Tomorrow is graduation for my son...I am looking forward to it. It is going to be 76 and pure sunshine....oh, it is outside...time to slather on the sunscreen and HOPE not to burn! His open house isn't until the end of June, so I have PLENTY of time after school is out to get ready. The list is long...but I CAN do it! I need to scrapbook all the pics I have of his entire life...no problem! I think I have that one solved....I bought some tri-fold report boards (red) and I am going to collage the pictures. Then when I take them down...scrapbook them. I hope he marries a woman who appreciates all the work! That would allow me to prove my hubby wrong...that scrapbooking is a waste of time...I LOVE it and it relieves stress. He says the boys won't even look at them...maybe not, but their wives might like it! Thanks for reading my random thoughts...did I mention we only have 6 more days of school???? WOO HOO!!!! Amy 0 Comments
	Feeling guilty??? by: Ilvtching, 05-28-2008 Ok, I have to admit I am feeling a little bit guilty. Sunday is my Stepson's graduation and I am praying that his mother doesn't come....does that make me a bad person???? If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know the drama of how my 18 year old came to live with us this February. He was kicked out of his house in the middle of the night by his step-dad and mother. She has taken advantage of her wonderful son his entire life and it sickens me the crap she has done. No physical abuse, but verbal and DEFINITELY emotional. She is just not a good parent. So his graduation is this Sunday. In the three months he has been here, she has called once...until yesterday. She called and left her number "in case he doesn't have it"...I know she is calling because now that the hard work is over (getting him to school on time everyday, making sure his homework is done, keeping him accountable for his grades) she wants to attend his graduation and look like she has been around all this time. She uses her son as her "status" symbol. I know I am doing a horrible job explaining this...she only wants him around when he is bringing in money (that she takes) or is doing well in something. We are not keeping him from calling his mother...we have told him it is up to him. If he asks what he should do, we tell him honestly how we feel. We don't want him calling her because she always manages to weasle her way back into his life with all these promises and then when the going gets tough....she bails. It is so frustrating. He is a great kid and deserves so much better than that. We have worked so very hard the past several months to get him ready for the "real" world. This may be his first report card since 5th grade with nothing lower than a C. We are hoping that we can keep him from being around her until he is established and she has no carrot to dangle to derail him from the great path he is now on. I probably sound like a horrible person...I just want what is best for him and I want him to realize that how his mother treats him is not "normal" and to see how the world works. All parents don't steal their kids identity and max out a credit card in their name(and lie about it), take all their money (literally), make them work to support "the family" (while she sits at home...not working), lie about just about everything...if nothing else we have taken great pains to be VERY honest with him about everything. I just don't want her there to sway him into doing something he will regret. He has so much to look forward to....He doesn't want her there either...he hopes that by not calling her back, she will get the hint and not show up...it is an hour drive so maybe she won't bother. I will just be glad when Sunday is over....maybe the guilt will go away once the ceremony is over...but I fear my guilt and fear of her stepping back in won't go away until he is at boot camp in July and she can't do anything. Am I a bad person??? It feels good just to get that off my chest. Thanks for reading this! 4 Comments
	MY two boys... by: Ilvtching, 05-26-2008 I have an 18 year old and a 6 year old at home...this weekend they just made me so proud to be their mom! When my 18 year old son moved back in with us (after his mom and step-dad kicked him out) I was worried about the transition for both of my boys. My 18 year old was leaving all his friends with 14 weeks of school left in his SENIOR year of HS. My 6 year old is an "only" child. But it has been a very smooth transition for both of them! On Saturday, my hubby and I were doing yardwork...I was mowing (which I love, I know I am a little nuts). My six year old is playing...imagine this: camo shirt, orange shorts, bright blue crocs...he has a little cowboy gun holster on, with a bright green gun. He is also wearing "cool dude" sun glasses. He alone is a site to behold. Then I notice that my 18 year old is playing with him. They are running around the shed, yelling and laughing and just having a grand time. It just made my heart jump for joy. I just don't picture many 18year olds spending so much time with their MUCH younger siblings in this manner. My oldest plays the guitar. He has an electric and acoustic also. He needed a new string for his acoustic. So we added a stop to a music store to our errand list. He buys a bunch of picks...in the van my youngest asks "did you get an orange one"...to which the older one says "yep, and it is for you"! (the little one has a guitar also...so all day he was using his new pick to play) Am I just a sap or what....but these little things just mean so much...I am so glad they have had this chance to bond and feel more like "brothers"...Now I won't even get started on how much bonding there has been going on between my hubby and his Senior...or how I feel about the fact that next Sunday I will have a Highschool graduate living in my house. Ok, have to quit before I get teary eyed! Thanks for reading this mush...if anyone understands I know it will be my PT friends! Amy 7 Comments
	Another T-ball funny by: Ilvtching, 05-22-2008 Ok Bethany...this is for you! It is not as fun as the first one, but still cute! This fun story is about the same little boy that picked up the ball and handed it to the first baseman when he was supposed to be RUNNING! Monday night, he hit the ball and ran to first. Boy, was I excited...the player in the field threw it to first and the little guy caught it and touched first base. All of the adults are saying "good job...way to go" etc. The base runner leans over and BEAR HUGS the first basemen...like "good job guy"...we all just laughed our heads off. It was so cute! I have another little guy who just LIVES to slide...he would slide into EVERY base if I let him. So I told him he could bat last and that way he could slide into home without getting run over. So sure enough he gets to home plate and "slides"...his version of a slide....get practically on top of home plate and slide on all fours....man it had to hurt but he jumps right up and has THE biggest smile on! He was happy as a clam! They are really doing a great job. We pitched to them (this is very legal and HIGHLY encouraged) and all my kids hit the ball but one! I was AMAZED! Their catching and throwing was much better too! Our first "scrimmage" is June 2nd...should be interesting (especially since ALL of our games are scrimmages....we don't keep score!) and our first "game" is Friday June 6th....should be a riot...can't wait! Amy 3 Comments
	Little Ingrates by: Ilvtching, 05-18-2008 Ok, Hifiman's post got me all riled up about buying things for the classroom....it made the think about buying things for the kids and their ungratefulness (not sure that is really a word, but it works) We are doing the ABC Countdown to the end of the year...we thought it would be a fun way for us (the teachers) to keep track of how many days we had left. We picked days that didn't really require us to buy much. We each (there are two of us) spend about $20 on supplies (that covers the entired alphabet). We bought Bubbles for each kid, donuts (donut holes), ice cream sandwiches, and lollipops. I was so mad on ice cream day...we put all the kids together outside and my teaching partner and I handed out the sandwiches...most of the kids used their manners. Then three students from her class start chanting...."where's my second one...I want another one"...I was so PI$$ED! I let them know in no uncertain terms how rude that was. I just don't get how when you do something special they always want MORE! They weren't just joking around...it was about the way they said it too. They were probably doing it on donut day too....this class has been so ungrateful all year...her kids are much worse than mine. When the kids act like this, it just sucks the joy out of what should be a lot of fun. Today is lollipop day...boy they better behave or I may just come unglued! 9 Comments
	What a week... by: Ilvtching, 05-09-2008 Holy Crap...if this week is a sign of how the rest of the year is going to be...I QUIT NOW! What a crazy week....the kids were just plain OUT OF CONTROL! It didn't matter what we did. They could not sit down, shut up or follow the simplest of directions. By the time it came to Fun Friday today, over half of our kids had lost it. I have never had so many kids have to write a note home explaining their poor choices to their parents. I am actually surprised I haven't received any e-mails yet! Though they drove me NUTS there were a couple good things that happened: We have a little guy who is taking new meds. Well every day but today he has slept through our two hour literacy block. So we talked to mom...yesterday, he literally almost fell asleep standing up! So I gathered some pillows from my library area and the blanket from my reading chair and put him behind my desk. He slept for 2 hours! Today, he was SO AWESOME! NO nap, no poor choices...just a model student! I couldn't believe it! He came up to me at the end of the day, hugged me and said "Mrs. D have a GREAT weekend"...you could've tipped me over with a feather! I have a student who is very sullen (it is his personality I have decided). He NEVER (and I mean NEVER smiles). He mumbles, gets in trouble etc. So last week he wrote on his locker, table top and desk drawer with crayons because he was mad. I called mom and she let me keep him after school and clean up his messes and all the other tables as well. This week he gets into trouble two days in a row for the SAME thing. So of course I have to get on him...at the end of the day, the kids give me a high five or hug ( their choice) and he ALWAYS gives me a high five...barely that...but today he grabs me and hugs me...and I am like WTH???? Again, you could've knocked me over with a feather!!! So even though there were many bad things (I will spare you all the details) there were a couple good things as well. Only 19 more days...I CAN do this! 1 Comments
	T-ball Practice.. by: Ilvtching, 05-08-2008 Bethany, this is for you! I survived my first T-ball practice as a coach and even had some fun doing it! The parents probably all think I am nuts (and hey, maybe I am for doing this) but it really was fun! I was really nervous before I left...so nervous in fact I forgot my glove, bat and notes on what I needed to talk about. Sent my stepson home to get those things for me. Greeted all my players and parents as they came up to the field...had them play catch until everyone arrived. I gather them all behind the blue line (a length of colored rope an INGENIOUS idea stolen from my son's coach last year)...this is the safety line...if you are not on the field you are sitting BEHIND this line! I am talking with my team and their parents and realize I had yet to introduce myself to the kids! DUH! I was just so excited to get started. Practice really went well. I had one baserunner who took it upon himself to catch the ball and throw it to first...hee hee. I told him when he has the batters helmet on all he does is run...NOT touch the ball! It was comical....their batting stances were a riot..some of them have obviously NEVER handled a bat before! I also have a lefty which is perplexing me...I am NOT left handed. My hubby was leaving with me after practice and he says "I really don't like being around kids"....I just laughed and wondered what made him say that....the fact that one kid a runny nose the whole time (you know the type), that they had to go "potty" at the most inopportune times or that he just can't handle the stress of having the next batter ready for me. It was really fun and I am looking forward to next week....oh and my son was absent...is that bad that on the first practice my OWN kid is gone???? He is at Grandma's (we don't have school tomorrow and she is my babysitter when we don't have school and lives one hour away)....I doubt anyone noticed! Ok, maybe I can do this!!! 5 Comments
	ABC Countdown by: Ilvtching, 04-30-2008 Today was the first day of our ABC countdown...It was A for stuffed animal day...it actually went pretty well. I will attach a copy of the ideas I sent home. I googled ABC countdown and gathered all the ideas I could for each letter of the alphabet. Then I typed them all up and gave them to my teaching partner. I let her pick the ones we would do since her class is NUTS! Tomorrow is Bubble day...we bought each child a small bottle of bubbles and will turn them lose on the playground tomorrow afternoon! Attached is the letter I sent home, calendar and a list of ideas for each letter! Only 25 more days left! WOO HOO!!!! 4 Comments
	Teachers Wear Many Hats by: Ilvtching, 04-27-2008 A couple of people requested a copy of the teacher poster I mentioned in my last blog...so here it is...along with a few more random thoughts! I don't know where it came from so I can't give the proper documention for it! A good friend of mine printed them for me! Thanks Jenn! The M&M RX I found on this site. I will try to attach that too....I think I have to reply to my own blog to do that??? Another reason I had such a great attitude this week was it was secretary's day. We did Secretary's WEEK! It was so fun. We gave her something little each day. Monday was a two liter of Diet Dr. Pepper her fave. Tuesday was a boquet of fresh cut flowers, Wednesday we gave her a gift of money to pamper herself (she TRULY deserves it), Thursday we gave her chocolate covered popcorn (another fave) and Friday we framed a page of all the reasons we love her...kind of like a Letterman top ten. Each staff member e-mailed me a reason they loved ________ (her name). It typed them on cute stationary (and in color) and framed it. It was such fun to watch her reaction each day! Thanks again PT friends! 2 Comments
	New Perspective by: Ilvtching, 04-26-2008 What a difference a week can make! Are things still going poorly...yep. Are things still stacking up....yep. So what is different...my attitude! Thank you to those that responded to my last blog! While it is disheartening to know that the type of stuff I wrote about is happening in other schools, there is comfort in knowing we are not the only school with issues. So why was this week better? Well for one, our principal was absent for several days...you could feel the release of pressure immediately. It was so strange and yet so wonderful at the same time! We also decided to take action to be more positive. I say "we" because I have a group of teachers (there are four of us) that we organize "fun" events for the staff once per month. They are voluntary, outside school hours and at their own expense. But we decided that our morale was critical and since not everyone can attend those functions, we would do something at school to help raise morale. So once per week, we are doing something for the staff. Last week, we printed (in color) a list of all the different hats teachers wear and added some inspirational quotes at the bottom...we put them in everyone's mailbox...I felt so lighthearted when I saw them hanging in SEVERAL classrooms. On Monday, I am giving each teacher a snack pack of M&M's and the prescription poem for eating them. We are going to do something every week until school is out. We are also planning out next outing which is a trip to the local spa. We are going get pedicures and manicures! I can not wait!!! It will be much needed at this stressful time of year! I still get frustrated and we still vent...but we are not letting it take over our thinking and our health any more! We just decided to take matters into our own hands...beware anyone who gets in our way! Thanks again PT friends...I truly appreciate all of you!!! 3 Comments
	The Little Things... by: Ilvtching, 04-20-2008 It is the little things in teaching that can drive you over the edge! I just don' know how many more little things I can take! They seem to be piling up at warp speed! It has been a very depressing year in our building. People are stressed to the max, taking anti-anxiety meds and sick much more than usual. I don't know how much more we can take. We are lacking real leadership in our building and the treatment of staff has been very poor. Early in the year we had a teacher in our building accused of some very serious (and nasty) things. Without a "proper" investigation she was put on administrative leave (and still is)...once they did that they had to start back pedaling because they couldn't make the charges stick. But they have ruined her reputation....how do you take someone's life and destroy it without looking back? I don't get it! It doesn't seem to matter to the higher ups in our district that they have caused her great distress....and could've ruined her career. It is really hard to deal with because she is a great friend of mine. We have a board meeting next week and one of the major charges is being dropped because there is nothing to substantiate it (it is there last charge)...her life has been turned upside down for nothing. In our building itself...I can't go there...you never know who is reading this stuff. But we feel that we are treated very unprofessional and the small things just add up...I get so frustrated. Many of us feel bullied and it makes it hard to want to do anything extra for the kids when you feel like nothing is appreciated! Then yesterday was just the icing on the cake! But I really can't share details here...if the wrong person read it, it would just cause even more problems. I am so frustrated and feel so defeated. I just keep reminding myself that we only have 33 days left with kids...then it is summer. I can spend some time with the people who REALLY matter...my family! Thanks for reading this vent... 6 Comments
	It is my birthday... by: Ilvtching, 04-13-2008 It is funny how as we get older, Birthdays are just another day! Today is my birthday, and according to my mother I am now considered in the middle age category (35). WHAT??? I don't consider myself middle age...though I am beginning to feel older! Last night I finished the last room upstairs of steam cleaning the carpets. So we slept last night on our box spring and mattress on the floor in the living room. So this morning we put all our stuff back in our bedroom, organized ALL the kitchen cabinets, cleaned up the basement and started on the closets...Happy Birthday! My sons and hubby made me brownies, my 18 year old played Happy birthday to me on his electric guitar while the other two sang, and gave me gifts. They were really cute! My youngest got me a purse...very cute (I actually picked it out and his dad just encouraged him to get it for me) I also got a tuner so I can play my Ipod in the car and a Boxer address book...it has some really cute pictures of Boxers in it! I went to my classroom for a short while and then we went to Applebees to dinner! I have to take back a few of the mean things I have said about my MIL over the years...Just a few. In the mail this morning I received a BEAUTIFUL gift! She sent me a sterling silver charm bracelet. It has a NAVY flag (my hubby was in the NAVY and my SS is enlisted in their delayed entry program), a Boxer charm (for my FAVORITE dogs in the world), a little boy head (with my son's name engraved on the back) and a racecar (for my hubby)...it is just gorgeous. So I had to bite the bullet and call her to thank her...of course it is so funny to talk to her...she has a closed head injury so she has NO short term memory...and it has changed her personality (for the better) but now she curses like a sailor...I find that hysterical! So all in all (aside from the cleaning) it has been a good birthday. Now I am going to settle in and watch the race...since it starts to late I will probably sleep thru most of it....Just one more day of Spring Break left...then back to the rat race! 3 Comments
	Ahhhh...spring break by: Ilvtching, 04-07-2008 Well it has finally arrived...SPRING BREAK! I am already bored out of my mind! Really, I am, but that is just because I really don't want to do anything on my TO DO list! I don't want to clean house, I don't want to think about school...I would LOVE to go shopping, but we have NO money (and I am HORRIBLE about window shopping). Plus my birthday is Saturday and I would hate to spoil anyone's gift. My hubby is great at that. Today I had the oven repair guy come and fix my oven...no new oven yet (since it cost so little to repair). Then I took my stepson and we ran our errands...he had to get yet another driver's license...he lost or someone stole his wallet. SO we had to go to secretary of state and get a new one. He is on his LAST social security card for this year...you only get three per year. He got one and his mom refuses to give it to us...she claims it is "lost"...whatever! When his wallet was lost/stolen he had his card in there for getting it copied for his job...so once his license comes in...we have to get yet another one! We may look into getting him a new Social Security number...who knows. Tomorrow I think I am going to clean up my room. Since my younger son is at Grandma and Grandpa's for a few days...it is the perfect opportunity to get that stuff done. I am going to "dinner" with some of my collegues...that should be fun. The teachers I work with are soooo much fun...I love them all! I was really surprised on Saturday to get a notice from my stepson's highschool saying he had to get his immunizations updated by May1. He has 6 he needs to get...how is that possible? Why didn't his last highschool catch that? I just don't get that. So I made him and appt. for Wednesday. He aso has an interview that day. He has really tried to get a good job. Pizza Hut hired him, but they rarely give him hours and his is frustrated (us too) he has applied at at least 15 places! Come on...the kid WANTS to work! So Wednesday I am taking him for an interview at Applebees ...I am hopeful he will get it! The rest of the week is a question mark. My birthday is Saturday, but my parents are out of town, my stepson works and we really don't have any plans. So we may wait a week and celebrate then...that is totally fine with me...just another day! I will be happy if my hubby just makes dinner and cleans up the kitchen! ok, I think it is time for a nap. AHHH, the beauty of spring break. 1 Comments
	One More Week... by: Ilvtching, 03-30-2008 Ok, just one more week...five more days...32 hours....until Spring Break starts....can you tell I am READY for it??? It has been an extremely ROUGH year and I am so looking forward to 9 days off. Sure, I will be cleaning my house, working in the yard (if the Michigan weathers cooperates)...but right now it is WAY better than being in a classroom responsible for 26 kids who DO NOT want to bet there! On a happier note, I did finish my report cards today...thank goodness...I was getting worried about it! They are to go home Monday with the kids! Today my hubby and I took the fam and we grocery shopped. We ended up buying a Bissel Steam Cleaner for our carpet. We have a Boxer and a mud wrestling pit as a backyard! Oh, did I mention we have cream colored carpet? So we REALLY needed that cleaner. I hope to steam clean all my carpets while my son is at Grandma's for Spring Break! I can't wait for summer so grass grows and the mud disappears. Thanks to Teachnkids and Hifi for their comments for my brother. My sister spoke with him and he said he feels that the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders. He has interviewed for new jobs and his store will be closing at the end of April. My parents went down there today for morale support and we will all probably go down at the end of the month to help him close it up. So please keep up the prayers...they are greatly appreciated them. Also, Hifi, I just wanted to let you know that our backyard is now "poop" free. Since the teen needed a consequence from us for his "personal day", he "volunteered" to clean up Joey's mess out in the yard...gosh, there is something to be said about "teenage labor". I hope this week is much calmer than last week....I will survive...I have to...I want to enjoy BREAK!!! 3 Comments
	Stupid Economy by: Ilvtching, 04-29-2008 I am so upset...my brother has struggled his entire adult life with what he wants to be when he grows up. He is of the belief that if you don't work hard, come home exhausted and dirty then you aren't working hard enough and the job is not worth it. So he and his wife started their own business. He worked so VERY hard to get it up and running...he leased a building, it was entirely re-done by him and he opened his own feedstore. Now, after two years of being happy and working his A$$ off, he is going out of business. I am sooooo very sad for him. He is not sure what he is going to do...and it makes me so sad (and angry). He truly believes that there is no room in this country for small business...I just don't want him to give up, he is such a wonderful guy and hard worker. So if you are the praying type, please say a prayer for him, that he finds his nitch in this world. Thank you. 4 Comments
	Personal Day reprecussions... by: Ilvtching, 03-26-2008 Ok, so we had the drama of the "personal day" yesterday! I am still laughing and thanking God that I was able to leave the house! Every time dear stepson would ask a question my hubby would start his answer with "well, I bet the kids who went to school today found out that...." or for variation "if you had gone to school today you would've found out that...." My stepson had to endure a couple hours of this...hee hee. So today my hubby calls the school and leaves a message saying that under no circumstances is that absence to be excused and told the principal of the circumstances. So a while later, the principal calls my hubby and tells him that he had my SS in and he has to serve a detention tomorrow after school and thanks my husband for being a good parent (basically) and for his support. That is really cool for me...because my hubby often doubts his ability to be a good father to either of his boys (but his is)! Angie, that avatar was hilarious! I am not going to encourage him with it..but will share it with my hubby...he will crack up! Thanks to everyone for your supporting words...I know he will test, it is just frustrating to me that he can not see how a decision today effects more than just tomorrow...he really can't see past a day or so...is that normal for all teens or is it his up bringing that contributes to that? His mom is VERY much like this too. Anyway tonight he is really kissing some butt (mine since I am the only one home)...following me all around the house and talking my ear off about EVERYTHING under the sun...I am conversing with him and the whole time just smiling to myself Thanks again everyone...and Hifi...we will not be like your nephew's parents....if he doesn't graduate...he is outta here! Augh...enabling parents drive me NUTS! 3 Comments
	teenage personal days... by: Ilvtching, 03-26-2008 WTH??? We get an e-mail from my son's Highschool today and it seems he was absent for all hours except the last....that is interesting since he was up and ready for school when I left this morning. I usually don't leave until after he does (the neighbor takes him to school) but today my younger son wanted to go to my class and play before school. Well, my teenage step son decided he was too tired (mind you he slept 12 hours the night before) to go to school....he WALKED over to the neighbors house and told him he wasn't going today and came back home and SLEPT even more. I am sooooooo PI$$ED at him. So my hubby calls him and asks if he went to school today and he says "yes"...my hubby says "that's funny I have an e-mail here that says other wise"...he stammers and says "I went for my last hour...I just took a personal day..." mind you we just had a THREE day weekend...again I say "HUH"? So needless to say, it has not been a fun evening around here...I had a dinner date with friends and my hubby basically tortured the kid with lectures for the 1 1/2 hours I was gone (thank GOD I missed that). Those of you who have been following this "drama" know that he just moved in not long ago because his mom is a nut job...I am so frustrated at this "backward" move....it is my stepson of old! ACK...that boy frustrated me to no end! Our rules are very clear, and leave NO room for interpretation...so this is one strike...he is very aware of how bad he has damaged our trust. Here is the best part of this story....as this initial conversation is winding down...my stepson says "well there is good news from today...I am next to be hired at Big Boy"...I thought my hubby was going to explode...that launched a whole new conversation about minimum wage jobs and how they don't pay the rent and do you really want to live that way...you know the drill. He has to pull his head out and graduate ON TIME! He is enlisted in the NAVY and has NO wiggle room....I know that this too shall pass...it is just frustrating...I may end up in therapy before he leaves for the Navy in July...boy would I LOVE to be a fly on the wall the first time he doesn't feel like getting up in boot camp...That will be a huge REALITY CHECK for him...I do love the kid...but how do parents survive the teenage years???? 7 Comments

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