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!

It's Been Awhile....

..whew ! August 23 was my last post. Eek!

I guess you could say things have been pretty busy around here. I haven't been able to do any more embroidering or sewing since TS Fay came through and I had those 2 days off for the storms. But I am hoping to this weekend, especially because I have some more gifts to make. :) And the fabric is already picked out, so that helps a LOT!

It has been SUPER busy at school. On top of keeping a team of 6 (3 brand new to our school) going, I have my own classroom things to keep running. Tomorrow night is open house, so that adds a whole other element to the current stress level. And then Monday is our last day to enter progress report grades. In the past, we've done them by hand (on carbon copy forms). But this year we have a fancy schmancy new program that we have to use. I need to grade some reading and writing assignments, and then I should be good to go. We had a slow start with reading since we didn't have our whole kids (just TEs and student books). And the pace I think is just a lot faster than lots of my new-to-my-school students are used to. I was trying to give them a chance to complete their folder work, so I wouldn't have to enter incompletes for assignments. And then writing has been delayed because we JUST got the writing criteria finalized/approved yesterday afternoon! Ay ay ay!

Last night I got home at 6, and tonight I got home at 6:30. While I have a GREAT class (really, I do!), it's still a long day when the alarm goes off at 5:30, you chase 8 year-olds around all day, and then stay in your room until 6:30. Matt is oh-so-sweetly picking up our favorite Chinese on his way home tonight. Yum!

It's amazing the things that fall by the wayside when your day is filled up with work. You know, things like:

• laundry (especially ironing... but really, it's not AWFUL... yet)
• **depositing my paycheck that I received Sept. 1**
• vacuuming (and getting a replacement belt for the vacuum, because I think mine will wear through ANY day now)
• grocery shopping/meal planning
• walking the dog
• sleep

You get the idea. ;) Then you add the WONDERFUL addition of our newest niece, Isabella Rose, to the mix, and you have a FULL plate! On top of all that, we drove to SC last weekend to meet Isabella. :) We wouldn't have wanted it any other way, but I didn't get anything done around the house. I was "lucky" do get my grading done in the car and figure out what I was teaching for Monday on Sunday night!

So, I think you have a snapshot of our life right now. There have been some other confounding factors that makes it seem like that balls we're trying to juggle are actually dropping left and right, but we know Who's really catching them--and we're unspeakably thankful to know Who really has it all in control (we'd be in SO much trouble if I was truly in control, as I'm so apt to think I am). Hopefully those things will settle out in the next couple weeks and with that will go a huge load we've been carrying.

Thanks to everyone who's been praying and encouraging us through this absolutely crazy time!

Love,
Becca

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!

8 and counting....

There are now EIGHT days of school left. And we have no more full weeks. This coming week is only 4 days (Monday off for Memorial Day), and the following week has only one full day (Monday) with three early release days (T-Th). After that, I have only 2 days of inservice (Fri. and Mon.), followed by a two week break, and then one week of summer institute.

I cannot BELIEVE this school year is winding down to a close. It's probably been my hardest year, but not for any "how to teach" reasons. More for "other hats teachers have to wear" and my-heart-breaking-over-things-some-students-go-through reasons. So, it's been emotionally exhausting although very rewarding. I feel guilty for saying I'm looking forward to summer vacation--I don't want to be the kind of teacher who counts down and can't wait to be rid of her students. It's not that I can't wait to be rid of them... my counting down is more like counting down to sleeping in and moreso to my heart hopefully having a bit of a respite so I can do it all again next year just as whole-heartedly and without holding back. These kids NEED to be loved fiercely, and I need a refill before I can do that again.

So, we're off for a mini "heart filling up" Memorial Day weekend, mostly just relaxing here in town ($4/gallon for gas?!?!) . But we are REALLY looking forward to it. We both made it through big weeks (big meeting for Matt Friday, last full week of school--with lots of testing and FCAT scores released and catching up from being gone 3 days for the wedding--for me), and we are ready to celebrate. :)

Have a great long weekend!

2 Important Announcements

1. My birthday twin and dear friend is now a MRS!!!
We had the distinct pleasure of traveling home for Ruthie and Eric's wedding. It was such a sweet time of celebration and just reveling in God's goodness, faithfulness, and provision. It was SO, SO, SO good to be with family and friends this past weekend. Oh, how my heart is at rest there and surrounded by loved ones. We love you, the new Mrs. V, and we can't wait to see you in July!

I have to say, I'm amazed at how long my hair is here compared to the profile picture here on the blog (above and to the right)! Wow!

While home we also squeezed a game of Catan in with Brad and Joy (and I had my WORST game EVER), WE played WII with Brad and Joy--including old school Tecmo Bowl and Double Dribble, a visit to McKay's (where, of course, some teaching books were procured), play time with Charis and Cai, and even a family-famous birthday party for Joy. We are sorry we missed Matt, Ariana, and Sam, but hopefully we'll see them in July! And the wedding festivities allowed us time with some of my favorite ladies from my old Bible study and especially our favorite D.C.-bound couple, Jessica and Eric. :)


2. My class totally ROCKED the FCAT! Praise the Lord!! :)
Sigh of relief.

Hilarious!

As I was changing some seat assignments today, I came across two notes (laying on top of a desk) that made me laugh out loud. I don't know if they were written during our career unit video or while I read the last chapter from Vacation Under the Volcano (a Magic Treehouse story set in Ancient Rome... perfect for third grade's study of ancient civilizations), but I cracked up! Please excuse the spelling and errors... let's just assume they were rushed to write and not be caught. ;)

Here you go, from two lovely ladies in my class:

M: I forgive you best freind! I'm sory we fouwt!

B: Did I rewen [ruin] (it spelled wrong) your [name] hearts [name]?

M: Kinda, but where still friends.

M: WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what do you mean? WHAT!!! please answer imeditly!!! restart conversation

M: W-E-ver. Why do you allways act like this, I want to pull my hair out! [complete with drawing of angry person pulling hair out]

B: You by it!

M: What do you mean?

B: I'm practicing for a play.

M: Ohhh. Sorry!! Can you forgive me?

B: Yah!

M: Your the best!! I can't wait to show you my cat and frogs!

B: FROGS! Oh come on?!

M: You WANT touch them

B: no, it's just you are like a zoo keeper

M: I try!

B: Oh, by the way, do you like pickes?

M: not really. (get another peice of paper)

[next piece of paper]

B: Do you think a lion would know what a pickle is?

M: no, but, maybe


If this is not the stereotypical "love-hate" girl friendship, I'm not sure what is! Gosh we can be hard on each other, huh?

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?

Halfway Through

After tomorrow we will be over halfway through with FCAT testing--hooray!

The kids have done a great job so far. I see many of them using test taking strategies we have talked about (reading the comprehension questions before the reading passage so they know what to look for in the passage, "retaking" the test when they have extra time, underlining important words in questions, etc.). No one has run out of time either, which is good. :) They have finished the SSS (Sunshine State Standards) reading sessions, tomorrow is both SSS math sessions, and then next week we have one session each of reading and math for the NRT (norm referenced test). Busy, busy! Then it's two weeks til spring break and Hilton Head with the fam! WOO HOO!

During our "down time" these testing weeks (after tests and on days we don't have tests), we are reading through Mr. Popper's Penguins. Every year I've done this unit during FCAT, the class has loved it. But this year's class REALLY loves it. They beg me to keep reading and are SUPER enthusiastic about it. It makes it extra fun for me. :) We are also writing poetry, and if their brains seem need some recuperation time before we dig into penguins and poetry, I do some step-by-step drawing with them (I still *distinctly* recall Mrs. Love doing some step-by-step drawings with us in first grade, and I teach my kids some of those *same* drawings!). Yesterday we did a frog, turtle, and bunny. :)

Samantha is asleep on the couch across from me, and Matt is playing one of his games for a little bit. He took the last of the leaf bags down for our trash pick up yesterday--hooray!

Last weekend we had the sweet treat of a visit from Dad and Mom. It was much needed! The distance has been wearing on me, and we LOVED seeing them and spending time with them. Their time here involved wrinkle-free clothes (Mom caught me up on some ironing), remote controlled cars (Matt got one before Christmas with some e-bucks, it's like Monopoly money from his company you can trade for real $$, and has wanted to show Dad ever since), fan checking (the light control of our remote died :-(), file transferring (a new-to-us computer), and fabric hunting (for a casserole tote to match the apron), among other things. :) I'm glad Hilton Head is less than a month away. You'd think about 2.5 years after I moved (how can I have been gone that long???), it would get easier. In some ways it does, but it still go through cycles of aching for home more than usual. Ugh. We have lots of opportunities to go home coming up though--Ruthie's wedding, our usual July trip, then we'll be in SC in September, back to TN in November, and both in December. Whew. Matt wants to try to fit in a trip home for the big football game, but I'm just not sure we can make that work this year. I do, however, REALLY want to try to get our condo for our anniversary in October. But we need to go to St. Augustine or Ormond Beach or something between now and then. Maybe some O-town action to see Uncle Randy and Aunt Janie, maybe even a jaunt down to see Kim and the kids (?). I don't know yet what my summer looks like. I know I have summer institute the end of June, and Mom is hoping to come visit this summer. We are getting a new reading curriculum, so I know some time will be spent getting acquainted with it and determining how that affects our new writing curriculum we wrote last year. And I hear we might be making changes to our math pacing, so I don't know what summer committees will look like yet.

Honestly at the moment I am just TIRED. This is the first night this week I did not fall asleep at 9, but it doesn't really count because I feel asleep from about 4:30-5:30. :) I'm EXHAUSTED--and I'm not even the one taking the FCAT tests! And honestly, when I'm missing home, being tired makes me more emotional than usual. So, sorry for this steam of consciousness update. I'm just missing everyone and wanted to catch you up. I wish I had something more interesting to write about, but we're just kinda plugging along right now. :) We miss our family and friends very much and really do welcome you for a visit ANYtime!

I should go check on that hubby o'mine. He wanted to watch the AI results on Tivo before bed... :)

Love,
Becca

Friday Night "Therapy"

After a particularly tiring week, I decided to let the creative juices flow. A teacher at my school is getting married the beginning of April, and we usually have wedding and baby showers at school. I was trying to think of something I could sew for her, and first I thought of an apron. I emailed Joy, of course, to ask if she thought that would be too hard for me. She pointed me in the right direction, and off I went!

After waiting a long time at JoAnn's (a story for another day), I got my fabric cut and was on my way. This particular teacher is very fashionable and seems to be quite fond of the bright pink/bright green combination you see around. So, I found some fun fabric in those tones and set to work. I started probably around 5:30 or 6, stopped to get dinner with Matt, and then I finished up around 10. Without further ado, I present the apron...

This project included several firsts. It was my first time using the pom-pon trim (at least for me, I had to be particularly careful not to let the strip the pom-pons dangle from show through). That required thinking through right sides together and wrong sides out and turning and whew. I almost had a brain cramp, but I figured it out!

I also made the apron reversible... since I would be lining it anyway, why not make it fun?

I would also like to make her a matching oven mitt. I just need to get some plain fabric for the lining (or dig through my stash, but I don't think I have anything).

I've also considered making a 9x13 casserole dish carrier (like the brown, flowered one Mom has). I think it would be really cool and perfect for a new bride! :)

I am a little nervous--do you think they're good enough to give for gifts to someone outside the family??

We hope you have a great weekend and get even a smidge of time to do something fun you enjoy, too. While I don't want to wish this one away, Mom and Dad will be here next weekend!! :)

Love,
Becca

P.S. This is what your dog does while you are sewing. Isn't that nice? It's one of the shoes I bought for E's wedding... oh well... goody thing I don't wear heels much. :-( :-(

P.P.S. Here's Samuel's very belated birthday present. I just need to hand-tie it and send it in the mail!

Happy Valentine's Day! part II

Yesterday was another day FULL of candy and sugar at school (Halloween being right up there as well). One student told me he'd already had a box of candy with/for breakfast (and I lovingly tell you.... it showed!).

Let me actually go back one day. On Wednesday we helped a friend of Matt's from work load his belongings into a moving truck. He and his wife are moving on to a new job in TX where they'll be closer to his family. We were there from about 6:20-10:20. By the time we got home, I admit I was tired (which is sad, because they still had a 3 hour drive ahead of them to make it to her mom's house). Matt really wanted to see who made the top 24 for American Idol, so we watched that on Tivo. I was so tired, I didn't even write my kids' names on their Valentines. I know, I know... but I was tired!

So Thursday started with a bang. The kids were SO excited about the party at the end of the day. We made it through writing and reading, had a very short math period due to Jump Rope for Heart, and tried to squeeze (mostly successfully) our Valentine's party into 30 minutes before it was time for art. Whew! While my class was jumping rope and at lunch, I finished prepping Friday folders (I had to add missing assignment slips after I checked off homework) and finally signed their Valentines. :) We had a wonderful guest reader during the party while the kids enjoyed cupcakes, punch, brownies, carrots, cheese, M&Ms, pretzels, and some delicious strawberries.

These are the Valentines holders we made on Wednesday...aren't they cute? I got instructions from my team mate and plan to do them again next year! They're super easy. :)

After school I came home to let Sammy out, and then it was off to Trish and Rusty's. We met them through our small group, and they have sweet twin baby boys! Rusty is in residency, and I've been trying to go over to hang out and help Trish on Thursdays. The boys got shots yesterday, but they were doing so well! Rusty actually got to come home early, and they asked if Matt could come over for a Valentine's double dinner date. He thought it was a great idea, so he took orders from us and picked up Fazoli's on his way over. :) We really enjoyed their company and getting to talk and know them better. While the boys (the baby boys, not the husbands) were napping, Trish and I made Valentines for our husbands. Here's the front of the one I made for Matt. :)

I says MATT with other phrases around it. I picked "turbo" because Matt always says,
"Slow down there, turbo," when someone speeds by him on the road.

Trish also found some fun pink stuff for the table (and then she made pink lemonade for us to drink with dinner). I'm really thankful to have met them, and we even got the boys to sleep before dinner---and they STAYED asleep through dinner! Hooray for Taylor and Wesley! :)

When we got home, Matt and I exchanged Valentine's gifts. We don't always do something "big," but we each had an idea for each other this year, so we went for it. I got great tickets for tomorrow night for us to go see Cirque Extravaganza. Matt's been wanting to see a Cirque show for quite some time. With this show, it's coming right to our town and features performers from SEVERAL Cirque shows, so you get a taste of many of them (but I checked, not the yucky one thankfully)! He is really excited! :)

In addition to the SUPER Whoooo's Sleepy fabric Matt gave me earlier this week, Matt also gave this me.

It's a yellow sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Isn't it beautiful? I have to admit, Matt has great taste! :) I love how it's a nice, relatively simple shape but with the yellow sapphire to catch your eye. :) I can't wait to wear it tomorrow night when we got out to dinner and then to see the Cirque show!

As you can see, we had a really nice Valentine's Day full of fun surprises. :) We hope yours was filled with reminders not only of loved ones here, but of God's love most of all!

What a lonely little blog...

Sad and neglected by its mistress and getting no love from the readership. ;) hehe I think things might be settling in on my end (ha, like it will last), so hopefully we can turn things around.

I had fun with the kiddos today. It is so fun to see them "take" to ideas and activities. I have challenged my math group this week. If they compose a multiplication rap to help us memorize any of the times tables, I will give them extra credit. Now every day I've had on particular girl who is by no means "rapper" looking (hehe) try to pull off what she must think are "rapper" poses while trying to come up with a beat. It cracks me up every time.

Yesterday in science we had a few left-over minutes. I initiated a game of "uses for water" charades. They were hilarious. So sweet. I love that they feel safe enough to get up and act out something--even something silly--in front of the class. I'm always striving to establish that kind of trust and community. One guess in particular, I wish I could remember now, had me bent over laughing (which they loved).

This morning we had a bit of a rude awakening. I woke up and thought, "Oh, I woke up before the alarm." I rolled over to look at the clock. 7:14 was glaring back in my face. It took a minute to register....
7:14...7:14....why does that seem funny?
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OH WAIT!!!
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I'M SUPPOSED TO BE AT WORK AT 7:15!!!!!!
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MATT!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S 7:15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He sweetly got up, threw together a peanut butter sandwich for me while I dressed in somewhat of a daze. I called the office to tell them I was running late (THANKFULLY the kids don't come in the rooms until 7:40/7:45. praise the LORD He woke me up in time to be there for the kids!). It was my day for sidewalk duty too, so they passed along the message that I needed someone to fill-in until I got there. Whew!

The funniest comment of the whole ordeal came from L. When I told the kids about my morning she raised her hand and said (when called on)... "Mrs. Kubo, I could tell that you must have been tried and rushed this morning, because you are just wearing that t-shirt. Usually you are wearing some kind of sweater with a nice, fancy shirt underneath." My response, "You are right, L, I usually do wear something nicer than this. But, I actually planned to wear this today." Why today, sweet readers, being the third Friday in September, which is the day which proceeds the third Saturday in Saturday, might I have been wearing a t-shirt instead of a nicer shirt? What kind of t-shirt would incite me (and many coworkers) to break from our normally professional attire?
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How about this one?
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GO BIG ORANGE!!

I'm not super football-literate, and 8 time out of 10 at the game you'll see my bincolars trained on the mascot (hoorayyyyy, Smokey!)--much to my father and Matt's dismay--but I care enough about "my" team, especially in a town as opposed to my team as Gville is, to stir the pot a little bit. :) The teachers pointed, the interns gasped, the principals scoffed and laughed! I got one, "How could you?" A, "That's the wrong color of orange," a "There's that ugly orange" (from a student!! Not one of mine), and a "We haven't converted you yet?". I even got a, "....... really?????" as one intern passed by. Followed quickly by, "That's cool, I'm an Auburn fan" (yea, Jess!). But in the end, all but one person smiled. People who love their team can appreciate someone else loving his/her team.

And so, I enjoyed my day of being somewhat troublesome, of explaining to little ones I am not calling them "ugly" and the history of the phrase "the good, the bad, and the ugly, and even a little email from our pastor. :)

But University of Florida fans, you need to know I will be glad for whichever team wins tomorrow. I will just be a little MORE glad if one team in particular pulls out the big W.

Let's go Vols!

Procrastinating....

I am ALMOST done with lesson plans.... almost.

I have science left to plan and math page numbers to write in. Then I am DONE! Hopefully this week I can plan during the week so I can get a week ahead. Now that open house is over and we have some normalcy to our routine, I should be able to plan more than one week at a time. Gotta love having some cushion built in for when busy weekends come up.

This weekend has been nice. Yesterday we slept in and then went to Home Depot. We've had our eye on a couple light fixtures at Lowe's, but we wanted to compare them to Home Depot's offerings before we settled on our purchases. As it turned out, at HD we found a dining room chandelier we liked better, hall fixtures we liked better, and a new kitchen ballast we liked better... and we spent less $$ than we would have at Lowe's. Woo hoo! So we loaded up a cart! We still like the prices/choices on the medicine cabinet, interior doors, and storm door better at Lowe's. But we got all our lighting out of the way! Matt installed the chandelier last night, and the hall lights and kitchen light are waiting for when he has a buddy (the hall lights will require some attic work and the kitchen ballast will require 2 people). My dad is coming to visit in October, so maybe we'll get to do some work then. ;) We'll try to get some pictures up in the meantime. :)

It's very exciting to be checking items off our "home improvement" list. At this point, we basically have left painting a few things (laundry room, master bath), updating the den (take down paneling and put up dry wall--happening in October), and switching our fake wood stained slab doors to white molded doors. We have already painted almost every room, replaced the lighting/fans in the eat-in kitchen, den, master bedroom, and dining room, done some landscaping, bought new furniture, and painted some trim. We're going to install the fans we took down in the kitchen and master bedroom in the two secondary bedrooms for now. At some point we put in something newer, but for now, we'll take advantage of what we already have!

Sammy has been a sweetie-pie lately. She LOVES being allowed in the den. She is definitely my little buddy when I get home and wait upon Matt's return from work. :) She's just such a quiet and sweet-natured little dog. :)

Alright, I think I should finish up those plans now before we leave for small group. We hope you've had a good weekend.

We especially want to say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to
My mom and Matt's mom!!!

Little Update

I'm here! I guess you can tell school has started. :) Sorry I've been missing so much. Today was the first day I've left before 5:00, and some days it's been more like 6 or later. Ugh. Just trying to get through tomorrow for some weekend relaxation.

I have a sweet group of 18 students. I add one to that group for reading instruction, and I go down to 9 (!!) for math. Well, that is I'll go down to 9 once the gifted teacher gets settled in a room. Right now I have hers and mine, because the room she WAS in is being transformed into a kindergarten (I think) classroom. We're adding at least one class at my school. Crazyness!

I really do like my little guys, but it IS also an adjustment from how my class was "humming along" at the end of last year. I have to keep reminding myself, "These guys JUST finished second grade.... it's only the FIRST week of school." It's NOT at ALL that they're "bad" in ANY shape, form, or fashion. Overall, I am delighted with them. It's just exhausting to be back at square one after having "trained" a class to a groove and rhythm that kept us clicking right along. We'll get there. We've also been out of routine as we've waited for various things (tech lab, resource--special area--classes, library, etc.) to start up for the year. Today was the first day we changed classes for reading and math and my first day with a resource (plan period). That might have something to do with me getting to leave almost an hour earlier than any other day this week! Reading is a big adjustment.... 9 kids last year, 19 this year. 14 in one group and 5 in the other. But we'll start centers next week. I just need to remember it'll take them some time. Math should be a DREAM though, once I'm down to my assigned 9 students. I can't WAIT to really dig in and do all kinds of extensions and stuff. NINE math students. Amazing!

I guess that's about all for now. Matt was so sweet and cooked dinner AND brought home a bouquet of flowers on my first day. They look and smell wonderful. I'll try to post a pic. I do think Samantha is still adjusting to me being gone all day, but she's getting the hang of it.

I hope you've had a good week! Sorry I've been so absent!

LOTS of love,
Becca :)

Check it Out!

**Edited: Hopefully the link works now. :) **

Click on this link to see my school's updated magnet academy homepage! There have been some personnel updates. ;)