Cold Weather!

I am loving this cold weather! I got out my tub of winter pants and sweaters. I am really excited that so many of them are too big!

My school year is going so great. I have a very small class and they are great! My intern, Kati has been awesome! She did such a great job of teaching during her two weeks. I am going to miss her when she is gone.

This is a picture of Kati and my class in the aprons they created for our cooking unit.

This school year is off to a great start! I have a great class. I also have a small class...only 14 students!!! It is definitely refreshing after such a challenging year last year.

I am proud to say that I have lost 42 pounds since March! It started out as a stress weight loss, but I just kept it going. I just don't let myself eat whatever I want anymore. I did, however on my birthday eat 5 donut holes from Merrits! I love their little sprinkle donut holes. Due to this weight loss, I have to go shopping to buy more clothes, oh darn! I found some really cute pants at White House Black Market that I might splurge on and I found two dresses at NY &Co.

I am enjoying all this rainy weather, just wish I was curled up with a good book and a glass of wine!!

Whirlwind!

This last week or so has been crazy. Saturday, August 1st, I went with Joni and Deirdre to see Wicked. It was so great, definitely one of my favorite shows of all time! The following morning, I left for North Carolina to take little Lexi home. So, in my car we had 3 children, 3 small dogs and two adults, plus snacks for 20 hours of road trip. It took us two days to get there and once we got there, no one wanted to leave. The beaches were so beautiful! Since no one really wanted to leave, when the time came that we had to leave....Sunday morning, we drove 20 hours straight through! That is a long, long time in a car! But, it was worth it to spend more time with Lexi. I only cried until we got to South Carolina. Then one more time in Tennessee. I spent Monday resting from the long trip, Tuesday I helped Beth in her classroom and drove to OKC to spend some much needed time with Trenda and the boys. I hate that I don't get to see them very much. When I lived in Norman, I was at their house at least 3 times a week. Someone needs to move.....
Tomorrow I am going to watch Will. I am excited about that! He can get some quality bonding time with Aunt J. Has anyone noticed that I have not mentioned working in my classroom at all! That is strange for me! I think last year wore me out so much, I have just avoided school, even though I am looking forward to a new year! I will be up there every night this week....I know me.

End of July!

I can not believe this is the end of July already! Where did the last two months go?

Yesterday, I went to a workshop about effectively teaching calendar time. It was very informative and I had several "A ha!" moments. After that, Mom and I went to lunch at Desi Wok (love, love, love that place), I had my usual chicken Tiki Masala. It really is the best Indian food in Tulsa. After that we went to the mall where Mom found a pair of sunglasses and I found a pair of cute, brown leather Gianni Binni shoes. The shoes were $20. Yep, folks, leather shoes for $20. Dillards was having some kind of crazy sale.

I am currently avoiding finishing my last assignment for class. It is due tomorrow and my goal was to have it turned in yesterday. Maybe by tonight? We'll see.

My writing center came in at school(work school, not school school) and I am so excited to see it!! I have been waiting for it all summer. Beth, I know you think I am crazy to get so excited over a piece of furniture for my classroom, but I have been planning my classroom setup all summer around that piece of furniture. I am super excited to get back to school and get my classroom set up for a great new school year! Love that part of teaching....the beginning of the year! Everyone gets a fresh start and new pencils, erasers and crayons. I can smell it now!!

Rainy Thursday

It was so nice to sleep to the sound of thunder and rain! I just love sleeping during a rainstorm!

So, yesterday, I had Lexi with me all day and she spent the night. She is so much fun! She loves to play and play! So, that is what we did! We made pictures using glitter glue, we played house, we played outside with bubbles and sidewalk chalk. Last night she took a bath and used the soap Beth made me for Valentine's Day. I had one purple lip and one heart left and she said they were sooo cute. I want to keep her!! She looks at me and says "I lub you, Jen." How cute is that!!

Book hibernation!

I have been deep in the midst of a book hibernation. I found a new author that I love. Her name is Laurie Halse Anderson and she writes excellent adolsecent literature that deals with very relevant topics for adolescents.

I need suggestions about what to blog about. I read Deb's posts about Tino and grilling mishaps and Beth's blog about the "bay-bay" and the Texas Pense's events with the kiddos and I find myself wondering what to blog about. I am sure that everyone does not want to read about all the scholarly readings that I am doing.

Please offer your comments and suggestions.

O' Happy Day!

I just felt I needed that title since it is such a gloomy day! My week is starting a bit more calmly, but perhaps it is just the calm before the storm.
I have a huge project due to my professor tomorrow. I am beginning to feel like I am in a constant state of catch-up.

April Fools

I can not believe that today is April 1st, where did March go? I am really not looking forward to April. I have class every weekend, except Easter, but I also have huge projects due this month, so here is my question, when do I get to work on them??
This week I have been very busy preparing my students for their Student-Led Conferences. I really like doing conferences this way. It takes a lot of prep time, but in the end, it is totally worth it. The kids take a lot of pride in their ability to discuss their portfolios and centers with their parents. The nice part is, I will have Friday totally free, I will have to be at school, but I scheduled all my conference times on Thursday. I think Friday will be a great day to get some work done.
So, I had a date last night. I met this guy on eharmony and he was really, really nice. I felt totally comfortable. We talked and talked. We had planned to go to Dave and Buster's but ended up at The White Lion because D&B was closed for a private event. It was a good first date. He asked me to go to a swing dance class with him, so we are doing that on Sunday.

Too Fast!

Spring Break was way too fast!! I did get a lot done, but I could have used another week!! I got my yard cleaned up and the guy who did it is going to do some other things around the house for me! I am super excited!! My bathtub is getting reglazed on Wednesday! This makes me very happy! I will no longer have to give the disclaimer to my guests about how my tub is really clean, the glaze is just chipped off. But, it will be so nice to have a smooth bath tub!! And for only $285!! Love that bargain!! I tithed on income tax refund and I think God has really blessed me by sending me all kinds of bargains!
Beth's shower was a success! Deb and I do a great job if I do say so! My dinky (ha!) little house was full of people!! It was a lot of fun and also gave me a springboard to do some spring cleaning! I cleaned out my closet last night and got rid of some clothes!

Busy, Busy, Busy

This week has been so busy. My kids have been going nuts, because they know it is almost Spring Break. I am usually not one for counting down days until a break, but this year has been different. This group of kids really wear me out and are extremely emotionally draining. So, I am so ready for Spring Break!!
I am having trouble finding a place that can reglaze my bathtub so my bathroom renovations are kind of at a halt until then. So, if anyone knows of anyone who does that, please tell me!!!
My plans for Spring Break are to clean my house, get my lit review done, and finish a paper.

No title

So, after snotting and snorting around at school all day, I went home and played with my new garage door opener!! Yes, friends I can now open my garage door from my car, which will really save me from this horrible winter weather(ha!ha). Of course, I would wait until winter is over to get a garage door opener, but at least I am prepared for next year. After I played with the garage door, I did some laundry. I got so winded walking down to the basement, I had to stop and rest. Now I am a very active person and this really iritates me! I should not get winded walking down to my basement. Then, I felt all my energy leave my body. So, I made some chili, because I was cold and hungry and drank some 7-up with vodka, to relax me. After I ate dinner, I drank some Theraflu and went to bed at 8:30. I slept great, however I am not back to 100% yet. The sucky thing is I have class tonight at NSU. I hope this comment does not offend anyone, but NSU is a really backwards college. They do however, have a great reading clinic, I wish OU would get on the ball and get one of those.

Sick, Sick, Sick

I feel like this winter I have been sick all the time. I missed work yesterday because I was sick and I still don't feel up to par today, yet here I am at work. Not sure what is going on with my body, but I am getting so very frustrated. I feel so sluggish all the time regardless of the amount of sleep I get. I think it is high time for a physical.
Good news is my Ugg boots came last night. I ordered them Monday after 4pm and had them Tuesday at 3:30...man I love Zappos. Here is one pair and here is the other.

Frustrated!!

So, I am really frustrated! I am feeling like I am stuck at my weight. I work out pretty much everyday, I mix up my workouts, I have been trying to eat healthy and I am losing no weight. Mom even suggested that maybe I need to eat more, so I have been eating smaller more frequent meals and still, nothing. Then, I began researching thyroid issues. Now, that I know that I have inherited those issues on both genetic sides and I am fitting some of the symptoms, I am making an appointment with the doctor to get it tested. I just feel so sluggish all the time, even when I have had plenty of sleep and exercise is supposed to energize, not deplete you!

End of an Ice Storm

I am beginning to see some ice melting. This is good since my driveway has had me sliding on to Harvard. I am ready to go back to school, but I was hoping to be a little more productive with the time I have had. I did get a lot done, it just doesn't feel like it, yet. Maybe when I turn in my assignments, early :), I will feel that this time off has been productive.
I did my taxes during this ice break and I am excited that I am going to get enough money back to cover a few expenses that I have been putting off. I desperately need a fence for the kids and now, I will be able to get a safe, fence so the kiddos can stay outside on pretty days. They have been so annoyed with me each time I have forced them to go outside. Daisy got so mad the other night, she refused to come in. Instead, she sat down on the ice/snow shivering, mind you and looking at me as if to say "Well, what are you going to do about this?" She promptly ran to the door when I closed it and was quite happy to be back in the warmth. But was funny to watch.
Right now, they are chasing each other around the table where I am sitting and they are running like it is a long distance. Dogs are hilarious!

Trucking Along in 09

This year is moving right along. I can't believe that January is almost over. I am loving having my intern. She is great! Not only is it fun to have her in the classroom, but I think we are becoming good friends. Last Friday, we went out for drinks and I laughed so hard I gave myself a headache. I have nicknamed her KJ. Having an intern like her is an answer to my prayers for this class. This class needs two teachers.
On Monday, I bought some cycling shoes. They make a huge difference in my spin classes. The shoes hook onto the pedals of the spin bike, alleviating the whole numb feet from the cages. I am really trying to lose some weight. I have been eating much healthier and trying to really maximize my workouts. I am going to get my thyroid checked, since I have that issue on both biological sides of my DNA.
On Sunday, I took my babies to the dog park with Mom, Louie and Beth. It was so fun! I am going again, maybe today if it stays pretty.

This week has gone by pretty quickly. I can't believe it is already Wednesday. I am ready for a long weekend. I have a great student teacher this semester and we are working together to revamp my classroom and set the entire thing up as big centers, with each of us being a rotation to teach or reinforce a skill. I am excited, this is what I always imagine a student teaching experience to be like. The plus is, she is also the type of person I can see myself being friends with.
So, Kelli and I are going to try the singles community group again. This time, I think we may make a few suggestions as to the organization of the actual meetings. They plan a lot of activities, so perhaps I will try to participate in those.
I took last night off from working out as my rest day and watched American Idol. Now, I have been watching for the last few years and I am continually amazed at the people who have no business even auditioning who truly be live they are great singers. Surely they have some friend in their life who will be honest with them and recommend that they not audition. However, their stupidity does provide some great humor for me. Can't wait to see tonight's episode.

Long time no blog

Christmas break was very restful for me. I slept ALOT. Now, I am back at school and back into the swing of things. It is always so good to see the kiddos after a long break. They have grown so much!!
I have decided that 2009 is the year I find a man, so I am currently taking resumes(ha! ha!). I am fine being single and all that, but I really would like to have a family. I am also back into the swing of my workout routine. I kind of let it go during the holidays and I can really tell. So, I am back to working out and a lot. I would really like to become a runner, I would really like to run a marathon.. I am sure that with the right training, I can do it.
So, this is the year of some changes for me. I am keeping a prayer journal, thanks to a suggestion by Mom. I am back to my lean protein and veggies ( I feel so much better when I do that) and I am going to try to better manage my time for school (OU School) so that I don't feel so crunched for time before assignments are due.
So, everyone pray that I can accomplish all this things!!