Is it Friday yet????

This has got to be the busiest week! We have Spring Banquet on Friday night and I am on the decorating committee and in charge of the video presentations so I am up to my neck in computer stuff...it's making me tired.!

I'll be glad when this week is completely over!


On the homefront we got the van repaired and home, and we have a pizza party at church tonight.

Praise God!

the mechanic just called...the van is done...and it cost less than 150 dollars

Not a big problem but they did some cleaning of the engine and double checked and cleaned a lot of sensors and such!

Thank you God for meeting our needs!

Prayer Request

Our van stalled yesterday on our way home from shopping, it restarted and when we went around a corner sharply it happened again. We were able to restart it both times and we are having it looked at tomorrow. I am nervous that it might be a large repair...and since I know really nothing about cars I am extra freaked out. Please pray that we can find the problem and if it's God's will that it be an affordable fix! Dan is being rather pessimistic about it and it's bringing me down. I am trying to trust but it's always a challenge...going into the unknown. I know it seems silly to pray for a car but I would appreciate it!

Weekend Warrior

It's happened again...it will happened again....I can't prevent it...the house looks like no one has cleaned it in awhile. Today I will put on my cleaning clothes and clean....and rearrange....and sanitize....and hopefully get things ship shape again!

My weekend plans include:

cleaning the living room...and rearranging it so that I can put down the new rug I bought last night...hopefully it will look great...I may post pictures.

Clean all counters in kitchen and mop the floor....I made playdough this week and there is a nice layer of flour in weird places...

Grocery shopping...plus I need to get a new phone and Dan's getting a new lawn mower for the yard. I am also thinking of getting a new vaccuum since mine isn't working well and it's a real pain to pull out my shop-vac all the time.

Taking Janea to her T&T party.

Clean my bathroom! Shower, tub, everything!

So that's my plan...hopefully I will be successful!

Are you creative?

I was told today that I look like a crafty person...and in a way I am. What preschool teacher isn't crafty...don't answer that... I know a few who are more afraid of messes than should be allowed! I enjoy creating things and being crafty but at the same time I don't automatically classify myself as a crafty person. Yet I do crafty things...so now I am all confused and flummoxed by this simple statement...what a thing to dwell on or blog on for that matter...maybe I just need some sleep!

Crazy Night

Tonight was crazy night in AWANA. We had a lot of fun...it was a little odd..typical nights include making sure we have vests, books, Bibles and such...tonights also included inside out clothes and funky hair sprayed hair. I also had mismatched socks and shoes.

It was a fun night! We had a good time and now it's time to wash this stuff right out of my hair!

My Love Hate Relationship

I love technology...I do! I appreciate the beauty of modern devices, I treasure the freedom they give me, the sense of being part of a larger world. I also appreciate my hands being dishpan free and my clothing being washed without the need of giant rocks and the like.

I HATE Technology tonight...particularly my cell phone and computer. I have spent the last 2 and half hours on a presentation for our Spring Banquet at school and now I can't download it to a CD to take to be proofed tomorrow...and my phone won't keep my network signal so I can't make any phone calls or get my messages when they arrive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have any ideas on what might help I would appreciate it and I think I need to buy a new phone...joy!

Communication?

When you work opposite shifts and you don't see much of each other you find interesting ways to communicate. Here is the progression of our communication...

1. Notes on a white board on the door....before we had cell phones we had the trusty white board..I would leave him notes before bed...he would leave me notes on his way to work...it mostly worked.

2. email...I had a cell phone, he didn't, we were living with the extended family with non magnetic doors so we would email back and forth....during this time I also had email in my classroom that was readily accessible so we "talked" this way...it worked for the most part.

3. cell phones...I have a phone, he has a phone...we talk and text back and forth and there are still days when we have a "failure to communicate" now comes the fun of making sure that the time to talk is conducive to both parties and we are in an area where we don't drop our calls. In addition we still use the trusty note on the door trick with magnets...

All in all its important to communicate and bad communication is still better than no communication!

My Talented Kiddos

Friday night was the "ART Scramble" for the kids School District. We only attended the portion held at our kids school but we certainly enjoyed the kids art work. They had lots of art hung up all over the school and some performances by other grades. There were also 3 make and take sections...Jaron made me a new magnet for my refrigerator and Janea created a cool piece of spin art!

Here is a sampling of my kids and their art work! Janea and her Tribal Mask

Janea's cool color blocks.

Janea proudly displays her beautiful art!

Janea and her tessalations

A close up of her tesselation!

Jaron's panda!

Jaron and his clown art!

Jaron on the kindergarten wall of flowers!

Jaron and his flower...

the stem is how tall he is, the leaves are made from tracing his feet,

and his handprints are the flowerpetals...very cool project!

This was a diplay of the fourth grade art...I don't have a fourth grader but I thought it looked cool so I took a picture...as a teacher I am always looking for great ideas!

Kids Say the Darndest--Around the World Edition

Today we were playing around the world in class. Basically we have the kids compete to see who can name letters and words first as they go around the room...you remember it from school. Well, the cards we use got mixed up on Tuesday when I dropped them out of the cabinet. I picked them up and resorted them thinking everything was fine.

Crystal was playing with the kids today and I was helping from the back of the room. The cards were being flipped and the kids were tying on letters so this is what I am hearing...

A--tie..next letter

w...tie...next letter

F...tie..next letter....large pause...

Doughnut? The card had two pictures and no letter on it...so the kids are confused and Crystal and I bust out laughing...Crystal laughed so hard she was crying and almost fell off her chair...the rest of the class laughed too! It was a great moment!

My Favorite Things

Here's a quick list of some of my new favorites around the house.

• Kiddos who are looking for jobs who offer to fold socks...I hate folding socks!
• Kiddos who come home having an extra good day at school.
• Husbands who call because they want to hear a friendly voice!
• Warmer days...I may finally get to wear my new clothes!
• Volleyball is right around the corner and it may be warm enough to practice this week!

Fun Weekend in Nebraska

Here are a few shots from our quick trip to Nebraska for Wendy's Birthday!

We took her a birthday cake...yummy!

Eating our Yummy dessert and ice cream

Playing with Gizmo Wendy's dog...with Grandma!

The Scott Aquarium at the Omaha Zoo.

Walking with Grandma and Wendy

Feeding the Fish

Hey...theres something wrong with this fountain!

The Family with the giraffe...the kids are getting really big..

We take Janea's Picture by the Penguin every time

Checking out where to go next
Janea in the Desert Dome
Jaron trying to move the world!
Where should we go first??

Easter Sunday

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Easter

Easter is my favorite Holiday. It is important, it is paramount, without it my faith is meaningless. So today I will celebrate the Resurrection of my Savior. I will celebrate the empty tomb. I will celebrate the fact that my God is not Dead! I have hope! I have life! I have a future in eternity with Him and that puts a smile on my face!

Leaving for Nebraska

Today my younger sister turns 29...one year away from the big 30~! HA HA!

My mom and I are going to take the kiddos with us as we head for Omaha. A short trip to celebrate with Wendy her last birthday in her 20's...boy are we old...

So that's where we are headed...hope you all have a good GOOD FRIDAY as we celebrate the darkest day in history where forgiveness was met for all.

I'll be back late tomorrow night.

It was a Coke Day

You know the kind of day where you really just need a Coke. I don't really like Coke, it's not my favorite...anyone who knows me knows I am a Dr. Pepper kind of gal. All my students have always known this and many a teacher appreciation day I receive a Dr. Pepper. Well, Crystal my co-teacher likes Coke. It was a day...a long day...a tiring day...a oh my goodness did your parents feed you straight sugar kind of day! The kids were squirrelly, the kids were squabbaly, you say the sky is blue they say its purple kind of day! And we needed a Coke...only thing...no way of getting one...until we decided to page the boss who was out and about and ask her to bring a 2 liter of Coke which she did...oh it made the last part of the day go so much better...Thanks to my boss for helping the poor yellow hall get through this crazy Coke needing day!

Ways that make my life easier

Mornings are a rush for me. I have to get up, dressed, get the kiddos up and dressed and we all have to be out the door by 7:48. It used to be a real challenge. But after 3 quarters and 27 weeks of school I have figured out ways that make school mornings much easier for me.

Step 1: Have a general idea of what everyone wants to wear the night before. Takes most of the hassle out of looking for clothes.
Step 2: Put socks inside the kids shoes by the door the night before...no more looking for socks.
Step 3: Lunch making: For me this used to take up to 15 minutes, now it takes 5. Here's how I cut the time down. I buy chips and pretzels in large bags and then divide them myself. That way for $2.50 I get enough for lunches and snacks and don't spend too much on extra packaging. A bag of 100 sandwich bags costs $2.12 or roughly 2 cents a bag so that is a more cost effective way for me to send the things my kids like. I used to make a bag each morning...took extra time I really didn't have. So I decided to create a better way...here's what I do.

• While I am putting my groceries away I open the chips and pretzels and bag up enough sandwich bags to last a week. If the week has 4 days I make 4 bags, if it has 5 I make 5. I also do this with crackers and such...then I put them in my lunch basket that sits on my counter. In this basket is everything I need for the kids lunches. Chips, pretzels, crackers, rice krispy treat, fruit snacks, etc...They know that the stuff that is in this basket is only for lunches and they can't eat it unless it's in their lunch bags. Then in the morning I make the following lunches(typically it does occasionally change depending on their moods):
• Janeas lunch consists of a cold pack, 2 sticks of string cheese, a bag of pretzels, 2 mini fruit roll ups, a rice krispy treat and a juice box.
• Jaron's lunch consists of a PB sandwich(no jelly), 2 mini fruit roll ups, a bag of BBQ chips and a bag of cheese crackers, and a juice box.

This takes me about 5 minutes total, and that includes making the sandwich and putting in backpacks ready for school. It's a great time saver and I feel much less stressed as I am getting this accomplished before work!

Here's a picture of my handy lunch making basket! It's really been working for me!

Movie and Pizza

We took the kids to see a movie today. We went to see Monsters vs. Aliens. On the Jonathan family scale we give it a 7 out of 10. After the movie we went and ate Pizza Shoppe pizza. All in all a fun family night!

Are you Listening?

I'm feeling the need to write. To get out what I am feeling at my core. So sometimes my thoughts come out as disjointed sentences, my form of poetry. I don't want to freak anyone out by what I am writing or anything just thought I would post a disclaimer for some of my posts. I'm okay and doing fine emotionally just dealing with a lot of different things right now in many ways and I am finding writing to be a good outlet!


I'm feeling tired.

Your not here.

I'm feeling abandoned.

Your still not here.

I need to see you.

You are somewhere else.

I need you to listen to me.

Your wrapped up in your own thoughts.

Do you want to hear me?

I don't think you do.

Where are you?

You don't seem to need me.

Can you hear me?

Are you Listening?

Hello!

What Does Supportive Mean to You

Dan is starting something new. He wants me to be supportive...and I don't like the idea so I am hesitantly supporting him. So I am going to be supportive...at least like #3.

Support
–verb (used with object)
1.
to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.
2.
to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.
3.
to undergo or endure, esp. with patience or submission; tolerate.
4.
to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal.
5.
to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for: to support a family.
6.
to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second.
7.
to maintain or advocate (a theory, principle, etc.).
8.
to corroborate (a statement, opinion, etc.): Leading doctors supported his testimony.
9.
to act with or second (a lead performer); assist in performance: The star was supported by a talented newcomer.
–noun
10.
the act or an instance of supporting.
11.
the state of being supported.
12.
something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay.
13.
maintenance, as of a person or family, with necessaries, means, or funds: to pay for support of an orphan.
14.
a person or thing that supports, as financially: The pension was his only support.
15.
a person or thing that gives aid or assistance.
16.
an actor, actress, or group performing with a lead performer.
17.
the material, as canvas or wood, on which a picture is painted.
18.
Stock Exchange. support level.
–adjective
19.
(of hosiery) made with elasticized fibers so as to fit snugly on the legs, thereby aiding circulation, relieving fatigue, etc.
Origin: 1350–1400; (v.)

Sticks and Bugs

Today at work we had Ants on A Log for Snack! Basically, it was a banana with raisins on top. As I am getting ready to serve snack the kids start asking what we are having and I tell them, Ants on a Log.

One of my little boys looks at me increduously and says--"We're having STICKS and BUGS? My mommy says not to eat bugs!"

Then when he is done eating his "Sticks and Bugs" he says this" I don't like Raisins." My co-teacher looks at him and says "Well, you certainly ate them, all." to which he replied"Just because I ate them, doesn't mean I like them!"

Sleepy eyes

Mornings are hard.

I am not a true morning person.

My eyes are itching.

My teeth need brushing.

My children are hiding underneath blankets

The school bus is coming

The day is harkening.

I must get up and moving.

It is a good day

It will be a good day

I want it to be a good day.