Random thoughts

I was going to blog about all kinds of great stuff today but really don't have anything great and wise to discuss. Instead, I have several random thoughts that have popped in my head today.

1. I hate it when people stand too close to me. Seriously, I have a space bubble and this older lady was all up in my bubble standing in line at T.J.Maxx. I was waiting in line to pay when she walked up behind me. She was very close to my bubble but not yet in it. Still, that is too close for a stranger so I took a little step forward. SHE DID TOO. I was getting a little irritated so I took another little step forward and SHE DID TOO. I looked around thinking that maybe I was on that show "what would you do". Nope, no camera's. I took another step this time turning to the side so she was beside me instead of behind me. HAHA, I outsmarted you, you close standing, bubble invading lady. I was a little smug a little too soon. She took another step acting like she was looking at something on the shelf then ended up behind me AGAIN in my space. My mind was racing as was my heart. What should I do? Should I tell her to step back? Should I take yet another step forward? Should I .... SCORE, my turn in the checkout lane. Whew, saved by the quick sales clerk.
2. I wish I was a singer. I was driving down Nicholasville Road today singing to a Katy Perry song when I thought, dang, with the radio up loud and the traffic all around, I sound pretty good. HA! I don't care if I totally stink and can't carry a tune in a tin can, I seriously love to sing. I am so blessed to have a job that allows me to sing whenever I want and I always have an audience. I'm so glad they are only 3 and 4 and don't really understand tone, pitch and being in tune. They just love to sing with me. I'm thinking about getting a Karaoke machine for the boys for Christmas but secretly it is really a gift for me! I can't wait!! I think Harrison will LOVE it. He loves singing as much as I do. I have a hysterical video of him singing that I will post IF I can figure out how.
   

Maybe I will have some wise, insightful or even witty things to say tomorrow or later in the week.

Krista

I just don't get it!

I don't usually post about my job or my classroom but I am so confused by a new little friend I just have to write it down. First, let me start off by saying I teach in a school where there are many children who are considered at risk just because of their socio-economic status. In the preschool program in our state, we take children based on low income and on identified disabilities. Throughout the years I thought I had experienced almost everything I could possibly experience in this particular school. I have had children with ADHD, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, oppositional defiant disorder, and even children who are medically fragile. I have had typical children who have so little structure in their home lives that they appear to have disabilities but are, in fact, very bright children who just needed someone to show/teach them to have boundaries.

Tourette's Syndrome is something I have only seen on television. I watched a movie about a man with Tourette's who went on to be a teacher. It was something like you would see on the Lifetime Channel but it was a great movie. Now, I'm not saying I have a child in my class with Tourette's because I am no diagnostician and have no qualifications to make such diagnosis. I am saying I have a child who has some very random behaviors. Very random and sometimes very violent. I pride myself on being able to just go with the flow in the classroom and if a child disrupts the classroom, I can usually go right on with what I'm doing. This child's first day I was so distracted I could barely get through our morning calendar group. The random shouting, the cursing not to anyone in particular. I have never been that surprised in my whole teaching career (well, maybe I have been that surprised during my first few years of teaching but you get my drift). When you look at this little child you just see this beautiful little face with these big beautiful eyes. It is so hard to accept that he has the mouth of a sailor and just acts/reacts in such a violent or random way. I definitely will be getting more info on Tourette's and ADHD in the very near future. I am hoping that once everything is checked out that there will be a different diagnosis for this little one. But in the mean time, I am just plugging away with him trying to do my very best to make him feel loved. He is truly becoming one of my favorite children despite the behavior. I always end up getting attached to the ones who take more time to get under control.

I always try to put a positive spin on things especially when I am in a very difficult situation. So, here is my "spin". At least I might loose a couple of pounds and get into shape with this little one in my class. Also, I might learn to be a more patient person and more accepting of other people's situations.

I have always been the kind of person who loves a challenge and this might just be one of the biggest challenges I have had in quite a while.

I love the smell of Lysol!

I love the smell of Lysol! I really do. I especially love it when someone is sick in my house like last night. Poor Harrison has a stomach virus and was up the whole night throwing up. I felt so bad for him (and me since I couldn't sleep either). My mother in law brought me some Lysol and I have sprayed everything with it. I forgot about how much I love the smell (crazy, I know). He is feeling better tonight but still isn't 100%. I will continue following him around with the Lysol for at least another 24 hours just to be safe.

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!!

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!!!

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!!

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!