Abandon Ship

With it being nearly a month after the new year began I thought it appropriate to make a list of all the habits, promises, and goals I have made, at one point or another, and abandoned as quickly as I would a sinking ship:

Since it is 2009, here are 9 things I haven't stuck to:

1. drinking 2 full water bottles a day
excuse: refilling with nasty tasting water at school, bathroom breaks are minimal

2. not eating the skittles meant for student rewards
excuse: um....yum! "I bought them and I'm the teacher"

3. going to bed early
excuse: ya right

4. legally changing my name
excuse: how long will this take?

5. not having sweets every night
excuse: its a diet ice cream bar!

6. patience at work
excuse: try hearing this all day: "She's breathing on me!" (literally)

7. more extracurricular reading
excuse: "Doesn't a cookbook count?"

8. get more creative with low fat cooking
excuse: _____________________ (wish I had one)

9. write a blog everyday
excuse: life

Anniversary

I can't believe it has been 6 months already since I walked down the alter and met the love of my life in Holy Matrimony. There has been uncertainty with money, jobs and struggles with family and career futures, but I have soaked up with joy every moment JP and I have together. Someone recently asked me how it was to get used to living with JP and I really couldn't answer with details and description. It's just like living with your best friend. You get used to schedules, toothbrush placement, and sharing the load. I am excited for the rest of my life and to see what happens in the next 6 months! Marriage and life is nothing short of exciting. Now all that's left is for me to finally and legally change my last name!

Happy Anniversary, Love!

Dialing

I am teaching my children about their address this week and how the mail system works. I was going to work on having them learn their phone numbers as well (although many of them already know theirs) when I realized I didn't know which number to have them memorize. These days we might expect them to know Mom's cell number, Dad's cell number, sister's cell number; all along with their main home phone number (which may never be used). (This topic is humorous considering I couldn't repeat many cell phone numbers from memory since my phone has a memory of its own).

Crazy how the world is moving so fast, and what an affect it has on education!

Seaching for chuckles

I had by far, the worst week I have experienced in my short and mild teaching career. It has been a whirlwind and more eventful than many of my horribly memorable high school faux paus. Despite being hit, having things thrown at me, being chewed out by a parent, having to attend school while the rest of Illinois' educational facilities enjoy the warmth of their homes, and being told "I will rip you in half" by a 3 foot child, I decided to find the humor. I laugh when I think about moments such as those when one of my favorites told me he was "having a hard attack."

It's moments like these when I learn to find reasons to snicker and ways to giggle despite the madness that may surround the learning environment.

Home sweet home

We are home from our amazing Carribbean Cruise. I already felt blessed to be able to join my in-laws for such a great vacation but now feel privileged to be part of such a wonderful family. It reaffirmed the joy I'll have to share my children with wonderful Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and Grandma and Grandad. Its a blessing!

We had wonderful weather and stopped in Puerto Rica (Old San Juan), St. Kitts, and St. Maarten. After adjusting to the rocking feeling and receiving my sea legs (with the help of a little pill called Boanine), I enjoyed the trip. Here a few pictures of our grand voyage!













This is the reason I gained 5 pounds!

Wrap it up already...

So today I begin the usually dreaded task of wrapping up some joy....in other words, using paper to disguise those presents under the tree. Although I do not live for this part of Christmas, I can't say that I mind. I buy ribbon and bows, and attempt to dress up these cardboard boxes into something appealing to the eye. I can't seem to simple cover the gift and use the three pieces of adhesive to attach the paper on the sides and bottom. There's some obsessive complex within me that feels the need to create a piece of art for the eye. This may seem absurd, but look at it this way...no matter what's inside the decked out package, it appears I have taken time in both thought and labor to wrap it in style! (Don't knock it....although this is no justification, let me live in decorative denial!)

Along the same subject, with an urge to get some of this gift dressing underway I went to begin the task and realized we had no wrapping paper. I asked JP to pick some up from the store. He came home glowing with bag in tow. He had four rolls of beautiful paper in his sack. He said, "here you go babe. And I got a great deal! At Target they were 2 for $7!" I couldn't help but stare speechless into the bag. My husband just spent $14 on four rolls of wrapping paper, when I could have bought at least 14 rolls with the way I shop. Even with my wrapping and beauty packaging obsession, I would never spend more than 99 cents on wrap. I couldn't break his happy heart though and sucked up the price tag, opened the wrap and began my task. I'll either do the shopping from now on, or send him to a specific store, with the details, price cap, and PC number to avoid another shopping event.

Christmastime

It doesn't quite feel like Christmas yet. A surprising comment, I realize, considering the feet of snow piled up outside our abode. It could be due to the fact that I've been listening to Christmas music since Halloween. While listening to "Holly Jolly Christmas" today and wiping away the tears from the previous 93.9 "Christmas wish" I'd heard, I realized it still didn't quite feel like the holiday was approaching.

To attempt to remedy this disease, I'm going to watch Home Alone, drink some soy egg nog, and possibly wrap some presents. Hopefully this helps!

What do you do that puts you in yule tide mode?