Pumpkin Patch

Saturday, I tagged along with Desiree as her mom and sister took Aubrey (Des' niece) to the pumpkin patch as the cutest pumpkin you've ever seen! She loved her hat and shoes and picking up pumpkins.

Friday night trip to Disney

Fall weather.

Great Friends.

Fall and Halloween Decorations.

Gazillions of People.

Can't beat Friday nights at Disneyland!

Sorry David you never made it into a picture!

Color Me Mine Results

Robyn and I had pretty good success with our Color Me Mine birthday art projects. My dogbone bowl is "cute" and her bowl is freakin' amazing! The woman at the store told me that she'd "pay for that at any store." Robyn... you should open a paint supply/art gallary/coffee shop soon :)

Fat Pictures

Robyn's wedding was a beautiful day; however, these are the pictures that sent me on my weight loss journey. Last night at WW, several of the women asked if I had a "before" picture and these immediately came to mind. I need to print it and carry it around with me when I decide that journaling isn't important and the chettos in my prize drawer are staring at me.

Wordless Wednesday

Great Birthday

26.

In all reality, this is a small number. All of my friends have bigger numbers and most of the time, I feel like I'm older than the number says... but yesterday was a great day of celebration.
I spent the morning grading persuasive essays with my fellow Arlington teachers, had a great lunch where we talked about the inner workings of books (only with English teachers), and got to be home by 1:45.

Walking into my house, I was greeted by Dave and Reese with a tray of strawberry cupcakes (my favorite). Dave paid attention to my facebook plea for the pink peacoat from Target and it awaited me at home too :) Dave had to go to class, so...

At 3:30, Tawni came over and we went to Disneyland! The fact that you get a $72 gift card on your birthday amazes me and I wasn't going to pass it up. Although I didn't spend it yet, I hopefully will find a cool sweatshirt (like Robyn's) to purchase. Robyn met us at California Adventure when she got off work and we enjoyed a sour dough breadbowl with soup (again, my favorite)! It was mightly cold in the breeze. The cute Halloween decorations always remind me of my birthday (can't have a late October birthday without having many fall/pumpkin themed birthday parties). My friends were pretty paticence with my desire to take pictures with all the decorations. This Candy Corn farm was, by far, my favorite part!

We stood in line at Space Mountain for an hour and twenty minutes so we could see the halloween themed special music and ghosts. It wasn't a lot different, but it was cool to see.

We ended our trip with a stop at the candy store and candy apples to share and eat on the tram. Tawni treated me to this cute pumpkin carmel apple. It was yummy--the chocolate was orange flavored--it tasted almost like a 50-50 bar.

On the tram on the way back to the car we took this cute picture. It isn't often that we come as "just" girls without husbands and babies. Robyn has never been with just girls :)

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special!

Master Bath Remodel, Part III

The rough stucco coat in on and drying...

The door is looking great, Dave added an outside light and outside outlet. Vents have been added to help with the heating/cooling issues we experienced last winter and summer. The steps are set and we have the "outside" done for now.

Dave taught himself how to complete all the rough plumbing and passed inspection from the city. This is all the hot/cold water pipes, drains, and drain exhaust (white cap) for our new double sinks. They even work :)

Inside the room, the rough electrical is installed and ready. Insulation has been put inside the exterior walls. The "wall" directly in front of this picture is blocking the master bedroom from the dirt and cold coming from the exposed floor.

My Dad is Funny

Posted on Facebook:

Jerry Bennett Happy Birthday babe. It has been a while since you appeared as a screaming little ball of flesh and fuzz.

Landscaping, Part II

The front lawn has been criss crossed with these ditches...
A brand new water main has replaced the old galvanized metal water main from the city (at the street) inside the house. Under the house, Dave branched the water main to come out the side of the house for the sprinkler valves created by Dad.

The preliminary sprinkler PVC pipes and sprinkler heads have been added and sand has covered the new water main.

Girls' Night Out

Our "girls' nights" have been transforming over the past few months. We've gone from cooking for each other every week to planning "outings." Fun activities, dinners out, etc.



The first week in October, Desiree, Robyn and I joined a few of Des' friends from school for sushi (new adventure for me). We then proceeded to Tyler mall to see a Love Happens. Although the movie brought tears to our eyes, it is alwasy great to spend an evening with the girls!

Love, love, love this new "stage" of girls night

Landscaping

This is the goal. But, before that could happen...

Dave and Dad have some major work to accomplish.
Strangely enough, there were two old sets of sprinklers in the front yard. Getting the old metal pipes was important to Dave, so here we go...
A rented "ditch witch" comes to visit our front yard for two days to dig lots of 18 inch ditches for the sprinklers. Sprinklers follow... we'll see what comes after that.

Total Excitement

Sammy loves riding the carousel at Disneyland and California Adventure. This picture is a few weeks old, but I just found it. He talked to the seal he rode up and down :)

Early Birthday

Grandparents are wonderful for multiple reasons. Today, I was able to thank Grandma T for the birthday card and check because it allowed Robyn and I go to to Color Me Mine and spend four hours painting. Celebrating my birthday early is always fun and I can't think of a better way to spend a day--talking with a great friend and being creative! I painted a food and water dog bone bowl for Reese. It was pink all over with teal and purple stripes and polka dots.
Robyn, of course, used her fastastic art skills to create a beautiful, fall candy bowl with multiple color leaves. It was beautiful every step of the way.

My completed bowl, complete with Reese's name and raised white dots. After I finished, I also created a snowflake and dogbone Christmas orament.

Four hours later, we finished out projects!

Thanks Grandma T and Robyn for an amazing early birthday celebration!

Missing

With tears running down her face, the teacher created awards for each of her class leaders. Reminiscing about the great year, smiling about the silly events and even funnier moments of intense stress turned laughter, and mourning over saying goodbye, she printed each student certificate. Without joy, she walked down the tile hallway into another classroom. Upon entering, she handed the certificates to another teacher and showed her where to sign her name.

"You're getting some great kids, my kids," the teacher said while trying to hold back the quivering chin and approaching tears, "they are stronger and better than I could have ever hoped for a year ago."

As she watched the other teacher sign her name to the awards certificate, the teacher felt utter sadness wash over her.

This sad story has been my reoccuring dream for the past three nights. I miss my yearbook kids. The specific kids--the ones who know me and how I operate, the ones who cared about me as much as I cared about them. They've moved on just like me; some of them are in eighth, ninth, and tenth grade.

One of those kid wrote me this beautiful poem last year and I treasure it in my heart. I've thought about sharing it with you (mom) before, but now I need to feel better about missing them there is no better time.

The Clock

by Madelynn Knust

The clock means so much more than just the time of day.

Each simple little part of it represents something special about you.

The face of the clock represents the smile you put on my face each day that I entered your class sixth period.

The numbers represent the countless times you make school worth attending.

The countless hours you devoted to my future.

The countless times I will remember what I learned

from you down the long road of life.

The long arm of the clock represents how I have felt your

arms reaching out to help me achieve my goals.

They represent the support that I have felt from you,

as if your arms have been wrapped around me with support.

The second hand as it sweeps on so quickly, represents how fast

I knew you were going to be a special person in my life.

It represents the speed in which I have been able to learn from your teachings,

and the too swift passing of the time I have had with you.

The alarm represents the eagerness at which I rose each morning

knowing that I would have the opportunity to learn from your knowledge.

Whenever you see a clock please remember that you have been a life changing influence in my life.

I know as time moves forward others will be blessed with your special qualities.

Remember how thankful I am for this time I have had with you... the time that has changed my life.

Top Ten Reasons teaching high school is better than teaching middle school

10. The amount of whining is cut in half. A lot of the annoyances of behavior has been eliminated by their hard working middle school teachers.

9. Coaches put pressure on players to have passing grades and it actually has a connection to the students.

8. Parents have less ability to damage their kids, cause them to be late to school, and make excuses for their behavior and lack of work.

7. They "get" my humor and actually think I'm funny (most of the time).

6. The ability to "focus" is significantly increased or they've learned to pretend really, really well.

5. People don't apologize anymore after I tell them what I teach.

4. The curriculum is a bit more interesting, but really exactly the same as seventh and eighth.

3. Personal responsibility of students is an expectation of all teachers on campus. Students are more willing to put each other to be responsible too.

2. The "getting it" learning process is faster and more intense.

1. There are three football games a week to watch!

The Wednesday Sisters

Attemping the impossible, I've been trying to read just a little before I go to bed each night. Originally, I wanted to dream about something other than school and sleep better because of it, but then it kept coming back to the fact that I really just like to read.

I picked up a low-key book at Costco that wasn't super exciting and didn't appear to have any of my addicting book qualities (British Lit themed, love stories, suspenseful, etc). I picked up The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton. It is a book of friendship, love of literature, and writing.

This week, I succeeded in reading before I went to bed. Although the goal was 30 minutes, I never read that little, but I was able to stop myself around an hour of reading. With time today, I finished it. It causes tears and laughter--a good overall book that makes me miss my friends; it also made me very greatful that we still are able to have "girl's night" regularly (4.5 years later it is still happening).

so long idea

I often think of things I should write about on my blog that would be funny and/or worth your time while I drive to work in the morning. )sually by the time I get there, I forget and the brilliant idea is gone. Sometimes they come to me in the shower... They to never make it. Now, I feel bad so I give you my lame 'but I thought of an interesting thing to say' excuse. Oh well...

maybe I will remember tomorrow and actually write it?!?

Another joy of teaching

BOOKS!! ON SALE!!!

My good friend and mentor Brenda sent this over to me today. Oh, the joy! Makes me feel better after my last post.

Year Five

These are the things that make me love teaching...

Teaching is challanging; every year, month, day, and period is different and requires constant modification and reflection. Dr. Miller (RUSD's superintendent) has set the goal that every teacher knows every student's name, need, and story--this goal is my daily goal and has been since the first day I stepped into a classroom. I was emotionally involved with many of my students at Central, felt their pains, and loved to watch them grow and mature.

Investing in my yearbook students made a lasting impact of my and I'd like to think on them. I love that I can walk onto the field at a freshman football game (Poly Bears vs. Arlington Lions) and talk to students I had two, three, four years ago. I love that I can still invest in these students with encouragment and praise.

There are also things I don't love about teaching...

Although different, teaching is also the same. Each year, there are student issues, paperwork to fill out, meetings to sit in, and parents to notify. There are also more requirements, more pressure, more tests, and less resources. There are irritating students who have parents who have created the monster. The worse part is working with teachers and administrators who hate kids (collecting a paycheck) but don't realize that they need to leave the profession.

This year has been difficult. The parts of teaching I love aren't on the forfront of my day-to-day activities. My ninth graders share less naturally and don't rely upon adults as much. I have no yearbook class to invest in; my SELA class would rather do anything other than make effort. I know this year may become a great year and I have great potential to have an impact, but I feel quite "bored" with teaching at the moment.

I couldn't see myself leaving the classroom right away for administration, but now, I feel like I'd do it tomorrow if I have the chance. Then again, isn't the five year mark suppose to be the one of indecision in teaching? Maybe I'm just in the year five funk.

Happy Birthday Tawni!

Wednesday night we celebrated Tawni's 27th birthday at The Melting Pot in Rancho. We had a blast playing around with our pokers, the different tastes, and remembering how long each type of meat had to cook. The resturant was a great place, very quiet and attentive. Rob planned the suprise party with great details! He managed to get all of us there, reservations made with menu choices ahead of time, and babysitters too! When you make reservations for a group, they want you to give all the orders too! I was able to order just a salad and pick off of Dave's plate :)

Tim and Casey, Rachel and Scott, Dave and I, Carla and Rob, and Melinda celebrated with LOTS of food and laughter! The four course meal was amazing; first course was chedder and spinach articoke cheese with dipping materials, followed by salads, third course presented raw meat, potstickers, and ravioli to cook two different ways. We ended with great desserts to dip in Turtle chocolate and S'mores!

I sat in the middle of our table and got to dip food in cheese, cook veggies and meat, and dip chocolate for my friends. This is the oil bubbling away!

Believe it or not, we went through seven plates of desserts for 9 of us!

Only in San Diego

Only in San Diego at a professional football game will you see this magic!

Chargers Time

Last Sunday, we spent a very hot afternoon in the sun watching the Chargers lose to the Ravens. Although it was a sad game, the defense decided not to play well, and the offensive line was hurt, it was great to be at the game! Being a Chargers fan in San Diego on gameday is entergizing.

We rode the trolley and got there early again to watch the players warm up down by the field. Our seats were in the "Family Section" ALL the way at the top of the seats by the giant score board. If you're going to sit that high, it is nice to have no drinking and cussing around you.

100th Post

I can't believe this is my 100th post on this blog!

I started blogging in July 2007 when I started my Weight Watchers journey so that I could reflect and encourage myself; doubting that anyone would care what I said, I did not share the website with anyone except the few people on the WW Message Boards. A few friends starting reading, then my mom... I felt like I should talk about things other than my weight so I didn't sound whiny or annoying. In January 2009, when I ran out of "free" space on freewebs, I moved over to blogger (which is much easier, by the way) and it has transformed into a diary of my life.

Thank you to all of you who read my whinning, complaining, and talking about nothing important. This year I hope to post more often and about more interesting things :)