LOST IN THE WILD

I am spending the whole day hiking in the woods with my kids....fun fieldtrip!!!

NARROWED DOWN MY CHOICES

Now that the new tv season has started I've had a chance to weed out the crap! What my tv watching will look like:

MON:
ABC: Dancing with the Stars and Castle
CBS: Hawaii Five-O

TUES:
ABC: No Ordinary Family (This hasn't started yet...) and Dancing with the Stars (Results)
FOX: Glee

WED:
ABC: The Whole Truth
CBS: Survivor
FOX: Hell's Kitchen

THURS:
CBS: CSI and The Mentalist

FRI:
CBS: Blue Bloods
FOX: Human Target
NBC: Outlaw

SAT:

Watch whatever was TIVO'ED from earlier in the week.

SUN:
CBS: Undercover Boss

MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY!

TIME CARD - September 19-25

I am keeping track of how many hours I work during this school year. My contract only pays me to work 183 days a year, from 7:30-2:30 (that is 1189.5 hours). We are not told we have to work extra hours, but there is no way I could plan, correct papers, make copies, make phone calls, etc., just working to contract. Usually I arrive there at 6:15 a.m. and leave around 3:30 p.m. Then when Samuel is in bed for the night, I do at least another couple hours of work. I also take stuff home on the weekends.

This week I worked 53. 25 hours.

Total to date: 462.75 hours.

GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS #115

My mother has always had a prayer list and I've now started one of my own. So each Sunday I will publish the prayer requests of anyone who e-mails me. Please keep us updated as God answers your prayers too.

Who we are praying for this week...

* My mother to be healthy and happy.
* Ray's healing from cancer.
* All those children still waiting to find a Forever Family
* Penny's, entire family needs prayers for healing their hearts and spirits.
* Deborahrose's family and friends need healing from their grief.
* K-the birthmother of our baby
* Bri's hubby's job situation.
* Dawn - husband to hear God and find his way to Him
* Christy prayers and praise
* orphaned and alone
* peace in the Middle East
* the Gulf Coast
* our economy
* honesty in our leaders
* all service men and women that they may come home soon

E-mail me if you have someone for me to add to the weekly prayer request. God Bless.

I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY!

GOING FOR A DRIVE WITH DAD

Sam loves, loves, loves to wear my sunglasses!

Richard drives him around the cul-de-sac....

...and around....

.....and around.....
.....and around!

It's amazing to me how my idea of what a sexy man is, has changed over the years. TMI...Any time I see Richard in his "Daddy role," it turns me on! This is now my idea of a sexy, loving man....and he's all mine!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #95...THE BOY'S CLUB

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures go to 5 MINUTES FOR MOM.

DISTRICT MANDATED TRAINING

At school this year we have to do our mandatory training on the computer. At least we don't have to waste staff meeting time or have an extra meeting. Instead we have to log into the districts website and listen to 5 videos and then take a 10 question test for each one. I have to then pass the test with an 80% to say I have completed the training. Here are titles of the trainings:

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

CIVIL RIGHTS/SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

FERPA

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

BULLYING BEHAVIOR PREVENTION

SUICIDE PREVENTION

My problems with these trainings:

(1) I have to do these trainings EVERY YEAR!!!! I have worked for this school district for 21 years...do they really think me so dense that I need to hear the same information EVERY YEAR!!!

(2) Most of this stuff is COMMON SENSE.....Don't touch any body fluids, wash your hands, I have to report child abuse or neglect (By the way, I'd do this no matter what the "rule" was....and I'd hope all of you would too.), report threats of suicide, you can't discriminate against anyone because of race, religion, ethnic group etc, etc....,

(2) In the UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS training, I learned that I would be violating a law if I report that I know someone is an illegal citizen. Illegal does mean against the law, right?

(3) I will violate FERPA rules and regulations if I leave my class list or my grade book on my desk. How many of you teachers leave yours out?! No comment!

(4) I get to work at 6:15 a.m., but the silly website won't let you start taking tests until 7:00 and then after 8 a.m. it shuts you out until 3:00 p.m. So, even if I have prep time or something I can't get any of these silly tests done. I still have the ones on CIVIL RIGHTS and BULLYING to complete. There's bound to be some new, insightful information in these two, right?

TIME CARD - September 12-18

I am keeping track of how many hours I work during this school year. My contract only pays me to work 183 days a year, from 7:30-2:30 (that is 1189.5 hours). We are not told we have to work extra hours, but there is no way I could plan, correct papers, make copies, make phone calls, etc., just working to contract. Usually I arrive there at 6:15 a.m. and leave around 3:30 p.m. Then when Samuel is in bed for the night, I do at least another couple hours of work. I also take stuff home on the weekends.

This week I worked 52.75 hours.

Total to date: 518.5 hours.

GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS #114

My mother has always had a prayer list and I've now started one of my own. So each Sunday I will publish the prayer requests of anyone who e-mails me. Please keep us updated as God answers your prayers too.

Who we are praying for this week...

* My mother to be healthy and happy.
* Ray's healing from cancer.
* All those children still waiting to find a Forever Family
* Penny's, entire family needs prayers for healing their hearts and spirits.
* Deborahrose's family and friends need healing from their grief.
* K-the birthmother of our baby
* Bri's hubby's job situation.
* Dawn - husband to hear God and find his way to Him
* Christy prayers and praise
* orphaned and alone
* peace in the Middle East
* the Gulf Coast
* our economy
* honesty in our leaders
* all service men and women that they may come home soon

E-mail me if you have someone for me to add to the weekly prayer request. God Bless.

FALL LINE UP

Next week most of the new tv season starts. Now I just have to weed out the crap! All the * items I'll watch at least once to see if it's worth my time. There is nothing worth watching on Saturday, so I watch TIVO'ed stuff from earlier in the week. I'm planning on watching:

MON:
ABC: Dancing with the Stars and Castle
CBS: Hawaii Five-O *

TUES:
ABC: No Ordinary Family * and Dancing with the Stars (Results)
FOX: Glee

WED:
ABC: The Whole Truth *
CBS: Survivor and the Defenders *
FOX: Lie to Me and Hell's Kitchen
NBC: Undercovers *

THURS:
CBS: CSI and The Mentalist
NBC: Outsourced * and The Apprentice

FRI:
CBS: Blue Bloods *
FOX: Human Target
NBC: Outlaw *

SUN:
CBS: The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss

SHOW ME ALL YOU KNOW....HURRY!!!!

Next week we have to start our district mandated testing, which we do three times a year. There is a reading section and a math section. They are both untimed tests. This means that if everyone is done, except for Billy...the world stops...Billy continues his test while all the other ones that are done, sit and read a chapter book, so as not to disturb Billy, until ........ he ........ finally..................... finishes.

The goal is to score proficient, which is a 70 or better. These tests are also used to show how "good" of a teacher I am.

My job is to figure out when in my day to give these tests. There are 6 hours of school (8:00-2:00), 5 days a week, which is 30 hours a week. I've been told that I can not touch the following times:

* 1 hour of Art
* 1 hour of PE (2, 1/2 hour blocks a week)
* 1/2 hour of Library
* 1/2 hour of Computer Lab
* 2.5 hours a week (1/2 hour a day) for lunch and recess
* 7.5 hours a week of reading (90 minute block each day)
* 7.5 hours a week of math (90 minute block each day)
* 2.5 hours a week for remedial reading (1/2 hour a day)

This takes 23 hours of my week away. Which leaves me 7 hours (nonconsecutive), over the course of the week.

Most people understand that elementary kids test best in the mornings, when they are most alert and energized, but I have to throw this idea out because the reading block is in the morning and I'm not allowed to test during that time.

So, of my 7 hours (nonconsecutive), I also need to take out passing time to and from the above mentioned activities. If I only subtract 5 minutes on each end, that is another 100 minutes, which, if we round, is another 1.7 hours. So, now I am down to 5.3 hours (nonconsecutive), over the course of the week.

Wait we're not done yet....

* 5 minutes to walk to the bus each day = 25 minutes
* 5 minutes to pass out the testing materials and explain directions = 25 minutes
* 5 minutes to get settled and to answer any questions = 25 minutes
* 10 minutes for the morning announcements = 50 minutes

That's another 125 minutes or 2.1 hours that I can't use. So, finally, we are down to 3.2 hours (nonconsecutive), over the course of the week.


Did I mention that these two tests are untimed?!

It's also a good idea to stay away from Mondays and Fridays because of absences and when they are most focused, but again I have to throw this out because.....I ONLY HAVE 3.2 HOURS (nonconsecutive) TO GET THESE TWO, UNTIMED TESTS DONE!!!!!!!!!

Come on, Billy, do your best....BUT....hurry up....your teacher needs to keep her job!

Vocabulary

Sam's receptive (understanding) language is huge. We are amazed at the things he knows and can show us.

Sam is much less frustrated now that he has quite a few word approximations (expressive vocabulary). He still leaves out a lot of vowels, but he gets his point across.

Ma-ma
Da-da
Bll (Bill, our next door neighbor)
Fsh (Fish)
Chs (Cheese)
Bd (Bed)
Shs (Shoes)
Cp (Cup)
Ba-Ba (bottle)
Ki-ki (kitty)
Pees (Please)
Keys
Uh-oh


I started trying to teach him sign language too, but the only one he picked up and still uses is "more," which is touching your finger tips together on both hands. I've tried to teach him: help, in, out, sleep and a few others, but he's never even attempted them.

PRICELESS!

see more EpicFail

MY NEW FAVORITE PRODUCT!!!

I have three indoor cats who are forever throwing up food and hairballs. We had cats when I was a kid and never had this problem, but that was because they went outside and could eat grass. Yes, I use food specially designed for indoor cats and have tried many anti-hairball remedies, but I'm convinced that if you have indoor cats this will always be a problem.

Anyway...my point is....this product is great if you want to save your carpets. Except for the entry way, laundry room, bathrooms and kitchen, our house is carpeted. At least once a day our furry children leave us an unwelcome gift and it is always on the carpet. Some of the residue is extremely difficult to get up and the stains were bothering me. Not wanting to spend $100 to have the carpets professionally done, I bought this stuff. IT'S AMAZING! It's a damp powder. You sprinkle it on the stain, scrub a little, leave it be for 20 minutes and then vacuum. VOILA! My carpets and my pocket book are saved!

SAM IS READY FOR A PARTY!!

Sam loves beads!

I love the drool!

He loves the camera!

What an adorable little boy!

Time Card - September 5 - 11

I am keeping track of how many hours I work during this school year. My contract only pays me to work 183 days a year, from 7:30-2:30 (that is 1189.5 hours). We are not told we have to work extra hours, but there is no way I could plan, correct papers, make copies, make phone calls, etc., just working to contract. Usually I arrive there at 6:15 a.m. and leave around 3:30 p.m. Then when Samuel is in bed for the night, I do at least another couple hours of work. I also take stuff home on the weekends.

This week I worked 54.75 hours.

Total to date: 464.25 hours.

GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS #113

My mother has always had a prayer list and I've now started one of my own. So each Sunday I will publish the prayer requests of anyone who e-mails me. Please keep us updated as God answers your prayers too.

Who we are praying for this week...

* My mother to be healthy and happy.
* Ray's healing from cancer.
* All those children still waiting to find a Forever Family
* Penny's, entire family needs prayers for healing their hearts and spirits.
* Deborahrose's family and friends need healing from their grief.
* K-the birthmother of our baby
* Bri's hubby's job situation.
* Dawn - husband to hear God and find his way to Him
* Christy prayers and praise
* orphaned and alone
* peace in the Middle East
* the Gulf Coast
* our economy
* honesty in our leaders
* all service men and women that they may come home soon

E-mail me if you have someone for me to add to the weekly prayer request. God Bless.