More Sadness

Robin just called to tell me that Tad Register was stabbed Thursday night outside of Buffalo's in Warner Robbins and died. When I taught at Central Fellowship Tad's grandmother was our bookkeeper. Wonderful family. Then I taught Tad's brother Kyle, who has Down's Syndrome. That year my children learned more about real life and loving other than any group I've ever taught. Tad and Kyle's mother Rebecca is a precious woman. When I first got pregnant with Gabe the young doctor told me I should have an abortion, because I was too old (36). (That's when I started seeing Old Dr. Brown.) Well Rebecca was such an encouragement during my pregnancy.

Wonderful people and I am so sad that they are having to deal with this horrible tragedy.

After Christmas Blues!

Realized this morning as F and I were talking that the "Happy Holiday" season is behind me and the "Let's Get to Work and Change the World" season is approaching fast. I've got a ton of work to get posted for college this weekend. Also, need to write some lesson plans before school resumes. I need Matt to help me make a couple of power points. Then there is the matter of Gabe having a project due, that he hasn't looked at. Plus, I need to run by the funeral home and sign the book for Mr. Maddox.

As if all that wasn't enough, Nicole has a birthday on January 8th, so I need to get a birthday gift. This would be okay, if I had written down sizes and ideas and didn't need to talk to Drew again. This seems to slow me down!

Special Christmas Story

In the Monticello News there is the sweetest rememberence of Christmas past. Check it out, it will warm your heart.

http://www.themonticellonews.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=94&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=4455&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1096&hn=themonticellonews&he=.com

Mr. Maddox

Mr. Maddox died yesterday. I saw him at school on Friday. I wondered what did I say to him. Did he know that he had an important job and that we appreciated everything he did for us? Mr. Maddox never married, no children. Yet, his existance meant something to all of us! Mr. Maddox I hope you knew that we all cared.

It was FUN!

I could go into the catering business, but I would be VERY expensive! Last night was Dan's party and I didn't know that the little house could hold so many folks.

Dan, his Dad, and the boys were ready to start the party when they got in from Horsetown. Dan's parents got him a new pair of boots for his birthday. They are really nice.There was enough food! Can anyone ever accuse me of not having enough food! We had Artichoke and Spinach dip, Cowpokes, Hot bean dip, Fiesta Dip, Pepper Dip, Pimento Cheese sandwiches, hot ham and cheese sandwiches, and brownie trifle. Everyone seemed to enjoy all the food.
Russ and Rhonda dropped in!
This is a picture Freda took facing the dining room and kitchen.

Freda and Ricky were there!

Norris and Denitia drove over from Peachtree City. I loved you guys in Colorado, Pennsylvania and now here. (They probably could have never imagined Dan at 50 either!)



Steven Reese, Mr. Phillip, Russ, and Dewayne Brannan enjoyed visiting. (Tracie had gone to YEC)

Notice Stephen is sporting his FAVORITE team's t-shirt. Boomer Sooner!

Mom and Mrs. Martha had a nice visit.

No party would have been complete withour Dan and Martha Phariss. We so enjoyed them coming.

So there you go. That was Dan's 50th Birthday Party. We were blessed to have so many good friends show up.

Happy Birthday Cowboy!

Today, this man is 50 years old! Hard to believe. I can remember the first time I saw him and to me he looks the same. This man was born in Hawaii before it was even a state! He was born 2 months premature at a Navy base hospital. He can still ski black diamonds, ride bucking horses, and outwork his sons. As a matter of fact he got up this morning and wanted to go ride...just for a bit.

Tonight we are having a birthday open house and boy do I hope people show up! I'll be hurt someone doesn't show up to eat all the food. Plus, I don't want to clean the house for nothing. So everybody drop by between 7:00 and whenever. The menu is as follows:

Pepper Dip

Cowpokes

Layered Mexican Dip

Hot Bean Dip

fiesta salsa dip

artichoke and spinach dip

Party Ham and Cheese sandwiches

Pimento cheese sandwiches

grape salad

pecan trifle

strawberry trifle

It is still to be determined if I will bake a cake or not, depends on my scheduling.

Pioneer Woman Mystery Solved!

Yesterday, I read that pioneer woman had an article in the January issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, so I bought it. I knew she was from Oklahoma. I'd figured that out when the cousin had on the OU hoodie. But who had that much land and cattle, enough to raise wild mustangs too? Well her last name is on the article and the pieces fell together. Drummond. Well there is only one Drummond Land and Cattle Company, and they are located outside Tulsa near Pawhuska. The NCHA gives out a youth award every year called, "The Todd Drummond Award". Rae isn't living like most people that farm and ranch....(barely making it), but she is great reading and her pictures are wonderful. Anyway mystery solved.

PS. Further investigations have uncovered... it does not hurt that your father-in-law is very well diversified and is part owner in a mid-size oil company! Isn't the internet grand once you know what you are looking for.

PSS Monkey, I think the best place to be is with those who love you. Even without money! Since we are all in education we won't be pocketing that million anytime soon. This time I really looked at my check and $1,300 per month goes out to taxes and insurance!

Christmas at the Hestad's

Merry Christmas from the Hestad's, celebrating holidays together now for 24 years! Here are a few of my favorite things.

The star is a recent find. I like the fact that it has the folksy art feel to it. However, it had days this year when it wanted to be a falling star. Dan finally had to wire it.
This is the first ornament Dan ever bought me. It is dated 1983 and has a boy and girl ice skating on it. That year it snowed and iced in Oklahoma for Christmas. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and then he left to go be with his parents in Minnesota. When I came home from work the ornament was on my porch. When Dan came back he proposed.
We got this the next year, I was pregnant with Drew. These are two pillows I have added over the years. The one on the left if a letter Gabe wrote to Santa in first grade. The one on the right is a dirty Santa gift. (Back when Dirty Santa was played right!)
This is the snowman table. (Notice the "It's A Wonderful Life" sign in the background.) Most of these came from my students through the years.When Drew was little, Glenabel Hayes (Denitia's mom) made this for us. Drew's used it, Matt has enjoyed and Gabe wanted it out again this year.

The card holder was also from the Colorado days and then we have some Santas.This year I added a very cool 1910 magazine cover to the decorations. I've carried it around with me since Pennsylvannia.

The fondue party has grown as the family has grown. (If you wonder where I spend the majority of my Christmas money it is on this night!) Drew is pouring Sparking Peach Cider!

We ended up moving two of the boys to the mini-island. The buffet had to be cleared of pictures and we had to use it for a real buffet. This picture refuses to be cut, so this was where Matt and Gabe ended up, don't ask me why they have no heads!

No matter how tired I get from all the festivities, I try to remember that this is what has made my life wonderful.

Merry Christmas

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! We are plugging away out here at our house. Lot to do before the big fondue party tonight. I will post pictures of all the festivities soon.

Check this out!

I checked in to see what was happening on Who Could Ask For Anything More's blog and noticed she is part of a Christmas tour of homes. There are tons of them. Check out this web site and just scroll down past her Christmas pictures.

http://www.boomama.net/

KE this will give you something to do in the wee hours instead of infomercials :) ( I watch those things too)

December 20th

Oh, the things left to do before the in-laws arrive. There are gifts to get! Gifts to wrap! Food to purchase! And decisions on what is the best plan for a 50th B-day party for Dan. Then in a moment of obsurd stupidity, I want to go work. I want to get ahead, but there is no time for that stuff. I've got to get two weeks of homework for the college class done and posted, so that I won't feel stressed and that I can start working on the paper due the end of January.

Dan is taking the boys on a trip to Augusta overnight. They are going to work 3 year olds and give me time to get things together around here. Then on Saturday he will go buy the gifts for Matt.

This exit will provide me time to get back on my diet after a wild time yesterday of peanut butter fudge and such!

Let the fun begin!

(SB this year was a snowman ornament!)

Questions

Why does Pioneer Woman say that she channels Sylvia Plath? Didn't she kill herself at age 31? Is she wanting to channel the poetic side?

Why didn't Lousia May Alcott write more books? I would have read them all.

Why doesn't someone gift me a million dollars? I would be kind, I would use it for good. (Okay after the ranch and cattle were bought, and the camera. Then I could channel Pioneer Woman!)

Why do we engage in mindless activities? On that day when I get to heaven and God says, "Lennye, you wasted 40 years of your life in mindless activities." What will I say?

Why don't more people read Chris Van Allsburg's book "The Wretched Stone" and get it?

What makes a good Christmas gift? Is it the thought? The time? or the gift?

Why do we make bad decisions when faced with a choice? For instance, me and F at the Christmas party today - bad choices! F ended up with a pair of slippers. I was laughing when she opened it and said, "I bet they are houseshoes." They were! Then I open up an apple dipper (if any of you are interested speak up). Now I do fondue every Christmas, I have several pots going, but an apple shaped pot? I don't know? It was one of those days you wanted to know who brought these gifts. F and I both wanted a coffee pot!

Finally, what possesses a 47 year old woman to go back to school for an advanced degree?

Good Time

Today we went to a Christmas lunch with our old Sunday School class. I love these people. These are my favorite people in the church. We all came to Macedonia about the same time. Others have come and gone from the group, but those that remain truly enjoy each other. We had my favorite layered salad and pork loin (that's what I ate). I took Gooey Butter Cake, but refrained from that. I did bring me back a ginger snap cookie to eat with my coffee.

The people who hosted the party, Charley and Brenda, have a beautiful house on High Falls Lake. There is a calming presence in the house and it is wonderful to be there. I swear it is close to being with family.

Gabe

Gabe, how four letters can come together and mean so much!

I would like to address the impact that some readers have had in his life. First, there was KE, he loved Mrs. E. He loves Mrs. Freda (by the way he made 103 on the math midterm). Then there was monkey, I have one picture framed and two more on the fridge to be framed. I really thought this one would take! He would develop his artistic side and always have a creative outlet. But no, it was SBB who seems to have imprinted him. Last night he has found a way to play chess online. He had four games going (won a couple), decides in his free time he wants to learn languages (this interest him) and soon is spouting German phrases. Matt is trying to study, I think he is cussing us, and it is his father that gets it. He later announces that he wants to learn not one language, but four, French, Germany, Spanish, and Italian. At that moment I knew he will need a lot of special teachers in his future. Those who can see look past the utter foolishness and see that perhaps there is genius hidden in there.

PS. He has a wonderful ELA teacher and science teacher this year. Obviously the math teacher has it going on too!

Oh My!

Now if you know me I tend to have a very high tolerance for pain, however, the foot thing was unbelievably painful. They had to stop and give me another numbing shot during the procedure. Now the numbing medicine is wearing off.....So I've started taking the Darvaset!

It might be as long as 6 weeks before they know if this worked. There were moments today when he could of just cut the foot off.

Is Dan getting old? This is another question that must be answered today. I had a $200 check written on my account. I didn't write it. I asked Dan if he did. No, he doesn't know anything about it. Well he went in the bank, got the counter check, and filled it out! I hurt to bad to gripe at him.

Lesson Learned

Well, Chinese and weight ins do not go together. Gained .4 today. I've learned my lesson! Then I've tried to get on my etools for a couple of days to no avail. I can't find the information on the etools stuff. (Don't laugh) I thought it lasted for 17 weeks, perhaps it was only 3 months. I must get the etools going again. This is imparative!!!!!!!!!

Early morning tomorrow. They want to take me for the blast at 8:00am. Details will follow on this one!

New Stuff!

This lovely rug is now in my living room, under the coffee table. I ordered it from overstock.com, it came in two days, free shipping, and was marked down to 25.99. I thought that was a steal! I only wish it had be bigger or came in a round or square one. This one is 3'3"x 5'2". I think it expresses my funky side.

Today we had WWIII while I was trying to get out the door for work. Gabe couldn't find his pants. IF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS HOUSE WOULD PLEASE PUT UP THEIR CLOTHES!!!!! Well it wasn't a good attitude to arrive at work with. I know I saw monkey, but I couldn't remember when. They need to know so much and it just isn't happening, these babies have got to mature a whole bunch over Christmas break.

Friday, I am going in for what is called an outpatient surgical procedure, even though there are no knives involved. They are putting a nerve block in my foot and then using the same technology that they use on kidney stones, blasting my heel. The nurse today said that in all they have done, they've only had one person that it didn't work on. So I am praying for some relief soon.

Now I am off to do another load of laundry. Then load the dishwasher. Then grade more papers. Report cards need to be done by Monday. I've also got to write a worksheet for tomorrow. Loads of fun here!

I ate Chinese tonight - if there is no weight loss we will know why.

Channeling

I must be channeling my inner self to Pioneer Woman! Did ya'll see that she has blogged about ---Homeschooling? What in the world. Well I can tell by her picture, that I have some age on her. I tell you guys, I was homeschooling, living a mile from the nearest neighbor, 20 miles to the nearest town, and being a Cowboy's wife. My children were out enjoying the wide open spaces before she even knew she was going to live this kind of life. Why wasn't I successful at it and make money with a blog spot that tells people what I did each day? This too is a mystery at the moment.

Hey, I've got pictures of me grinding an elk into hamburger meat. Top that Pioneer Woman.

What in the World!

Okay, it isn't fair to practice for the church Christmas Cantata for weeks and then catch a nasty cold, flu type symptom illness two days before the big performance. After a long practice this morning, I can't talk. I'd call F. to complain, but it is too much of an effort to talk! I'm on DayQuil, Hot Toddies, and perhaps Nyquil.

Gabe went to the youth Christmas party (paint gun war), so this has allowed Matt and me to get quality school work done. I'd like to actually get ahead before the in-laws come for Christmas. You know Dan's 50th B-day is in that time frame, so I've got a lot to do this month!

I took off Monday, because I'm going back to the foot doctor. I suppose he will set up the time for the shock wave treatment. (Not to be confused with the electrode therapy used for mental patients.) I hope this can be done with little time off my foot.

I would also like to take this time to say what a great day it is to teach school. Groceries and Gas are now so high that it is hard to pay the bills and feed your family on the salary you bring home. It is just sad, that 7+ years of college and this is the way it is. I noticed today that Books-A-Million had job openings, now how fun would that be. I applied once as an assistant librarian here and didn't get the job! I would love to work in a bookstore or be a disc jockey! Anything with no pressure.

Weight Loss Update

Well today was a good day. So far I've lost 24.6 pounds. I'm calling it 25 and F has lost 30. We shall continue the fight against fat. However, I was concerned this afternoon when Monkey and F started talking about I'd have to have the excess skin taken off if I lost a lot of weight. Have they looked at me! Of course this is a lot of weight!! Now I can look forward to surgery....

One Day

One day when my life slows down I want to:

1. sit down and put my feet up
2. read a book
3. cook a gourmet meal with know worries about cost or time
4. not worry that there are stacks of laundry that must be done
5. not worry that there are dishes that need to be loaded in the dishwasher
6. spend time not thinking about other peoples children and what they can't do and focus on mine and what they can do
7. sit in a hot tub drinking Margarettas
8. watch all the movies I've missed because I'm doing school work or worrying about other peoples children
9. write letters to people I like and tell them how they have influenced my life
10. spend a weeks vacation somewhere with no horses, cows, or extra children

PS Monkey continues to keep me sane as the madness in educational reform sweeps through the hallowed halls of academia!

RtI

Recently KE discussed homeschooling on her site and I thought this would be a good time to discuss RtI and my frustrations.

First, let me start by saying I'm pissed that students get to 5th grade and they read on a second grade level. I'm pissed that administration won't call out those teachers and say this is unacceptable. Those who came to me with a SST folder most of those were never written in after second grade (SBB and NS were the last to make comments).

Second, Reading effects everything you will ever do in life. I find that most fifth graders do not like to read. They are burnt out on AR and rarely meet their goals. This year with new math standards if you don't read you won't pass math. One little girl in my room can't read, but is the fastest student in fifth grade with math facts. This is thanks to her 2nd grade teacher SBB. However, she reads probably right where SBB left her.

Third, RtI is a wonderful idea. However, this should be what teachers do anyway and it is overwhelming to try to make up the difference in fifth grade. Also, it is impossible to be held responsible for the RtI of 102 students and the paperwork. I need help!

Which brings me to my next point. I would not have made it this week without Monkey. She stepped in typing, going to the computer lab so I could pull students, and trying hard to add calmness to the hall all week. THANK YOU!

Last, you are all under orders to tell me if I need medication!!!!!

PS. SBB, I rushed home to check out the tickets for GS, try $142 a piece for the low in ones. For $284 Big D could lipsync GS and I might be okay!!!