Humming the Birthday Song...

Thursday was my birthday, and we had the distinct delight of having my parents join us for the celebration. :) :) :) :)

My kids were really sweet at school on my birthday, and I received several flowers, a card from each of them, and a couple other things. :) Then after I tutored Thursday afternoon, I got to come home to Dad and Mom--what a treat! Matt came home, and we had a yummy dinner together, cake and birthday cake flavored ice cream (one of my favs), and then opened presents. I felt very loved, and it was a GREAT day!!

On Friday, Matt and I both worked. Dad went to a nature preserve to take pictures (though the wildest thing he saw was.... a squirrel.... no bison, gators, or deer, as we know actually live there). Mom stayed home and caught us up on some things around the house. Sammy apparently played outside most of the day! So we all the FL residents were on the receiving end of huge blessings! :) Friday evening we had a second, yummy home-cooked meal (more later on why that's special). YUM!

On Saturday, the guys inspected our damp laundry room. It turns out the water heater may or may not be leaking, but it's far enough along in age that we plan to get a new one. As for the washer, the line it empties into is backing up, so water is pouring down the wall and onto the floor. Lovely, right? We have a plumber coming tomorrow to hopefully clean out the line and get that sorted out. Hooray for Dad the diagnostician!

That night we had another yummy dinner, some popcorn, and a movie. :)

It was a quick trip :-(, but it was soooo good to see Dad and Mom! AND, we'll see them again in 2.5 weeks for Thanskgiving (only 10 work days until then!).

I have tomorrow and Tuesday off, which I am really excited about! Then it's a full week next week and a 2 day week after that. Tomorrow I am planning on doing some school stuff since I have to be home for the plumber anyway. Tuesday I'm hoping to craft--I got great craft stuff for my birthday, like books, patterns, and awesome hippo fabric. :)

Before I close, here are some birthday pictures (because I KNOW those of you who know my family are waiting for them)...

with my special brownie pan (every piece ends up with at least 2 edges, so you get that perfect chewy bite every time)



With my Hoops & Yoyo card from Matt--it sings a really fun song. :)



Making a face when Matt called me "old" during the birthday song (HE would know!)



With Matt and Mom



With Matt

Happy Anniverary....

.... to us!!

This post is actually a day late, but that's okay. :) We're celebrating our anniversary over the next week and a half or so. :) hehe

Yesterday marked three WONDERFUL years with my husband! He is such a gift, blessing, and answer to prayer in my life. We have been together 5 years as of a little later this year, and it's amazing how it's hard to think about what routines and life were like before him. I am so thankful for his friendship, having someone so safe and strong to be completely comfortable with (which is especially nice when you're feeling goofy), his love, his patience, his forgiveness, his wisdom, his SUPER hard work to take great care of us, his help, his gentleness, and so many other things. God blew my dreams WIDE open when Matt came into my life. And we are both all the better for it.

The past three years have seen us through exciting changes like, well, getting married, starting our first "real" jobs, buying our house, finding a church here, and adopting Sammy dog. Sure there have been hard times too. But you know the best part? Even in the hard times, I am living with my best friend. And even better than that, He loves Jesus more than He loves me. So when we're tired or stressed or feel bewildered, He points me to Christ. There is no better way for him to love me well!! Our hard times have brought us not only closer together in relying upon each other and turning to each other (not too much of an option since it's just the two of us down here in FL), but turning to God together. We have grown so much closer in the Lord and each other as a result of each trial. I can honestly say, I would go through them again because of how I have seen God work in our tenderness to each other and desire for obedience in Christ. It's more than worth it.

So here's to the past three years, and here's to many, many (MANY) more!!

I love you, honey!

p.s. Our celebration continues, because we're headed out for a day trip on Saturday. And then next week we are spending four relaxing days at the very same resort condo where we spent our honeymoon!!

THE Question....

... until tonight, I had made it unscathed through every parent-teacher opportunity of the year. THE question had not been asked. The one I'm asked every year. Do you know THE question?

It comes in two forms, and it goes a little something like this:

(nonchalantly) So, how long have you been teaching?
(not subtle at all) Is this your FIRST year teaching?

Either way, the parent is getting at one real question and one only: How old ARE you?? i.e. Are you old enough to each my child?

I made it all the way to TODAY without that question. I was so excited thinking I had turned a corner. That I was no longer the totally baby-faced teacher. I thought too soon.

Tonight at open house someone lowered the boom and asked, "So, is this your first year teaching?"

My response, "No, actually it's my 4th year at this school."

silence

"Oh."


.... Oh well, there's always next year!

More Sewing and a Treat

I know I said I wouldn't be loading this blog up with sewing, but I can't help it--it's how I've passed the time the last few days. :)

Today I made a nursing cover for a "baby shower by mail." I need to take my gift to some ladies at church tomorrow so they can put it in a big box to mail on Monday. I made two things, a burp cloth and a nursing cover. Here they are for your viewing enjoyment. :)

Close up of the ribbon I found to match for the straps :)

Close up of the fabrics I chose

Secondly, the treat mentioned in the header. :) That sweet, thoughtful hubby o' mine brought me a surprise on Monday... flowers! He said he intended to have some sent to school the first day, but due to some other things going on the week of pre-planning when he was going to place the order he got a little side-tracked and was not able to accomplish that original plan. Instead, he stopped on his way home the first real day with this sweet bouquet. It has livened up the family room for the past week and been a colorful reminder of his love and care. :)

On your mark....

... the school year is about to begin and we are SWAMPED!

I started getting my classroom ready the week before preplanning (actually, the Friday before that !). With 2 teachers on my team who are new to my school, one of whom is a first year teacher and the other hasn't been a homeroom teacher before, I thought it best to get my room as ready as possible to be available to help them and answer questions. Boy, am I glad I did! They are both GREAT, and I'm really excited to have them on the team, but I was running around getting answers to lots of questions and working on things for the writing committee that came up. I cannot imagine where I would be if I hadn't already put most of my room in order, because I was still at school 12 hours yesterday--8 to 8! Whew! Then we stopped by again today (Matt came with me) and we stayed for probably 2-3 more hours, I think.

I have one thing left to do for prep that really needs to be done for Monday. The other things I want to do can wait until the second week of school. And I need to finish deciding on plans for the rest of the week after Monday. Add to that a tropical storm that is projected to hit the gulf side of Florida near Orlando as a hurricane and then basically cut right up through us--the first week of school--and it makes for one CRAZY week coming up!

So, we're about to make the 2 week spring to Labor Day weekend, at which point we catch a little breather before diving in again. I really think I have a *fantastic* group this year, and I am very excited to get started with them. I have 19 in my homeroom, I keep all of them for reading, writing, science, and social studies, but I'm currently slotted with 4 (count 'em, FOUR) students for math. Amazing, huh? I can only imagine the things we'll get to do with only FOUR! At most, I might end up with 3 additional students.... that's still only 7!!! WOW!

I need to head for bed--our church is starting back up with 2 services again for the fall beginning tomorrow and we are on for ushering. We hope this finds you well, and please be patient as the first weeks of school are hectic. I'll be back to more regular posting soon, I hope. :)

Love,
Becca

One More Day!

Tomorrow is the LAST day of school!! I can hardly believe it!


I can't wait to join Sammy as we recently found her.... sleeping in, here I come!

Out of My Mind!

• 2 half days left with the kids (where has the time gone??)
• the kids did so well with our "picture pet show" today
• they were GREAT during the end of the year party and class awards ceremony
• I am officially (kinda sorta... it goes into effect the coming school year, but I have the contract!) tenured! Woo hoo! I am on "professional services contract" (i.e. tenure) as of the 08-09 school year! What a cool blessing! :)
• I am so out of my mind with end of school stuff that I cannot for the life of me find our tax refund check--great, huh? Thankfully, if I can't find it after some more hunting, the IRS is kind enough to issue a replacement check so we can still get our money back. Whew!
• I can't wait for next week when this year will be over and I can feel sane again (no wise-cracks about my sanity, please)! ;)
  

Woo hoo!

Grades are in the computer! It's only a matter of days at this point... WILD!

Praises!

I just got lined up with another tutoring job. I've been tutoring for a sweet, sweet family from church. Their daughter needed some bolstering in math, and it's truly been a blessing and delight. She is so sweet and fun, and I am a geek who loves math. After meeting weekly since January or February, she now tells people, "I like math now!" If THAT doesn't bless my socks off, I don't know what does. :)

The family's neighbor has asked me to come try working with her elementary-aged daughter and high school-aged son (yea, algebra!) on Tuesdays (after previously mentioned tutoring) and Wednesdays (some kind of funky block scheduling where the son has math only on MWF). She's had a girl from UF coming, but she's graduating and leaving this week.

So, we'll try it. School is only in session for another month. Can't be that bad, right? And the most exciting thing of all to me is that the church family's mom said she could probably hook me up with as much tutoring as I want (and more!). :) We have "always said" that, Lord willing, when we have children and I'm staying home, tutoring could be a nice way to supplement Matt's income. But I wasn't sure how to go about getting my name out there. The families at my school tend to be trying to just make ends meet; tutoring is not in many of their budgets. But now, even though it's on the other end of town, the Lord is building some business for me! How exciting! :)

God is good (not just because of tutoring). :)

Are you in that?

I know I should be in bed, but I just took a couple pictures of my latest sewing project and remembered a funny story from today.

We were watching a Brain Pop! video (educational, humorous cartoons) while the class ate some treats to celebrate a birthday (yes, an April Fool's birthday!). The birthday girl chose one on broken bones, and toward the end it talked about bones becoming more brittle and easily broken as people age. At one point it said something to the effect of, "Women are especially susceptible to broken bones due to osteoporosis," and mentioned something about that becoming more of a problem after menopause. One of the kids turned to me and said, "Mrs. K____, are YOU in that (menopause)?"

Wow. What do I even say to that? I just smiled, replied, "No," and wondered if the birthday girl's mom heard that question.

Gosh, I thought I'd been really fun lately, and I'm cold all the time, not hot.... Hmmmmm..... :)

Itchy Scratchy

I've been really itchy the past few days and trying to figure out why. At first I thought it was because our weather changed back to cooler, more dry air. Then I thought maybe it was post-FCAT skin disruptions (when I'm stressed it usually manifests itself after the fact with eczema or the skin on the palm side of my fingers bubbling and peeling--lovely, right?). But I think I finally figured out the true source this evening!

Last time I bought detergent, the store only had a new "concentrated" form of All available. I didn't really think anything of it other than, "Is this the scent I like?" and "Why can't they just ever leave things alone?!" I only recently used up my last bottle of "regular" All and had to switch to the new concentrated bottle. It completely coincides with me being reallllllly itchy and developing a rash on my legs (more lovely details for you!). Sounds like classic Guilford skin, doesn't it?

So, I guess if they only make All concentrated now, we try All free and clear. If that doesn't do it.... I don't know what to do! But All free and clear has been working for Brad (is that 2x concentrated now too, Joy? Is Brad still okay with it?) last I asked. Hopefully it will work for me too!

I'll keep you posted. ;)

P.S. Tomorrow we are going on a field trip.... (click to see their webpage)

BAM! WHAP! ZOW! ZOINK!

My class is currently using the software Comic Life to create comics about an animal they researched. There are specific guidelines (including some choice--I'm all about building the autonomy) they followed, and one group is finished with the other 7 *right* behind them. I just HAD to share one with you though. Theirs are a little different than this, but here's an example I made to post on my class's blog for the parents to see until the kids are done. I think it's so fun!!

you simply MUST click it to see it enlarged and read the comments!

oops, Matt pointed out a typo to me in the lower, right box.... please overlook that for now ;)
I have a fever.... does that excuse it?

Fun surprise

I was browsing my subscriptions' updates on Google Reader when I came across a sale announcement on Bargain Shopper Lady. Sale announcements are not unusual on her blog, but this one said all items were marked to $10 and decreased to $5 if you bought 2 or more items, with $5-6 shipping. I had never heard of the company (IOS), but had to check it out.

Look what I picked up for $5 a piece plus shipping (thank you, honey!)!

"Laura" sweater jacket, originally $89

"Infinity" Linen Circle-Dot Easy Crop Shirt, originally $68
(I think this looks perfect for an evening boat right when next we're home)

Is that a fun surprise, or what?!

Yes, Virginia...

...Matt & Becca DO have grass.

Errr, well, okay. Matt & Becca have grassy spots. :)

On Sunday we ate lunch on the lanai (which I cleaned on Saturday while Matt picked kumquats). Sitting out there and having the lanai all cleaned up made me wish the yard was cleaned up too. After lunch I decided to begin raking. You might think "palm tree" when you think Florida, and while we do have a palm tree, we live in the more northern part of Florida where you have plenty of pines and other coniferous and some deciduous tress as well. When I saw year yard nearly 2 years ago for the first time, it did not send the message "days' worth of raking and bagging leaves." Oh, but it does now. :)

While Matt picked more little orange fruits on Sunday afternoon, I raked and bagged 7 bags worth of leaves and pine needles. Seven. That might not sound like a lot to people with large lots, but in Florida? Small lot, palm tree Florida? I'm not kidding! And that was less than 1/2 the yard! I won't admit how long the leaves had been piling up (I don't know the last time I raked, but I DID mow last year.... does that count?) , but I had just had it. This afternoon I raked and bagged 5 more bags. The whole back yard (except for the little corner outside our window, which I left because it was dark/for comparison's sake in the photos/due to blisters, has been raked and bagged! On Sunday I also used the blower to get leaves off the driveway and to blow leaves off the yard and into the natural area in about 1/3 of the front. Whew!

Now onto pictures to prove this amazing feat! :)

Part of Sunday's bags

Looking to the right from the palm tree

I know it's blurry, but look! You can see GREEEEEEN grass!

More GREEEEEEN!!! :)

This is to compare... this is the side yard (and a crazy pooch) still covered in leaves. The whole yard used to look like this.

PLUS, I cut out as much of the seam allowance as possible in the thumb of the oven mitt and cut a slit in the wrist, and it's actually functional! I'm not going to give it as a gift, but right now it's on display on top of our fridge. It's a great hubby-swatter. :) Hehe

If you're tired of the cold, come visit! We are in bloom already!
(this one obviously "coming soon")

Lastly, we recently received this in the mail.
I already asked off for it, and I can't wait to come home in May! Not only will we be coming HOME, but we'll be come HOME to CELEBRATE and REJOICE in Ruthie getting hitched!
I can't wait, I can't wait! :)


Ooops... lastly (for real) you can never have too many Sammy pictures. :)

Kid Quotes

The third grade team at my school has "poetry tea parties" a couple times a year (usually 3 times) at which the students read poems they have selected or written and their parents are invited to come hear the poems, enjoy some "tea" and treats, etc. It's a fun time, and I love being able to recognize my students as authors and give them an opportunity to have the full attention of the rest of the class and several adults. It's a neat experience.

We all usually try to dress up for the poetry teas. As such, and because I had a little extra time that morning, I wore a *little* bit of make up. Normally, I do not wear any. I know, I know, I look like I'm 16 and it might help. But, I just don't... unless I remember it's picture day or there's some type of open house.

Anyway, so I had on the lightest, most subtle smidge of a brownish-gray eyeshadow on Friday for the tea party, and the thinnest line of eyeliner. No mascara, some foundation, that's it. I even did a sweep of eyeshadow the same tone as my skin over my eyelids at the end to make sure it was really subtle.

Well, the kids noticed. It was the talk of the day on Friday. "Did you see Mrs. K's eyes?" "She has on the eye goop." You would have thought I had on clown make up, seriously. Come on, now.

The best "line" came as I was filling tea cups at one table (with warmed apple juice):

"What's with the scary eyes?"

"Pardon me?"

"What's with the scary eyes?"

"What scary eyes?"

"Yours."

"What do you mean?"

"You have all that dark stuff on your eyes."

At that point I was starting to wonder if the lighting in our bathroom at home was way off and my make up wasn't as subtle as I thought. I checked in my room's bathroom after the tea party. Nope--hardly noticeable... unless you're 8 and your teacher NEVER wears make up.

Matt says if I look frustrated or upset, from now on he's going to say, "What's with the scary eyes?"

Birthday Pictures

Streamers from the chandelier

The crepe paper chair, of course

with the coat tree/umbrella holder
(and yes, I'd been crying...over an amazingly sweet poster everyone back home signed)

blowing out the candles for a really good wish ;)

the amazingly decadent cake--yum!

Thank you, everyone, for making my birthday so special!!

Party!

Happy Birthday to Me! :) :)

Oops!

We had another oops today. Well, a couple actually. The biggest were:

• I figured out today, the day grades are due, that my username wasn't working. Yes, we were supposed to check last week. Yes, I started to. No, I didn't finish. Not only was my username not working, somehow I was BOOTED FROM THE SYSTEM!! I had no anything. I have to resign up for a school board account (AGAIN) and they had to add me in so I could input my grades (which, as I said, were due TODAY). NUTS! The ladies at school who helped me were very kind, though. I appreciate it! And.... my grades are DONE!!!
• This OOPS was NOT mine. At about 3:40, I got called to the office for a flower delivery. I thought that was kind of odd. When I got there, I saw a birthday balloon. My birthday is next week, bu tthat is a week away. Something seemed off. Apparently, Mom ordered flowers to be delivered from her and Dad... ON MY BIRTHDAY (imagine that). Mom is coming to visit this weekend, and she has to go back the morning of my birthday. She specified for the flowers to be delivered early morning on November 6, so that I would have a happy surprise to cheer me up about her having to leave. But no, they delivered them after school hours today (?). She called (in her very hoarse voice) and they were apologetic. Someone new messed up. They said they will deliver a balloon on my birthday. I hate to sound like a brat, and obviously with the whole "lonely" thing I've been kind of emotional lately, but I almost cried when I found out they messed up. It felt like they took something special away, and now I wouldn't have something fun that my parents so sweetly planned to ease Mom going back. So, even though I'm now expecting it, at least there will be a fun something on my birthday. Here the "early" flowers...
  

The arrangement even has cute party blowers mixed in. :)

The vase has flowers painted onto it. :)

• Oh, and while we're talking about birthdays. Matt ordered something for me, and the company sent a postcard telling him that his gift (and what it was) has been shipped. I check the mail, so of course I came across it. That's ANOTHER birthday surprise ruined!
• And Brad and Joy ordered something off my Amazon wishlist. I thought that my wishlist address would change when I updated our mailing address after the move last summer. But no, it didn't. So my birthday present was delivered (or attempted to) to our old address. Who knows where it is.
• I'm beginning to wonder if 26 is not going to be a good year. :-(
  

Honesty

Honestly..

I've been pretty lonely lately. I've been feeling so lonely that even though my MOM will be here on THURSDAY, that feels too far away. It's hard to be SO CLOSE and yet feel like it's just too far away.

I'm not sure what we're doing today. Getting out and doing something! Matt needs a couple details for his costume for work on Wednesday, so we're stopping by JoAnn's. I have coupons, so maybe I can talk my way into something as well.

Maybe we can take Sammy somewhere. I need to soak up this cool air, in case it doesn't last!

We hope you have a good weekend. And we are longing to be with you, family and friends!

Counting down til Christmas (and Thursday),
Becca

Thursday-Friday!

Tech training is done!!

I had fun this evening showing Matt some of the projects I worked on. :)

I have tomorrow off (though I'll be doing some grade averaging for report cards--grades must be entered by Monday night)! I plan to SLEEP IN, have lunch with my HUBBY, and who knows what else! :) I can't wait! I have NEXT Friday off, too!! Amazing, huh? And on top of that, my MOM will be here next Friday (and it will be mere DAYS until my birthday, AND one day away from "falling back" the clock). :) :) :)

The weather here has finally turned cool. I was telling Mom today how this weather completely takes me back to when I moved here, 2 years and 2 days ago (crazy).... being a newlywed, getting settled in, figuring out how in the world to get around in this town without getting lost (with some success), meeting Matt's coworkers for the first time, interviewing for my job, seeing my school for the first time, accepting my job... How has it been two years already? I can't imagine what else will come our way in the next two years!

If you haven't seen it on Joy's blog, you should check out Peace Like a River. It's a great book. I also just finished Hope was Here--highly recommended. Good reads. :) Let me know what you think of them if you read them (or have read them)!

Happy Friday (almost) to all!

Love,
Becca