I am back.

So, I see that I have been gone for six months or so... I guess I have been busy. What a year! Let's Update! I switched to teaching first grade this past summer. So, I spent the summer working in a new classroom - painting, moving shelves, desks, and all of my teacher stuff. I also went to the pool ALOT with the kids. We spent a week in the mountains and went tubing down the river during a two month drought. We all made a note not to do that again. School started the first of August with Eli going into his 11th grade year, Emma into 3rd grade and Tripp into 1st. I love my job. Dave and I went to Jamaica ALONE for six whole days in October. It was gloriously fabulous. In Novmeber, we celebrated my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary. The party was huge and was a great success. We ate (wonderful catered food!), danced (to live music!) and sang. Their friends came from all over the US. It was a wonderful weekend. So here we are - December. Dave turned 39 last week. We have five days of school until Christmas break. Now... let's have some snow!

Updates.

Quiet. It is nice and quiet. All the kids were asleep by 7:45 tonight. I guess that means we ran them hard this weekend - Football, School, Pumpkin Patch, working at the store. Cleaning.

We did not have a good football game Friday night. In fact, it sucked. It was one of those games where nobody threw the ball, they handed it off and tried to run right through the middle of the players. I threatened to text the coaches and tell them to change the plays up, and that they might score. When something doesn't work, why keep doing the same thing over and over?

I guess I am getting confident after reading Football for Dummies. Nope. I am not even kidding.

Other than that, I am just counting down till snow days. I think that this year, my first year of teaching, has been harder than I thought. I feel so, so sorry for my mentor teacher. I text her and call her. I know she is sick of me. I am trying to take the problems of all of my students. I think about them. I know that I need to set emotional limits. But it is difficult - especially when you are a "fixer".

So, I love teaching. I love my students. I love my co-workers. My house is a disaster, I can't get ahead. But I am so happy with my job. I just need to get a grip and know when I leave the school (at 4, 5, 6 or 8 p.m.) that I should leave the kids and their issues there too. I will get it. I will.

Report cards come out this week. I have New Evaluation #3. Gymnastics. Referral for SPED. That is a whole book itself. Off to work I go. :)

Picture Update.

Since I don't post alot of pictures, I thought that I would try to show some highlights of the past couple of months.

Here is our new room. It is at a bad angle. I couldn't really see what I was uploading. But you get the most important part. Dave's feet as he quietly reads a newspaper. Alone.

Here is a picture of Eli, Emma and Tripper in the side yard from a couple of weeks ago.

Look how tall Eli is! 6'1 and still growing. Only 150 pounds. A beanpole. Emma at dance recital last weekend. I have some really good ones.

Emma and Mallie.

Emma was mad because her costume did not have any sparkles. She is a mini-Pam Sadler.

Mallie is going to be a big sister in November.

Another of the kids.

Emma's soccer team.

Check out her number. Both she and Tripp are #35.

Do you know why they chose that number?

For me. Because I am 35. Well, for another month or so.

Emma pointing as she kicks. I like this because it reminds me of Eli.

The girls again.

My anniversary flowers.

Our anniversary was March 22. He picked out Cala Lillies. I carried them when we got married.

My favorite flower bouquet he has ever sent me~!

All my favorite flowers - tulips, Gerber Daisies... Good Job!

Sorry... I am a thug.

Well, I can't tell you how many times I have tried to write a blog post.. I always have so many thoughts in my head. But, yet again... You know how it goes. It doesn't.

Today? Well, let's see... Dave has gone to the UT game in Knoxville. So it is just me and the five kids hangin' out, cleaning house, doing some homework. I wish I had a more exciting life, but I would surely die.

On Monday, for Labor Day, Dave and I snuck out of the house and went furniture shopping. You woulda thought I was in Heaven! We held hands, I pretended that I didn't have three teenagers and two Early Childhooders at home. I found a really cool sectional at Ashley. Here is a picture.

Then I found this super cool ottoman that matches. It is the same color as the sectional.

Did I tell you all how hard five kids are on a couch? They are tough.

Anyways, that was my Monday. Tuesday was a long day at school. Wednesday was followed by Tripp producing the Great Spaghetti Dilemma of 2010. (Nothing like dripping, stinky, stomach juiced noodles hanging from everything...) Oh, It was then and there I found out how much Dave actually loves me. He cleaned the noodles outta the van.

He is a gift from God.

After that, Emma started running a fever. That lasted from 2 a.m. on Wednesday till late Friday evening. So, here I am on Saturday, chillin' with my kiddos. Well, they want to go somewhere/do something. Except - I have the little problem of having six classes to keep up with.

So I am off to study.

Update.

It sure has been hot! School started last week. We all survived. But it has been so hot, that the moment you walk outside, it takes your breath away and you automatically start sweating. I think that this summer has matched last winter. While we had tons of snow for the last winter season, we seem to have had extra heat for this summer.

I looked at some football game pictures awhile ago - I could almost feel the crisp air, smell the scent of chimney smoke and taste the hot chocolate that we get at the games. While it has been nice to be warm, I am ready for some coolness. Not cold, but cooler.

We have had a lazy weekend. By Saturday at noon, we were all so hot and sweaty that we went to the pool. That only lasted a couple of hours. Then, we came home, and each child tried their best to find someone to take them for the evening. Aunt Jamie took one kid, one went with friends from church and the oldest went with friends to the fair. That only left me and Dave with the two little ones. It was a nice break - but it was so quiet.

Sunday was lazy too. After morning church, we rented movies... and I took a big nap. When I woke up, Tripp didn't look so healthy. In fact, he had a fever and was not feeling good at all. Then he started vomiting. And cat napping. And vomiting. This lasted until now. There has been no vomit for a few hours, but there was a 9 a.m. doctors visit that says he has Strep.

We have had one child with tonsillitis/possible strep last week. She is still on antibiotics. So I guess that possible strep was reality. Now we are on Kid #2. Who is next? Strep loves Eli. And Emma. I have never caught it. But I am starting to become paranoid.

With five kids, I am always in awe of how things can turn around in the drop of a hat.

silent night. oh, what a night.

Finally, the little kids are down. Every night, it is such a chore to get bathtime, teeths brushed, jammies on and get them in bed with no drama. It is exhausting, so tiring sometimes, that I wish I could just let them fall over and sleep where they land.

Except that they would be up until 2 a.m.

The earlier they go to bed, the better they act in the morning. Ah, what a difference a 8 p.m. bedtime makes! My mornings run SO smooth when they are in bed early.

This is a busy week. I have five tests this week, two on the same day - in Geology - back to back.

So, I guess I need to be studying.

Tomorrow, Emma has her first field trip. I can't go, I missed a day of work a couple of weeks ago to take my test. I am really bummed about missing her pumpkin patch trip. This is the first time that I am gonna miss something cause I stayed at home with Eli. We did not let her go last year, partly because she was only four, but mostly cause I had surgery the day before. She is excited. I am hoping someone takes some pictures. It is supposed to be a beautiful day.

Only six more weeks in the semester. Woo-Hoo!