My Babies

We spent the weekend in Longview visiting wonderful friends that we've known for years.

A fantastic time was had by all.

I snapped this picture with my phone as my big baby and little baby lounged in the easy chair at the hotel.

Words cannot express how much I love these two human beings.

"God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me."

More Than Just a Scribble

I cried today...unexpectedly.

And no, not because my hormones are out of whack or because I was feeling weepy.

I cried tears of joy today from a thankful heart, bursting with gratitude and appreciation for what the Lord has done for me.

And if He never does anything else for me, He's done more than I can ever ask, hope, or dream because He saved my soul.

Everything else is just frosting on the cake...and I'm glad my God likes frosting. He loves blessing his people with eternal blessings that do not fade away.

I cried when I saw this paper today in Sydney's folder. It is her first official drawing. I hung it on the fridge immediately. Do you know HOW LONG I HAVE WAITED to hang a "drawing" that my child completed on the fridge? I may never take it off, since it is the FIRST one.

Doesn't look like much, does it?

But to me, it is a masterpiece.

This scribble to me screams, "ANSWERED PRAYER."

It is way more than just a scribble. It is a reminder of my miracle working, way-making, amazing God.

Can I get a witness?

Laborious Day

To the Tune of  "My Favorite Things"

And yes you must sing the song as you read my post or it won't sound right or make sense for that matter.

....with enthusiasm please..

"Laundry and lessons and washing and eating,
Gro-cery shopping that just needs completing,
I thought that I'd finally get to relax,
But not after I hung up 10 pairs of slacks.

Filing and typing and sorting and trashing,
Man this home office job 'round me is crashing,
Sometimes I think that I'm working 3 jobs,
Or maybe its just that I live with 2 slobs!

Off to Gigi's! Off to Pawpaws!
Let's go play a while!
I must remember how God's blessed my life...
And then I can't help...but...smile!"

Bare Rear & New Career

Since we've introduced Sydney to the wonderful world of indoor plumbing, she finds it necessary to practice taking off her diaper. This disturbs me.

Although, I'm not sure what frightens me more...the fact that she CAN take off her diaper anytime she pleases...or...the fact that...

she is constantly in "REFILL" mode with the sippy cup.

*shiver*

On a completely un-Pamper related note, I am back in the swing of things behind the teacher's desk. I didn't realize how much I had truly missed teaching...I had worked as a Reading Coordinator for my local school district for a couple of years after being in the classroom for a decade.

My situation:

I am teaching 8th grade at a public charter school called Vista Preparatory Academy. It is the largest public charter in the state of Texas. Check out the website for info.

My pupils: I teach 11 lovely 8th graders...6 girls and 5 boys. They are awesome. Did you catch that number? 11. I am self-contained and teach the 4 core subjects in the mornings while their brains are still fresh and ready to receive vast amounts of knowledge. (I hear you snickering.)

My schedule: I am officially part-time and only work the morning shift which allows me to spend the afternoons taking care of the home business, playing with Sydney, running errands, sleeping, crackbooking, cleaning, putting out fires, and laying on the floor.

What I like about it: I have TONS of freedom curriculum wise. My only guide is teaching the state required skills...other than that..the sky is the LIMIT. I have many ideas for field trips, projects, and adventures for this coming year. I have access to a 15 passenger van which will allow me to take my darlings on mini field trips during the day. We are in the process of obtaining laptops for my class which allow us to be paperless and fully utilize web resources. I have zero interruptions during the class day. I am teaching like a house ablaze.

In the last week alone, we have covered: chromatography, performed a lab experiment, delved into pre-Algebra, conversions, fractions, percents, square roots, summaries, scientific method, M & M's, Reese's Pieces, conventions, learned 5 new S.A.T. words, researched places of geographic interests, tutored kindergartners, participated in a service project, studied literary elements, discussed character analysis, and enjoyed a cupcake during snack time.

Whewww...I am working harder and having more fun than I've had in a long time and Sydney is too!

Enthusiasm

 

I get to go to school TODAY!

That's something to run up and down the hall about!

I am wearing my velcro Keds that make me run REALLY fast.

Morning aerobics in the hall really gets your blood pumping!

What? It's only 6:20 a.m.?

Wow.

That's all I have to say.

This past week has been a flurry of activity. I'm officially back in the saddle again at work.

We have eaten out EVERY single night, and I'm ashamed to say 3 of the 6 meals were from the restaurant named after a child's toy.

I've been to Dallas and back. I've moved furniture. I've been trying to cram a whole day of sweating and planning into 1/2 days at school. I am brushing up on Algebra and History.

Sydney has been with 4 different babysitters, and I am blessed to know that many people close by that I can trust.

Next week we will hopefully be getting in the groove of a routine.
Until then, I am unabashed to say that my child is still sleeping (3 hours straight) and I don't have the slightest urge to wake her up. I'm just jealous that it is her and not me.

And since I like to include pictures, here is a totally unrelated picture of Sydney chillin' out in her cousin's rocking chair.

I love the expression on her face. It perfectly expresses my current mood.
"I dare you to ask me to do something else for you." -or-
"I've got prospective projectiles in my hands and I know how to use them."

I think I'm going to write a book called, "Lesson Plans and Laundry." I've got lotsa material for Chapter 1.

Ever Wonder?

Ever wonder what you look like when you ride on the back of a motorcycle for a couple of hours

in the sweltering heat

with no make up

and fly away hair?

Well, wonder no more.

Ain't we purty?