Yum Yum!!!!

From school - for me and my TA. We have close birthdays. The parents surprised us with flowers, balloons and this absolutely sinful and delicious cake. Mmmmmm!

Vultures

So I'm driving home and as we near our house I see a big black animal in our trash that was out for pick up. Too big for a cat but not shaped like a dog. As we get closer I realize there are 3 vultures in our trash! WHAT?!?!?!?!? They were HUGE. You totally can't tell from the picture. I don't know how to zoom on my phone - plus I was trying not to crash because the truck currently has no power steering. Anyway - it's not like we had an animal carcass in our trash. Probably nothing more than paper cups and oreo wrappers! hahahaha But apparently maybe they like oreos! I pulled up really close to them and they kind of just looked at me and then sauntered down to the next house's trash. What a cocky attitude! They looked at me like "Yeah - all three of us could take you!" So we got out of the truck and as we're going in I realize there's a fourth one on the peak of the house across the street - just watching from above. That was creepy! Kind of Darth Vader-ish!

I mean seriously! Vultures? In this town? In the dead center of a busy metroplex? It's actually the second time I've seen them around. So if you're nearby . . . keep an eye out . . . and watch your small children and dogs! hahaha

Me and My Bud

Watch out 6th grade! Here he comes!!!!

Yeowiee!

At some point (I think maybe the last week of school) I vaguely remember scraping some mulch/dirt/twigs out of the way with my fingers as I played with some child (who in my vague recollection that I can recall - remains just out of view). Immediately after I remember thinking - that wasn't a good idea - as I felt a little pain and noticed all the gunk under my nails. I thought to myself 'I hope I didn't get any splinters' and then blowing it off by figuring they would just work themselves out if I did.

WELL I DID - AND THEY ARE - AND IT HURRRRTTTSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For weeks and months now they have been working their way out from under my nail. I have managed to pull two out - then the process started all over again and I can see three more coming. I just sincerely hope that's all there are. It's really painful. I've been putting on the pain relief neosporin and covering it with a bandaid - but ow. ow. ow.

Ok - I'm done whining. I promise more exciting things have been going on. My life has not been reduced to this. I just needed to have a quick pity party for one.

And the party is now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . over.

Thank you very much.

And . . .

Goodnight.

In the space of about 20 minutes today I got calls that two families close to me had lost loved ones. My heart hurts for their losses and for the grief they bear. It's always difficult to know that as we go about our usual daily tasks - others are experiencing that kind of pain and loss. In addition - one of our students is not fairing well and it's always difficult to watch such sweet and innocent children suffer. I always wish there was a way to lighten all of their suffering and burden - but sometimes it seems like prayer is the only way to ask for the peace and comfort their hearts really need. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them tonight.

Calling All Friends With Babies!!!!

Hey everyone! If any of y'all are at that point in life where you are using the gerber baby food tubs like these - and might possibly not mind saving them for me with the lids - I will love you forever! :o) There is a literacy activity I'm working on for my class and these little tubs would be perfect to store the letter tiles in. Mucho Gracias Amigas!

And Yet Even More . . .

And just to update to the previous post - while eating dinner a few minutes ago came another question - out of thin air.

"What would happen if you threw a ticking grenade into space?"

Ummm . . . maybe it's all the non-fiction books he checks out from the library. I'm just so curious what he's thinking in his head that doesn't actually get spoken! He's so fun! :o)

More Cowboy T

So Bob bought me a nice organizer basket to hold stuff on my desk. It's made out of some type of sea grass and is really pretty. However after about a week of searching for a not-so-pretty smell (which we immediately blamed on the poor dog) we realized it was the lovely basket on my desk.

I ask Bob: Why in the world would they sell something that smells like pee?

Cowboy T jumps in: Probably because some monkey peed on it before they sent it here.

How do you even respond to that? Only Cowboy T can send me to the point where I'm at a loss for words . . .

Question of the Night (by Travis)

"Hey Mom! What's the most pointless thing in the whole world?"

I'm in trouble! (an update to prove I'm still here!)

My daughter has been harping on me to post for a while now. Or 'lovingly reminding me'! ;o) But I best comply or she may hijack my blog! hahaha

So here I am! We took a wonderful trip to Chattanooga, TN / Ringgold, GA which I'll definitely blog about later. It was a much needed get away and long overdue trip to visit my Dad.

When we returned I attended a two day conference for PreK teachers. It was wonderful and very recharging with lots of great fine tuned ideas. I've been slowly working all summer on building up activities and resources so it won't take as much effort during the year. I'm crossing my fingers and toes it will relieve a lot of stress during the school year and pay off.

This week I truly have off. I did three weeks of summer testing to see if children in the district who are turning 3 would qualify for speech or special education services. I love doing testing. It's fun to work one on one with the children, talk with their parents and also get a sneak peek at students who might possible end up at my school. There is one student that will be coming to my school who has captured my heart and I'm hoping I will get to have. She is the daughter of an old friend. So we'll see. I would be so thrilled!

Anyway - today I finally went to the doctor for an old injury from a year and a half ago. I was pretty certain it was muscle related - near my sternum. After that long of off and on pain I figured it was time to get it checked. There was a bit of a knot in the muscle - and long story short - it WAS muscle related - and get this! My 'prescription'???? Lifting weights! heh heh heh! OK!!!! He might as well have said 'eat chocolate'! :o) I really enjoy weights - but hadn't done them in quite a while because of the pain. He said I really need to stretch those muscles and loosen them up so they won't be so tense. So I'm good with that . . . and the chocolate idea too! (Even though that was my own idea!) hahaha!

Last but not least . . . I read a book! :o) It wasn't school related or anything! I can't remember the last time I made time to read a book for fun! It was just a silly short mystery - but it was just so fun!