Year in Review

It has been almost a year since I last posted. Wow, has time flown by. I need to get better at this - a living record of our family.

I sit here, hubby at work, kids watching (sort of) a movie upstairs, and Henry keeping my feet warm. Our year has been so full. My children are amazing! Abigail has started cheerleading through the parks and rec; Noah has tried football, and is now in soccer; Henry is puppy school dropout. :) Pete's job is going really good. He moved to a restaurant MUCH closer to the house about 4 months ago. I love that he doesn't commute an hour each way, but his time commitment to the restaurant has grown greatly. All in all, we're happy. :) That is as good as anyone can say. My job continues to be great. I really enjoy what I do. That doesn't mean I wouldn't chuck it all and stay home with my babes if given the opportunity!

In just a few weeks Abigail will be 7 and Noah will be 5 soon after. I cannot believe they are this old already. I look at pictures from when they were babies and wonder where the time has gone. Abigail is so much fun. She has an amazing personality, incredibly funny, and so smart. She makes me laugh everyday. She is so kind hearted, loves her family and friends so much. She started in Daisy's this year and is loving it. She has her first "best friend" and I couldn't be happier with who she picked. She and Jessica are two peas in a pod and I love listening to them and their "woman talk" as they call it. Noah is a charmer... That is all I can say. He has this smile about him that makes everything seem ok - even when he is NAUGHTY! He is my cuddle bug. He always wants to touch you somehow, either hold your hand, stand next to your leg, or be held. At almost 5 he is still my baby boy. Noah's energy is amazing! Just when you think he is all spent out, he can still run! To call him busy, might be an understatement! :) And then there is my newest baby, Henry. Henry is a bichon frise and cavalier spaniel mix. He is as sweet as they come, and definitely the baby of the family. Everyone is smitten with him - even Pete! Henry came to us last March, and his first birthday is a week from today. Henry has completed our family, I love this little rag-a-muffin!

We've been working hard, playing hard, and really looking forward to Disneyland in March. We all need a vacation! The best part, my parents are going with us! We went two years ago and were only in the park for a day. This time we're staying for 3 days and going to do it all. Noah may have his shoes stuffed with paper - but darn it! He's going on Space Mountain!

My baby isn't a baby...

I cannot believe my little girl turned six over the weekend... It seems like she just came into our lives and POOF! Six years later. Abby Grace is one of the kindest, sweetest, funniest people I have ever met. Her love for her family is amazing. I am so blessed to be able to call her my daughter.

Family Photos

We had pictures taken a few weeks back and here are just a few.

Personal "Adds"

This is my Friday 5, on Sunday!

What’s your favorite “just add water!” food?
Instant Grits! Mmmmmm, yum!

What’s your favorite thing to add vinegar to?
Salad Dressing

What’s something weird you’ve added to normal food?
I can't think of anything - I'm pretty tame when it comes to food. (Tame does equal boring.)

What’s your favorite thing to add whipped cream to?
Fresh fruit, chocolate pudding, warm cookies! How can I pick one thing for whipped cream?? Impossible!

What’s something you refuse to add anything to, even though most people add something?
Tea! I don't want it sweetened or with lemon. I like it strong and plain.

The Runner

At school I have a very favorable nickname, Mrs. Axel-Suck. Yes, I know, it is awesome. I've come by this name the good old fashioned way, I am a hard ass. I don't take shit and I don't give shit, I am not in the shit business. (Thank you Dad for that little nugget of gold!) If you are in the wrong, I will correct you. I also have a group of current and former students who would say I am their favorite teacher and still come visit me on a daily basis. This year in 4th grade, I am the "gifted cluster teacher." What that means, is any child in 4th grade that is identified as "gifted" is placed in my classroom. (You really want to learn more about that, email me.)

I have come to love and loathe the gifted child. Some of them are fantastic little people who want to learn everything they possibly can. Others know how smart they are, and realize how little they can do and still pass. I am probably too hard on my gifted students. I know their potential, and I know that they can do more than the status quo.

Yesterday I had my first runner. I've been a little hard on one of my students this past week or two. He is probably the smartest kid in my class, and is technically failing - doesn't turn stuff in, zones out. He is also one of the funniest kids in class and offers awesome insights in class discussions - when he is paying attention. Yesterday, he had it. During lunch recess, I found him and asked him to come into the classroom to finish a social studies test he'd only been working on for 3 hours, (it was 20 fill in the blank questions.) Deciding that he didn't want to do this, he told me he needed to go to the front office for something and he would be right back to class. I didn't see the kid for over an hour. 15 minutes into this kid being missing, I am on the phone with the front office letting them know that he never came back from recess. Secretaries, administrators, older brothers, all out around campus searching for the kid. All the sudden, a student said they saw him on the other side of fence of the school on the sidewalk.

This kid left school. Walked right out the front door. Seriously? Who does this in 4th grade?? They finally find him, about a mile away from school, put him in a car and drive him back. When the assistant principal questioned him upon return, she asked, "Did you know that leaving school is against the rules?" He replies, "I suspected as much." Are you kidding me?? I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or smack him upside his head.

All in all, he was gone for just under 2 hours. I know that him leaving and getting frustrated with school and life and needing a break wasn't my fault - still kind of crushing anyway. I do wonder if there was something I could have for seen about this situation. If last week you would have told me that this particular kid would pull a stunt like this, I'd never believed you. I am so thankful nothing bad happened to him and ultimately he was returned safe. It makes me think more about the kids I come into contact with on a daily basis - what do I really know about them? How can I make this world a better place for them? Am I teaching them what they need to know? I look at my kids, Abby and Noah, and pray that they never need to take a break like that, and will understand how to better handle stress and frustration. Weird day, strange experience. I'm glad it is over, and hope it NEVER happens again...

New Year's Friday 5!

I stumbled across this website a few weeks ago, and decided that I would give it a go today. http://www.friday5.org/

1. What’s something that’s better when the newness has worn off? Jeans

2. What’s something you already own that could stand to be replaced by the newer version? My cell phone and my mattress.

3. What’s something that was better before someone made it “new and improved?” My bank. We were with Washington Mutual for 8 years, and now it is Chase bank. I really don't like them.

4. Of geographic locations whose names begin with the word “new,” which seems like the most interesting place to visit? New York. I've never been there, and I know that when I go, it will cost me a ton of money! :) I want to see shows, shop, eat, sight see, basically do all the tourist-y things one can do!

5. On what date will 2010 no longer feel like the new year? Probably not until the end of January. Once the family is back in the swing of things, and all holiday festivities have worn off, it won't seem so new anymore.

10 Things...

I keep hearing everyone say how yucky 2009 was to them. It was to me also. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a glass half full kind of girl. So here are ten things that made 2009 great for me. (In no particular order.)

1. Our new house!!

2. Noah finally potty trained.

3. Having a ton of family come visit us over the winter holidays.

4. Reconnecting with, and making new, friends. Seriously, I have the best ones!

5. Watching Abigail start kindergarten, and love every minute of it.

6. The kids' first trip to Disneyland!!

7. Going to tee-ball practices and games.

8. Buzz Lightyear and the green-faced witch!!

9. Playing Wii with the family. (I think it is the little everyday things we should take time to celebrate.)

10. Having a healthy and happy family. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and two utterly fantastic children.