T.G.I.F.

Because it's scrapbook night with the girls!!! Yay!!!! I am behind on scrapbooking AND gossip, so tonight is a MUST! Ha!

Have a safe Labor Day Weekend Everyone!

The Good Stuff...

The highlights of my week so far (and it's only Wednesday!) This new job has just re-energized me!!! So...if my friend Carey is reading this - THANK YOU!!! (She pushed me to get this job and finally leave the school where I was teaching.)

* First of all, it's the little things that get me excited. This may not seem like much, but it was thrilling for me! We were doing a survey for math this week. They had to come up with 4 songs and survey their classmates about their favorite song and make a graph from the information. THEY PICKED SONGS I KNEW!!! They were so cute - they love Hannah Montana and High School Musical. One girl even asked, "What's that song that goes 1,2,3, like a bird I sing..." I almost jumped for joy!! Hello - they like Tim McGraw!! hee-hee! I love it!

*Then, yesterday I got an email from one of my parents from two years ago who I LOVE....her daughter was in my class for 2 years when I moved with my 2nd grade class to 3rd grade. Well, her daughter wrote an essay about me and entered it into a contest. Her essay was chosen, and I am being honored next week at a banquet for making a difference in her life and being a positive role model for young women today. How sweet is that? I just couldn't believe it! For a child to nominate me for something like this just makes me feel like I am truly making a difference! I know the school I taught at before had issues, but I stayed as long as I did because I felt needed . There are some kids that I know I made a difference in their life - they may not score proficient or advanced on the benchmark test, but they knew everyday when they came to class that their teacher loved them. Some days, I may have been the only friendly voice they heard or the only hug they had all day. I will never forget some of those kids, because they made a difference with me too!!! I am sad to not be needed in quite the same way, but it is time to start a new chapter in my life. At the end of the day teaching in an inner-city school, you have nothing left to give b/c you are the parent, the teacher, the grandmother, the nurse, the everything! So, I will accept this award with honor and remember this student always for making ME feel special!

*On another note, Kevin unexpectedly stopped by school today (after class) and when he walked in ~ my heart went a little pitter patter, and I felt a little like a teenage school girl (all giggly b/c her boyfriend was here). hee-hee! I thought afterwards - you can't beat that - dating a year and he still makes me gush! ha!

Wordless Wednesday

Classroom Blog

She's done it again!! Lindsay at Splat Designs is AWESOME!!! Check out my blog for my classroom that she designed ~ my parents are already lovin' it this year! Yay!! Click here to check it out and then go tell Lindsay how awesome she is!!

Oh, and teacher readers, give me some more kid friendly websites if you know of any! These are the only websites they are allowed to visit in the classroom! :-)

This one is for Kevin...

Just one year ago today, we were going on our first date as grown-up's! It was such a fun time~ we crammed alot into one night!! This was my post about our first date. We didn't tell alot of people we were actually dating for awhile...we've been such good friends for so long, no one thought much about it. Remember when your nephews caught on? ha! They cornered me and were so excited!! Your sister busted us pretty early on too ~ I guess it was all over our faces how crazy we were about each other! I'm still crazy about you a year later babe! We've been through alot this year ~ good and bad. AND we came through it even stronger!! That is the important part! Through everything this year, we have laughed together, cried together, struggled together, and had some of the best times together. I never have to wonder how you feel about me, because you let me know everyday. You make me feel like the most loved and beautiful person every single day! The best part about us is that we always have each other's back, and we stick together!! So...in spite of ourselves, honey, we're the big doorprize! HA! This is our year to shine and even better things are to come!! I love you Kevin....enjoy the slide show of our first year as a couple!

**to all my faithful readers~there may be some things that don't make sense to you, but I promise they make sense to us! :-)

This week has FLOWN by!

I have had such a good week with my class that the week has literally flown by!! Yay! I have such a neat group of kids!! Two boys have asked me if they could have a chess set in the room for when they finish work early! I love it! To give you an idea of how sharp they are - when it is time for GT (gifted and talented) half of my class leaves for GT! HALF!! Which means, I can really work in small groups with those that might be struggling with something!! Relief!

Somehow the week slipped past without me posting some pics from my niece's horseshow last weekend. It was her last one of the season ~ it was HOT! And we had a 3 hour wait in between events for her, so maybe I blocked the horseshow from my mind! LOL!

She is really starting to get faster (much to her Grandma's dismay!) Kevin has nicknamed my Mom "Cautious Cathy" - ha! I'm a worrier too, so I'll be grateful when I have kiddo's of my own! In the picture below, she is even running Dolly - the big horse - that was originally meant for me, but I can't handle her! ha!

The only other real news I have from this week is that I started my next Master's class tonight (because you know I don't have enough going on! ha!) I don't think this one is going to be too bad. The best part is that I applied and was accepted for tuition reimbursement from my school district for this class. I have to pass the class, and then they will pay me back my tuition. I had to pay upfront though....which is why I am SO broke right now that I can't afford to do ANYTHING!! Now, tell me again, why can't money grow on trees? ha!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Lovin' these Awards!!

A big hug to my blog friend La Bellina Mammina for giving me this award!! I gave an acceptance speech to my captive audience of Jax, Simba, and Nala last night while Kevin rolled his eyes! ha! I love it!

This is what The Nice Matters Award is given for, "This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award."

I love ALL the blogs that I read for different reasons...I am passing this award on to these girls for just being positive, generous, inspiring bloggers! LindSEY, LindSAY, Tasha, Steph, Flip Flop Momma, Trina, & Mary Kathryn

Wordless Wednesday

First Day Success!!

I literally had the best first day of school I have ever experienced in 10 years of teaching! And, for the first time, I didn't have those first day jitters! Thanks for all the good thoughts you all sent my way!

I think I have some neat kids!! I took some pics to share with you ~ you will notice I am over-run with girls! The other 3rd grade classes are too! The teacher across the hall only has 4 boys! yikes!

I was telling Kevin that it usually takes me all year to teach manners and being polite. Today when I sneezed over half the class said "Bless you!" I was in awe ~ you mean, classrooms can come with manners? ha!

Always on task when the camera is out! :-)

Tomorrow is the big day ~ First Day of School!!

Just so you know, teachers get just as nervous as the kids! Every year... no matter how long we teach! But, the first day of school is one of my favorite days of the year too! Everything is new and fresh and exciting! The kids are so quiet and nervous and cute...all the supplies are new and crisp. Then, you give it a couple of weeks & all that changes~ ha!

I have busted my butt the past week and half getting my room ready. There was alot of cleaning out before I could even start b/c the lady before me in this room had been there for 20 years and retired!! I even found a record player!!! I haven't seen one of those in FOREVER! But, I think I am ready... here are a few shots I took mid-day Friday as I was ready to sit down and actually PLAN what to do with the kiddo's! :-) Kevin said, "you know fish don't actually stay in rows like that!" ha! They have clothespins behind them, and going to hang the kids work from the pins. They won't look so lined up then! (and if they do, I'll move 'em! Geez!)
Nibbles made it to the room on Friday. She has her own special spot. She was nervous to be back in a school, but I had a little talk with her and assured her we were out of the hood & she shouldn't hear anymore gunshots at night! Whew!
Ready for the kids!! I'm not thinking about it too much yet today - I will wait until tonight b/c it will make me nervous! Send good thoughts tomorrow!!

Ride of a Lifetime!

My Bubby went today and took the leap of faith into marriage!! I guess he/they didn't want to waste any time!!! I think it was just two weeks ago that I announced their engagement ~ if that. If I haven't said it before ~ my Bubby and I are total opposites! ha! He is the spontaneous one, and I am the planner/analyzer! So, I'll add to my wish list from yesterday....I wish this marriage is all he wants it to be and that he has found happiness!!

*And if they see this picture, they are probably going to kill me! ha! I think it's fun though!

Dawn

It's another tag!! Thank you to Steff for giving me a post today! LOL! This is a new one that I haven't seen before, and it uses your middle name ~ enjoy!!

Here are the rules:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

3. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

D is for ditsy! LOL! I have so many blonde moments that I had to get blonde highlights!! hee-hee! Seriously, I can do and say some of the dumbest things....keeps life funny though!

A is for animal lover! No shocker there....anyone who knows me knows that I am crazy for my pets (even call 'em my fur kids b/c they are my kids!), and they are spoiled ROTTEN!! I am also a sucker for an animal in need and have picked up a few on the side of the road. I have even stopped to help a turtle cross the road before getting hit!

W is for wishful! I am very wishful about life in general...I wish for happiness for myself and everyone I love!! I wish for a lifetime of sobriety for Kevin!! I wish for a good class this year! I wish to have a family of my own someday! I wish money grew on trees! (hee-hee!) I could keep going, but I'll stop for your sake!

N is for neat freak!!! It's true, and it's a sickness! :-) I am very organized and like things in their place when not being used. (I have to add a wish here - I wish for some of my neatness to rub off on Kevin. (ha!) He's gonna kill me for that!) I have loosened up over the years, but I'm still a neat freak!!

There you have it - my list! Here are my tags:
Tasha
Lindsey
Lindsay
llcoolworld

Wordless Wednesday

I LOVE my new job!!!

Just droppin' in really quick to say that my first day was great! I can already tell this going to be a good thing moving schools!! The staff was super nice and welcoming. I can't begin to even tell you how much more organized things are ~ we got our class list of kiddo's today AND our schedule!! This is my 10th year to teach, and the first time that has ever happened!! Most importantly, I really, really like the other three 3rd grade teachers! They are young and love teaching too! It's going to be a great year!!! Yay!

Ramblings and happenings....

I missed my Blogiversary! (yes, it's a word because I've seen it on other peoples blogs! ha!) I have been blogging a year on the 9th of this month! Wow! And, some people are still reading ~ hee-hee! Thanks! Really, I've become hooked ~ I unwind from a day at work by reading everyone's blog, and I wonder what is going on in blogland when I'm away too long! I think it has taken the place of my soap's!! LOL!

Well ~ the weekend is just about over and work officially starts tomorrow! Summer is gone, but the heat isn't!!! It is over 100 degrees everyday this week and last week. Kevin and I ate dinner one night this week out on the back deck b/c we thought it felt nice outside. An hour or two later, the news said it was still 90 degrees outside! You know it's been hot when 90 degrees feels good! I am still a little nervous about tomorrow, but I've been up at the school working on my room all week (Kevin even came and helped all day Friday, but I think he tried to annoy me just enough so he wouldn't have to do it ever again ~ ha!) and everyone I have met has been SUPER nice. I think I am going to LOVE my new school!!

Kevin and I went to my scrappin' buddies wedding reception last night ~ check out her gorgeous wedding pics at llcoolworld. You will NOT be disappointed!! They went to Jamaica, and the sunset was beautiful!! Just sit back for a minute and relax and enjoy the pics!!

As most of you know, Kevin is a recovering alcoholic and last night's reception was his first real event to attend where there was alcohol and people drinking (obviously there was in Cozumel, but we were able to avoid it). I was and am super proud of him for first of all - going even though he was nervous about it and second of all - for having fun and being himself. I know this wasn't easy for him, but he can't be sheltered from alcohol forever. He did great, and I hope he was able to see that he will never battle this disease on his own again. I will support him every step of the way!! So ~ kudo's to Kevin for overcoming a hurdle and having the strength to make it through another day sober!

Catering 101

It has been yummy around here! Kevin has been catering lunch the past two for my cousin Sandy's office...I wish I could make your computer screens like a scratch and sniff and give you a whiff of the aroma around here the past two days! Yesterday was BBQ ~ the big grill now occupying the deck smelled like a slice of heaven!! And, Jax, the rotten dog, thought he WAS in heaven with all the scraps that fell on the floor or off the grill! LOL!

Today is lasagna!! I have requested he make us a dish off to the side!! I mean, we have to eat too!!! He has been working away in the kitchen all morning ~ I snuck in and got some pics!! If I were Oprah, this is where all your doorbells would ring and you would get to taste test the lasagna for yourselves! ha!

He is apparently no where near finishing sprucing these up ~ he adds stuff constantly! And, doesn't buy much from the store that isn't added to for a "better" flavor!

And, 3 1/2 years later, my kitchen is finally broken in and being used! My stove doesn't know what hit it! LOL!

We have spent our mornings until lunch getting ready for the catering, and I am spending my afternoons in the classroom trying to get it ready for school! Yesterday stressed me out!!! The teacher whose room I am moving into was there IN THAT ROOM for 20 years! Yesterday, I cleaned out her stuff ~ today, hopefully, I will start organizing mine!!

**If I temporarily disappear, we are trying to go wireless, and it didn't go well last night! Anyone else have wireless Internet?

Wordless Wednesday

Signs Kevin is here!

His beloved Hog is in the front flowerbed ~ that thing weighs a TON!!!

Touchdown Arkansas!!

And...his beloved HUGE grill is on the back deck! (And has been cooking non-stop since "she" got here! The grill is a "she" in case you wondered!)
Did I mention he is a big Hog fan? Woooo-Pig-Sooooieeee!

(for those who don't know - the Hogs or Razorbacks are the mascot for the University of Arkansas)

And there has been awesome food on the table for dinner! YUM!

(I like the Hogs and the grill and LOVE the cookin'...but shhhh! Don't tell him! LOL!)

***In awesome news ~ Kevin got a J.O.B. today! Yep, we both start our new jobs on Monday!!!! He couldn't have held out for a better job. This is right up his alley! He is the sales/catering manager for a local restaurant!!! He will love it! I'm so proud of him!!! Yay Kevin!!

Happy Couple!!

My Bubby and his fiance, Valerie!

I just got back from a day of shopping with my Mom and Valerie. It is just still a shock #1 that my Bubby is engaged or even thinking about marriage and #2 that I actually like her! ha! Seriously, my Bubby has had plenty of girlfriends over the years and never once talked about marriage that I know of, and I can't think of any that really knocked my socks off about being my sister-in-law! But Valerie is one of those people that you instantly like - she is easy to talk to and fun! I am so excited for Bubby (and selfishly for myself b/c I am getting a cool sister-in-law! hee-hee!) Congrats Bubby!!! I am glad you finally found the happiness you have been looking for!

Messy, Messy!!

Everywhere I look is a MESS! I have a mess from school projects, scrapbook projects, and trying to find space for Kevin's stuff!! Yep, I guess it's official ~ we are living together, shacking up, whatever you want to call it! LOL! And there is STUFF everywhere!!! I wish I would've gotten a pic of us looking like the Beverly Hillbillies on the way home from his storage building today!! hee-hee! Seriously, I am trying not to lose it, but I am an organized soul, and there isn't an organized room in the house! There are piles everywhere ~ a "needs to go in the attic", "needs to go in the office", "yard sale", and the best pile "find a place for me ~ where the heck do I go?" ha! Oh well ~ I guess I should be in heaven with all the organizing I have to do between the house and the new classroom!! LOL! Wish me luck! Starting a new job in a week (sniff, sniff ~ only one week of vacation left!) and having a "roommate" for the first time in 4 years! yikes!

And, in BIG news ~ My Bubby got engaged last night!!! My Bubby!!! And the best part is ~ I really, really like his fiance! We are both meeting my Mom for a day of shopping tomorrow! yay!

I was tagged!

I was tagged by MaryKathryn over at Just Going With the Flow... You know I'm a sucker for these things, so I'm going to do it everytime! It's like those getting to know you emails ~ you either love 'em or hate 'em! LOL! And, I guess I love 'em! hee-hee!

Ok - basically I had to come up with 8 random facts about me. I tried to come up with stuff that I hadn't put on any other tag, so it was kindof tough! Here goes:

Rules: 1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts. 2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules. 4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and that they should read your blog.

1. I love giving people gifts ~ especially if I've made them something like a scrapbook, or I know it is something they really wanted or needed. But, I have a hard time holding onto it for very long. I get so excited about giving it to them that I want to give it to them right then!

2. I didn't always have all these freckles! They are a result of the sun ~ oh if only I had realized!!! But anyway, it is the first thing people from High School notice if they haven't seen me since then ~ the dreaded freckles!!!

3. I can't lie even if I want to! Those little white lies even get me! If you are paying any attention at all when I'm trying to lie, you will catch me b/c I squirm and even have a big grin on my face! It's really pitiful!

4. I HAVE to eat poptarts and drink a Dr. Pepper every morning!! I couldn't BELIEVE there was NO Dr. Pepper in Cozumel!!!! NO Dr.Pepper!! I calmed down eventually, but it was hard! ha!

5. My junk drawer is even organized. I really can't help it! :-)

6. I started my Masters in hopes that I would get a chance at a family someday and be able to be in a job that could stay at work and have less stress so I could put all my focus and love into my family where it should be. I don't know what it is going to be like this year at a new job, but working at an inner city poverty school, I put alot of my energy into my job, and there are days when it would leave me with nothing left to give. I didn't want to neglect family for my job! So ~ I started my masters in Library Science and Media, because getting kids into reading is really my favorite part anyway!!!

7. I LOVE to read! And according to Kevin, it is freaky how fast I can read a book! ha! I have read about 5 James Patterson books this summer. I wish I had more time to read during the school year!

8. I love to help others and do things for other people, but I am horrible at asking or even accepting help for myself. I feel bad like I am imposing on people or something when I have to ask for help.

And...there you have it! Hopefully 8 NEW facts! Now I am supposed to tag 8 more folks, but after reading most of my blog reads yesterday, I think all have already been tagged. So ~ if you read this and haven't been tagged. Go ahead and do it too!

Ready for school yet?

I kind of am, and I'm kind of not! ha! I am tired of having 9 years worth of classroom stuff stored in my guest room and garage and am ready to move it into my NEW classroom at my NEW school - yay! But, I also would like summer to last just a bit longer because I've been go, go, going! I am being lazy today though!!! I am nervous about starting a new job too. I have been at the same school the 9 years I've taught. I'm glad I taught summer school the past two summers, because really that is what opened my eyes to how much better it can be!
To all who know me and know what a neat freak I am ~ you have to know how much this guest room pile of mess is starting to drive me insane! I spent yesterday and one day two weeks ago at a coop out of town with an old friend making stuff for my classroom. I decided to do a whole new theme so everything would be fresh and new for my start at a different school. I went with the ocean theme ~ inspired by Cozumel? Look at some of the cool stuff I made (and yes, I know you can buy stuff, but it has much more character when you make it!) These are my posters to have displayed with their writing. The whale one, I also made bubbles that will have the 5 writing steps on them!! Cool huh? I think the whale is one of my favorites! Oh, but wait, I forgot the sea turtle - he is a fav too - see him? I did my alphabet with sea turtles ~ that took forever!!!
These are for the lunch menu and for my Accelerated Reader chart....isn't the shark scary? ha!
I am going to make a list of websites they are allowed to visit to put with the surfin' the net poster and the sands of time is our heading for above our daily schedule!! The crab is the topper for the rules chart and the octopus will have the classroom jobs on each leg and then I will put the kiddo's names on some starfish and clip their starfish to the job they have for the week!!! I am getting excited now ~ but not enough to go back to work today or anything! ha! And lastly, my classroom guinea pig, Nibbles is tired of living on the guest bath sink area and fearing for her life daily! What is worse ~ a classroom full of kids or two cats and a dog staring you down daily? LOL!
**I will do my tags and meme's promise!! :-)