I just blew in from the windy city...

Yesterday was quite exceptional. I got to experience the West Texas Gusts. They were so powerful they broke the glass door at the nail salon where I was yesterday-Just blew open the door and all the glass shattered.

Once I got home I discovered that the backyard fence blew down,too! Luckily, I had anticipated such and put Zeke up before I left. I am glad I did bc I would hate to have come home and he be gone.

The orange skies have passed and blue ones have returned. (I didn't have a filter on the lens-It was really that orange! )The sun is yellow once again-bc yesterday is was crazy weird.

The fence doctor will come Monday!

Over the Last Month...

Every MLK, the most fabulous girls-My girlfriends get together for GIRLS WEEKEND! Even though we were dealing with icy weather, piercing loud security alarms, and more we had a wonderful time. Fireman Dan (my personal friend from the 1402 days) even came by to save the day!

All the girls are prego!!!!!

Hanging out and enjoying the down time.

Girlfriends 4 ever! Melania and Kynlee meet.

PICTURES FROM MICHAEL'S PARTY

SURPRISE!

Doggie Days

Sunny, Sunny, Sunny, Sunny, It is sunny in the sky!

It has been a cloudy and snowy winter. For this Houstonian, it has been very, very cold. Even my 4 year olds have told me they are ready for it to warm up. Actually, their new favorite song is Sunny, Sunny. They LOVE it when it is warm and sunny because that equals our favorite time of the day=RECESS!

Zeke, our dog loves it too. He gets to be out and play. Today we took him to the park and he got to play with his Xmas present from his aunt-Chunk it toy. It is a blue launcher that hoist the tennis ball high in the air. He has to really huff it to catch it. After 15 minutes, we were already on our way home. He was tired.

Zeke playing at the park

Body Jam?!???

How do you really make your body jam?
Well, the gym knows...

I have been going to the gym with Kate lately. Tonight we did body jam class. I just have to laugh the whole way through because never in my whole life through have I moved liked this! Even 1402 Washington Dance Nights. :) Sorry class, you have to look at me.

I think I will stick to hiphop alphabop with the 4 year olds. I can bring a mean head, shoulders, knees, and toes.

Heaven

Over the weekend one of the little girls at the school I am teaching at was killed in a drive by shooting. It is just so tragic, yet very common in the lives of the little ones I teach.

Being 4 years old, they talk about everything and process a lot verbally. This morning they were talking about the little girl that was shot.

One little boy said,

"She is in heaven now,but it takes a long time to get there." :)

They began to discuss heaven. What is it? Where is it?

One little boy said,

"It is up in the sky"

Another little boy said,

"No. It is where the grass is and then you turn into a zombie"

Did you break the code: graveyard


I wonder what they will talk about tomorrow morning.

The Queen Bee!

I am such a proud teacher! 4 years ago I had my first Kindergarten class. They have grown up so much and are now big 3rd graders. They will always hold a special place in my heart as my first class.
I just happened to check in on my old school and saw pictures of my little friend WINNING the spelling bee! Hydroperiod was the winning word and it was from the intermediate book! She was a smartie in Kinder and still a smartie today.

I love my first class. They were the perfect class for a first year teacher. All of them were SUPER SMARTIES! I had 2 students that year reading the Junie B. novels IN KINDERGARTEN!

Good Luck to my special friend as she goes to compete on the county level.
You go girl!

Goodbye 2006, Goodbye House.

December 27th we finally closed on our 1st home. We are thankful that this day finally came after 14 months on the market. I am also a little bit sad that we said goodbye to our 1st home. It was a fabulous home and we will really miss it.

I am glad 2006 is over. It was a year full of challenging moments, growing pains, and groans. I am praying 2007 is full of more challenges, but maybe not as hard to get through.

I have rearranged my classroom in attempts to start fresh. I am almost done. Why do I do this with only 5 months left in the year? Michael asked the same question. I am hoping that this will help. We shall see next week.

We had a great Christmas full of travels and family. It was so great to see everyone. My sister and her husband were down. He leaves for his 8 month tour in Iraq this month. Please keep them in your prayers.

Happy New Year, friends!

Do you know who Jesus' girlfriend is?

In the world of my 4 year old class everything revolves around boyfriends and girlfriends. (Another whole blog in itself...)

Yesterday at lunch my aide and I overheard our students having this conversation:
Boy: "Hey. Do you know who God's kid is?"
Girl: "No."
Boy: "It is Jesus."
"Do you know who Jesus' girlfriend is?"
Girl: "No."
Boy: "Her name is Mary."
Girl: "Ha,Ha, Ha (giggle, giggle-You know the "g" word was mentioned-GIRLFRIEND!)

In a 4 year old's eyes, everybody needs a girlfriend. Forget the important role of having a mother. They are too much!

Babies Here, Babies There, Babies Everywhere!

I have a wonderful dear, close group of friends. I enjoy all of our visits together, girls weekends, even when we can meet for cheesecake.

Many of them are already mommies and I have lots of new little best boy/girlfriends.

Now many of them are prego.

I am so excited to love on all these little guys!

Congrats to all my Mommies!

It was. :(

So it was too good to be true. The deal went south today due to the couple not being forthcoming with all of their information and not begin approved for financing.

The facts:
How many days the house has been on the market: 1 year, 1 month
Total offers: 1-fell through
Tired and weary believers: 2
Doors to open: 1, any one

Too Good To Be True?

Ok. So it has been a while since Aug. 27th, my last fake post. And even longer since I thought of something to say.

Today I might have something good to pass along...

We finally have received an offer on our house. We spent the last week counter offering back and forth with each other. Today we received a contract! No high hopes or really any expectations. I will be truly excited and relieved once we sign on the dotted line in a couple of weeks.

It is truly fitting as 1 year ago in October we put our home on the market. Michael had the stomach virus and was throwing up. I had to take care of all the wonderful details alone. And here we are 1 year later receiving a contract. Michael has the stomach virus again and is throwing up. I have been running around town today to tie up all details.

We will see in the weeks to come.

I guess we will be here in Abilene after all.

Brain Research

You Are 65% Right Brained, 35% Left Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Michael and I are the complete opposite! How funny... no wonder we are a match made in Heaven. :)

(Hooray! I posted!)

Another month, still no change

But maybe it is on the horizon. ????

But there is a lot of change going on at my old school. It is like Kindergarten caught the baby bug at my old school with 3 teachers prego so far. Whoo. I got out just in time. hee-hee

Let's hope by August 21st I will finally have some change to report.

I am returning to the City!!!!!! This wkend I am hanging with the girls in a metro area!!!! This brings me much joy. I love the City, any city. Yipee.

My student is a star!

Check out the Foley's ad for this week's sale. On page 7 one of my students is working it!

See the important things I taught in Kinder: how to smile for the camera and always look "Good!"

I feel like proud Grammy or something.

http://www.foleys.com/gifts/OnlineShopping/FO?Dsp=133&sb=fo_0622

One month later... Still no change

Nothing new to say.

Still no change a month later.

No job.

No sell.

No, no, nothing.

Still no change

That sums it up-no change.
Everything is still not working out.

majorly stressed and busy with winding up the school year and life in houston

Barnum, Bailey, and MERCER??!!!

Yes, my class has joined the circus. At least for the last 2 days.

I have had a professional clown as a sub for the last 2 days. No lie. I have been testing this week so I have been right out in the hall to enjoy the "circus." The last 2 days have almost sent me through the roof. LOD, LOD, LOD! But, did they have fun! They told me, "We have never had this much fun. We have a man teacher!"
They were bringing toys to school, drawing all over the chalkboard, and not doing any work. FUN, FUN, FUN.
I was gritting my teeth as I heard all the whooping and hollering coming from my room and echoing down the hall. Keep in mind we are all testing. It was very so loud!
"Oh GOODIE! A BACKPACK FOR ME!"
"IF YOU LOOK IN THE CENTER OF YOUR TABLE, YOU WILL FIND A SUR-PRIZE!!! A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Too bad that Mean Mrs. Mercer will be back tomorrow and we will actually have to learn and do work. :(

I have been waiting to write because I wanted to have some new news like a job or a house selling. But negative to both. :(

I HATE MOVING!

Why is this so hard?! For over 6 months it has been a stream of continuous "no," "not now," "wait!" I have had my fill. I GIVE UP! I just want to give up already!I have tried REALLY hard to keep positive and make things work. But, we aren't receiving any encouraging news. I am ready for just one yes. Just one. This stinks. Like booty.
To make it harder, I LOVE everything I am leaving. I love the house I am trying to sell, I love the job I am giving up, and I love the city I am leaving.
WHY, WHY, WHY! aRGH!!!!!!!
Moving is for the birds.

BUY ME!!!!!!

A lovely home 30 minutes away from Galveston

Perfect!

Buy me, please. I love my owners very much, but they have to move away. If I could move to Little A, I would. I have to stay here in Houston waiting for new owners. It gets kind of lonely. I feel like nobody wants me. People come through me and say how pretty I am, but no one wants me. It really hurts my feelings. I would understand if I was older with wrinkles, but I am brand new. Oh, somebody buy me!

Like a thief in the Night

My heart is heavy for one of my past co-workers. She died tragically in a car crash Thursday night due to another drunk driver. The other driver was going the wrong way and crashed head-on into her car. She was killed, but her children will live. They are severely injured and are needing surgery.
I am actually teaching in her old classroom. She left her stamp with the flowers she would paint on the walls in each room she was in. She loved books and teaching. She was to return to our school next year after taking a leave when her family relocated to England for a short while. They just returned to the states back in February.
It is just tragic. We never know when we are called to leave this world. My school has seen many losses this past year. I just continue to pray for the family and my co-workers.

Her legacy will live on in all the little lives she dedicated herself to teaching. She has changed their lives forever.

Blessings on the Kings.