Updates

I updated my blog's look but am still not quite satisfied with so it may change again.

I am doing pretty good so far with my Christmas shopping. But I have this overwhelming feeling that I am running out of time. There are 13 days until Christmas and the next two weeks are extremely busy. The only people I really have to shop for are the adults, who are the hardest. Plus now I have to do a secret santa thing next week at work. Good thing Bob's work doesn't do any of that, men just don't care about that kind of thing and since there is only one woman police officer in Crestwood, she is at a slight disadvantage.

I am looking forward to some much needed time off for Christmas break! It always seems to go by so fast though....

4th place is okay

Well Chase Daniel came in 4th place in the Heisman Trophy vote. But hey, that's okay, there hasn't been an MU player in the running in quite some time. I know I am still extremely proud of Chase and the team.

I'll be changing my blog's colors again, I am giving MU the spotlight on my blog for a few more days!

BIG 12 Letdown

Once again, Oklahoma ran over Mizzou's offense in their win on Saturday. It was a devastating loss for those of us who have been following the team's season. Now it's the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day against Arkansas. Hopefully our Tigers will eat some Hog that day!! M-I-Z, Z-O-U!

Heisman Bound?

Is Chase Daniel bound for the Heisman Trophy?

M-I-Z Z-O-U

Quarterback Chase Daniel

Can you believe the Mizzoui victory over rival KU? As most of you know I went to Mizzou for 3 years and even though I graduated from UMSL I still sort of consider myelf a alumni. It was a great game and I enjoyed watching it with Justin who is a huge football fan and now thinks he wants to attend Mizzou himself. And as of Sunday Mizzou was ranked the number 1 college footabll team for the first time in 47 years. Pretty impressive!!

http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112507aaa.html

This is a link to a story about the game in case you missed it!

Scary Poison Ivy Girl

Here is a picture of Hannah at the height of her flu/poison ivy epidemic. I will post pics of the new puppy and Thanksgiving dinner later, but this one is too bizarre not share.

Puppies, Poison Ivy, the Flu and Thanksgiving

You name it and it has happened this Thanksgiving. First off Hannah contracted Poison Ivy last week, by Tuesday evening it had somewhat faded and our plans for a Thanksgiving at home were going ahead as scheduled. That evening my father got a new puppy, a black pug. Then came Wednesday, the kids were all off school but I had to work and so did Bob. Generally this is not a good combination but they are getting old enough to stay home alone now so off we both went to work. By 11am I got a call from Justin saying Hannah was sick. So I went home thinking I would stop in and check on her and then go back to work as we didn't have kids that day at work just a series of "teacher meetings". When I arrived, Hannah was sitting on the toilet with a towel wrapped around her and stuff coming out of both ends. To make matters worse, everywhere that she has her poison ivy, which was mostly on her face, was a ghastly shade or purple. I mean it was horrible!!!! SO after getting the boys situated at my parents' house, I called the DR. to tell of Hannah's condition. She had already been there on Monday and they diagnosed the Poison Ivy but the color was now a big concern. As the afternoon wore on, I decided to take her in. When we arrived at the Dr's office and got taken to the room the Dr comes in and goes " I've never seen anything like it before." Not the best news from your child's dr. But after examining her and seeing her throw up a few more times, he sent her home with nothing more than a "keep an eye on it and take her to the er if it gets worse."

Well at this point I thought, "There goes Thanksgiving." But after her stomach settled down, she felt much better and by morning she was able to eat something and keep it down, her face was starting to fade to a maroon and she wanted to "help" me cook Thanksgiving dinner.

So it is now 9 pm, dinner is over and everything turned out great. My stuffing was delicious, my turkey so moist. And best of all my in laws were able to make it over for dinner and bring Grandma's homemade pumpkin and cherry pies. We ate, played Apples to Apples and had dessert. Now the kids are watching the Incredibles as I type and Hannah's face is now a more rose color.

Now I'm just praying we all don't get the flu!!

My own Thanksgiving

This year, I am breaking with tradition and preparing my own Thanksgiving. At first I was a little sad that I wouldn't be seeing any of my relatives for the holiday but after thinking about it, it will actually be so much easier for my family. First off I don't have to worry about what my kids wear or how they look. I don't have to worry if I am not helping out enough or if I am just in the way. I don't have to worry about the kids spilling anything. I don't have to make 3 plates up before I eat my own meal.

I am cooking a turkey, which I have done before and making homemade stuffing for the first time. I will have green bean casserole complete with the fried onions on top, carrots (just for color because I am the only on who will eat them), corn, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce (a Nixon kid favorite), and a small dish a sweet potatoes that I bought at Dierbergs (again because I am the only one who will eat them). Plus rolls and a little relish tray because Justin considers pickles a vegetable. For dessert, we will probably go to my in-laws and take them some food and have dessert there because my mother-in-law has been too sick to leave the house. I will buy a pumpkin pie or 2 from Tippins (Bob's favorite). I am not a baker so it is store bought pies for us. But I will also probably make some Brownies just cause I don't like pumpkin pie.

We have decided (I mean I have decided) to try to eat around 3 or so to give us time to visit Grandma and Grandpa Nixon. In the morning I will get the turkey going, then watch the Macy's parade, then do some cleaning so the house looks nice for the long weekend I am off. Maybe take a snooze on the couch while Justin watches football, then finish up the meal, eat, visit, and back home for game night with the kids. Then a weekend where we are all off together. Thinking about going up to Our Lady of the Snows Christmas light festival on Friday evening and I am actually thinking about doing some shopping on Friday even though I always think people who do that are crazy. But Bob said he would go and drop me off at the door of different places and either wait or join me inside.

Who knows if this goes well we may stay home for Christmas too!

Anyone know any good stuffing recipes?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Justin's Birthday and other October Happenings

I realized I haven't posted anything about Justin's 13 birthday or my 35 or the rest of the month of Ocotber.

So here goes, Justin had great birthday going paintballing with friends and getting to eat dinner at Red Robin. He got a tent and a nintendo DS system and money and some clothes (which he needed but didn't really want).

For my birthday we didn't do much, I went out to dinner with friends from work and as a family we went to Red Lobster which is always good. No winery trip like I wanted because no one could seem to get together. Maybe in the next few weeks I can get out to one.

We also attending the Wedding of our old friend Walter. Bob was one of the groomsmen.

Otherwise the month was busy with football, hockey, and cub scouts. We are always busy running here and there from one activity to the next.

Halloween 2007

Halloween was a big success this year again. Mom made her fantastic stuffed green pepper soup and white chicken chili, yummy! And despite having previously said they would not dress up for Halloween, both Justin and Hannah wore costumes, Justin a cop, Hannah a clown. Adam ofcourse had great time as the evil black spiderman. It was a really nice night, not too cold or rainy as in years past. I was also able to go to Adam's Halloween party and parade at school, which I hadn't done since Hannah was in first grade. It was fun and Adam was really glad I was there.

Everyone, including me, and all the kids at my school were very cranky the next day though. November 1st, teacher's worst nightmare!!

A Fishing We Will Go

I should probably put this on my classroom blog but I am not updating that so I thought I would post it here.

I applied for and recieved a grant to go fishing through the Missouri Department of Conservation. So today I took 40 3rd graders and their teachers fishing in Forest Park. It was an awesome day, even though it was a bit cold and windy. Most of the kids had never been fishing. But as you can see from the pics I am posting it was a lot of fun.

My New School

So for those of you who haven't heard (the 2 of you who actually check my blog,) I am now going to 2 schools. I have to split my time between Monroe and another school called Mallinckodt.

The school itself isn't bad and I only service 8 kids here, its just that I don't want to be here. They have NO technology and the school is very old. Although it is magnet school and the kids seem so much better behaved. Plus it is only k-5 unlike Monroe which is now prek-8 and very crazy.


On the plus side I had an interview with Special School District of St. Louis County last Friday and I have a second interview nest Friday. SO I may be able to get a position out in the county making more money and hopefully dealing with a better school district.

Update

The school update is actually promising this time. The human resources department has now realized that 37 kids in one classroom is crazy so we now have 2 long term subs who have taken over a 6th and 7th grade classroom. We still have the 5/6 split and the 3/4 split but some of the pressure has been alleviated. As for me, I am doing my resource job and I am really enjoying it. I service the k-4 grade kids who need extra help in math, reading or writing. It's really nice because it is so hands on. I don't have to worry about grading anything, I just monitor there progress and help them as needed. Most of the kids I see have such terrible home lives that to get a little one on one time daily with me is exactly what they need to survive.

At home things are okay, we have a contract on our house so we hope to move soon. Of course the contract is contingent on the other people selling their house but hopefully it will all work out. the kids are so busy with their fall sports and activities that we hardly get a night without something going on.

We are going to a Wedding this weekend which will be fun because Bob is in it and a lot of our old friends will be there. We're looking forward to the annual Halloween festivities at my parents' house. Hopefully I'll have pictures to post. I am sad though because both of my older kids have said that they don't want to dress up or trick or treat this year/ Although I suspect Hannah will "help" Adam do his trick or treating.

Justin turns 13 on Friday and I am really scared about these crazy teenage years ahead. Hannah already acts like one so it's going to be rough for a few years. Next week I turn 35 and I feel really old for some reason this year. I am hoping to celebrate by going to the Wineries with friends.

That's about the end of the update.

BUSY

I have been really busy the last few weeks at school. I finally just this week was able to go back to my Resource job and I am truly enjoying it. I have the K-4 grades and it is a welcome change from 7th grade last year. The school is still in such a state of upheaval though. There are subs in 2 classroom, 37 kids in another classroom and the morale of all the teachers is incredibly low. Our principal has even thretened to quit all due to the new Assitant Superintendent that is giving us so many problems. We have to improve our MAP scores this year or our school will be reconfigurated and some people may be let go, but it is very hard to do when there are split level classrooms at 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8.

On the home front, Justin is playing football and hockey, Adam has scouts and hockey and Hannah has her busy social life and hockey, so needless to say it has been hectic.

More to come soon though!

What's wrong with SLPS?

So many people in the St. Louis area are asking what is wrong with SLPS that they lost their district accreditation, that the test scores are so low, that the kids are so misbehaved etc. Well here is one reason...

Last week, there was a sub for the 6th grade class. So after recess when students are picked up on the playground the sub was late or maybe didn't know he was to pick up the kids, I'm not sure. But our PE and art teacher were on recess duty. As I came to pick up my class, the PE techer says to the art teacher (who is new) "come on we can go in now", even thought he 6th graders were all standing there without their teacher. So I waited a few minutes thinking the guy would come but he didn't I then walked my students to the cafeteria door and told them to wait while I went in. Right inside the cafeteria that leads to the playground are the PE and art teacher and I say to them, "no one has come down for 6th grade, they have a sub who might not realize he is to pick them up." So the art teacher goes okay and starts walking out and the PE teacher goes wait a minute and then she looks at me and goes and "that's my problem why?" So I said "well there are 30 kids outside unsupervised'" and she says "and I care about that because??"

AND people ask what's wrong with SLPS!!!!

Oh I have many more where that came from and it is only the third week of school!

It will never end

Okay, this job thing is really starting to get to me now. I was moved into the resource position a week before school started. The first week of school we were waiting on a list of students to be serviced to be generated. The second week of school I was in meetings for the first 2 days then on Wednesday I was told that class sizes in the upper grades were getting too large and a 5/6 split class room woudl need to be opened and I would temporarily have to be the teacher. Well it's almost a week later and there is still no teacher and no one knows when one will be assigned so in the mean while I am not servicing the K-4 resource kids. Rather, all K-8 resource kids are being serviced by one resource teacher. So on Friday I put my application in at the Special School District of St. Louis County. I really hope something comes through with that. Because I am soooooo done with SLPS.

For the Best

The title to this entry states it pretty clearly, the latest turn of events with my job situation is that I am now going to be teaching k-3 resource. I got my special ed. certification over the summer but didn't know if there would be any openings for that in my building. Well it turns out there was one and yesterday I got the position. I am hoping it is for the best as I was quite worried about teaching 7th grade again with the extremely rowdy class that was coming in. Now, though, I am pretty excited about getting to work with the little ones. I moved classrooms from my large, bright room to the small sort of dingy office next door but I cleaned it out and moved in my own stuff and it is starting to shape up. I am hoping that this move will allow me to stay all year at Monroe and not be displaced in October which may have happened if our enrollment went down too low and we did not need 2 7th grade teachers anymore. So although I was looking forward to finally having a Smart Board in my room and 12 student computers to use, this will be a welcome change.


On a more personal note, my mother in law is in intensive care in critical condition. I am waiting right now to here word from Bob on how she is doing so if you read this say a little prayer for Barbara Nixon, she has been in very poor health for a long time.

Disney Vacation Pictures

My School Year

Well, hopefully most of you will be glad to know that for the time being I am returning to Monroe. As of this writing, I don't know what grade I will be teaching but I am assuming it is either 6th or 7th grade. I did manage to get my Special Education certification over the summer and I am hoping that it will be my ticket to another district for the next school year. But as for now, I have to stick in out in St. Louis Public Schools.

Where has the time gone???

No I haven't fallen off the face of the blogger world, I have just been extremely busy all summer and I can't believe I start back to work on Monday. UGHHHHHHH!

So here is the recap, month by month of our summer with pictures to be posted later on

June- School got out and we took the kids on a family vacation to Disney World. We had a blast seeing Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Typhoon Lagoon. Although it was hot, it really wasn't bad and we had a pool to cool off in in the evenings. Our favorite attraction was the Lion King Show at Animal Kingdom, it was fantastic and Adam even got to be in the show.

Then after vacation, I was thrown head first into teaching summer school which was not all the bad but seemed about a week too long.

July- Fully immersed in summer school, I spent my afternoons at the local pool with the kids and my evenings watching Hannah's softball team. Justin spent a week at Football camp in the heat and all three kids went to the Ozarks with the Grandparents.

August- Summer school ended on July 20th and I only had three little weeks before school would start up again. Hannah finshed softball and went to Girl Scout camp for 2 weeks, it was weird not having any contact with her for that long but she had a wonderful time at her Bits and Bridles Camp where they spent a majority of the time horseback riding. She is a real cowgirl now! We spent another long weekend at the lake and celevrated Bob's 36 birthday last Wednesday. Now I am gearing up to go back to school, I will fill you in on all the details about that in my next entry.