106

One Hundred and Six is my new favorite number! I am of course kidding. I wanted to come up with a little jingle with the number but I have moved on. I got my duty assignment at school today and the number has just gotten me tickled. I have to make light of the fact that out of 180-something days i have "double duty" (both morning and afternoon duty) 106 of those days. I wonder if I get paid extra. That would make me grin from ear to ear. I really don't mind working the extra time but I do think it is funny that it is pretty much for the whole year. I LOVE MY JOB! And my PEEPS I work with! So, I guess i will "do my time" and continually remind myself to NEVER do second load bus duty without a few extra muscles for those "rowdy" times. (That's another story that I have put behind me to protect the UN-innocent.)

Summing up the First Day Back

Wake-Up Early, Iron my really wrinkly faculty shirt, Gulp a glass of Chocolate Milk =), Rush out the door, Come back in the door (forgot something), A 20 min. drive, Sign-IN, Get my class Roll (at the 8:00 Bell), Walk 7 down the long hall, Meet the Parents, Smile at the Kids, Sort through supplies, Practice classroom procedures and guidelines, Get to know the kids, More kids come in (up to 14 now), Of course a Potty Break for the little ones, Fun Activities, Lunch time, Gain 1 more (up to 15), Time for Running and playing (Recess), Water Break, Math Mat, Power goes out (twice), Track parents down for dismissal routes, Pick up and clean up, Get Bags, Chairs UP, Group time for reflection, 1st load bus, walkers, front door, back door, 2nd Load, Faculty Meeting, Sit and BREATHE, Sign-Out. Officially through with the first day of school! Now it's time for BED! Sleeply Time!

The Time Has Come

Well, yep it is "Back To School Time". All the children that live within city limits (at least we hope) come tomorrow to find their special seat. Of course some will come with parents who are eager to "meet the teacher" and others will get dropped off at the front door to enter into the learning community alone. T-minus less than 24 hours and I still do not have a final class list. I am sure tomorrow will be full of countless challenges but I know that by the end of the day those kids will have been in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for a full 8 hours. That is HUGE! I can't wait to see their smiling faces! I know, I have to remind myself that tomorrow they will be sweet, quiet, and charming for the very first day and then the next day I will really get to know their personalities. BRING IT! =)

Moving Right Along

The construction men working on our house have made tremendous leaps in progress since I last mentioned. I was shocked myself how quickly things are moving. Last week when we took a trip out there, they had put the boards up around the ground to pour the concrete. We went by there to check on it Tuesday and the concrete had been poured and they had already framed the main level. We totally missed the step of them pouring the concrete. We made a second trip out there late Tuesday night. (Not recommended!!!) I am not sure how I agreed to shining our car lights on the lot to walk through the house. I made it through the entry way, ran through all the rooms in the house and then jetted back to the car. I was like a gazelle sprinting as I was trying to get back to the safety of my car with locked doors. Charles just stood in the area of the dinning room and was completely baffled. I can only imagine what I looked like trying to take a quick peek of each room and then leaving him there to stand alone and laugh at me. I couldn't help it! It was dark! Needless to say late night trips out there have been vetoed by ME and will no longer take place. Charles stopped by yesterday after work and they had made the steps that will lead to the second level. My educated guess is that the second floor will be framed pretty soon. Oh and I have been unsuccessful at posting pictures from my computer. It's just not working out for me. Not sure why but hopefully I will figure out the problem soon so I can have visual aids.

All Boxed Up

So our lot is officially Boxed Up! To those who aren't familiar with contractor lingo (which I didn't know what it stood for either)it means that they are about to pour the concrete for the foundation. I took a trip out there since my days of sleeping in and having SO much free time is almost over. It's official I only have one more week until I return to my four-walled room of primary colors. =) Anyways, I will post pictures later of the progress of our future house (that is if we can sell our current one). Stay tuned!

What? That is Awesome!

This morning I woke up to the familiar sound of a text message. My friend Steph sent me a message from the airport in Kentucky. Of course she knows how much I LOVE dogs so she informed me of a woman who walked up to the terminal with a Doggie Stroller. Yes, I do believe a stroller for a dog is a little much but I just had to see a picture. Stinky that I don't know how to upload a picture from my phone but you guys will have to settle on a picture I found online. I mean, I keep wondering if that lady just got to walk on the plane with the stroller and sit holding her dog as if it were a child. Did she have to pay for a child's ticket? The best question yet....I wonder if I got a doggie stroller (and of course a puppy to go in it) would it help my fear of flying? Probably not, but it might be a good excuse to get my sweet husband to finally get me a puppy. =)

Old English Style

Keeping in mind the amount of time on my hands, I have decided to take up a new hobby. SMOCKING =) I haven't started yet, but I have been reading up and educating myself about the embroidery technique. I have always wanted to learn how to sew but I guess I will start here. A few facts: developed in England, used most extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a variety of variations and patterns. There is probably a certain pattern that you start off with, but I want to skip a few steps and learn how to do Picture Smocking (most commonly seen these days). My schedule of learning may be way off but hey I can dream BIG! Of course I don't have a single item to begin so I definitely need to have a materials list the next time I venture into Hobby Lobby.