On the Second Day of Christmas....

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!!  I couldn't be more happy that it's hump day.  That means there's only a couple more days until my Christmas break begins...and I'm so excited.

Today is, realistically, the last day of doing focused academic work for my students.  Technically, they're supposed to be doing academic work all the way up to Friday - but I'm a realist.  I know that the thought of the Christmas party tomorrow, and being in their PJs on Friday isn't going to be the best way for them to focus.  The excitement for the next two days, alone, is going to be a struggle to get them to focus today.  It's OK, though.  I can't fault them.  I know exactly how they feel.  They're ready for the break just as much as I am.

Today is Jelly's first ever school Christmas party.  She has no idea.  None of the kids do.  The daycare owner is one smart cookie - she's kept it quiet this whole time so that the kids wouldn't drive her nuts.  A strategy I only wish could be applied at the elementary schools.  After work, yesterday, I went and picked up some things for the kiddos to enjoy at their party.  I bought gingerbread, frosting, and M&Ms...bet you can't guess what they are going to be doing today..LOL  I think the kids are going to have a blast. 

The daycare and my class, funny enough, are doing the same concept when it comes to gift exchange.  It's a pretty awesome idea - one I hadn't heard about up until a few weeks ago.  The kids are all to bring a book (either used or new).  The books will be wrapped and then exchanged with the other kids.  In my classroom, they kids are going to be read a Christmas story.  Each time the page is turned, they move the gift one person to the left.  At the end of the book, they get to open their gift.  I'm not really sure how they daycare is doing it - but it's a really great idea.  Jelly will be taking three little board books: The Snowy Day, Freight Train, and Goodnight Moon.  The perks of having a student teacher as a mother is the fact that I own HUNDREDS of childrens' books.  I own each of those books in paperback, so I have no problem handing over the board books. 

Speaking of gifts, yesterday was the second day for the 12 days of Christmas blog swap.  I was so excited to get home from work, yesterday afternoon, to open my next gift.  Jelly was equally excited.  I found the next package to open and Jelly did the honors of opening it.  What I got was very awesome...wanna know what it was??

On the second day of Christmas, my new friend gave to me...

Two foam ornament sets that made me so very happy.

Jelly was super excited when she saw the boxes - she automatically assumed that they were something she could eat.  When I explained to her that there wasn't anything for her to eat inside...she handed me the boxes and went back to playing with her "baby blanket" dishtowel I received yesterday.  I was much more excited.  I automatically thought about how great these ornaments will be to make in my classroom.  At first, I thought about taking them to school this week....and then I decided that I'm going to put them away and hopefully use them next year - in my OWN classroom. 

So, my new friend, Danielle, has given me the first Christmas activity that I can do with my own students in my own classroom - hopefully (everyone keep your fingers crossed that I get a job in the Spring) next year.

OK, time to get ready for work.  Everyone have a great Hump Day!!!

Till next time.  ;)

On the First Day of Christmas, My New Friend Sent to Me....

Yes, my package arrived yesterday containing my twelve days of Christmas gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Swap.  I was like a little kid on Christmas morning as I was ripping off the wrapping of the box containing it all.  Of course, Jelly was just as excited - and she wanted in on the action.

Once I got the box opened, and read the card inside - it was time to find my first gift to open.  Before I get to that, I'm going to share just a little about my partner.  My swap partner's name is Danielle and she's from New York.  I could tell, right away, that she put a lot of effort into the way she had planned the box.  Each gift is designated a letter A-L.  She sent a card with the instructions of the order to open and for which gifts went together, and she has also attached a little note to each gift.

OK - now on to the gift.  So, Jelly was super excited to see all of the wrapped presents - and it was quite a challenge to convince her that the gifts were not for her.  She started grabbing at packages, as I grabbed back.  We came to an arrangement where she could open the gift.  Not so much as an arrangement, more like she was going to open the gift regardless...I just had to control the gift she opened and quickly lock away that were for the coming days.  She immediately started ripping off the paper.  I think that no matter what was in the package - she would have been excited.  With this gift, the excitement was genuinely linked to the gifts - yes that was plural - that was in the first package.

On the first day of Christmas, my new friend sent to me....

Three reindeer headbands, two jingly hair ties, and a poinsettia dishtowel...as you can see.

I know, I know, on the first day of Christmas I should only have one gift...but I'm definitely not going to complain.  Jelly and I were very excited to see the gifts.   You would think that it would be the awesome headbands or the jingly hair ties that would catch Jelly's eye - but it wasn't.  She went straight for the dishtowel and said "a blanket for my baby!!"  She spent most of the evening wrapping herself and her baby dolls up in the dishtowel.  I was very excited for the headbands and hair ties - because now I have some awesome Christmassy stuff to wear to school this week.

I can't wait to open my next gift - but I promised Jelly that I'd wait until I got home from work...so she could open it with me.

This is so exciting...what a great idea.  Tomorrow, you'll hear all about my next gift.  Now it's time for me to go get on a jingly hair tie.  ;)

Till next time.  ;)

Holy Nose Icicles, Batman!!

It's 12 degrees outside my house right now - and 56 degrees inside it....BRRR!!!!  My poor, old heating system...it's doing the best that it can, but it can't seem to compete with these frigid temps.  I'm so glad that I have a separate heater in my room - that heats my office, too.  I think I'm going to have to try and find a space heater for the kids' rooms - cause even though they are in their winter jammies, and piled with blankets, there's nothing worse than having to get out of a warm bed into what feels like a refrigerator.  Come on money tree!!!  Sure would be nice to get a bloom or two today. 

So, this is it, the twelve days to Christmas is here - and I couldn't be more excited.  It's possible my 12 days of Christmas gift package will arrive today, and if it does I will share my first present with you all tomorrow.  I have this week left at work, and then I'm off until January 3rd.  How exciting!!

I know this week is going to be super crazy at school - the kiddos are going to be excited, and I'm sure the last thing they're thinking about is how to subtract with regrouping or vowel digraphs or reader's workshop.  They're thinking about what Santa is going to bring them - period.  I can't blame them.  I'm having a hard time thinking about teaching subtraction and digraphs and reader's workshop.  Not really sure how I'm going to get them to focus, when I'll be struggling just as much as they are.  Guess it's a test on my teaching skills - I'm not allowed to just say "it's the week before Christmas, let's just play games and have fun all week"  - as much as I'd like to.  I really just have to get them focused today through Wednesday, because Thursday is the Christmas party and Friday is Polar Express day (the kids dress in their PJs and the principal comes around and reads the story and serves them hot chocolate...cute, huh?)  When activities like that are happening, it's just common sense that there will be no way to get them to do any real school work.

Shifting gears - what an amazing weekend I had.  Peanut and I had some quality Mommy & Me time, Butter had some quality time with Grandma and Grandad, and Jelly had quality time with both her Daddy and I.  I cleaned my office, watched movies, wrote out Christmas cards, drank hot chocolate...it was nice. 

I wrote my final paper of the semester yesterday, and boy did it feel good.  It only took me about an hour, and once I was finished I couldn't help but do a little happy dance.  I don't have any homework to worry about, now, until January - the middle of January to be precise.  Now that's what I'm talking about!!!

So, with all this Christmas cheer - there's one thing I'm noticing.  My pants are starting to get a little tighter.  I'm not really too worried.  I mean, I hate the fact that I'm undoing all of the hard work I've put in to getting into these size 16 pants...but I'm staying positive that it's just temporary and in less than a month I'll be back on my journey to losing weight and in no time I'll be bragging how my size 16s are too big.  As much as I hate knowing that I'm putting on weight - and I'm too scared to get on the scale to find out how much - I needed this break.  The fact that I am thinking about it tells me that I haven't lost sight of my journey - and that this definitely is just a break. 

To be honest, I've already started planning my "game plan" for January.  On top of that list is the Couch to 5K.  I miss running, and so that will be my first "goal" that I set for myself come January 1st.  My other goal will include daily yoga.  I've already downloaded some yoga workouts to start me off again.  See...I'm still in this...next year I WILL GET DOWN TO MY GOAL WEIGHT!!!

OK, time to get ready for work.

Till next time.  ;)

Dear...

My dear friend Renee, over at Renee's Ramblings, does this cute blog post each week called "Dear...".  Being that I have writer's block this morning, I decided I would try doing it myself....here goes...

Dear Self...Quit worrying about the Christmas stuff.  You have one more week of work and then you have plenty of time to figure out what you still need to do.

Dear Dog...You are not allowed to eat chocolate.  When are you going to realize this?  I am tired of cleaning up your puke!!  I hide the chocolate for a reason - it is not a challenge to see if you can figure out a way to get to it. 

Dear Snake...I'm tired of having a rat in a cage in my bedroom - you need to eat!!!  It's been 3 months - that's insanity!!!  I know you don't mind sleeping while the rat is burrowing around in the cage - but it's annoying the crap out of me. 

Dear Weather...Make up your freakin' mind!!! I don't mind the cold weather - I just don't like it when it's warm one minute and then it drops 20 degrees in a matter of an hour.  My heater is tired, and can't keep up with you!

Dear Heater...I know you're old, but I don't have the money to replace you right now.  Suck it up!!  My family needs heat when it's 19 degrees outside.  The air you are blowing is luke warm - at best.  I know you can do better than that!!

Dear Jelly...I know you love to run around the house with no clothes on - who doesn't? But when it's 19 degrees outside, you have to put clothes on.  I know you don't think so, but I'm the boss - what I say goes!

Dear Facebook Gamers...I know I used to be an avid gamer - who doesn't love to live in a fantasy world online?  However, I haven't played in over 6 months - so PLEASE stop sending me those requests to send you gifts or to harvest your crops or to vote for you in a fashion show or to clean your fish tanks.  I haven't responded in 6 months - isn't it time to take a hint?

Dear people that shop at Wal-Mart:  It's the holiday season, which mean Wal-Mart is busy.  I think it's great that you bump into your friends and family while shopping, however if you insist on catching up - please move OUT of the main aisle to do so.  When you see five people lined up behind you in both directions it means YOU are blocking the aisle and we can't get through.  Oh, and the worst thing you can do is laugh and say "I think we're causing a traffic jam" to your friend - that will just piss us people waiting off even more.

Dear driver of the gray minivan that insisted on riding my butt all the way to town yesterday...If you hadn't noticed, we were on two lane highway - meaning you could of gone around me.  I am not going to move.  If you're in a hurry - YOU MOVE!!  One day, you're going to get behind me when I don't have kids in the car and I'm going to hit my brakes. 

Dear Mac or Microsoft...When are you going to come out with a computer that will type my thoughts? You would make my life a lot easier.  Trying to type papers for school is hard, sometimes I just can't find the right words - even though I know what I want to say.  You could help with this problem.  You can send my check for the great idea whenever you get a second.

Dear Money Tree...I know it's Winter, but it's the month I need you to bloom the most.  I know I have a brown thumb, but I need you to pull through this.  I really don't like it when you look all bare, brown, and dried up.

Lastly...

Dear Blog Readers...Thank you for putting up with my rants, pointless posts, never-ending whines, and attempts of humor.  I know there are far more worthy blogs out there that you could be reading - but you choose to read mine.  I'm not sure whether to thank you or feel sorry for you.  Once Mac or Microsoft comes out with the computer I suggested and my money tree blooms enough for me to buy it - maybe then I can give you some material you'll actually enjoy reading.  Until then, thank you for the support.  Not to ask too much, but a comment every once in a while would be nice - just to let me know that it's not Spam Bots that are getting their daily dose of crap from my blog every day.  :)

Till next time.  ;)

Cleaning, Harry Potter, Christmas Cards and That is All

Today is one of those days I've been dreaming about for a while.  A Saturday that doesn't involve homework, lesson plans, or running errands.  A Saturday that is on my terms, doing the things I want to do.

I don't remember the last Saturday where I got to live carefree and not feel guilty for putting my family off for the piles of homework, or feel guilty about putting off the piles of homework for my family.  This Saturday, I can do whatever I want when I want - because I don't have anything holding me back.

So, how am I celebrating this amazing freedom?  First, I'm doing something I haven't done in a long time - clean my house!!!  Nothing too major.  I'm going to straighten up my office and pack away all of the school supplies that I don't have to see again until January.  Then I'm going to vacuum and straighten up the living room.  The kids and Hubby have been really good about keeping the house clean while I've been in Unit Lockdown - so there's really not that much to do.

This afternoon, I'm taking Peanut to see the new Harry Potter movie.  She's been waiting patiently for this day to arrive.  It has been our tradition, since the first Harry Potter movie hit the theater, to go and see the new movies.  Up until this one, we were two of those crazy people that stood in line forever to see the movie opening weekend.  Because of my crazy life, we weren't able to do that this time around - but seeing it a couple of  weeks late won't be so bad.  We won't have to deal with the masses of people or waiting in line or fighting to get good seats or deal with the rude people that insist on talking on their cell phones during the movie or the kids that refuse to shut up and watch and spend the whole time saying "Mommy, what's happening?" every two minutes.  Come to think of it, we may find that we actually prefer seeing the movie a couple of weeks late.

After the movie, Peanut and I are going to grab a few boxes of Christmas cards and then will be spending the afternoon writing them out.  I haven't written out Christmas cards in YEARS!!  Well, that's not entirely true.  I have written out the odd card here and there, but no more than...urm...probably 5 each year.  This year, I get to write cards to all of the amazing teachers I work with and the students in my class - not forgetting my awesome first graders that I miss so much.  I plan on making some hot chocolate, putting on some Christmas music, and Peanut and I will have some great Mom & Me time.

After dinner, I'm thinking we will all watch a movie.  We'll probably pop some popcorn and make more hot chocolate.  The movie on the agenda tonight is Grown Ups.  Hubby, Peanut, and I have all been waiting for a while to see this - and Netflix finally delivered (no pun intended). 

Doesn't my day just sound glorious??  I know, it does.  So, now it's time to get it started....

That. Is. All.

Till next time, ;)

Counting my Blessings

I really feel that I've done a lot of complaining, lately.  Not just lately, for the past couple of months.  First, I was complaining over not having motivation to work out.  Then I was complaining that I didn't have enough time.  Then I was complaining about the Unit and all my other homework.  Whine, whine, whine.  No wonder people have stopped reading my blog - I'm a total Debbie Downer!!

To help me get back to being the upbeat, no whining, no excuses, laugh out loud person that I truly am I figured I would do a special post today.  I think that when I get to complaining and groaning - I lose sight of the things that I'm grateful for.  I lose sight of everything that I've been blessed with.  So, today, I'm going to count my blessings...literally.

I know that I've been blessed....

1.  When I wake up in the morning.  I mean, come on, the fact that I'm able to wake up at the butt crack of dawn each morning has to be the first thing - right?  Just being given another day is a true blessing.

2.  When I can stand in my closet for fifteen minutes trying to decide what to wear.  I couldn't say that ten years ago.  Back then I owned about 3 pairs of pants, 5 t-shirts, and a couple of sweaters.  Knowing that I can now choose from a walk-in closet FULL of clothes is a nice reminder of how great my life is.

3.  Because I can still fit in to my size 16 pants, despite the fact that I've eaten nothing but junk food for the past month.  I know that I've gained a few pounds since I decided to take my "hiatus" from my weight loss journey - but not having to go up in pant size (yet) makes me a very happy gal.

4.  When I have junk food in my house - any food for that matter.  Despite having a full time job that pays absolutely nothing - I still have food.

5.  Because I have a reliable car to get me to work everyday and a warm house to come home to every night.  Again, luxuries I haven't always had. 

6.  When I have a man that absolutely HATES his job, but goes in every night and works his butt off just to keep this household afloat while I work my full time job that pays nothing.

7.  Because that same man, and the job that he hates so much, gave me the opportunity to go to school to pursue my career dream.  He was willing to do whatever it took to support me, help me, and pick up the slack that came with me quitting my cushy, well paid job to go to school. 

8.  When after a long, trying day, I have three beautiful children that can make all the bad fade away.  To see their amazing, contagious smiles puts a smile on my face.  Those same three children put up with mommy being too busy, mommy complaining about how much work she has to do, and not seeing mommy as much as they'd like - because they understand how important my schooling is to me.  They show the value of true, unconditional love.

9.  Because I have the most amazing and loving parents.  My mom is always a phone call away - day or night - to listen to my complaining and whining and grumbling...and never passes judgement.  She shows her pride in me, and supports me.  My father, although the quiet type, is always willing to lend a hand or do what he can to make life easier for me.

10.   Because I have friends - true friends - that know exactly what I'm going through...because they are dealing with the same.  I know that I am never "the only one" that's going through what I'm going through when I have piles of homework and not enough hours in the day.  I know that I can call on them when I need them - whether it be for help, advice, or just to kick back and release some stress.

I know that each and every day that I wake up, I have been given opportunities, a family that loves me, and friends that care.  My blessings are not measured by the amount of money in the bank (or the lack thereof).  Even though I complain - I always know that my life is great.  I am happy and thankful and grateful to have the life that I have - and would NEVER wish for it any other way.

Have you counted your blessings, lately?

Till next time.  ;)

Eat, Sleep, Swap

You would think after saying goodbye to a 8 week project that took over my entire life: including sleep, seeing my family, etc. that I would be celebrating - enjoying the "free" life.  You know what I've been doing the past two evenings?  Sleeping.  Yep, falling asleep right after dinner and then staying that way until it's time to get up to go to work the next day. 

I knew that the Unit kept me up several nights in a row - I just didn't realize it would take this long to recover.  I think that after two nights, I should be pretty rested and I'm FINALLY ready to enjoy some well deserved freedom.

I'm finished with all of the shopping for my blog gift swap.  If you're involved with this - I hope you had as much fun as I did.  It's harder than I thought buying 12 gifts for a complete stranger...but hopefully I did OK and my partner will like what she gets.  I have to admit, I can't WAIT to get mine.  I love getting gifts - and being that I will get to open one each day for twelve days...well, that just doesn't happen very often.  The shopping was a blast, but I will admit that I'm kind of nervous about how much it's going to cost to ship the huge box. 

Today, I have my last university class of the semester.  We'll be there about an hour, and then I get the rest of the day off.  I plan on making the most of it by catching up with Sanity and doing a little shopping...of course!!!  I have a $25 gift card from Border's that's burning a whole in my wallet...it hates that I've had it for over a week and it still sits there - just waiting.  Well, today, it goes home.  :)

That's it for today.  Kind of short and sweet. 

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Till next time.  ;)