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.