I think you need to introduce nap time today. Let them manipulate a pillow.

i got the above e-mail today from my roommate at work... he teaches the alternative school students. we are all ready for a B-R-E-A-K!!! long story to tell later about the baby's first er trip. til then, nighty night.

I haven't...

*put up any seasonal decor.
*wrapped a singal gift.
*finished shopping.
*thought about what I'm doing beyond Saturday.
*stopped laughing at Hadlee ~ her personality is really beginning to show, the little comedianne.
*had a good day at work in a l-o-n-g t-i-m-e.
*stopped wishing, hoping, and praying for a snow day.
*been more excited to see a vacation come (just 4 days and one hour... and possibly a personal day tucked in as well!).
*organized anything
*sent out a single card
*had a lot of sleep


So, how 'bout you???

We've got one Christmas dinner down and 7 more to go ~ somehow I think there should be a rule against that. Did anyone see Gray's Anatomy tonight? I'm definitely NOT an Izzy!

Happy Monday... only 12 shopping days left.

Grammar Lessons Gone Wrong...

This is a letter I recieved from one of my students today. Obviously I need to up the time we spend doing grammar... If only he could exist in a world void of rules & consequences!

Happy Thanksgiving

Lots of turkey. Lots of family. Lots of shopping. But most of all... lots of thanksgiving.

Not so green...

I have such a rough life...
Daddy likes to put things on my head and see how long they will last... my paci lasted a little less than 3 minutes... Daddy was impressed and I was just giddy!

Don't you just love my cow jammies??

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Today I released a TON of aggression... that happened to end up on one of my student's behinds. Let me just tell you, it was a near zen experience.

I don't know how any of you feel about corporal punishment. Obviously I'm not against it in any way, shape, form or fashion. Being in the south, I do think it's quite common... and working in a junior high school I also think it's quite necessary... especially when we are having to step in to the role that so many "parents" aren't fulfilling. (NOT to say that paddling is the answer, but that at times it definitely makes a positive difference when used correctly ~ go off on a tangent if you feel the need to do so.)

Just so you know, he received 3 licks while my principal and assistant principal looked on... and I received tips, guidance, a pat on the back, chocolate and a friend to cry w/ when it was over. Yes, I cried... well my eyes got a little watery and then five minutes later when I was correcting him for the eighteenmillionth time I was sorry about that watering.

I love the team of people that I work with. Supportive, funny, encouraging and fun... sure we're not perfect, but we stick together and show a common front.

BTW... remember to stand back in the box, keep a straight wrist, and position them well.

_______________________

I guess is was inevitable...

This is what I come home to each day... snuggles, love, laughter, giggles, food, fellowship, bath time, King of the Hill, Gilmore Girls, and numerous other gifts. (She really does look just like her father, huh? Not even a LITTLE bit like me???)
__________________________________

I knew that one day I too would have to resort to the veritable creamed corn silence. Sigh. Work stuff...

Tag, I'm It.

DJG tagged me a few days ago... or for all I know it could have been last year, so here are the results of the tagging...

The rules:
1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions. Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas…
5. Tag five people to do the same.

My fifth sentence in my 23rd blog was, "YES, the dishwasher!!!" I know what you're thinking... deep stuff here people ~ it's about time to put on those boots.

Not much in the meaning, subtext or hidden agenda area, though B did do two loads of laundry and the dishes earlier tonight w/out me asking him to do so. Ahh, having a rough day has it's advantages!

My brain is fried... only going to tag a few people

SG
Elizabeth
Jetty Betty (if any of you haven't already participated)

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Say it w/ me, "Tomorrow is a new day w/ no mistakes in it yet." Maybe it will go better. Did anyone laugh when I decided to take the job where they put all of the students w/ almost uncontrollable emotional and behavioral problems in one classroom? Seriously, did I really think it was a good idea????

Excerpts from conversations today...
Ku Klux Klan
Big Pimpin'
The advantages of being a felon and a truck driver.
How often one should shower and use soap, not just water.
Marijuana in Mexico (it's part of their culture according to my freshmen).
Bustin' somebody up.
Bustin' up the police for taking someone to jail for bustin' somebody up... the list goes on and on. Thank God we only have a day like this every couple of weeks or so, otherwise I'm not sure I could do whatever the heck it is that I'm doing.

My Little Fall Flower

I finally had time to sit down and get a better shot of our trunk picture from last weekend. Now does her costume make sense? It was a quick idea that actually turned out to be cute... if I do say so myself.

Today I went to a workshop on managing disruptive and disturbing children. Personally, I think anyone who sets eyes on a child should attend this. It was GREAT!!! I went w/ a fellow teacher who is teaching the same program that I am at the elementary level. It felt good to be able to vent, share ideas and listen to her interpretation of Tennesseans. She recently moved here from PA. I had tears rolling down my face while trying to get us through rush hour on Briley Pkwy. ~ it was indeed an adventure.

I'm going to attempt to spend the weekend finishing a class from last semester that I didn't get to ~ I went into labor right around the time that our final project was to be turned in. Funny how those things work out sometimes, huh?

Apparently I should also take a look at the way I am trying to run my classroom ~ TONS of room for improvement in that area.

Have a great weekend bloggies. Out.

Whew!

Good golly Miss Molly!!!! Where in the world did the month of October go??? We have been so busy ~ here is a look into what has gone on...

My dear New Orleans family came to visit. They got a taste of the country. We went to the Nashville Zoo, the park, Kaleb drove the four wheeler (he's 2 1/2), Netta and I enjoyed In Her Shoes while the boys stayed w/ the kiddos and we had a grand ol' time just catching up and laughing... BTW Net, the ottoman still smells like lavendar ~ thanks K!

Hadlee had her first round of shots and last week we experienced her first viral rash. No other symptoms but I have a feeling that she'll be getting teeth soon. She's also beginning to sleep from 9:00pm to 4:00am ~ SUCH A BLESSING!!!

We also got to experience our first Halloween and Trunk-or-Treat at church. We won honorable mention in the trunk decoration contest ~ putting a cute baby in the decor always helps!!

I went back to work a few weeks ago. It's been both fantastic and not so much the best thing ever, BUT is there anyone who doesn't have "those" days???

I have forgotten birthdays, anniversaries, how to speek in complete sentences, important informaion, not-so-inportant informaion and various things of that nature. What I HAVE NOT forgotten is how precious life is, how blessed each moment, and that Wal-Mart is open 24/7.

I rekon that's 'bout it for now... that I can remember anyway. I have so many bloggable thoughts in a day and so little time to blog them.

OH! One more thing... I have a couple of new students. The dynamics of these three boys is incredibly interesting and usually quite amusing to see. It's a lot like SNL's best parody of Forrest Gump. Seriously funny stuff. One thing I REALLY have to work on though ~ my poker face...

If only...

Do you ever look back in a person's life and see the exact point where if only he'd had a positive role model, or a parent who knew the love of Christ, that his entire life could have turned out differently? It's heartbreaking to know that one person could have litterally made a world of difference, but that one person wasn' t there. I know I can't go back in time and change what happened, but I try each day to make a point to remember that this day can set a new course for his life.

If only...

It's so hard not to laugh...

Working with teenagers is definitely (a spelling word for this week!) amusing at times. For instance, today one student, we'll call him M, just HAD to communicate w/ another. It was of utmost importance but neither of them had the priviledge (not a spelling word, maybe we'll work on it next week) of talking. In order to get around not being able to talk, M decides he needs to blow his nose (at my desk ~ EWWW ~ I got the anti-bac wipes and germ-x out immediately!!!) and will pass a note to R while en route to the de-booger station. Of course, M isn't all that smooth in his deliverance so the note falls on the floor. My assistant asks for it, reads the contents and brings it to me... this is too good to NOT share.

"Dude. I'm toadaly hookin up with Rebekka this weekend."

After reading that I had to leave the room to laugh... Thank you God for only going through puberty once!!!

Workin' for a Livin'

Sooo tired. Sooo busy... I thought I understood what busyness was until I was a non-stay-at-home-mom. Forget an "Ah ha" moment, I'm having an "Ah ha" life.

Things are going well. Some days are better than others, some fantastic, others straight from Satan himself. One of my favorite lines in Anne of Green Gables is "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet." That has become my mantra.

I have some humorous stories from the mouths of Junior High shcool children but they'll have to wait until I can type and hold my eyes open.

Just wanted to send a shout out to all my peeps in Blogland. Holla...

My firsts & lasts...

I've Been Tagged Again!
TL tagged me on this one.

First Memory ~ Momma being pregnant w/ Jonathan (I was 2, almost 3) and Daddy adding on to our house to make room for 4 children.. I fell down the steps onto concrete and when I cried for Mom Daddy had to take care of me b/c she was too pregnant to pick me up.
First Kiss ~ Brad Williams, the preacher's son... he was 6 and I was 5 AND his older brother was a witness ~ it was in the hallway on our way to Sunday school.
First Concert ~ Alabama at Stone Mtn., GA on the grass
First Love ~ Hmm, there was at least one new one every week... but I REALLY loved Murdock from the A Team, we even named a pet goat after him.
First Lust ~ Jody Booth, one of my sister's boyfriends, I couldn't even blink when he was around... I think I was 4 or 5.
First Thing I Think In The Morning ~ Isn't it B's turn to feed the baby?
First Book I Remember Loving ~ My Icky Picky Sister
First Pet ~ Shadow, a great dane that my brother and I used to ride on.
First Question I'll Ask In Heaven ~ Are you sure??? Where's Momma???
First Thing I Think Of When I Hear The Word Vacation ~ Beaches, Books and Seafood
First Best Friend ~ Lynette (my sis) and Elam (one the the many Jennifer's in my life).
Last Time I Dressed Up ~ Formal? Oct. 2 as a bride's maid in a wedding
Last Thing I Ate ~ Sugar Babies
Last CD I Bought ~ Sugarland
Last Time I Cried ~ Wednesday
Last Time I Told Someone I Loved Them ~ Earlier today to Hadlee and her daddy
Last Really Fun Thing I Did ~ Cookout at my sister's last night w/ the rest of the siblings & Spending the weekend w/ my N.O. family
Last Thing I Watched On TV ~ Titans v/s Bengals... let's not talk about it
Last Halloween Costume ~ I wore all green and went as a booger... I know, you're so jealous cuz you didn't think of that aren't you?
Last Concert I Attended ~ Kenny Chesney, Sept. 2004

I guess that's it... feel free to tag yourself. Toodles

Hey God, I get it...

So, I guess you were there w/ us yesterday... when I finally got "it", you know, the part about why you had to turn your back on your Son while he suffered. I never really understood it up til then. You see, Hadlee had to experience pain yesterday that will eventually turn into a good thing. She had her first round of immunizations ~ four shots. She screamed, she cried, she squirmed, she looked to me to make the pain go away and all I could do was sit in the corner, bite my lip and try not to cry or throw up. I had to look away, to turn my back, to leave her for just while during her time of suffering. When it was over her Gramma put her in my arms and after a whimper or two it was all ok. Well, it was ok for her, she went to sleep and woke up several hours later wanting food to eat. I don't guess it's really much different than your experience, huh? He suffered, He cried, He looked to you for release... and when it was all over You took Him in your arms and it has turned into a good thing... No, a perfect thing.

I get it now.

ZOE

Jon Owen (Hey, I laughed out loud last night in church when we sang, for the first time EVER, "You are the Song that I Sing." We needed a little Jerome W. in there a la you.)

(L to R Front) Beaner, DJG, TL, (Back) Jenni and Me at the mega early breakfast on Saturday morning. (I would link to everyone if I had a bit of extra time, but HAH is currently doing her yeddie cry ~ that's when she REALLY means business!)

I guess you all have heard most of the details already about who all met. The weekend was TRULY a blessing... worship was an incredible experience, Jeff and Mike were AWESOME, and the classes were good. To be completely honest, I along w/ some cohorts who shall remain nameless (but MAY be pictured above) skipped out on a class session or two and communed w/ each other ~ that was probably my favorite part, along w/ Mike's video!

Things I learned at ZOE...
1. When your yahoo map sux nuts and you are lost, call Jenni cuz she's mega prepared and can get you from Bell Meade to Woodmont Hills. Yeah, if you don't remember I'm the Middle TN girl and Jenni's from TX ~ really I'm an intelligent person, I promise!

2.If you happen to fall asleep in a class session and the older gentleman next to you taps you on the shoulder to make you wake up, the best remedy to the situation is ditching class and heading to Starbucks w/ a good pal (who shall also ramain namelss).

3. Sheryl Thomas can sing like no other woman I have ever heard in all of my life.

4. The interpreters made words come to life in their movements ~ truly beautiful!

5. When sitting at a red light beside someone who drives a new Tahoe and reside in Cullman, AL, squealing tires and racing is pretty fun... just watch out for blue lights.

6. How old were you when you learned what snail mail was? 'Cuz I was 25!

7. Jeff Walling could be Billy Crystal's voice double. His reinactment of Matthew was INCREDIBLE!!!

8. 728B, need I say more?

9. P.F. Changs and O'Charley's w/ friends = what I think the Lord meant when he gave us an exaple of communion.

10. I came away refreshed, full of hope, and wanting more... seriously, we have to wait a whole year for the next one????

FINALLY!!!

I feel as if I have been waiting for these for a million and fifty-three years, but it's only bee a few weeks. :) Hadlee's infant pictures are in... I can't believe how much she has changed in just a few short weeks. The time is going by so quickly!

Tonight I am off to the Zoe conference while Brandon and Hadlee go to my parents' for a home cooked meal and for our family computer guru to work his magic so Daddy and Dede can transfer old software onto their new Dell. I am so excited about the weekend and looking forward to some much needed refueling! Have a wonderful weekend my fellow bloggies. :)

Being Celine

Today I turned into Celine Dion circa 2000 right after she had her son... only I'm the spoof of Celine on SNL. For example, Monday night we started Hadlee on cereal hoping against hope that she'd sleep all night. She's not slept all night yet, but is sleeping longer and harder. Anywho, I was changing her diaper yesterday and Brandon and I had the following conversation, which is really FOR REAL...

M: Honey, have you seen the new poop?
B: Yeah, kind of looks like rice, mud, and mustard, right?
M: YES!! I can't believe you noticed. We're so proud of Daddy, aren't we Pooter?!!

I'm not kidding, it's so funny. Our conversations revolve around sleeping, eating and pooping. In your best French accent repeat after me. "It's all about the poop. You can see how the baby is doing. Look carefully at the poop. You may think I'm crazy, but look at poop!"

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On a side note, I think my poop noticing husband may be ready to kill me when he gets home. I am notorious for cramming as many clothes into the washer as is humanly possible. I figure, the less loads the better. Today I was doing a load and decided at the last minute to toss in a Land's End canvas tote to carry as a diaper bag instead of the mond-o bag that matches HAH's stroller and carseat. Apparently it was the icing on the cake. When I went to toss the clothes into the dryer I noticed a burning smell. The tote got hung in the top of the spinner thingy and tore the tub away from the frame of the washer. There are tiny bits of plastic all over the place and burn marks on the tote... dang it! I may wait for a day or two to fess up... maybe after I mow the yard or bake him a cake ~ he'd definitely know something was up then! Grrr, I HATE when I do stuff like that.

Weekend Weather

Click HERE for Nashville's weather forcast for the ZOE conference.

Just cuz' here is a pic of my little bit.

Hot for Teacher

I was a bridesmaid in my fried Krysta's wedding earlier this evening. The recessional song was "Hot for Teacher"...

Anybody remember Shelby's wedding colors in Steel Magnolias? I'm not sure whether I was in blush or bashful, but they were both present.

In many cases over the past week or so I have found that I have an ever growing annoyance w/ disorganization and people who take up precious moments of my time b/c of it. My step-mom and I are going to make business cards to hand out that read "Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."

I arranged 250 roses (both blush and bashful) into bouquets, boutineers, corsages and center pieces in one night. I had no idea I could do such a thing...

I have two more weeks to be at home w/ Hadlee (who we affectionately call Pooter Dooter, ya know, for short). Tomorrow will be spent recooping from this week, later is the ZOE conference and next week three of my favorite people in the world are coming to visit ~ my roommate from college, her husband and son. They are coming up from New Orleans to get away from things for a while and I CAN NOT wait to spend precious time w/ them.