Happy Birthday to all Leap Year Babies!

I have never had a child in one of my classes to have a birthday on the 29th. I can't decide if I would like it or not. It would be a neat thing in some ways getting to have such a novel day and all, but I think it might be a little too strange having to celebrate on a different day other than the one your were born on for most of your life. Can't decide. Good thing I don't have too!!DUH!

Spent today hard at work. I worked until the building closed at 8:00 and will have to go back tomorrow. Work is never done for a kindergarten teacher. We seriously need off two days every nine weeks (without children ) just to plan and organzie materials needed for the upcoming units. It is conference time again so that always takes so much time out of the schedule too. I spent most of the night cleaning!!! Schools are some of the dustiest places on the planet! I often think it is like keeping up two houses.

Vince has the flu and is really sick. Started meds last night. Fever 103..... Came on really fast. Susan will be next I am afraid. Jazzy has been here with us.

This winter thing can't end too soon for me. I love the weather if it gets cold and stays cold, but we have had so much 40 degree weather and rain... rain... rain... rain. We are absolutely making up for drought situation last summer. I will be glad to start planting.

We planted some trees this fall I had ordered from the Arbor Day foundation. I thought they would be a little bit bigger than they were. I paid for some besides the free ones (twigs) you get for joining. They were healthy though and I was so glad for all of the rain. The roofers had trampled one I planted with their ladders. So, I went out the other day just to talk to, love and nurture the rest, and someone passing by (someone whom has never planted their heart along with a tree or a plant I am quite sure) cut (3) of the biggest ones off in half. They were not bitten or chewed but sliced clean with a knife of some sort. That made me really sad. We are on a corner lot by a busy road so we do get a lot of neighborhood kids cutting through. (literally now it seems). I have never had that happen to me before. Thought nature or accidental mowings were always my biggest threats. I will have to get some bigger ones to replace them. Just as well, because at the rate these poor little babes were going to grow, I would not have been able to see them mature! I would be long gone before they shaded that side of the house.

Yet another snow day!!!!

Okay I am really confused about how in the world we were off today all day since the board took all kinds of time this week to revise the delay policy. By 8:30 all was clear. We may be going all summer...grrrr. Spent some time this morning bloggin' and added a couple of sites that have some book suggestions. I am on the search for some good reads so maybe these might be good. who knows.

guest bedroom curtains and paint

Roger is at the firestation and I wanted him to see the bedroom. I have been busy.

Snow from Huntmaster

the pictures I added today are from our old house. I miss that backyard soooo badly! I loved these pictures. They were taken with a really old digital but I just love the way the wet snow clung to the trees. It was a March snow and did not last but a few hours.

Another Saturday

We are having trouble with our wireless router and ultimately the vonage system so I may or may not be able to even get this posted. I will probably go out today or tomorrow and tackle the job of deciding what router to get. I hate the thought of trying to set it up again. I am not so good at those type things and neither is Roger. Darril why are you so far away??? Roger's brother is our computer guru and San Antone seems too far away on a good day, not to mention a day when you need something! We were out again another day because of ice. We did an early release on Thursday which was a nightmare trying to contact all parents so needless to say instruction was pretty much at a standstill! Then no school on Friday. The policy in place does not allow for an easy one or two hour delay which is really all we needed. (honestly for most of the days we have missed so far) They are working on coming up with a better plan. In the meantime, I have enjoyed the time at home. Susan, Roger, Travis and I did go to the movies late yesterday afternoon. The guys saw Vantage Point and Susan and I saw Definitely Maybe. Everyone enjoyed their choice. Vincent was at work. Sorry Bud.

My Daughter

I did not include my daughter earlier on purpose. It is not an after thought or an an addition but I thought it better to include my daughter in a category all in it's own. I have been by myself so long in that slot, that it is nice to have a female around. I am the only daughter, the only grandaughter on the maternal side and there are only two of us gals on the paternal side and we both have three sons.

Susan, I appreciate all that you stand for. You are smart, have a sense of humor and you are supportive as a wife, both spiritually and emotionally to Vincent. I love to see you laugh with him and push him to follow his dreams and keep those dreams a reality. You are able to balance each other's emotions and as you mature you will get better and better at this. The time is not now, but when it is, you will be a very good mother. Even if you are scared and afraid, you can handle it. You will get through it together. I can't wait for you to experience the overwhelmiing feeling of unconditional love that can only come from parenting. There is such an "ah ha" moment as your life comes full circle for the first time and you see through your mother's eyes. I thought it only went around once, but as I age, I see it goes around more than once. What a ride! Keep your sense of youth, continue to pray for a sense of calm, patience and appreciation and life does not get much better! I am so glad you are a part of our family. Even if you don't like the term "supper" ! Maybe I can just prepare linner or lupper. Or should it be munch?

sunset at the earth's edge

Saturday Reflections on Motherhood

I was only meant to blog by reporting events and posting pictures. I am not good at giving life altering and deep meaning quotes but I do so love to read them. I admire people who can put their thoughts and words on paper so easily and lay them out there for others to make the connections to their own lives. I am not usually that girl. My poet's soul is cloaked and my artist's palette sealed. How to release it now without appearing to be trying too hard to create something? My small attempts at release have not seemingly been noticed even in the small things I do in my surroundings. I do it for me mostly, but must admit I wanted so for my sons to have a sense of the romantic and appreciation of all that was classic and timeless. I think I got so caught up in what had to be done day to day and minute by minute that I did not do enough to see they understood and appreciated the ethereal and aesthetic aspects behind what the "work" held. I have never been good at verbally laying out what I was feeling until I was upset about something and could take no more. I just thought in my woman's/mama's mind that they should "get me" and notice without saying. For that guys, I apologize. I do see so much creativity in each of you in vastly different areas.

Gabriel, my first born, your vision helps you to see so clearly and immediately how to make things work more smoothly and become operational without so much effort. You are always looking for ways to improve upon what is already in place. Your frustration is similar to mine in that you can't understand why others can't see it and act upon it without an explanation from you. Your creativity is like a well oiled machine, lasting a lifetime with love and care. You will always be verbal with your beliefs. As always, blowing your horn like the day you were born. (Rage against the machine!) This confidence and gift will pay off for you especially as you mature and hone your ability to teach others how to make the changes necessary to better the systems in their lives. You are just beginning to tap into resources that will recognize and allow you to share your vision with others. After all, the quicker they can get with the program, the more time they will have for the fun things in life!

Vincent, your gift comes naturally, and is embedded in your emotions. You are tied to the people you love through the wisdom and compassion of God. You have the ability to reach and help people both through humor and kindess. You are good at diffusing tempers and strife by your simple presence and nature. You too, can become frustrated like I do, when people around you don't take the necessary measures to protect themselves and each other from the destruction of all that is around them. Your creative nature slips out easily to those around you without much effort. My hope for you is that you will always be able to be strong for yourself as well and not just take the "ugly" from people without making them see and be accountable for their actions. Your nature is also very similar to how you were born. Here in an hour and wanting close physical contact to be the happiest!

Travis, you have always been a quiet and astute observer, absorbing and taking in what you need in order to turn around and perform the task at hand with expertise. Your outward appearance comes off to most that you are not emotionally attached. This could not be further from the truth. You just have strong convictions and your attachments are not given freely without thought. None the less, the attachments you make run deep. Your ability to put into words through song what you are feeling is the expressive outlet you channel and use. What cannot happen through easy conversation surfaces through the music/poetry that is inside you. I admire the strength you have shown as you make yourself begin to expose this gift to others. It is not easy for you to lay yourself out there, vulnerable. This talent, as with everything about you, will be shared as you are ready to do so, not when we think it should happen. Again, my third son, your birth is very similar to your personality. You will do things in your own time frame as you are ready. Twelve hours, us ready, my body ready, but you refusing to be born because you were safe and comfortable where you were!

My children, I adore you and want you to know that I love you and that at your very core there is a little piece of "mama" protecting and encouraging you to experience all that is beautiful in life. Then after the experience, share and spread the knowledge and joy to others. Don't tuck it quietly away. Peace be with you this day and always.

And yet more!

More pics of the ice

Snow followed by a coating of ice

This pales in comparision with some of the snowfall out west, but for us, it is a little exciting. We had such a terrible drought last summer and this winter has been filled with rain. We have been hoping for a little snow. We have such temperature changes that nothing we have lasts for long. Texas crew, here is a small reminder of our days together in the ice storm. This is nothing like that week but thought you might like a few pictures anyway. I got a day off school and I have done nothing productive!!!! Oh well, that is what being 50 is all about. Knowing when to rest and no little ones pulling on you to pay attention to them.

Valentine Ideas for Small Group Workshops

Here are some ideas to let the children do for Valentine's Day that are core content related. They can write numbers 11-20 and glue them on a sentence strip for a headband. They can also write numbers 10-100 on the hearts and cut them out or they can do addition problems, subtraction problems, etc. The picture I have included of the bag printed with "words I know by heart" uses the same hearts but they write sight words on these to take home and practice. I had them use their spelling words this week. They could also write compound words and draw a line down the middle of the heart between each single word.

Gabe and Trav's Washington Trip

Gabriel and Travis went to Washington DC last week. I think they had a really good time. Gabe starts his new job tommorrow so I am glad they had the time to spend together. Check out the beards on the dudes. Gabe got rid of his beard for the job but wanted to at least try to grow one to see what it looked like.

Writing pictures that would not publish with the last entry

Classroom Things

Here are a few classroom pictures. I have really used Just Right Reader Baskets this year better than ever before. The kids are getting so good at picking out books that are right for them. Not too easy, not too hard but a little bit of a challenge so they can use their reading strategies. We have been reading Fairy Tales and they have written about what they would do if they were a member of royalty. How would they act? What would they do? They also have done some writing about the 100th day of school. It is hard to see their writing, but they were all so good! I got a kick out of reading them. My assistant was at the workshop that did the 100 day writing, so I got to see them after they were finished.

foyer

Have started the foyer. Not quite finished but trying to put it together, The little table I will most likely move to the stair landing when I can find a pedestal to sit the plant on. I found a charger and some vases in a set that have the same colors that are in the print. I haven't decided to actually buy them yet. Knowing me, I'll decide after they are all gone. We painted the upstairs bedroom but the color was not quite what we had imagined. Still a work in progress. Roger and I spent part of the day today trying to put the deck furniture and grill back in place and making a mulch pathway on the side of the deck where we (and the dogs) step off into the yard. It was a mud hole and getting worse by the minute. Our yard has a high clay content and holds water very badly. We did not get a chance to know that this summer with the drought and all. So after cleaning off the deck and me giving the dogs a bath, Roger made a run to Lowe's and we got some mulch and pine chips. Hope it at least works for a while. I don't want to have to keep giving baths!!!

Hammering

We had hail damage to our roof in summer and we are getting a new roof. The night we had half a roof off and only the tar paper up we had a massive rain and wind storm.... Go figure with our luck. We were worried, but I think we fared well. They are still at work (started monday when it was warm and sunny and then it stormed and rained for a day and a half and then turned very cold and windy. They are doing a good job but seems like the hammering will never stop!!! The dogs are going crazy with it. Susan and Vince are taking Baxter over there a lot and Lady is having to suffer through. Gabriel was in this week and he and Travis took off to Washington DC before his new job starts for a little sight seeing. Gabe also has a friend doing a law internship there so a little visiting is going on as well. So we have our other granddog for the week. She is being good but she cannot understand why Baxter is such a grump bucket and won't play with her. The picture is one of the things I am trying to put together for the foyer. Not sure how it will all work yet. I'll post another when I get it finished. The print is a little modern in comparison to my other things but I really like the feeling it evokes. The title is "The Singing Butler" by Vettriano.

100th Day of Kindergarten!

We celebrated the 100th day of kindergarten by making, cooking, counting and eating 100 pancakes! We read the book The Wolf's Chicken Stew and then decided to make and eat our own 100 pancakes. They helped keep count by recording groups of 10's until we got to 100 on dry erase boards as we cooked. I got too busy helping cook and flip pancakes to take pictures of our boards but they all got a turn to help mix, flip, count and eat. They were excited.