Another chapter complete

August 2008
































May 2009











This week marked the end of another chapter in my life as well as another chapter in Kaleb's life.
I completed my 9th year of teaching and my first and last year of teaching 2nd grade. Kaleb completed pre-K. It was bumpy week with lots to do.
I had to pack up my classroom and move all my stuff I have accumulated in the last 9 years out of my small butler (portable) building into a huge classroom with extra storage room. I am in paradise again. Not only do I get to be back in the school building I also get to teach 5th grade AGAIN! Glory be and the SAINTS be PRAISED! I am overjoyed.
I also had to complete records for the end of the year. I was very proud of the fact that 3 sets of parents came to me and said THANKS for all you did for my child. I cried with one mom when she said she didn't quite know what I did for her son, but she said he has grown up more. She was very pleased and begged me to travel to 3rd grade and to keep following him until he was out of our school. I had a parent write a wonderful letter to our principal telling how much she was grateful for having me be her son's teacher and helping to get the help he needed for reading. These things make me feel good, but it's my job. That is what I am supposed to do as a teacher..help my students as best as I can.
Yes, I had cried many tears during this school year because my class was overwhelming, but I now know why I was put there. I honestly think I was there to handle some of these kids and to help them see that education can be fun. I asked my little second graders what did they enjoy the most about 2nd grade and their responses were not about recess and making friends. They enjoyed playing a math game called "squat" and doing learning contracts which was basically centers with fun activities and they go tot choose which they could do. THEY LOVED LEARNING!
I am glad I had that impact on these kids. I am so ready for next year. I have started mapping out my lessons and just can't wait to work alongside my 5th grade peeps again.
Today was bittersweet for me. I lost yet another dear person to me. No she didn't pass on, but she decided it was her time to put her teaching career to rest. I am honored that she confided in me about her choice. Asking me for prayer and guidance made me feel special. She was old enough to be my mom, but she is a dear friend. One of the few people in my teaching career I could count on to give me a shoulder lean, laugh, and cry on. I tend to gravitate to the wiser teachers. Once my first wiser teacher left me to lay her teaching career to rest, I was pulled to Mrs. Brenda. I shared my life stories with her. She was my rock when I was weak and tired at work. She pulled me through. She was joy to work with. My Priscilla has joined the ranks of many men and women who have given their lives to help young folk... and believe me this lady gave to these young folk. I am proud of her. She held strong 'til the end and I am glad she was sent her sign to put her at peace. (Stupid Math) Priscilla if you are reading this (because I know it is a challenge to figure out technology) thank you for being there for me! It was a pleasure to work alongside you during the toughest times. I am honored to have been the person you shared many things with. I miss you dearly, but heck I know where I can get my drink on!
Ok enough about me let me share my baby boy's milestones he reached this week. On Monday Kaleb completed his 1st year of school. On Tuesday we attended his Pre-K graduation. We laughed! We smiled! And I cried. I had many emotions going around my head. My baby boy is growing up! When his pre-K class sang Angels among us .. I cried. All I could think about was all his "angels" who are amongst him. And at that point my grandma made her presence known. I felt it. She was there and she was smiling ear to ear with me. She was hugging me and telling me he was going to do well. He definitely had one angel with him that day. I am so proud of my boy. He was disappointed to not have been chosen to be Crusader of the month, but I promised we would work on how to get that honor this summer.
He is a very determined little guy. His daddy took him bowling as a gift from us and when I got home from work he asked me to take his training wheels off his bike and help him learn to ride a two wheel bike. On the same day my baby became an offical Kindergartener he learned to ride a "big boy" bike. Man, these milestones are killing me. I just hope he slows down for a while.
This blog is horribly long and my eyes are puffy because of all the tears I just shedded. I am leaving some pictures to show KAleb's growth from the beginning of the school year to his graduation. Hope everyone enjoys there summer.

A new thing for me!

1st picture- Kaleb's homerun

2nd picture- Kaleb making friends with the other team.

3rd picture- And he swings with good form

4th picture- He actually caught the ball.

Kaleb chews on his glove the entire time he is out on the field.














Photo collage of my boys





















The many faces of Logan Timothy















Kaleb James my first born.









I have watched a few of my friends do this and I have also tried it last summer, but now I think I want to put this into effect at our home to see if it makes my life easier while working. I know I only have 2 weeks left of work, but maybe if I do it all summer I'll have it down by the time school starts in August and I can freeze Brady some little homemade TV dinners.
Ok OK I know ya'll are dying to know what it is... I decided to meal plan. Not every meal because breakfast and lunch are usually the same everyday, just dinner. The meal that is the most hectic and easily a takeout fast food meal. I think if I set the meal up and prep for it the night before I will be able to conquer this idea.
So I am starting Monday. Thought maybe if I post it.. I'll stick to it. So here is our menu for this week.
Monday- T-Ball game at 6 need something to pop in the oven and cook. So we are having Pigs-n- a- blanket with chips.
Tuesday- Chicken Helper Fettuchini
Wednesday- Ground meat spaghetti
Thursday- Baked fish and scalloped potatoes
Friday-- Tball game at 6:00 so we are having meatballs and mac and Cheese
Saturday- Crockpot chicken- Super super easy- probably corn on the side
Sunday- Tacos
I have almost all my ingredients for the week..with the exception of taco seasoning and shells for Sunday, but grocery shopping will happen on Saturday! This should also use up my meat in the freezer so I'll be looking at the weekly food ads for meat sales this week.
I'll probably end up using all my fish before I can get some more. Wish I had some shrimp to put in the freezer. May have to send in a call for some next week.
I am posting some pictures of Kaleb's t-ball career. He is liking it, but has anger issues when he gets out. Thank heavens it is almost over. Also posting some projects I have worked on.

New pictures of my boys

3 guys and a Girl - I realized I need to shed my pounds again.









The best picture we could get of the two boys together for Easter.

Our adventures pictures

I never get this right so I will tell you each picture. Picture 1 is Kaleb at bat for his 1st t-ball game. Picture 2 is the boys and I after I got my hair chopped off. Picture 3 and 4 are of Brady and the boys practicing baseball. Picture 5 is Kaleb being a good farmer. Picture 6 is Kaleb's garden. PIcture 7 is Logan and his cheesy smile. Picture 8 is of Kaleb's t-ball team. The last picture is of Kaleb in his T-ball uniform! Go Rangers!

Our adventures

It has been quiet some time since I last posted, but honestly I just either didn't have the time or just didn't know what to write about.
Well let me look back to our past few months. We have signed Kaleb up for t-ball. The season has started. My inner teacher has to be stopped often because I want him to understand and do good at it. I have to keep reminding myself he is 5. He seems to like it.. well until he gets out and then he sits in the dugout or the stands and pouts about it. Our first real game is tomorrow night and he was told if he acts like that again I am pulling him out of t-ball. I know... MEAN MOMMA!
Not only is Kaleb a team member.. I am a team mom. I figured my poor child has to do without me being a classroom mommy and going on field trips during the school day that I had to do something. So I get to collect money, schedule drink and snack days, and sit in the dugout with the team to make sure everyone gets to bat, everyone has their helmet, everyone has their gloves. It is like being at work.
Poor Logan will have to be put on a leash whenever someone cannot be at the games to help take care of him. Logan wants to be on the field more than Kaleb. After practices (which Brady has been able to attend all but one practice) Brady takes Logan on the field and runs the bases with him. He loves it!
Brady gets pretty down because he probably will not make many games. He was able to attend the jamboree game, but it looks like that may be the only one. Hopefully, someone puts in a good word for him at work about him needing to see some of the games.
I still have no word on if I will be a 5th or 2nd grade teacher next year. Hopefully, I find out soon. Doesn't matter which one as long as I find out soon.
We have been having planting fun around our house. At the beginning of March, Kaleb and I planted two tomato plants and 6 corn kernels. To our surprise we have 6 corn stalks growing and about 8 cherry tomatoes. Kaleb loves plants and flowers. I think he enjoys watching them grow. He has a new love for catching bugs. HE is anxiously awaiting the sight of caterpillars so he can "grow" some butterflies. We have also planted two planters of wild flowers and poppies. We set up a bird feeder, hummingbird feeder, and a butterfly feeder. We revamped our squirrel feeder. I think our little furry friends love us very much. The coons now hate us because we have a nice new fancy BLUE trash can that they have a hard time getting into.
This past Friday (Good Friday) we traveled to Chauvin. What usually takes us 2 and half hours ended being a 4 hour drive. Why might you ask? Our truck decided to get a blow out. Why do tires decide to blow out when your headed to some place important and on the side where cars zoom past you without giving any courtesy.
Yes, our tire blew out on Highway 90 between Baldwin and Franklin. Brady and I were able to get the spare out from under the Explorer. The car did not want to lift. It was not fun. I called roadside assistance, but by the time I had managed to explain our location Brady had the tire off and changed. WAY TO GO SUPER DAD! It did take him a while because having 18 wheelers and cars zooming past you at 75 miles per hour is a very scary task. I called back roadside assistance and canceled only to get into the car and the battery is DEAD! So I decide with the help of Brady to call 411 and get the number for Baldwin Police Department. They give me the number to St. Mary Parish Police and Police Officer Bobby Hines helps us out. WOOHOO we are now on our way to Mom and Dad's for some yummy crawfish. Oh it was well worth the trouble we went through.
We spent the night at my mom and dad's and left the next morning. We visited my grandparents and then off to my brother's house. If anyone knows my brother, Justin, you know he is not scared of anything (well at least I think there is nothing he is scared of). The boy has a farm in his back yard. I had heard about the "farm" but never visited it. We got the chance Saturday and it was so much fun. He has 1 big goat, 3 baby goats and a momma goat, 1 tom Turkey, a dozen chickens and I think 2 roosters, 3 rabbits, 5 dogs and 4 ducks. I am probably forgetting something. The boys had a blast. Brady picked chicken eggs 17 to be exact. It was just cool to experience it with the kids. When the rooster crowed...Logan laughed and imitated it. Too funny!
Yesterday was Easter and we just could not hold it in any longer. We decided to tell the boys we were going to Disney World in July. Yes.. we are going to Disney in July!
We set up the table with a Book about Disney, the Disney payment envelope and a postcard from Mickey. There baskets were filled with Disney socks, pencils, coloring books, crayons, and paper (all Disney). Oh and DISNEY stickers!
Kaleb woke up first and brought the book to Brady in bed and said Daddy we have Mickey's address now. Then, about 2 hours later we all woke up and I pretended to read a letter from Mickey claiming we were invited to visit him July 12- 18 as long as Kaleb and Logan behaved for momma and daddy, Kaleb got smiley faces at school and Logan learned to use the potty. For each day they followed Mickey's rules they get a Disney Sticker to put on the calendar. They earned one yesterday and so far Kaleb is being very well behaved (of course Logan is at daycare) so they may earn another one.
Us going to Disney World has inspired another weight loss challenge between Brady and I. My goal is to be 20 pounds or 2 sizes smaller than I am now. If I do not beat Brady, I have to ride the ride of his choice while we are in Disney. Brady knows I hate roller coasters... so I MUST WIN THIS CHALLENGE. I have the strangest feeling he would make me ride Expedition Everest.. I don't know if my heart can handle it. We still have not figured out what Brady has to do if I win. He is game for everything. We did decide if we lose enough weight we will have the photographer take a real good picture of all of us at Disney. So the games began today... I have 12 weeks to lose 20 pounds!
That is pretty much our lives right now. I will post pictures in another blog right after I post this one and take a break to put clothes to dry and wash.

Trying to figure it out

So it is that time of the school year where the principal calls you into the office and asks you what are your intentions for next school year..... so you must reflect on this school year. So my principal called me in last Friday.. looked me in the eye and said I can tell it's not for you! WOW! She noticed or did someone tell her. The week before two members of the administration team had asked me if I wanted to move back to 5th or stay in 2nd. Well of course I was honest and said I WANT TO MOVE BACK UP!
Well, I did tell the principal that I would love to be moved back to 5th grade, 4th grade, heck I would even try 3rd grade. I just can't handle the whiny, snotty kids! I love the sassy kids that .. how can I put this... I can joke with and they can joke back but you know it's all fun and play. These second graders take everything literally. UGHHH not for me!
I also maybe put my foot in my mouth because I said if she absolutely would rathe rme stay in second grade I would. I just had some request for her if she kept me there. I do admit... I love the fact that I am not pressured with the testing fact, higher order thinking is not as hard as if I am in the higher grades because these kids are still in the learning stage.
So no matter what happens I will probably still have to pack up my junk once again. I just hope I know early enough so I can start planning this summer. I want to be organized next school year. The crowded room must be organized. If I am in a butler building again next year, I am asking my father in law to make me some storage!
Pray for choice for me that will be great!
This is ray of sunshine for me! I had a really good teaching day yesterday! My students are working well as teams and the computer is their best friend. WOOHOOO! Hopefully it's another good day today! It is amazing what happens when one kid is not there!
I am feeling happy today.. hope it doesn't get ruined.

I wish I were a kid again

First I want to start by thanking my friend Kim for the award she gave my blog. It's called the Honesty Scrap Award! I didn't really read through her whole blog about it but I did read my directions. Problem is I don't know seven blogs

Here are the rules:

Rule #1: Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
Rule #2: Show the 7 winners' names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with the "Honest Scrap" award.
Rule #3: List at least ten honest things about yourself.

I'll do the ten honest things about myself.

1. Just like my friend Kim i hate shopping.Including shoe shopping. I hate crowds. I hate lines. I hate the money that it takes.

2.I miss my best friend Lainie and secretly wish either she would move here or I could move back there just so I could spend time with her.

3. I must be the only daughter in law in the world that gets along better with her mother in law than her own mom.

4. I use to be a person with high self esteem but along the route of my teaching career have developed a complex about not being good at things. What the hell happened to me?

5. I have become a person I would hope I never would be. I am happy to say I am slowly kicking this habit, but I have my days of defeat.

6. In the same sentence I can say I love not living down the bayou but wish I were still down there. Does that make sense?

7. Wish I had the life of some people I have befriended,but have to realize life doesn't work that way.

8. I am really trying to understand why my husband has a hard time with religion, but at the same time wishes he would come with me to church.

9. As much as some people think I am not I am HAPPY with my life, just wish I had made better financial decisions when I was younger.

10. I really want to be the person everyone remembers me to be. I am trying hard! I am getting over my hump of depression. I just have to remember to stay with the right people and let God handle everything.

Now for my title of this blog. I really do wish I were a kid again. I have been sick for 4 days now. It sucks to be a momma and being sick. You don't get the recoup time you need unless you send the kids to school and take the day off of work just so you can sleep it off.
As much as my husband and in-laws tried to help my recouping time it helped a little but not a whole lot. My in-laws took Kaleb yesterday which helped to only have Logan to look after, but he decided he was going to be hard headed and not sleep. So I chased and fussed all day yesterday. Saturday, Brady kept Kaleb quiet while Logan and I napped. Still great but Logan is a horrible sleeper. So honestly, until today when after I dropped the boys off at school and slept the rest of the day.. I did not feel well.
The other thing that I longed for was some of my Maw-Maw's chicken soup. When I was a kid, when Maw-Maw knew we were sick she always made us a chicken and rice soup... or as she called it soup de mallad (?) soup of the sick. I miss my chicken soup this weekend. I made me one tonight and boy did it make me feel better. Wasn't like Maw-Maw's but close enough. Another reason why I miss down the bayou.
I miss being a kid when you were able to forget about everything when you were sick and just get better. Now I must chase after my 5 and 2 year olds and give them a bath while trying to not fall asleep from taking Tylenol Cold and sudafed all day.
Anybody else want to share what they miss about being a kid? Drop me a line!