Is it Friday Yet?

photo credit

This picture pretty much sums it up. I've been super busy this week observing at summer school, prepping for the upcoming year, and training my replacement at my current job.

Monday and Wednesday, I got the opportunity to go to my new school and observe the kiddos' last week of summer school. I met 3 out of 4 of the students that I will have in my class this year and both of my paras. I been told the 4th is the wild child, so that should be interesting. I was a little overwhelmed at first, but after Wednesday I was confident that we are going to have a great year together. Their little personalities came out immediately, and I have already deemed them "the helper", "the diva", and "mini Horatio" for the purposes of this little blog.

Further explanation:

Helper has to be in the middle of everything and thinks she should personally be responsible for the care of her bff "the diva."

Diva requires a little more medical attention than the others, so she gets her morning stretches and makeup every day. She's our high maintenance little gal.
Mini Horatio is our only boy and looks like he could be the offspring of Horatio Cain from CSI Miami. He also gives you those long stares like Horatio, thus his nickname for the purpose of the blog.

I'm excited to meet my "wild one." I've heard lots about her from all the other Special Ed. teachers and paras, which I'm not sure is good or bad.

I have training 2 days next week at school, and then we are sponsoring a week long camp at work for 25 kiddos. And, I still have no decorations up in my classroom. I have a feeling next week may be even more crazy than this week. I like it though...it keeps me on my toes.

New Adventure

credit

For a little over a year now, I have been contemplating a major career change. My hour drive to and from work has given me plenty of time to think about the things I really enjoy and what I like and dislike most about my current job.

The more I thought about it, the more I just couldn't get the idea of teaching out of my head. I actually looked into a teaching program right after college, but the circumstances weren't ideal, and I pushed teaching out of my head. But, almost 3 years later, here it was again. This time I made the commitment and enrolled in an alternative certification program. After the classes and state examinations, came the daunting task of actually convincing a principal that I was qualified to teach the youngsters in his/her district.

After countless hours of online applications and venting to the hubby about how hard it is to find someone that will just give me a chance, I am happy to report that I actually did convince the principal, as well as several other key personnel that I am indeed worthy of a chance. I will be in a self-contained classroom teaching life skills and modified curriculum to several children with profound special needs. The first day with my students is August 24, and I'm just as much terrified as I am excited about what the school year will bring. I'm certainly up for the challenge and hope to share my first year teaching experiences with you. Maybe I'll do Thursday Teachable Moments to keep all my teacher posts on the same day. Just thinking out loud here. Stay tuned!

Hangin Tough

Tomorrow night I will be partying it up with these guys.

I saw them back in March and was stoked when they announced they were coming back this summer. Growing up, I was New Kids on the Block superfan. And, apparently that still applies today. This will be my 3rd time to see them perform. Once when I was about 7, last March, and tomorrow night. Maybe it's the fact that I get to feel like a kid again, or maybe it's that these 5 middle-aged(ish) guys still know how to put on a great show. Either way, it should be a ton a fun to just get out for a night....even if the concert is outside and it's 100 degrees in TX this time of year. I warned you..Superfan!!

Bragging on the Hubby

These were delivered to my desk about 2:30 today...just because.

What a good husband! Love ya!

Strap on your Dancing Shoes

cause it's time to Tango at Casa de Ford. Remember this beauty that I blogged about here.

Well, thanks to the Z Gallerie powers that be...it's back! And let me tell you, I don't think I've ever had to control my excitement more in a store than I did on this day.

Last Friday, I stopped by Crate and Barrel to look for something for a family member and naturally had to stroll on over to Z Gallerie while I was so close. I opened the glass doors, rounded the corner, and there she was...perfectly perched at eye level waiting to be whisked away to her new home. I obviously wasted no time snatching her up, and she now happily sits on my couch with her twin brother. I think Max is enjoying her company also.

If you are on the search for one of these beauties, I suggest you get to your nearest Z Gallerie as quickly as possible. They had all colors along with the matching curtain panels at my store, but I have yet to see them pop back up on the website.

Revamped and Revitalized

photo credit

Good news boys and girls, the blog is back up and running after a major makeover and a little procrastination on my part. I hope you enjoy the new look, and I can't wait to get back in the swing of things.

The Hiatus is Over

I really have no good reason for being absent for so long, but nevermind that. All that matters is I'm back and have some fun things to share.

Landscaping is the name of the game and that's what we been up to. The hubby and I really wanted to do some things to spruce up our basic builder landscaping this year, but at a quote of $700-$1300 from the neighbors #1 lawn guy, I decided this was something we could surely tackle ourselves for much less. After all...we are in a recession people!

The to do list....
1. Remove weeds
2. Trim the existing trees and shrubs
3. Replace the ugly, half dead shrubs
4. Plant flowers
5. New red mulch
6. Add stone edging
7. Add lights
8. Dig new bed in the backyard

Saturday morning I woke up and quickly accomplished #1 and #2 and the set out to Home Depot to scout out some stone and plant options.

Day 2...I had my plan and went back to Home Depot to get supplies. As I got home the hubby was leaving for work, and I was excited to get started on the transformation. But wait...not so quick...I locked myself out of the house by closing the garage door and locking my car door too. And, of course, my phone and keys are inside the inaccessible house. Neighbor #1...no answer at the door. Dang it!! Now I am forced to go to Neighbor #2, who I'm pretty sure doesn't exactly love living next door to our vocal little ball of fur. He answered and graciously let me use his phone to call the hubby. Crisis averted....now back to the task at hand.

I started in the backyard by digging the new bed and planting

Pink Roses,


Yellow and White Ranunculus and transplanting a shrub from the front and another flowering plant I already had.

Then to the front....I dug up the ugly/half dead shrubs and replaced them with matching

Indian Hawthorns and


Waxleaf. I also added a couple of

Gardenias and

Impatients. After all this, I was pretty exhausted and was starting to turn a slight shade of lobster, so I called it day.

This week we've been working on the stone edging and the remainder of the list. Pics of the finished product coming soon!