"Puddy-Tat"

It's that time of year. Santa has sent his scout elf to our classroom to see who is being naughty and nice. We name him every year. This is usually very entertaining. The students are usually very original. We've had Minty, Chippy, and more. This year we had suggestions like Stewart, Charlie, Leo, Sam, and Bob. The only original name was "Puddy-Tat". They've apparently been watching Tweety Bird and Sylvester the cat. They think  "I tot I taw a puddy-tat" is hysterically funny. So through much voting and discussion  BOB won. Bob! Since "Puddy-tat" came in second I told them they could call their Elf  Bob Puddy-tat! Arguments came soon after from the "Bob" only crowd, the "Puddy-Tat" only crowd, and the combo "Bob Puddy-Tat" crowd. I had to tell them  "No more arguing your Elf will answer to any of those! After all these years of doing Elf on the Shelf I've not had such an issue. It was not an auspicious beginning for our elf visitor.  I am going to have to formulate a response from the elf tonight for them. Goodness me! 

 

This morning the snow started coming down with big wet flakes. It wasn't a lot of snow but enough to make it a little slippery on the way to work. Then the wind started to blow it sideways for awhile. By recess at 10:30 ish it  was blue skies and clouds. I left work before it was too late. I could tell that wet melted snow would turn to ice. It did and I was off the roads before then. The morning commute could be icy as well. Winter has finally arrived. 

Today

What I can say for certain I have learned as of this date:

I'd rather have mosquito bites than hives.

Hazy Sunday

The wind blew almost all day yesterday. There was  a yellow cast to the sky it hung in front of the moon giving it boost of color. Today was overcast and looked like rain all day. Looking across the valley you could see the haze of dust still. This does amazing things to my allergies. It really can't snow or rain soon enough to suit me. I am very glad to have an air filter on my furnace and an air purifier. Indoors it is livable. I am hoping we will get the predicted rain tonight or in the morning.

Today my little buddies big sisters came to visit. We painted rocks. In this burg there is a tradition of painting rocks and leaving them in public spaces for others to find. We painted most the afternoon. We did stop to grab lunch and more paint colors. It was a fun day. We all have some work to do as far as our painting skill set is concerned, but it was fun. After we painted them we left them round and about. We know two were found. As they were leaving one rock they found another one. There is something magical about this for kids. I love this simple idea.  I then dropped them off with their parents at the movie theater. They were watching a kids movie today. I was invited. I declined. I reached my quota of kids movies as a nanny. I still haven't gotten to the point I can sit down and enjoy one. Nope! I do watch Home Alone every Christmas. Other than that movie it is a big NO!

Since leaving my last job I've realized its taken a lot of time, but I feel more and more like my old self. My stress levels are significantly lower. I am taking more time to do things I enjoy. When I get home I have energy to do other activities. I feel appreciated in my work. It isn't perfect in any way. However, it is so much better I often am in shock. I am very, very, very, glad I made the move.

My parents are coming to visit soon. I have most of my chores complete. I am not short on butter or ketchup. Ready for school this week....welll..... I will be :)!

Shrinking List...

I was feeling like I'd been pretty lazy this morning. I had done a load of dishes, a load of laundry, and cleaned the hair from the drain. I've cleaned both bathrooms, changed all the bedding, vacuumed, took out the trash, and I've folded most of the laundry. That is a work in progress. My bed is covered in folded laundry. I wash and dry a load, dump it on my bed fold and repeat. I've actually accomplished quite a bit of chores that had been put on pause. The guest bedroom no longer looks like an aisle at Staples Office Supply Store. It's my office when I don't have guests! My parents have fresh clean sheets and bedding.

I've been dragging my I-pad around with me from room to room as I clean. Trying to keep myself entertained as I take care of the drudgery. I watched  a few episodes of a dumb detective show that was slow enough I could walk away from it now and again and not miss anything major. It kept me working.

The wind has been blowing here all day and has kicked up quite a lot of dust. I have been trying to stay inside as that triggers my allergies. It makes everything soooo dry when we have a wind like this. I've had a pot of water on the stove all day. Once in a while I add an essential oil to it. It makes it smell good throughout the apartment. I am so close to having the house done but I've lost my Get-up-and-go.I will get the laundry put away so that I have a bed to sleep in tonight but that might be it for today.

Tomorrow I have a couple of visitors coming over to help me with something. I will share that tomorrow. I don't know if I am ready for tomorrow let a lone 2 and 1/2 days of teaching next week. I know I am going to have some very excited students next week. Wish me luck!  I know its very exciting reading about my chores! :) It helps me to remember that I may have started off a bit slow...but I accomplished a lot today.

I'm Sorry Dad

I had to call my dad today. I said "Dad I owe you an apology."   Dad replied "I'm sure you're right, but what for?"   I apologetically said "I just cleaned the hair out of my bathtub drain."   Laughter commenced. I don't know how many times over the years my dad worked on this disgusting but very important job. I probably owe a few former landlords an apology as well. YUCK!  I did find this handy dandy little tool that really helped the process. The eLander Hair Drain Clog Remover! It did everything it was reported to do. I don't know how many uses I can get out of one tool, but three came in the package so I'm good for awhile. If you are a girl with long hair and a Dad who never called a plumber. Call an apologize RIGHT NOW!  I'm sorry Dad.

Then I went to Home Depot to look for a Hair Catch for the drain. That turned out to be a little more difficult than I had expected. Apparently, I'm going to owe Dad a hot-dog for helping me with that project over Thanksgiving. I told the guy at Home Depot that I guess that my Dad had a Thanksgiving project. He tried to convince me I could do it. I told him I'd already "YouTubed" it and was unable to accomplish the task. I could see he was feeling bad for my dad.  Wait! This is what I have a Landlord for.....! I didn't want to ask them to remove that from the drain...but maybe they can do this for me! I have a phone call to make on Monday.

Snow Yeah!

They predicted snow, I wanted snow, I hoped for snow. It started to snow about 10:30 this morning. YAY! It was a very wet snow. By lunch time it was sticking enough that the students gathered snow from every corner to make a snowball. My drive home with the dusting of snow on all the sage, grass, and trees was beautiful. Love it. Even better is that it relieves my allergies. Woot!  It is hard to believe it is the middle of November and today was our first snow of the year. I am loving it though. I might have a slippery commute in the morning.

This is what my commute looked like this morning. Couldn't see the mountains when I left work.
G'nite

A New Favorite...

A time for every purpose under heaven....

IWe had our Pizza Party today provided by our local Real Estate Office! The kids loved it and the real estate agents were super kind. My students were very happy! It is a simple thing but it makes the day fun. I am grateful. There were a few things I kept putting off purchasing. YAY!

We also had our first "Flashlight Friday" on Thursday. The kids were very excited and mostly quite well behaved. It is definitely a reward that will work. One of my table groups earned "Lunch with the Teacher" next week. On Monday they will join me in the classroom for lunch. They bring their own lunch just don't have to eat in the lunchroom. I am not quite sure why this is a reward but they seem to like it! :) 

I am trying to think of what else is new. It was a busy week. After school I was able to complete some grading and even input it into the computer. Then the internet went kaput! That was my clue it was time to go home. I will honor Veteran's Tomorrow by going to do some work at school! I don't know what song they learned in music this week to honor veterans, but it had a few kids in tears after music class. I am glad it made an impression.

My Great Aunt passed away this week. I was trying to think of one specific memory of her. What I mostly remember are her graciousness, kindness, with a strong personal core and conviction. I remember her smile and a sparkle in her eye. 

Well, I am going to round up some PJ's and relax. It's been a busy crazy week.                                   Here is some "Byrds" for you as we begin a new season.       

                          

                                                                        

Interesting times...

The election process this year has been very interesting. I think it definitely shows the fear of the establishment. Everything any of us thought we knew about the process has changed.  So here we go on a interesting ride......

I had a substitute for half of the day today while I went to the eye Dr. I hope it went well for the sub. I won't know that till the morning for sure. I had my eye checked I thought I may have scratched it or something. It has been really bothering me since Halloween. Well I bruised it and apparently keep irritating it. A bruise can occur with a hard sneeze, a strong vomit, or rubbing the eyes too vigorously. I can rule out vomit. I think I'd remember that. Anyhow, the bottom line is it is all allergy related. The allergy eye-drops I was using were not doing the job.  Allergies. For me it always comes back to allergies. I have some prescription antihistamine drops and some other drops to just soothe the eye. Now I just have to leave my eye alone and be patient. It's like any bruise if you keep bumping it, that is like injuring it again. If I have a cone on my head in a future picture...you'll know I wasn't successful  HA HA!

Someone who has been on my heart and mind lately is my former neighbor Sylvia. Thinking of the loss of someone whose had a huge impact in such a positive way in your life is tough. I've seen my dear friends lose their moms this year. It is such a blow to lose those who have unconditional love for you. I hope I  will be able to see those souls again someday. I know the sparkle in their eye better than the back of my own hand.

I was talking with a friend lately about aging. I said when I look at someone I care about as they age. I would miss their wrinkles, their gray hairs, and their age spots. When I see all those markers of life I know they have lived. They lived. I also said that is not the first thing I see when I look at someone I care about. I am looking in their eyes for the twinkle, life, and a glimpse of their soul. I am not counting wrinkles even though I am glad they are there. Celebrate those markers of age. Try not to mourn your youth, but celebrate your growth.

I love me some Alan Jackson... especially when he sings a hymn.

Blue Monday

It's seems there are quite a few songs about Mondays! Monday's after a time change are especially blue. I don't know how we can get an "extra" hour and I have students that still didn't get breakfast fed to them in the morning. I get frustrated because it isn't a one time occurrence but a regular occurrence for a student. Feed your kid!

Today was a busy day but we kept on trucking till we accomplished most of the lesson plan! We started a writing activity today that explains "How To Cook a Turkey" based on the ingredients students were throwing out there I think I am glad they aren't making my Thanksgiving Dinner. The kids finished writing "Thankful" leaves for our tree on our bulletin board. One student wrote "I am thankful for dinner." I wasn't sure if that meant Thanksgiving Dinner or just Dinner in general.

 We also did a little study of what Veteran's Day is and how it came to be! We watched a little bit of the "Changing of the Guard" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The class was silent and watching carefully. I hope they remember just enough to show respect to Veteran's this week.

I have a appointment tomorrow with the eye Dr. I'm not sure what I did to my poor eyeball but it just isn't improving quickly. So hopefully he can discover what the problem is. I will miss the afternoon at school. I have no idea who my substitute will be. I can only hope my students are well behaved.

Here's a song for the "Time Change"   lol....

Forgotten classes....

Halloween at school was more than ridiculous. They took an hour in the gym, to dance, show off their costumes, watch a Jib Jab video with all the teachers in it. Then they danced some more. I stayed for the first 15 minutes then went back to my class to attempt to get some lesson planning done. That was interrupted perpetually by parents messaging me with last minute Halloween Party concerns and questions. I picked up my students and took them outside for a little bit. We then went in to the classroom where a parent with my help had set up the party. Then it was party party party till it was time to go home. I had a student who missed the entire day of school and did not arrive until gym time. The student missed the learning time because she was taken to the hair salon to get her hair styled for Halloween. I'd just had a conversation with the parent about her high number of absences. Then she was absent the next day as well. That was something new for me.

Yesterday was a recovery from Halloween. I made sure I had my giant cup-o-tea. We got through the day. Then I went home thinking ahhh I can rest. WRONG! I luckily programmed my phone to notify me I had class that night. I'd already panicked  because it was also the last section of my online class.  So I made it to my live class just in time. Came back home and finished my online class and collapsed into bed. Today was busy. We had a meeting after school. The fire alarm went off in the middle of the meeting and we had to evacuate. We were notified it was a false alarm after about 10 minutes. I came home and worked on grading papers. I was able to input a lot of grades. Then I worked on my laminating pile, sorting book club orders, and printing information to send home.  I am all tuckered out.

Tomorrow night I am babysitting my little buddy while his parents go to a concert. We have a routine. I pick him up from school. We go purchase a cherry slushie. Then he plays with everything he can find, raids my fridge, and steals my technology.  I may have to make muffins with him tomorrow night! We'll see how motivated I am after school tomorrow.

At a meeting I had after school yesterday I received several compliments about the rapid advancement a special needs student had made in my class. That made me feel great!

Two more days of students high on sugar. May their older brothers and sisters, dad's and uncles, eat their candy and throw the rest away!

Sleeeeeeeeeeeep

I was trying to think of where to start. I don't know. I will say that I am tired. It has felt like I accomplished a weeks worth of activity in two days. Halloween was a hectic, fun, crazy, busy, wonderful day. I survived. My poor bloodshot eyes have not. They are weary. I forgot not only did I have class tonight (made it just in time), but tonight was my last section for my online class. I completed my online class. I enjoyed my other class. I am tired.

My students wrote the funniest kind letters to the Fire Department for the Fire Safety lesson and tour we had last week. I hope they firemen enjoy them!  You never know what students will remember the most from these activities. We had state testing today and my students were pulled in and out of testing. I almost cried when I saw my "to-do" list. One step at a time, one day at a time. I hope tomorrow we will be able to make some cards to send to some soldiers. We have two students who have a parent deployed. I hope we can create some smiles across the seas.

I have eye strain/fatigue. So I will sign off and follow up another day with details. G'nite