Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

Oh I'm still here, just buried in totes and boxes....we're not moving, just finishing the basement. One. Month. Before. Christmas. O. M. G. I hate clutter, and as is just so happens, I married the MOST unorganized, clutter loving-stuff loving (and he fully admits it) man in the world. And we have a SMALL house. Less than 1500 sq feet for me, him, and HIS STUFF. When the basement project is finished (it begins Tuesday), half of our basement will be drywalled and carpeted, painted, and furnished as his office (it will be huge) and on one end a TV area, but not a family room, it will be more like his little space away from work, away from the first floor, and more importantly, away from me. And I mean that in the sweetest sense. Everyone knows a small house means you are constantly on top of each other, and having him work in this tiny computer room upstairs IS NOT WORKING. The room is always messy, I can't stand getting on the computer when the room is messy. I know it's probably OCD, but I can't help it. So all of this stress that I'm feeling from having boxes and totes EVERYWHERE and completely packed on one side of the basement leaving me only a small trail to the washer/dryer area is for a very good cause. Kenny needs a huge room to be a man in. To work in. To hide in. To be sloppy and messy and I don't have to see it!!!! Yay!!! I told him yesterday I wouldn't clean it unless he asked me to. He was thrilled AND SO WAS I. I just have to keep reminding myself the the next month will be complete chaos is this house, with extra messes and dirt and all that junk that goes with remodeling. There is light at the end of the tunnel. He is going to LOVE his new work space and so am I:)

Happy Thanksgiving a few days late. I worked with hubs most of the 4 day weekend so there was no vacation for me, but I'm actually happy to be going back to a normal routine tomorrow.

So if my posts are infrequent, it's probably because our computer room is occupied by too much clutter and I can't stand looking at it. Tomorrow is December 1st. Holy cow!

All Done with NaBloPoMo

I'm officially bowing out of NaBloPoMo. I don't normally give up on things, but this, I can't hack it! I tried, I failed. I don't even have a valid excuse why I didn't post on the 14th other than I just completely forgot again and was never even at the computer when I got home. And Friday? I just didn't post because I knew I was giving up. Sorry ladies! Too hectic. But of course I'm still posting in general, so it's not like I'm giving up completely. That, I won't do:)

This weekend, so far, has been nothing but running errands. Here, there, over there, across the street, and back again. I went to refill our ink cartridges at our favorite place, Rapid Refill. I got there, parked, walked up to the door, and BAM, they are out of business. I couldn't believe it! I was just there not too long ago! I was so sad. It only costs about $16 to refill our cartridges there, and at Ink Stop or any of the office supply places it's atill at least $30. I was so bummed to shell out $30. And even more bummed that Rapid Refill went out of business. So sad.

To equal out the sadness with something good, there is a new smoothie place that just opened by our house. It's call Tropical Smoothie Bar. I reeeeeaaaaally wanted to go there yesterday but Kenny wasn't with me and I knew it just wouldn't be fair to go without him since he is the king of smoothie drinking. The man lives for it. So when I came home I told him about it and I think we are going today. Yuuuummy.

I have a whole bag full of papers to grade this weekend. I'm not looking forward to it either. Ugh. I put it off and put it off. There isn't much to grade in first and second grade, most papers get checks or stars since there are not ABCDE grades on report cards until 3rd grade. But I still have to score their assessments and writings and so on. So that's what I'm doing. Conferences and the end of the trimester are NEXT week. Gulp. I'm nowhere near ready. Geez I'm behind everywhere!

Enjoy Sunday!

NaBloPoMo Day 13

I am a bad NaBloPoMo Blogger. I'll just say that up front and move on:)

Things have been very crazy around here. One computer between the two of us (soon his will be here) and the hubs works from the computer 24/7, it makes my computer time limited to BEFORE I leave for school, such as now. And the only reason I have time to be on it now is because my copilot is going to be late getting to my house this morning.

Yesterday there was a student council dance after school, called the Fall Fling. I volunteered to chaperone (along with several other teachers). I figured it's easier for me to do that NOW and not at the end of the year when it's hot and no one wants to be at school any longer than they have to. The dance was awesome, the kids had a great time and everyone behaved, even the teachers:) Our students wear uniforms, and they were allowed to change after school into different clothes for the dance, and so many of them dressed up....how cute! I have to admit though, I never knew how to dance that well when I was in elementary school. I can't even dance like that now!

In class today we are making landforms out of salt and flour dough. I've never done this before. Wish me luck. It's going to be messy and crazy.

This is my last day at school this week....tomorrow I go to a writing workshop about 4 miles from my house...how lucky is that??

Ooopps

Can you believe that I FORGOT to post yesterday? I just got up for work, and I'm getting out of the shower, and that's when it hit me....I FORGOT! So please, forgive me. I really truly did forget. I will post twice today to make up for it even though we're not supposed to do that. Forgiveness please??

Bye Bye Fall

The last few precious images of fall.....

I think autumn is over. I know on the calendar it's not yet, but it snowed last night and this morning. We were grilling hamburgers last night and Kenny went out and lit the grill, came back in while it warmed up, and when he took the meat outside to cook, it was snowing. Nothing permanent of course, but enough to let us know that yes indeed, it's here. Our drive to work this morning was ridiculus. My copilot referred to it as "snow driving amnesia." The crazies here in Michigan are known for that. It wasn't a blizzard for heaven's sake! It was snow flakes, that weren't sticking to the road! All that requires is SLOWING DOWN. We decided to leave this morning at 630 instead of 6am just to give ourselves a little more snooze time. Nice, eh? Not so much. We didn't get to school until 820am. We are supposed to be in our classrooms at 730, the children arrive at 8am. Oooops. It wasn't our fault, let me tell ya. We had to go so slow on the freeway going to work that it made us crazy. I'm not even sure what the problem was, but I can tell you it was someone OVERREACTING to the first snow of the year. Which does happen every year. AHHHH! Oh well, it was a shorter morning with the kids. The didn't mind. They were happily coloring in another teacher's classroom when I arrived. They were actually disappointed to see me when I came in to get them. Hmph.

NaBloPoMo Day 9

Got a computer virus. It's called AntiVirusPro2009 so BEWARE because it messes up your already installed spyware and it takes a genius (and a very good bestie) to get you out of the mess. So I'm currently at her house with my computer tower while she un-viruses my computer. I probably won't be able to post when I get home, so this is as good as it gets today!! Keep your fingers crossed that my computer is feeling better tomorrow!!

Colors

Even though the wind was blowing and it was cold, we played outside in the woods today. I was thinking that it would be one of the very last days we'd be able to do that this fall, so we took full advantage. The leaves were gorgeous! You'll have to excuse the messy post-gym look I have going on.

We had a blast. Dog and all. How can you not love these colors? Fall in Michigan = BEAUTY!

NaBloPoMo Day 7

Ever have a day where you just can't wait to get home? That was my day today. I wanted to be home the second I left the house this morning. My kids were very antsy today, which didn't help, and I think it's a trail off from Halloween candy, the election, and the unexpected warm weather streak. They were ALL UP IN MY FACE all day today. I think I heard my name OVER 1000 times, not kidding. I love the kids, love my job, but today, I wasn't feelin it. We got through all our subjects, a spelling test, and even an extra grammar lesson. I even got them some extra computer time in the lab to type up some cute little stories (yes, 1st and 2nd graders typing on Microsoft Word, don't you love it???? I'm so proud!) and even a paragraph. We rocked out the work today. That's the best thing to do with students when you don't have it in you to negotiate all day. Work. And ironically, they LOVE it. They are really hungry to learn. And that's why I love it too. But I couldn't wait to get home. There was a line at the copy machine after school, and I FORCED myself to stand in it (that's torture on Fridays, let me tell you) so that my copies were ready for next week. I will really appreciate that come Monday morning. But at the time, I was all grumpy and grumbling in my head. I did finally get home. And oh was I happy. Weekend at last!

NaBloPoMo Day 6

I found this meme over at MaryLUE's....

1. Have you ever had a moving violation?
YES! I have had several speeding tickets and one no-right-on-red ticket. However, my record is now squeaky clean because it's been a long time with no tickets, and I intend on keeping it that way. Better insurance bills!!

2. Have you ever voted? How old where you the first time you voted?
Another YES! The first election I voted in was 8 years ago and I did absentee because I was away at college and didn't register in that town. That wasn't an exciting voting experience. I would have to say that 4 years ago was my first REAL in-the-poll experience.

3. Are you glad this election cycle is over?
I am THRILLED that it's over. I won't be watching the news for a week so I don't have to see the same footage over and over again either!

4. Do you have guilty pleasure? What is it (or are they)?
I have several, one of them cleaning (no big surprise there) and also watching reruns on the DVR of 90210, Matlock, and CSI. There are several others, but I'll leave that to the imagination.

5. What is the most embarrassing thing you have done recently?
I made a big deal about taking my shoes off at the doctor's office before getting weighed. I know, I know, it's not that bad, but really, I made it such a huge issue that looking back at it, my face still gets flushed. Ugh, sometimes I'm such a pain in the ass.

NaBloPoMo Day 5

Not much to say today.....
Very sleepy.....
Glad the election stuff is all over and done with.....
Time change still messing with me.....
More to say tomorrow.....

NaBloPoMo Day 4

My Election Day

• Up at 430am


• Out the door at 6am
  
• In line to vote at 615 (voting started at 7am)


• #4 in my precinct to vote (and very proud of being #4!!!)


• Out the door and in the car at 715


• Picked up my copilot at my house at 730
  
• Sitting in our first meeting at work by 815

Not bad, eh? I guess it pays off to get up early every day, because on days like this, it didn't even phase me to be functioning that early. I am every day anyway!! Happy Voting!

Squeaky Duck

Listen to my lab story. We went to PetSmart last week and stocked up on doggy stuff. Treats, toys, a new HUGE rawhide bone that takes her a while to chew through, and a couple other things. Kenny found a squeaky toy, it was a duck, which was a new concept because we've never given her a squeaky toy before. When we got home we immediatly got out the squeaky toy and threw it and told her to go get her toy....she ran over to it, sniffed, and whined. Our dog almost never whines or barks. Kenny worked with her this weekend and got her to fetch it like she does with the ball, but when she picks it up, she holds it very gingerly in her mouth and if it squeaks, she sets it down, and whines this weird sounding whine. I can't figure it out...is she playing the motherly role with the duck? Is she afraid of it? Does she think it's her friend or baby?? It's crazy how she reacts to it. This morning I turned on the light in her room (yes, she has her own room) and there was the duck in her bed. She wasn't snuggling with it, but it was laying next to her. Go figure. If only dogs could talk!

I'm getting up EARLY to vote tomorrow and hoping to make it to work on time. What are you doing? Voting before, after, during work, already voted, taking the kids with you (Tasha & Linsday)?? I'm curious! Do tell!

NaBloPoMo Day 2

I love the time change!!! This one I mean, not the spring time change. I love getting that extra hour of whatever I want today!! I remembered the time change last night, and there's only one clock in our house we have to manually change, everything else changes automatically (scary, huh???). I woke up (or rather Kenny's sleeping arm smacked me in the head) and looked at my alarm clock which still read 930am, and temporarily forgot about the time change. I sat down at the computer and saw the time and remembered instantly....YAY! It's only 830!! An extra hour! I know it's not something to really get THAT excited about, but I still am.

I will be raking today. It's not the fun kind of raking, you know, the big colorful leaves and huge piles, nope, it's the annoying skinny little helicoptor-like leaves that are just irritating. The street sweeper came by Friday, so I have no choice but to dispose of them myself today. That's what I get for being a procrastinator. But at least I will be spending time outside, which won't be happening much as the weather gets colder. So I'll take advantage.

I randomly found a JCPennys gift card on the computer desk that still had money on it. The gift that keeps on giving!! Bonus!! And I also found a bag of stuff from JoAnn Fabrics that needs to be returned, with the receipt (yay me), so double bonus. I guess I'll be visiting those stores today! I've also had a craving for Barnes and Noble lately, the visit where I find about 6 books I want to read and find a comfy plush chair to relax and lose reality in. Kenny and I used to do that a lot, and I miss it, so maybe I'll be visiting that store today too. A girl can dream.

NaBloPoMo Day 1

Here it is! The first NaBloPoMo post!! Last year I did it and I think I wimped out at the end of the month. This year, however, I'm committed. Which is saying a lot, because lately, I've been a very WEAK blogger. Here's to a new start!

Our Halloween party yesterday was successful. I've never really relied on parental help because 9 times out of 10 (NO offense to parents reading this, I promise) they are late, forget, or back out. I really mean no offense to parents at all, because I know life intervines and sometimes things just can't be helped. On the inside of a classroom, when students are in costumes, candy is present, and the kids are sitting there waiting, it gets very hairy when things don't go as planned. Which is why in the case of classroom parties, I have generally done them myself. This year, however, I had two parents volunteers who DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO. And I love them. So the party was great, yes, the kids were out of there seats and slightly out of control to an outsider, but in reality, they were great. And it even ended well, with only one girl in tears. Usually there are several who break down because they can't take the chaos of large parties like that. It was the best Halloween party at school ever. Thanks to the parents:)

I passed out candy last night (Kenny was here and helped like two times...he was working still!!!) at our house. Towards the end of the night, a kid in a gorilla costume, probably the best one I saw all night, came up and I opened the door with a handful of candy. The gorilla grabbed my hand and was trying to pull me out of the door. It was also growling at me. The dog was going nutty and I was yelling at Kenny to come and see this costume and he wasn't budging from the computer...so I had no choice but to allow myself to be pulled out of the door. There was a family standing at the end of our sidewalk watching this whole thing and laughing, so naturally, I though this was their kid. I asked them how much they had to pay their kid to go through this scary routine at every house and they just laughed. All of a sudden, the kid takes off the gorilla mask and it wasn't a strange kid, it was my mother-in-law!!! She totally fooled me, hook line and sinker!! And the funniest part was the dog knew it was her because when I think about how the dog was acting, she wasn't barking or acting scared, she was trying to jump and lick my MIL's face!! Crazy!! Sadly, I have zero pictures. I know, bad me.

Happy Halloween!