Squirrel Attack

I had a dream last night that I was walking past a dark driveway surrounded by trees. Out of nowhere this giant squirrel came out and started attacking me! I couldn't get it off because it was so huge, about the size of a person! Suddenly, a regular-sized house cat ran out from underneath a parked car and started attacking the squirrel! Soon, it was joined by dozens more! I looked closely, and they weren't exactly attacking the squirrel, they were eating it! I walked away as the cats devoured the squirrel, and that was it. Strange. I didn't really think anything of it, until Tommy came home from school today with a prize from the treasure box. It was a stuffed squirrel.

I Scream, You Scream....

...we all scream for ice cream! Tomorrow night, Wednesday, Baskin Robbins will be selling their ice cream for 31 cents a scoop from 5pm-10pm! Yum!

Happy Earth Day!

The kids and I are going to plant some flowers today and try to keep the TV off. What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?

The latest

Danny's band performed yesterday, and I thought they did really well on stage. I talked to the assistant director and she told me that their warm-up was terrible, and the kids had a hard time focusing. They have not had consistent rehearsals at all this semester, so I was afraid of what was going to happen. There were some problems here and there, but overall, it was a good performance. Unfortunately, not good enough. They recieved 2-2-2 on stage. At least all of the judges were in agreement! Danny was really nervous for the performance and it didn't help that the head director from the high school was there, along with the district middle school coordinator. They usually don't come for stuff like this, but it seems like they came specifically to hear Danny's band.

I was able to go see them in sight reading, and as soon as Danny saw the piece of music he really relaxed, and I actually saw a smile on his face! Apparently, it was a really easy song. The kids were great. They were attentive and fingered through their parts, and they played the piece wonderfully! They even did the dynamics and tempo change flawlessly! Needless to say, they made 1-1-1 in sight reading! Way to go!

BUT, Danny is really upset. He feels like they could have done a much better job. He's also mad at himself for breaking the streak of sweepstakes that his school has had for the past million years. He feels that this will look really bad for him when it comes to trying to find a new job for next school year, or even keeping the one he has! Danny's band has one more contest before the school year is up, so he has another chance at redemption. Let's hope they do better for Danny's sake!

Say a little prayer...

for Danny tomorrow. His band goes to contest, and boy will they need all the help they can get! The 2nd band went today (Danny's new assistant,who just graduated from college in December, directed this band ) and they got straight 2's in Sight Reading, and onstage they got 2-3-4, which rounds out to a 3. Not good. The 4 was given by a well-known director who used to teach at his school! Oh dear. Danny thinks that she will judge them harder simply because it's her old school. Danny is very afraid that this will be the first year in a VERY LONG time that the top band at his school does less than straight 1's across the board. They perform in the late afternoon, around 4:45, so please say a prayer for him and especially his band!

Things I learned this week...

1. Boys are stinky. Especially after gym class, and I DO NOT get paid enough to teach them in small, poorly ventilated rooms!!

2. Eddie wants to be just like Tommy. He thinks he can do everything that Tommy can do. He even sleeps in a big boy bed just like Tommy! We officially put away the crib today!

3. McKinney ISD is driving me nuts! What's up with taking away our holidays this month?
Grr...at least Danny is home today. I can't complain about that!

4. My Visiting Teachers are AWESOME. I love Jenny and Blythe. They are such wonderful women! Oh, and Jenny's cookies are SO good!

5. The smell of smoke brings back a flood of memories for me. I am suddenly taken back to my childhood when I would go with my mom to take pictures at house fires (she worked for a newspaper). She would always bring water or some type of drink, and my sisters and I would pass them out to the firefighters. There was one fire where someone died. I will never forget seeing that body bag carried out of the house.

6. I suck at trying to lose weight. I'm stuck, and I can't get past my current weight. Sigh...

7. High School kids scare me sometimes.

8. I'm great at doing big projects around the house, but not all the little ones. I have some pictures that need to be hung, but I'm more likely to paint the kitchen before I hang pictures! What's up with that?

9. I don't like the color blue as much as I thought I did.

10. Anna is a really good kid. She gets on my nerves with her crying at every little thing, but she obeys and helps me with Tommy and Eddie. I need to stop being so hard on her. After all, girls need to stick together (especially when we're outnumbered)!

That's My Girl!!

Anna was the Student of the Month for MUSIC last month! Way to go Anna!

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge

I found this post here, and thought it was hilarious, and oh, so appropriate for this time of year. (Isn't the picture DISGUSTING?)

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

• 
  I promise to always wear sandals that fit.


• 
  My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.


• 
  I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free.


• 
  I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.


• 
  I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.


• 
  I will shave the hairs off my big toe.


• 
  I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.


• 
  If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.


• 
  I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.


• 
  I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.


• 
  I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.


• 
  I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.


• 
  I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.


• 
  I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15 or 20 and worth EVERY penny).


• 
  I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

Another reason why I love Phil...

Danny and I are HUGE fans of Amazing Race, and we just love the host, Phil. I just found out that he is riding across the country to promote MS awareness!

(FYI: For those of you who don't know, my dad died nine years ago from MS.)

Trust

I opened an envelope from a student this morning and found a BLANK check (with the parent's signature) and this note:

Is that trust or what?

The Zoo!

On St. Patrick's Day, we decided to head off to the zoo. The kids love the Dallas Zoo, and could probably spend all day there!

Anna and I rode the monorail. It was so fun! It was our first time riding it, even though we've been to the zoo about a million times! There were great views of the zoo and the city, too!
Isn't Eddie just the cutest kid? He's to the point now that he understands about animals and really enjoyed himself!

Tommy loved the reptile building. My kids have a strange fascination with them, especially alligators and crocodiles.

A great view of the monorail, and below, Anna is doing her classic pose. We had a lot of fun, but our zoo membership expires on March 31. We don't think we'll renew it until the aquarium opens up next year (it's free with a zoo membership), and the new elephant exhibit is finished. The kids will be sad, but we'll go a million times next year to make up for it!

Super Busy!

Good grief! It seems as if the last 2 1/2 weeks have just flown by! We have been so busy with re-doing Anna's room, countless soccer practices and games, spring break activities, and doing endless yardwork! I'll try to post pictures of our activities soon!

Soccer!

Anna and Tommy both had their first soccer games on Saturday, back-to-back. It was super windy, so it wasn't an ideal day to play, but at least it wasn't hot! Anna did great in her game and loved playing, even though her team lost REALLY bad. I stole this picture from Chauntel's blog because I'm a lame-o and forgot to bring my camera! Anna is in the pink on the far right. Tommy's team played really well and they didn't lose! They actually tied 5-5! Tommy scored 2 goals! Both kids had a great time and can't wait for their next game!

I let it happen AGAIN.

I put Tommy on the wrong bus this morning. I can't believe I did that. I am so upset with myself! He went ALL THE WAY to PPCD today, and it wasn't until he got there that they discovered he was on the wrong bus. They put him back on and sent him to PALS. He was almost 30 minutes late. Sigh...

Way to go, Anna!

Anna was the Outstanding Student of the Month for February!

My Morning

I spent a lot of time outside yesterday, and my allergies are really bad, so I woke up this morning with swollen eyes, and a huge headache. I fell back asleep after Danny left and woke up again at 7:45. Tommy's bus comes at 8:05 so I had plenty of time to get him ready. I picked him out an outfit and ran to the kitchen to put the cinnamon rolls in the oven. We always have cinnamon rolls on Tuesdays because I normally teach, but I'm not today because of TAKS testing. As soon as Tommy got his pants on, I heard the bus pull up. It was only 7:50! The bus was 15 min. early! I grabbed Tommy's shoes, and Anna helped me with his backpack and jacket and we got Tommy out the door. I honestly didn't pay much attention to the bus number or the driver, but I should have because at 8:05 (right on time) Tommy's PALS bus showed up. I had put Tommy on the wrong bus!!! For some wierd reason his PPCD bus came by today, but they weren't supposed to! I told the PALS bus driver, then I ran to the house to make the calls. I first called the bus barn, but I was directed to the voicemail! I then called McGowen Elementary (his PPCD school) to see if he had arrived, but once again, I got the voicemail. By that time I was angry. First at myself for not paying more attention to the bus route number, and then at the stupid school and bus barn for not picking up the phone! I quickly got Anna and Eddie dressed and ready, just in case I had to pick up Tommy and take him to the correct school, then I tried the bus barn one more time. This time they answered and they told me that the PALS bus driver contacted them, and they found Tommy in route to McGowen, but had the PPCD bus driver make a detour to Glen Oaks Elementary where he was supposed to be. I found out that I was talking to the bus supervisor and he was really nice and helpful. He seemed upset that the wrong bus came to my house, but I was impressed that they were able to work things out and get him to school on time.

Tommy came home safely, and on the correct bus. He didn't really know that there was a mix-up. The bus driver was a little upset with me, though, and told me to double check the numbers before I put Tommy on the bus. Believe me, I will.

Life has been hectic and stressful lately, so I decided to take the time to list a few things that I am thankful for. Hopefully, that will raise my spirits.

1. My job. I only teach one day a week, but I make good money, and I keep up my skills just in case I have to do it full time.

2. Danny's parents. They watch my kids while I teach. For free. I've tried to pay them, but they refuse!

3. Living close to everything. I am without a car today, but it's no problem because I'm within walking distance of almost any place that I need, especially Anna's school.

4. Beautiful weather.

5. Drugs. More specifically, allergy medications, decongestants, and nasal sprays.

6. Tommy's school(s) and the fact that our next ARD isn't until the middle of April! He might just finish out the year!

7. My iPod.

8. Craigslist. I don't think I go a day without looking for something on there!

9. Eddie sleeping through the night TWO nights in a row! Since he came down with Strep, he's been waking up in the middle of the night. Poor baby!

10. Goodwill. I love the fact that I can fill up bags and boxes full of stuff that I don't want, and they'll take it!

What are you thankful for?

The full story

Thank you for all of your comments about that "lovely" little craft that I posted! I found it in Tommy's backpack, very badly wrapped (obviously by Tommy), with a note that said "for you". I asked Tommy about it and he swore that he didn't make it, and judging by the Made in China tag on the back, I'm assuming that it came from some cheap dollar store somewhere. This is not the first gift like this that I have recieved from "Tommy". At Christmas, I got this horrible fish candle holder! His teacher is very interesting, to say the least!

Do you like this?

Okay, I need your opinion. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this gift I recieved. Don't worry, no feelings will be hurt, I would just like to know if this is your type of thing or not. I'm looking forward to what you have to say, and please be 100% honest about your answer!

Giveaway!!

I know you all like free stuff, so hop on over here, and win a free photo session! Don't be shy! Leave a comment and you could be a winner!