It went great!!!

I never know how quickly my class will move through an activity.  I just never know.  Sometimes it takes forever and other times we're done so quick I swear I didn't even blink.  My biggest worry was that we'd finish what I had planned so fast that then I'd have to start tap dancing for a half hour.  

But I'm happy to say it all went smoothly and timed out perfectly!  Hooray!  My little guys were great and I was so proud of them!  They melt my heart every day.  Couldn't have done it without my amazing TA's!  They make up for all the weak spots I have.  They keep me moving and have taught me so much!  Love them!  Thanks for all the prayers and kind wishes.  It made all the difference!

Well - I hear the wind picking up . . . A storm is moving in with reports of baseball size hail.  The kids just fell asleep - so this could get interesting.  I'd better sign off now!

Batten the hatches!  ;o)

Evaluation Time!

My yearly evaluation is today!  I feel good about it - but a prayer or two wouldn't hurt . . . :o)

I'm still not entirely sure about my lesson plans - but the day usually unfolds itself in its own way anyway!

See ya on the flip side of the day!

Balloons for Sage

Sage's parents asked for balloons to be released in his honor.  Since we couldn't be there with them - all the family got together here and let balloons go the same day.  It was stormy - but it was beautiful to watch them rise so high.  It was nice to have a way to participate and support the family - even from far away.

Thanks Stacie and Kristy for the photos!  :o)

Sage Lawrence Eldredge

My heart has been heavy today thinking of Crystal and Spencer and their family as they laid to rest their son Sage today.  I know there are no words we can say that will bring comfort but our family prays for yours to find peace and strength through the Lord.  Our hearts hurt for you.  We love you very much.

Sage Lawrence Eldredge

The Eldredge Family

Interview with my Kbugs

Words of Wisdom from my 12 year old:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Merry Christmas! (Seriously! I do!) :o)

2. What makes mom happy
Her family

3. What makes mom sad?
fighting

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
She just is herself.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
She traveled a lot.

6. How old is your mom?
35

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet 4 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Laugh!

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Make up plans to torture us. (Muwahahahahaha!) :o)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
She's a comedienne 

11. What is your mom really good at?
Understanding what special needs children need.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Making tuna noodle casserole. (It was a night we don't speak about often!)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
She teaches special needs children.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
McDonald's #1

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
How well she helps us.

16.If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Mom on Phineus and Ferb (I think I resent that remark!!!! . . . but it may be true . . . )

17. What do you and your mom do together?
We text each other.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We always make something serious into a joke.

19. How are you and your mom different?
Our fashion senses! (heh heh heh - true - I ask her for advice!)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She cheers us on!

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
It could take too long to name it all! His sense of humor . . . this could take way too long.

A Little Angel

Bob's cousin's baby passed away yesterday.  He was 8 months old.  The baby's Dad went to wake him up and he wasn't breathing.  Our hearts are utterly broken for them.  The pain is piercing.  Although we know there is a wonderful plan laid out for our families and he's in a wonderful place and they will be reunited again - the agony their family is facing is difficult.

I admire the baby's mother tremendously.  She's the kind of mom who was born to be a mom.  She has such a wonderful perspective on her children and she savors every moment she has with them.  I love listening to the things she does with her children and the delight and joy that seems to light up their home.  She lets her kids play in the mud and be kids and just have fun.  All those things you 'think' you'll do as a mom when you're little - but reality and becoming an adult seems to taint those plans.  But not for her.  She's the kind of Mom I have to work at to be.  It seems to come so naturally to her.  

Anyway - they will be in our prayers for the long road to come.  Our hearts go out to them and pray for them to someday find a measure of peace and comfort one step at a time.

Interview with my Buddy

Words of Wisdom from my 10 year old:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Be good

2. What makes mom happy
Books

3. What makes mom sad?
When one of us is hurt or sick.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When you do weird things.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
Read books.

6. How old is your mom?
33

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet something

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Get on her laptop

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Teach school

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Singing opera

11. What is your mom really good at?
Doing fun things.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Being serious

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Teaches school

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Bacon Spaghetti

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
You're kind to people

16.If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Jimmy Neutron's Mom

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Watch baseball

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like to read.

19. How are you and your mom different?
You always like to be crazy and I'm not.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
When you give us a treat or we do something fun.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He always fixes up the house.

Interview with Cowboy T

Words of Wisdom from my 8 year old:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you!

2. What makes mom happy
When I kiss her.

3. What makes mom sad?
When someone dies.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When she does very funny stuff.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
Play with her dolls.

6. How old is your mom?
34

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Tell jokes

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Go to school

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
For being a movie star

11. What is your mom really good at?
Telling jokes

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Shooting guns

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Works for special needs kids

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
pizza

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
That she's a good mom

16.If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Incredibles Mom

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Go places

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both have freckles

19. How are you and your mom different?
We don't have the same color hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
When she kisses me.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
She thinks he's cute

Rice and Eggs happiness

So a teacher at school walks over to the microwave in the cafeteria and says: I need to heat up my rice and eggs.  I say:  Mmmm - that sounds good!  How do you make it?  

The teachers then look at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears!  Am I the only one that's never heard of this?  After she told me what was in it I ran home to make it (not literally that very second - and no I didn't actually run home - I probably could - but I'd have to go through a pretty scary place in town - so I'd rather not.)  So anyway - it was delicious!!!!!!!!!  And my family loved it!!!.

Basically you cook some rice.  Then you start making scrambled eggs.  Just before the eggs firm up - throw in the rice - some cheese - and some crumbled up bacon (or whatever kind of meat really sounds good).  Then just mix it together while it sets and then serve and eat it.  It helps to get all the other ingredients ready while the rice is cooking so it's ready to throw in at just that perfect moment.  Mmmmm . . . tasty and fairly cheap!  My kind of meal.

How much my Buddy loves the store:

A moment of pure frustration.  He seriously enjoys going to the dentist more!  

Snapped by Kbugs!  Good catch K!  ;o)