Emma got her ears pierced today. I remember when I was 13, my parents went on vacation to visit family in Ohio. I stayed at my house with a much older friend...and while they were gone, I got my ears pierced with out permission. In fact, I had what might be called "negative permission" seeing as how my mom (adopted grandmother) had forbidden me to get them pierced. (her motto was that if God had wanted their to be holes in your ears, he would have put them there himself) But I did it anyway....How bad ass was I? lol
The funniest part is that about 6 months later, the woman who had, in her 53 years, never even entertained the idea of having her ears pierced, got them done! I remember clearly in the years before her death having earrings made from fabric scraps that matched her "Alfred Dunner" outfits....so, so funny. And a bit ironic, don't ya think?

New Year

Wow...2008. I am presently exhausted and hopeful that my diet will kick in soon (and start working) Jack is almost sitting by himself (big boy that he is!) It just started snowing outside....snowing in Alabama...can you believe it?

Misunderstandings

Not sure how it happens. One moment you are with one another...everything seems fine and the next...bam, you're pissed off at each other...How exactly does that happen? Tip-toeing around one another ...waiting to see who will the the first to speak. Or maybe you're the one who says screw it, I'm going to bed without so much as a word. Lots of sighs...many of those quick glances to see if the other person is looking.

Actually, Shawn walked in and we spoke...and made up...so problem and misunderstanding solved. =)

For some unknown reason, Jack has found Shrek baby...his new best friend!

Shawn and I are really good. Today he brought me lunch to school....now that is true love =) We don't get out for the holidays until the 20th, eek! Another whole week to get through. I am so busy with school that sometimes I forget how lucky I am...I yelled at emma the other night and felt so bad afterward...except when I went to apologize and check in on her, she had already fallen asleep. =( I think that is the part (for me) that I hate about having more than one child. This constant feeling that she is missing out on attention that she used to get constantly...and then feeling like Jack will never receive the amount of attention she got for the first 6 years of her life. I wonder if most moms deal with a feeling of inadequacy? probably.

Tis the Season

to be jolly? I'm not convinced...maybe I will get that holiday spirit after school lets out...but until then, I am sort of a Scrooge. Although, we did go to out local small town parade. I've never seen so many baby Jesus' in one place! Emma was excited...and Jack was fast asleep...
Well, he was until the drum section of a local's school band went by....then he was:

WIDE AWAKE!

DON'T

According to a reliable six year old in my class..if you open your presents when it is not Christmas, they will turn into "dirty worms." His words, not mine. Further explanantion required him to also add, "It is true, it really is...my mom said."

dibels

Yes, I said it. dibels. No other word strikes more fear into a teacher. (Well, except for maybe the words, "You're getting a new student" =) For those of you wondering what in the world dibels is, it is a test (originally from Oregon) that scores a number of reading indicators. It can be a good thing in that it can help a teacher know where students are on the reading progression...but too many times it is used to compare students, teachers, and schools. I HATE the idea of comparing children and even worse, judging them based upon a score...a score derived from a test on one day...a day when that child may not have had breakfast, a day when maybe their dog died, a day when maybe they just don't feel as good as can be.
Well, our school gives our Dibels on Thursday...I teach first graders and we are terrified our scores won't be "benchmark". In my humble opinion, politicians (as well as teachers) should look for progress in students, not a final score to compare student A to student B. I wish more people who make laws regarding education were teachers...even for a day.
Don't even get me started on No Child Left Behind ...as if we could ever expect every student to read on grade level by an arbitrary date. As if we could just expect an educator to work miracles...regardless of whether a child has a learning disability or maybe just doesn't learn as fast as others in his or her grade level. That would be the equivalent of me going out to a coach and telling them they must get all the students in their PE class to run the mile in 7 minutes. It doesn't matter what you do or how hard you push...it is just not going to happen. That is not to say the students won't show progress...and get better. But we are not cookie cut people...some of us are gifted in one area and not in others. We are individuals and our strengths should be celebrated.