"From up here, you all look like little ants..."

Yesterday, my hubby took me flying. It was the first time since he was an actual student at that school, probably about 9 years ago. It was just him and I in a 4-seater plane and we flew to the Red Rocks (for you natives of my state, you know where that is) and had a nice, quiet brunch at the airport's restaurant. Then we flew home. It was neat. Weird, since it had been ages, and honestly a little nerve-wracking (even though I trust my hubby's abilities and judgment), but neat. It was worth the wait.

What a Fantastic Friday!!

Probably more so for the kids, but it was a pretty good day for me too. It was our monthly Fantastic Friday (kids get out of class early, and the good ones get to participate in some sort of activity), and this Friday was one all the kids (that got to go) seemed to enjoy. The PTSO organized a carnival of sorts, and sold wristbands for $5, for unlimited play on inflatable stuff like a slide and a bungee race thing. The kids could also purchase tickets for carnival style games like ring toss and the ping pong ball in the fish bowl game. But the kicker--and the big money maker--was the dunktank. And what's more, Mrs. Assistant Principal sat in the dunktank. I would be interested to know how much money was raised on that alone. The tickets were 25 cents a piece, and it cost 4 tickets for three balls. Let's just say, a lot of kids had no qualms about whacking balls at a trigger that tossed an adminstrator into a tank of cool water. They were laughing. They were screaming. They were applauding. And the best part, they were buying tickets for it like it was going out of style. The PTSO also sold snacks like soda and popcorn and there was face painting and inflatable hammers and bats that could be won. A good time for all, I think. It was quite toasty after 2 hours of being outside, but I was enjoying watching my kids out of their classroom element and running around like they hadn't seen grass in ages. A game of football got started on the side field and that seemed to attract a lot of my 8th grade boys. With food to snack on, an assistant principal to watch getting drenched and loads of other activities to choose from, I didn't see a single kid wandering around looking unhappy or slumping down in the grass looking bored. They were happy to be outside and able to be free from work. And it made the teachers happy too.

Happy Friend Day!

I don't know if it's anything official or national or whatever, but the local news said something about today being Friend Day. The newscasters had their long, lost friends on the show, and reminisced about their high school days and whatnot.

It just reminded me of how thankful I am for my true friends that have been more than I could ever ask for and have been a blessing in my life. I also feel sad and sorry that I have lost touch and/or lost the bond with certain friends, partially by my own fault. It's a little disheartening, when you really think about it. When you have a history with someone, and for a certain period of time you were close and had such great memories together. And then something happens. Life happens, I guess. Whatever it is, things change. You move on. You grow up. You have different priorities. You forget about that time in your life when you were connected at the hip. I guess it doesn't have to be a sad thing, since life just does that. We're grownups. We're not always going to enjoy the company of the same people we would have 5 or 10 years ago.

Maybe we're supposed to just remember those times in life fondly and move on. Maybe we're supposed to try to make it work with that person and try to get to know who they are now. I don't know. I don't have the answers. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if I've neglected a friendship with you, it was not at all with ill intent, and I am still deeply grateful for what you have meant to me.

So, take a moment and really think about those people in your life. I know it's cliche', but think about how they've changed you, inspired you, made you laugh, helped you cry, hugged when you needed it, listened to you gripe about crap. And even if you don't talk to them anymore, or it's awkward when you do, remember how your life was affected by them, and if you can't tell them personally, just keep it in your heart that they were placed in your life for a reason and it has forever changed you.

Warning: This entry is girly and a bit materialistic

I bought these shoes today at Payless! Aren't they fun? I was there looking for dress shoes for the 8th grade dance (last day of school), and of course, they were having Buy One Get One Half Off, and I saw these. They're fun, a little girly (that's leopard print) and they don't have to be tied (great for when I'm pregnant again)!! I love new shoes!

The natives are restless

I'm too tired and worn out to say much (plus it's Results Night on American Idol!), so let's just say that the kids are chomping at the bit. They're ready for summer. We're ready for summer. It's getting ugly. In my classes alone, I wanted to strangle a good dozen of them (but instead, I took the Christain approach and took a deep breath and said a little prayer in my head). But at least that was the extent of my antics. Somewhere else on campus (I'm not sure where, as I heard it secondhand from the vice principal), a kid bit another student. Yeah, BIT them. You don't hear about that much in grade school, not to mention MIDDLE SCHOOL. Oh yeah, and two other students were hauled off to Juvie today. 5 more weeks...

...And now I can breathe a sigh of relief

The BIG FAT STANDARDIZED TESTS are over!! What a relief. We took them Tuesday through Friday and it felt like longer. The test schedule was broken down into 2 hour segments (the first day being the writing assessment and the other 3 days were an hour of reading comprehension and an hour of math), which isn't so bad. I tried to tell the kids that I remember when I was in school that the state tests were all day. You tested all day, with just lunch and recess as a break. Could you imagine this generation (ones with an attention span of a gnat), sitting in a desk all day long taking a test? Yikes! I think the 2 hour segment is long enough.

I tried to peek at some of their tests (especially the writing one), and check out how they were doing. Most seemed to do pretty well. That test is so hard to analyze as a teacher though, since some just want it to be over, so they just rush. And others get stressed out at the end (which was like me as a student) and kinda give up. You hope that most of them care enough about it to try their best. It at least looked like the majority did. I guess we'll see when the scores come back, right?

I'm also glad testing week is over so we can get back to our regular schedule. I guess because of lunches, the day was broken down by taking test with 8th period class from 9-11 and then going to 3rd period and continuing from there and having 1st and 2nd period at the end of the day. I don't know who was more out of whack by the switch: the students or the teachers! We had this same schedule about a month ago, when we did a little version of the state test, but it was only for the day. This was 4 days!! I'll be glad to have my 1st/2nd period kids back in the morning. When they're still half asleep. At the end of the day is apparently their prime. And it just about made me crazy.

Needless to say, we are all able to relax a little and pray that the next 6 weeks go by without much incident. Once the BIG TEST is over, some of the kids sort of check out. They figure the school year is over already. Not so. And how do you keep them motivated to keep working and keep caring? That's the magic question!!

Happy Easter

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Hope everyone has a peaceful day with family and it is a happy, joyful day for all.

P.S. Eat lots of candy!!

God Rocks!!

I'm gonna make this short and sweet, since the last 2 days have been non-stop. Yesterday, we left home right after I got off work and hurried down to my parents' house. We gave a few last minute instructions, kissed Mason goodbye and headed off to the concert. What a show. Stellar Kart opened (think Green Day with Christian lyrics), which we weren't familiar with, but they were high energy and a lot fun, and then came Kutless (the band we knew best--medium hardrock) and the headliner was the Newsboys (kinda U2-esque). They put on a great show. My throat still hurts from singing so loud. We're really glad we went.

We returned home this afternoon. I took a nap, but Mason decided he didn't need one, so Daddy entertained him for awhile. Then, we went to church for Good Friday service. And now we're home. Tomorrow we're going to our friends' house to color eggs with Sesame Street and Star Wars decorations (which one do you think Daddy picked out?)

The Spirit is alive and well in us lately. And just in time for Easter. :)

Long weekend, here we come!!!

Today I was at an Inservice at the District, which was pretty interesting. I learned some new things and felt refreshed about some old concepts. It was pretty worthwhile. Tomorrow my classes will just be doing last minute review for the BIG FAT STANDARDIZED TESTS that are next week. They're going to take a Practice Test and we're gonna grade it. And that's it. Tuesday begins the testing and I figure if they don't know it by now, oh well. I'm not going to cram or stress. Some kids aren't going to try on it anyways...

Tomorrow right after school, we're heading down south to go see Kutless and Newsboys (Christian rock) in concert, while Nana and Papa watch Mason. We're really looking forward to it. We haven't been to a concert in awhile, and we really like Kutless.

And did I mention NO SCHOOL Friday? Yeah!! We get it off for Good Friday, but the school calendar labels it as "Spring Recess". Don't get me started...

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend and if you're Christian, keeps Christ in mind and remembers why He died and what that means to us. God Bless.