School is winding down and there are 3 more student days- can we all yell a big 'ole HOORAY! This year went by so quickly- I don't know if that is a testament to it being a fairly good overall or the fact that as we grow older time seems to fly by- I mean we are 1/2 way through 2011 already!! The final teacher day is next Thurs. hopefully I'll blink and it'll be here! But then the summer needs to go S...L...O...W!!!!
The girls and I are flying to Georgia around the 22nd to visit my SIL Suz- this trip should be SO MUCH FUN! I cannot wait! Suz text me the other day and asked if maybe we could come earlier- I'll have to see if we can swing it. Since the girls are 23 & 20 we don't HAVE to travel together and could go in shifts.
This summer should be fairly busy- lots I want to accomplish around the house- hopefully I can be strict enough with myself and get it all done!
But for now it's back to work... gotta get my end of the year reports completed!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
this & that
Sorry it has been so long since I posted.....
Have had a lot of personal stuff going on... not all good unfortunately. It is very frustrating.
At school we are down to 19 student days remaining (YAHOO!) We teachers finish up on Thurs. June 16th- not that I am counting or anything (only one month to go...)
Cheergirlie came home last Wed. night so I have all of my chicks at home for the time being.
This summer is going to be a busy one... We are looking into getting new flooring- long overdue, and I want to repaint a couple of rooms. I was able to finally get my flowers/veggie garden planted outside and we had everything mulched last Sat.
This past weekend was QB1's prom- he looked very dapper and he and his new gf looked adorable!
They are really cute together :)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
When did my hands become OLD…?
Sitting here trying to think about what I want to write about…. Looking down @ the keyboard and all I can think is “wow… my hands look OLD?”
When did my hands become OLD…?
I definitely would not be able to be on one of those commercials where they put a ridiculously young looking mother & her daughter and you have figure out which is which but can’t because she uses a certain dish washing liquid.
Now that I am in my (gasp) 50’s things have begun to shift and sag a bit more than before… more and more often when I look in the mirror I get a brief glimpse of someone who looks like my grandmother.
And when exactly did my freckles join forces and become the beginnings of age spots??? WTF???
*Sigh*
I was looking @ the new Oprah magazine last night and they had an article about things you can do as you get older to look younger… they did a side by side photo layout and evidently retouched one of the photos to show what the models face would look like dependent upon what she did… from creams, to acid peels to face lifts… it was kind of eerie- and expensive to boot…
Normally in the summertime I spend a good portion of my time out in our yard by our pool… but for the first time I am rethinking how much sun exposure I really want to get this summer… Don’t get me wrong- I love being tan (well as tan as a redhead can get) but then come winter you see it more and more on my face…
My oldest “the engaged one” gets jealous b/c now that I am older I actually do tan better- but I just attribute it to having “old skin”.
I moisturize, exfoliate etc… but I think I am finally @ the point of no return…
I have been pretty careful about sun exposure the past 25 yrs, so I don’t think I ACTUALLY look my age right now, but pretty soon I WILL…
It sucks that wrinkles and a little gray look good on men. Personally I think hubby looks hotter than ever… but me?
Not so much… ;)
Monday, April 4, 2011
my guy is now a GUY
So QB1 just told me this afternoon who his date for the prom will be… after my questions and cajoling. I mean why is this such a big secret???
Sometimes I REALLY don’t understand boys… about two weeks ago he was supposed to go with a young lady from our high school. Then they decided since they didn’t really know each other’s circle of friends… it would be awkward and to make it null & void- no hard feelings etc.
Then he was going to go with a good friend who just broke up with her longtime boyfriend, but… she will be participating in the district track meet and doesn’t know if she will even be able to go to prom.
So today he tells me he is taking a young lady from the local catholic high school who he has met on several occasions, and is a “friend of a friend”.
Unfortunately QB1’s sole stipulation for his prom date was that she be “good looking for pictures”.
His mother is “oh so proud” *sigh*
I get that his life is busy and that he really doesn’t have the time to maintain a relationship. I’m actually kind of glad he doesn’t have a girlfriend right now; he is more focused when he is single.
But at the same time my cute loving little guy…..(he's on the right- beside cheergirlie)
Is becoming such a GUY. *sigh* :)
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
sad
I've been really busy with work etc. lately - and now that my guys are home I actually have to MAKE dinner every night...
and now it is looking like the weather is not going to cooperate to do yard work this weekend...
I have found the past few years that yard work that used to take a couple of weekends now takes like a month and a half to get done. I hate all the prep crap you have to do in the spring, but realize it is a necessary evil...
I AM psyched that we are opening our pool next month.. it looks so ugly all covered up... that is the REAL sign of spring as far as I am concerned!
Now if Mother Nature will just warm things up a bit!!!
Ty decided to move out and move in with his aunt & uncle. (I think this is a front, and I think he is living with his mom again and just telling the school district that he is living @ his aunts)
He is 18 now so we are no longer his guardians... he can sign himself out of school and quit should he choose to...
I still worry about him... I see his grades in the toilet, and since they have been home he has been "sick" about 5-7 days in the past month.
We tried, but I am afraid it was simply too late when we got him. He doesn't really care about school or his grades etc. It is a way of thinking that I simply don't understand. This makes me sad- but again... we have no say.
So I will pray that he makes good choices and hope that he doesn't throw his life away by quitting school.
and now it is looking like the weather is not going to cooperate to do yard work this weekend...
I have found the past few years that yard work that used to take a couple of weekends now takes like a month and a half to get done. I hate all the prep crap you have to do in the spring, but realize it is a necessary evil...
I AM psyched that we are opening our pool next month.. it looks so ugly all covered up... that is the REAL sign of spring as far as I am concerned!
Now if Mother Nature will just warm things up a bit!!!
Ty decided to move out and move in with his aunt & uncle. (I think this is a front, and I think he is living with his mom again and just telling the school district that he is living @ his aunts)
He is 18 now so we are no longer his guardians... he can sign himself out of school and quit should he choose to...
I still worry about him... I see his grades in the toilet, and since they have been home he has been "sick" about 5-7 days in the past month.
We tried, but I am afraid it was simply too late when we got him. He doesn't really care about school or his grades etc. It is a way of thinking that I simply don't understand. This makes me sad- but again... we have no say.
So I will pray that he makes good choices and hope that he doesn't throw his life away by quitting school.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
a new venture
Woke up this morning very sore- my workouts with Paul have seemed tougher lately- he has upped some of the weights he has me lifting and boy oh boy do I feel it! So @ 5:30 I schlepped my old sore bod down and got into the hot tub to loosen up so I can function @ work today....
Did I mention it was pouring down rain....NICE...
What a way to begin the day- a cold hard rain seeping through the deck overhead onto me while I am in the tub....
Today I have to go out of the school building- on site to a work site @ our local special education agency, where one of my students works in a job study placement. It should prove to be interesting. This week is relatively easy and my work load is finally lightening up as I only have 6 more IEP conferences between now and the end of the school year. Some people might say..6?! ugh! but when you begin the school year with 50+ then 6 is nothing! :)
I am really excited about some co teaching lessons I am doing with another special ed. teacher beginning next week.
Many of the students I work with are eventually going to end up in workshops, or supported employment positions- meaning they may not actually be able to get a job within the competitive job market. They may get a nominal salary but not receive "regular" pay- many of these kids function just too low.
There is a group however who have the capabilities to secure a "regular" job and get paid minimum wage at a grocery store, fast food restaurant, retail store like Walmart stocking shelves etc.... These kids are the ones who are not of average intelligence, but do not physically appear disabled say for example-as a downs syndrome student may appear. Often these kids are just labeled as being "slow" by society.
It is this group that we are targeting. Sue (the other special ed. teacher) and I are going to begin a unit on job interviewing. We plan on hitting every aspect they will need to know- from what to wear, what to say (and not say!) all the way through to how to follow up after the interview. Most of these kids have NO CLUE what to do or say when applying for a job. Many of them have a difficult time filling out a job application on their own. When asked to tell you a strength they have they look @ you in confusion.
Most of these kids also don't really understand that the economy is really tight- and that jobs that were once perfect for them are being taken by other people who have been laid off & who will take any job to get a paycheck coming in. In our area it is tough all around- but in some ways it is really tough for teenagers ... many of the jobs that were previously predominately filled by teenagers are being taken by adults with families to support.
This whole unit is new and has never (to our knowledge) been done in our district before. Two years ago (when we were still able to order materials for school) I ordered a series of videos called "First Job Survival Skills- Surviving the First 90 Days". Part of the unit will include the students watching some of these videos as well as them doing "mock" interviews with various staff members as practice. We are planning on video taping their "final interview" and then letting them watch them afterwards to see what they are doing right/or wrong to help them.
I am really excited about this new opportunity and hope the kids will learn from it. Many of them have a good work ethic, but are overlooked by employers because they appear "slow" or "special". Everyone regardless of their mental capabilities should have the right to secure employment and lead productive lives. Hopefully this will help some of them to be able to do just that! :)
Did I mention it was pouring down rain....NICE...
What a way to begin the day- a cold hard rain seeping through the deck overhead onto me while I am in the tub....
Today I have to go out of the school building- on site to a work site @ our local special education agency, where one of my students works in a job study placement. It should prove to be interesting. This week is relatively easy and my work load is finally lightening up as I only have 6 more IEP conferences between now and the end of the school year. Some people might say..6?! ugh! but when you begin the school year with 50+ then 6 is nothing! :)
I am really excited about some co teaching lessons I am doing with another special ed. teacher beginning next week.
Many of the students I work with are eventually going to end up in workshops, or supported employment positions- meaning they may not actually be able to get a job within the competitive job market. They may get a nominal salary but not receive "regular" pay- many of these kids function just too low.
There is a group however who have the capabilities to secure a "regular" job and get paid minimum wage at a grocery store, fast food restaurant, retail store like Walmart stocking shelves etc.... These kids are the ones who are not of average intelligence, but do not physically appear disabled say for example-as a downs syndrome student may appear. Often these kids are just labeled as being "slow" by society.
It is this group that we are targeting. Sue (the other special ed. teacher) and I are going to begin a unit on job interviewing. We plan on hitting every aspect they will need to know- from what to wear, what to say (and not say!) all the way through to how to follow up after the interview. Most of these kids have NO CLUE what to do or say when applying for a job. Many of them have a difficult time filling out a job application on their own. When asked to tell you a strength they have they look @ you in confusion.
Most of these kids also don't really understand that the economy is really tight- and that jobs that were once perfect for them are being taken by other people who have been laid off & who will take any job to get a paycheck coming in. In our area it is tough all around- but in some ways it is really tough for teenagers ... many of the jobs that were previously predominately filled by teenagers are being taken by adults with families to support.
This whole unit is new and has never (to our knowledge) been done in our district before. Two years ago (when we were still able to order materials for school) I ordered a series of videos called "First Job Survival Skills- Surviving the First 90 Days". Part of the unit will include the students watching some of these videos as well as them doing "mock" interviews with various staff members as practice. We are planning on video taping their "final interview" and then letting them watch them afterwards to see what they are doing right/or wrong to help them.
I am really excited about this new opportunity and hope the kids will learn from it. Many of them have a good work ethic, but are overlooked by employers because they appear "slow" or "special". Everyone regardless of their mental capabilities should have the right to secure employment and lead productive lives. Hopefully this will help some of them to be able to do just that! :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
BIB BIG NEWS!
I actually have GREAT news! Hubby, QB1 & Ty have moved back home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am beyond happy!
QB1 actually asked to make the move back- I think he realized how hard this has been on the family/ (and me...) So they began @ our high school and had a great first week.
QB1's face book status has had different versions of how happy he is to be home. The only downsize is having to make dinner every night.... I forgot about that!
This past Thursday my SIL Suzanne flew up from Atlanta for the weekend & cheergirlie came home for her spring break!!!!
On Sat. we girls went wedding dress shopping!!!! The four of us went and the engaged one tried on wedding gowns, and cheergirlie aka the maid of honor tried on bridesmaids dresses.
I am happy to report that WE FOUND THE DRESS!!!!!!!!
We knew the minute she came out of the dressing room because she began crying and said "I think this is it"!!! Needless to say we all began crying (except cheergirlie who began jumping all around) :) The dress is absolutely gorgeous and incorporates everything the engaged one wanted.
If you would like to see the pics let me know- and give me your email and I will send them along in an email... this is a very high security situation so we are taking no chances that "the fiance" stumbles upon the pics by accident! ;)
I am beyond happy!
QB1 actually asked to make the move back- I think he realized how hard this has been on the family/ (and me...) So they began @ our high school and had a great first week.
QB1's face book status has had different versions of how happy he is to be home. The only downsize is having to make dinner every night.... I forgot about that!
This past Thursday my SIL Suzanne flew up from Atlanta for the weekend & cheergirlie came home for her spring break!!!!
On Sat. we girls went wedding dress shopping!!!! The four of us went and the engaged one tried on wedding gowns, and cheergirlie aka the maid of honor tried on bridesmaids dresses.
I am happy to report that WE FOUND THE DRESS!!!!!!!!
We knew the minute she came out of the dressing room because she began crying and said "I think this is it"!!! Needless to say we all began crying (except cheergirlie who began jumping all around) :) The dress is absolutely gorgeous and incorporates everything the engaged one wanted.
If you would like to see the pics let me know- and give me your email and I will send them along in an email... this is a very high security situation so we are taking no chances that "the fiance" stumbles upon the pics by accident! ;)
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