What My Students Learned in Kindergarten

While most teachers taught things like numbers and letters and sight words today, I taught "How to properly use the bathroom" and "How to use the sink."  I never thought to teach this in the beginning, mainly because I didn't think those were things you learned in kindergarten.  I guess it was wrong of me to assume PARENTS would teach their children anything. 

Anyway, I'm telling my boys that learning to put the seat up and down is a skill that they will use the rest of their lives, especially when they get married.  And one replies, "I'm five.  I can't get married."

What a Great Suprirse!

Today I came home from a LONG day at work ready to unwind.  Upon checking the mail, I found I had a package.  I quickly ran inside and ripped it open...I was too excited for pictures.  Inside, was the cutest cupcake card...

And this...

And for Sam and Frankie...

I sat the stuffed Bobos aside (they are their favorite toys, they've eaten had atleast 6 of them.  I ripped into all the packages, except the one that was marked with only Anthony's name.  Here's what I found.

And for both of us (maybe)...

Thanks so very much Kimmie!  This is just what I need tonight after the long week!  And Sam and Frankie send their thanks, too.  Frankie has already removed the stuffing and squeaker from the pink one. 

Where I've Been and What I've Done

Well, hello!  It's been a while.  I have lots to write about, but  nothing is big enough for a whole blog post.  So, I'm going to make a big post of little things that have been happening over the past couple weeks.

We'll start with the excruciating stomach pain on Thursday.  We're talking someone must have a voodoo doll and be setting my stomach on fire and then pounding it.  I went to work and sat in my chair in a ball all day.  I spent lunch curled up in my classroom library.  After lunch, ironically, my doctors office called.  What I thought was a stomach bug last week turned out to be the bacteria that causes 80% of ulcers.  I have an ulcer.  Hopefully after all my medicine for 14 days I will feel better.  I hope.  And pray. 

Now, on to the weather... Thursday it snowed.  The DFW area recieved 12 inches of snow.  We got 3.  It's okay though.  If I wanted to live where it snowed, I'd be in North Dakota.  We had a late start on Friday.  The funny part of that is that teachers still have to report at normal time.  I'm not sure why it's okay for teachers to drive on ice but not the parents.  Today it was beautiful.  A nice 55 degrees and sunny.  This is why I live in Texas.  We get all seasons within a 2 week period.

Next, my weekend...This weekend we got to travel home to see my family.  I loved being around my family and being at their house where I had nothing to do.  I didn't have to cook.  I didn't have to clean.  I didn't even have to feed the dogs.  It was wonderful!  This summer is going to be great!

Valentine's Day...it's just another day in our book.  I know some people do wonderful things, and that's great.  But we've never been big on it.  We do use it as a day to be romantic, but nothing over the top.  I also use it as an excuse to bake fun things!  This year, I made heart shaped brownies for my parents.  Since we were at their house, Dad took us to Red Lobster for a family Valentine's date.  When we got home, I baked Anthony some chocolate heart shaped cookie sandwiches with dulce de leche in the center.  They are from my wonderful Martha Stewart Cookie Cookbook that Kimmie gave me for Christmas.  And then when I got home from work on Tuesday he had a dozen roses waiting for me.  It was wonderful.  Since I was feeling bad last week, I didn't get a chance to make red velvet cupcake minis so I think I'm going to make those tomorrow night. 

And finally...Work this week has really been great.  I really feel like my kids are making progress and I'm finally becoming good at what I do.  I got some affirmation today that really made me feel great.  Remember the little boy that said my clouds were stupid and gave me a tough time at first,but then I grew to love and then he moved.  Well, my principal was on the phone with his principal when he walked in the office.  She got a chance to talk to him and the last thing he said was "I miss Mrs. J."  My principal was really kind and came down to tell me right away.  I only knew this child for maybe 8-10 weeks and I made that kind of difference in his life where he still remembers and misses me 4 months later. 

I'm looking forward to my husband being home for 3 days next week, cooking some new recipes, and catching up on some "me" time this weekend.  I'm going to reread Dear John before I go see it in theaters.  If I go see it.  I'm not sure if I want to before the upcoming deployment.

Look for new fun foods and pictures of Anthony's Valentine cookies!

Brown Stuff

I know I talk about my kindergarteners a lot, but they are kind of my life right now.  And pretty much the only think interesting enough to write about.

It's been a crazy week.  Monday was the 100th day of school (only 77 to go).  I've had tons of sickness going around the room, including the ear infection and stomach bug that they shared with me.  Thursday, 2 threw up, one was because he was truely sick, the other, because he cried so hard because I changed his color after he put a child in a headlock.  So, by 2:30, I was pretty much done.  I was sitting in the floor, working on folders and my kids were working at their tables, when a kid goes "What's that brown stuff on the floor?"  Oh dear.  Brown stuff in the floor, it's got to be poop.  I can't handle poop.  Especially on the floor.  Eww.  I look.  It resembles chocolate milk. 

"What do you have in your backpack?' I asked.  He stares back blankly.  "Do you have chocolate milk in your backpack?"

"Yeaaaahhh," he replied quietly.  The last time he was around chocolate milk when I wouldn't have noticed him smuggling it was breakfast, 7 hours ago. 

"Is that from breakfast this morning?" I don't know why I even asked.  It had to be from breakfast.

"No.  It's from last week."  EWWWW!

Oh my goodness.  I open his backpack and start goign through it.  I take out his folder and his library book and the 3 books I sent home over a month ago.  There's stuff in there from before Christmas.   Not only was there one chocolate milk carton, there was another one.  And a carton of juice.  I was not cleaning it.  I wasn't sending him on the bus with a backpack of soured milk and I wasn't having a sour milk smelling backpack in my room every day.  With the exception of those things I took out, I threw the backpack in the trash. 

Don't worry, I got him a new backpack.   And I gave a lesson on saving milk.

Progress

At the beginning of January I shared my 2010 goals with you and decided I would give a monthly update.  Well, it's a new month, so it's time for an update.

1.  Going green-since purchasing my water bottles for the gym and for school, I have not used one throw away water bottle!  We have taken our reusable bags with us on our two big grocery trips.  We've almost managed to get al of our groceries in, but I'm leading towards going ahead and ordering a couple more  bags, so we always have enough!

2.  Church-We have found a church we love and have attended 3 of the past 4 Sundays.  I went to bed Saturday feeling horrible, and still felt horrible Sunday.  Unsure of what I was coming down with, I decided to stay home.  I never changed out of my PJ's or even looked in the mirror.  But, I absolutely love the church.  The next step is finding a small group.  I know a small group can be a big help with Anthony deploys.

3.  My body-I had been going to the gym 4 days a week.  I am up to jogging 4 minutes and walking 3, on and off for about 30 minutes.  However, the fact that I have felt yucky since Friday has kept me away.  Hopefully I will be going back tomorrow. We have done a good job at adding healthy snacks.  We're trying to get rid of the rest of the junk food in the house.  I've been eating 5-6 times a day and am proud to say I have gained a few pounds, in a totally healthy way!  That has been a big goal through all of this.

I hope the rest of you are doing well with your goals/resolutions.