Ridiculous

This is what we've come to in dealing with middle school restroom abuse:

• All paper towels will be removed - they can use the hand dryers.
• As soon as we get a new shipment, you will be given a roll of toilet paper to give them when they go - we'll take the jumbo rolls out. This way you can monitor if they're stuffing the entire roll in there.

Should that also read... count out 5 squares for a #1 and 15 for a #2?! geez!

Picture Day

Today is picture day... times 2.

Caleb has pictures at HIS school... and so do I.

Yippee. So, we're doing the dress-up-in-the-nice-outfit-and-take-the-school-appropriate-one for Caleb. I'm just wearing whatever. I have an inservice at the region center. So, whatever.

That is all. Hopefully I'll have time to post a picture of us later today. It's a crazy week. Crazier, even than it has been.

P-O-H-1

Caleb has started really recognizing his letters and numbers. Not all of them... but most of them.

Last Saturday we went to IHOP. Caleb sees the giant floor mat with IHOP written on it. He says to me, "Momma, that says... P... O ... H... 1." Reading backwards is not dyslexia...just three-year-oldia. And, to his credit, the I on IHOP is just a straight line, like the one.

So, we revisited POH-1 for breakfast this morning. :) Gotta love it.

I win

You might go pee before you read this blog. I don't want you peeing on yourself. That would just be icky and gross.

Also, it is recommended that you not take a large drink of any beverage prior to reading the following post.

Now that you have taken my advise, you may proceed.













So, I'm in fourth period. There are less than two minutes to the end of class. I am standing at my computer on a cart. 12 or so students are behind me... at their desks. They all start busting out laughing. I look around like, what? Is my bra strap hanging out? Do I have a excessively large booger peeking out? What?!

A student in front of me says, Mrs. F... your skirt.


Yeah... the waist band of the skirt was down just above my knees. I was wearing Assets (like Spanks - but the cheaper version, or like pantie-hose without the legs... to hold in my still-existing-baby-tummy), and could not feel them drop.

So, there I was... exposing my big white panties to my classroom.

At least I had on panties.

At least they were full butt covering panties and not thongs.

At least I was not on my period.

At least they were clean.



So, I win. (and am using is as a teachable moment about how to handle embarrassing moments with grace...aren't I a great teacher?! They will always remember me, huh?! YIKES!)

What a dork!

So, we enjoyed the football game and fellowship last night. It was relaxing for all of us.

When I was packing up the food items, I noticed there were two M & M cookies left. So, I packed them up, too... thinking that I brought in these yummy cookies.

Only to find out, when I got to my car, nope. There were the cookies I meant to bring in to the festivities. OOPS! So, I am a cookie thief. Sorry! What a dork!

Anywho, it was fun! and, wouldn't you know it?! THE BOYS WON!!! What a terrific game! Thanks!

Newest Calebisms

Our conversation in the car on the way to pick up Owen from day care:
Caleb: "Johnna is Bella's best friend."

Me: "Who is your best friend, Caleb?"

Caleb: "Um... God, Jesus, you and Bella."

Yah. That's what it's all about.
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Another one from the other day...

He got new WALL-E shoes. They have a WALL-E image on the bottom (read: treads). He was heart broken when he discovered they were dirty on the bottom and exclaimed, "They're ruined!!!"
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He becoming a big boy! Tall, even. He's having to wear 4T pants for length... and has to wear a belt to keep them up. He's also sleeping in his underwear at night, instead of a pull-up! YESS!!! Only one accident so far!

Long time

It's been a long time since my last post. SIX days! But, I haven't had much time.

Here's what's been going on:

Owen is starting on cereal. Otherwise, he's eating nearly 30 ounces of milk a day... and not keeping it all down. While he's fighting the first few bites of cereal, I've noticed a big difference. He seems much happier. But, he's now hungry in the middle of the night. We had 3 weeks there with full nights of sleep. Now, it's up every 3 hours, again. Hmmmm...

Caleb is for sale. Seriously. Three and a half year old should go for a six month time out. He has a few moments of pure like-ability. The rest of the time... let's just say... he's testing his boundaries. On good notes: He is SUPER smart. He's started writing his letters and can recognize numbers and letters without prompting. It's awesome. He's had a few funny moments. For example: "Mommy, I can feel my heart beep. It's beeping really good." There is another one... but I can't remember it right now.

School is... well... school. Work. My job. EWWWW! I am not supposed to feel that way! It's supposed to be fun and a wonderful experience each day. Um... not so much. I was ready to walk away and join the circus on Wednesday. It is tough. I don't feel adequate or prepared for this year's students... to say the least. But, I am fighting through it. And praying... A LOT!

Brant is in nursing school... the jeep is in the shop... and he's also working 40 hours a week... so... yeah. I never see him.

So, that's a quick update on the life of me. I need to start training for the walk/run. But, when? 4 am? Maybe that's a good idea. No sun... maybe no mosquitoes? Hmmm, something to think about, for sure.

Anywho. I am off to bed. For a few hours. See you tomorrow night, for football... I HOPE!

Torn

Today was a day I needed to hear His word.

Owen decided that his belly was not quite full enough last night, at 10. Unfortunately, I didn't get the memo, nor did I understand why he was screaming for two full hours. Finally, at midnight, I decided to try feeding him. At last... the ceiling fan, silence and sucking noises were the only "sounds" heard in my house. I fell asleep at 1.

When Brant's alarm went off at 5:30 so he could get ready for work, I felt him rubbing my back. Uh. NO. THAT's not happening. Still. I told him, I was up with Owen far too late last night and was not getting up as early as I had planned.

See, I had planned on getting up at 5:30, showering, and taking my boys out to breakfast before church. Instead, I slept until 8:30. I promptly sprang out of bed and threw on some clothes. I brushed my hair and made sure Caleb and Owen were clean and dressed. I got to church at 9:05. Not too late. But, late, still. So, here I was at church. Dressed, hair brushed, and filthy. I hadn't had a complete shower since Thursday or Friday (I've forgotten).

Church was exactly what I needed. Kurt preached the perfect sermon to us, and I felt the spirit move me. I am still on the path to getting baptised in the Baptist church. I just need to do it on MY time. I know, not HIS plan...so, not my plan. Owen was an angel, again, eating like he's never been fed, and staying pretty peaceful and quiet during the service. The last song really spoke to me and I was able to harmonize like I LOVE to do. But, I still felt dirty. So, the moment church was over, I high-tailed it out of there to get "cleansed" in a whole other way.

I was halfway home when I realized two things:
1. I totally skipped out on the new CLG. Sorry, J!
2. My phone was at my dad's. Most likely dead.

So, I ran home to pick up stuff to shower at dad's house. (he has the BEST shower, ever). Sure enough, there is my phone. Dead. I won't go home until tonight... so I won't get it charged until then. So, if you are trying to reach me, you can try my dad's house number, or wait until tomorrow. Sorry.

So, why the post of torn? It has to do with the direction I feel I should go with my faith. I want Brant to be involved. He'll go to my baptism when the time is right. He'll do the FUN functions, if he is available. But, he works. A lot. As in nearly every Sunday from 7 to 7. This takes him away from the church. Plus, he will support whatever I choose for our boys... just ... he might not want to go with me to worship in the same way. It's fine. I think. So, does this make us a spiritually mismatched couple? Really? I keep thinking maybe not. So, I am torn. Do I really want to go that direction, or do I want to find another group that will support the more young-ish family group that I had last year? Or, do I do nothing... and just go to worship the Father? Hmmmm... yup. Torn.

wow. tired.

nine days down. one hundred seventy-one to go. i think.

i am pooped. for the first time, EVER, i don't wanna teach. at all. i wanna stay home with my little boy. (the big one is testing our patience and his boundaries quite a bit right now... he's for sale... cheap. any takers? :) j/k).

it's not like Owen is keeping me up at night. it's the type of students we have this year. they are sweet... but they demand so much of our attention and time. i am worn out at the end of the day.

and yet... at the end of the day, i am still needed at home for playing with heroes and bad guys and teaching during those MANY teachable moments to mr. blondie; snuggling and nursing and giggling and cooing at mr. blue eyes; coming up with, making, cleaning, and serving dinner; thinking about needing to be intimate with my mate (sorry if tmi - don't wanna do that, either... who has the time/energy?!); AND, being the lving ear/shoulder for my seester and dad since they are both lonely. (jeff officially jumped the pond to go to iraq, yesterday. four or more months alone for seester, in lost wages - i mean las vegas.)

also, i hate being on the bottom of the blog-roll. so, if i have time - when not sleeping or loving on my boys - i WILL keep it better updated. i have pictures. i plan to share them with you this weekend. but, for now. it's time for bed. two small foster boys must be tucked in.

so... this tired-old-sock feeling... is it going to go away soon? will i be able to WANT to teach again? will i ever use capital letters appropriately in this blog? i suppose only time will tell. g'night.

Monumental Moments

This weekend of rest was much needed and greatly appreciated. While I didn't get ANY thing done, I had a great time with our boys.

So, what was so monumental this weekend?

1. I made (for the first time ever) eggs over medium for Caleb. Who, we recently discovered, LOVES eggs made that way.
2. Caleb had a record number of, shall we say, three-year-old moments. These were each followed by discussions and timeouts, and an occasional spanking, followed again by more discussions. Fun. NOT.
3. Caleb has been asking to wear underwear to sleep in, at night. After a week of dry pull ups, I agreed... but ONLY if he slept IN his bed. He's been sleeping on his floor on a quilt for ... a while (his choice). He finally agreed, and slept through the night. In his bed. In his underwear. DRY! YEAH!!! side note: this was, unfortunately, followed by a very wet nap on Saturday and Sunday. He has since chosen to go back to the floor and pull ups. Oh well... no pressure. He'll do it when he's good and ready. RIGHT?!
4. Owen has slept through the night for over a week! I nurse him between 9 and 10:30 and out he goes. On Saturday this sleeping through the night lasted until 8 o'clock! OMG! YESSS!
5. Owen was having a cow a bit earlier this evening. He finally calmed down and kicked and cooed on my bed... "talking" to the ceiling fan and light fixture. I just checked on him... he's out. YESSS!
6. Owen actually laughed. A real, I think this is a funny thing, laugh on Friday night. He has repeated this performance for various people and for a myriad of reasons. Needless to say, I cried. He's growing up too fast.
7. Owen now weighs in at 12 pounds, 11 ounces. What a porker!
8. Owen rolled over several times from tummy to back this weekend. It's awesome. Too bad he has to get mad at tummy time to do it. Hee-hee.

That about wraps up this episode of Monumental Moments. We now take you back to your regularly scheduled program. (That would be called sleep.) Have a great four day work-week!