long time, no postings...
nothing much new going on - can't get my snowblower to start...it was ok until the wind blew last night and stacked 3 more inches on the top...my 4-wheel drive does ok...it's James car that's not getting in & out so easy...

Christy is
...wondering what to have for dinner
...done w/ a "first draft" of my federal taxes
...hoping I'll get something done @ home tonight, but know I won't because I'm trying to catch up on 2 seasons of Friday Night Lights...
...has a feeling it will be tough to keep the girls from wanting to go out and play in the snow - it is WAY to cold
...mentally exhausted form ISAT practice

Christy is...wishing the flu will leave Hammond! Kaylee woke up sick again at 4:30...she was also starving for a pop tart and ate half of one...we'll see if this stays down.

Guess all I can do today is take advantage and get a few things done around the house. Laundry is done...but not put away...the floors could use another go-over after all the mud tracked in from the weekend gas line repair under the house...the to do list is about a page long. Better get started!

Back to school...

So far January has brought cold weather, a long list of things to do and a broken furnace...space heaters are keeping my house at a comfy 70 degrees...good thing...girls are sleeping camp-out style on my bedroom floor and lay there and giggle...bad thing....sure I will look back on this and laugh...but right now, not so much.

Getting in the "testing" mode at school - final practices on extended response and beginning the schedule...loads of fun-fun stuff...

I think that this week is going to be rough I didn't plan ahead and start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier...it's going to hit hard...

Guess I should try to go to bed...alarm clock is messed up so I'll be using my cell as an alarm...

Merry Christmas

The Holiday Countdown a-la-us...

10...million times I think I heard, "Mom, it's just what I wanted!!!!"

9...stones in the earrings and neclace I got for Christmas

8...trips to three different Walmarts in 8 days

7...times Camp Rock has played on the DVD since the 25th

6...Christmas parties

5...trips to the end of the driveway with all the garbage

4...trips to Hobby Lobby...and two of them were in one day

3...extended days of winter break due to bad weather school was cancelled the 18th, 19th and 20th

2...excited girls that got guitars at my house from Santa

1....birthday party

The pictures you've been waiting for.....Halloween and the first snow at our house...

Halloween pictures.....coming soon....

Why is it that my camera won't "borrow" power from the computer when it's hooked up to the computer?? My old one did. I had to scrounge for batteries so I could download the pictures and since it quit in the middle of it, they did not download...so since I didn't want you all to go without seeing anything, here's a picture of me the night I received my Elementary Math Teacher of the Year Award from the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Denise got to present it to me. The ICTM President is on the right.

Why is it that sometimes life is either full of go-go-go with barely time to breathe or nothing's going on?

This week has something on the calendar every night...how do I find time to blog you ask? I'm contracted to be at school until 3:30 - and usually stay a little longer just for some "me" time. Sure I could be researching how to get 5th graders to memorize math facts...but this is a little more fun!

I'll post halloween pictures sometime...they're being held hostage on my camera with no batteries, maybe tomorrow?? I'm not counting on it.

Carving Pumpkins

I'm slightly late in posting this...we carved pumpkins late last week

They've wilted a bit...Madison is going as a punk girl...to her that means dressed in a red & black wig, wearing black tights with a black skirt and shirt and a guitar hanging from her back. Kaylee is going as a butterfly...although even yesterday she was changing her mind and said she wanted to be blues clues...no time to find that costume.

So, fall has been busy, so much I haven't blogged in over a month.

Here's pictures of my home improvement project for 2008 - concrete pad in front of the garage. The girls LOVE riding their bikes on the concrete and Kaylee's always wanting the chalk.

Why is it that this entire week the alarm went off at 5:45 and I just thought - oh, please - 5 more minutes...but today, it went off (I didn't set it for Mon-Fri...it was set on daily, duh!) I couldn't get back to sleep...might be this late summer cold I've caught somewhere. Kaylee and I both seem to have it.

No big plans for the weekend other than recovery from the first week back at school. For me, I felt like it was just an extension of last year - I know all of the kids, know what they've done in math, and am just ready to keep moving forward. The kids...not so much...next week I'm slowing down to a more relaxed pace...think I've scared a few of them though, especially 5th graders...third day of school and bringing home homework that is a review of long division...they're all in a panic. I told them a year ago that they should expect to use their multiplication facts on the first few days of school...I couldn't go back on my word! At least I will know who needs help and who remembers what they're doing. They'll think next week's assignments are a piece of cake!

Madison's transition was much easier this year - I was worried after her first day, she was very withdrawn and quiet...well, that only lasted the first day. Kaylee got her first time-out at the sitter's this week. She's very protective of cousin Cliff now that he's there too. She got a little over protective to two other kids her age - didn't want them messin' with her cousin!

First Day of School!! While I've been busy doing things a few days a week for a number of weeks, Madison was all dolled up for her first day of second grade.

I went into her class to introduce myself with my new name and her teacher happened to be taking pictures of them doing something bad...or something that they shouldn't do again...well, Miss Madison wouldn't do anything bad in front of her mom...

For Kaylee it was like any other day. For me - I'm exhausted. Not sure if it's the getting up at 5:45 or if it's just the brain overload from trying to get through the to do list. Guess I'll just live with it - not that I have another choice...hee hee.

First full day of school is tomorrow - wonder if I'll make it???

Wow, I'm not very good at this whole blogging thing...I don't keep up very well. As I sit trying to grab a moment of quiet the girls are "picking up" their room. We'll see how it turns out when I get back to them.

We've started to try to get back into the swing of the regular year, girls getting up by 7am every morning...me at 6:30. This week, the goal by Friday is 6am for me and 6:30 for them. School starts on the 18th for me and the 19th for Madison. You can tell school's coming...the junior high kids had their first practice JFL game last night, it's fun to watch kids you know play sports. The girls enjoy going too. Although for Madison it's the social aspect. Kaylee seems to like the hot dogs from the concession stand.

Kaylee's become quite the "everything must be in it's place" kind of girl...such the opposite of Madison. They've been much the same kid until now. They've (mainly Madison) has also started their sibling issues "she's playing with MY STUFF, Mom make her stop"...should I start putting a nickel in a jar now...might pay for college in the long run.

So, as I try to enjoy my last week of summer vacation (wow, it really flew) It's already filled with events - work school registration Monday, meeting Tuesday - nephew Cliff turns 1 on Thursday - going to a concert on Friday at the State Fair - Cliff's party & baptism this weekend...looks like Wednesday is my only day with NOTHING scheduled...let's see how long that lasts. Maybe we'll go to the pool for one last time.

Well, girls are back with me during the week. Madison got her first taste of mowing the lawn...tried to upload a video, but after 20 minutes it still hadn't loaded correctly, so, you'll have to use your imagination.

We spent the weekend in the water - I had my annual staff boating outing on Friday, then we all went to a water park on Saturday and the Oakland pool on Sunday. I'd say I'm a bit waterlogged, but nicely tan.

Kaylee shocked me tonight - as I was typing this blog, she says mommy, look at me shake my booty (and she turned around and shook her rear at me).....after I picked up my jaw from the floor I laughed...one of those moments, should I be mad, should I laugh. I decided laughter is better.

OK - so it's been quite a while since I've been on...hmm....once those grad school classes started, I had no time for anything else - it was like being in undergrad again - going to bed late and geting up early...you'd think I was taking a full load...but nope, only 2 classes.

One is finally over - at least the sitting in class portion is. I still have a final project due, which shouldn't be too terrible since I've gotten a good chunk of it done. I still have 5 days to finish.

As for the math research class - the project is getting to be a bigger deal than previously thought. I'm think I'm going to have to end up doing the same amount of work for a 2 hour independent study that some are doing for a 4 hour one. The research we're preparing for in the class is to lead into the independent study...hopefully I can get it completed next fall so I can graduate in December!!

So, with all this whining I'm thinking about continuing and getting another certificate or masters...am I nuts?? Probably...

I'm adjusting to my empty nest syndrome - it is certainly different - and to be completly honest, I don't like it one bit!

Drama still follows the life I left behind...makes me glad I'm where I am now. I appreciate my single life more and more each day.

Vacations are over, not sure what's left on my plate after the classes are over...guess I'll figure it all out then. Maybe I'll get my classroom ready early this year....the nice thing, I don't have to decide right now - I can just play it by ear. I love that part of my life right now.

I see the light...I think...

So - I'm now in the last two classes I need to take for my degree...I see the end of the classes at least on the syllabus...not sure if I'll make it through the projects - but finally I get to do projects that I will actually USE in my job. That's the most exciting part. It's what is making all of these classes worth it.

Now...for the rest of life...not sure I'll make it get home, go to a ballgame, come home, get dinner...do homework...notice that picking up the house and normal routine things are missing from that list. I already feel like I'm behind and it's only day 2. At least I'm not thinking - what have I gotten myself into...I've done that in the past.

So - homework for tonight is done, girls are clean and I am catching my breath before I start packing for the reunion...I do have myself and the swim gear packed already. Logistics for the travel are done too...guess I've got more done and checked off the to-do list than I feel like.

the Flood of 2007

Well, I survived this part of the flood of 2007. While camping we got a massive storm that came through and had water up to the running board on my car...it was so high that it came into my cabin and all over the floor....I didn't really realize it...until I woke up in the morning. The good thing is that the electricity was fixed and that meant I had air for the 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity today.

After looking at all the road conditions and watching traffic be diverted on the interstate we're not quite sure what route will take us home tomorrow...we'll see...guess glad the campsite has wi-fi :)

First time for everything

OK - so when two of the friends you talk to most both use this site - it wouldn't be long before I decided to try it for myself...

While I'm not completly sure how often I'll get back to this...at least it's a place for me to put things down I don't want to forget...

Madison...finished first grade...all As, behavior went from needs improvement to satisfactory...all those parents that are afraid to put their kid w/ ADHD on medication - I say give it a try - if the side affects show up, you can always take them off, but what a difference in her academics. Her behavior is much improved too. Only problem we've had is that she lost a few pounds and then got taller, so she looks really skinny. Her summer events include softball which started in May and they travel to Arcola, Arthur & Lovington to play games, day-time basketball camp, volleyball camp and then 6 weeks at her dad's.

[Personal commentary...we'll see how I handle it. I should be ok, but then again, I've never been without my girls that long ever. In the grand scheme of things, I know it is best for them, to spend time w/ him - but you can't blame a girl for being selfish and wanting her kids, right]

Kaylee...uses complete sentences...and jokes with you now...which is strange in my brain - it's an abstract concept...as for the potty...she's got a little interest, but I'm not pushing her. I stressed myself out with Madison trying then not trying, then trying every time she showed interest. I figure she's only 2 there's plenty of time and she seems to be doing a pretty good job on her own every so often. She thinks she is Madison's age and mimics everything she does as best she physically can. Kaylee has no summer plans that don't involve the rest of us...I've enjoyed a little one-on-one time w/ Kaylee while Madison's at practice or at camp...I don't usually get that kind of time with her. I remember having that with Madison a bit, this is a fun age. She knows all her colors (except brown...we just started working on that) and this week started singing the entire ABCs...she needs just a bit of help at H-I...but can do the rest on her own...my kid, doing ABCs before 123s...hmmmm...ok, so she knows circle, square, triangle, oval, and can make a triangle w/ her fingers, so maybe it's all evened out somewhere.

Me...last two classes at EIU's campus this summer...I will leave the house at 7 for an 8:30-11:00 class, then go to a 1:00-2:45 class...then finally home..so it's a full day. One is a research class, so I think that I will be so busy with class that the girls being with their dad will be at the right time. I know homework these past few semesters was challenging to do. Other than that, I'm doing ADPi stuff, which is my "hobby" and an excel project for Delta Kappa Gamma...and going to try to enjoy summer with no construction projects at my house. Although we may do concrete in the drive later this summer...we'll see.

I have successfully organized my garage and now feel that it's not in the optimum arrangement. Hey, I only rearranged my office 4 times in less than a year before I felt good about it - I guess I'm only on arrangement #1` in the garage.

Other summer plans include camping w/ Mom's family (the girls have to miss it) and then the Arney Reunion in Missouri - at the end of June is the annual ADPi trip. Still looking at a trip in August to South Carolina on my free ticket from Northwest...looks like that might work out. I just have to make kid arrangements and figure out a couple more logistics.

So - if I don't get back to