The rain continues.

Rivers are high and we are staying close to home. I did accompany the kids to check on the neighbor's dog tonight. Here is a picture of T. Willy in his rain gear and a picture of the birds that continue to nest in the neighbor's door decoration.

That's what she said.

MK has an app on her phone that will play that saying. Today she was playing it over and over. T. Willy picked up on it, and that's what we've all been saying this afternoon. I'm glad no one else is around, because they'd be very annoyed with us.

We have had a good day. The Big Man was off, so we went out to lunch After lunch we drove to "the country" and bought strawberries at our favorite farm. We would have picked them ourselves, but as we drove it started pouring. So we bought some that were already picked. We rented some movies, dinner is in the crockpot and it's raining outside. MK and I are sitting down ready to watch "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," and that's it for us. I hope your day is just as fun!

T. at the farm
















Me in the rain after checking the mail.

While I was out....

I ran an errand tonight, and now I know what goes on when I'm away. MK sent me these pictures. When T. Willy was a baby, we would buy him Solo cups because he loved to play with them. Nothing has changed.



The big difference is that I wouldn't normally let T. Willy stand on the island.

From MK!

This is Logan, the dog that MK is watching. She is having so much fun!


















We had a good day. The kids played outside and took it easy, and I started Spring Cleaning with the kitchen. It was a lot of work, but I'm so happy to have it finished. Next up: the kids' rooms.

So that's about it. Have a great day!

Today was a good day. We went back to a church we hadn't been to in awhile, and we were really glad to be back. MK and I walked T. Willy into his class, and he looked around and wanted nothing to do with it. The teacher was really nice and showed him all of the things they'd be doing and learning, but he politely declined. We weren't going to force him, so we took him into church with us. As soon as it started, he realized he was going to have to be quiet, and I had no snacks. So, back to the class we went. As soon as we got there, a boy from school was walking in. That was good enough. He walked right in, and when church was over, he couldn't stop talking about how much he wanted to go back. So we will be going back.

The Big Man is working late tonight, so the kids and I hung out today. I finally planted most of my garden. We had three straight days of rain, so it was great to get outside again. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful night.

MK is having a ball watching our neighbor's dog. She checks on him frequently and always has a story to tell when she gets home. I think she likes it so much because we don't have a pet. We talked about it pretty seriously recently, but she decided it would be all her responsibility, and she wasn't up for it right now.

And that's it. I'll close with a picture of me at school at my desk. Have a great week!

When a 5 year old dresses himself....

You get a shirt on backwards and socks on his hands...sock puppets according to him.

MK makes chocolate milk

She really must have been bored today, but she is looking forward to the week. Our neighbors are going out of town, and they asked her to take care of their dog. She cannot wait. She's watched their dog before, and he is very sweet. But here is what she sent me today...and, again, her comments are in blue.


I'm thinking chocolate milk.












Cup











Milk















Add chocolate.













Add malted milk.










Mix well










Enjoy!










I really hope we'll find some more interesting things to post about this week. Now I'm off to Lowe's. We are having a contest at work for decorating our doors. I'm not sure I have a winning idea, but I want my class to make a respectable showing. Any ideas? Help!

About MK

MK and T. Willy didn't have school today, but I did. The Big Man is closing tonight, so he was home with the kids for most of the day. It poured all day, and it finally stopped as I was driving home. MK was a little bored, so she sent me some pictures. I have permission to post most of them as well as the comments she made, which will be in blue. I was laughing so hard...fortunately my students had some down time. I wasn't actually checking during class time. Sometimes I'm not as sure, but today she is definitely my daughter.

Woke up pretty late












Eh, I'll make that later.










Good morning, T.









Beauty sleep has not been good to me.












Always wash your hands.








:D











What should I eat?













About to take a shower.











Thankfully the pictures ended there...but it was so fun to get a new e-mail from her and wonder what was next...and next? A demonstration.

Ups and Downs

So many times today I thought to myself, "I'm going to blog this," but I have no idea how to remember it all. So I'll just post what I can think of now.

In the morning it looked like it was going to rain. And did it ever! It poured; we had a tornado warning, and we were stuck inside. Chapel is on Thursdays, but it was cancelled because of the storm, and we had so much to do that it helped us accomplish everything. We also had practice for the program tonight, 2 tests and the basic classwork. Then, I went home for about an hour, changed clothes, and went back to school for the program and parent teacher meetings...not really conferences, just a chance to talk to the parents after the program. I was home around 8:40, and that was a relief.

During the day, however, the Big Man texted that T. Willy had gotten sick at school. I tried to get out, but with all the activity at school, all of the subs were busy. Fortunately, MK skipped band and was able to come home and watch T. so the Big Man could go to work. She also babysat him while I was gone tonight. T. was fine. He has always had a sensitive gag reflex, and I think that's the only reason he was sick. He's been great the rest of the night.

A downer today? I don't take it personally, because I know T. didn't do this on purpose, but today he was talking to me and called me "Daddy." I know it was a slip of the tongue, and really it's a good thing, because he's so connected to his dad, but it's a reminder of how much I'm away now. He just doesn't get to talk to me as much as he used to. It's not just that I'm working, but I work 35 or so minutes away, so the drive time adds up too. But there's always a bright side...we had a great time at bedtime. We told stories and snuggled and reconnected, and Spring Break starts tomorrow!!!! I also spent the hour that I was home with MK, and we had a great time! We talked and laughed and tried shoes on, and she helped me get ready for tonight.

So....that's enough. Here is a picture of me ready for the program tonight (I had to wear pantyhose!!!! I wasn't even certain I owned any!) And then I'm posting a pic of T. Willy that I took before I left. He's playing Xbox360 and decided he needed to wear his Xbox hat while he played. Have a great night!!!

She made it...

And she had makeup on and her hair looked good. Turns out today is the day for spring pictures, so she had straightened her hair last night. What a girl!!!

What a way to start the day

So I woke up at 5:00 and realized that I hadn't set my alarm. That was fortunate, because I don't have to be up until 5:30. I went to MK's room and woke her as I always do. She responded as she always does, so I went back to my room to take a shower. At 6:07, I went to her room to talk and get ready to walk her to the bus. She was still in bed! This has only happened once or twice. Now it's a nailbiter to see if she will make it to the bus by 6:20...I'm really hoping it isnt early today. I hope your day has started out better!!!

In the garden

Here is an item we bought for the front garden area. I think it's called a hose guard; it keeps the hose from spreading the mulch everywhere when we water the garden. We have 3 of them, but they're all alike.































I think I've been at my job for three weeks now...maybe four...I'm not sure. But it's going pretty well. I'm getting used to the routine, and I'm not overwhelmed like I was at first. I was reminded today how quickly I have become attached to the kids. I had been told that one of their last days was going to be Friday, but this morning found out that it was today. The kids were saddened that they didn't get more time with him, and I was too, because he is a great kid! (Yes, I know I'm supposed to say they all are, but this one was more endearing than some.) Anyway, he's moving to South Carolina, and he will be missed here.

So, that's it for me now. Have a great evening!

Photo update

I took one serious "here is what we saw" picture. This is it: our state Supreme Court building under construction.














The rest of the pictures were mostly for fun.

I cannot believe I'm posting this one, but here it is. This was at the museum. It had activities where the kids could test leverage and sound waves. This one was about pulleys. They had a few different ones. I was amazed that I was able to pull myself up. I must have been on the easiest one. This was right after the hurricane simulator. Thank goodness for ponytail holders, because my hair was BIG!






















I hope the artists don't mind that I'm posting their work.


















I doubt they will, though...because they're monkeys! This painting was on display at the museum today, and it can be yours for $45. This just amused me. Maybe because there were 10 or 12 paintings for sale by the monkeys and biographies of the monkeys posted under their artwork.

That's just a sampling. We had a great day, but it's always good to be home. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but the teacher who went with us really directed things well. He's retiring this year, and I'm sure the kids will miss him. You sense a genuine love for the students from him, and even though he's a bit older, he gets them.

So that's the last post for today, I hope. Good night!

An hour of my life I did get back.

(We live in Central Time, but crossed into Eastern for our field trip today.)

The trip was great! We saw a lot of interesting things, and the kids were pretty good. We went to a museum and saw a fascinating exhibit about the human body. The rest of the museum was also very hands on which was perfect for energetic and curious 4th graders! I'm pretty sure they like "field trip Mrs. G" better than "classroom Mrs. G." We did have one little boy in my class to get sick, so I don't think this trip will hold the fun memories for him that it will for his friends.

Now we're on the bus headed home. I didn't take a lot of pictures but will post a few when I get home. I hope you had a good day too!

Just because I can.

So I'm sitting in the back of the school bus on the way to Tallahassee. We are going to the Capitol building and a museum. Hmmmm. Our bus just stalled. This could be a fun trip. Oh well. As long as my phone battery holds out, I'll be occupied. Have a great day!

Thanks, Dad!

My dad sent this picture to me. It looks like an artistic nature shot...and, in a way, it is. However, this wasn't taken at a wildlife preserve. He found these ducks on the water that collected on his pool cover. I think it is such a beautiful shot.




Tomorrow is our big Tallahassee field trip. Several parents are going, so that should make things easier. However, I will be up around 4:15 in order to get there at 5:30. I have a few things to do, then off to bed. Have a great night!

Be careful what you wish for....

I wrote on Friday that I hoped it would be a long weekend...and it certainly was. The kids were great, and we had a great time, otherwise it was disappointment after disappointment...and to top it off, I am sunburnt. After getting a bad one a few years ago, I have been really careful, but lost track of time today. It doesn't hurt, but I'm very warm and bright pink. Ugh.

So, I'm off to bed hoping tomorrow will be a better day!

Weekend update

Not much to tell. The Big Man worked; the kids and I hung around. MK went to a movie with a friend, and TW and I stayed home. We played hide and seek in the backyard and went for a walk. This morning I was up at 5 a.m....had a bad dream and couldn't get back to sleep. However, it gave me some quiet time and I was able to finish a book I'd been reading. Went to church and have done housework this afternoon. I really do live on the edge. I'm eager for this week to be over because of Spring Break. The kids are also off on Friday, but I haven't heard that I will be. We have a patriotic program at school Thursday night where we will give the kids their report cards. They have been practicing hard, so that should be fun.

I'll have to post a picture later. Have a good afternoon!

Tweet Tweet

No, this has nothing to do with Twitter.

Last night I stopped by my neighbor's house to drop something off. She was excpecting me, and when she came to the door, she said, "I'm not going to turn on the light because of the bird." Apparently a bird had made a nest and laid her eggs in the decoration on the front door. Well, this morning, the eggs hatched, so she invited us over to see them. T. thought they were adorable and MK couldn't get enough. So here are some pictures. The first is of her decoration, and the second one is of the birds in the nest...one with its mouth open wide.

My new timewaster

I love this game, but I am just not very good at it. Oh well...maybe if I keep playing, I'll improve.

It is the weekend! I hope it is a very long weekend. I'm so excited to have the time off...these days mean so much more than they used to. However, we go to school this week and Spring Break is next week! I told T. Willy that we would have to do some fun things next week. He suggested going to the doctor. I said, "The doctor?" He said, "Yes, I need to go to the doctor...I have Spring Fever!" He cracks me up.

So, the Big Man should be home from work in a little while, and we are out of milk. So I'll run to Walmart in awhile and pick up a few other things. The fun never ends!!!

Good night!

Field Trip!

One of the fun things about being a teacher is a field trip. We are going to Tallahassee on Tuesday to visit our state capital. We are going to the Capitol building and then to the museum for an exhibit about the human body. It should be a fun day. So here is a picture of our state Capitol.
















We had a nice evening. We went to dinner with the Big Man's parents. We have started a tradition of going to the same Italian restaurant when they visit, and we get a back room that is usually empty. It gives us a lot of time to talk and laugh and T. Willy can get out of his seat and roam a little bit. MK is old enough to sit and talk with the grownups. She has the family wit and keeps up with them all.

So, that's about it. It's almost Friday. I hope you have a good night!!

Concert Recap

MK and the Big Man had a great time! She was so excited when they came home...smiling and giggling and laughing. They had so much fun together. So here are a few pictures of their evening.

Thank you, Mom!!!

My mother knows me well.

Today a package came in the mail for us. It was from my parents and had the word "perishable" on it. As we opened it, I told the Big Man and MK, "Wow, I really hope it's Tastykakes." And, you guessed it....it was!!! I am oh so happy! So here is a picture of my favorites...she sent 2 boxes of these.
















These cupcakes have been my favorites since I was a kid. They are a Philadelphia local treat, so we can't find them around here. There are many other varieties, but this one is my favorite! She sent two boxes; one is in the cabinet, and the other one went straight to the freezer. I love them frozen! So, thank you, Mom!!!! It's the next best thing to having you here!

All is well here. The Big Man and MK are at the concert right now. I have gotten texts, and it sounds like they're having a ball! She is so excited! The Big Man's parents are here, so T. Willy and I went to dinner with them. Now he is in bed, and I'm enjoying some quiet before I go to bed. Have a great night!!!

If I called you a reject....

It wouldn't be an insult, at least not to MK right now.

Let me go back...

In our life before T. Willy, we had season tickets to Disney one year. We went many times and had a great time. One time the Big Man and I went by ourselves. I was in the Virgin Megastore at Downtown Disney when I heard some music that caught my ear. I asked the staff and found out that it was a group called "The All-American Rejects." I had never heard of them before, but I liked their sound and we bought the CD.

Fast forward to MK at the age of 11 or 12 and discovering music. She looked through my CDs one time and couldn't believe that I had a CD of a group she really liked. It was AAR. She has continued to listen to them and is a fan.

So...tomorrow night, MK and the Big Man are going to see them locally. A benefit concert is being held at the college where I worked last year, and the All-American Rejects are playing it! MK is soooo excited, and it will be a fun father/daughter night for them. I think the Big Man may also take her out to dinner first too. One of MK's best friends is going too and will be sitting not too far from them. I think T. Willy and I are going to go out for a mother/son date too, most likely to good old reliable Burger King. It's the only place in town with an indoor playground; that's why we end up there so often.

So, that's how it's shaping up here. Have a wonderful night!

Cheeky monkey

T. Willy tried on my Phillies hat the other day. I tried very hard to get one good picture of him in it, but this is all I was able to get.


































We have our green all picked out for tomorrow, but it is an early morning for all of us, so I need to get to bed. Good night and sweet dreams!

How we spent our weekend

Before:

















After:


























Wow! It really felt like it was a lot more work than you can see in the pictures. It involved 1 trip to the nursery, 2 trips to Lowe's and 3 to Walmart, a lot of light rain and a good bit of pouring rain. But we're finished for now, and we are happy with it. There is a lot of room for growth which we are hoping to see.