Shhhh! I'm on Facebook!

Yesterday I went to a professional development day o'joy for my district.  Apparently the class I had signed up for was full because I got put in a class about Ethics and the Internet.  I could barely stand the anticipation.  I almost peed my pants I was so excited.  At least I was with another girl on my team.  Anyway, the whole talk was about not being friends with parents of your students on facebook, be careful little hands what you post, and crap like that.  My school had actually already had the same type of inservice at the beginning of the year.  I was so freaked out because I had just posted pictures on my facebook of me doing body shots off TJ in his spandex speedo*!  What if students parents saw them?
But seriously, I get so sick of adults trying to teach other adults morals.  Here's a little life lesson: Get some morals, people. And please, get a brain too while you're at it.  If you don't want people to see drunk Mardi Gras pictures, don't take drunk Mardi Gras pictures.  If you're worried that you could be seen in a bad light because of some thing you have on facebook or your blog, take it off.  Sometimes its more of a exercise of freedom to know how to control it than to do whatever you like and tell the world to deal with it. 
And while we're at it, this goes for any area of your life.  So there.

*Just for the record, TJ doesn't even have a spandex speedo.  Or a speedo at all for that matter.  If he did, it would be mesh anyway.  He's just that kinda guy.

Spring Break Projects

When I was younger, I was a punk.  My mom would go to Goodwill and I would sit in the car.  I didn't want to be seen at Goodwill.  Funny, because if anyone would have found clothes to fit into their Kurt Cobain-grunge persona it would have been me.  But things have changed.  And now I love going into thrift stores and looking for fun little things to put in my house.  And since this Spring Break is all about having fun and doing things we've wanted to get to forever, TJ is indulging me and going along.  Yes, he loves me.  Because he really doesn't like thrift stores all that much and he's gone to 4 already this week.  Oh, and this is NOT going to turn into a decorating/crafting blog.  Its just what I'm up to this week.

On Saturday I found a $.69 frame and turned it into this.  I've been wanting to do a silohuette for sometime now, but didn't know really what to do.  Faith has worn this hat all winter so I thought it would be a good reminder of the Winter of 09/10:

I also found 4 canvases for $1.99 each.  I painted this super simple bird design on it for a spring-y mantle.  I think they're super cute and they're going into the extra little living area with my other tree pictures Sarah got me for my birthday.  They were so cheap I didn't even mind if I messed up. 

Also, one of my new year's resolutions was to re-do our bedroom.  I wanted something romantic-y, but since we're not really that type of people I wasnt' sure what to do.  I bought this lamp FOREVER ago and it had been in Faith's room.  We had to take her bookshelf out because she was using it as a jungle-gym so the lamp was up for grabs.  I used a sharpie to put these words on it.  It says "What God joins let no man separate."  Its in our bedroom for now. 

My idea is for the bedroom to look something like this.  I moved all the brown and blue that was in our room to the guest bedroom so now our bedroom is back to square one.  Hopefully that will inspire me to get it done.  I found a cute nightstand at An Affair of the Heart last year and another at thrift store on Saturday that I'm going to paint and the headboard is on the back patio being painted right now. 

Oh, I can't believe I forgot.  TJ found 2 rainsticks today at a thrift store.  I got them for $9.99 each!  I'm taking one to school and Faith gets the other. 

Its Magic, Gosh Dangit!

Today was the 2nd Annual Teddy Bear Picnic in my classroom.  Honestly, one of my favorite days of the year.  When the students are gone I move their bears around so they think they come alive.  Last year my students loved it.  The wanted to listen to the song every chance they got.  They sang along with the book each time.  Every last one of them believed whole heartedly that the bears came alive magically while we were gone, picked books off the shelves, and started reading them.  This year I turned on the CD and one students yelled "Not again!"  Needless to say, there were alot of skeptics.  They tried to finagle (yes, that's how you spell it, I looked it up) the answer out of me and the two classroom assistants all day. The more they poked and prodded for answers the more my web of fibs tangled around itself.  I just wanted them to believe in the magic of childhood.  IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK? 
I really have to remember my class from year to year is like having children.  Each child is so completely different its almost unbelievable.  If you saw my 5 siblings and I separately, you'd never believe we were related we're so completely different.   Its the same way with my classes.  Each year I get a new class, a new little baby.  And throughout the year I learn what they like, what they don't like, their strengths and weaknesses and learn as I go how to foster their abilities the best I can.  This year they are creative- so creative.  Little artists that I know someday will actually create comic books you'll buy for your grandkids at Toys-R-Us.  They're rock aficionados.  They know more 70s and 80s rock songs than I do.  They love dark things- haunted houses, vampires, swords, and the all wonderful Abiyoyo! 
So while last years students may have loved bears and sparkly things and I miss that, I'm learning to love the students who will sing ACDC with me and want to listen to the song about a monster who had "slobbery teeth cuz he didn't brush "em."

WITH

Last night I was thinking about a story my pastor used to tell.  A little girl comes home from school and her daddy asks her how her day went.  She tells him that at recess there was a little girl crying on the playground.  So he asks her "Well, what did you do?"  And she answers "I just sat down beside her and cried with her."  That story always spoke to me deeply.  Someone just to feel with you.  

Today at church I was talking with one of my friends about some things going on in my life.  She looked at me and said, "Amanda, I know right now I could quote some scripture about how you're supposed to get through this, but I'm not going to over spiritualize it.  I know you're hurting, and I just want you to know- I'm going to walk with you through it."

Thank you, God for not ever being caught off guard by my human needs.  Thank you for your sweet provision, a friend to cry with me, to sit and feel with me.  You ARE a good God.  (And while I'm at it, thanks for speaking those exact things to me to show me clearly You are those things. I surely never would have connected the dots.)

A quick English lesson via Kindergarten

Today we'll begin our discussion by defining the word homophone.

Homophone- Two words that are pronounced alike, but differ in meaning.

Used in context-
A table of students working while teacher sits among them.  Student one accidentally messes something up they were working on.
Student 1: I'm such a nutball.
Teacher:  What did you say?
Student 2: I thought those were the things under my ding dong.

And that concludes your English lesson on homophones.

And you're welcome.

February in Review-Resolution Check

Seriously, I can't even remember some of the resolutions I made tonight.  It's Monday and I'm already exhausted.  Let me flip back through my blog card catalog and see if I can conjur up my resolutions.  So I really just copied, pasted and changed the update, but its a tad interesting if you're even still reading...

1. Invite someone over to the house, at least once a month.  My wonderful (and only) friend, Corrie, came over when she was in town.  With her two lovely little girls.  I made homemade chicken and egg noodles, mashed potatoes, and veggies.  Seriously, I wish she could have stayed days.  Two hours just isn't enough.  It feels like I need some time to get in the groove again, get past the awkwardness, and just relax.  I know it shouldn't be that hard since she's my bestie, but I'm socially AWK-WARD!  Just ask her.  I'm a thorn in her flesh, for sure.

2. Start playing guitar again.  I actually took my guitar to my class last week and played some Hap Palmer kindergarten awesomeness.  They loved it, I loved it.  I had my utopian kindergarten class for 15 minutes that day.

3. Lose weight. Ummm, well, let's just say I wish I was one of those who lost weight when they were stressed.  Alas, I am not.  And I. AM. STRESSED.  So weight loss is the last thing on my agenda.  I'm looking to get a treadmill though,(actually, I'm asking God to give me one) but mostly to relieve stress.

4. Start a blog.  I think I'm doing pretty well so far with the whole blog thing.  I'm not the most exciting story teller, but I'm learning.

5. Get a camera that doesn't make me cuss everytime I pick it up.  Nada.  And now I've lost the charger for the one I have.  I'm seriously chronicling my first born's milestones on my iPhone.  Its a cryin' shame, really.

6. Complete lesson plans weekly. In my head- yes.  On paper- have you seen my desk?  I wouldn't be able to find it anyway.

7. Grow a garden. TJ laughed at my herb garden idea, but we're plowing up the garden this week!  Yippee!

8. Be consistent with getting my hair did. Actually did do this one.  The color is amazing.  I can't quite figure out the cut though.  This happens everytime TJ suggest that I get my hair done that someone famous.  Last time it was Gwen Stefani's super blonde hair and I left with my scalp actually bleeding. This time Jennifer Nettles and my students actually asked me if I brushed my hair today.

9. More water, less Happy Hour DDP.  Ounce for ounce is still working. 

10. Decorate our bedroom. Its coming into its own.  I have ideas.  I'm moving some furniture I already have around.  And my friend, Sarah, is going to take me to the Mecca of thrifting/antiquing/wonderfullenss, The Rink, soon.  She said she would anyway, and I'm holding her to it.