Weekend Update.

I guess you can see school started again.. my blog posts are slowing down. I am going to try my best to keep up this year.

On Saturday morning, we were up bright and early for Scholar's Bowl 2011. This competition was over Language Arts. Emma was Team Captain, which she loves to do. And here is Emma with her team - they won first place for 1st grade county wide!

Emma holding the trophy! Yey, Emma!

Wouldnt you know that she answered the questions on fairy tales? Prince Charming, # of Dwarfs, what happens at the end - she knew it all.

Because she is stressed out easily she did not sleep much on Friday night. On top of that, she has a sore throat and was seriously cranky and crying the rest of the day. I am afraid that there is a bug trying to come into the house.

I went and bought my new furniture for my new room last week. I have to say that I love it! The Sheetrock people will be here on Monday (tomorrow) and they should be done on Wednesday. Then, all we like is flooring to be put down (which is going to be on Friday). I am so excited about my new space. The kids automatically asked where the TV is going - no T.V. area - and so they were a little sad about that. This room is a reading/talking/game room for us to have more space. Maybe I will do a picture post when it is all finished.

My host teacher gave me full rights to teach 2nd grade Science. I have never taught science before, so I have been researching this morning about what lessons to do. :/

Can I have some snow, please :) Maybe Wednesday night, after my sheet rock is up?

I think I will talk about.... snow?

Because I want it to snow, I just know that it won't. I am so tired this week. I guess the sleeplessness of the weekend has caught up with me. So I would love to stay in bed until 8 a.m.

Emma has been fussy today. Tripp is ok. So are all the big kids. Dave got a good doctors report today. He starts Physical Therapy. He can go back to work in about four weeks.

We start our adoption counseling on Thursday. We are going to go over anything we may or may not need to discuss. Off the top of my head, I couldn't think of anything to list that needs to be discussed or that we need help with.

So, week three of student teaching.I have learned so much! I may start a student teaching blog just to keep up with those little moments that I need to remember.

Ah,lets see... the wall in the kitchen came down today. I have to find some flooring. Also, I picked out my new furniture. I am going to order it tomorrow. The sheetrock guy will be here on Friday! We are making progress.

Homework?

Yesterday, Dave and I took Emma and Tripp to a birthday party for Emma's school friend. There were lots of kids there from the class. As I was talking to one of the mother's she asked me , "Did the kids read the same Reading story for two weeks?"

Um, I don't know.

I felt like the goofiest person ever. I had no idea.

I don't check Emma's homework or help her with it. Emma is so organized that she does her homework during after school or on Friday night/Saturday morning. She sits in her room on her bed and does it by herself.

And I don't check it. I felt like a heel telling her that I had no idea.

So when we get home, all the big kids were being quiet. They were all doing homework. And at 9 pm. they were still doing homework. They were banking on another snow day. And we were just two hours late.

This is the first time EVER that Eli has had homework. Michelle does it by herself and Annie is a procrastinator - she will figure out if an undone assignment will fail her or not.

So my lesson is this: make sure the kids do their homework. Even Emma - that way I look involved :)

Dress Shopping.

Wow! I guess you can tell I am bored. I haven't posted this much since I don't know when. I wrote quite a bit last year but I did not post it. Sometimes it is nice just to document what is going on....

Today, we went Prom Dress/8th Grade Dress Shopping.

Here are some fun pictures from the day.

Hot Shoes.

Matching Dresses.

A Prom Queen in the making.

No choices were made. We had a good time, had a good lunch and lots of laughs.

A Long Day.

More snow came along last night - Why I am not suprised?
It is only January 21. We have about 2 and 1/2 more months of winter. I guess the kids will be in school through June.

Anyways, today was Dave's surgery day. This day was a long time coming. He has had shoulder issues since sometime in 2001. Yeah, 10 TEN years. So, finally, he was pursuaded (or nagged) into finally getting the problem dealt with.

We drove in the ice at five thirty this morning. They took him back about six thirty. He got out around 11:30 a.m. I am not even sure.

So, he is in the bed, resting. We are tired and I am feeling a little cranky.

I can't wait until our new room is finished. It seems that the computer is the only place in the house for me to sit. The kids take the living room. Dave is in the bed. I am ready to have the floor finished, the sheetrock hung, and buy my furniture.

Tomorrow, we may go prom dress shopping. That is exciting. But it all depends on the weather.

Changes.

Boy. You never know what is about to happen. I guess that is the most exciting part of life.

Yesterday, Dave and I AND THE GIRLS signed Intent to Adopt papers.
We are headed that way. It was a joyous occasion, and an intense occasion, all at the same time.

It is funny because we have had the girls nine months. And watching them change and grow has caused us to change and grow. When we were approached with proceeding toward adoption a few weeks ago, I worried for them. Are they ready? Is it too soon?

Failed adoption is never an option for me.

So, we are taking full advantage of the system. We are going to begin pre-adoption counseling. We are going to see if it is possible to have any more integration into the family.

While I didn't believe that it would make a difference in my feelings, it does. That shocks me. I feel more attached, if possible. I feel like I can advocate for them more, be more aggressive for their needs and the needs of our family. I look forward to the permanency. While I felt like it was permanent anyways, I guess that a piece of paper is really needed. So we are gonna do it.

Student Teaching.

Finally, after weeks of snow, and being at home with the kids for five + weeks, we are back to school today.

Today, I also start student teaching. I am super excited because I am in the same county as my children. We also are an hour late today. And there is supposed to be more snow on Thursday.

While I am glad that I am finally at the end, I am glad to countdown to graduation. Fourteen weeks left.

I may find a time clock clicker thingie and put it on here.

Woot!

Our Respite Care.

Dave and I are running away.

It all started yesterday... well, let me back up. Probably earlier in the week. Anyways, we were talking, I was mostly talking - and I told him, let's run off. And so I called my mother in law, who has been snowed in two doors down. And I asked her if she would take the kids for the night so we could watch TV by ourselves. So, she said sure. Well, none of the weekly nights worked out.

Last night, sensing my time was running short, I asked if Saturday or Sunday would be good. And she said yes, but make a choice. So, I got online, did my Priceline thing, and got my (our?)favorite hotel for $50! So then, I called to confirm with MIL, and Dave said, "What about two nights?" So, MIL says, "Sure" after securing Monday morning childcare with my Father in Law.

Whew! So, long story, I (we) ended up with two nights.
In Nashville.
Alone.
With the big TV.

Oh, the big TV.

Here is the story on that.... In December, Dave and I went on a night getaway to watch my beloved Colts play. We Pricelined it and got this Fabulous hotel in Nashville for the $50! I had always wanted to stay at this particular hotel (my former travel agent self likes to stay at different places that look cool). When we get to the hotel, they gave us two double beds.... so when we went to park, I went back in and I played a game. I found A LADY at the counter working and I told her, "I need some help. See, we got a room with two double beds... and well, we are kinda on a getaway from the kids. We have five. Do you think you have anything with a King bed?" So the lady, feeling my pain (and seeing my sad face) said, "We have a hospitality suite. Would that be OK?" And then, I said, "Sure! Whatever that is - that will be great!"

I just wanted to be able to stick my cold feet on Dave's legs at night :)

Anyways, the room rocked! Big screen TV, Dining area, Couch, Chairs, Balcony....

So, today we are off to the big hotel that I (we) love. Woot!

Snow? No!

Ugh... Here we are. Thursday.
Counting the week before Christmas Break, I have been at home with the kids for FIVE WEEKS. Five Kids - Five Weeks.
That is enough.

Anyways, it seems that every morning, when I get up, there is a new dusting of snow covering the ground. Where the snow melts on the roads during the daytime, it is replaced overnight.

It can go away now.

I know that the kids are sick of being in the house. Everyone is getting a little testy. The store has been closed also. Dave just runs in and out.

On to other news - the room is slowwwwly coming together. Now, we have some electrical done. We have some insulation in. I am shopping. I got most light fixtures that I need. Do you know how hard it is to match up bronze-aged bronze-golden bronze with alabaster/amber/scavo glass? I seriously stand in Lowes, checkin' it all out. Now, I have opted to go to the Internet.

And I started furniture shopping.

Dave and I snuck off to eat last night. While at the restaurant, I laid out a menu and used sugar packs to place where windows, doors, and furniture would go. I ripped off corners of napkins and made them my corner tables. Crazy?

So that is the Thursday-stuck-in-the-house update. Now, off to see how much more soup/stew/broth I can make.

Emma's 1st Grade Play.

A couple of months ago, 1st Grade auditioned for parts for their annual Christmas play.

Emma came home super excited - she wanted to be Dorothy. She spent a couple of days watching Youtube videos of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. So excited, she went to school on the day of auditions - she knew that she could nail it!

Well, she was good (I always think so). But she did not get the part of Dorothy.

She was cast as the Bad Witch - named

"The Grouchy Grumble" .

She spent about 10 minutes being sad, then about five weeks practicing her outrageous cackle.

There could not have been a more perfect part for our child.

While this play was supposed to be the week before Christmas, it turned into a January special because of the snow.

Here is Emma, with her sweet friend, getting ready to do performance #1.

Later that night, all families were invited to watch performance #2.
Here is Emma with her telescope (The Grouchy Grumble only has one eye!)

Emma had no trouble speaking in front of a gym full of people.

Here she is, confronting Dorothy.


Dorothy doused her with a bucket of "water" that was actual blue paper shreds.
At that point, she yelled, "I am Melting! I am melting!"

See her wicked grin? That means her part was a success!

After this, the kids drug her off the stage. It was hilarious.

How fortunate we are to have such a close family. Granddad came in during the day for performance #1 because he had to work in the evening. And Grandma was there for the evening.

How I love this picture of Emma and Pa. I will treasure this always.

Conversations.

Overheard conversation between Emma and Tripp while they were playing Rabids on the Wii....

Emma: Try your best. Believe in yourself. Put your mind into it. You can do anything you put your mind to.

Tripp: I can't do it like you. You put your mind to everything.

Tripp still loses. Emma wins.

The next game starts -

Tripp: I am putting my mind to this game.
Emma: Believe in your heart. Believe.

Backtracking.

This is a sweet picture I took on Christmas Eve.

I love it so much, I just felt like I had to share.

Everyone looks so happy- no fake smiles -

anticipating what Christmas Morning will bring.

Shortly after the sweet picture was taken, the little kids went to bed. Eli, Annie and Michelle were hanging out in the living room. I went into the bedroom to finish wrapping a couple of gifts.

So, I was carrying a few empty wrapping paper rolls to the kitchen -

who could have known what would happen.....

Michelle attacked Eli.

She whipped him.

He cried like a girl.

Then, she used her strength and unleashed on Annie and Eli at the same time.

Annie cried like a little boy.



When Eli crawled back on the couch for safety, and Annie was secure hiding in the corner, Dave decided it was a fine time to join in.

And the Ultimate Wrapping Paper Warrior was born.

*** Events in this story may or may not be true. I ran.

What I do know is that four big people in my house battled on Christmas Eve.

It was awesomely funny.

Dependence.

Once upon a time, there was a married lady with five children.

One day, the lady decided that it would be a good idea to get a head start on vacation and travel into these mountains (shown below) while her husband was joyously observing a UT Bowl Game in Nashville on December 30.

Alas, it was not a good idea.

For up on the mountains, there was snow.

Even though the weather was checked, and the police were called, and the lady was reassured that there would be no problems going up the mountains.... there were many problems.

Because of a large amount of traffic, the lady did not get up on the mountain until after dark. (problem one)

Then, up on top of the mountain, there was a long and bumpy driveway that was hidden by a guardrail that led to the cabin that they lady was supposed to be at. On the driveway (shown below) there was about three inches of snow and ice. (problem two).

The lady was not in a four wheel drive. (as shown below)

Only a front wheel drive (problem three).

It was dark. (problem four).

She is not a good driver in the best conditions. (problem five)
She slid back down the drive. (problem six)

She ended up sideways with tires spinning. in the dark. while her husband was joyously watching UT play football. four hours away. in the dark. with some of her kids. (that is a lot of problems).

At this time, all the lady could do is wish that her husband would drive up in his "white horse" and help her get out of the mess she was in.

But he was watching UT play football. And he was still joyous at this time.

So, she put on her big girl drawers, called a tow truck, the Gatlinburg police department and the 24 hour roadside assistance that is listed on the back of her insurance card.

And even though a nice man in a tow truck came and bailed her out,
all she wanted was to see this.


That is dependence.

What's In Store for 2011?

At the beginning of every year, I like to analyze where I am - my "season", if you will. I like to pick apart what the previous year was like (see my post from yesterday) and I like to try to figure out where I am going. The best thing about a new year is a fresh start. I believe that whatever I am doing at midnight when the new year rings in will set the tone for the rest of the year. It has never held true, of course, but I still hold on to that thought.

For example, Dave was not with me last year. I just knew we were doomed. Because my mother in law was the first person I hugged and kissed at the beginning of 2010, she was the one I was destined to spend most of my time with. Not complainin', mind ya. I love my MIL. But I just knew that because of his absence, I would be saying "Dave? Dave who?" I knew he was gone. But we ended being together alot. :) So, you see, my theory is never true.

Anyways, 2011 is an exciting year for me. I am anticipating one of the biggest in my life. In four months and five days, I will walk across the stage and get my college diploma. What is life gonna be like after college? I have NO IDEA. I also hope that 2011 will bring on a teaching job. Any type of teaching job. Even at Wilson :)

I also am looking toward:

• Eli turning 15 in February.
• Another anniversary with Dave in March
• first Easter and Easter baskets with the girls.
• A trip to Vegas with Super Dave
• GRADUATION
• Ugh. I turn 36.
• Tripp turns 6
• A Trip to the beach - for a whole week!
• Michelle turns 18.
• The kids will be in - 12th grade, 10th grade, 9th grade, 2nd grade and kindergarten (again. sorry, Tripp).
• Annie will be 15. Emma will be 8.
• That is a total of three potential teenage drivers - I projectile vomit just thinking about it.
• Dave will be 38. Ha!

See, that is alot in store for the year... and it is only day 2.

Goodbye 2010!

goodbye 2010! This past year was filled with lots of changes, hard work, drama, self exploration... here is a quick rundown of things that stick out in my mind.


2010...
I went to school and worked full time.... celebrated another year of marriage... watched Eli grow past six feet tall... watched Dave work long and hard at the store... was completely shocked, listened and prayed when we found out that some of our closest friends were abusing their children... gained two beautiful girls as my daughters... worked with the girls as they struggled (and still do) to heal from the abuse they endured... completed 47 hours of college credit.... filled out my intent to graduate... took four praxis tests... watched my youngest baby start kindergarten and my oldest son start high school... watch two beautiful girls grow daily and learn to laugh and love... joyfully watch my extended family open their homes and hearts to my girls... learn what an extended support system really is....

I guess I could go on and on. While 2010 was eye opening, difficult and shocking at times, my family was blessed. We learned to have family meetings, depend on each other, take votes, and be open to all sorts of situations - from my school, to the store, to my work, change in church... So, I guess I can say that 2010 was a year of growth.

I am ready for 2011. It is gonna be exciting!