News from the land of chaos

I say chaos, because that is how I feel my life is right now. I guess I will just go down the list and update you.

I have been asked to teach Kindergarten at a school I had never been to before. I accepted the position, and we aren't sure if the current teacher will be returning mid-year or if she will be out the full year. This leaves me with so many doubts. How much time, effort, energy, money etc., should I pour into this classroom knowing that I may only be there for a short time. Well, after mulling it over a few days, I decided that I am putting my all into it. At the worst, they will tell me at the end of September that she is coming back. Then I will pack up my belongings, and motor on. But until then, I am proceeding as though this is my classroom. I have already moved the furniture around, decorated and started to meet with the kids and parents. So for right now, it's my room. If she returns, I will have at least given these kids my all for the time I was there, and that is what they need (especially after having met some of them).

So, I am very excited... school officially starts for Kindergarten on Thursday! I have meetings with parents until then.

Madelyn will be starting pre-school this year. We really pondered whether or not she was ready, but we are going for it. She needs to be with kids her own age more, and that was the driving force behind the final decision. It is only three half days a week, but I know she will love it and is already very excited about it!

Lauren decided to get sick my first week of working at the school. She has been running a fever for two days now, and although I am glad it happened on the weekend, it has really worn me out. She is very clingy and just wants to lay on you all day and all night. Poor baby. You can see it in her face, she just doesn't feel good :( There is no feeling like the helplessness you feel when your baby is sick. I remember it all too well from Madelyn. Luckily, my kids don't get sick too often.

I am blessed that way, and hoping it stays that way.

We were supposed to go to a concert last night and didn't make it because I just couldn't bear to leave her. I told Mike to take the tickets and go, but he didn't want to go without me... so here we both sat with our sick baby and poor MJ watching Peter Pan! It sucks because now that Mike's schedule has adjusted and he is off Fridays and Saturdays, he is finally able to do stuff! Concerts, weddings, parties, cookouts.... fairs, carnivals, get togethers with our friends! They all happen on the weekends, and we weren't able to go for so long! This was the first time in a LONG time Mike and I were going to a concert together, and it just wasn't meant to be. We got Wendy's and Dairy Queen instead :)

I am designing two new kits right now, and I am very excited about them. Still have news about my designs up my sleeve that will be let out soon, but I need to keep it under wraps for a little while longer. Hoping to do some scrapping of my own tonite, to kind of wind down from the sickness.

Madelyn's playground is finally finished! We have a deck to build still, but that is the last of it. Here is a picture of how it turned out. Lots of blood and sweat went into the preparation of this baby... but soooo worth it. She loves it !!! Today we erected her PIRATE GIRL flag! You can see it in the second picture!

So, that's the news from the land of chaos.... trying to hold it all together until everything winds down. It will... it always does!

Crazy busy ...

I am not complaining at all --- we have just been so busy this summer. We have had a ton of fun in the meantime, and so it was all worth it. I am not making excuses for my posts being, well, non-personal --- but I will try to do better from now.

So, if you remember correctly, last summer I was basically pregnant and miserable for the first two/thirds of the summer. I pretty much prayed the entire summer away so that I would be done being pregnant. For those who don't know --- it's hard being pregnant in the summer with a two year old wanting to do everything!!! Then, when I had Lauren I was a recluse just loving on her and getting used to being a mommy of two.

By the time I woke up from that daze, summer was over and we had done basically nothing. I was so angry all winter that I felt like I was jipped out of summer --- I whined alot about it truly!

So, this summer it was ON!

Not intentionally, but alot of things came up this summer. My good friend got married in Hilton Head.... and so we went down for that. Long drive, but an amazing time with my amazing friends. We had so much fun. We learned Madelyn was a fish in a former life, and has NO fear of water!

Then, we took our trek to our normal summertime hang - Geneva on the Lake. I was there for a few weeks, and got to meet up with Heather a few times. It was so nice to spend time with another mommy with a baby Lauren's age. Rhiannon was so sweet to MJ and I just had a ball with them!

My in laws were then gracious enough to invite us to go to Myrtle Beach with them, and we gladly took them up on it. We had an amazing condo overlooking the beautiful waters, and we had an incredible time. Very relaxing, and laid back --- just like we like it!

Then I went back to the lake for a few days --- it wasn't long enough, but it was nice to have the closure of going back to pack up the cottage. I miss the cottage so much in the winter, if it had a furnace I would probably go there and just sit --- because there is nothing to do there in the winter at all! I would still love it. I just like being there!

We are getting ready to close the summer out by heading up to Erie to spend some time with some buds who have babes the same age as MJ. We have known each other (most) since they were born and so we try to travel each year to visit. We are from all over the states and Canada, so its not possible for everyone to make it every year, but we sure try. I didn't get to go last year because Lauren was only a few days old when they left to meet up in Niagara Falls. This year it is in my homestate -- so you couldn't keep me away. Even though I will only be there for a day or two, it will still be nice to catch up with my buds and see all the kids together. I love that part!

Then, it will be getting ready for the school year to start!

So, here are some kid recaps :

Lauren is walking, wobbly but walking --- she says daddy and only daddy. She loves her mama but just WILL NOT say it! She is such a delight, has a wonderful personality and is really cute with her big ol' gap between her two front teeth! I later I will be cursing it, but for now it is just adorable !!!

Madelyn is FINALLY potty trained --- PRAISE JESUS!!! She is just as bubbly, social and talkative as ever. She never stops from the time she wakes until she is sleeping in her bed... talking, talking, talking. She loves everyone --- and just wants to be everyone's best friend! So funny!

Mike has finally moved to a schedule that allows him off Friday and Saturday each week --- so we finally HAVE A LIFE! We can go to weddings, go out and have a drink on a Friday night--- we couldn't be more excited about this! We can go catch a movie and get a sitter (not a school night). Wow, I better make a list of things we are going to do !

As for me, I am getting ready to sub again in the Fall. Hopeful that something long term will come my way early on, and I can complete a school year in one classroom. I am still teaching computers at the community college -- and I really love that. Also, I am supposed to go back to coaching the dance team this fall. My sister and I coached together for two years until I started having kids. Then she did it by herself. Now that she has moved to Texas, they needed a coach and asked me. Well, I am not sure ASKED is the right word to use. I am not sure how I feel about that yet. I guess it depends on how that falls in with everything else I have going on--- it will either be awesome or a pain. Not sure about that yet.

So I will post some pics from Erie after the weekend is over. Sorry for the catch up post. I hate that I had to do that... but I also don't want a blog just of pictures and no stories!

Here are some layouts I did yesterday for The Duchess using her new Girlfriends: Makenzie mini kit! I love these mini's --- they are very inexpensive and have enough inside for a few adorable layouts!!!

Trying to catch up...

I have about five hundred things going through my head right now. I think I may go nuts! I am behind on everything: scrapping, laundry, housework, shopping ! Did you notice that scrapping came first? Well, to be honest, it doesn't really come first - I do need to feed and cloth my husband and children first! And, although I am not as much of a neat freak as some people I know, I do have a little 'issue' with things being out of place. Even if its clutter, my clutter all has its place! The first thing I do when the kids go to bed is put everything back in its respective spot!

I hate disorder, and that is not to say that my house isn't a cluttered mess at times- but I do know where EVERYTHING is at all times. I also really hate folding laundry - which I know I have covered before, so I put laundry off at all costs! I know some people swear by doing one load a day, but that would be cruel and unusual punishment in my book. I would rather spend an entire day, once a week doing it than drag it out like that! I understand the logic behind their decision to do it that way, but its not my gig - that's for sure!

So, I did get the house cleaned, specifically the kitchen and bathroom. I finagled my hubby into getting Chinese for me for dinner under the rouse of 'We didn't go out for Valentine's Day'. It actually was a rouse, we just haven't had time - but I did get Chinese out of the deal, so you won't hear me complaining.

We also bought our Backyardigans LIVE tickets today - and I think Mike and I are more freakin excited about this show than Madelyn. Actually, I don't think it I KNOW IT! We both saw the commercial, looked at each other, and I dove towards the computer with credit card in hand! He was like GET AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN! Honestly, I think we would go without Madelyn, but we would look ridiculous - so, she can come too! ROFL!

Here is the lone layout I did today! It is from a new kit from Amy Leigh called 'BRILLIANT BLOSSOMS'. The colors in this kit are fabulous and vibrant. It just made me think of summertime, and when I think of summertime - I think of being at the Lake. So, thus came the layout entitled "Afternoon Nap".

This is my sister trying to get MJ to nap, I remember that it was way too hot to ask her to go up into her room in her pack and play for a nap, but there was no way she was willingly going to stay on the couch either. So, my sister just held her until she fell asleep :) What a nice Aunt Bee!

My goal was to scrap three pages today ! I may still get one more down by bedtime, since I took a wee-nap today ! But, I had to because both kids got up in the night last night and I didn't even lay down until 2am, then MJ was up at 3:30am, and Lauren was up twice - once at 2:15am and once at 4:30am. YIKES! What is going on? I think they get all out of whack when I work.

Teaching kindergarten

So, tomorrow morning I get to teach Kindergarten! Yay! I am so excited! I got a call today from the school where I taught last year and the K teacher will be out tomorrow. She asked for me :) I love that!

Oh, happy day!

I will report how it was tomorrow night- I will be very tired I am sure... but so worth it!

I am taking KnuffleBunny with me :) I can't wait to see all the teachers I was with last year, and show them the pictures of Lauren and Maddie. They are going to kill me for not taking her up there in September, but I hate interrupting classtime.

Anywho, I found out today that ALOT of teachers will be retiring in July. Hmmm, might be good for me ;)

Sunday blogfest

Well, it has been a very busy week for me recovering from the holidays, recovering from Mike's wicked holiday schedule, getting the toys unattached from those damn wires they use to put them in boxes and trying to prepare for my job corps courses.

I taught my first two job corps classes on Friday, and they were awesome. These students are the reason I went to school to be a teacher. I wish I could keep them for the entire semester, but alas, I am only an orientation to the real college (ROFL!). Those of you who know me, and went to school with me will understand that statement.

On to a different subject, I was able to complete some digi-scrapping stuff this weekend. I am happy to say so. I have a ton of stuff I should be doing for this weeks job corps courses, but I put it off and truly, I have enough. I just tend to over-do it. So here is the latest.

I like to call it 'My sleepy angel'. I took this picture on Christmas morning, just before Maddie got to nap. Can't you tell that she is just about to keel over? She is absolutely exhausted, and I was lucky enough to grab the camera just as she slid down the wall with her usual drama-filed sigh.

Credits: Karla's Kaleidoscope Designs 'Midnight Snow' Kit.
Font: CK Joannie

I will find out on Tuesday night (MY BIRTHDAY in case you didn't know) if I move on to the next round in the Supreme Team Contest at godigitalscrapbooking.com. I can't wait to find out!

I also applied to be a member of a creative team for one of my favorite designers at GDS! Yikes! So exciting!

Oldie but a goodie!

I received this email from a friend at the exact right time. I am trying so hard to prioritize things in my life right now. This puts alot into perspective.

-A mayonaise jar and two cups of coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked." The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

New job

Well, I am now the proud owner of yet another jobby job to add to my collection. Seriously, I do have a lot of things going on, but never at the same time. I like to spread my shit out so that all can get a piece of this........

Ok, enough of that talk....

Seriously though, this is going to be great (I hope)... I told them I would think about it for a day or so before committing, but I am pretty sure I am going to do it.

I will be an online teacher for students who need tutoring or help after school. It is a great program free to any student in America who goes to a school who hasn't reached AYP (annual yearly progress) under the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) Act. Of course, they have to have access to a computer, and be willing to commit to a time to be online connected with a teacher, with both a interactive notebook/pen, headset and mic. Hmmmm, well, I guess that leaves out the majority of my 'urban' kids.

But, I can't NOT take a job just because of that, so I think I am going to do it. No lesson planning, just being available for answering questions and helping them out ! Its only going to be about 10-15 hours a week, and I am online anyway! I may as well be earning money and a new blurb on my already-too-many-pages long resume. But resumes are a topic for another entire post (maybe tomorrow).

I am still awaiting CCAC's schedule for next semester, and I can't commit to any times for tutoring until I know when they have placed my courses. I am hoping to have a few classes really roll this time because its easy money, and I love teaching computers at the college level.

We shall see I suppose, I will keep you posted.