I am the Princess!

Blue Socks

2007-04-04T17:42:00.000-04:00

I dated a guy once that called random things Blue Socks. So, that is what I think of when people start having random thoughts.

My students finished their test early today and were just hanging out talking, going from one conversation to another. They blamed it on their ADD, but I begged to differ. My brain is all over the place, especially when I am trying to fall asleep.

It is snowing out. Why? It is April 4th and baseball season. Not snow season.

I am in my jammies early though.

No school on Friday - Good Friday - Halleluah! Only means I have to go to the grocery store and work to get ready for next week and so that I don't have to do it on Easter.

I went shopping for a pretty skirt for Easter and couldn't find a darned thing.

I did shop early on ebay and got the two youngest hard to find webkinz. I am very excited.

I haven't gotten anything for the two big boys though. Hmmmm. Guess I will add that to my to do list for Friday.

Speaking of Blue Socks, I am going to the Red Sox on Wednesday. It is DiceK's (sorry don't know how to spell his name) home debut. Very exciting. My husband and I are going with my best friend and her husband. It should be so much fun.

I tutor a girl after school for SATs. We got very off topic today. She liked philosophy and all that stuff. We had some good non-math conversation. I had her last year and she remembered that I said I hate philosophy. LOL. The things kids remember. I explained that I don't hate philosophy. One can't really hate philosophy. I explained that I didn't like my philosophy class in college because I didn't care for my professor. It made me laugh that something I said stuck with her after a year. Makes me remember that I need to be careful what I say to students.

I guess I have some sort of impact.

I do have a student that is really sick. He was born with spina bifida and is in a wheel chair. He is 15. He got an infection and is in the hospital. Tomorrow my advisor group is going to have the whole school of about 1000 kids make cards for him. I think he will like it.

Well, it is almost 6 pm, husband is on his way home from work, I guess I need to make dinner. It is Wednesday, so pasta day. Spaghetti with salad.

me and my blue socks

Dear Administrator

2007-03-21T20:49:00.000-04:00

Why do you give us so much work? Do you not understand that I am a teacher? I want to work with the students and they are my number one priority. Why is that we have weekly monthly meetings that waste our time? Why do we have professional development days and you never bring in a speaker or something for us to learn how to teach better? All you have us do is sit at a computer and type in the curriculum. You are the curriculum director, you should be typing in the curriculum and giving it to us. Oh, I know, the curriculum isn't a piece of paper, it is a living process. We will never be done with it. It is killing us. It is so boring to always be working on this. It does not have a direct impact on my students. I wish I could go to something inspiring and energizing and learning some actual math or how to better teach it, imagine that!

Dear Administrator - you suck the live out of teaching. Now, you tell me today that my portfolio is due in under 2 weeks. Don't you see that that is not enough notice. I am supposed to pull together a portfolio of my best lessons and write a reflections piece about each of these. I guess you are just going to get a haphazard portfolio because I do not have the time. I am going away this weekend and then next weekend, I will be writing my next geometry book/binder because you do not provide me with a decent book for my students. That will take longer than a weekend, but I need it to get done because the students will be needing it. Then, during the week I am a bit busy what with teaching and all - the Monday meetings, the Tuesday extra help, the Wednesday math competition until 7:30 pm, and the Thursday tutoring session, then the daily grading, planning, copying, and answering emails. It is all so ridiculous. If I worked to the contract, nothing would get done. I would be grading during classes, lessons would suck. I have a family with a husband and 4 young kids that need me attention, plus I have 110 students. Yet, you force me to waste my time. It is no wonder teachers get so burnt out and leave the profession. Sure, we get our summers "off" but we are prepping for next year.

Dear Administrator - Why is it that you get more than twice as much as I do? You are a curriculum director, but I can't tell you anything that you do besides make up powerpoint slide shows to present to us and the school committee. Maybe I should apply for your job, except I don't like to be the boss and I enjoy being with the students. You were a teacher, why did you leave, was the administration sucking the life out of you and you decided to join the ranks.

Dear Administrator - I do not have professional status yet. I am forced to walk on eggshells with my mouth duct taped for fear of losing my job. But, one more year, buddy - then just you wait. I will open my mouth far and wide and reveal all this ridiculousness (if that is a word - I like it though!)

Dear Administrator - Just thought I would give you a warning. Makes me feel better.

Me - a tired teacher (only in my second year)

Party was a success and other stuff

2007-03-11T20:48:00.000-04:00

The party went well. We were all ready 45 minutes before showtime and everyone was there right at 2pm. Just the right amount of food. The kids had fun, good conversation. Now, all cleaned up and done for another year.

Watching Grease. I don't care for Austin, why did they keep him. I hope Max wins. And, Ashley, just something about her I don't think she is the Sandy. I like the brunette girl. Can't remember her name.

My dream is to be on Broadway someday, but I can't sing, dance, or act, so that is a big dream. Heck, I would take off, off Broadway, LOL.

time change is going to be a killer in the morning, so I better head to bed.

Procastinating

2007-03-09T19:26:00.000-05:00

I am having a family birthday party for 3 of my 4 boys and my husband on Sunday. It is just his family and mine, but that is 23 people. So, I need to clean and cook tomorrow. Tonight I am procastinating.

I have some students at school that have such sad stories. We live in a very wealthy town where people think there are no problems and all is well. I have a boy whose mom is addicted to drugs and his dad has tried to make it work living with her, but now they are getting a divorce. The boy decided to leave home and was living with a drug dealer. This kid is emotionally disturbed and has so many issues, but his smile will melt your heart.

I have a girl that labels herself so much that she limits herself. She has ADD and that is how she identifies herself and why she won't do any work. All she says is that she wants to marry rich. I hope I can get her to wake up a bit.

I have another boy that was in my middle level 2 class and really struggling because he is a year older than most of the kids and felt dumb. He was absent often, very quiet in class, and never did homework. Come to find out he was living in a car with his sister. I think he is back home now. I talked him into moving down a level in math and he is in a smaller class with me. He was thriving. He got a 98% on his past two quizzes. I even overheard him say, "I love math." I said, "I heard that." He said, "it is so much easier now, it makes sense." That is a huge cry for smaller class size. Anyways, he has been out all week. I guess he now has so many absences that he will be expelled. Just when I was getting him to like math.

Another girl I have really doesn't belong in the lower level 1 class. She is very capable but doesn't want to be challenged and sort of plays dumb, but I can see it in her. Then, I heard her say the other day that she wants to be a math teacher, always has. I was thinking, how will she become a teacher in the lowest level math class, but if that is where she will learn, then that is where she needs to be. Plus, I don't think she wants to teach high school math. She would do great with little kids. I hope I can keep her inspired.

Oh, this other boy. The "I can't do this boy." I have had him for two years now. He has all the labels. He is also OCD and I think I know all his annoyances by now and we work well together, but it is his defeatist attitude that is wearing me down. I can't do this. Well, pick up the pencil and try. It is hard to motivate kids that don't want to be motivated or don't want to learn.

This other girl, another one that moved down from level 2 to 1, absent all the time, quiet. I think she was battling some depression issues and her therapist told the school that she only had to be at school each day until 11:30 each day. With our rotating schedule, that was tough. Then, the school finally took her to court for truancy. That scared her for a bit and she was actually in class and learning. Now, she is back to being absent again.

That takes me to another girl that is absent all the time and plays the special ed card. She has lots of issues, only lives with her dad, no mom in the picture that I know of. She is a beautiful, bright girl but absent all the time. She was out at the beginning of the week, came to me to get the makeup work and said that she misses so much when she is out, she won't be absent anymore. Well, she was out the past two days.

Oh, and another boy with Tourette's. He controls it pretty well and socializes very well. Actually, I didn't know he had it for a while. I thought maybe he wasn't paying attention all the time. Apparently he is trying to control the ticks. But, he hides behind this label too and doesn't work to his full capability.

I love these kids, but I just want to shake them and say, don't hide behind your labels, don't let the labels limit you. You can be and do so much more.

I am trying to teach them so much more than just geometry.

Another B day bites the dust

2007-03-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

At our high school, we have a seven day rotations, days A through G. B day is my yuckiest day, it is all five academics, with only a 20 minute break for lunch. Today was such B day. But, it is done and wasn't too bad. If planned correctly, I like to give at least one quiz so that I am not teaching for all five periods. I counted ahead and there are only 9 more B days left in the year, WOWSA! That is good news. The other good news is that the next two days, C and D have two back to back preps in them. It is always nice to start of Friday with double preps first. That way I can work to get ready for next week's lessons.

that's it for this B day.

Half day at school

2007-03-07T19:21:00.000-05:00

Half day at school today. I teach HS math. I am sick of hearing parents and townspeople saying why do they have half days. Yes, the kids are free to leave, but we have to stay and work and we are working! I had the first three periods and was done "teaching" at 9:15. Then, I had two prep periods to prepare for all my classes yesterday until 10:45. Then the school day was done. We stayed and worked until 2. Then, I tutored a girl for free for the SATs for an hour. Then, I had a floor hockey game at 3, so I got home at 4, a long day. Then, I came home and graded, prepared more for tomorrow. Tomorrow is my busy day with all five classes. I get 20 minutes for lunch, basically no time between to even hit the bathroom. It is a crazy, hectic day. I will be glad when it is over. Then, yahooooo, Friday!

The weeks are flying by fast.

I am having my kids family birthday party on Sunday, so I will be cooking and cleaning this weekend

Cold March Day

2007-03-06T20:16:00.000-05:00

I keep browsing around reading other people's blog and keep thinking I need to blog. So, it is about 7 below here and nothing better to do. I figured an update was in order.

We made it through the beginning of the year and that was 3 out of my four boys birthdays. They had a skateboarding birthday party, all together. It was the easiest, best party ever. We rented an indoor skatepark for 3 hours, invited about 12 friends, had pizza and cake. I took pictures and videos and they turned it into a movie. Lots of fun. So, now my boys are 15, 12, 8, and 5. How did that happen. My oldest is now 6 feet tall, how did that happen?

This Sunday is my husband's birthday and we are finally having the family party for all three boys, plus dad. I have a lot of cleaning to do before then.

School is going well, so fast. I have four geometry classes and an algebra II class. We are in a negotiation year, so it is getting interesting.

My husband and I are going away on March 23rd to a hotel in NH for a romantic, much needed getaway. I am so excited to read, shop, and eat out with my husband.

April brings baseball season. My oldest will try out for JV baseball. If he doesn't make it, he will do track. So, we will have all four hopefully playing baseball.

In May, my family and friends are doing the Relay for Life cancer walk for 18 hours. I am so excited. I am the team captain of the JBirds. We each have to raise $100. That is a big endeavor for my family of 6. We are having a 50s theme. The girls are going to wear poodle skirts and the guys jeans and white tees - so fun!

That is my update on this freezing evening.

Me

Wed and Thursday Detox reports

2006-11-16T17:35:00.000-05:00

I am so busy, the days are blending into one another. The end of day 6! I can't believe it. Things started moving today, through the old body. So, that is good. I will definitely keep up with the supplements and colon cleanser fun, but can't wait to eat a normal dinner with my family tomorrow.

I thought that I would feel more tired being that I am on mostly liquids, but I am less tired. I even played on the high school teachers' team for flag football today and we won! It was fun.

I decided my family will have leftovers tonight. I just can't cook for them all over again. I still need to veggies for myself for tonight and tomorrow, but dont' think I want to. Can't I just add some easy cheese to them and eat em raw! LOL

TGTF (Thank God Tomorrow's Friday)

Detoxing made easy

2006-11-14T21:43:00.000-05:00

Well, I started to blog this because I thought I would have a lot to report. But, other than feeling wonderful, nothing to report. I am content, not hungry, tired, thirsty, or bloated. It is nice.

But, so much work. I used every pan in the kitchen again. I have a family of 6, so I have to cook for them. I have math club at school tomorrow, so I baked them brownies, then I had to cook for me. Nevermind washing all the dishes. I can't work full time and keep up with all this healthy eating, oy.

But, I will continue through to Friday. I think I will contine with some of the supplements as well, but two things that will go is the awful veggie broth and the psyllium huck drink, yucko!

On to hump day!

Monday - school day - day 3 detox

2006-11-13T20:28:00.000-05:00

Made it through another day. I must admit, I had a few pieces of popcorn. I wasn't hungry, but it was the smell I couldn't resist. It was lite, LOL.

Man, it takes a lot of time and dishes to cook healthy. I also had to make stuffed green peppers for my own family. So, once again, I used every pan in the house. More cooking time, more cleaning time, just to be healthy. Oy.

But, I feel good. I am not hungry, nor thirsty, nor bloated. I just am. It is good.

People at work (I am a teacher) didn't understand it either, but I didn't bother to try and explain it all. They thought I was fasting. One teacher brought homemade banana bread, one of my favorites, but I passed.

So, tomorrow will be another big cooking day and it should stock me up for a bit. I have a meeting tomorrow night from 7 - 9. HOpefully they won't have food, LOL.

All is good.

Day 2 - Detox and Will power

2006-11-13T20:24:00.000-05:00

I have never dieted before and don't plan on dieting any time soon. I am doing the detox to get healthy. It is funny what other people think of that.

I was going to my parents' house today for my sister's birthday. My dad was making stuffed shells. That would kill me - all that cheese and pasta and tomato sauce. So, I called him and told him I would bring my own dinner. He was okay with that, but still offered me meatballs. "Oh, you can't have stuffed shells, but there are extra meatballs, if you want one." Then, came the "do you want some cake?" No, Dad, thanks. My mom is a nurse and didn't get it either. I explained that I was doing it to get healthy, to get all the stuff out of my body. Before bed, I usually feel bloated and gassy and in pain. My mom said that "Well, maybe something is wrong with you." Duh, mom. That is why I am doing this. AFter I get the bad stuff out, I will slowly reintroduce stuff (like wheat) and see if it affects me and if it does, I can connect it.

Funny how the non-healthy people want to bring you down. But, I succeeded in getting through day 2 with all that pressure.

Ick - detoxing - ick

2006-11-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning like it was Christmas Eve, all excited to get started with my new detox program. Got up and drank my warm lemon juice and my glass of water with psyllium husk (like drinking hair, yuck), took the bentotite clay (didn't taste like anything). Then, I started my vegetable soup that would turn into my "snack" for the next few days. I brewed up routabega (sp?), sweet potato, mushroom, and carrots, all organic of course. It simmered for 2 hours then I poured it into water bottles for easily assessible snacks. Yuck. Tastes like potato water. It is hard to swallow.
Then, I made my protein shake, with a cup of frozen berries, rice protein powder, some other powder, some water, some flax seed (eww consistency), and flax seed oil. Delish. Not really, but I am trying to fool myself. This will be my lunch and breakfast for the next seven days.
Next, I steamed some veggies (yellow pepper, zucchini, squash, and onion). These were my lunch and dinner. I will make a new batch tomorrow.
After a trip to home depot, came home and made a really delicious dinner for the family - chicken pesto pasta, yummy. One of my faves, but I didn't eat it. I get to eat fish all week. I do so love fish, but I love it with cheese and tarter sauce and lots of it. I only get plain fish and only about 4 oz. OH, I forgot the brown rice. I cooked that up and saved some portions.
I think I used every dish in the kitchen. It is a lot of work to be healthy.
I have also gone pee a lot and peeing clear. That's a good thing.

Tomorrow is day 2. I don't think I will wake up all excited. And, we are going to my parents' house for dinner for my sisters birthday. I won't be able to eat the stuffed shells (which would kill me anyways - all that cheese and pasta!) and I have to pass on the cake. Oh well.

It will be worth it right?

FAT Friday - tomorrow DETOX!

2006-11-10T18:28:00.000-05:00

I am enjoying my food today, but detoxing tomorrow. I have been battling stomach pain for a long time and am constantly gassy, as in lovely flatulence. I tried the Dannon Activia and it worked for a while, but that was it. So, I turned to two health nut friends and they set me on a plan. I hit Whole Foods today and was able to find all the supplements and foods I needed to.

So, I just had my last supper - tacos and my last Coke. That is what I will miss the most.

Most recently I think I had a gall bladder attack on Wednesday, by birthday, as I was heading out to dinner. I thought I was going to die, so figured I would try this.

It involves a lot of supplements and rice powder shakes and eating fish and legumes with brown rice for the next 7 - 10 days. I am hoping to last 10 days, but 7 will be good. My reward will be Turkey day. I will reintroduce foods slowly and try to stay away from the bad stuff. I think wheat is adversely affecting me. I was thinking I was getting all healthy with switching my family to wheat, but in fact, it might be hurting me.

So we shall see. My sister is a chiropractor and knows about the supplements. She has warned me about diarrhea, (joy) and feeling tired and moody. But, I am ready.

Cleaning up my act!

Wish me luck.

Back at School

2006-09-18T20:03:00.000-04:00

So, now I am back to my new life. My old life is stay at home mom. My new job is teaching, second year. I enjoy being able to go back and forth to new job for the school year and then my old life for summer. I am so happy that I have a job that allows me to have "an end" - about June 20th! Something to look forward to. Each school year comes to an end and each has a new beginning.
I am at this new beginning part. So far, so good. Last year, I was completing my student teaching as part of my master's program and I found it hard to breathe I had so much to do. Now, I have completed my masters, moved over a column to make more money, and don't have my own school. I can breathe now. I can do my grading or lesson plans for the next couple of days ahead of time and then ahhhh, breathe.
Last year I had one student that stood out as being particularly hard to deal with. I don't have him anymore this year, so again, easier to breathe.
So far the students are good, willing to work and putting forth some effort.
And, it is September. I can't wait until it is over. With four kids, September has to be the busiest month. Again because of beginning. It is the beginning of sports - 1 cross country, 2 football, and 1 soccer. It is the beginning of CCD - 1 to make his First Communion this year, 1 beginning his year of Confirmation prep, and the other two just regular years. It is also school pictures and sports pictures. And, four back to school nights, plus my own for teaching.
Ahhh, but it is also the beginning of new tv shows. I don't get a chance to watch that much, but a little bit for fun.
So, off to breathe and watch t

Sad, bored, excited, and nervous

2006-08-30T20:53:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am in Teacher Mom mode. I guess I am ready to go back to school. I am doing a little bit of school work each day. My room is set up and I thought I was going to have my high school room to myself, but found out that the teacher I shared with last year will be back in my room again. I say "my room" because I have 5 out of the 7 classes in our room. She is only in there for 2 classes. I will call her...Betsy. She has been there 2 years longer than me and is a part time teacher. Last year, for my first year, I was in our room and she claimed the head desk and mine was stuck over, half way out the door. Yuck. I was told my admin I could have the head desk, but then she secretly, with tears in her eyes if she could have it. How could I say no, here I am low man on the totem pole and not wanting to cause trouble, so whatever. It was a pain, because her desk was at the front and next to the computer table. We have to take attendance on the computer, so we do use it.
So, when I found out that Betsy wasn't going to be in my room and for 3 whole days thought I had my room to myself, I went in and switched the desks around and hung up all my posters and got "my" room ready. Then, I get an email saying that they switched her classes back into my room. I sent an email admitting that I already switched the desks and she was okay with that.

I hate stupid things like this. I just want to teach, just teach, not deal with stupid, petty teacher things, deal with emails from admin, professional days, parent requests and email, and ugh, just all that extra stuff. I just want to teach!

But, anyways, I think it is time for me to get back to teaching. I am ready. We have done all of our summer stuff. The weather is changing. I am excited to meet my new students and see some of my old students. I had some juniors last year, so they will be big seniors this year and I am so excited for them.

Oh yeah, another reason to get back to teaching...I'm broke. I need a paycheck again.

But, first, a wedding over the weekend, so a crazy family filled weekend getaway and then, voila, change my hats from stay at home mom, back to my alter ego - working mom.

Bittersweet School Time

2006-08-28T19:47:00.000-04:00

I am a mother of four boys. I am also a high school teacher. This will be the start of my second year teaching. I was a stay at home mom for 13 years. Best job in the world. I loved it, but alas, I need to work to cloth, feed, and soon send kids off to college. I do love teaching too. It is a ton of work, but I like working with teenagers and I love doing math.

Day 1 of this summer and ahhh, I remembered my old life. No schedules, free time, freedom, and spending time with the kids. I love going to the pool, the beach, and day trips. I also watch my niece and nephew during the summer. So, I have 6 kids during the summer. It is our own mini camp and I love doing it. But.....it is coming to an end.

I am done watching my niece and nephew. They start school tomorrow, so we have a week to ourselves. Well, not really. It is filled with the start of sports and getting ready for back to school.

The school clothes have been bought - both for kids and Teacher Mom. The shoes have been bought (again, for Teacher Mom too). The supplies have been bought. The school calendar has come and I colored coded all the events according to child. The old artwork has been removed from kitchen doors to make room for new, fresh artwork. I keep files for each kid. They have been cleaned out. The kids are ready.

I went into my classroom today. I don't have as much as an elementary teacher to get ready, but I do have a lot to do. I cleaned out my long closet it and organized all my geometry math tools and art supplies. I love that geometry is so hands-on, so I have a lot of material for it. I hung all my fun new, inspiring posters around the room. I filled my desk up with supplies.

Tomorrow I will go in and figure out my brand spanking new Dell computer, yeah! Better than our old dinosaurs we had last year. I need to bring the textbooks to the classrooms for the kiddos.

I have been working at home on things like class lists, policy lists, schedules, pretests, my name sign, and first day activities.

I need to fill in my lesson plan books and my class record books. Ahhh, then there is those silly things called lesson plans. Need to work on them.

Only one math teacher was in today, but it was nice to catch up with her. I really like all the math teachers I work with. They are great friends, so it will be good to see all of them.

So, it is bittersweet. I so love the summer, but the weather is getting cooler and telling me it is a change of season. Time to get ready to go back to work again. Get back to a scheduled existence - school and sports schedules. One boy is doing soccer, 2 are doing football, and one is doing cross country, add to that four CCD schedules, and boy, we will be busy.

I am excited that we don't start until after Labor Day this year. That is exciting. So, we will have one more last hurrah this weekend. My cousin is getting married in Vermont, so we rented a house with all my brothers and sisters and will go to the wedding. Then, back to business!

To health and husbands

2006-08-23T12:35:00.000-04:00

I am so lucky (knock on wood) that my family is healthy and that I have a great husband whose job does not take up too much of his time. He is home my 5:00 each night and doesn't have to travel.

This being said I visited a friend's new house. It is huge and has every detail and extra imaginable. It is a beautiful house, but I will take my home, health, and husband over it in an instant.

But, I just can't fathom how someone who is the same age as me can afford such luxury. It is beyond my little pea brain. I am a teacher and struggling to make it through the summer on my few dollars left and actually look forward to working again and bringing some money in. My husband and I both work full time and will never make what this friend's husband does.

I love my husband, my healthy family, and my little home! I am blessed!

I hate football!

2006-08-22T17:26:00.000-04:00

Ugh. I am exhausted. Two of the four boys are playing Pop Warner football and I hate it. Mr K and Croc. Mr K is in the C division, Croc is only 45 pounds, the bare minimum for the E division. Practices started on August 1st for four nights a week, for 2 hours each night! That is a ton. Luckily my husband is home to take them, so it isn't so bad to not have the two boys for that time, B ...U....T....it is a big pain when they dont' want to go and it is "me" who has to get them ready.
Croc had a scrimmage tonight, had to get ready a little bit earlier. "I hate my coach. I don't want to go." Oy. Me: "You're going, get dressed." Got dressed, one out the door.
Mr. K on the other hand was a little more difficult. He started with the crying last night. He doesn't want to play anymore. It is too hard, blah, blah, blah. I figured he was tired because he had just come home from practice and had done a sleepover the night before (bad idea), plus we were away on vacation for a week, so he was a bit behind.
Woke up this morning, I don't wanna go, it's too hard, it's too hard. 4:45, it's too hard, I'm not getting dressed! So, we had a screaming match until he finally got dressed.
So, my husband is at Croc's scrimmage. I have a pocketbook party to go to, so fil (father in law) had to take him. Unfortunately, fil is a softy, so hopefully they didn't just go get ice cream some place.
I am exhausted from this fight. Haven't had one of those in a long time and it feels crappy.

Becoming Team Manager

2006-08-01T07:52:00.000-04:00

I was thinking about my blog as I was out for my daily walk this morning. It is summer and I walk 3 miles each morning with my 2 dogs at 6:30 am each day. One is for exercise and the other reason is for sort of physical therapy. I had acl knee reconstruction surgery in April, so trying to keep moving. Anyways, I was going over the blog in my head.

I was realizing that I am starting a new chapter in my life. It really started last September, but let me explain. I am moving from baby making and babies and me as the ultimate boss to the teenage years and me becoming the team manager.

Update of the team ages -
The C-man is 14
Mr. K is 11
Croc is 7 and Charlie Brown is 5.

So, you can see that my oldest baby will be entering high school - gasp! And, my youngest baby will be entering kindergarten - wow! How did this happen? I can remember all four of them just like it is yesterday, sitting in diapers in their high chairs, orange from spaghettios and calling them orange Elmo.

From my own age of 19 - 33 I was making babies, pregnant, nursing, diapering, putting babes down for naps, watching them toddle around, trying to get pregnant again, attending playgroups, and chauffering off to preschool. I was THE boss. The babies liked to think I was on their schedule, but it was really me that did their schedules and all that jazz.

Now the table has turned. I started teaching last year after being a SAHM for 13 years. I realized that I was having less control over my family. They were doing things different from me. Like my preschooler. I didn't get to bring him to school and meet the moms and his little friends. But, it is okay. Everyone is just spreading their wings and I get to watch with pride and the little men (well, tall men) coming out of their experiences. I am blessed that my father in law is the one that watches my kids. He comes and helps them with breakfast and makes sure they are dressed and catch the bus, then he gets them off the bus. It is a great arrangement.

With the kids getting older, I have gone from THE boss to the Manager. It is okay. I was ready for a change. The kids were ready for a change. They each have their own interests, friends, and schedules. I am again lucky in that I am not a total taxi. We live close to town and the schools and the ball fields, so they can ride their bikes if they have to. Plus, with the grandparents in town, they are very helpful too. Add to that, that now the C-man is old enough to stay home and babysit, I only have to bring the kid that needs to go, not pile them all into the car.

So, as a lot of my friends are in the early stages of the baby years and some deciding whether or not to have another baby, I am entering the TEEN years! I will be in this stage for the next 13 years. It will be interesting. I am sure it will be trying at times. But, all the boys have a good foundation and a good family support system, so I think their wings will help them fly safely.

Enjoy the heat! Today would be a great day to soar high!

Ahhh, camping - click, click, boom, yak!

2006-07-31T13:17:00.000-04:00

So, we went camping this weekend - as in tenting it.

So, the click, click, boom, yak was the beginning of our adventure. We were planning to leave at 2 pm and I got everyone in the cars by 1:50, all excited to go. It was a million degrees. I was so proud of how I packed both the cars and got everything in, get in my car. I mean everything for 6 people for 2 1/2 days - tent, 6 sleeping bags, 4 blow up beds, 4 bikes, food, beach toys, 2 camp chairs, 4 fishing poles, and clothes.

Click, click, click. Arggghhhh! Battery? Thankfully, The Stick is a car guy. I was ready to cry because I am hot and pmsing. He gets his battery tester and there is still juice in the battery. He tried jumping it with this battery little thingie, didn't work. Then, he was thinking it might be the starter. We start to go through all the scenarios – go buy a starter and have him put it in, how much is a starter?, $200, but it is still under warranty, isn’t it cheaper to tow it and have them do it under warranty, we could make trips with his two door cavalier, yuck, we could borrow his dad’s car, I called the dealer to see if it could be seen, but not til Thursday. Called his dad to the rescue once again. He insisted it was the battery and we jumped it with The Stick’s car and it worked. Phew, off we go at 2:30. Thankfully it only took us about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there.

The place was great, the sites were small. Ours was really small for a large tent, 6 people, plus 2 visitors, plus 2 cars, plus visitor car. So, I hiked back to the main office to see if we could have the neighboring site, but it was to be taken, but we could park in the site across from us, so that was good. Got the tent up and boom, bam, thunderstorms and down pouring rain. What is it with us and rain this summer? But, it had been hot and felt good for a bit. We had borrowed 3 blow up beds from my mil. Plus, we bought a cheapo one. Pumped up the cheap one with The Stick’s hand pump, one bed had a charged piece that blew it up and then, two had to be done with electricity. Oh, I was a site. It was downpouring and I drove to find the showers. I went in with the bed in the bag into a small, but nice shower/bathroom stall and started blowing it up. As it fell on to the floor, I didn’t know that the other end opened, LOL. So, I am trying to blow it up with the hole at the other end, going right through. Figured that out and blew the bed up. It was about the size of the bathroom, tried to shove it out the door, barely fit, shoved it into the back of the minivan. Again, still pouring rain and all these campers watching me. Get another bed, go in, fill it in and stuffed that one into the car. Got back to the site and The Stick wasn’t there with the kids and no car. Since it had started lightning, they went for a car ride. Okay, so I jammed those puppies into the tent. The tent is supposed to sleep 6 – 8 but doesn’t fit 4 big blow up beds. It was like a geometry puzzle that I barely passed, LOL. The tent is hexagon shapped, LOL. So, the two little ones were supposed to sleep on egg rolls, but there was no floor space left. So, the two little boys shared a bed and The Stick and I shared one, ooh, not so fun.

After this fun, I suggested going out to dinner. Felt like cheating,but I didn’t feel like hearing The Stick cursing the rain as he tried to light a fire. So, we went and had a nice dinner at a nice Mom and Pop place done the road. Got back and the rain had stopped somewhat, so the kids and I decided to check out the grounds. Croc was tired and his tummy hurt from dinner, so he wanted to lie down so The Stick stayed with him. The other kids and I walked around and came back to a trail of puke, LOL. Yuck! Croc had started to puke on his pillow in the tent and The Stick dragged him out, leaving a trail. So, we threw the pillow case away (thank goodness that is all he got) and we threw some pine needles on the trail.

Croc had what Charlie Brown had had. He was on the low all day Saturday, with a fever. I bought medicine and it broke the fever for a bit, not fun for Croc.

But, besides all that fun stuff, it was good. The only beef I had was that nothing opened til 10 – the beach, the arcade, and the pool didn’t open til 11, geesh. So, at 10, we hit the beach, 10:45, did mini golf, 11, hit the pool, headed back to the site around 12:15 and met up with with my sister and her husband. Then, we rented paddle boat and 2 canoes and did the lake. Then, back to the site, then to the pool, then the beach, then waffle ball, then dinner, hanging out, card games, and smores. They left at 9 and we hit the sack. On Sunday, we broke camp down and went fishing and swimming, then headed home. OH, yeah, my car battery was dead then too, so we had to jump it again.

Football starts tomorrow.

Been a long time, a long lonely ole time...

2006-07-20T21:26:00.000-04:00

Gosh, what a whirlwind it has been lately. I finished my first year of teaching successfully! At the same time as I was waiting to hear if I passed my final capstone oral defense for my masters program, I graded my last final exams. So, I finished the teaching year and finished my masters! I am so excited, so proud of myself. I started in January of 2004 and was at it full force for 2 1/2 years. I have four kids, went to school, and worked full time. No small feat if I say so myself. I am hoping my next year teaching will be easier because I won't have my own schooling, I will have one teaching year under my belt, and I won't have an hour of physical therapy for my knee surgery to squeeze in.
First day of summer came and ahhhh, I remembered what my old life was like. I love it. I miss it. I am enjoying every second of it. I watch my 10 year old nephew and my 8 year old niece in the summer on Tuesday, Wed, and Thursdays. So six kids for the summer sounds far from relaxing, but it is! The kids are great. They all get along. They keep each other busy. With the heat and no AC, we are usually out at a friend's pool or a local beach. I love it! It is like we are our own camp. Of course, this year it is math camp. I have seen first hand the importance of math skills, so I ordered workbooks for all the kids and they start the day with a half hour of math each day. And, so far, no complaints. They just do it.
I scrapbooked our Disney trip from February. I love the scrapbook. I just ordered 400 more pictures from snapfish. That will keep me busy a while.
Plus, I have been reading books. I haven't really had time to read for pleasure since I was going to school, so I am so thoroughly enjoying it. I am on my 5th book of the summer.
I guess that is my update for now.
As summer is going by way to fast, I will try to post more often. I have been very contemplative for some reason this summer. Interalizing everything, really thinking about everything. Kind of a stop and smell the roses thing because I know I will be back at work soon and I just want to make the most of my summer. I love this precious time with my kids.
Off to read my book: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. It is good, I recommend it. I really recommend the Girl with the Pearl Earring. I didn't think I would like it, but I picked it up at a book sale for 25 cents and I couldn't put it down.
Enjoy every second!
Princess

J will do anything for you.

2005-07-07T21:52:00.000-04:00

Well, I went to http://www.sloganizer.net/en/ and it made my slogan above with my name. Yep, that is correct. I was feeling overwhelmed with all I have coming up.

New teaching job teaching HS math starting at the end of August - full time.
Sister getting married:
plan bridal shower
host bachelorette party
plan rehearsal dinner
Sister in law pregnant with twins:
find her daycare
plan baby shower

Ahhhhhh! Need to change my slogan to "Just say NO!"

Time to Breathe

2005-07-06T19:53:00.000-04:00

I have a few minutes to breathe here. I can't believe how fast summer is going by. I am still in school getting my masters and I just got a job teaching high school math full time. I start at the end of August and don't know what I need to do to get ready. So, since I don't know, I have time, LOL. I am going to get in contact with a couple teachers and figure out what I should be doing now, but until then, I will enjoy my summer. I have my four boys and watch my neice and nephew so we do a ton of fun stuff during the summer - the beach, the pool, and field trips. I love summer! That is part of why I chose teaching - summers off!
This weekend we are going down to Maryland to watch the Red Sox beat the Orioles!

-me

What a difference a day makes......

2005-04-03T20:45:00.000-04:00

It is now Sunday, not Saturday, so it isn't last week anymore. Last week was so focused on death..the death of Terry...the death of the Pope, even Frank Purdue died. Yesterday, being last week, I was so miserable and depressed.

Woke up this morning to my period. Who knew? Ahh, I feel so much better now though. Went to 8 am mass and heard the priest speak about the Pope. And, now am going to focus on spring, baseball, and living life to the fullest!

Go RED SOX!

Pity Party

2005-04-02T17:21:00.000-05:00

I am so blessed with everything I have. Everyone is healthy, everyone is happy. That's what matters. But, every once in a while, I am allowed to wallow and feel blah. Like today. Why not? It is a perfectly wet, rainy, dreary Saturday. Day when the Pope died. Day with not much to do.

My mother in law came over to watch a movie. We watched Life as a House. Excellent. I have seen it before and cried even more this time. It is just an amazing look at life and relationships. So, I had a good, much needed cry.

Thought I would see how my husband is doing working on the mud room. His last weekend's project. He prefers to work alone. I can understand that. But, as a female, if I was out working hard, I would like someone to check on me and my progress every now and then. Maybe offer a little feedback, praise, offer a hand, or even just sit and keep me company. Not this man, just alone time. Time to mull and be grumpy. Fine, he can be grumpy outside by himself. And, I will be grumpy inside by myself.

Our school is having a silent auction tonight. They are so fun and you can win great stuff. It is at a fancy country club and a big fundraiser. I really wanted to go to see what I could win. But, my husband is a homebody. I did get him to go once a few years ago. That only means that now he knows what he is in for, so he definitely wont' go. I invited him. I always do. The answer is always no, but hey, can't hurt to ask. Well, yes, sometimes it hurts to ask because I know the answer is always no.

This wasn't supposed to turn into a husband bash. Really, it is just about me and my feeling blah today. Of course, we know what the men will say...must be coming up to that time of the month. My dear husband asked me if I was on the rag. Ah, such pleasantries.

So, off to play happy homemaker and make sure the rice or the chocolate chip muffins don't burn.......

Time for intros I guess

2005-03-25T18:58:00.000-05:00

Well, if I am going to do this thing, may as well introduce my family. There is my husband, we'll call him The Stick. Then, I have four boys, 13 year old The C-man, 10 year old Mr. K., 6 year old Crocodile (or Croc for short), and almost 4 year old Charlie Brown. I have been calling my baby Charlie Brown for a while. No apparent reason. He doesn't look like Charlie Brown. I just like to say Charlie Brown. So, he is Charlie Brown. I was on the computer last night and Charlie Brown asked who Charlie Brown was, so I had to google him and found a great site and made him and Snoopy my wallpaper.
It is so weird that my oldest, The C-man, is as tall as me, looks straight into my eyes, wears a size 7 1/2 shoe and just last night tried on The Stick's leather jacket from high school. It is a cool jacket, that old thick leather. The Stick and I graduated together from the same high school, but didn't date in high school. I had the parties and he and his friends would come. So, I told the C-man, "that is the jacket your daddy wore when I fell in love with him." He didn't appreciate that.
Now, Mr. K is doing the grow the hair out. Driving me crazy! I went to get their pictures done today. His hair is shaggy and in his eyes. I had to keep moving to the side so that I could at least see his eyes. The other three boys have nice short haircuts.
And, last but not least, there is the Crocodile. Oooh, and that is what he is, sort of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...when he's good, he's very good and when he's bad, he is very bad. I don't see how 4 boys from the same parents can all be so different but they are, especially the Croc. He is my third child and my handful. He exhausts me and excites me at the same time. He is so smart and so wise (in the wiseguy bad sort of a way). He tests me and I usually fail. He doesn't miss a thing and worships his two older brothers. Unfortunately, he is that pesky, annoying little brother. He tries so hard to impress the older friends and boys, that he is a pain. But, gotta love him!
Mr. K is having two friends sleep over tonight. Nothing like ME, the PRINCESS at home with 7 boys (The Stick included, of course).
That's the immediate family intros, just wait for the rest of the wackos' intros to come up.

Crazy Good Friday

2005-03-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, just another crazy day off from school here. Started with my husband's car battery dying, so he woke me up to shower and take him to work. But, that worked out okay because I had to go grocery shopping anyways and it is right near his work. My oldest can stay home with the other three. I had plans to take all four boys to Walmart to get their pictures done. Walmart and the grocery store are right next to each other. So, home from the grocery store, give the two little ones a bath, get them all dressed in short sleeved red Polo shirts, pick up Grampa and off to Walmart. Got their shortly before 10 and squeezed in before a woman who showed up for her 10 appointment. I didn't have an appointment but they gladly took me. Ahhh!
Then, off to the sports store to buy cleats for the two big boys. Home again, home again for a minute, then out to lunch at our local hole in the wall that serves the yummiest food for cheap, cheap...The Golden Spoon!
After an exhausting morning, I planted my butt on the couch with the laptop in my lap searching for houses on Cape Cod to rent for a couple of nights over April vacation with my kids and my friend and her two kids. I just need to get away. I found a couple of houses and need to hear back from them. I am excited!
Now, my husband is demolishing our stairway into the house from the garage so that he can put on a mud room. I have always wanted one, but I would have figured he would have done this at the beginning of the winter! At least it will get done.
Pizza without meat (for Good Friday) and my day is done!
Tomorrow....heavenly, I have no plans. However, those usually turn into even crazier days.

Jumping into the blogworld!

2005-03-23T21:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am doing it! I love to write, so I am afraid of becoming addicted. But, I think it will be fun too. I am entering some new times in my life and just thought it would be neat to document it. I have been a stay at home mom for 13 years now and am taking the dive into teaching high school. I have tutored high school students in math for ten years now. That means, going out every night, Monday through Thursdays from 6 - 8. It is getting harder to get out now that the kids are getting older and have more activities. Plus, I am ready to be done with that and ready for my own classroom! I am getting my masters online and I love the learning and can't wait to put it to use. I have applied for a job at my local high school. It is where my husband and I graduated from, so I would love to work there! But, it is scary. I do so much to take care of my family, with four kids, I don't know how a full time job will fit in. Somehow it will.