10 Things Thursday

10 things I want to do during the long weekend ahead.

1. Finish the Tony Hillerman book I am reading
2. Wash, dry, fold and put away all the laundry
3. Snuggle with my kids
4. Snuggle with my husband
5. Finish up all the paperwork for the end of the school year
6. Go to the movies by myself
7. Do something fun with the kids...their choice
8. Finish planning Julianna's birthday party
9. Go through the kid's clothes to see what they need for summer
10. Get all that done by Monday so that I have one day to do nothing

Rambling Updates

I did not vote. But I think I will try to keep up better with local politics. I won't be holding any signs on election day, but I'll try to vote.

The meeting was about what I expected. I just have to remind myself to be grateful that some parents actually care enough to come in to see me when they have an issue. And if it was my kid I'd do the same thing.

Apologies made. Notes written. Hopefully fixed.

9 1/2.

Rambling

Do political yard signs really sway anyone's vote? Does waving them on election day cause anyone who had not planned to vote, vote? If so, do they vote for the candidate on the waved sign?

Do not, for the sake of your child's teacher's sanity, call and ask for a meeting with said teacher and the principal without leaving at least a vague idea of what the meeting is about. It will make the teacher nervous to the point of being sick and unable to eat her leftover pizza for lunch.

If you have a gut feeling about something, go with it. If you don't, the decision will probably bite you in the rear. And then you have to write a whole nother note to your student's parents explaining the changed decision. Sigh.

10 1/2. That's how many days left of school. Hallelujah!

10 Things Thursday

Monday night for Bible study, we had game night. We played Balderdash. The game where everyone makes up definitions for word/initials/famous people and then tries to guess the real one. Here are the 10 words we had. I am giving you three choices. One is the real definition, one is the one I made up, and one is from someone else in our group. See how many you can get. Answers are at the bottom so don't scroll down too far until you're ready.

1. S.W.R.

a) South Western Railroad

b) Secret Warehouse of Robots

c) Sons of the Whiskey Rebellion

2. pandiculation

a) when a pandemic goes from regional to worldwide

b) echoing within a concert hall

c) stretching and yawning

3. quockerwodger

a) main support beam for the mast of a sailing vessel

b) a small duck-like bird found only in New Zealand

c) a wooden puppet on a string

4. scopulate

a) scanning the stars with a high powered telescope

b) the act of tuning a cello

c) shaped like a broom

5. zoosemiotics

a) the study of animals in motion

b) the study of the biology and physiology of earthworms

c) the science of animal conversation

6. ichneumon

a) an air breathing fish

b) the study of bird songs

c) an Egyptian mongoose which sucks crocodile eggs

7. N.H.F.

a) National Horticulture Foundation

b) National Health Foundation

c) National Headache Foundation

8. R.S.T.C.

a) Royal Society of Training Charioteers

b) Regional Student Tetherball Championship

c) Recreational Scuba Training Council

9. Frieda Carter

a) the only woman to ever stand on her head while playing the accordion and smoking a cigar

b) inventor of the disposable diaper in 1948

c) inventor of miniature golf

10. E.T.C.

a) Energy Training Council

b) English Theatrical Company

c) European Tea Committee

My answers were all b. (Except for #2 which is Arrty's and was better than mine. And #7 which is also Arrty's since I was the one with the card and the real answer that round.)

And the real answers are all c. How many did you get? And how many times did I trick you?

Happy Birthday, Adam!

Today my middle baby turns 9. 9. Just like when Josh turned 9, I am trying to come to terms with the fact that 9 is halfway to 18. Halfway. Halfway through the years when he will live under my roof. Halfway through waking him up in the mornings and seeing one foot sticking out from under the covers. Halfway through seeing his blue eyes and mischievous smile every single day. Halfway. It hasn't been long enough and won't be in 9 more years either. These moments, days, years are precious. And I don't really mean it when I wish for a minute of peace and quiet. Quiet will come. But today I will make root beer floats for his classmates and take him out to dinner and remind him to wipe the barbecue sauce off his chin. I will enjoy being the mother of a now 9 year old who just happens to be the apple of my eye.

Don't Cry For Me

I am often amazed how God takes care of me. I shouldn't be. He is perfect in how he takes care of me. But every once in a while I see it more clearly than others. Like yesterday. I have been teaching Julianna's Bible class on Sunday mornings for the last two months. I wanted to teach her for the last few weeks before she turns two and moves up to the big girl class. And I love it. She started going to nursery class when she turned 6 months old. Over the last 18 months she has changed and grown so much. She sings along and answers questions and talks to her friends. It has been a real blessing spending time watching Julianna and her friends Lily and Owen learn and grow. And usually they are my only three students. But yesterday we were joined by a new friend. A new family at church brought their little one to Bible class for the first time. It's always exciting when our class grows. But this little guy didn't think it was fun at all. He cried...and cried...and screamed...and cried some more. I could distract him for a second with my bear puppet and the battery powered pig that walks and oinks and wags its tail. But nothing I did calmed him down for long. I debated on whether to buzz his mom with the nursery paging system, but I didn't know if she was one of those moms who would want to come get him or who would want him to cry it out. So halfway through class I got him out of his seat and held him. If I stood up and rocked him just right he would calm down for a few minutes at a time. I felt so bad for him being so miserable. But by the end of class, I was on the verge of a panic attack. And here's the part about how God takes care of me.

You see, I do not do well with crying babies. I can take it for a few minutes. But after that I begin to get anxious. And we know how well I do with anxiety. So after an hour of caring for a screaming baby that I didn't know, I was very close to needing a double dose of my meds. But as I sat in church with Josh on one side and Adam on the other and Jules snuggled on my lap, I couldn't help but think how well God knows me and my needs. My babies were not criers and certainly not screamers. Sure, they would cry. But they were all three easily consoled. God knew that I would have a hard time handling the crying. So he sent me these three babies. Three babies that he knew would be just right for me. Three babies who would not cause me anxiety. (Well, at least not from the crying.) And I am grateful for that. So very grateful.

Now I just hope he helps me out with the teenage stuff, too.

Show and Tell

Show and tell is getting pretty monotonous at this stage in the year. I'd even be glad to see a black widow at this point. At least it's something to get excited about. Here's what we had today:

an action figure with one lost leg

a Barbie and a Hannah Montana doll

a pink Koosh ball

a pink tulip from mom's flower garden

a stuffed doggie

a Bible

a stuffed skunk with a pink stripe instead of a white stripe

a teddy bear dressed like a fairy

One cool thing that came today, though, was a cup with 5 caterpillars that came with a butterfly house. They are supposed to spin chrysalises and turn into painted lady butterflies. Adam wants one of those butterfly kits for his birthday. I don't know who's more excited about it, him or me.

10 Things Thursday

10 things you should not send to school with a kindergartner (or any kid, really)...

1. Full size candy bars for snack. Unless, of course, you send two and one of them is for me. Preferably 3 Musketeers or Snickers.
2. Soda...of any kind or size. Not even if you send an extra one for me. Not even if it's Diet Coke.
3. Money. They do not understand money. They play with money. It will get lost/torn/given away/"borrowed."
4. Anything fragile. It has about a 90% chance of getting broken.
5. Heirlooms. Please do not make me responsible for grandads antique watch in the hands of a 5 year old.
6. Books from public libraries. They will get mixed with our classroom library and I will not pay the fine when they are overdue.
7. Un-child friendly movies to watch at rest time. I will not show Grease. I love Grease. But I will not have a bunch of kindergartners singing Greased Lightening on the playground. Or "Look at me I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity." Not good.
8. Jewelery. Beaded necklaces and bracelets will come home in a plastic baggie because the string will get broken. It will. Take my word for it.
9. Costco sized cupcakes for birthdays. Regular sized cupcakes are fine. Mini-cupcakes are perfect. But cupcakes the size of a kindergartners head? Not acceptable.
10. Black widows in mason jars for show and tell. Yes, I have had a black widow in a mason jar brought in for show and tell. DO NOT let your kid bring a black widow in a mason jar for show and tell.

Blue Skies

We were sitting in chapel this morning and two kids went up front to lead a song. (One happened to be Josh, but that doesn't have anything to do with the story.) They led us in Blue Skies and Rainbows. I've known that song forever. Well, at least since I was a fifth grader at the school where I now teach. Kids also went up front to lead songs way back then. And they often led Blue Skies and Rainbows. But today, as 60 voices were singing that song, I had this flashback. I was sitting in chapel as a student on a tiny little folding metal chair. I was in the first row for some reason. And Paul got up to lead his songs. He said "Blue Skies and Rainbows" and we all sang along. Then for his second song choice, he said, "Blue Skies and Rainbows." Everyone laughed because when you're 11 and someone tries to lead the same song twice without meaning to, it's really funny. And Paul laughed too, because that's the kind of kid he was. He laughed all the time. And loved to make other people laugh. Every time I think of him, I can't help but smile.

The next fall, a few days after school started, he was killed in a playground accident. It was terrible and sad and incredibly heartbreaking. I wonder sometimes, who he would be today. Would he still live here or back in his native Samoa? Would he be married and have kids with his amazing smile? Would he still be making me and so many others smile? I don't know. But one thing I do know. Today in heaven he could very possibly be leading the angels in a chorus of Blue Skies and Rainbows...twice.

Blue skies and rainbows and sunbeams from heaven

Are what I can see when the Lord is living in me

I know that Jesus is well and alive today

He makes his home in my heart

Never more will I be all alone since he

Promised me that he never will part.

Blessed Sunday

Yes, I am fully aware that it is Monday. But between sharing our home computer with 3 other people and having way too much to do at home to ever use said computer, I don't often get to blog from home. So here is Blessed Sunday, or Monday if you prefer.

My mom. She is a blessing. She is amazing and beautiful and wonderful and loving. She is the rock in our family. She is and has been for every day of my life, a constant beacon of light. She loves me like a mother should. She is my hero. And who I want to be someday. Of all the blessings in my life, she is at the top of the list.

And if that isn't enough, I get to be a mom, too. Motherhood is a blessing that I didn't even know I wanted until that day in 1999 when I joined the club. Ten and a half years later I can't remember the day when I didn't belong. My heart and mind and soul are so full of mommy-ness that sometimes I smile, or even laugh, simply because these three lovely little people, these sweet, funny, adorable, loud, sometimes stinky, little people are mine. Mine to hold and guide for a while, but love and treasure forever. What a blessing!

10 Things Thursday

10 things my students wrote about me in a little book they made to give me today as part of teacher appreciation week at our school...

1. She lets us have free time.
2. She teaches us to count to 100.
3. She teaches us our numbers.
4. She's very nice.
5. She has cool toys in her classroom.
6. She's a good teacher.
7. She teaches us good stuff.
8. She lets us bring toys for show and tell.
9. She doesn't yell.

(So that's only 9 things. But that's all there was. Someone must have been absent the day they did the project.)

4 weeks

It's still 4 weeks until Julianna turns 2. 28 more days. But you wouldn't have known it this morning. She has decided that she doesn't want to wait until then to hit the "terrible twos." This morning before we left the house she threw a multitude of fits. One when she didn't want to get dressed. One when I tried to change her diaper. One when I wouldn't let her pull the vacuum out of the hall closet. One when I tried to fix her hair. One when I wouldn't let her eat a sucker she found on the kitchen counter. One when I wouldn't let her eat the yogurt we were taking for her snack. One when I tried to put her shoes on. One when I tried to put her coat on. Phew. I think that's it. It was really weird because she's usually very agreeable and happy. But today she was trying out those "terrible twos" with gusto. (Her fits consisted of one or more of the following: crying, yelling, falling to the floor, kicking, pulling off her socks.) We finally made it out the door and she was back to her old self. But I guess we'll see what tomorrow holds.

Rambling

I totally missed Blessed Sunday yesterday because I was so busy enjoying my family and reading a great book. I didn't even think about it once. That is a blessing.

Our dog, who is a huge chocolate lab, is a great guard dog. He barks his big bark at moose and deer and horses and people walking by and any car that pulls in the driveway. But he is afraid of wind. And this morning at 4:00 he reminded us. He barked until we got up and turned on the light and then whined until Arrty went outside and checked on him. How can a 125 pound monster like him be afraid of the wind?

On my desk sits a pot of miniature roses. It's from my dad. I smile every time I look at it.

This week is teacher appreciation week. That means for the next five days, we will be spoiled by the PTO. Today was a breakfast of muffins and fresh fruit and free drinks at Dutch Bros. Be sure to say thank you to any teachers in your life.

Our auction Friday night was a big success. We surpassed our goal by over $3,000! And we won the bed we wanted for Julianna! And a pet package that came with a certificate for a free puppy adoption at the humane society. One stipulation on said puppy.* It must NOT be afraid of wind.

Have I mentioned lately how extremely adorable my daughter is? Well, she is!

And have I mentioned lately how quickly my sons are growing? Well, they are!

*We have not yet decided if and when we will adopt a puppy. I'm not much of a dog person, but my family is. And how cute would pictures of Jules and a puppy be?!

10 Things Thursday

10 things you can bid on if you come to our school auction tomorrow night...

1. a kayak
2. a cowboy cooking package complete with certificates for wild game
3. at least 3 beautiful quilts
4. trips and outings to several places around the country
5. a Kroc center birthday package
6. home improvement and auto packages
7. this lovely bed (but don't outbid me)
8. certificates for food and fun
9. yummy baked goods
10. a squirrel hunt! (Really.)

For a full list of live auction items go here. There will also be a silent auction with hundreds of items. Join us to have a great time and to support Christian education .

Blessed Sunday

Today is my dad's birthday. We had lunch with him and gave him cards and gifts and told him "happy birthday." But it just doesn't seem enough for someone who has loved me so very much my whole life. Someone who has spent his days from the time I was born when he was only 18, working to take care of me. He has loved me through childhood and the teen years and into adulthood. He has held me when I needed to be held and laughed with me more times than I can count. He has told stories and played music and let me play hooky. He has taken me fishing and on trips and given me priceless memories. He has sat with me in waiting rooms and sat in waiting rooms waiting for me. He has prayed with me and for me and over me. He has loved my children more than words can say from the moment he heard they were on the way and has shown them more love in their short lives than many people feel in a lifetime. He has encouraged me and guided me and helped me become who I am today. He is my dad. And that is such a wonderful blessing.

I love you, Dad.

Show and Tell

I guess I'm a hillbilly at heart. Here's why. This morning on the way to school, I saw a car with vanity plates that said HIMAINT. "HIM AINT?" Shouldn't it be "HE AINT?" And him ain't what? I just couldn't figure it out. Until I realized that it wasn't HIM AINT, but HI MAINT. Ooohhh. HI MAINT, like high maintanance. Now I get it. Kind of, anyways. Because HI MAINT, I ain't.

Now for Show and Tell...

My Little Pony and a Barbie fairy that can fly...all shared while P. was wearing her Hannah Montana wig that she had convinced all the preschoolers was real.

American Girl doll named Katelyn

stuffed anteater and a bottle (of milk, not ants) to feed said anteater...and a loose tooth.

two Lego cars from McDonald's that can come apart and "will come to pieces if you blast them"

a purple stuffed lamb

two more Barbies

and some other stuff. At this point in the year, I've pretty much seen it all and tend to lose interest after a while.

10 Things Thursday

10 new or soon to be released movies I want to see...

1. Oceans--3D underwater adventure. What's better than an underwater documentary? One in 3D of course!
2. The Bounty Hunter --Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston are exes who run into each other again. Hilarity ensues. Will they fall in love again? My guess is yes.
3. Babies --Documentarians follow the first year of life of 4 babies from around the world. So cute. And fascinating for the mommy in me.
4. Ironman 2 --Just because it's fun.
5. Letters to Juliet --A young woman helps two long lost loves reunite while finding love herself.
6. Robin Hood --Another remake of this classic story starring Russell Crowe.
7. Ondine --Colin Farrell. Ireland. That's enough for me.
8. The Karate Kid --Remake of the 80's favorite. Starring Jadan Smith and Jackie Chan as the wise karate sensei.
9. Ramona and Beezus --I read all of Beverly Cleary's books when I was little and can't wait to see what they do with two of my favorite characters.
10. Eclipse --In the last seconds of New Moon, Edward told Bella he'd change her into a vampire if she'd marry him. Will she or won't she?!?! Will she do the smart thing and go back to Jacob?!?! I'm dying to find out!

Newby

I have a new student in my class today. Yes, it is almost the end of the school year. 35 days left if you're wondering. But this family is enrolling their daughter in kindergarten next year and since I have half preschoolers this year they thought they'd get her used to the idea of school now. I have to admit that yesterday when the school secretary told me she would be starting today, I was a little concerned. I have a challenge already with teaching such a diverse group of students. Some are already beginning to read while some are still barely putting two sounds together. And now I would have another one who I knew nothing about. After I thought about it, though, it's not such a big deal. One more little body to line up and keep track of and pass papers to. And besides, whatever she learns these last few weeks will be helpful for next year. Then this morning she walked in with mom and dad close behind. I showed her where to sit and gave her a writing practice paper like the other students were working on. I could tell that both she and mom were a little nervous. But as I introduced her to the class, D., one of my most challenging boys, said, "Welcome to our class, A." How sweet is that? I think it really helped A. and her mom feel more comfortable. The other girls were really nice to her, too, and included her right away. And I can tell that she will do just fine in my class.

But what really got me was when she came over to me to ask a question about her paper and her little hands and voice were shaking from nerves. As soon as I saw that, I started staying close by her so that she felt more comfortable. I talked to her and told her what we would be doing next and patted her shoulder. Because all I could think about was Julianna in 3 years. What if it was Julianna walking into a classroom of strangers and me nervously leaving her there? What if it was Julianna whose hands and voice were shaking? What would I want that teacher to do? Well, I'd want her to stay close and talk to her and pat her shoulder. I'd want her to do whatever it took to make her feel welcome and comfortable. So that's what I did. And for the next 35 days, A. will be a part of our class. And I'm happy to have her.

Overheard...

...on the playground today.

"You can play four square with us, but if you get out you're OUT! It's prison rules!"

Blessed Sunday

Today's blessing: SUNSHINE!!!