Christmas is almost here!

Well, today is the last day of school for the year of 2007. I am so happy to see today arrive. I only have the same rotten kids for a couple more weeks (when we get back). I only have 45 more minutes of class. Yes, instead of working, I am writing on my blog. Oh well. They are finishing up a project on poetry. They are also supposed to be making up work--only 2 students are taking advantage of that.

They will be crying when we get back from the break and see how bad they did on the end-of-course test (a state test). Oh well. I am ready for rest, relaxation, family, and plenty of good food!!!

I HATE HIGH SCHOOL! I hated it when I was there and I hate it now.

Oh well...

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Is Christmas Break here yet?

Well, just like all teachers, I am so ready for the break. I am almost ready for Christmas (presents and such). Here is what my kids have asked family and Santa to bring them this year...

Jacob: He has asked for an XBOX 360. Well, there is no way I am buying it, so Papa should be buying it. You know, only grandparents buy the stuff the parents refuse to buy. Parents want educational, but the grandparents want the fun stuff that will drive the parents crazy.

Jacob has been going to Circuit City with Pop. They go to play Guitar Hero- he plays for hours. He says that it is really cool.

Gabriel: He is so easy going that he is okay if he doesn't get what he has asked for. He is such a great kid. Jacob will be upset if he doesn't get what he has asked for, but Gabe was told that Santa is having problems finding his Transformer mask and he might not get it. He told me "That's okay Mommy." I asked him if he really was okay with not getting it. He said, "I really want it, but it's okay if he can't get it to me." I wanted to kiss him for being so honest and sweet. I hope he stays this way forever.

Gabe is really into Transformers this year. The mask he wants is on the right. It makes his voice sound like Optimus Prime. Cool.

New Pictures!

Gabriel's school picture for this year--first grade. Isn't he cute? His teeth have come in since this picture, but he is still cute. Jacob's picture would also be up here, but he didn't like his picture and didn't want me to buy them. Go figure.

Gabriel drew this picture for me this week. I haven't been feeling very good. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be me or not. I just love getting artwork from my kids.

Well, I have no choice. I have to get my picture taken each year. Unfortunately, my picture will be in the yearbook FOREVER. So, if for instance I look terrible, then it will be recorded in thousands of yearbooks forever. :O)

I love this picture of mom and dad. They just got them back yesterday and I was one of the first people to get a copy. They look so great!

Ok. So my house finally appeared on the real estate website. I need to figure out a way to get this thing sold. If you have any bright ideas, let me know. Here is the link to the house:

http://www.bluemoonproperties.net/Homes/165Hillcrest.htm

Yuck--is it only Tuesday?

I have been so tired lately. The kids are involved in Reggie's football team. They are gone all weekend and many nights during the week. I usually stay home. I don't understand or enjoy football. I like watching Gabe play though. I am very frustrated with my job lately. The kids are plain lazy. They don't want to do anything and are very vocal about their disgust. I can't wait for Thanksgiving break--everyone needs a break. I am at my limit for complaining and people asking me why. "Why do I have to do this?" "Why this, why that" I want to tell them to kiss my *** butt :O) Anyway, I am thinking about getting my Master's degree soon so I can teach college. I know I am always complaining about my job, but sometimes I feel like these kids are sucking out all of my spirit. All of the stuff I brought to the classroom--all the excitement and spirit is slowing dwindling out.

I have been trying some new technology in the classroom for the last few days. It went a little slow at first, but once I figured out what I was doing, it went well. The kids were patient though. We are working on the research paper--fun fun fun. The paper is on William Shakespeare--someone who I know a lot about. The kids don't like him, but who cares? I just act like "I CAN'T HEAR THEM!"

We still have our house on the market and a few people have come to look, but no bites. We will see. We would like to sell before the end of the year. It would be nice to have one more Christmas in the house, but we will see...

Here is a pic of our house:

Maybe we are asking for too much money???

Just kidding.

My week has been kinda crazy. I have been making really dumb mistakes. I have been calling people by the wrong name, I didn't put enough gas in my car and I thought I had, and on and on and on...

I wrote up a student and meant to write up a different student. Nice--the wrong student got into trouble. I misguessed how much gas was in my truck (the gas gauge is broken) and I broke down on my way to work. That was fun. I have said some really stupid stuff too. Just ask the kids. They always hear the stupid stuff.

Jacob is having girl problems. He is in the middle of the "middle school girls drama" and can't get out. He broke up with his girlfriend yesterday and started going back out with his girlfriend from last year. I thought this stuff started when they were older. I am going crazy just trying to give him advice (good advice that is).

I am excited that tomorrow is Friday!!! Angie and I are going to see Jeremy Camp in concert Saturday. FUN! Hopefully when I get home from GA, my house will be clean by the three guys who will be staying home.

Well, Skillet was great this weekend. This was Gabe's first concert (outdoors) and he loved it. He was singing loud and clapping. We had a lot of fun. My parents had a birthday lunch for me yesterday (today is my b-day) and their best friends were there. One of them asked me why teacher's complain about the work load when they are off during the summer. Wow. I have heard that a lot--from men of course. So, I figured it out:

Each day--8 1/2 hours (lunch is maybe 20 minutes)
Week--43 1/2 hours
My week (because I do detention)--47 hours
If you are a coach--I can't even think about how many hours
Week (if you take work home--lessons, papers to grade, etc.)--50+ hours

Week when English teachers have to read research papers--too many hours to add.


So, yes we do get Christmas off and Summer off, but think about how much of the summer we spend creating lesson plans, working on getting our rooms ready for students, and taking classes or seminars. If teachers got paid for the time they really put in, we would all be rich!



So, no we don't all leave early and sleep during our planning period--most of us are actually WORKING! Just remember: We are teaching the future leaders of America and you can't put a price tag on that...LOL

The "Whine" Fest

There are many phrases for what I am about to do. "Whine Fest", Would you like cheese with your whine? And many others...
Teaching high school kids has been rough on me in the past year or so. This year, it has been better, but some days are like today. My teenage students WHINE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I could give them free time--whine. I can put on a video--whine. I could tell them to sleep--whine. Geez--nothing makes them happy. I try my best to make English both educational and enertaining, but the bottom line is that this is high school, not elementary school. They want to be babied. Forget it. I am so tired of hearing these things...

"Why do we have to do this?"

"Does this count for a grade?"---duh, why give it to you if it didn't count?

"This is stupid, boring, etc."

I want to tell them to get a life and leave mine alone. Don't get me wrong--not all of my students act this way--just about 70%. I am also tired of repeating myself. I am going to create a device that attaches to every desk and records what I say. Then, the device with show the student what I said--and it could show them over, and over, and over...

My sister is taking Gabriel and me to see my favorite band this weekend--Skillet. At least the nightmare has a nice ending. Well, thanks for listening to me vent.

Skillet Music Video:::::http://myvideo-box.com/clip.php?id=d6ca0ee5

Watch out world...A future writer in the making!!!

I am so excited!!! My son, Gabriel was chosen to read a book that he wrote on something called PAWS. He wrote a book about his cat, Abby who died and his new cat, Lilly. He had pictures and everything--it was so cute. Anyway, his teacher sent his book to the principal who chose his above others. He was chosen to read his book to the entire school (he was taped the day before). We are so proud of him!! To be chosen for PAWS is such a great honor. If you see my future writer soon, let him know how proud you are...

Ever heard of David Crowder Band? The new CD is out today!! I am so excited. You have got to check this out. The songs are previewed for you and if you click on VIDEO--there is a funny cartoon video of the band. :O)

http://ecards.emicmg.com/dcb/remedy/

Help! It's only Thursday!!

I resorted to using something in my classroom that I never thought I would use--a whistle. Let me tell you--the kids stopped talking when I blew the whistle. I guess because it is annoying to hear. Oh well. I guess if it works for coaches, it can work for me. There's nothing more aggravating that a talkative teenager. I had a talk with one class today. I told them that every time they talk when I am trying to talk, I lose respect for them. If they want respect, they have to give respect. That worked for about 10 minutes. Oh well, I guess a teacher of teenagers should try many things before finding something that works. Hmmm. What ever happened to the paddle and the ruler on the hand? Just kidding...

Freedom. Well, a mother only hears that word every once in a while. I just happen to get freedom once a week during football season. Thankfully, I have two boys who love football and a husband who takes them to games. I am not required to attend--thank goodness. Freedom. Oh yah, gotta grade papers and fold those clothes and cook dinner. What happened to laying around and being lazy??? That's right...all women are like Wonder Woman--all work and no play.

TGIF

Thank Goodness It's Friday!!!

I am so tired. It has been a really long week this week. It seems like we are always going somewhere every night. Gabriel is playing football and Jacob is playing travel baseball.

Now that school is in full force, I feel like I am a chicken with its head cut off. I am trying to keep up with all of the papers I have to grade and Jacob started middle school and has more homework. Do you ever feel like you are running, running, running and going nowhere? Well, I am sure I'm going somewhere, but who knows where. My students are a lot better this year than they were last year! Thank goodness. They actually do what they are told and turn in work--it is amazing! HAHA.

Not much else happened this week except work, school, kids, husband, taxi service, pets, family......how many hats do mom's wear anyways? We do have a lot to be thankful for. The only thing I am worried about is this: We are selling our house. The realtor who sold us the house is going to come by on Wednesday to look the house over. I am really worried. My kids are maniacs and the house needs to be cleaned (major cleaning) and painted (forget that). So, you now know what I'm going to be doing all weekend. No sleeping. No grading the million or so papers that I have to grade by Monday (grades are due on Monday), but cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. Doesn't that sound fun?

2007 Girls Only Disney Trip

2006 Night of Joy

Angela and I just got back from Walt Disney World. FUNFUNFUN! We went last year to Night of Joy and had so much fun that we went again this year. Night of Joy is a weekend of Christian concerts with our favorite bands like Skillet and favorite singers like Jeremy Camp. This year, we saw Chris Tomlin and David Crowder Band at Disney and the next night we went to Universal Studios (for Rock the Universe) and we saw The Afters, Jeremy Camp, and Skillet. We had a great time. We flew down there this year--we learned our lesson last year--that drive stinks. Anyway, the food was great and the concerts rocked. We did have some problems though!! The hotel took 5 hours to get our luggage to our room. We had to reschedule dinner because with our luggage in limbo, we were not dressed for the restaurant that we had reservations with... When we got home, it felt like we walked, stood in line and in one place, and waited all weekend. We both had swollen ankles, hurt feet, and were very tired. Lucky for Angela, she had some time off, but I had to work the next day. It wasn't bad though--well, other than being exhausted. My students were actually good while I was gone. I am still in shock. It took me a couple of weeks to get my students back in line last year. HMMM. That's all for today. Thanks for hanging out long enough to read the blog for today!

Old, but still good pictures

Gabriel and our dog Jack

The new cat, Lily

Dutchess "Maggie" Fowler