The Memorial Day Weekend Mystery

Well it all started on a warm Friday afternoon when some friends asked us to come by and check on their pooch while they were away. No big deal, I thought, these are great friends and I am happy to do it. I innocently asked where they were headed and the response was, "the lake." Ok, I didn't want to appear dumb, because it seemed that I was supposed to know where this "lake" was, so I left it at that. Then a few hours later Jessica went to go play with her friend down the street and came back with a sad look on her face. Her friend couldn't play because they were getting ready to go to "the lake" and shortly after that I got a call seeing if Joshua could watch their dogs while they were gone. Ok, no problem, but my suspicions about this place called "the Lake" were beginning to grow. It all became very clear to me on Sunday when we were bored and tried to call some other friends to go eat dinner with us. No answer, hmmmmmm. That evening she called me back and just guess where they had been: "the lake."


OK people, I have concluded that "the lake" is really code for some really cool party place where you are ALL going together and not inviting me!! Why? I ask you Why? What did I do to be left out of "the lake" Is it because you have heard about my one attempt at waterskiing and the atomic wedgie it gave me? Is it because you have seen how I can munch and you are fearful I will eat all your snacks? Is it because it annoys you because I don't really like to get in the water?


Ok so on this last day of Memorial Day Weekend I have decided that if you call, I won't be around. I will be at "the lake" with all your doggies!!!!



I just had to add this update:
Tuesday morning, back at work and I ask a student about a math assignment that I had sent home to be done over the weekend. His response, "I couldn't do it, I was at The lake all weekend."

Cheating...

I found this on another blog, copied and pasted. I thought it would be fun to do...

I am: loved unconditionally.
i think: too much.
i know: I have control issues. (No comment necessary)
i want: summer to start NOW
i have: the best husband ever.
i wish: I could see what my kids are going to be like as grown-ups
i hate: my stomach.
i miss: my grandparents.
i fear: failure.
i feel: pressure to get it all done everyday.
i hear: my children playing downstairs.
i smell: no dinner cooking, oops!!
i crave:a good run in the mornings.
i search: for ways to be a better teacher.
i wonder: if I could really run a marathon.
i regret: not trying more things when I was growing up.
i love: to watch Jessica score a goal and Joshua throw a 3rd strike.
i ache: for children that have parents that don't care about them.
i care: about my students
i always: say "I love you" to my family.
i am not: very nice on the inside.
i believe: sometimes it's best if I just stay quiet.
i dance: to embarass my kids.
i sing: in the car when I am alone.
i cry: when I have PMS or when I am really really mad.
i don’t always: care about people like I should.
i fight: unfairly, because I keep quiet til I have it all settled in my mind.
i write: quick, usually meaningless, blogs
i win: as much as I can, because I like to win!
i lose: at foos ball everytime!!!
i never: eat enough vegetables.
i confuse: some rules in baseball, but I am getting much better.
i listen: to Joshua tell me about his day, each night at bedtime.
i can usually be found: in my house or in my classroom.
i am scared: when my phone rings late at night.
i need: more hours in the day.
i am happy about: my family, my friends, my life.

You're turn!

Happy Mother's Day mom!!

I just wanted to do quick list of all the great things about my mom. She is by far the best around and here's just a FEW reasons why!

1. She is strong. I think this is one of the qualities I like the best in her and desire to have in myself.

2. She is not afraid of change. If I told you the story of her urban to country life change of the last few years, you would agree wholeheartedly.

3. She loves my dad. I think there isn't anyone that my parents would rather hang out with more than each other.

4. She is a good mom. I think she put aside alot of things in order to raise my sister and me. She was a mom that was truly "present" in the moments of my life growing up.

5. She is a FUN mom and a REALLY FUN grandmother! This only bugs me when I am on the receiving end of her "schemes" (ha ha)

6. She is a wise mom. She taught me the importance of seeing each side of a situation. She has a wonderful ability to empathize with others. She has a wonderful way sensing when to give advice and when to hold back and just listen.

7. She wasn't ever a "smothering" mother. She was pretty good at letting us make our own decision (even the bad ones)

8. She is extremely talented. Her art work never ceases to amaze me. How she can do what she does to a blank canvas is a true gift.

9. She is loyal. I wouldn't mess with anyone she loves, it could get ugly.

10. She is discerning. She is a great judge of character and situations. She knows how to "trust her gut".

I love you mom! Thanks for teaching me how to be a good mom to my own two. You were teaching me long before I even realized it.

LeRay

FREEZE!

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time and keep them this way forever. Thankfully I realize that I have said that with every stage so far. I found this poem I wrote when we lived in Atlanta and I was up late one night, wishing to "freeze" time again... (Speaking of freezing, it was freezing this morning at the soccer fields, they had their arms in their shirts trying to stay warm!)

If I could keep them small I would...

I'd hold them in my grip so tight

protect them from the cold of night

Keep them ever near my chest

listen for each and every breath.

Carry them through each trial

and walk with them each mile.

I often think this plan is best

but God reminds me, in Him I rest.

God knew best when this power

to mothers he did not give.

See if they remain small and in my care,

a seed is all I'd have to share.

Slowly and gently God says, "Give them to me"

I will show you the flowers they will be.

I loosen my grip, and God takes my open hand...

I can't walk them through this land,

But I trust the ONE who can.

No need to comment and point out my "over protectiveness" screaming out in this poem, I am very aware of it already! ha ha!

New for me

So I am experiencing something this week that I don't think I have ever experienced: Interviews!! Yes I have been the interviewee, but never the interviewer! That's what I am getting to do this week. It makes for a VERY full day when your normal planning time or after school time is taken up, but it's been neat because it's different. How you ask? (or maybe you didn't) Well to start with I am in a room with only adults, that is REALLY different from my normal routine! I am trying to size someone up in 30 minutes, yikes and deciding if they are a good "fit" for our team. I recently read "Blink" and was thinking about that today and trying to filter through snap judgements that I should pay attention to and snap judgements that I make that aren't helpful. I couldn't help but be aware of all the conclusions I was drawing as the interview moved along. I also felt a wave of sympathy or empathy for some,thinking about how they need a job to support a family or to get a career started, shouldn't we just hire them all, so we don't have to make one feel bad... bet you didn't know I had this "nice" side did you!! ha! I don't let it out too often!

Detoxed

SO I really did it! I gave up coffee that day that I wrote that last post. I haven't had a cup of creamer with a dash of coffee since Friday morning! I switched to green tea. They say that's good for ya, something about "free radicals" and "antioxidants", I thought those were some really out there liberal groups, apparently not though.

My fear is that I have lost all creative thoughts with the loss of the caffeine, I have wanted to update my blog for several days and each time I think to do it, I gotta whole lotta nuthin!

My students had to write a poem last week that I thought was fun, so I thought I should give it a try, it's what we called "I use to, but now I"

I use to be terrified to speak in public,
but now I only feel a little sick if I have to.

I use to drink coffee,
but now I drink green tea.

I use to hate spinach,
but now I like it.

I use to think I would NEVER go back to work,
but now I teach 4th grade.

I use to think baseball was boring,
but now I love to watch it. (one team only)

I use to think I always had to have a boyfriend,
but now I hope Jessica NEVER thinks that.

I use to hate excercise,
but now I like it (can't say love just yet)


I use to love to do crafty things
but now not so much.


I use to want to be a doctor
but now I just go to Web md

I use to be able to eat whatever I wanted
but now I have to watch what I eat


Ok this is boring... I bet my students didn't like it either. Oh well.

Stand Back!!!

So I was thinking about giving up coffee! It's really because I think I need to give up creamer. I use WAAAYYY too much of that really yummy stuff. It's good, but not good for me. I am kinda sad and just thought that I better warn people if they see me during the detox phase I cannot be held responsible for my actions! I think I better make sure I do this during a non-pms week. That combo could get someone seriously hurt.

However, like I said I am thinking about giving up coffee!