Nixon Family News

Can't believe it's been a month!!

2009-06-22T09:35:00.002-05:00

So many things have happened since I last blogged so this will be a long post.

First, school ended. It was an interesting year and to say that I am not in love with my school would be an understatement. I am sticking it out one more year to see if it gets better but if not I will be looking for another district and or grade. At this point I am thinking maybe second or third grade might suit me.

With the end of the year came the 8th grade dance, I chaperoned for my school and Justin's school. We also had Justin's 8th grade recognition night in which he and his fellow classmates were recognized for various achievements.

All three kids did well on their report cards although Justin's 8th grade blahness did creep into his grades just a bit.

Since school ended, we have been watching Hannah play tons of softball. She and the Boomers are doing well. As always, Hannah is a powerhouse with her bat!

Justin and I are both doing summer school. I am teaching an enrichment class called What Happens and Twilight and I love it. It's only 3 hours a day four days a week for four weeks. So as of now I am in my 4th week of it. Justin is taking a class at his high school called Freshmen Success. Even though he initially didn't want to go, he is enjoying getting to know the ins and outs of high school, touring the school, meeting new friends and teachers. He is also required to work out everyday for the football team. So he attends summer school from 8-12 and goes back to school everyday from 3-5. Luckily summer school is over this Friday and then he will only have his workouts everyday.

We have been catching up with friends and family and basically enjoying having the time off. By this time in previous summers I have been bored but I am really enjoying my schedule, even though most of it consists of me being a taxi for my kids. Their activities keep my active as well.

Adam went on vacation to the Lake with my parents, brother's family and he had a great time with his cousin Megan and her friend on the boat and in the pool. Pics to come later.

Hannah just got home last night from a camping trip with her friend Kelly. They were gone for four nights and five days, too hear Hannah tell it, that was about 2 days too many due to the heat.

We will be heading to the Lake ourselves in mid July. Can't wait!!

We are also very happy about my mother in law's recovery from heart surgery. She had micro valve surgery in late May and spent four weeks in the hospital recovering. She is now out and doing quite well in her rehab. We are planning her 70th birthday at our house in July. She is one tough lady and we are so thankful for her recovery.

Planning on posting some pictures of all these events from the last month very soon.

Glad to be back on the blogging scene!

A Soapbox Issue

2009-05-21T11:43:00.002-05:00

It is extremely difficult to work for a school district that stifles students' creativity, individuality, and free speech and thinks that every child should have an A in every subject every time.

~Nuff said!

Gosselin Haters Aplenty

2009-05-14T12:04:00.003-05:00

Apparently I am not alone in my dislike (wouldn't say I'm a hater) of the Gosselins. There are entire websites and blogs devoted to Gosselin bashing. But this one is my favorite!

Since there are so many other sites devoted to anti-Gosselin info, I won't be bothering to post anything further about this hugely exploited and annoying family.

Annoyed at the Gosselins

2009-05-13T13:50:00.004-05:00

Is anyone else really annoyed at all the rumors concerning the Jon and Kate plus 8 parents? I am personally tired of seeing these people and vow not to watch them anymore. All they have done is take a situation that they created themselves and tried to profit from it! They choose to have 8 children, no one forced them and now each has accused the other of infidelity, they make $75,000 per episode and live in a $1.5 million home??? Who can afford that with 8 kids? Celebrities, that's who and that's all these people are now, celebrities with 8 kids!!

So much to say, so little time

2009-05-13T10:03:00.002-05:00

My blogging hiatus is over and I can hardly believe it's mid May. This last semester has flown by and there are only 10 days left of school. Over the last month our family has been really busy with sports, homework and end of the year craziness! Hard to believe, but this weekend is Justin's 8th grade graduation dance. He got his first suit and is excited to go with his friends although dreading the fact that I will be there as a chaperone :)

The other thing that has kept us busy is trips to the hospital to be with Bob's mom, Barbara. She spent the last two weeks of April in the hospital after having a heart attack. She had a stint put in and artery and they discovered that one of the valves of her heart wasn't working properly. During her stay her health greatly deteriorated to the point that she was on a dialysis for kidney failure, oxygen for breathing problems and had a contracted a staph infection of the blood. She was released from the hospital for a week while she continued iv antibiotics and dialysis in hopes of getting strong enough for valve replacement surgery. Unfortunately her heart could not manage with the faulty valve so she was re-admitted over the weekend and had the surgery Monday. She survived what was a very risky surgery but still has a long recovery. Her kidney are still not functioning and she is having a hard time being weaned off the respirator. Prayers for her recovery are welcomed!

At school, I am gearing up to teach summer school. It's an enrichment class about the book Twilight and I am really looking forward to it. We are also hoping to spend some weekends at the Lake with the family. Adam is going camping with his Cub Scout troop and Hannah is playing lots of softball. Justin will be gearing up for football camp, and two a day football practice starting in August. He will also be taking a summer class called Freshmen Success that introduces the kids to high school and all the responsibilities that go along with it. So it will be a busy summer but hopefully an enjoyable one. I plan to blog more frequently as soon as the school year ends. I will hopefully have some good pictures of Justin in his new suit to post over the weekend.

It's 10:15 and I should be teaching, fortunately for me this is a great class!

Still here

2009-04-27T13:42:00.002-05:00

I'm still here and still planning on updating my blog, still have DC pictures to post. Just been too plain busy to get to it. End of the school year craziness, plus my mother in law has been in the hospital for a week. So don't forget about me readers, I plan on an extensive post later this week.

Frustrated

2009-04-16T07:44:00.002-05:00

There are bunch of things I am totally frustrated with right now. Let's name them, Hannah's grades, Hannah's math teacher, Justin's grades, my PINK EYE again, kids at my school, the weather.......... I could go on!

I hate this time of the year as a teacher, the kids don't want to be in school and since we are just finishing up standardized testing they know there is no point left to school anymore. Plus on top of this Hannah and Justin have basically just stopped doing homework altogether. My eye is pink AGAIN, 4th time in a year!! I have a huge sty and my top eyelid is swollen, red, and crusty plus it is really painful. I am going to the eye doctor tomorrow afternoon but not sure if I can put up with the pain much longer. Starting to worry that I have some kind of underlying problem.

Oh and Happy Easter!! ugh!

More from our trip

2009-04-10T10:53:00.004-05:00

These photos are all from Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home in Charlottesville, VA. The home and the grounds surrounding it were very beautiful, it's in the foothills of the mountains in a very picturesque area. On the day we were there it was a bit rainy.

I was very impressed with how brilliant Jefferson was, he not only was a prolific author but an inventor as well. Unfortunately no photots are allowed inside the home but there are some interesting rooms and stories that are told during the tour. Monitcello is also on the nickel as is Jefferson's profile. This was just another part of our wonderful trip. Still more to come, the war memorials, and the Louisville Slugger Musuem.

Here comes Peter Cottontail

2009-04-06T14:18:00.003-05:00

Am I a totally terrible mother because I wish that my youngest son no longer believed in the Easter bunny and I didn't have to fool with baskets and hiding eggs and dyeing eggs and filling eggs.....?

At Christmas time I kept thinking this will probably be the last year that Adam believes so I need to treasure it, now come Easter I am wishing that he already knew the truth. WHY?? I can't put my finger on it, maybe work related stress, end of the school year related stress, family stress, STRESS!! Could that be the answer?

Off to go fill, hide, dye eggs!

DC in pictures

2009-03-29T22:28:00.006-05:00

My beloved family making history!

The Lincoln Memorial was truly awe-inspiring. Standing at the exact spot where Martin Luther King said his immortal words "I have a dream" and looking out at the National Mall and the Washington Monument was so historical to me that I can hardly put it into words. This was what I came Washington to see...

Visiting the Iwo Jima Memorial... this was something Bob always wanted to do. What a breathtaking monument.

There is so much more to come...

Got Pacman for you

2009-03-24T19:57:00.001-05:00

I put a new gadget on my sidebar. Yup, that's right it's PACMAN! COOOL.

The good old Pacman game. Instructions: Use the arrow keys to guide Pac-Man. P - Pause/unpause game Q - Quit game M - Mute/unmute sound L - Low quality on/off.

Enjoy!!

New Market Battlefield

2009-03-24T19:20:00.003-05:00

On Monday of our trip we traveled north to New Market Virginia to see a battlefield and the Civil War Medal of Valor Museum. It was quite interesting. This particular battle took place in a farmers field and involved a platoon from the Virginia Military Institute. Several of whom were killed in the battle. However the original farm house has been restored as well as several of the original farm building like the smokehouse, ice house, kitchen, and chicken coop were also restored and available to tour. Adam also got the cutest Civil War Confederacy Hat and Flag. Grandpa Nixon who is a huge Civil War buff and despite having just finished radiation treatment for brain cancer, went with us on the trip and thoroughly enjoyed this historic site.

Isn't he the cutest??

Home Home on the Range

2009-03-22T19:32:00.003-05:00

We are home from our spring break trip to Virginia and Washington DC. It was a really great trip!! Although the weather was a bit cool and rainy, we still enjoyed all the historical sites. Some of my favorite times were driving through the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia they are so beautiful even if nothing was yet in bloom.

I took so many pictures and have so much to post that I will do each day/place we visited in separate posts. These first few pics are of the mountains we passed driving to and from the resort and some from the actual resort itself which was right in the middle of the Shenandoah Mountains which are part of the Blue Ridge.

Check back tomorrow for more updates, I need to get started on grading some papers right now :)

Affton Hockey Pictures

2009-03-08T20:12:00.003-05:00

The kids had their annual Hockey All Star Game this past Saturday. They have been playing floor hockey for years and they love it. This year, Hannah and Justin played for the Stealth. Adam played for the Mowhawks, coached by Bob. The Stealth finished in 2nd place and the Mowhawks finished last, but they still had a great time playing. Did I mention that this league has been around for over 30 years? Bob and I both played when we were in grade school and junior high. It's probably one of my favorite sports for young kids because it requires very little equipment, it's fairly cheap to play and the games only last about 45 minutes but they are super fast paced. We love to watch them play!

In Like a Lion

2009-03-01T18:01:00.003-06:00

March isn't exactly in like a lion although this extreme cold could possibly be called lionish. When is spring coming? We need it here now!

Going to DC

2009-02-20T23:02:00.003-06:00

We're going to a resort in Virginia that's close to Washington DC for Spring Break. I'm very excited because I've always wanted to go and we will be there about 2 weeks before the Cherry Blossom Festival which I have always wanted to see so hopefully the trees will be somewhat blooming. Our resort is called Massanuten and it features an indoor waterpark, skiing, and snowtubing....IDK if I will try it but it does sound and look really fun!!

Back to Blogger

2009-02-15T20:08:00.003-06:00

I have been so neglectful of my blog lately. So here I will take the time to quickly update. We've been keeping busy with sports on the weekend and in the evenings. At school I got a smart board installed in my classroom this week. It's the one that I wrote a grant for and received over $6000 for technology in my classroom. Not sure I mentioned here but I was pretty proud of myself. The weather has been really good lately and we've been able to get out more. This is a three day weekend for me and a four day for the kids but we've actually kept ourselves busy and have enjoyed the time off. I've been addicted to facebook's word challenge like crazy so that's why I haven't blogged. The kids have one more hockey game and I plan to take some much needed pictures to post. WHEW, that's the update. Now back to more word challenge :)

Buerkle Talent Show Video

2009-02-06T18:29:00.002-06:00

I worked with a group of five 8th grade boys from my school for a talent show act. Orignally they wanted to be the Village People but I talked them into trying the Temptations. The video below is from our talent show Wednesday night.

Way to go Joe, Will, Brendan, Phoenix, and Blake!

Welcome Rogers Middle School Readers

2009-02-05T08:40:00.003-06:00

It seems that by chance a few classmates of Justin's have found this website and have been giving him a bit of a hard time. He is totally embarrassed but me being me, I think it's hilarious. So Hertel, Jimmy, Scott, Codie and all the others........ you might want to check out these other posts for embarrassing moments from Justin's past.

Just click on the blue highlighted words.

Justin's birthday, football highlights

Enjoy! (and comment if you'd like)

Hello February!

2009-02-03T20:58:00.002-06:00

Hello February, when did you slip in? I didn't really note the calendar change this week, it sorta slipped by but I am thankful that with every turn of the page we get closer to warm weather.....BRRRRRRRR. It's cold here today!

Lovin' January Now!

2009-01-27T11:50:00.003-06:00

I admit that I may have been wrong about January, see this post and this one to understand. I mean what other month has such great snow days???? Yep, that's right snow day number 2!! Here we are hanging out after having slept til 8:30 instead of 5:30, eaten chocolate chip pancakes, and then leisurely checked out facebook, hotmail, and blogger for an hour or so!! What could be better?!?

I also want to thank those that commented on my blog after I whined that no one ever comments. Thanks Amy, Andrea, Aunt Anne, and Mom. It's nice to know that there are a few but faithful who read this wonderfully written publication :)

Now back to the regularly scheduled snow day routine of laying around, watching movies, playing board games with the kids and making cookies. Jealous anyone??

PS. Justin's feeling a lot better, Hannah still has a runny nose and Adam is fine.

Another negative thing about January

2009-01-23T07:59:00.004-06:00

SICK KIDS!

All three of them seem to be under the weather. My mom took Justin to the doctor yesterday and he has a sinus infection and asthma flare up (hence the hacking cough and clogged nose) This morning Hannah woke up with a fever and said her throat hurt, so she's home sick and hopefully my mom (who's off work cause she herself had her gallbladder removed last Friday) will take Hannah to the doctor. Adam was blowing his nose this morning and wheezing a little (just love asthma) but I sent him to school with a dose of allergy meds and a puff off the inhaler. I think Bob is okay although he always has some kind of sinus thing going on and I am feeling fine (knock on wood) except for a backache that has turned into a chronic thing. Every winter it's the same thing.... BLAH!!

But I do appreciate the fact that my mom is home this week and able to help out (as she always does). Thanks mom!!

No comments

2009-01-22T15:18:00.001-06:00

No one ever comments on my blog. This isn't like facebook where everyone has something to say. COME ON!!

1 reason to like January

2009-01-18T19:19:00.002-06:00

Okay, there is one reason to like January... Hannah playing basketball!! Just got home from an AWESOME game. She was kinda sluggish in the first half but came on hard in the second. They were behind 21-10 at the half and Hannah scored 4 baskets. At the end of regulation play it was tied up 23-23. They went to a 2 minute overtime, Hannah got a basket and they were up 23-25 when the other team tied it up with no time left so they went to another 2 minute OT. The girls were playing tough defense and holding on to the tie. At 11 seconds left in the OT, her coach called a time out and then with 7 seconds remaining Hannah came up with a rebound from someone else's missed shot and put it in the net!! It was AWESOME as the clock ticked the last few seconds!! What a fantastic game!!

BUT>> I forgot my dang camera! :( ARGGGGGGG.. oh well still have 10 more games to go.

Who likes January??

2009-01-18T12:51:00.002-06:00

Does anyone like January?? Unless maybe you or your child's birthday is in January, I see no reason to like it. First you have the holiday letdown, then the New Years Resolution guilt trip, then the cold, cold, cold, days of no sunshine. Sorry to those that actually like this weather but I need some sunshine and temps above 50. I know in 6 months I'll be complaining about the St.Louis HEAT but since its been a pretty slow week in blogger land I thought this might be a good complaint for now.

WOO HOO for the 4 day week coming up though. Gotta love those National Holidays that keep the schools closed!

Going to Hannah's b-ball game soon so maybe I will have some pics or video to post, if I can get the camera to work right :)

(also, I'm still loving facebook so that may be the reason to blame for my lack of blogging)

Nothing new really

2009-01-09T19:05:00.003-06:00

I'm back to work after my two week hiatus and back to running kids all over in the evening so I really haven't had time to post. Plus I am secretly hooked on Facebook, shh don't tell blogger!

School's been pretty good this week. Luckily I prepared in advance and things went smoothly. I was also fortunate enough to get to go to my writing class all day Wednesday so it was technically only a 4 day week for me. However, first semester grades are finished and the school year is half over. OH YEAH!!!

This 50 degree weather has got me thinking hard about spring though. For the first year ever, my school's spring break coincides with the kids' spring break. So I, for one, would like to do a little trip. I'm thinking Memphis for a few days maybe. I actually have never been there and since it's pretty close... I'd love to go to San Antonio to visit friends but that would likely be a lot more costly considering I don't think my friend Bridget and her family of four would want my family of five staying with them for any length of time. Maybe I should go by myself?????? (that would be the day)

I'm on Facebook

2009-01-03T21:20:00.002-06:00

Yep, I did it. I'm on Facebook and I found like a zillion of my old Affton Classmates. Too funny to see how much they have all changed in the last 18 years. Did I just say 18...YIKES!

Another link

2009-01-01T16:02:00.002-06:00

I have another link on my sidebar. It's to an old high school friend, Amy. She and her husband have a 3 year old boy and are expecting a daughter soon. Amy and I first met in middle school when we played softball together for my dad's team. (Smitty's Welding) She also grew up on the street that we live on and her parents are still here. It's fun to see them in the neighborhood and at the grocery store. Amy and her family also live nearby. Can't believe it's almost been 20 years since high school graduation!

What did YOU get for Christmas?

2008-12-29T21:50:00.008-06:00

Here's the re-cap:
Justin: couple of hoodies, cell phone, XBOX games, Dark Knight Movie, sports stuff,
Hannah: IPOD Nano, sewing machine, purse (not coach), makeup, PJ's, Wii Fit
Adam: Several Nerf Guns, Spongebob sheets and comforter, shoes, PJ's, XBox games, WallE Movie...

Me: who cares...boring
Bob: new watch, Nose hair clippers (he asked for them ?!?)

All in all it was a really great Christmas. I was stressing it pretty hard but it turned out just fine. We finally saw all the relatives as of Saturday evening. I feel like I have gained about 20 lbs with all the eating we've been doing. Low key day yesterday spent taking down the tree!! (my favorite thing about Christmas) Switched the seating arrangement around in the living room. I do that about 2x's a year just to change things up. Threw out a bunch of outdated Christmas stuff and sent a huge pile of old clothes to Goodwill. My OCD side was really happy about it too.

I'm posting some really poor quality pictures for some reason our camera is acting up or maybe it's just the person taking the pictures :)

Justin's homeplate shaped clock

Hannah's new purse (no cows harmed in creating it)

Tommy 20 Gun, not MY favorite toy :p

Wall-E

Pink NANO

Hannah getting her first sewing lesson from grandma, who also gave her the machine

CAT boots for Justin

I did not get a picture of Bob opening the nose hair clippers, maybe I can get one when they are put to use!! HAHAHA

It's Over

2008-12-27T22:55:00.003-06:00

Christmas is over WOOO HOOO!!! One week left to de-stress before I go back to school. I'm taking the tree down tomorrow and doing a thorough house cleaning and re-organization/throw out stuff that we don't need or use anymore.

Our holiday was nice, I will post pics and the re-cap later. I, for one am just really glad it's over!!

Updates Abound

2008-12-23T19:31:00.002-06:00

My father in law's cancer has not spread to any other parts of his body but it is in his skull and brain as the surgeon previously told us. He will undergo chemo and radiation beginning in January. This somewhat good news and he is in much better spirits today.

I have ALL the shopping finished and everything (except 2 last minute gifts that my dad bought my mom but I have to wrap) wrapped. I mean everything!! Yippee. The tree is up, the stockings are hung, WE are ready for Christmas!!

Looking forward to see my mother's side of the family tomorrow evening, my in-laws for brunch on Christmas day, my father's side of the family Christmas evening and Bob's extended family on the 27th. Yeah, these next few days will be BUSY!!

My previous post was a copy of our annual newsletter. I did not have time to mail it before Christmas so I emailed it and posted it on my blog. (I know, I know, HI TECH!!) I'll mail out a few to far away friends and relatives later this week.

But we do wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and blessed holiday season!

Copy of our Christmas Newsletter

2008-12-22T20:39:00.002-06:00

Season’s Greetings from our family to yours. This past year we have seen a lot of changes in the Nixon home. First off, we finally moved to Affton in March. Four days later our basement proceeded to flood. After a three month process of installing a sump pump, drainage system and restoring the living spaces down there, we had the house complete. It’s a small 4 bedroom 2 bath ranch in an older section of Affton. But with the finished family room and other areas in our basement, we are making it work.

In June, I left my job in the St. Louis Public School District to teach 8th grade in the Mehlville School District at Buerkle Middle. It was tough leaving all my wonderful co-workers but the much needed change has worked out well. Bob also changed police departments in August. He left Crestwood after 7 years to take a job with the Kirkwood Police. So far, Bob reports that Kirkwood is extremely busy but he enjoys the change of pace.

Our kids are still doing well in the Affton Schools. Justin is in 8th grade at Rogers Middle. He and the Junior Cougars Football team had a winning season this year. He’s currently playing floor hockey for the Stealth and doing well with his monster hard shot from the point. It’s hard to believe but we just attended high school orientation with Justin in early December. As we toured the school that was our alma mater, we couldn’t believe how quickly the years have flown by since we were there.

Hannah is in 7th grade at Rogers also. She is still excelling on the softball field and holding her own on the floor hockey team with Justin and the 10 other boys. Just last week Hannah got her first hockey penalty for tripping. She doesn’t take anything off those older bigger boys. She’s also gearing up for another great basketball season. Both Justin and Hannah made the Honor Roll again this year.

As for Adam, he has grudgingly entered the 3rd grade at Gotsch Intermediate. He hates the early mornings but was happy to have his best buddy in class with him again this year. While Adam does get good grades, he will happily tell you that his favorite class is lunch! Again this year, Bob is coaching Adam’s floor hockey team the Mohawks. It’s been a tough season for them so far but they still have fun. Adam is also still actively involved in Cub Scouts. He even placed third in the Pinewood Derby last February.

Life has begun to slow down after the hectic pace we had during the spring, summer, and fall. We did manage to get to the Lake of the Ozarks a few times and went on a trip to Branson in late July. Recently we hosted 20 family members for Thanksgiving for the first time. All in all it was a successful holiday. In closing we ask that you keep Bob’s father, Richard, in your thoughts and prayers as he battles cancer. Don’t forget to catch us on the web at http://nixonfamilynews.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
The Nixon’s

Prayers for Bob's Dad

2008-12-21T21:53:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow my father-in-law goes in for a cat scan to see how far his cancer has spread. Richard was diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland in November which had spread from squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. He had surgery about 2 weeks ago to remove the cancer on the side of his face and neck. It was an extensive surgery requiring a large skin graft. The doctor told us then that the cancer had spread to the skull bones and possibly beyond to the brain. Tomorrow Richard will undergo the tests needed to evaluate how extensive the cancer has spread. We are quietly optimistic that it hasn't spread too far although the surgeon did state that she gave Grandpa about a 5 year survival rate at this point. But she would further adjust that depending on how far it has spread.

With my mother-in-law having just recovered from knee surgery in October, Barbara and Richard were planning on doing more traveling this year. The cancer diagnosis coming this close to Christmas has really zapped our spirits. I ask that you keep them in your prayers tomorrow as they find out the results from the tests.

Adam's Birthday part 3 and 4

2008-12-21T21:45:00.004-06:00

(the birthday boys, ages 9 and 5)

We celebrated Adam's actual birthday by going to Chris' Restaurant. We've been going there for years. He received an XBOX game and a Nintendo DS game from the Geiler grandparents. He's all about the video games!! Then Saturday night I had extended family over to celebrate his birthday and my 5 year old cousin Nick's birthday. We had fun eating pizza and playing games like Pictionary Man.

(We also snuck in a visit to Culvers Friday night which is Adam's favorite place)

Where I'm From

2008-12-15T21:06:00.004-06:00

Here's another poem that was created in my writing class. It's based on a poem of the same name. This is a teaching technique when you have kids copy the style of a poem but sub their own words.

Where I'm From

I am from acorns
and apple butter on a crisp fall day
I'm from the cub cadet tractor
parked under grandpa's carport
from Vine Avenue
and metal swimming pools
that glistened in the sun

I'm from 3 Eds and a Vicki
and grandma's dumplings
I'm from 5 hour car rides to Cloud Nine Ranch
with Pinkie the bear
and a station wagon with no air
I'm from Atari, VCR's and MTV
from the 82 World Series
and the Challenger Explosion
from the smell of money
on trips to AB
to see where dad worked hard

I'm from softball and hockey
and basketball and more
from sprained ankles, broken fingers
and trips to the sporting goods store
I'm from "You can do better."
to "Have another plate."
From "take care of your brother"
to "I Do" in the blink of eye
I'm from little girl to woman
how time flies.

They Will Never Know

2008-12-15T20:54:00.004-06:00

Did I mention that I am taking a writing class as part of ongoing professional development? I think I did! So we have been working on creating a body of work in that class. Last time we were asked to take a group of words and write a story, a memory or a poem with those words. I chose these words: car, chrome, polish, grandpa, smile, treasure.

As I sat and looked at the words, I remembered that as of January 25th my beloved grandfather Ed Reidel passed away 20 years ago. I was just 16. This got me to thinking about my much younger cousins who never knew their grandpa and how he never met his 5 great-grandchildren. So this poem, while not totally true and will probably make my mom and Aunt Sandy cry, is my recollections of truly memorable character!

They will never know
his goofy smile,
through the unfiltered cigarette
that seemed to stretch out a mile

They will never know
his love of rusty tractors,
that seemed to shine
like an old protector

They will never know
how he polished up my bike,
so I could ride down hill
and didn't have to hike

They will never know
his big old boxy car,
with two chrome exhaust pipes
that never went far.

They will never know
how he treasured Sunday fun,
when grandpa's creaky voice
said there's my favorite one.

Snow Day>> that's right people!!

2008-12-15T16:38:00.002-06:00

You heard it, the first official SNOW day of the year. It's a teacher's second favorite day of the year with the last day of school being the best!

Not sure why school was called off but I am wondering if those meteorologists aren't getting a kick back from the teacher's unions. You know kind of like the Blagoveich scandal. Who will pay the most for a a really nasty forecast??

Thanks a lot to those meteorologists who did predict tons of ice when in actuality we got very little.

I did manage to just about finish my shopping, do about 10 loads of laundry and bake cookies! Yippee!

Adam's Birthday part 1 & 2

2008-12-15T16:22:00.003-06:00

Adam has a December birthday which if you ask me should be outlawed. It's really not fair because you get lumped all in there with Christmas. I've tried to convince him for the last two years to pick a different month to celebrate it but he says that would be cheating. SO I can't really argue with that logic. But I do have him convinced to celebrate it a week or two earlier than his actual birthday.

Last Sunday, December 7th, we went to dinner at Happy Joes with the Nixon grandparents. That is our normal family tradition. Adam received boots and money and a nerf gun blaster. We also gave him Kung Fu Panda the movie and XBox game. Then yesterday he had his friends over for his kid birthday party. I had a scavenger hunt and a treasure hunt all planned for them along with pizza, cake and Kung Fu Panda viewing. The party was a big success.

Adam's actually birthday is the 18th when we plan to go to Culvers, his favorite restaurant. Then on The 20th we are having the Geiler grandparents, great grandparents, and other extended family over for pizza and games to celebrate Adam and his cousin Nick's birthdays. So Adam actually gets a 4 part birthday. But I think it's only fair for December babies.

(note the Christmas tree in the bcakground, it did get put up)

Holy crap it's mid December already.........

2008-12-11T20:53:00.003-06:00

When did this happen? How did December sweep in and already get to the 11th? Wow, I need to get in gear. My OCD side is starting to really panic/FREAK out. I still haven't gotten our Christmas newsletter/card started let alone printed, addressed, and mailed. (New Years newsletters are okay right?) I have not wrapped ONE gift yet. (Gifts stuffed in Target bags are just fine under the tree, RIGHT?) I'm still not finished shopping. (Is there anyone that I won't see until after Christmas?) And to top it all off we still haven't put up a tree or decorated other than to put some crappy icicle lights on the house. Just talking about how behind I am is making my skin crawl.

OKAY< that's it tomorrow evening we WILL put up the tree and the other decorations. I have pretty good coupon for JC Penney that's only good on Saturday so hopefully that will help finish off the shopping. We are having Adam's birthday party Sunday afternoon so that is yet another thing to check off my ever growing to do list.

Did I mention that I also have to give a final exam at school and then grade it plus an essay that I assigned. too, much, can't breathe, need a chill pill..... (do they really make chill pills and where can I get one?)

There, I feel a little better now, time to watch ER. (yes it's really terrible this season but it's the last and i have been a loyal fan for 15 years so i must watch)

Thanksgiving came and went

2008-12-07T15:57:00.003-06:00

I forgot to blog about Thanksgiving. So here goes, it was fine. I cooked my turkey and stuffing and they were really good. It was tight in my house with 20 people though and everyone wanting to be in the kitchen at the exact time I was putting out the food. My turkey was finished by 2:30 but my mom's turkey breast wasn't finished until about 3:30 so there was a little lapse in time in which I felt like the rest of the food was getting cold while she ran home to get her turkey breast. Then when I said time to eat, everyone was kind of hem hawing around not wanting to be the first to eat. Bob said I sort of got a little stressed out about it :) He said he felt like it was D-Day and I was yelling go, eat, sit. WHATEVER!! But after that things settled down while everyone ate. The food was delicious! We had another little glitch when cleaning up. I was running the garbage disposal and it shook the pipe loose on the drain and caused water to pour out from under the sink AND drip down the basement wall in the utility room. Thankfully we were able to catch it in time and fix without too much damage and mess.

The rest of the evening we played charades and ate pie. All in all it was a nice day. Don't know if I will want to do it again next year but we'll see.

Shopping Fever

2008-11-26T14:43:00.003-06:00

I'm in the groove now. The shopping groove that is. Every year it starts with me having no idea what to get the kids or my parents or anybody for that matter but then some how I end up thinking up 100 different ideas for each person. I have hit the stride now. I know what I want to get and where to find it my only problem is having the money to get it. It is only 29 days till Christmas. Tick Tick, time's a wasting.

Adam's birthday is also this month. BUT>>>> first it's Thanksgiving. At my house this year for 20 people. Am I crazy or what?? YEP, that's what my husband keeps saying. So I say to all you readers, Happy Thanksgiving. It seems like there isn't much to be thankful about with the economy and the war etc but I know just looking around the table on Thanksgiving, I'll find 2 or 3 or 20 things to be thankful for.

Lot's of Gas

2008-11-26T14:39:00.006-06:00

Can anyone believe how low the gas prices are now? I just drove by the QT up the street and gas costs $1.33 per gallon. I filled up last week when it was $1.69 a gallon and only spent a little over $30.00. I never thought I would see gas this low in my lifetime again. What a crazy world!!!!!

Picture taken with camera phone and then touched up using picnik.

But seriously

2008-11-14T18:22:00.002-06:00

These first two weeks of November have literally just flown by. I mean I can't quite believe that it is Nov. 14th already. I have been really busy at work trying to be super teacher. Staying late, thinking up super cool assignments that kids will actually WANT to do, volunteering for committees, going to workshops, its EXSHAUSTING!

Anyway, we've also been shuffling kids back and forth to sporting events, the end of one season the beginning of another. Basketball starts next week so that will be another night of practices and games. We've got something every night of the week.

And then I have to start Christmas shopping. Have I mentioned how much I HATE doing that?? UGH,UGH,UGH, buying a bunch of stuff that will be broke, lost, or stained by Easter is just not my idea of a good time. Plus I have been spoiled by all this great weather we are having so this gloomy, rainy, weekend does not sit well with me. And is it just me or does everyone else HATE Daylight savings time?? For mom's it's not an extra hour of sleep, it's just a day that starts extra early. Like instead of kids getting up at 8am on Sunday they got up at 7. And yes, techinically my kids can take care of themselves but will they>> NO!! I always hear the fights over the TV or the calls of there's nothing to eat. SO FUN! Then there's that lingering feeling that I should be in bed at 7pm because it looks like midnight. I am all thrown off.......

And on top of ALL that, I really, honestly think I need glasses. We just got a new 50 inch TV and yes it's awesome but it looks blurry to me. I used to think our old 27in looked blurry but thought it was just too far away to see. NOPE, it's me. I am getting old. I give myself a headache watching it too much. I can see fine up close, it's far away that gives me problems. Does that make me near sighted or far sighted?!? IDK!

So much for my rant. It's 6:30 and feels like 9:30, there is nothing on TV on Friday nights, it's rainy so I don't want to shop and I am bored. hmpf.....

too...busy.. to blog..

2008-11-14T18:21:00.000-06:00

nuff said, whew!

Halloween Bliss

2008-11-02T16:13:00.006-06:00

Another fine Halloween was had by all at the Geiler grandparent's house. Mom made her famous stuffed pepper soup and white chicken chili. It was a perfect night, temps in the 60's, glowing fire in the pit, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs, candy, kids, there's nothing better.

But alas, October is over. Now begins the countdown to Christmas, BAH HUMBUG! Adam made out his Christmas list today and is already wanting to make a paper chain to mark off the days till the big day. Yuck, too soon.... The older I get the more I can't stand Christmas.

Here are the Halloween pics

Adam the WWII soldier

Bandit the devil dog (sitting on my dad's lap)

Hannah the nerd.

Justin was too cool to trick or treat.

A new season, a new sport~ HOCKEY

2008-10-27T18:48:00.002-05:00

Yep, that's right, Fall is here and so is the latest sports season, Hockey. No not for the St. Louis Blues, sure they play, but I'm talking about the Affton School Hockey League. It is a floor hockey league for kids in grades 1-12. Justin starting in 1st grade, Hannah has played for 3 years now and Adam is also in his third season.

The first games of the season were held on Saturday. Justin and Hannah play on the same team it's called the Stealth. They won 7-2 with Hannah scoring a goal!! It was great because she is the only girl on the team and she feels a little intimadated by all the boys. So we were totally psyched about it! Adam's team, coached by Bob, lost 5-1. The Mohawks are probably going to have a re-builing year as they moved up to the midget division and they are now the youngest team in the division. It's a fun sport thought, fast paced, short games lasting about 40 minutes.

Both Bob and I played when we younger too. The league has been around for 30 years. We can't wait till next week to see how they play.

They say it's MY birthday

2008-10-22T16:24:00.007-05:00

Well I'm 36, I don't think there is really much more to say. BLAH!!

Bob took me to brunch at the Bevo Mill on Sunday (which was the day of my actual birthday.) It was pretty good, I love German food so I enjoyed the saurbraten, red cabbage, and potato pancakes. The breakfast stuff was so-so but it was just the two of us so that was enjoyable. He gave me a box of dark chocolate covered molasses puffs from the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company. They are my favorite candy!! I won't even share with anyone! He also washed, vacuumed and armor all ed my mini van for me which was exactly what I wanted. Then he had to go to work from 3-11 which is a crappy shift. But my mom barbecued steaks and baked potatoes, YUM-O! My parents gave me some cash to buy my own gift/pay bills. My sweet grandma sent me $20, kind made me feel ten years old but it was the thought! And that's about it folks.

sweet goodness

More Freakin Pink Eye

2008-10-22T16:19:00.002-05:00

I can't even fathom how I have come to get pink eye again but yes as of 2:30pm today I was diagnosed with it. I have the pain, the swelling, the gunk flowing from my eye you know how it goes. Seems like only yesterday (or 4 months agobased on this post) that I got rid of my last case of it and now here it is again!! I mean I wash my hands and I keep germex in my purse, the car, the table next to the front door and in my classroom so WHAT'S UP???

Man does this hurt!

Affton Cougars Football 2008

2008-10-19T17:15:00.002-05:00

These kids played great all season long and they are definitely champions in my book.

Justin is wearing #72..

Hockey Fight

2008-10-17T15:51:00.007-05:00

Adam had a little accident at hockey practice Monday night that required an emergency trip to the dentist.

see what I mean (pic taken with my camera phone, not great quality)

All better now with a cap on the tooth, he won't let me take his picture of the new tooth for some reason, he says it's no one's business but his. Too bad Adam, mom can't let that slip by without posting!

(no it wasn't a fight, someone shot a hard puck and hit him in the mouth, just glad I wasn't there to see the initial reaction)

Sparky got a haircut!

2008-10-17T15:39:00.003-05:00

Isn't he handsome!!

Happy Birthday Justin

2008-10-17T15:15:00.007-05:00

Justin turned 14 on October 12th and I really can't believe how quickly the years have gone by. This year he actually asked for clothes for his birthday, I mean CLOTHES!! Good God, he's a teenager through and through! So that's what he got, new jeans, and hoodies, and sports team shirts. He also got NFL Madden 09 for XBOX and has been playing it non-stop. We went to Red Robin for his birthday. Tomorrow night he and his friends are going to a Haunted House then having a bonfire in our backyard and spending the night. Hannah camping with her friend Kelly and her family so I thought this would be the perfect weekend for his party. Tomorrow morning is his last football game of the season and I WILL take pictures and post them ASAP. I haven't taken many pics lately because our camera is on the fritz but I AM going to get football pics.

I came across some old baby photos of Justin that I thought I would post because they sure bought a lump to my throat when I thought of how quickly he will be grown up.

Newborn Justin

Justin at age 5

Justin at age 11

Justin today.

7lbs 2oz. when he was born 14 years ago now at 6 ft tall and 200+ pounds, on his way to becoming a man.......... so proud of who he has become!

-2

2008-10-17T15:15:00.001-05:00

Down another 2 lbs. Not bad. I keep trying.

So much to say so little time

2008-10-17T15:12:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it is mid October already. I was hoping October would linger for a while but NOPE it is flying by. I am going to attempt to do some major catching up in the next few posts. WHEW!

But, don't you just LOVE this weather!! UGH I wish it would stay this way with highs in the mid 60's and lows in the 40's for a long time instead of just a few weeks. The leaves are starting to turn, it's so pretty on our street.

October Bliss

2008-10-05T13:50:00.003-05:00

Can't believe it's October already. Seems like I was just posting about it being labor day and boom we are 7 weeks into the new school year. October is my favorite month of the year. WHY?
Justin's birthday (10/12 he will be 14), my birthday (10/19), my dad's birthday (10/24) and Halloween, my favorite holiday of the year.

And mother nature sure has provided some awesome fall weather to ring in October. It's been cool, sunny and wonderful. Yesterday I took Justin to his football game and even got a little sunburned, but it was a great game with the Cougars winning 39-18 and Justin doing a fantastic job at center all game!

The leaves are just starting to change, ahhhhhhh FALL!

-3

2008-10-05T13:49:00.002-05:00

Nothing more to say, after a two week hiatus from weighing, I lost 3 pounds.

No Big Deal!

Bohemian Rhapsody, Morgan Freeman and Hershey's Kisses

2008-09-29T19:36:00.003-05:00

So I had this bright idea that I would have my students write a compare/contrast essay about Hershey's Kisses and Skittles. I wanted to do it in stages to kind of draw it out and get more lessons out of it. I started day one with a quote from the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

"I can't do without it [gum]. I munch it all day long except for a few minutes at mealtimes when I take it out and stick it behind my ear for safekeeping. To tell you the truth, I simply wouldn't feel comfortable if I didn't have that little wedge of gum to chew on every moment of the day, I really wouldn't." ~Violet Beauregarde

Then I asked the kids to write about what they can't do without. I got some pretty cool responses but the two I liked best were Bohemian Rhapsody and Morgan Freeman. The kid who said he couldn't do without Bohemian Rhapsody said that it was his favorite song and he listened to it and sang it every day and he couldn't imagine not being able to hear it. The one who said Morgan Freeman wrote about all the great movie roles Morgan Freeman has played, specifically his role in the Dark Knight.

Sure they wrote these responses to be funny but in reality the points they made were actually pretty thought out, so I guess my little assignment did have some impact. We barley even had time to talk about Hershey's Kisses so we will be continuing that tomorrow.

Twilight

2008-09-29T19:31:00.003-05:00

Just finished the novel Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and all I can say is WOW! It was breathtaking. I had seen several of my female 8th grade students reading it at school and many of them had commented on how much they love it so I thought I would give it a try. Well I was blown away. It's target audience I guess would be teenage girls but it was so well written that I was enthralled for the whole 500 pages. It is also being made into a movie to be released in November. I put a widget at the bottom of my blog containing movie facts etc. It is an incredibly dark novel about vampires, which usually isn't my thing but it's not the standard blood and gore you usually find with these types of novels. READ IT, now!

Writing Project

2008-09-24T11:50:00.002-05:00

I volunteered to go this workshop called the Gateway Writing Project. It's through my school district and it is supposed to help us teach better writing skills to our students. Yesterday was the first class. I admit I had some mixed feelings about going, I mean mostly these types of things are really boring and just go over the same old tired techniques that everyone knows. So I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this workshop. The instructors made us write just like we make our students write and they connected writing to literature in a way that makes it seem interesting not the same old boring read a book and write about. Since I like to think of myself as a "good" writer as evident by this incredibly wonderful blog that I write ;) it was challenging to try to write some interesting and creative things to fit the goals of this class. Not sure why I am putting all this in my blog but it's my blog and so here it is.

Also, today is Wednesday and I am NOT weighing in for the biggest loser, Justin has a football game tonight and I have to meet Bob at the car dealer to sign the papers for our new truck. Besides it has been a terrible food week and I really don't WANT to know if I gained or lost. If I relent and do actually, secretly weigh myself and I actually really lose some pounds then I'll blog about it, if I don't then I won't. Hmmmm sometimes it's good to be your own author.

+ 1

2008-09-18T14:35:00.003-05:00

I can't FREAKING believe it but I gained one pound this week. I mean I have to tell you that I have been really, really, good. I have eaten more fruit this week than in the entire month of August. On Tuesday I ate a pear, a cup of grapes, a bannana, a glass of o.j. and a raspberry yogurt. Good lord have I been in the bathroom a lot and still I gained 1 pound? HOW, HOW, HOW can this have happened?????

I have even started exercising 2-3 nights per week. I mean COME ON!

That scale is rigged, I must've had heavier clothes on, I was retaining water. ARG!

Hurricane Ike Damage in Affton

2008-09-15T19:56:00.005-05:00

We live far, far, from any ocean but we still felt the damage from Hurricane Ike which made it's presence known here in Affton yesterday. It rained, no it poured, 4 inches in about a 3 hour period to be exact. We also experienced the gusty winds of over 30 mph. (the basement stayed dry, thank God for sump pumps)

Our local ballpark didn't fair so well. Hannah is playing fall softball at Affton Athletic Association. The same place she has played since kindergarten, the same place I played for about 12 years of my childhood. The same place that my dad was president of for about 5 years back in the day. It is not only a ball field but a hockey complex that is home to the award winning Affton Americans hockey club.

Here are some pictures of the damage. The storm got so bad that 18 people had to be rescued from the ice rink by the fire department. It swept away several cars in adjacent Gravois Creek which is normally a little trickle of water but surged up over it's 8 foot banks to flood the ice rink, 12 ball fields and concession stands.

Car floating down Gravois Creek

Flooded ball fields

Busted up concrete next to concession stand

As the rain came down

Needless to say, I think the season may be over.

- 4

2008-09-10T19:23:00.002-05:00

Okay, to make friends at my new school, I joined the Biggest Loser club. Today was the first of our weekly weigh ins and I lost 4 lbs. I joined Weight Watchers online and I have been following the points system and trying to walk the track at the high school a couple nights a week. Not a bad start although I was hoping for more. I'll try to keep you updated on Wednesday.

Sick Day Part Deux

2008-09-10T19:18:00.002-05:00

Yes, I took my second sick day Tuesday. Adam still wasn't feeling well enough to where I thought I could leave him with anyone but me or his dad. And since we both have new jobs, I had to do the duty again. He still had fever and sore throat and vomiting. Today, even though he didn't go back to school, I went back to work. And much to my surprise my classes were fine in my absence. In SLPS if you were lucky enough to get a sub they usually left the classroom totally messy and they hardly ever followed the lesson plans. Well these Mehlville subs were great they followed my plan even gave out extra assignments to keep kids busy. My room was still clean and things were still organized. I couldn't have asked for more!

Sick Time

2008-09-08T13:22:00.002-05:00

I am taking my first official sick day today. It's a bit earlier than I would've liked but poor Adam has been sick all weekend. He kept saying he had a headache Friday night so I gave him some Tylenol. He didn't really mention it much Saturday morning but I was out running errands and didn't get much of chance to talk to him. Then Saturday night, Bob was working 3-11 and I was working part time at this restaurant that I used to work at before I became a teacher called the Fatted Calf. (I started working there about a month ago just one or two nights a week as a manager, basically to help out the new owners and because my friend Larry was working 55 hours a week and needed some time with his wife and new baby, plus it's a little extra grocery money. And I only work like 10 hours a week.) Any way when I left home at 3:30 he was fine when I returned home at 9pm he was running a 103 degree fever and my in laws who were baby sitting said he had been sleeping most of the evening and hadn't eaten anything. So I thought, FLU< great it's starting already.

So here I am on my first day off school, luckily as teachers we get 10 per year. Took Adam to the doctor and it is strep throat, not the FLU< thank goodness. He still has fever but I am hoping that antibiotics will hurry up and work so I can go to work tomorrow even though he will probably need to go to grandmas.

LAZY HAZY LAST DAZE OF SUMMER

2008-08-31T20:59:00.002-05:00

To me Labor Day has always been the unofficial last day of summer. I'm sure this lingering heat will remind that summer isn't really officially over for a few more weeks but I am looking forward to fall. It's my favorite time of year.

You may be wondering how it's been going at school. Well, much to my surprise it continues to get better! My 3rd and 4th hour classes are fantastic! I would say my 4th hour is my somewhat excelerated class but the 3rd hour kids are all really nice and well behaved. My 5th hour class is the hardest. It's also the biggest with 32 kids and it is right before lunch. My 6th hour is talkative with like 4 boys who are class clowns but they aren't disrespectful like 5th hour. My 7th hour is a combined push in class with the resource teacher and it is challenging due to all the kids who receive special ed minutes. It is by far the class that I have to slow things down.

Justin has his first football game Wednesday night against Brentwood and he is super excited. I'm going to try to take some pics, although it's hard up in the stands.

This weekend is pretty lazy, no plans, just hanging out at home. Bob has to work all weekend and the rest of us don't have much going on. I'm happy about an extra day that I don't have to wake up at 5:30.

Another Baby Born

2008-08-31T20:50:00.003-05:00

The last of my preggo friends/former co-workers has just delivered her baby. Andrea worked with me at Monroe 2 years ago but we first met way before that when she taught at Hope Lutheran and was the second grade teacher for both Justin and Hannah. She and her husband welcomed their daughter Jillian Mae a few days ago. All are well and Andrea is adjusting to life with a newborn and a toddler. (her son Nate is 2 1/2)

This marks the end of the last 5 month period when babies Bruno, Jane, Sophie, Ethan and Jillian were born. 2008, what a year to remember!

Congratulations to all!

Mom says "Update your blog!"

2008-08-24T20:52:00.003-05:00

Here you go mom, it's updated for the week! I probably won't get another post up until next weekend. She emailed me some pictures of fun times at the lake from this summer so I thought I would go ahead and post some here. Some are actually from last summer but it's pretty much the same thing, boating and swimming. It's still our favorite place to go.

My crazy father tubing on the "hotdog"

Hannah, Adam and my niece Megan on the tube.

Swimming in the lake.

School Daze

2008-08-24T20:42:00.003-05:00

It's been really hectic this last week with the kids starting school Monday, Bob starting his new job and me in my first full week of school. I have been totally exhausted! We had open house at my school Thursday night and except for leaving for an hour to grab some dinner I was at school from 6:45am till 7:30pm. What a long day!

Bob so far is enjoying his new department and the change of scenery. The kids liked school this week and seeing all their friends. Adam wished he could be home schooled so he didn't have to get up so early :)

But, for me it has been hard dealing with my change. I miss the familiar territory of my old school and I miss all the really great friends I had made. Although they have reported how crazy SLPS has been in it's first week, I still wonder if I have made the right decision. With 150 kids in my classes at Buerkle, there is a ton more grading. Plus I feel like I don't know anyone, I haven't even met the whole staff and only know about 1/3 of them by name. I do really like the two ladies that I team teach two of my classes with, one is the speech pathologist the other is a special ed teacher. Both are very young and enthusiastic and we have a good working relationship in the classroom. I also have been getting to know the woman next door who is new to Buerkle and has children about the same ages as mine. We have a lot in common and we have started to depend on each other for information when needed.

Justin is playing football and practicing two nights a week, Hannah is playing fall softball with practice once a week, pitching lessons once a week and double headers on weekends so we have been going non stop!

Baby Boom #2

2008-08-24T10:55:00.005-05:00

In past posts, I blogged about all the friends that were preggers. Well now two have had their babies and I didn't even post about them. How terrible a friend am I?

So here goes.

Bridget and Drew from Texas had their daughter Sophie LeighAnn on July 22. Bridget is a good friend from college, Hannah's Godmother and my Godson, Luke's, mother. Mom and baby are doing wonderful. Sophie was kind of a big one at over 8lbs but from all the pics I've seen, definitely gorgeous.

Bridget, Sophie and big brother Luke

What a head of hair she has!

Our other friends, Larry and Kim, had their baby on August 18th. Ethan Alexander weighed just over 7lbs and has a spray of light brown hair. He is absolutely adorable! Ethan and Kim are doing fine, even though he was born via c-section. Larry reports that Ethan is nursing like a champ!

I have cell phone pics but they don't show up very well when I email them to myself and then download them to the blog so I'll wait till I get some good shots of him and do another post.

Too Busy to Blog

2008-08-12T20:29:00.002-05:00

Been crazy busy this last week and have really been too busy to blog. But just a quick update before the stuff really hits the fan tomorrow when my new school starts.

Last week spent an entire week in new teacher orientation. BORING! I did get 3 days to set up my classroom which now has stuff in it, thank you very much. And it is brighter and cheerier than even I thought.

Then we went to the lake for our last little hurrah of summer. The last two days have been spent in the classroom/school preparing for our first day which is now tomorrow. YEAH>

Everyone was a little freaked out and unroganized today but not I, I have been the diligent teacher who has everything prepared. YEAH-RIGHT! No seriously, I am ready.

SO excuse me if I don't blog for a while but I do have some cool boating pics from the lake to get up sometime soon.

Another change 'round here

2008-08-03T11:50:00.004-05:00

All summer long you have heard me go on about my job change. But I have yet to mention that Bob is also changing jobs. As most of you faithful readers know, he is a policeman in the city of Crestwood, a small suburb of St. Louis. He was hired as a dispatcher for them about 8 years ago and then they paid for him to go through the police academy and he has been on the road for 7 years now. Like most areas now, Crestwood is in a recession. Made all the more worse for them by the decline of the mall that has anchored the town and brought in the most revenue for the last 30 years. The mall was recently sold and big changes are in the works but it will take at least 2 years to see them come to fruition. That, coupled with Crestwood's aging population has also meant that although Crestwood has the lowest property tax in St. Louis County, they can't pass a tax increase. So needless to say although the salary has been adequate, no raises, not even cost of living raises have been given in 3 years. For the last year and half several long time, good officers, have left Crestwood for police work elsewhere. So we knew it was time to make a change. the question was where?

Well, Bob has accepted a position with the Kirkwood police department and will start on August 18th. Those of you familiar with Kirkwood know that it is actually right next to Crestwood, much larger and with several strip malls and large stores to help the tax base. However, Kirkwood has also been the scene of several incidents of violence against police officers. In the last 3 years, 3 officers have been killed in the line of duty. Two were killed just last February. So needless to say, we are all a bit apprehensive about this change. There is a much needed salary increase but with it comes more risk.

I am including links to articles about the two separate shootings that claimed the lives of three veteran Kirkwood officers. Sgt. Bill McEntee was killed July 5, 2005. Then last February, Sgt William Biggs, Officer Tom Ballman and several other Kirkwood city officials were gunned down at a City Council Meeting.

I ask that you keep Bob in your prayers as he begins this new chapter in his career and that you also keep the families of the three, brave, officers lost in the line of duty in your thoughts and prayers also.

My new classroom

2008-08-02T14:35:00.002-05:00

I finally got to meet my new principal and some of the faculty of my new school and see my new classroom last week. The people are all very nice and I think I will fit right in. My only problem is my classroom. For all my complaining about St. Louis Public Schools, I did have a big, bright classroom. Well my one at Buerkle is small, windowless, and barren. I was really bummed, because although it is middle school I want it to be fun, bright and inviting for my students. So needless to say I have A LOT of work ahead of me. All that was in the room were student desk, a teacher desk 2 file cabinets, and a large locking cabinet with shelves. No teacher chair, extra table or book cases to be found and no, I repeat NO windows to the outside. The only window is a small one in the doorway. It can only be described as 70's architecture, need I say more?

I talked with the head custodian, a very nice woman named Polly, about at least getting a chairt to sit in and maybe a book case since I am teaching literature it would be nice for the books I have for students to be displayed. She told me she would scrounge up a chair and book case or two but couldn't guarantee the quality. I then asked one of the other teachers if we got a budget to spend in the beginning of the year on supplies and I was informed that no we did not get a budget. Supplies are ordered by department chairs and were placed last spring. BUM-MER! At my old school my principal would give us each a $500 budget that we could spend on supplies that would be ordered from catalogs. Unfortuntaly all of that stuff that I ordered the last few years then becomes property of St. Louis Public Schools, so I couldn't really take my good books shelf, steel stool, and moveable dry erase board with me.

Did I mention that my new classroom had a chalk board, UGH!

So if any of you teacher people out there have any cast offs you can throw my way, let me know! I will take any and all donations.

Vacation Pictures/Tales

2008-08-02T10:19:00.007-05:00

I haven't really talked much about our vacation to Branson and the Lake of the Ozarks last week. So here goes. First off it was HOT! We were still in Missouri in July for gosh sakes so what did we expect. We started our trip off by stopping at Lamberts just outside of Springfield, MO. It is the Home of the Throwed Rolls. They literally throw hot rolls to you from across the room. It's a very homestyle place with rolls of paper towels on the table and servers walking around dishing out extra portions of what they call "pass arounds" which were fried potatoes, macaroni, black eyed peas, fried okra, and molasses for your rolls. (no it's not figure friendly) But needless to say it was a big hit with kids. At first they were a little scared to ask that a roll be thrown from way across the room but they really got into it as the meal progressed.

After that, we made our way to Branson and our hotel, the Grand Victorian. Lets just say the hotel was nothing to write home about. It was clean but very small, had and indoor and outdoor pool that were also really small and an absolutely terrible continental breakfast. But my kids didn't care they still swam and ate donuts from the breakfast. That evening we went to a new attraction called Branson Landing which is Branson's equivalent of Downtown Disney. Lots of shops and restaurants and ways to spend money. They do a have a Bass Pro shop which was fun with everyone getting t-shirts or hats in Adam's case. Justin bought himself a hunting knife and Adam enjoyed "riding" on all the ATV's parked all over the place.

The next day, we rode the Ducks, which are vehicles that go in land and water. This was probably my favorite part because I sat with Adam and this was something he really wanted to do and then when we got into Table Rock Lake, they let him drive. He was so cute up there.

Later that afternoon we went to Silver Dollar City at about 4:30 because if you go after three the next day is free. But we didn't' realize that the park closed at 7, so that didn't leave us a whole lot of time to do anything. But we rode some rides, ate funnel cakes (the whole reason to go to Silver Dollar City) and watched the glass blowing demo. Not too bad. I for one was pretty much done. But ofcourse we had to go back the next morning. So we did. Well it was HOT, I would guess the hottest day of the year so far. And Silver Dollar City is all black topped. Yeah, you can guess how miserable we were. We split up because Hannah suddenly decided that most of the rides made her stomach sick?!? So she and I went to a couple of shows, explored the overpriced craft areas and hung out in a super cold ice cream parlor while the boys rode all the water rides that got them completely soaked and miserable. At about 3pm we had all had enough. However this was Wednesday and we had already checked out of our hotel so there was no where to go and we had Dixie Stampede tickets for 5pm that night. So we did end up going back to the hotel during their tea time to eat cookies and go to the public restroom and just sit in the lobby where it was cool. Bob's parents who also went spent the day shopping because his mom isn't too good on her feet. (not sure how she did shopping with her knees but?) We met up with them at Dixie Stampede.

The Stampede was fun, I for one will never go again as I discovered that I must be allergic to either horses or hay because what I thought was me having a claustrophobic panic attack turned out to be an allergic reaction to something there. The food was pretty good and the show is like a rodeo with songs etc. But it's hard to clap and get into it while you are trying to also eat. Kids liked it though.

From there we drove to the Lake which took about 2 hours and didn't get there till after nine by which time we were all EXHAUSTED! We did they usual lake things like swim and shop and except for a mayonnaise incident that I won't mention here, it was fun. WHEW, can you tell how tired were where by Saturday when we came home?

(Justin enjoying a roll at Lamberts, his favorite part of the trip)

(Hannah at the Bass Pro on Branson Landing)

(Adam outside of Bass Pro on an ATV)

(Adam drives the Duck)

(Posing with our tour guide)

(The cop goes to Silver Dollar City Jail)

(everyone on the suspended bridge at SDC)

All in all we had a good time but Branson has become somewhat rundown since the times I went there as a kid. Plus there are no big name entertainers there anymore, just a bunch people I've never heard of. Bob and I both agreed that the next time we go to Branson and Silver Dollar City it will be with our grandchildren. (hopefully about 20 years from now)

Home, Home on the Range!!

2008-07-29T08:29:00.002-05:00

Yep, we're home. Went to Branson and the Ozarks last week and had a pretty good time. Although it was HOT! Since returning on Saturday, we have been busy with a capital B. We've had two softball games, friends over for dinner and many phone calls and errands to run. WHEW! This is also a busy week. I am finally getting to meet the new principal at my school and meeting with the other 8th grade teachers. I start next week with new teacher orientation. YIKES! Yes, that means summer is O-V-E-R for me! But I'm excited about it. I have a few vacay pics (our camera was kind of on the fritz) that I will post and talk more about vacay soon. Just wanted to get some kind of update before people think I have fallen off the planet.

out of office reply

2008-07-20T23:54:00.002-05:00

sorry this blogger is out of the office (er, I mean couch) all week long. don't you just hate it when you get that repsonse from an email? not sure why but I find it annoying. anyhow, I will be gone all week with the fam on vacay. not sure why I'm not capitalizing my sentences but I have seen lots of other blogs that do this but I don't know why they do it. come to think of it I really shouldn't be capitalizing my i's either so i guess i won't

WAIT! The teacher in me can't do that. In fact, I feel uncomfortable not capitalizing the title either. I mean that is like a 3rd grade skill, you capitalize the title of a story. DUH! So I guess I will just do the right thing. Like always! (oops that's not a complete sentence)

But to all my adoring public readers, check back next weekend for the vacay update.

passed

2008-07-18T17:54:00.004-05:00

No it's not gas or anything crude like that, I passed my Praxis exam that I took in June. I got a 190 out of 200 which is like a 95%. So I guess I did allright. But all I can say is WHEW!! One less thing to worry about. So now all I have to do is apply for Middle School Language Arts Teacher Certification through the state of Missouri and send in my score and I will be able to add that to my resume and ofcourse guarantee my job at Mehlville. YEAH!

(Buerkle Middle School Mascot)

too cute for words

2008-07-16T11:53:00.007-05:00

My friend Jacki had baby Jane in April and has since become quite active with blogging and posting pics for all to see. I came across this one on her blog and thought it was so cute that I just had to post it also. (with her approval ofcourse)

view the enitre album

2 4 1

2008-07-13T22:39:00.004-05:00

2 4 1, get it Two for one! Clever eh?

Anyhow, as the boredem increased today I decided to go ahead and make a slide for Hannah's birthday and for Kim's baby shower so I made two separate ones the first is of Hannah. Note that the picture of her entitled texas hannah is taken with my cell phone camera and cropped etc with picnik a photo editing online software that is pretty cool. But the quality of that pic is pretty poor, the rest are cute though.

This next slide is of the only three pics I have of the baby shower, Kim's mom took lots more and maybe I can get her to send me some of those. My friend Kim and her husband Larry are expecting their first child a boy, to be named Ethan in August. The have also asked me to be the Godmother.

(note the really cute baby shower favor I made filled with hershey's kisses that say it's a boy> thanks Elise for the help)

summer boredom

2008-07-13T14:05:00.003-05:00

Okay, I admit it. I am bored. First off let me preface this by saying that Bob has been sick with a sinus infection for a month. And so he hasn't felt like doing anything especially this last week. So suffice to say I have been doing a lot of reading, laundry, and cleaning. But my life does not revolve around cleaning, in fact I really don't like it at all, not that many people do but you know there is only so much that can be done before your house is just finally clean!

Yes, I did have the baby shower for Kim yesterday which went really well. I took three pictures before my camera ran out of batteries. That always happens, drives me crazy because then I can never find the extra batteries. And since I had 15 women over at the time I didn't want to go hunting in every nook and cranny for extra batteries so I don't have many pictures. But I will post what I have, just not now. Why, I dunno, don't feel like it, I am bored, bored, bored. And also having a little pity party about it. Humph.....

But I digress

My parents and brother and sister in law are all going to the Ozarks this afternoon and I would really like to go but can't because Justin has football camp this week. So now that they are all leaving I am also feeling a bit jealous. Plus Adam is going to Dad and Lad Cub Scout camp out this coming Saturday night with Bob and Hannah has two softball practices and 3 softball games this week. So, yes while my week will be full up with driving kids around, it will still be boring for me. AWW poor Alison! I know if my mom is reading this she is probably thinking suck it up that's why you are a mom. And I know she is right BUT how about something for myself once in awhile.

Plus on top of all that my two best friends, Kristen and Elise, are both out of town. Go figure, it's like the Perfect Storm of Boredom! (just saw the movie and read the book The Perfect Storm, that's where the reference comes from)

Oh well pity party over, we are leaving for Branson next Monday so I guess I don't have it too bad~

Computer glitches, book review and other thoughts

2008-07-09T12:06:00.003-05:00

I am still not able to post pictures to my last post and I have come to figure out that it isn't blogger's fault but my computer. For some reason my kids will agree to download everything that pops up when they are on the internet. And due to that reason, whenever I try to upload pics or just whenever it feels like it my a screen pops up on my computer saying there has been an error and it has to re-start internet explorer. This is really frustrating when you are trying to do something creative. I may be able to put my pics into a slide or smile box and post them that way. I only had a couple of pics and didn't feel the need to create one of those but it may be the only way!

Just re-read The Firm by John Grisham. I have been re-reading some books I hadn't read in a really long time this summer and I just finished The Firm and I have to say it really is a great book. I just saw the movie on cable again a couple weeks ago and it gave me the idea to read the book. While the movie is entertaining, it does not do the book justice If you have never actually read the novel I highly recommend it!!

Having a baby shower for my friend Kim this Saturday. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours making these really cute favors for the shower which I did take a pic of but ofcourse can't post. But I will take pics of the shower and post them all in some way this weekend.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2008-07-03T20:47:00.003-05:00

July 1st was Hannah's 12th birthday. She celebrated a couple of weeks ago with friends at Happy Joes which is a local pizzeria that we've been going to since I was a kid. It's a family favorite for birthdays. Hannah and the girls went to Whitecliff pool first then spent the afternoon at the pizza place. She had a fun time with all her friends.

On her actual birthday we had some dinner with the Geiler grandparents and tonight went to the Texas Roadhouse with the Nixon grandparents because Hannah's favorite food is steak (hmm... wonder where she gets that from)

All the grandparents and Bob and I pitched in and got her a Nintendo Wii. She either wanted that or a coach purse and since I don't even have a coach purse we opted for the Wii. (although they are both about the same price)

We've been doing a lot of swimming and I have been catching up with friends this week.

(have pics but blogger isn't letting me post them right now)

some stuff to blog about

2008-06-24T17:26:00.002-05:00

Well I have been getting lots of comments via phone and email about the house pics I posted. I have only gotten one actual blog comment from Pam but the consensus is that everyone really likes what we've done with the basement and house in general. It was a long time coming but worth it in the end. As Pam put it, the house is very comfortable just the way we like it!

One of my favorite former students has started a blog so I am adding it to my links section. Sam was in my class for two years and I am very proud of all of his accomplishments. Check it out and commment if you care too.

On the home front, it has been a SLOW week. Hannah's ball team didn't have a game last weekend but we did have the basement stuff to keep us busy. Going to the Ozarks for a few days tomorrow just to kill some time. It's helpful when both sets of our parents own condos at the lake. Mine, his. Bob has a much needed week off so we plan to relax and enjoy our house, the lake and finish putting stuff away that should go in the basement but has actually been stored in the garage all this time.

.

Big Time Twins

2008-06-21T21:07:00.002-05:00

Did anyone see that news story about those twins born who weighed a total of 23 lbs.? I mean YIKES that's a whole lotta babies. They are so cute but they look like they could be 6 months old.

For those of you who have or are having babies recently this story really makes you think!!

Finally Finished

2008-06-21T20:33:00.003-05:00

Yes it's true! The carpet and furniture are finally here and in and it looks FABULOUS!! Of course I still need to hang up some pics and decorate etc but for now it has all come together very nicely. We had quite a bit a of rain here today in a sudden little downpour but everything remained dry. The boys slept in their new room for the very first time last night and did well. I am posting pics to help tell the story a little better.

Update

2008-06-18T22:13:00.003-05:00

First off, I want to thank Pam and Andrea for the comments under my Pink Eye post. And yes it has just about cleared up, still a little runny at times but no pain or redness etc. I took my praxis on Saturday and for the most part it went well. I used every bit of the 2 hour time limit though. There were 90 multi choice questions and 2 essay. I think I nailed the essay questions and did pretty well on the other ones but I felt that a lot of the time I had narrowed the choice down to two and then couldn't make a decision about which one was right. But we will see in a month if I passed or not. I will still have a job at Mehlville if I pass or not but I really don't want to pay to take the test again so hopefully I did well.

Summer has been slow, there isn't a lot to do right now. I haven't been a stay at home mom in a long time so I need to get back in the groove. We are planning a lake trip next week and then a trip to Branson in July. No big trips this summer unlike last year's Disney trip. We had originally planned to drive to Williamsburg for a week in July with the in-laws but due to the high gas prices we have decided to do Branson instead.

We've been to the pool a few times and seen Hannah play a few softball games but other than that not much else.

The carpet in the basement finally got installed today and it looks wonderful. Furniture comes on Friday and we should be able to move everything else in over the weekend. YEAH! I plan on taking pics of the finished product ASAP and posting them here.

Pink Eye Shmink Eye

2008-06-11T20:20:00.003-05:00

Well my summer is off to a bang as I have contracted a raging case of conjunctivitis also known as Pink Eye. It started in my right eye and then seemed to get better. Now it has jumped to the left eye and there is no sign of stopping. I went to an Urgent Care center while I was still at school last week because the school nurse said I was contagious. They gave me some antibiotic eye drops which seemed to help for a few days. Then last Friday it seemed to get worse and move into the left eye. If you've never had it it's really fun with symptoms including runny eyes, pink crusty eyeball, swelling eye lid, and pain. Right now my eyes are just constantly running, it looks as though I am always crying. I went to pick up dinner at a local BBQ place, Phil's, and as I was waiting I am sure the people there must have been thinking "Why is this lady crying?" because my eyes were weeping and red and I was constantly wiping them.

To make matters worse I have to take the Praxis exam for my certification in Middle School Language arts on Saturday morning. This will be terrible if I can't even read the questions. I guess I should break down and go back to the doctor. Luckily no one else in the family has it yet!

On a positive note, we just got back from the lake for a long weekend trip and had a good time boating and swimming.

>

Goodbye Monroe

2008-06-05T09:51:00.002-05:00

It is with much sadness and apprehension that I leave St. Louis Public Schools and Monroe Elementary today. I am taking an 8th grade language arts position in the Mehlville school district and leaving the only place I have ever taught.

I have really enjoyed working with the staff and principal for the last three years. I have made some lasting friendships and know that it will be difficult to find another group of people so dedicated to one common cause. But with this district being in such turmoil and change, I felt it was time to make a move.

I remember back three years ago the day I walked into Monroe for my interview. As I walked up the stairs, I felt that this was the place I was suppossed to be. After my long search for a teaching position, I was finally led to the school that really needed me. I have certainly enjoyed working with these kids, however hard it has been, I have always been greatful to have been a part of their lives. I know I have learned more from them then they ever learned from me.

Last week all the 8th graders that I had for 2 years in my 6th and 7th grade class graduated and are moving on to high school so I guess it is fitting that I move on with them.

Today is the end of the school year! Hello SUMMER!

SATC Movie

2008-06-02T14:42:00.003-05:00

Yes that's right! For those of you that don't know the acronym in my title it stands for Sex and the City. I went to see the movie last night and it was fabulous! It had everything we SATC fans could've wanted and more. It was funny, sad, poignant, happy.... the list goes on and on. If you know me well, you know that I am by no means what people would call a girlie girl and I could care less about fashion. So why do I love SATC? Because it is an insiders look into a world that I will never know from a woman's point of view. It is about the importance of friendship and relationships. It is a fantasy world that really might exsist out there for some. I loved the series, and now love the movie and hope they will have a sequel.

I won't give away the details, no I'm not a spoiler. But I will say that you will not be disappointed! And Big looks better than ever. I still say he is the hottest male character ever created.

BLING!

I DID IT

2008-05-28T09:54:00.003-05:00

I did it, I downloaded a blog template and it actually allowed me to get rid of the GIF. Ofcourse it also deleted a few of my other widgets but I don't care, I was getting tired of them anyway. Now I can look for new widgets to add to my page. YIPPEE. I still have links to friend's blogs and the other sites I check often.

I LOVE the new template, it's really cute. I'm playing around with it a bit so it may change a little but I now have my title at the top.

Updated Blog Scheme

2008-05-28T08:53:00.002-05:00

As you can see I still can't get rid of that animated gif I inserted in my header. I am trying to work with it but I really hate it. There is a glitch in the blogger system and it won't let me remove it from my layout. I can revert back to a classic layout but I lose all the stuff on my side bar like my links, hit counter etc. But I may have to do it just to get rid of the gif.

I have friends with blogger blogs, typepad blogs, wordpress blogs and mac blogs whop have such creative templates and headers, wish I could do more with mine right now.

Since there was NOTHING on TV last night now that Idol is over, I spent a good 45 minutes playing around with templates and colors on my blog and could not remove the header. Oh well, those that read this blog know who I am, guess I don't really need a title or a picture to tell whose blog it is, RIGHT?!?

Dry Basement + New Carpet +New Furniture = Happy Alison

2008-05-27T13:10:00.003-05:00

So, the flooring company mentioned in the prvious post is NOT, I repeat NOT, making it right so we thought the heck with them and are getting carpeting from another place. But hold it, wait a minute, back track, the basement is DRY, yes DRY. Yes St.Louis had about 4 inches of rain this weekend but our basement is dry. Thank God for sump pumps!!!

So we picked out carpet and then I saw that Rothman's was having a Memorial Day Blowout sale. I thought I would take a look at a love seat I liked for the basement because we currently have no furniture available for down there.

We are not getting all of this, actually getting 2 love seats and the accent chair and ottoman which I love and will put in my living room not the basement. We will move our taupe colored leather chair and ottoman from our living room down in the basement with the smoky love seats. I think it will look great.

These are the tables that we got. I may end up having these in my living room also and give the kids my old ones from up there. I just love the stone look of them!

Carpet and furniture will be installed and delivered in about 2 weeks. It's been two months so what's a couple more weeks.

Customer Service

2008-05-21T09:12:00.004-05:00

I have been hassling with the flooring company who installed the carpet in our basement for over 3 weeks now and it has really got me steaming. The salesman brought out three samples of carpet for us to choose from that were in the price range discussed with our contractor who sub contracted the flooring to Borghi Floors. Of the three samples we chose one from a 4in by 4in square. Two days later we were told that color was out of stock, so we choose another color. Four days later we were told that they forgot to put the order in and now it would take a few more days to get ordered and shipped from the manufactuer in Georgia. Then once it arrived there was a three day delay in getting the "best" installer to put it in. It was installed May 5th, but it looked terrible. There was a huge seam showing, adn the carpet itself was stained, yes stained. We complained and the salesmen came back after 3 more days and said yes he would have to re-order more carpet to make up for the stained piece. At this point, we told him we were unsatisfied with the carpet's quality as a whole and we wanted it removed and something different put in its place. The carpet was removed on May 12th but left to sit in the garage because someone from the manufacturer was going to come and inspect so that Borghi Flooring could get their money back. As of yesterday the carpet was still in our garage.

I called Kenny, our salesman again to complain about removing the carpet from the garage. He very rudely told me it couldn't be removed until it was inspected. I told him I wanted it gone today or we would put it out in the trash. At this point this guy starts yelling at me saying if we put it in the trash they will sue us etc. I very calmly told him that I never signed a contract with him, I signed it with our contractor and as of yet we had not paid our contractor for the flooring portion of our remodel and I would not pay if this was not rectified. I also told Kenny that I would never reccommend the company to anyone. He told me he wouldn't want to work with anyone I would reccommend anyway. At this point as he continued to yell, I hung up.

As I was steaming mad, I called Borghi Floors and asked to talk to the owner who I left a message for. He returned my call later and I explained everything that had happened over the course of the last three weeks. All of which he was unaware of. The owner promised to have the carpet removed today and he said "he wanted to make this right." To be honest, I really don't believe that this company will make it right. In fact I am ready to go through another company. AND as of yet we are still unable to use the basement as there is NO carpeting down there, just sub floor.

What was suppossed to be finished within a week is now going on a month, and there is no end in sight! FRUSTRATED does not even cover it.

Needless to say if you live in St. Louis and need flooring, don't go to Borghi!

A Camping We Will Go

2008-05-15T11:03:00.001-05:00

Just got back from the 8th grade camping trip. I went with the 8th graders from my school and their teacher to a camping trip at Camp Lakewood in Potosi, MO. It was a blast. We spent 3 days and 2 nights out there this week and the kids had an awesome time. Several of these kids were ones that I had for the last two previous years in my 6th and 7th grade classroom. It was cool to be able to spend this time with them and see how much they have grown and matured.

They experienced all sorts of activities from canoeing to riflery to archery to wall climbing and a zip line. They participated in large group team building challenges and learned how to build a fire. The camp had an interactive campfire for us with songs and skits and ofcourse smores. We braved the rainy weather, the bugs and all the hiking. (I'm exhausted)

I was happy to be home Wednesday night. I thought I would post some fun pics from our adventure.

Interview Time

2008-05-05T11:47:00.003-05:00

Since my last post was about an incident at work, I thought today I would write about an interview I had. I interviewed at the Mehlville School District. The person interviewing me was the principal at one of the middle schools. The interview went really well, it started out with the standard 20 questions that everyone gets asked but we veered off when he found out that I had experience teaching 6th and 7th grade and a background in special education. We really hit it off and he told me he had a communication arts opening for 6th grade. By the end of the interview he said he would definitly call me back for a follow up interview at his school next week. I am very excited, Mehlville, like all districts, has had it's problems but for the most part they are a pretty big, stable school district!

Go Panthers!

Peace

2008-05-01T08:21:00.002-05:00

There are a lot of things to blog about concerning this title. The main one being an incident that happened at work, which I will get too in a minute. First off, basement update.

The carpet was back ordered and should, SHOULD, be in on Friday to install Friday afternoon. The outside stuff is done the painting is just about complete inside. All that needs to be finished is the carpeting, the baseboards and the trim. All should take place on Friday. Then we should be able to move everything down there this weekend. YEAH!!!!!! Bob is off, it will be a cool weekend, not too hot, perfect for moving stuff into the basement.

Second, Boomers update.

Hannah's team played last Sunday and she pitched almost the entire game except for part of the 3rd inning in which the other pitcher allowed 8 runs. Hannah's team lost 18 to 6 but she did do a really good job of pitching.

Now, school incident. (this may take a while to explain)

Here goes, yesterday, our school counselor arranged for this exhibit called the Peace Museum to come to our school and do these hands on little centers with our 2-5 graders all about peace. There were 10 stations. I was asked (or rather told) that I would be running one of the stations for most of the day. Breakfast and lunch would be provided to those that ran a station. So I show up early at 7:30 to the "training" for my station, I get myself organized and ready and the first group of kids comes through the exhibit taking about 90 minutes. Just as the second group is coming through, I get paged over the intercom to come to the office. So I run down to the office to see what's up. Our literacy coach, Mary, is sitting in the secretaries seat and she goes, the principal, the PE teacher, the secretary, the other resource teacher, and 3 other classroom teachers are all absent today. No subs have shown up, there were two fights one in 6th grade and one in 4th grade involving 6 students plus 3 other kids got kicked out of ISS (inshcool suspension) and I need someone to help me call parents and run the school.

So I am like YIKES!! Sure I'll help, what can I do? She goes start calling parents to come pick up these kids who are ALL now suspended. So of course I start doing what she asked. Meanwhile I send a note upstairs to the counselor explaining the situation and telling her I will be back ASAP. After about an hour, most of the kids in the office have been picked up and things have calmed down. Mary tells me that there are only 3 of us ( including me) to do lunch and recess duty instead of the usual 5. So of course I tell her I will help. So by this time it is just about lunch time for the volunteers upstairs. SO I run up to tell the counselor that I have to do lunch duty but I can return to my station after that when the afternoon sessions start up. She is in the staff room getting the pizza and salad set up and I come and in and again apologize and ask if there is anything I can do to help. She very forcefully tells me " No we don't need you." So I am like well I'll be back after lunch and she goes " I said we don't need you!"

Back I go downstairs to the office and I tell Mary that I think I just got stiffed out of lunch. She's like, no way, she will still let you eat, what's the big deal, I asked you to help me out. So I stay in the office answering the phones while Mary goes to the first lunch duty. Meanwhile another friend comes down to bring me a soda and another comes down to see if she can bring me lunch. So I'm like, I don't think the counselor will let me eat, she's mad. So my friend, Karen, is like that's ridiculous, you were doing what you were told, I'll go bring you some food. Karen comes back empty handed and says the counselor told me you couldn't eat because you made a choice to leave your station and come down here and they didn't really need you. So now you don't get to eat. Karen said she explained that I was doing what I was told and that I would be back later. But the counselor tells Karen to go downstairs and ask if I was going to be back later or not. At this point I told Karen, don't bother going back up there, I wouldn't eat now if she paid me too.

Karen was upset, I was upset and for the next 20 minutes several of the other teachers came in to hear the story and express their outrage. I never did go back up there but instead did my lunch and recess duty and helped out in the office. I didn't see the counselor for the rest of the day and I have decided that it is not worth my time or effort to say anything to her. But I know that what goes around comes around!

The ironic thing about the whole deal was that we were helping out at the Peace Museum, their motto being Peace for Me, Peace for You, Peace for Everyone, Peace for the Planet. I guess the counselor missed that message!

Basement Update, Blog Problems and other Ramblings

2008-04-24T14:03:00.005-05:00

First off, the basement is coming along quite nicely. It's fun picking out the paint and flooring. If the rain holds, they should be finished by Monday. DARN that pesky rain!

I am having major issues with my blog, I inserted a gif animation that says Lucky Me to see what it looked like and now I can't get rid of the darn thing. Blogger is being difficult and you can't get help from them you have to go to an online help center question forum, which of course is NO help! So I changed my template but I still don't like it and now there is no acutal title. I'm working on it. I was thinking about moving my stuff to a different blogger blog but not sure how to retreive all my posts and all my other saved stuff in order to move it to a new address. So if anyone out there can help, please email. Also, I have been getting some weird comments, so for now I put in that I need to approve all comments before they are posted but don't let that stop anyone from writing an appropriate comment.

Hannah's team won their first game 26 to 13, I know it sounds like a basketball score but this will probably be a re-buildng year for the Boomers.

Another long lost friend is also having a baby. Andrea is due in September. That is another edition to a long line of friends who have had or are having babies soon.

Sparky has been staying at Grandmas while the basement is being finished and the back yard is torn up but I really miss him so I thought I would post this cute picture of him and Justin.

Is Spring Finally Here?

2008-04-18T08:41:00.001-05:00

I think it may be official, Spring has arrived in St. Louis. Now if only the rain would stay away. For those that don't know, we did have flood number three last week. Not quite as bad as the first two but still wet carpet and flooring etc. We did get a bid on fixing the entire problem including re-doing the basement (new carpet, paint, drywall etc) that we can actually live with. So with the help of family and some MAJOR budgeting on our part, we are going to have the basement fixed. And barring any rain, they will start on it today and hopefully be finished by next weekend! YEAH!!!!

I can definitely tell Spring has sprung for my kids, because not a one of them wants to do any school work! Adam asked me today, "Mom, who invented school?" And I was like, "HMM, I don't know?" He goes, "Whoever it was is evil!" I thought, I feel the same ways sometimes. But I said "School is fun, you get to see your friends and learn a lot of new things." He goes, "Whatever, MOM!" I CRACKED up laughing!

Hannah has her first softball game this weekend. Go Boomers!! She's a little nervous because she will have to do some pitching but I know she will be great.

Justin has quickly learned where all his friends in the neighborhood live and he and his buddies have gotten together a Friday night Poker Game. They play with real money but use nickles, dimes and quarters. Each kid has to have $3 to play and that's all they can lose. He said it was blast last week and I told him we could host it as soon as the basement is finished. Not too sure I like the gambling aspect but we have been playing cards including poker and tripoly with the kids for years so Justin is quite good at it.

That's the update for now.

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Baby Boom

2008-04-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

There seem to be a lot of pregnant women in my life lately. So here is another birth announcement for you. Our friends and former neighbors Blaine and Nadine had a baby boy on April 7. They have named him Thomas Bruno! What a great name! He weighed in at a whopping 9lbs+. I'll post pics when I receive one and get the okay from the proud parents.

Congratulations Blaine, Nadine and big sister Sofia!

Next up is my best friend from college, Bridget and her husband Drew who live in Texas. They are due to give a little brother or sister to my godson and their son, Luke, sometime in July.

Then our friends Larry and Kim are due to have their first child, a boy, in August. (to tentatively be named Ethan Alexander)

All will be amazing parents!
xoxo~AL

Welcome Jane Elizabeth

2008-04-07T14:31:00.001-05:00

My friends Jacki and Brian welcomed their daughter Jane Elizabeth on 4-4-08. She was only 5lbs 15oz and 18 3/4in long but she is quite adorable. Almost makes me want another one--- ALMOST!

Congratulations guys!
xoxo

Interesting Happenings

2008-04-04T14:36:00.000-05:00

There are several interesting things to note today. First off, my friend Jacki is in labor as we speak. I have a link to her blog at the right. She is having a girl. Second, my friends Larry and Kim found out they are having a boy in August.

Also, on my favorite inspirational blog, Confessions of a CF Husband, Tricia received a double lung transplant today. If you have yet to check out that blog I highly reccommend that you take a look. It is truly an inspirational story.

It's funny how the light of new day makes everything seem like it is going to be okay. I mean look at all the things I have to be thankful for. This may sound cheesey coming from me but God is Good and I feel like things are going to eventually turn my way!

Enjoy your weekend, I know I am looking forward to the spring weather they are FINALLY predicting for St. Louis on Saturday!

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