Wednesday, September 22, 2010
YIPPEE!!!
Woo Hoo!!! No preschool tomorrow!! I have 2 glorious work days with no students! Thank goodness. I am so behind on paperwork the I need these 2 days to get caught up. I can't wait to get up their and get to work (did I really just say that?). Anyway, here's 3 cheers to all the school system preschool teachers out there tomorrow. Hip Hip Hooray!! Hip Hip Hooray!! Hip Hip Hooray!!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
School year 2010
I know I have not blogged in quite some time. I just let myself get too bogged down with school, work, home, etc. I promise to be better with blogging. I mean, we all know I have a lot to say so I might as well say it here!!
School started in August and we have been so busy I can't believe I am keeping up with everything. Harrison just started 6th grade and is middle school in the Spanish Immersion program. He is on the other side of town but can walk to his dad's school, if needed, after school. He is in the fitness club this year. They meet 3 days a week and work on being healthier. Right now they are running. He loves running so this is right up his alley. He wants to try out for the basketball team so this is a good way to get ready for all the running he will do on the basketball court. Of course, he is also in the band and plays trumpet just like his daddy. Shaun found out he was first chair trumpet so we are very proud of him. Now, if only we could get him to practice more.
Samuel is in 4th grade at my school and doing well also. Of course, he would love school so much more if it didn't involve work! He wants to play basketball too so I just signed him up through the local YMCA. He can't wait!! I used to be a soccer mom and now I'm becoming a basketball mom. Samuel still loves, Loves, LOVES art. He counts down the days until he has art as his special class. Even right now, as I type, he is drawing. I wish I could get him to paint more but he loves drawing. He wants to be in band too and play the french horn but band doesn't start until 5th grade so he will have to wait one more year.
As for me, I am busy with work, helping with homework (both in English and Spanish) and now I'm serving as a KTIP resource teacher for a first year teacher. What was I thinking?? It would be so much easier if she and I taught at schools that are close together but NOOOOO, her school is downtown. It took me about 25 minutes to get there the other day. I am excited about helping a first year teacher though. It will make me look at my own classroom practices and be a better teacher.
Between work and home, there isn't a lot of time for relaxation. I decided I needed to do something fun just for me so I'm starting piano again! I am so excited about it. I took piano lessons for a few years when I was younger so I know quite a bit about playing the piano already. I was always better at playing once I heard what the song was supposed to sound like so I found a book that came with a CD. I can't wait to get started. I'm doing this "self study" right now. Wish me luck!!!
School started in August and we have been so busy I can't believe I am keeping up with everything. Harrison just started 6th grade and is middle school in the Spanish Immersion program. He is on the other side of town but can walk to his dad's school, if needed, after school. He is in the fitness club this year. They meet 3 days a week and work on being healthier. Right now they are running. He loves running so this is right up his alley. He wants to try out for the basketball team so this is a good way to get ready for all the running he will do on the basketball court. Of course, he is also in the band and plays trumpet just like his daddy. Shaun found out he was first chair trumpet so we are very proud of him. Now, if only we could get him to practice more.
Samuel is in 4th grade at my school and doing well also. Of course, he would love school so much more if it didn't involve work! He wants to play basketball too so I just signed him up through the local YMCA. He can't wait!! I used to be a soccer mom and now I'm becoming a basketball mom. Samuel still loves, Loves, LOVES art. He counts down the days until he has art as his special class. Even right now, as I type, he is drawing. I wish I could get him to paint more but he loves drawing. He wants to be in band too and play the french horn but band doesn't start until 5th grade so he will have to wait one more year.
As for me, I am busy with work, helping with homework (both in English and Spanish) and now I'm serving as a KTIP resource teacher for a first year teacher. What was I thinking?? It would be so much easier if she and I taught at schools that are close together but NOOOOO, her school is downtown. It took me about 25 minutes to get there the other day. I am excited about helping a first year teacher though. It will make me look at my own classroom practices and be a better teacher.
Between work and home, there isn't a lot of time for relaxation. I decided I needed to do something fun just for me so I'm starting piano again! I am so excited about it. I took piano lessons for a few years when I was younger so I know quite a bit about playing the piano already. I was always better at playing once I heard what the song was supposed to sound like so I found a book that came with a CD. I can't wait to get started. I'm doing this "self study" right now. Wish me luck!!!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas!!
We celebrated Christmas tonight at mom and dad's house. We had most of the VanWinkle family there. We are, talked and gave the children and Granny Jane presents. I got a lot of great pictures of Granny Jane with Harrison and Samuel and even got them to sit still long enough for another picture with Shaun, me, Harrison and Samuel with Granny Jane. She is amazing at 95 years old. I'm so grateful that my children will always have great memories of her like I did my Great Granny Gibson. I can't wait to get the pictures off the camera to post so everyone can see how YOUNG she looks!! I also got a few good ones of the boys with mom and dad that I will post too.
On another note, Samuel is so excited for Christmas BUT he is super excited about his birthday too. He was talking today about the day he was born and how we came up with his name. His full name is Samuel Aster Owens. Aster was my grandfather. We knew we wanted to name him Samuel but Aster came to us at the last minute and we didn't tell a soul about it. When he was born we were so excited to see little Samuel and new Aster was the name we should put with it. It was snowy and my grandmother couldn't come over and see us in the hospital. When I talked to my Granny Jane on the phone and told her what we named him she was literally speechless. She handed the phone to my Aunt Brenda. Brenda asked why Granny was crying and I told her what we named Samuel and she was also speechless and crying. So my Uncle Glen got on the phone and asked what in the world I had said to them to make them cry. Well, I was really confused at this and had thought I had done something really wrong. When I told him the name Samuel Aster, it made sense to him. I'm not sure of the exact date, but they said either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day was Granny Jane and Aster's wedding anniversary. I never knew that. So, Samuel is convinced that Aster is his very own Guardian Angel. I believe it too. Happy Birthday, Samuel. I can't wait for your birthday party later today!!
On another note, Samuel is so excited for Christmas BUT he is super excited about his birthday too. He was talking today about the day he was born and how we came up with his name. His full name is Samuel Aster Owens. Aster was my grandfather. We knew we wanted to name him Samuel but Aster came to us at the last minute and we didn't tell a soul about it. When he was born we were so excited to see little Samuel and new Aster was the name we should put with it. It was snowy and my grandmother couldn't come over and see us in the hospital. When I talked to my Granny Jane on the phone and told her what we named him she was literally speechless. She handed the phone to my Aunt Brenda. Brenda asked why Granny was crying and I told her what we named Samuel and she was also speechless and crying. So my Uncle Glen got on the phone and asked what in the world I had said to them to make them cry. Well, I was really confused at this and had thought I had done something really wrong. When I told him the name Samuel Aster, it made sense to him. I'm not sure of the exact date, but they said either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day was Granny Jane and Aster's wedding anniversary. I never knew that. So, Samuel is convinced that Aster is his very own Guardian Angel. I believe it too. Happy Birthday, Samuel. I can't wait for your birthday party later today!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
I'm Still HERE!!
Someone pointed out to me that I had not updated my blog since August. I know I'm a slacker. I have come to terms with it and will look for a Slacker Support group soon (not now, but soon, seriously, I'm not kidding).
Let's see.... what has happened since August. Work..... work.....work... help kids with homework, run kids to swim practice, pick them up from their after school activities, work more. Nothing really very interesting.
The one great thing that has recently happened is we are transferring Samuel from his Spanish Immersion school to my school. He is so excited to be going to an all English school. Harrison will stay at the Spanish Immersion school and follow the program to middle school next year. Samuel never bought into the whole Spanish language thing and has limited understanding of the language. I think he just tuned her out during instruction. We agonized over what to do but in the end decided it wasn't worth him missing out on learning the content just to learn the language. He wasn't happy there at all. When we told him, he was so excited. He seems much happier now too just knowing that he will be coming with me in January.
I'll post pictures of Christmas and Samuel's birthday in a few days. I have had to make list after list to make sure I haven't forgotten something for either celebration. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I don't wake up the night before Christmas remembering something I had forgotten. I THINK I have everything except a birthday cake. I need to ask him what he wants. I try to make his cake since store bought cakes are made with the same equipment they use for nut products. With Harrison's tree nut allergy, I try to buy from a store that uses different equipment or just make something here at home. Guess that is the last thing I need to do! I hope!
Let's see.... what has happened since August. Work..... work.....work... help kids with homework, run kids to swim practice, pick them up from their after school activities, work more. Nothing really very interesting.
The one great thing that has recently happened is we are transferring Samuel from his Spanish Immersion school to my school. He is so excited to be going to an all English school. Harrison will stay at the Spanish Immersion school and follow the program to middle school next year. Samuel never bought into the whole Spanish language thing and has limited understanding of the language. I think he just tuned her out during instruction. We agonized over what to do but in the end decided it wasn't worth him missing out on learning the content just to learn the language. He wasn't happy there at all. When we told him, he was so excited. He seems much happier now too just knowing that he will be coming with me in January.
I'll post pictures of Christmas and Samuel's birthday in a few days. I have had to make list after list to make sure I haven't forgotten something for either celebration. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I don't wake up the night before Christmas remembering something I had forgotten. I THINK I have everything except a birthday cake. I need to ask him what he wants. I try to make his cake since store bought cakes are made with the same equipment they use for nut products. With Harrison's tree nut allergy, I try to buy from a store that uses different equipment or just make something here at home. Guess that is the last thing I need to do! I hope!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Getting back to school
I haven't posted in quite some time because we have been having too much fun during our summer vacation. We took a trip to PA for Molly's graduation party and to visit with Shaun's family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc). It was a great trip. We even spent a few days in Erie and got to take the kids to a drum corps show. They loved it!
The rest of the summer, we have spent around Lexington. I spent a couple of days trying to de-clutter the basement storage room to make room for a few things I wanted to get out of the spare room. Why, you ask? For Harrison's birthday, he got his own bedroom. He moved back into the spare room. How strange that he is now in that room again. That room was the nursery when he was born. Anyway, I spent days trying to de-clutter that room and get him moved in. Harrison is now fully in his own room and he gets the bedroom suit that was his grandparents (Owens). He loves knowing that he is sleeping in the same bed that Grandpa Lester slept in long ago. Kelli and Brent bought the twin beds for their boys so that left us hunting for a bed for Samuel. Mom had a bedroom suit that she didn't like so she gave it to us. It is an old antique looking set and is really pretty. Samuel loves knowing that he got a bedroom suit from his Grandparents (Cromer) too!!
The rest of the summer, we have spent around Lexington. I spent a couple of days trying to de-clutter the basement storage room to make room for a few things I wanted to get out of the spare room. Why, you ask? For Harrison's birthday, he got his own bedroom. He moved back into the spare room. How strange that he is now in that room again. That room was the nursery when he was born. Anyway, I spent days trying to de-clutter that room and get him moved in. Harrison is now fully in his own room and he gets the bedroom suit that was his grandparents (Owens). He loves knowing that he is sleeping in the same bed that Grandpa Lester slept in long ago. Kelli and Brent bought the twin beds for their boys so that left us hunting for a bed for Samuel. Mom had a bedroom suit that she didn't like so she gave it to us. It is an old antique looking set and is really pretty. Samuel loves knowing that he got a bedroom suit from his Grandparents (Cromer) too!!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Summer has officially started
Pack the classroom......check
Paperwork done...........check
House tidied up............check
Summer has officially started!!! I took a trip with some friends to Pigeon Forge from Monday -Wednesday. We has so much fun. I mean, who wouldn't love 3 days of shopping, eating, laughing and sitting in the hot tub. Yea, that last one has me hooked. Do I NEED a hot tub or just WANT a hot tub? I think I NEED one. But we'll just have to see how much we can get done on the house this summer before we look at that expense. One day soon though.... one day soon.
I came back with some new clothes for the summer and with a relaxed attitude. It is nice to be home but it was really nice to go away for a few days and not have any schedule or responsibilities for a few days too. Everyone needs that sometimes. Now is the time to get some of our summer "to-do" list done. We need to get the air conditioning guy to come look at our air conditioner and see if he can fix the leak or just replace it. Then, depending on how much that costs, we need to tear out the flooring and/or counter tops in the kitchen and get ready for new ones to be installed. I hope to be able to do both but we will just have to see after the air is fixed. Keep your fingers crossed for me that we can do both!! I have been drooling over new counter tops and flooring for YEARS.
Other than that, we are just going to be lazy and read, sit at the pool and hang out all summer long. Oh yea, we are taking a week long trip to PA for Molly's graduation party. It will be fun to see all of Shaun's family as we don't get to visit very often. The only thing I DREAD about the trip is the actual driving up there and back. I HATE long car trips. I can't read or do anything because of motion sickness so it is hours and hours of just sitting and doing nothing. Maybe I can get some good music on the MP3 player and sing the whole way up. Sorry boys!! Hee hee.
Paperwork done...........check
House tidied up............check
Summer has officially started!!! I took a trip with some friends to Pigeon Forge from Monday -Wednesday. We has so much fun. I mean, who wouldn't love 3 days of shopping, eating, laughing and sitting in the hot tub. Yea, that last one has me hooked. Do I NEED a hot tub or just WANT a hot tub? I think I NEED one. But we'll just have to see how much we can get done on the house this summer before we look at that expense. One day soon though.... one day soon.
I came back with some new clothes for the summer and with a relaxed attitude. It is nice to be home but it was really nice to go away for a few days and not have any schedule or responsibilities for a few days too. Everyone needs that sometimes. Now is the time to get some of our summer "to-do" list done. We need to get the air conditioning guy to come look at our air conditioner and see if he can fix the leak or just replace it. Then, depending on how much that costs, we need to tear out the flooring and/or counter tops in the kitchen and get ready for new ones to be installed. I hope to be able to do both but we will just have to see after the air is fixed. Keep your fingers crossed for me that we can do both!! I have been drooling over new counter tops and flooring for YEARS.
Other than that, we are just going to be lazy and read, sit at the pool and hang out all summer long. Oh yea, we are taking a week long trip to PA for Molly's graduation party. It will be fun to see all of Shaun's family as we don't get to visit very often. The only thing I DREAD about the trip is the actual driving up there and back. I HATE long car trips. I can't read or do anything because of motion sickness so it is hours and hours of just sitting and doing nothing. Maybe I can get some good music on the MP3 player and sing the whole way up. Sorry boys!! Hee hee.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Why doesn't it feel like summer?
So, here it is. School is out. I should be up at the pool chillin and relaxin but instead I am stuck up at the school packing up that crazy classroom to get ready to be moved to our new classrooms. I have been in that classroom for about 10 years. Do you know how much stuff a person can accumulate in 10 years? A LOT!!! I worked from 10:00-5:00 today and am still not finished. My plan is to be up there by 8:00 in the morning to get the rest of it done. I also still have some paperwork to do and get turned in to my principal but at this point, that is the least of my worries. Shaun has to go to a meeting 2 hours away tomorrow so I am going to see if Grammy can watch Samuel and take Harrison with me to help. I told him I would treat it like a job and would pay him for helping me. He will do great at helping me move some of the materials to the new room. He is a really good worker (especially when there is an incentive). I hope I get it all done tomorrow because if I don't, I will not be able to take my Gatlinburg trip on Monday.
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