Time for an update

I don't really have much to update.  Life is busy, busy, busy with not a lot of new stuff in between.  Seth and I are out of school this week, and Michael took the week off....so it is nice to just "chill" for a bit.  No alarm clocks this week!  Yay!

Here are some pics of the kids from Halloween:

Minnie

Batman

My sister-in-law had a beautiful baby girl Saturday.  We went by the hospital today to see her.  Madeline could not get enough of her.  She held her longer than anyone and kept saying, "She's so cute, Mommy." She loves babies. 

We are having Thanksgiving here at our house.  My brother flew in yesterday.  His luggage got lost, so he has no clothes.  He just left to go buy some things to get by this week.  My sister and her family will be here Wednesday. 

We are hoping to get out Christmas decorations up this week, but right now I cannot think of doing it.  I have been soooo busy lately...it's nice to just do nothing.  I know if we don't decorate this week, it won't get done.  I have class December 1, 8, and 15 so all of my weekends are gone past this weekend.

Hope things are going well with everyone.  I think most everyone has left xanga.   I have a myspace account, but I never blog on there...

Maybe I should start.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Update

Whoa....I've become one of "those" bloggers who only updates twice a month. 

I have been swamped with school work.  Saturday was my last day in that class, so this week I have no homework.  Another bright spot in the week is that I don't have a lot of papers to grade b/c we had to have all grades in yesterday for report cards.  Kids were not in school Friday or yesterday.  I got all of my grades in Friday because my day was literally full yesterday with parent/teacher conferences.  I started at 8:05 with a conference with Seth's teacher.  It actually went a lot better than we were expecting.  His behavior has improved A LOT over the last week.  We also found out that his behavior is normal for a 5 yr. ol little boy.  He's not a "problem" child.  He is excelling academically.  His teacher said she could not ask for more. In fact, he is one point away from being at the reading level expected at the end of Kindergarten.  She said he will be way beyond that at the end of the year.  He is an exceptional reader.  We were a little surprised at that because we have not been teaching him how to read or pushing him in that direction.  We didn't want to "damage" him....we decided to leave it to the teachers.  Apparently, though, all that reading to him at night did actually help.  I know experts say that all the time....read to your children, read to your children, etc.   But I was skeptical as to how that could actually help him learn to read.  I mean how does reading it to him teach him to read?  Well, it's a good thing I'm not the expert.  Ha!

School is going great.  I love my kids.  5th graders are very energetic and talkative.  I love what I'm going, even though I am always tired and have no down time right now.  My stress level has improved a lot.  My house is usually a mess, which I'm not used to.....But it's not that bad.  Michael has been a huge help.

Did I mention that since I've been teaching (this is my 4th week) Madeline and Seth have both been sick?  Madeline is sick for the second time in three weeks.  We took her to the doctor today b/c her fever has been so high since Sunday night.  All her tests came back negative.  Just a virus.  I guess I should be grateful, but sometimes I want it to be something we can give her medicine for to make it all better.  She's a miserable little cookie when she's sick.

Okay....enough talking on and on.  I'm going to try to catch up with everyone else tonight.  Hope you are all having a great month!

Still here

Just very overwhelmed with teaching and with my school work at the moment.  I have several large projects due this weekend.

Teaching is going fine.  I feel much better about it now than I did one week ago.  The kids are great.  I'm working through the challenges...

I was sick all weekend, so I couldn't get much accomplished. 

Michael and the kids are adjusting to our new routine.  We'll make it work...

I can't wait 'til next Friday...It's a planning day, and I could really use one!  :)

Hope you all have a great week!

Got a job...

Remember the interview I told you about?  Well, she offered me the job before I left her office.  It is an interim 5th grade position that will last through the end of January.  Interim means I will receive full teacher pay and benefits, which is a huge plus! 

I will be teaching 5 periods/day....One period of Reading, one of Language Arts, two periods of Math, and one of Social Studies.  All, except one Math class, are advanced placement classes.  The teacher and the principal assured me there were NO behavioral problems in the groups. 

I do have my work cut out for me, though, since I've never actually been a teacher before.  I went by the school today to pick up all of the books.  She made lesson plans for three days next week for me....the rest is up to me.  I hope I can juggle being in school and teaching school at the same time.  Please keep me in your prayers.  Things are going to be crazy for us for a while, but it will be such good experience for me!

I'll try do update every few days, but if I don't you know why.  :)

Have a good weekend!

And so it begins...

Sickness.  Seth had to leave school early today.  He has a fever, headache and stomach ache...but no other symptoms. Poor guy.  He's been lying around all day.  In fact, tonight is the first time he has even felt like watching t.v., which is what he's doing as I type this. 

I didn't have a job yesterday, but I do the rest of this week.  I got a call for another interview as well.  I think it's a 5th grad position.  I'm trying to find the time to set it up.  I comitted to subbing this week for a friend, so I don't want to bail on her to go on an interview.  After subbing for a few weeks I'm really anxious and excited about having my own classroom; however, I'm still perfectly content to continue to sub the remainder of the year.  The experience is great for me.

Last week I was in a 2nd grade class, and I totally fell in love with the kids.  So far that has been the grade I've enjoyed being with the most.  There is something nice about older kids as well.

Michael and Madeline went to Sonic to get us blasts, like I need that.  I still need to lose the 10 pounds I put on this summer.  I'm hoping to do so before my 10year college reunion in November.  Subbing has kept me from snacking all day, though, which is nice.  :)

Okay....Guess I should go read everyone's blogs, not that any of you update very often.  :)

Hope you're having a good week!