Last day of July...

and the last Monday before school starts. Kinda scary. In some ways, I'm ready. I've been ready for a year, to be back in my own class, running things how I want to, and teaching only English again. And I am ready to deal with the 8th graders (even the ginormously tall boys). I just feel a little uneasy about teaching two grade levels, planning two grade levels and the little things related to it. I still have 4 days of Inservices, so I'm sure I'll be bombarded with even more information than I would ever want or need. It's just that anxiety and nervousness and excitement and anticipation I feel before every school year begins. I'll feel better this time two weeks from now.

And two weeks from now, we will be two weeks away from moving. Crazy!! We've been packing a little each day. Sometimes it feels like we've already made a lot of progress, and then other times I look around at the full cabinets and the stuff on the desk and in the dresser drawers and the toys scattered about, and I feel overwhelmed. We have a lot of crap!! I know we still have 4 weeks and we'll have plenty of help when the day comes, it's just that this is our first move without the Army. Seriously. The past 6 years (and like 6 moves), the Army packed and moved us. We haven't needed to locate boxes or store the packed boxes or keep track of all the stuff left to pack. It's a nice feeling that we're not moving because of a deployment. We are volunteering to move. That's a really nice feeling. I just can't wait to be settled into our new place. I can't wait for Christmas time, where we can decorate our house with festiveness (not a word, I know), and just have that general feeling of warmth and the love of the Holidays. The little lights of the Christmas tree...the smell of Cinnamon and Pine...the bright colors of presents and decorations...Lighting the fireplace and cuddling around it...Having family over at our house for Christmas...Ahhhh...

On that pleasant and nostalgic and warm-fuzzy-feeling note, I am off to bed. I have a day of training, sitting at cafeteria tables in a high school to look forward to.

Thinking inside the box

Mason is a climber, and he loves being in snug places, like the little kitchen cabinet next to the fridge and of course, my cart that I've been taking back and forth to my new classroom. He climbed in, sat down, and started reading a book. I smiled, laughed and took a picture. And this is the result. He's too darn cute...

It's funny, when you build something up in your head

I still seek my father's approval. I'm sure I always will. I'm a big girl, and I can make my own decisions, and I think I'm pretty responsible and make good choices, if I do say so myself. But, when it comes to the big ones, I want my daddy to agree that I did the right thing and that he's proud of me. And I know that some of his opinions don't gel with mine, so when that happens, I feel intimidated to share with him the decision or change. Silly? Maybe. But it'll be that way the rest of our relationship, I'm sure.

He wants us to buy a house and start accruing some equity and stuff. I agree, it would be nice to be making payments on our mortgage, not someone else's. And we had all intentions of buying in the next couple of months. In fact, we were pursuing a meeting with a loan officer that came recommended to us. He hadn't called us back, when we were told about the house for rent. We think that was a sign. Sometimes God's plans for you are a bit skewed from your own. When we decided we would indeed rent that house, I had this childlike fear in the back of my mind that my dad would not approve and I'd have to explain to him our choice to keep renting for awhile.

So, last night, I was returning his call, and it got to the "so, what have you guys been up to?" question, and I had to tell him. I spewed out all the features of the house and how the opportunity just fell into our lap and how we were certainly not soughting after renting anything else. And then I waited. I waited for the comment about how that wasn't the best choice, or how that money could be going towards a mortgage (where I'd have to argue that no, we couldn't afford the mortgage on the house we're renting), or that we should just be sitting still until we find a place to buy. But nothing like that happened. He said he was happy for us and proud and glad we're getting out of our current place. I was a little shocked, to be honest. I suppose I underestimated him. I know he's not some beast that I can't talk to or share my life's triumphs with, but I still feel like a child sometimes and that he needs to approve my every move.

So this was a victory. He was pleased and I didn't get any comments that made me feel guilty or that I had made a rash decision. It's funny when you build something up in your head, and then it's not that big of a deal.

Change is a good thing

First change in the Lionhead den: WE'RE MOVING!!!! Mason's babysitter's husband works with a guy (who also goes to our church) who was selling his house. I guess it's been on the market for 6 months, and he hasn't had any luck with it. So, he decided to put it up for rent. We got word of it, and went to check it out on Sunday. We pretty much fell in love with it right away. It's twice as big as our current place, it has a dishwasher (which I have been without for 2 years now!!), 3 bedrooms, a fenced (actually cement wall) yard, fireplace, security system, vertical blinds, a 2-car garage, porch swing, big storage, and it is squeaky clean for being 12 years old. It's sooo nice. At first, we weren't real sure about it, because it'll be about $300 more a month in rent. And although we're both about to start making more, it's still a little scary to jump into something like that. Plus, we've been in the same place for 2 years. Change scares me. A lot. But we prayed (a lot) and left it up to God. And you guessed it, we told the owner of the house yesterday that we'll take it. We move in on August 26!! Yes, that's a month away. And yes, school's starting in a week. But oh well. We are moving, and we are so excited about it!! We will be sure to give everyone we know our new address soon. And oh yeah, we're having a luau, when we're all moved in, and we want EVERYONE (well, everyone we actually know) to come!! It'll probably be in October or something. Yes, we know most people have luau's in the spring or summer, but too bad!! We're having a housewarming party, and it's gonna be a luau, and it's gonna be in the fall!! Anyone have a problem with that? No? Good!!

And the other change is the upcoming already known change: school starts in a week!! I had my first training today, on some 6 + 1 Trait Writing. I've already been trained and have been implementing the traits in my classrooms in the past, but you never stop learning. And I got to meet some fellow Language Arts teachers and get chummy with my principal. And they gave us breakfast and lunch! And we got paid! And we got training hours!! Can't beat that! Afterwards, I worked in my room for a couple of hours. I'm pretty much done, except for stacks of textbooks that I'm unsure what to do with, and a few odds and ends. Tomorrow we're continuing some more training. And then next week is filled with inservices, I'm sure. Monday I know is a new staff training at the district level. It's all day at the high school, listening to people from the board and district and blah blah blah and filling out paperwork. Fun. I just can't believe before I know it, the school year will be starting. But after all the trainings, I'm sure I'll be hyped up and ready to go. Today I learned a fellow 8th grade Language Arts teachers shows "Napoleon Dynamite" in her class, and discusses character and they do a writing activity on it. That's awesome!! Now, if only I could find a way to use "Billy Madison" or "Son-in-Law" in my class!!!

Oh yeah, and camp was over for me yesterday. It was bittersweet. Some kids I will for sure miss, because I never stopped laughing. Others, (like The Man and Angry Carrot), I am not too heartbroken about. I was sad to say goodbye to Sunshine (my fellow counselor), but I'm sure we'll see each other again, because Old Navy just opened, and we're both big fans!

It's weird that summer's over. It's gone by in the blink of an eye. I guess that's what happens when you leave one job and go to the next twice in 3 months.

Mother Nature is so unpredictable

On Sunday we went over to our friends' house. It was a muggy, warm day. Mason and Riley had fun splashing in the baby pool (seen to the left), and had great fun going down a little slide that we had in the pool. It was cloudy, but no rain.

Today, it was hot and humid. Tonight, it rained like crazy and the lightning was frighteningly close to the highway, as I was driving home from work.

Guess you never know what Mother Nature's going to bring. She likes to keep you guessing...

My Genius

I was watching Mason this morning, and I realized that he's a genius. He can do so many things he couldn't do before. He loves stacking things; taking things apart; putting things together; turning things on and off; he knows how to operate the remote for the tv and any clock radio or stereo or flashlight; he can feed himself with a spoon or fork (sort of); he can unscrew and screw on water bottle caps; he can brush his hair; he can climb couches, beds, chairs and babygates in a single bound; and he can say like 30 words. Now, I don't plan on starting to drill him with flashcards or making him listen to Mozart and Bach 24-7 or putting him in some specialized school or classes, but I await the day everyone will be amazed by his intelligence and talents. Until then, he will keep training...

My last Friday at Camp...

Today was an interesting day. First, I was actually productive in my classroom at the middle school. When I first walked in and saw that they had set up the student desks and stuff and that all I needed to do was unpack, I just stood there in awe. It's always an overwhelming feeling to move in to a classroom. It's that "where do I even start?" feeling. I moved some things around and unpacked 5 big bins worth of stuff. My nameplate is on my desk and framed pictures are out, so it's starting to feel like home. I'm sure this time next month, it will be my second home.

Then I get to Camp, and we have 13 kids!! It was so nice today. And calm. No serious behavior problems or stories to tell. The Man was well mannered and easy to handle. None of the older boys were there though, and I think they're just fuel for his fire. I really wish they'd keep numbers low in the camp, because everything just runs smoother. The pool time went fine, then we went to the rock climbing wall and they were well behaved. Later went to the "slab" (an outdoor cement area where they play basketball), and by then we only had 4!! It was easy.

I can't believe it was my last Friday. 3 more days of camp. I am glad but kind of sad too, for some reason. I suppose I'll miss some of the kids, and I'll really miss the other counselor, Sunshine (that's her Camp name) the most. We talked a lot and had a lot of laughs, often at the kids' expense. Sure helped the days pass by. Oh well, she's going off to college to finish her Education Degree, and I'm back to work.

Mason and I have a playdate with my friend and her daughter tomorrow, to go to the mall. Will be nice to see her and to visit. Guess that's all I have to say. Enjoy your weekend, all.

A blessing...I guess

So yesterday The Man was well behaved, didn't argue and did things the first time he was asked. I was impressed. In the afternoon, I even took a moment and thanked him for being respectful and not giving the counselors a hard time. I asked why the change, somehow hopefully expecting that his mother had spoken to him or that he had just changed his attitude on his own, but he responded that if he was good for the next week, his mother promised him spending money when his cousins come to visit. So basically she's bribing him. And although a part of me wanted to comment that he should be good without getting paid, I came to the conclusion that I should pick my battles. He was being good and not making my afternoons miserable. Does it really matter to me why he's being good? I just thank God that I have gotten some relief from the challenges we normally face with this boy, even if it means he's getting paid.

He's the man!!

OkayI gotta vent about this. I've mentioned a student before, but I didn't have a nickname for him--he will now be referred to as The Man. You'll see why. In the past, I just thought of him as a pretty typical middle school boy who's a little rowdy, a little gross, a little obnoxious and at times a little rude. But recently we've had a lot of problems with him. Especially when there's no male counselor around. I have come to the conclusion that he has absolutely no respect for women and I blame it on whatever's going at home. I don't know for sure, but I would bet money that mom is being treated like chopped liver at home by dad or a boyfriend. And whoever is his primary male influence is showing him that women are inferior and that you have to be A MAN at all times, which means no crying or showing weakness.

First case in point: The Man is playing basketball with some other boys. Another boy playfully pushes him to keep him from the ball, and The Man falls down, hands first onto the asphalt. And what is his first reaction? As he's fighting back tears of pain, he shouts the "F" word at the other kid 3 times and lunges at him. He then picks up the basketball and attempts to throw it at the other kid's head. So his hand is bleeding (in huge droplets) and he wants to just beat the other kid. The other counselor (also female) asks him to go get his hand cleaned up and he says, "I'm fine" and shrugs it off. He wants to just continue playing and handling the basketball, with a bloody gash on his hand. He eventually allows the other counselor to put a bandaid on it, but heavens no, he won't let anyone wash it off. Later, we told his mom that he had used the "F" word, and her reaction? "Oh, you know better. You need to get with the program, The Man. School's starting soon, and you know you can't talk like that," in a very passive aggressive voice. That's it? And I like how apparently it's all right that he says that word around us, but not when school starts. AGGHH!!

Second case in point: On Monday, about 5 minutes before lunchtime, The Man realizes he forgot his lunch. So, we have him call his mom. And instead of saying, "Hey Mom, will you please bring me by my lunch?" he actually says, "You need to bring me lunch" in a very controlling voice. He didn't even say thank you. I am sorry, but if my 11 year old boy said that to me, do you know what my response would be? "I don't need to do anything for you right now. I guess you'll be hungry then, huh?" But no. She zooms over with McDonald's. And we asked him why he didn't ask nicer, and he replies, "I don't owe her anything. I do everything for her. She doesn't do anything for me." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I just wanted to slap him. I asked God to bite my tongue so I didn't get fired. He just makes me so sick, to know that his mother allows him to talk to her that way, and that she isn't phased when we tell her that he talks to us like that.

The first time we talked to her about his behavior should have been our first sign of what's to come. I was telling her that he was being very disrespectful and disobedient to us and asked her if she would talk to him about it, and she said, "I'll try, but it's not gonna help." Great. So you've given up, then? If that's the case, you have at least 6 more years of this!! That's a long haul, if he's in charge!!

Oh yeah, and the other day we tried to talk to her about him being rowdy and rude, and she cuts us off saying that he's bored and that she pays for activities that we're not even doing. I ask her what activities he's not doing, and she says that he told her "we don't do anything. we just sit around all day." Now, what intelligent parent would believe that crap? I straightened her out on that. No, we don't ever sit around all day. Even when field trips are cancelled because of bad weather, we are in the gym playing basketball, or various other ball games. During every week, we swim 3 times, go to the climbing wall twice, play tons of teambuilding activities, we play kickball, dodgeball, sprout ball, fastest tag in the West, games with a parachute, water games, board games inside, card games, crafts, and the list goes on. Whatever lady, you just believe anything your sweet little liar tells you.

And I'm not going to get into the amount of times he's straight out lied to us, or argued over every little thing or complained that what he has to choose from for activities "sucks".

I am just saddened, sickened and angered by the whole thing. He's a disrespectful little twerp, and it's not entirely his fault. I just wish some mothers would realize the monsters they're creating.

Let's try this again

So earlier today I was chugging along, writing my blog, and I was just in the middle of commenting on how great it was that we were getting a big rainstorm here, when KABLAM!! the electricity goes out. It stayed off for awhile, so I wasn't able to write until now. Let me try to recap what I was saying: I was reveling in the beautifully cool weather and the sound of the rain, especially since the past week has been as hot as the surface of the sun around here. And it doesn't help that my job requires me to be outside most of the day. I've gotten somewhat accustomed to all the outside time, but I just can't tolerate the sweltering heat. Then again, I try to remind myself that I once lived in the South, where with hot comes disgusting humidity (I feel for you, Bluebird!!). It's then that I appreciate that "it's a dry heat".

I got to go into my future classroom at the middle school again yesterday. And again, I wasn't very productive. The maintenance people were in the middle of painting over that hideous scene that was there from last year, so I couldn't really move in yet. I unloaded my bins and miscellaneous crap into a corner and I hope next Friday is more worthwhile. School starts in 23 days!!! Ahhhh!! So much to do!! (Taking a deep breath) But it's okay. When it's all said and done, I will be prepared and this will all be behind me. I just wish it was behind me now.

Tonight we went over to a family's house we'd never been to before, from our church. They have two little girls and they are all super sweet. We ate great food (meat and veggie skewers, rice pilaf, beans and biscuits, and apple pie and a blueberry/banana cake/bread thing that I made) and socialized. It's nice to open up and mingle with people we didn't know before. Both my husband and I need to work on branching out and being social with other people. And there's so many nice people at our church, that there's no excuse.

I guess that's about all I was going to talk about. Oh yeah, Princess BAF and her husband are Mason's Godparents !! We are so pleased they agreed to it and maybe someday they can be there when Mason is baptized. That's it from here. Hope you are all keeping cool and looking forward to fall temperatures. I know we are.

Yaaaaaaak Polo

I was watching the news this morning, and they had a story about yak polo starting in Mongolia. Awesome!! I know where I want to vacation next year!!

Can I just tell you...

what a crazy couple of days it's been at work? Our numbers have been way high (running about 30-35 kids with 2-3 counselors--which seems like a minimal amount, but in a classroom, it's structured and much more controlled. This is a non-school setting, with kids ranging from 9-14, they're outside, they're being socialites and lovebirds and fighting opponents, who are unhappy about being outside and doing "team initiatives" and they are kids that would rather be at home watching MTV or BET or South Park or playing "Grand Theft Auto" or "Halo" or listening to Mike Jones or God knows whatever else floats their hormonal boat), and things have been downright mindblowing lately. Yesterday, for instance, we went on a field trip to hike in the mountains that are about a half an hour away. We got lost. The kids were rowdy and impatient. We found the trail and started hiking. Two kids (one was Angry Carrot) got in a scuffle (or maybe a dust billowing, cartoon-like fight would be a better term for it), right there on the trail, in the middle of the woods. Apparently the other kid started stirring stuff up with Angry Carrot, just petty little pestering things. Then, Angry Carrot commented back. Then the other kid spit at Angry Carrot. Whoops. Angry Carrot wailed on him. Fists were flying and Angry Carrot was screaming every obscenity possible (even ones that didn't really make sense). It was ugly, and would have been uglier, had our male counselor not stepped in and separated them. They both were reprimanded, and Angry Carrot was suspended for today. Should have been expelled from camp for the rest of the summer, because he's had countless warnings and slaps on the hand, but it wasn't up to me. Yeah, so, later on the hike, three different kids got hurt. Blood and a little whining, but nothing serious. It was just a little irritating to keep getting the first aid kit out to bandage them. I don't take a break on Tuesdays or Thursdays (because of field trips), so I was ready to crash after that day. Today wasn't so bad. Two kids were written up for "fighting", but it was a silly pushing match that turned to a little wrestling on the floor. Nothing compared to yesterday.

Overall, I have enjoyed most of camp. I have been entertained by the personalities of the kids, and the activities we've done. But, there are moments that just flabbergast me, and I ask myself, "why, again, did you want to do this?" And I suppose my answer refers back to my very first blog entry in August: I AM CRAZY. What teacher or camp counselor isn't? Find them, and I will tell you that they're in denial.

Restful weekend

Yesterday Mason and I went to the mall and he rode in his umbrella stroller, as I window shopped (and of course got Starbucks and of course got a few things for Mason at the Gap Outlet store! Old Navy opens at the end of the month!! Yeah!!). It was relaxing. He fell asleep in the stroller, as I looked around at Payless (where I found him $6 shoes!!) and Gap (I found a $7 skirt for me! Yay me!). He gets more attention when he's asleep than when he's awake. Strangers ooh and ahh at his cuteness as he sits slumped in his stroller, with his little pouty face and sleeps through store after store. It's adorable, and strangers think so too.

Today, we went to church and then I helped out in the Nursery for the second service. Mason was in there, and he was being a meany to the other kids. I tried to steer clear of him, so he would play and interact without me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him haul off and whack someone with his hand or a toy. I had to step in and tell him no. I don't look forward to his next stage in Toddlerhood, where he thinks everything is his, and he will bite, scratch and pillage to get it. It shall be a challenge. Anyways, later we met Mason's babysitter and family at Del Taco. Always good food and always entertaining, since they have 4 kids, ranging from 2-10. Mason even got to climb around a bit in the play area. Needless to say, he didn't want to leave. At least he hasn't learned the phrase, "5 more minutes, please, Mom!" yet.

Now, dinner's about ready and Mason is trying to get up in the computer chair and type my blog for me... Here Mason go ahead: erre 5 347 445yu5 yu y5 5yu h yn5 n bbvvvvvvvvb
and Daddy is watching "Futurama". Guess it's time to go.

It's official

So I saw my classroom at the middle school for the first time today. It's--it needs some work. Apparently there was a Gifted English teacher that was in there last year, and let the kids paint a wall in the classroom. It's a scene of a knight and castle and a dragon and whatnot. It's neat I guess, but a little distracting. I plan on painting over it. And all the desks and stuff are in shambles, as they didn't have time to set it up yet. I plan on coming again next Friday and I will do some setting up then. I only have like 3 weeks until inservices start!! Ahhh!! I can't believe how fast summer has gone. Whoosh!! (that's the sound a fast summer makes)

I took the curriculum home to look at, because I'm teaching 7th English and 8th English. Yeah, I didn't want to teach 8th grade. Oh well. God decided otherwise, I suppose. I'll try to make the most of it. I just need to look into what 8th graders are learning.

Oh yeah, and my summer job is still going okay. We have one kid, who I will call Angry Carrot (he's an angry redheaded boy), who's on his last straw. He's gotten two write-ups (and really, he deserves more than that), for being extremely aggressive, violent, angry and disrespectful. He flies off the handle at the drop of a hat. We try to keep him from other kids, but that's kinda hard sometimes. We only have 3 weeks left of camp, so hopefully he can avoid serious trouble long enough to make it through the end of summer, but we'll see.

I just got my yearbook from last school year. Yeah, last school year. They had the yearbooks made in May or so, but there were mistakes (and changes, since students and teachers had moved around during the year), so they had to send them back and remake them. So now I have a yearbook and no one to sign it. Yippee.

I need to eat before work. See ya.

Happy Independence Day!!

Happy 4th of July, people!! I hope everyone has a wonderful time with family and friends, eats lots of food that's bad for you, gets to see a great fireworks show (although I think the best I've ever seen is in Washington, D.C.) and enjoys having a day off from work. Try to remember why we get to do all of those things and why we get to live so freely. Thanks to all those in the past that fought for our freedom and God Bless and a huge THANK YOU to those who are still fighting for us and keeping us safe. We are independent because of you.

Don't worry, I'm still here

No update on my dad, just in case you're in the loop and you were wondering. I will let everyone know when we hear something.

Anyways, another busy week at work. I worked extra hours yesterday to make up for the fact that I won't be getting paid on the 4th. We were in a kiddie parade, which was fun. We only walked for like 15 minutes near the downtown square and then it was over, but it was neat to see people come out and watch and cheer. We ate ice cream sandwiches afterwards, which made it all worthwhile. Later, I actually swam with the kids during their swim time, which was a first. I usually stand around with the other counselor and watch the kids horse around for an hour and a half. But, I decided after walking in the parade and getting nice and sweaty, I could use a dip in the pool. Besides, the times passes much faster when you go down the slide and jump off the diving board, instead of standing in one place. It rained like crazy yesterday afternoon, which riled the kids up a bit, but overall, they were pretty well behaved--for middle schoolers. But I have to say when I was offered a chance to get off an hour early last night, I jumped on it. And my husband and Mason met me at a chinese restaurant for dinner, and that was a treat.

Today, I ran a few errands (Kmart for sunglasses, Safeway for milk and the Starbucks inside for their new juice frappucinos--which aren't that special, and a secondhand kids' clothing store for some things for Mason) and pretty soon we are going over to Mason's babysitter's house for dinner. Always a good time with that family. I think I'll give Mason a bath before we go. Ta ta.