Kids in the Candy Store

Every year as part of my class, my students get to set up and maintain a fish tank. Every year, I get to play the mean parent and reign my students in from their grandiose ideas for their tanks!! This year is no exception. My students are like kids in a candy store. I have lost track of how many times I have had to say NO!! (i.e. No piranhas, No sea horses, No sharks, No octopus, No electric eel, No lionfish). And then I have students that want a bigger tank than what I have to offer and so they want to bring tanks in from home. I even have some students that are buying their own fish tank to bring to class. I had to put a stop to this because pretty soon I will have nothing but fish tanks in my classroom and no place for my students to sit!!! And then you should see all the things they want to decorate their tank with. Updates will definitely be following of how many tanks I finally end up having, fish they end up buying, and of course pics of the tanks. ;o)

Back in the saddle again

Yesterday started another year of teaching for me. And it wouldn't be normal if there was not at least one challenge to my first day back. It was a little crazy getting my first period started and then leaving to drop Naomi off and then coming back to end the period. Good thing Naomi's school is so close to mine. But that was nothing compared to a little later on in the day. This year due to my program growing so big and budget cutbacks in our district. I teach 6 out of the 7 periods in our school day. And it so happens that my planning period is the last period of the day. So my only saving grace from teaching 6 periods back to back is my lunch. This year according to the master schedule I was supposed to have A lunch, which is more like brunch since it is at 10 in the morning. But I was ok with that because it would break up my classes. I would teach 3 have lunch and then teach 3 more. So after my 3rd period yesterday, I went into my back room and put my food in the microwave. Then I headed back to the bathroom via my classroom. As I started to walk through my classroom, I noticed that I had students walking into my class. I was quite startled and told them they were a little early that this was my lunch. At which point they corrected me and said that no they had class right now. And sure enough according to their schedule they did. So I pointed them to the seating chart, ran to the bathroom and then came back to start class. While they were doing their first assignment, I had to run and put my lunch back in the fridge. And then I called the scheduling principal to find out when my actual lunch is, which is C lunch. C lunch is definitely not brunch but it makes for a really long day. Basically I now teach 5 classes have a 30 minute lunch and then teach one more class before I have my planning period. Wow, it is only the second day today and I am already exhausted!!!

Crossing My Fingers

In February, I applied for a summer job at the zoo to be a Zoo Camp instructor. Yesterday, I got an email saying that I made it to the interview stage. I am really excited. I am crossing my fingers that the interview goes well. It is a group interview so I hope I can really shine compared to everyone else in the group. I don't usually like to work during the summer because that is my time to spend with the girls. However, when I saw this job opening at the zoo I just could not resist. I think this would be a totally cool job doing something that I love!!! Here's hoping!!!

Pepperoni and Mushrooms?????

Last night, David order pizza for our dinner. I was asleep when he ordered it. When I woke up, he told me that he had ordered a cheese pizza and a pepperoni and mushroom pizza. I got grossed out when he told me about the pepperoni and mushroom one. So very kindly I told him thanks for ordering the pizza with mushrooms but I prefer sausage with them. He then told me he only ordered what I told him to. What?!?! I didn't tell him to order that. He told me yes I did while I was resting on the couch. Hmm, I didn't remember telling him that. So I guess, I was sleep talking. YUCK!!! Oh well, I ate the pizza anyways. And I made sure that David knows that for now on I like sausage and mushroom. NOT pepperoni!!!
PS: For the record, I do like pepperoni. In fact, I love supreme pizzas. I just don't like the combination of pepperoni and mushroom.

My Hair Cut

Back in October, I got my hair cut in an inverted bob style and highlighted it. It turned out really cute. I love my new beautician!! However, I forgot to take pictures. This past Saturday I went in for a trim. So here is my new look.

PS: Funny Story!! Today one of my male students asked me if hair stops growing once you get it cut in a bob. I looked at him kind of strangely and wasn't sure if he was serious. However, he was totally serious. So I told him that I just cut my hair again on Saturday. And he said oh that makes sense because he was wondering why my hair was staying short :o) Kids got to love them. (By the way, this student is a Senior!! Are you worried about your future?)

Just One of those Days

Have you ever had one of those days?? Today was one of those days for me. I have been fighting getting sick since Sunday. My voice sounds like I swallowed a frog. I would love to take a day and try to recuperate but my dept. chair has said that I have been absent too much hence I have been going into work and croaking to my students as I teach. Today I lectured all day which was not good for my throat. My students were not that cooperative at being quiet for me which made me really sound like a frog by the end of the day. My school computer decided to not like me today. So I spent my entire planning period dealing with computer problems. Yuck. No lesson planning done for me today. Arghh. After school I was still dealing with computer issues. Hence still no lesson planning done. Naomi got off the bus and was extremely emotional and clingy. (She fell at school and scraped her elbow and leg really bad.) After Naomi finished her homework, we headed home. I looked over my stuff for cub scouts and then decided to leave early to pick up some supplies. Naomi was still emotional so I decided to bring her with me. We headed out the door around 5:30 to get the supplies I needed. Traffic was horrendous and I ended up being about 5 minutes late to scouts. Naomi and I had missed dinner so we stopped to get something at the drive-thru on the way home. Naomi spilled her apple juice all over herself. More melt-down ensued. We finally got home and Naomi broke down into tears because she still has trouble remembering her phone number and address and she is the only one in class that has not gotten a sticker for learning them. (Kaylee was still wide awake. She had at least 2 naps today.) Naomi finally finished her meal and off to bed we went. Naomi wanted me to fix her scrapes and more waterworks commenced because the spray hurt she said. While I was tending Naomi, Kaylee spilled water all over their bedroom floor. Finally got Naomi all bandaged up and left for a minute to go to the restroom. Naomi started crying again because she thought people would make fun of her scrapes. And yes, Kaylee was still bouncing off the walls. CALGON PLEASE TAKE ME AWAY!!!! (All I want to do is soak in a hot tub and go to sleep.)

New Calling

Today David and I went to church early because a member of the bishopric wanted to meet with us. It turns out that I was given a new calling. I have been released as a primary teacher and I am now going to be the....Cub Scout Bear Leader. I am a little bit shocked and slightly overwhelmed. I think it will be a fun new calling but as my sister pointed out I don't have any boys. I am starting to get excited about it and when I came home from church I got on the internet and have already started researching a little bit about Cub Scouts. After all my experience has all been second hand from when my brothers were in cub scouts. I can remember going to their Blue and Gold banquets and the Pinewood Derbies. But as for exactly what cub scouts is all about I have no clue. Needless to say this will be an exciting new adventure for me. I hope I am up to the challenge. PS. Through work I got certified to teach fishing so I am already thinking of doing a fishing clinic with the boys.

My Birthday

Another year and another year older. Thanks to my family for making it special. My parents were great. It was hard but they got a birthday cake that was not Christmas themed. My choices were Tinkerbell and Winnie the Pooh. I opted for Tinkerbell.