Ho-Ho-NO!!!!

MK, T. Willy and I went to the mall yesterday to do some Christmas shopping. We told T. Willy that he could see Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. So, we finished our shopping pretty easily (thank goodness...I am now truly finished!!!!) and went to stand in line. T. seemed pretty excited...not jumping up and down crazy happy, but - okay, this is Santa, that's cool- excited. I let MK get in line with him and I stood to the side, because MK enjoys that part of being a big sister. Then I see them walking toward me with T. WIlly in tears. "I don't want to see Santa," was our only explanation; that was good enough. Maybe we'll catch him another time.

My kids are really alike sometimes. The Big Man and I stood in line with MK one year for a very long time. She was so excited, couldn't wait...her turn comes, and she wouldn't take a step. We caught him casually at another shop later, and she went right up to him. So funny.

The Big Man's mom sent gifts over for them to open - one every day until Christmas. T.'s latest gift was a set of jumbo crayons. He used them to "write" a letter to Santa and said it was a secret so no one was able to see it. He made a big production out of telling us about it. He then hid it somewhere, so we really didn't get to see it.

T. Willy has learned a new phrase, and we heard it no fewer than 32 times yesterday. It was, "Maddie, you're driving me crazy!" It irritated her, but I thought it was funny, because it's what she says to him all the time.

And today I'm mailing cards and packages and buying baking goods. The fun can begin. Since I didn't get a picture with T. and Santa, I will close with more pictures that my mother-in-law sent of the snow that they had last week. This was taken at their church. Have a great day!

Snow? Not here

So the South was graced with snow last week. Did we get any? Not a flake. But I know a lot of people enjoyed it and sent us pictures, so we enjoyed it vicariously through them. Here is a picture that my mother in law sent from their church. It didn't last long, but they were able to enjoy it for awhile.














MK's band concert was wonderful. They have a new director this year, and at first, MK was less then enamored with him. However, she has realized that she has learned a lot from him, and feels that they are much better. He is very organized and has taught them a lot of discipline. It really showed at the concert. They were great!

I forgot to tell you that she also had a wonderful time at the Christmas party. She had so many stories to tell, and really enjoyed hanging with the Big Man. Tomorrow she is getting a hair cut. She has a definite idea of what she wants, so I will be sure to post pictures. It isn't really that different from what she has had, except that she will have bangs for the first time since maybe 2nd grade.

And that's a little update. Have a wonderful night!

All better

Thank you for all of your kind thoughts and comments. T. Willy is fine now. It didn't even require a doctor's visit. He went back to school yesterday, but has learned the art of, "I don't feel good," as a ploy to get out of school. He wasn't faking Monday, but has mentioned that he isn't going to feel well in the future because he realized illness gets him a day at home.

I did not have a day at home today. I subbed at MK's school, always my favorite. The classes were great. I was also asked to sub on Friday, so it really worked out well. It poured all day, and it was fun to sit in the class while listening to the rain.

Tomorrow will really be my last day at the college this semester. Four students did not pass Tuesday, so we'll be back tomorrow. They were frustrated, because they were all within four points, but the rules are the rules. One girl that passed (with one of the highest scores) actually hugged me after she found out that she had passed. She was so nervous, and cried while I was grading. Two students didn't even show up. They had both had great attendance all semester, and they showed up last Thursday for the written portion. One of them emailed me today, and he is going to be able to take the retest with the others, but he has to take both parts. It is a shame, because he had a decent score on the written part and likely would have passed on the first try.

MK has her band Christmas concert tomorrow. It should be fun. She has been telling me about the songs, and I can't wait to go.

I guess I'll go and figure out what we should do for dinner. Have a great night!

Today

I should have known something was off when T. Willy took a nap yesterday. He never naps at home. Occasionally he falls asleep in the car, but he never naps. So I shouldn't have been surprised when he woke up this morning burning up. He missed his first day of school. He said that one of his ears hurts a little, so I'm guessing an ear infection. MK used to get them a lot; they even mentioned putting tubes in, but she outgrew them, and I'm hoping T. Willy will do the same. So if he is feverish tomorrow, I'll take him to the doctor.

However, this means that we'll miss the Christmas party at the Big Man's restaurant. They're having a luau theme and they made a lot of luau related foods. I went there today for a couple of hours and helped them make mini-kabobs. The managers are wearing grass skirts. I am sorry that I'm going to miss that. MK is going to get to go. It doesn't start till 9, so she is taking a nap. Normally we wouldn't let her go out on a school night, but this is a special occasion, and she'll be with the Big Man while I hang out at home with T.

So that's about it. I'm hoping everyone passes in my class tomorrow so that I can get the grades tallied and turned in. If not, it will be over on Thursday. It's been a good semester, but I think everyone is ready for it to end

Have a great night!

Christmas Parade 2008

Take two on this post. I loaded 3 videos which seemed to take forever...as the last one was finalizing, the whole thing disappeared. Ugh.

So....last night was our Christmas parade. I am going to try to show 4 videos. The first is of T. Willy and MK before the parade. The next is T. Willy's setup. He had a front row seat complete with his wagon and a blanket and the Big Man's iPhone to play with while he waited for floats to pass. The third is of a float that I thought was hysterical. It portrayed an old fashioned revival. It cracked me up, as you will notice...I am a strange bird. The thing I found so funny was that the "preacher" just kept repeating, "We're going to sing Silent Night. Key of G. Key of G." They had instruments and looked ready to play, but we never did hear them sing. The last is of MK's band. She makes a brief appearance in it at the 18 second mark. She's the 3rd clarinet in. Usually she kind of scowls if I call her name. This time I didn't, and she seemed to appreciate it.

A highlight of the night was running into one of my students from last year. I've run into just about every other student from last year while subbing or shopping. But I haven't heard how he was doing. He approached me and seemed genuinely glad to see me, because he just talked and talked. It was so great. He has a tough life and had a reputation as a troublemaker. But we totally clicked. He was helpful and developed leadership skills and really learned to control his temper. I can't tell you how happy I was to see him.

So that was the parade. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a great week!

A

Parade night

Our Christmas parade was tonight. MK played in it with the band, and T.Willy, the Big Man and I watched from the sidelines. It was a cold night, perfect for a Christmas parade. We took some pictures and video, so I'll try to get them posted tomorrow.

I talked to my mom this evening. She and a friend spent the day on Long Island. Her friend spoke at a Ladies' Tea at a church there. It sounded like she had a great time. T. Willy talked to her, but she was a little confused when he was giving her the play by play of the Florida/Alabama game.

So that was our Saturday. Have a great Sunday!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I hope it's a wonderful day for you!

Thursday

My favorite day of the week.

The grading session went well. We grade papers for other instructors, but we find our students' grades too. It looks like all of my students are on track to pass. Two of my students attended most of the classes, but flaked out at the end. I told one that he could make up some missed work, but he still didn't do it, so I was relieved that they didn't show up today. It was much easier than having the "you've wasted your time and mine" conversation. I'm hopeful that everyone passes on Tuesday, then the semester will be over for all of us.

Our town's Christmas parade is Saturday. MK will march in it with the band, and we will watch from the sidelines. It is always a good time to catch up with friends that we don't see often, because it seems like everyone shows up for it.

T. Willy took a field trip at school today. They rode the school bus to a neighboring town (coincidentally the town where I go to teach) and delivered food that they had collected for needy people. Then they stopped at a really nice children's park to play for awhile. He seemed to really enjoy it and was so excited that his teacher sat by him on the bus ride home.

I am subbing tomorrow at MK's school, so I should start doing some things to get ready for that. Have a great night and a happy Friday!


T. by the tree

Shopping Day.

The Christmas shopping is almost complete. What a relief! We had a late start, but it's coming along. We have one surprise for MK that is going to blow her away. I just can't tell you yet. T. Willy is very much into punching...not people necessarily, but he shadow boxes all the time. So we got him a "bop bag" which should be a big hit. It is reminiscent of the old Bozo punching bag that I remember from my childhood, but this one has a Pittsburgh Steeler on it. MK wisely pointed out that we like the Steelers, so why would we want to punch them? I guess the answer is that we just can't allow anything Dallas Cowboys in our house.

So tomorrow begins finals in my class. I am planning to stop at the store in the morning to pick up some Smarties and Hershey's Kisses for the students for a little encouragement. In the afternoon I have to head back to the school for a grading session. Since I was working last semester, I didn't get to participate, but I'm looking forward to it this time. I'm so hopeful that the students do well, because I hate to see any of them have to repeat the class.

Have a great Thursday!

What's happening.

Not much. That's for sure.

We made travel plans to go away after Christmas. The kids and I will leave the day after Christmas and fly to Delaware, and we'll come home January 2nd. The Big Man will stay here and watch football and work. We're looking forward to it and hoping for snow. I never expect it, but would love to see it.

The weather here has been very unpredictable. It's been colder than usual, then it warms up, now it's cold again. However, it has me motivated to walk. I was doing that regularly for awhile, but have gotten out of the habit. So tomorrow I am determined to drop MK off at the bus stop and enjoy the cool morning.

But that morning will be here soon enough, so I'd better get to bed. Have a great night!!

December

First of all...happy 41st Anniversary to the Big Man's parents. Wow...among our peers, we have usually been married the longest, but we don't come close to our parents. 41 years for my in-laws and 45 for my parents. Makes 19 seem so short in comparison.

Anyway, it was back to school for the kids today. I didn't sub, so I had a nice quiet day at home. Tomorrow, in my college class, we have our last review, and start the first part of the final on Thursday. They will take the second part next Tuesday, and if everyone passes, that will be the end of the class. If anyone doesn't pass, they get a second chance to take it, but must take it all in one day. So, a week from Thursday, the class will be officially over. It has been a good class, albeit early for most of the students. I did learn something new. There are several athletes in the class. Before they come to class at 8 a.m., the female athletes have already worked out with their coaches. The men shouldn't complain about the early mornings, and it isn't the women who fall asleep in class.

So, that's it. Have a great night!

November 30

When I was a freshman in college, I received a phone call on this date that changed things. My friend from home, Jami, called to tell me that our mutual friend, Chuck, had been in a car accident. She didn't seem too worried about it, so I didn't worry. I talked to my mom later that night, and she had also heard about it and promised to keep me informed. Since I was in Virginia at the time, I relied on information from my friends and family. The news for a long time was that he was in a coma, but no one seemed too worried about it. I think we all assumed he was going to wake up. I went home for Christmas break and visited him in the hospital, and nothing changed. For quite a long time, I visited him in the hospital, but there was never an improvement. He changed hospitals, and his mom called and asked me to visit, because people had stopped going by, obviously myself included. I took another friend, Mark, with me, and we were able to walk him around in a wheelchair, but, while his eyes were open, and he sat upright, there was no indication that he was aware that we were there. His parents finally moved him to a long term care facility.

In June of 1990, I was now married, and my mom called. She had read in the newspaper that Chuck had died. His parents had a private service for him, and not very many people even knew that it had happened.

I am reminded of that time every year on this date. Chuck was my first really close friend to die. I still miss him. His mom and I still exchange Christmas cards, and I look forward to receiving hers every year.

This wasn't exactly the feel good post of the year. But I thought it was important to remember...because Chuck is remembered.

Rivalry Day

We are running some errands early today so that we can get home to watch football. Actually, the boys are going to watch football. MK and I are going to see the movie Twilight. She read the book and has been eagerly anticipating the movie. Somehow I missed out on the book, so I will just have to put up with MK saying, "That's not how it was in the book." But I'm looking forward to an afternoon out with MK.

Right now we're on the road heading out to start our Christmas shopping. Yes, I know many people that are already finished, but we are just beginning. The Big Man managed to get an unheard of third Saturday off in a row, so MK is babysitting T. and we are going to see what we can accomplish without them.

And that's it. Have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our day was quiet, but it turned out nicely. The Big Man went to work at 4 a.m., so the kids and I went there for a late breakfast. I ate something I haven't tried in 25+ years, because I never liked them...pancakes. MK ordered them and got me to try them, and they were wonderful! I always thought they were mushy and didn't like the syrup that we used, Log Cabin type. But these were a world apart from what I remembered. I may be eating breakfast 3 times a day.

We ate our dinner and are happily "miserable" (I stole the word miserable from Bridget...it is fitting.) We are watching the Eagles who are winning right now and ready to just settle in for the night. I talked to some good friends today and called my family this evening. They have a lot of company, so it was a hectic but fun call. I was so happy that my cousin's daughter answered the phone. I mentioned a few months ago that she had been diagnosed with cancer, but she has been responding well to her treatments and sounded bright and cheerful on the phone.

I hope the Eagles win, but more than that, I hope you had a great holiday and were able to spend it with people you care about! Happy Thanksgiving!

And we're home

Turkey Creek was a lot of fun. It is a walking trail along the creek with some swimming areas along the way. The kids had a good time walking and exploring. Better than hearing it from me, here are some pictures!











































































































Guess who took this?

Good morning!

The Big Man is working today, and the kids and I haven't been doing much, so we're going to have an adventure. Here is where we're going. T. Willy went there on a field trip a few weeks ago, but MK and I have never been. It is chilly today, but that should be part of the fun. We won't be trying out the swimming area today but will check it out for the future. We're going to pack a picnic lunch and just explore. I'll be sure to take some pictures.

When we get home, we'll start some Thanksgiving baking. I have a couple of new things to try, but I'll be making my standard "Garlic-Rosemary Turkey." A girl I worked with in Roanoke, VA, in 1992, gave me the recipe, and it's been requested every year. Some years it's better than others, but it's usually pretty good.

I've written about our Christmas traditions, but we don't really have any specific Thanksgiving traditions. When I was growing up, we alternated houses with my dad's sister and her family near Washington, D.C. This year they're at my mom's house. I admit that I'm a bit sentimental about it. The last time I had Thanksgiving with my parents was when I was expecting MK - 1994! My memories are of the big meal, football watching, football playing, then leftovers at night while playing board games. The last few years, the Big Man's parents have been here. They weren't able to come over this year, but we'll still have a good time.

I hope you'll have a wonderful holiday and let me know how you plan to spend it!!!

Not much to tell

The last couple of days have been quiet. The kids are glad to be out of school, but we haven't been doing much. I've been baking and making big breakfasts...both out of the ordinary for me. Breakfast for me usually means cold cereal, but for some reason I can't get enough hash browns and biscuits and eggs or French toast. I will be rolling around the house if this keeps up, but there's a breakfast casserole on the menu for tomorrow. I have been trying some of the recipes I found, and they have been appreciated. Here is a picture of MK and the "Lemon Drops." These are basically cupcakes with a lemon glaze and sugared cranberries on top. Dessert for us means chocolate 99.99% of the time, but I really wanted to try something different.












Thanksgiving is just about here. I cannot wait. I hope you have a wonderful time, wherever you are.

It's beginning to look a lot like...well, you know.

Yes, I'm early, but it feels good to already have it up and ready. Here is a picture of the outside taken with my phone. I'm not sure how much you can tell, but it's an attempt to show you. I keep saying that I'm not going to turn the lights on until Friday, but I know at least one neighbor may not believe me. I've turned the lights on twice just to check them, and the same neighbor has been out at both times. But they really aren't on for good yet.

We had a quiet weekend, but everyone caught up on rest. I tried a couple of new recipes yesterday, and I'm eager to try more. We are off this week and hope to find some interesting ways to spend our time.

And, MK and I have picked out our Christmas movie. We saw a commercial today for The Tale of Despereaux. MK and I read the book and loved it, and the movie is animated and rated G, so it should amuse T. Willy. I love to go to the movies, but rarely get a chance to go, so I do plan this early.

Have a great week!

MK is home

She had a wonderful time. She had so many stories, and I'm sure she'll have more as she remembers things. Her favorite thing was the Hyundai plant. She said that she walked into one building, thinking it was huge, and realized it was the smallest of the several buildings there. It was a great experience for her, and although she was carefully monitored by chaperones, was able to feel a bit independent.

My day went well, but very different than expected. I was asked to go in to teach p.e. I was there for one p.e. class (which met outside at first....have I mentioned that it is COLD here?) During that class, the principal came in and said that the teacher I was replacing was coming back. She was scheduled to drive a bus for a field trip, but there was some miscommunication and they ended up with too many drivers. He said that one of the secretaries was out and asked if I would mind working in the office. No problem. Then, while waiting for the p.e. teacher to return, another p.e. teacher received a phone call. His child was sick and he needed to pick him up. So he went to the principal, asked if I could take his class, and it looked like I was staying in p.e. Then...if you're still with me, he didn't have to pick up his son, so it was back to the office for me. I met the principal as I was entering the office. Another change of plans! A teacher had been demonstrating a science experiment (how height affects speed) and was running at full speed and tripped and fell and it looked like he had broken his wrist. So I ended up in Science class. What fun school is on the day before a week long break! (Note some sarcasm there.) But it all ended well, and I learned several things. I am also hoping that all of this interaction is going to help the principal think of me favorably if he has future hiring to do.

The school where I worked this week is being closed and a new school has been built to replace it. We found out today that our neighborhood has been rezoned and MK would be attending the new school. She is so happy that she won't have to change schools during middle school. We know several people whose kids will have to change schools...not that it's a bad thing, because the new school is a bit closer to our house and it looks beautiful. All of the teachers and administration at the old school will just be moving to the new one, but surely they'll need to add some teachers, right? I am trying to be optimistic.

Chellie asked what we're doing for the holiday. We will be home. The Big Man is working until 3:00 or so, so the kids and I may go to his restaurant for a late breakfast, then we'll eat dinner when he gets home. I enjoy that, because I love to spend the day in the kitchen getting ready. My in-laws were in town for a few days, and my mother-in-law gave me a bunch of magazines with some recipes that I'm eager to try. So I'll let you know how it goes.

And we are going to do something tomorrow that we never do. We are going to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. The Big Man has an extremely rare 2nd Saturday in a row off of work before he starts a long stretch without any days off, so this is the best time for us to do it together. The cold weather has something to do with us all being in the Christmas spirit early this year. I think we have burned more fires this month than we did all of last fall/winter combined. It was so warm last year but has been really cold this year; yet no word of snow. I will continue to hope but not expect.

That's it for us. I hope you have a great weekend! I can't wait to hear about them!

I miss MK.

MK went on her overnight field trip to Montgomery, AL. She has been to a planetarium, some civil rights landmarks, and a Hyundai plant. She has sent us several texts and seems to be having a great time. I went to sleep early last nght and woke up to find two more texts. She was being annoyed by two of her roommates. She described herself and her best friend as the "moms" of the room. I hope she was able to get some sleep. Today she is going to the Shakespeare Festival then should be home in time for dinner.

T. Willy knew she would be away. The first thing he said when he woke up yesterday was, "I miss Maddie." I assured him that she wouldn't be gone long, and he accepted that.

This might make you laugh...I am subbing today in a p.e. class. This should be fun.

And no school next week for any of us; we can celebrate and sleep in!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Brrrrrr

We spent some time this evening on the hammock watching for the Leonid meteor shower. We did not see any meteors, but we had a great time looking for them. It was freezing (well, 39, almost freezing,) but we bundled up in blankets. MK was hilarious. She really enjoys some time without T. Willy. She has a great sense of humor, and it really shines when she gets rolling.

MK is going on an overnight trip with her Social Studies class on Thursday. They will have a packed two days. They are going to a planetarium, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a Civil Rights museum, and an auto plant. I can't wait to hear how it goes. She was given the "behavior lecture" tonight, so I think she's ready.

I am completely enjoying the cold weather. I sit on my front porch in the rocking chair and read, and I don't mind a bit. I love it! However, there was snow in Delaware today (and Virginia as I've now realized.) I am jealous!!! Mostly because they were able to see it snow, but it didn't stick, so they aren't having to deal with it. I just want to watch it snow, not drive in it.

And that's it for me tonight. I hope you have a great one!!!

Good evening

Do you "hulu?" Hulu.com was recently introduced to me. It shows episodes of classic tv shows. I 'hulu' for one reason...Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It was broadcast in 30 minute or hour long episodes, and I cannot get enough. My brother introduced it to me when I was in high school, and it is just as good and creepy as I remember. So if you have been looking for yet another time waster, "Hulu!"

That's it for me. I sub again tomorrow, and that is the last I have scheduled. I'm hoping more dates will come up, but the job search continues. I found a job that sounded perfect for me, but it was 900 miles away. I'm afraid the commute would be a bit strenuous, so I'll keep looking around here.

Have a wonderful night!!!

Good morning!

The Big Man had a rare Saturday off, so we spent the day running errands and watching football and movies. T. Willy was very resistant to go out with us. He wanted to stay home and play and was quite upset to have to leave. He pouted for a little while then came up to me and said, "I changed my mind," and was fine after that. That truly is indicative of his easygoing personality. MK did not mind going, until she realized that we were leaving now, and she still had wet hair. The horror! Fortunately for her, we only ran into one friend, and she realized that it didn't matter what her hair looked like!!

So, that's about it for us. I hope you have a wonderful day, no matter how your hair looks!!

The Kite Runner

A friend of mine, an English teacher in a neighboring county, recommended the book The Kite Runner to me. I read it and have to say that it was one of the last books that I've read that I absolutely couldn't put down until I'd finished it. In our local newspaper today, there was an article about it. A concerned mother wants the book removed from her child's high school reading list. Incidentally, her child is not in the class that has the book on its list. MK and I were just talking about it last night. She asked if she could read it, and I told her that she wasn't ready yet; it was more high school appropriate. Now this article made me think. The concerned mother submitted a five page list of things she found objectionable. I admit, the reason that I would not want MK to read it now is due to a shocking crime depicted in the book. I would love to read the list, though, to see five pages of objections. So, I'm just curious if anyone out there has read the book, or heard about it, and what you might think.

Maybe it's the moon

I was awoken at 4:30 to the sound of T. Willy crying. I went into his room and calmed him down by snuggling in his bed with him. He recovered quickly and asked for a drink of water. So I went into the kitchen, poured him a cup of water, walked it back to his room, and he was already sound asleep! I came back to bed, was almost asleep, and he cried out again. He only did it once, but I'm wide awake now. I need to be up in 45 minutes, so there is no point going back to sleep now.

Yesterday was an uneventful day. I gave a practice exam at the college. That class is winding down, and we are reviewing for their final quite a bit. T. Willy and I went to the library and on a grocery trip that I've been putting off. I was trying to get rid of everything that I could, but couldn't hear, "There is no food in this house," one more time. That was my signal to go. T and I enjoyed the most beautiful full moon while we were out, and I was able to get a book I've been waiting for, so it was a fun night after all.

I'm subbing today, so I may as well get up and start getting ready. I hope you have a great day!

Happy Day for MK

MK had an orthodontist appointment today and they took off her expander. She is so happy! They sent it home with her as a keepsake, and she asked if we had a sledgehammer. Already her speech has improved. We really had trouble understanding her with it, and she already talks really fast, so that just compounded it. But now she is speaking clearly, and just has to deal with braces. Eating has been an issue with the expander too, so she got to pick dinner tonight. She chose Chinese, which was good for everyone.

So I'm going to sit down to recover from my MSG overload and watch the CMAs.

Have a great night!

Good morning

I found this video of T. Willy while looking through some old pictures. He's 2 years old in it. We couldn't stop watching it.

May I come to your house?

Well, I was thinking that earlier...things have calmed down now. Earlier we had three giggly teenaged girls and a very excited four year old running around. I was ready for a break. They were well behaved, just LOUD. I actually don't mind; I'm always glad to have MK's friends here. They helped with dinner and made tea (a big deal, if you knew the amount of tea that is consumed at our house. I don't drink it and am glad to relinquish the responsibility of making it.) One of the girls left, and one girl is spending the night because there is no school tomorrow. Do I dare dream that I can sleep till 7:00? I suspect I'll still be up and about around 6.

Subbing went well today. I had four Social Studies classes and a free period, then I had to take the last class to an assembly. It was a great day. The assembly was to honor our veterans, and it was really good. The band and chorus performed, and a few people spoke. One was a veteran of the Vietnam War, and he really personalized it. I hope the kids took it in. So thanks to all of the veterans out there for their duty and sacrifices.

And I'm off to watch football. I'm glad I don't care about either team, because the teams I do care about went 0-6 this weekend. It's much easier to enjoy the game when I won't be disappointed either way. I hope you have a great night!!

Sleep well

T. Willy certainly is. He has not adjusted to the time change yet. He is still getting up around 6 a.m. and fell asleep tonight at 7:00. We have to get up early tomorrow to go to school, so I won't mind if he gets up early.

We had a very nice weekend. Today I cleaned the house, made a real dinner, baked a cake, and did laundry! I don't exactly live on the edge, but it feels good to have accomplished so many things.

I leave you with a picture of T. Willy as he looked when he fell asleep watching MK play Rock Band tonight. I hope you have a great week!

I love a parade

We had a good time at the parade today. It was much smaller than the Homecoming and Christmas parades, but it was still nice. We saw a lot of scouts and students all out to celebrate our veterans. We live in a military town, so we know a lot of veterans, young and old, and we were glad to show up and thank them for their service!

I am posting from the laptop in front of the fireplace. We are enjoying our first fire of the season, and it is very comforting. It's not really that cold; we also have the windows open. It is still enjoyable though. MK is at the fair, and we are watching football. It is definitely fall!

I will close with some silly pictures. We arrived at the parade early, so T. Willy and I had some time to kill. I was trying to get one decent picture of the two of us. I didn't succeed. But they're fun and reflect T. Willy's mood and my inadequacy gauging composition with my phone. The one in which he looks the most fed up was actually the first one that I took. I am also including one of T. in front of the fire in his cozy pajamas.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!! Good night!

Looking forward to tomorrow

We don't have any big plans, but we don't have to get up early. I am not an early riser by nature (see yesterday's post...no wonder.) But due to school schedules, I am up around 5:30 every weekday morning. I'm hoping T. sleeps until at least 7:00, but I'll probably be up by then anyway. MK has to march with the band in the Veteran's Day parade tomorrow afternoon, but that is our only obligation, and it doesn't require getting up early. She is going to a fair in town tomorrow night with a friend, so she will have a full day.

I'm subbing on Monday and Friday, so it should be a full week, but I don't teach Tuesday due to Veteran's Day. So I'll spend the day thanking our wonderful veterans and enjoying the day with the kids. I can't believe the semester is winding down already. We've been doing some practice exams to get the students ready for their final. It's a state exam with both a writing portion and an objective portion. I don't grade the writing, so I'm trying to prepare them as well as I can. It has been a lot of fun, but 8:00 classes are tough. I am wide awake, but most of the students aren't.

So, that's a little update. Have a wonderful night!!!

A chip off the old block

Before I had children, I wondered what characteristics my kids would have. At that time I thought about physical characteristics. I prayed for MK to have brown eyes, and she does! People usually say MK looks like I do, and I have even heard T. Willy referred to as "Little Erik." However, the behavioral things are what I notice more these days. MK is quick on her feet like her dad. She's funny and right there with the joke. T. Willy loves letters and words, just like his mom. MK has a real gift of empathy; she always thinks of others. Her dad is like that. I'm not, though I wish I were. But the thing that struck me tonight was sleep patterns. MK and I can stay up all night, as Melissa may remember. But when the Big Man and T. Willy are ready for sleep, it's time to sleep.

T. Willy's bedtime is 8:00 on school nights. I would do anything to avoid my bedtime as a kid. My mom had to stop giving me naps when I was 2, because I would want to stay up all night. I think I was afraid I might miss something. MK is very similar. When she went to her first slumber party, the parents told me that she was the last one to fall asleep. That happened several times after that. But T. Willy isn't like that at all. He likes to go to bed. Imagine my surprise tonight when he asked at 7:40, "Can I go to sleep now?" I'm not sure those words have ever come out of my mouth. I can tell you, it's very nice to have a child like that, but I can't relate.

So, T. Willy is tucked in bed for the night, and MK is going strong. I hope you have a good night, whatever your sleep patterns may be!

Pictures

I love my phone

I am actually walking around my neighborhood posting from my phone. I haven't run into a car or garbage can yet, but there's still time!

I hurried home from school today to participate in a phone interview. It was the follow-up to an online interview I had completed awhile ago. I was told to prepare for it to take 20-30 minutes but it took 6 or 7. I'm not sure if it was because my answers were so cleverly put together and I was so quick on my feet, or it just took her a short time to decide I wasn't right for the job. Either way I should know in the next week or so. It is to teach some online English classes similar to what I'm teaching now. It's part time, but I could work from home, so I could design the schedule. I'm optimistic but not counting unhatched chickens.

Pictures will follow as soon as I get home. It's a beautiful afternoon. It has warmed up but the air still has a crispness to it. I hope your day is going well too!

It's over.

And by that, I mean the election. Now let's move on.

Today was a good day. I taught, voted, went to the library and a bookstore. How lovely to have so many books! But that wasn't the best thing about the day. MK and I had the nicest afternoon we've had in a long time. She just sat on my bed while I ironed and we talked and talked. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. Rock Band 2 arrived, so we played that for awhile. I got a 100% on a Duran Duran song. Who knew? Then we went outside and built a fire in the fire pit. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and made smores. Then we sat by the fire and talked until there were just a few coals left. It was cool outside, and a great night to just sit outside and talk. T. Willy did get a little bored, but he was a great sport and was worn out, because he fell asleep on the Big Man's lap. I will post pictures soon, but their quality will be a bit lacking. Most were taken with my phone and light was at a minimum. But it was a good family night.

I'm subbing at MK's school tomorrow...7th grade English, my favorite! So I'd better get to bed. Have a wonderful night!

See you at the poll

I have absolute convictions, but my blog has never been a political forum, nor is it going to be now. I will exercise my right to vote tomorrow, and I will choose the candidate of my choice. Because that is what my vote is...my choice. I will base it on what I feel strongly about, and I will vote for the candidate that I feel is best suited for the job. And if my candidate of choice doesn't win, I will move on. If I have any quibble with politics, it is that people have lost the ability to 'agree to disagree.' If you don't agree with me, we can still be friends. There are so many things that divide us; this shouldn't be one of them.

November

It is now my favorite time of year. The holidays are coming but not soon enough to overwhelm. It's cool outside, and this year has seemed cooler than most in recent memory. It is just a wonderful time.

Not much is going on. The Big Man has to work today, so I need to find something for the kids to do. I'm thinking a trip to the park sounds like fun. There is a park in our neighborhood that is close enough to walk to, or for T.Willy to ride to in the wagon. There is a pretty big hill, but I could use the workout.

That's it. Have a great day!

The day after

We met up with some friends and had a great time trick or treating last night. MK didn't really get candy, but brought a friend and they were a big help with T. Willy. We walked with his friend, D, and a new friend, K. However, when they got tired, T. Willy wouldn't ride in the wagon with K., because she is a girl, I guess. Maybe it was just because he didn't know her well. But they all had a good time, and came home with a lot of candy. I'm not sure how the honor system worked with the candy, but the candy was gone and our bowl remained, so I'm hoping the first people there didn't take the entire stash.

T. Willy hamming it up.

















T. with friends, D and K.
















T. Willy and Mk.

















Mk's costume idea was a little light this year. She got this from the Addams Family movie.


And that was our night. Have a great day! And Happy November!

Ups and Downs

I subbed today at MK's school. I had very good instructions from the teacher, and was all ready for a good day. The schedule relied heavily on technology, but technology was not my friend today. When I finally figured out how to play the video we were supposed to watch for 3/5 of each class period, and placing a 6:50 a.m. call to the teacher who probably thought he was going to get to sleep in, I was able to relax a bit. Then 10 minutes into the 30 minute video, it shut off and restarted. Fortunately, the classes were good, and had plenty of other things to keep themselves busy; however, it did create a little stress for me. Usually I dress up a bit to sub. MK usually approves my outfits and shoes, because apparently her friends keep track, but today I wasn't up to it. Of course, today would be the first time I get to meet the principal. Way to make an impression. I wasn't sloppy or anything, just not dressed up, heels, big hair...I was blouse, pants, loafers and a ponytail. Egads...Hello, principal W. whom I hope will hire me someday, I'm Annette, I have degrees in English and Reading, and yes, I wear a ponytail. What a day!

But now it's over and we're home. The kids are excited about trick or treating. The Big Man is working late tonight, so I am going to walk the kids around and leave our home unmanned. We are going with the honor system and placing a large bowl of candy on the front porch. We'll see how it works out. MK was going to walk with some friends in another neighborhood, but I decided it would be better if she came with us in ours. She is a good help with T. Willy going up to the doors.

And last night was the last football game of the year and of MK's middle school years. They combined two middle school and the high school bands for the halftime show, so here is a picture of it. They took up the entire field. It was most impressive.
















Have a great day and Happy Halloween!!!

Holy strikeout, Batman!

The season is over and the Phillies are World Champions!!! I'm a little excited! I was in sixth grade the last time they won the Series. There will be a party in Philly tonight!

So much for global warming

It has been cold here! Not snowing as it was in New Jersey yesterday, but definitely cold. Tomorrow is MK's last football game of middle school. Due to extreme budget cuts, the band did not travel with the football team. So we only attended home games this year. But we still had a great time and I will be sorry to see it end. The two middle schools in town are playing each other and their bands are joining the high school band for the final performance.

I am also hoping that the baseball season ends tonight!

My parents left this morning. My mom sent a text from South Carolina saying that all was well. They are stopping to visit a friend tonight then should get back to Delaware tomorrow.

Today I subbed at MK's school. It was a pleasant experience as always. It is so neat to be there and see MK and so many of the kids that I've known for so long. Today was "mismatch" day. I'll try to post a picture of MK and her friend when I can get actual computer time. They went all out and looked great.

So that's an update from us. The girls finally decided on their costumes. I'll be sure to post pictures. I think this year will be harder to guess than last year, but I'll see what you think.

That was quick.

So my parents are already leaving tomorrow. We kept pretty busy while they were here. I think T. Willy will especially miss them. He spent the last two nights with them and is going to be lost without his constant playmates. My mom played a lot of Wii with him and my dad took him for walks and played outside with him for hours. They also both took turns picking him up from and taking him to school. My mom and I finally went to that movie today. It was a lot of fun, and nice for the two of us to get away.

I am subbing tomorrow and Friday, so that is keeping me nice and busy. MK is stressing because she still doesn't know what to be for Halloween. I have given her dozens of ideas, but she always finds reasons to reject them. I can't wait to see what she finally comes up with. T. Willy is still going to be a pirate. I really hope he doesn't change his mind.

The Big Man and MK have been under the weather, so they went to the doctor yesterday. MK was just starting to get sick, so we may have avoided the worst. I am afraid the Big Man waited too long. The doctor described his throat as the worst he had seen in weeks. It made him miserable but tested negative for strep. He is off for the next couple of days. Hopefully the rest will help.


And that's it from us. Have a great day! Feel free to pass along any Halloween costume ideas. She and her friend would like to pair up, but can't agree either. They've rejected Laverne and Shirley and Lucy and Ethel (neither one wanted to be Ethel.) I am tired of making suggestions. Maybe she'll listen to someone else!

Have a wonderful night!!!
A

Just another day

So the birthday celebrations have come to an end. But it was a wonderful weekend! Many friends and family made it very special, and I want to thank each one of you who did. You know who you are!

My parents came over for breakfast on Saturday. I made french toast, my favorite, and then we left T. Willy with my dad, the Big Man went to work, and MK, my mom, and I went to the band competition. The middle school was just doing an exhibition for the high schools, but they did a great job, and made us proud! After the middle school played, we watched a couple of bands in the competition, then went to the Big Man's restaurant for dinner. We had a server named Jeff. We've known Jeff for years. He started working there in high school, I think, and just finished college, and will be leaving for the National Guard in January. MK has always thought a lot of him, because he has always been kind to her, and has never treated her like a kid, but like a real person. T. Willy is under his spell now. During the meal, he asked how to spell Jeff, and wrote it on the menu. Then he said, "I like Jeff. I am going to make him on Wii." And that it the first thing he did when he got home. There is no higher praise for him than making a Wii character in your likeness.

After dinner my mom and I went back to the high school to watch the rest of the competition. It was really good. Our hometown high school performed but did not compete, since they were the hosts. But they were amazing! We live in a band town, and it was evident. Wow!

Yesterday we went to Pensacola with my parents. Some friends of theirs moved there from Delaware a couple of years ago, so we went to church with them, then out to lunch. T. Willy made another friend...the husband, "Mr. Buddy." He wouldn't leave the poor man alone. You may have guessed that we now have a Mii named "Buddy." It was a fun day, and nice to meet some new people.

Today I subbed at MK's school, and I lined up two more days of subbing. I love it at the school, so that was great news. Otherwise, there is NO news on the job horizon. Not even an interview. It's discouraging, but if the subbing keeps up, it will be okay. I found out that the friend who started me subbing there is reading my blog now. So, thank you, KS, for putting a good word in for me! Now may I read your blog?

That's about it. Have a great day. I'll leave you with a picture of the band. It's nothing new, just a daytime picture. MK is on the 3rd row from the right, but it's really too hard to see her well. Also, I've included a picture of me before my birthday...savoring any youth that I have left. Oh I crack myself up. Seriously, age doesn't bother me a bit! Have a great day!


























As I close, the Phillies are winning 2-0 in the fourth inning. This could clinch the Series for them. Go, Phils!!!!

Aaarrghhh.

That's about as pirate as I can get. Tonight was a fall festival at T. Willy's school. He chose his costume, and we kind of pieced it together. I don't sew, except to make repairs, and didn't want something totally store bought. So this is what we came up with. He enjoyed it until he saw a picture of himself with the "beard." Oh well. My parents were able to go with us and we all had fun. Too bad the Big Man had to work. It was really crowded, but they kept it moving pretty well. So here are MK and T. Willy before we left.

Happy Birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday!

You!
How many birthdays have you celebrated so far? 38
When's your next one coming up? It's tomorrow!!
If you could get anything, realistically speaking, what would you ask for? (It's my birthday, why be realistic?) Jewelry
If you could ask for something magic or like superpowers, which kind? I wish I could fly.
Who do you want to be with during your birthdays? Family. This wish came true...my parents are here!!!
How do you plan to celebrate your upcoming birthday? We are going to a band competition at MK's school, then out to dinner, and at some point this weekend, a movie. I rarely get to go to movies in the theater, so this is a big deal, because I love to go to movies.

Happy Birthday!
What was the best birthday present you've ever received? There are so many...hard to name just one. But I would have to say getting the Mustang painted for my 16th (story below.) The Big Man also gave me a leather skirt when we were in college, and that was a pretty good one too.
What was the best birthday you've ever had? Hands down, my 16th.
Why was it so great? We had tons of people at my house, and it was just a blast! My mom was scraping candy corn off the basement floor, but people helped her clean up, so she didn't seem to mind.
What is your fave birthday activity, even if you haven't done it (yet)? Going out to dinner.
Who would you love to come to your birthday to celebrate with you? Since my parents are already here, I would say my brother and his family and Shannon and her family.
Blowin' out the candles
What did your family do to celebrate your birth? My dad tried to call our family, but no one was home, so he called the operator, because he had to tell someone. I suspect my mom rested.
What happened for your 7th birthday? I had a party and got the Bionic Woman action figure!!!
What happened for your 12th birthday? Since my birthday is close to Halloween, I had a costume party. I dressed like a nun.
What happened for your sweet 16th? My mom checked me out of school early to get my driver's license, and I had a party. My dad bought a 1967 Mustang when I was in 3rd grade or so, and it pretty much moved from our garage to our driveway for years. When I was about to turn 16, I asked my dad if he could get it running. He did. It had been green and pretty rusty, but during the party, he brought it home and had gotten it painted candy apple red. It was beautiful and is such a great memory! I loved that car. I still miss it.
What happened for your 21st birthday? I worked that night, but my mom had roses delivered to me at work.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!
Would you be okay with dying on your birthday? One of my grandmothers did, and the other was buried on her birthday, so it's a likelihood, and that's just as good a day as any. Hopefully not this one, though.

Thursday night

We were so excited for my parents to be here tonight to watch MK play with the band. Unfortunately it was pouring rain and the band did not play. My parents and I sat through the first half in the rain, then we left. It was still fun, albeit very wet and cold, and my mom has developed a new taste for Florida football fare...boiled peanuts. (I realize boiled peanuts aren't exclusive to Florida, but I couldn't resist the alliteration.) Now we are home and trying to get warm. I just watched West Virginia beat Auburn tonight, but the Phillies are losing right now, so I'm going to go and watch and will them to win. Good night!

Thursday

There are definitely more, but here are three good things today: the Phillies won last night! My parents arrived safely yesterday!! I am using my new phone right now!!!

I am getting ready for school, but I wanted to mention those things. I hope at least three wonderful things happen to you today!!!

Go Phillies

I am so excited that the Phillies are in the World Series, but these games will not be relaxing to watch. So I'll just post a picture of me in my Phillies garb...no fair weather fan am I. These things are old and hoping for a win!!!

So....

The AT&T store was not any help yesterday. I called Apple's helpline and really only heard, "You need to get to an Apple store." But, at the time, we thought our closest Apple store was in Atlanta, a good 5 hour drive away. We learned, however, that there is one in Birmingham. So I am posting right now from my brand new replacement phone from Birmingham. It was still a 3 1/2 hour drive, but they replaced my phone instead of making me pay full cost. I am very happy! And I have a new case, and hope this never happens again. We were in the same shopping center that the Big Man came to last week to buy my Cheesecake Factory meal, but, understandably, we didn't stop today. We are heading home, because my parents are coming today! I hope you have something fun to look forward to today!

A sad, sad day

Well, for me at least. I dropped my Iphone this morning and shattered the glass on it. I am so sad. My fingers may atrophy due to lack of texting. I will be heading to the AT&T store after my class.

Why I blog

I read several blogs, although not as many as I used to. Today I caught up on some that I haven't read in awhile. In one I learned that the writer who has waited 3 years to adopt a baby from China got her referral and had posted a picture of her baby. She hopes to have her home by Christmas. I have never met her, or even left her a comment, but still teared up while reading. I read another blog which I couldn't wait to show MK. The writer attended a wedding in which all of the groomsmen wore black Chucks. MK was just telling me that she hopes everyone in her bridal party wears them...black for the guys and white for the girls. (She's 13, let's hope that is a long way off.) She loved it. I also read a blog that deeply disappointed me. You never know what you'll learn. But that is the blogging world.






Two pairs of MK's Chucks...the off-white ones were custom made for her via the Converse website. She completely designed them. She also has a black pair.



































Blogging was introduced to me by Melissa. She encouraged me to start it as a way to document things for the kids. I am forever indebted to her. I know that the blogging community gives awards for blogs. My blog is not the kind that will win awards: that was never the point. I simply hope that it is a sincere look at our lives that the kids can read and remember. It is a way to share with our family and friends what's going on in our lives, because I am not the best at keeping in touch. I only wish I had learned of it sooner.

So, thank you for reading and have a great night!

Tent...part 2

We had a great, albeit, uneventful time in the tent. We made it all night long and woke up freezing!! Our neighbor's dog started barking at 7:00, and we all decided it was time to go inside. But it was just so nice to be outside that we are trying it again tonight. This time it will just be T. Willy and me. MK is spending the night with a friend, and the Big Man has to work at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. It wasn't that cool when we went to sleep last night, but it's already pretty cool, so we are going to bundle up a bit more.

We just found out that my parents are going to visit us this week. They are very busy in their retirement, but found some spare time and decided to head south. We can't wait. They will get to see MK at her football game this week, and we are all very excited about that. My birthday is next Saturday, and I'm pretty sure this is the first birthday they've spent with me since 1988!

So I will leave you with a picture of T. Willy in his very warm "footie" pajamas. He is giving his best 4 year old "cheese." I will spare you a picture of me in my pajamas...no feet.

Blogging from the tent...

just because I can. We have been singing and telling stories. Now T. Willy has announced he is going to sleep. We will see. MK joined us, a nice surprise because she had been undecided all night. The Big Man may not join us. He isn't home from work yet and has to be back at work at ten in the morning. I think he would not feel quite as rested out here. So that's it for us. Good night!

80s night

MK had her friend, Chrissy, over for dinner last night. They mentioned that "Spirit Week" is coming up soon at school. They will have crazy sock day and things like that. However, the one that garnered the most attention was "80s night!" I can remember thinking how long ago the 60s had seemed in the 80s and it's no different for MK. But for me...weren't the 80s just yesterday? Anyway, the girls were asking for some ideas. It turned into dress up night. I still have my prom dress and the jean jacket that I bought from "The Gap" in 1987 with money I earned at my big career at McDonald's. So we pulled them out and had a photo op. MK wore my prom dress and Chrissy didn't have anything to wear, so we pulled out my very 80s wedding dress. T. Willy didn't want to be left out so he got to wear MK's Kindergarten graduation gown. And here are some pictures.

















































































And last weekend we cancelled putting up the tent, because it was supposed to rain. T. Willy was so disappointed. But I did put it up tonight...in the rain. I was soaked, but T. Willy is happy, so that made it worth the effort. The tent, however, stayed nice and dry, and it is supposed to get to 55 tonight, so it should be a fun time. I'll let you know!!! Here is the tent halfway finished and before the rain.























Have a great night!!!