Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This....

Let me start off by saying I am a very blessed person. I know this blog is going to be whiney. I will probably end up deleting it. I just feel the need to be whiney in blog land today.

Here are all the things that make me sad/worried (depending on the situation) today. I am having a rotten week. Here is why:

• My amazing and wonderful assistant at work is named Jennifer. She is a dear friend and absolutely the kind of person you want working for and with you. An answered prayer for her and her family is that she has been offered at least one teaching job for next year. This will more than DOUBLE what she makes for me. She will do a great job in the classroom. Selfishly, I am so sad. She will be so hard to replace.
• One of my bosses is leaving. He is going to be doing something that is awesome for him and the institution he will be working for next year. He is one of those guys who really makes you believe that you are good at what you do. He has become a dear friend of mine. I am so happy for his new opportunity, but I am going to miss him so much. I have been really bummed about losing these two all week.
• My sweet mom has a bacterial infection somewhere in her digestive tract. She is so sick! They have her on meds soon. Her fever went up all the way to 103 this afternoon. She has felt awful. I can't see her or check on her because I can't pass it on to my little buddy Carley.
• Mom is supposed to have Carley tomorrow. Cody is at the station. I am presenting at 3 elementaries tomorrow and there is no way to take off. SO, my buddy Carley is coming to work with me for the day and my assistant, Jennifer, is going to go with me all day and help take care of Carley. NUTS! It is going to be NUTS! There is no telling when she is going to be wonderful or fussy, so basically I am at the mercy of a 4 month old. It may go great tomorrow or it may bomb! Why this week?
• My sweet Cody has been at the station or at class every night this week except for Wednesday when we were at church. We haven't been at home together awake for more than 1 hour any day. It has been so hard on both of us.

I know these are trivial things to gripe about, so don't feel sorry for me. I am just fussy. This week is almost over and things will be better soon.

One word is on my mind....summer...summer....summer

I want to hear what your gripe is today...

What a Weekend

We had a great time in Dallas. Camryn is beautiful and so cute! Lauren is a great big sister. Carley was well behaved. It was fun to have so many cousins. On the way to the wedding, Alyssa and I had all three car seats in the back of her car. It was hilarious. I definitely know I am not cut out for multiple children.

We got to spend some great time with my cousins and my dad's family. 2 of his cousins came. It is so funny to see so many Lebnanese people in one place. Cody looked very handsome in his new suit. Carley didn't spit up on me until we got home. It was so nice to be in public with out a big white stain on my shoulder! :) We got to sit and visit with my sweet cousin Susan and her husband Mike. They are so wonderful. It is rare that we get to just visit with them.

On Sunday I got to see some of my favorite people at PC. The blogging world is such a blessing because it keeps me close to people. It was good to see Tami, Kristen, Chelsea, and Amy along with so many others. I just love it. The hard thing about weekend trips to the metroplex is that we NEVER get to see everyone at all. It is so frustrating to be in the same place as some of our dearest friends and not get to hug their necks. This summer Carley and I are going to try to come up for a long weekend and get to see more people.

On a side not, my friend Katie has blogged before about an amazing hand dryer called the Xlerator. It is AMAZING. I experienced it first hand in the bathrooms of a gas station in Seymour. You must check this out.

Here are some cute pictures from the weekend. I rarely post pictures of my favorite brother-in-law and brother-in-love. Here are Alyssa and Clint and Camryn and Carley.

Hug A Teacher

This week is the most stressful week in Texas public schools. It is TAKS week. This is the week where students all over the state take the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. These tests are difficult, full of pressure, and produce highly important reports that make decide several factors for students and districts including funding, schedules, accountability, ratings, and enrollment.

I could talk about the TAKS test forever (but I won't). For teachers, the old saying, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink", has never been so true. You can show, demonstrate, tell, teach, describe, and act out 2 + 2 =4 a million times and in a million different ways and some kids are never going to grasp it. The TAKS test reflects this on that student's teacher whether the teacher taught this or not. It is a tough spot.

However, instead of talking bad about TAKS, I am going to rant about some positives. After all, standardized testing is never going to go away. We might as well look for positives. So, here are some reasons why I am a big proponent of standardized testing.

My first year of teaching Biology, I spent and entire six weeks on genetics. It was so awesome! My kids really got into it. We played lots of CSI games and did more Punnet squares than you can imagine. They knew genetics like the back of their hands. It was all of our favorite six weeks. Well, when we got to plants I only spent a week and a half. Plants are so boring. The kids HATE studying botany and I ABHOR teaching it. If my kids would have taken the TAKS test, they would have failed the part on plants. You see, whether I like plants or not, it is still something the state of Texas says needs to be covered in depth in Biology I on the high school level. In fact, there are less standards required for genetics than for botany. The next year I spent 3 weeks on each unit and my students got a much fuller and enriched education. I picked and chose the quality labs for genetics instead of all of my favorites and looked for ways to make plants interesting.

The point of standardized testing is to say that if you are a 3rd grader in Padukah, TX you are learning the same reading, writing, math, social studies, and science skills that a 3rd grader in Coppell is learning. If your parents moved you in the middle of the year, you would still have a complete 3rd grade education. I respect that. It shouldn't matter if your teacher is a football coach or a nuclear physicist, Chemistry class should be Chemistry class. If you are low income, you should have the same basic learning opportunities as the richest kid in the state.

When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers used science class to teach us sign language. I LOVED sign language and I am thankful to this day that I can somewhat communicate with others through sign language. My sister knew it too growing up and we had lots of fun at the dinner table chatting without my parents really knowing what we were saying, however, I probably should have learned properties of matter instead. One of my Junior High social studies teachers taught us how to play chess. I am glad I have that skill, but I do think there are more important facts of European history I should have picked up other than a pawn is less precious than the queen. There is a purpose and a point to standardized testing and as an educator, quality and equitable education is something I owe my students and their parents.

That being said, give teachers a hug this week and a pat on the back. It is a stressful week for them.

Happy TAKS testing.

Happy Easter!

Carley's first Easter has been so fun! She had a great time checking out her duck Easter basket and hunting eggs with her cousin, Lauren. Lauren was so sweet and would find eggs and then bring some to Carley so her basket wasn't empty. Spring is such a great and happy time of year anyway, but today was just a perfect day. Church was great and it is always great to spend a day with your family. Most of all it is a blessing to live in a country where they take a day to acknowledge the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Here are some snapshots of today.

Carley's 3 month pictures

As a parent, I feel it is my right to put Carley in bunny suits at Easter that she hates. I know that some day she will try to revoke this privledge, but for now, her fashion is at my mercy!

She does love her little smocked dress that my aunt made her. It is really cute.

Happy Birthday, Alyssa

Today is my sister's birthday. Since she is in the hospital recovering from having Camryn, I can post whatever I want since she can't read it. So, here are Alyssa's most embarrassing moments! Just Kidding. Here are a few things I love about my sister! Happy Birthday!

1. Alyssa chooses nicknames that stick. Growing up she named the trees, our sprinkler, every stuffed animal and doll, and she gave me a nickname too. All of those stuck! Most of her friends have nicknames that she gave them and I am still called "Cee" to my family which is a derivative of an embarrassing nickname Alyssa gave me in the 3rd grade.

2. Random and funny things always happen to Alyssa. She has the most hilarious stories of anyone I know. The closet story is my favorite, but there are a million I could choose from.

3. Alyssa is a really good friend and she keeps friends for a long time. She has been in more weddings than anyone I know. She has friends (other than me) that she has know for 25-30 years! She is a really good listener, very genuine, can keep a secret, and is always up for good, clean fun. I am still reaping the blessings of Alyssa's ability to be a good friend because several people out there in blog land are people I consider friends even though they really are Alyssa's.

4. Alyssa loves events and parties. My dad used to joke that when Alyssa was single she was the event planner for the metroplex. That girl loves to get people together and always makes it fun. She LOVES holidays and always makes them fun with parties and games.

5. She is a great mom. Lauren is so smart, polite, talkative, and hilarious and I attribute most of that to Alyssa. She is so calm with Lauren and rarely looses her cool. (actually I have never seen her loose her cool) She has been a huge help to me into my journey into motherhood.

6. Alyssa is a great audience. Growing up she made me feel like I was the best entertainer in the world. She was always getting me to put on plays, sign songs, make up dances, and tell her stories. You can partially blame her for the nut I am today. Seriously, she has a gift of making people feel talented and important.

7. Alyssa is great with words. She is very eloquent and always seems to have the right words to say. She has a way of putting things into perspective and giving calm to storms. She is good at explaining things and helping people get on the same page.

8. Alyssa is very tender hearted. When we were little, she made a schedule of which stuffed animals got to sleep with her to make sure she didn't show favorites and that none of them got their feelings hurt. Seriously, who does that?

9. Alyssa loves teen movies and books. She loves all chick flicks and romance books as long as they aren't scary and have happy endings. She loves any kind of romance in tv shows (i.e. Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Ed, the Office) and gets incredibly excited when it looks like they are going to hook up.


Happy Birthday, Alyssa! I know this year has already started with a blessing named Camryn Grace and I pray the rest of the year is full of blessings as well! I love you!

Camryn Grace O'Rear

She is here! 8 pounds 4 ounces, 20 inches! Alyssa and Camryn are doing great! I'll post more as I know more! 12:27 p.m.

The hardest Happiest day

Today is a very exciting and blessed day. I am about to become an aunt again. Alyssa's C-section is scheduled for 1:00. I am so excited and happy for them. I love Camryn so much already. Lauren has been hilarious about it all. She will be one funny big sister. My parents and Clint's mom arrived in Dallas yesterday and they are all heading to the hospital here in a bit.

Selfishly, I am having such a VERY hard time not being there. I know it is not about me at all. I just am out of sub days after maternity leave and Carley would not do that great stuck in a hospital room for 3 days. There are so many people staying at Alyssa's that I would need to stay on the couch which means I would need to kick someone out of their room every time Carley needed to eat. It would be a mess. So, Cody, Carley, and I are going down in a couple of weeks for a wedding and to see my precious new niece then. Today I am throwing a pity party here in Lubbock wishing I was closer to them. But, today is not about my selfishness, but the blessing of little Camryn Grace!

For those of you who live in the area and are going to go visit them, give them lots of hugs for me and take pictures so I can see her. Knowing my technosavvy family, I won't see pictures of her for a week.

Also, say a prayer for Camryn's safe arrival. I will keep people updated here with stats and stuff as I know them!

factoid

This morning at 2 minutes and 3 seconds after 1:00 am it was:

01:02:03 04/05/06.

There is your thought for today.

5 Quirks

I saw this tag game on Carolyn T.'s blog and thought it looked fun. All of you have to do it! You list 5 quirky/weird/odd things about yourself. About 837 came to mind for me, but I am picking 5.

1. I clip coupons faithfully. I have my own coupon organizer that I take with me to the grocery store which divides coupons into categories. In fact, I love my coupon organizer so much that I scanned it for your viewing pleasure.

2. I am a huge fan of series finales. In fact, for several it will be the only episode of the show that I ever watch. There is just something about closure and good byes that get me every time! Here are some last episodes that I have on tape that are some of my favorites to watch over and over: Wonder Years, Another World, Family Ties, Dawson's Creek, 90210, Friends, MASH, and Mad About You.

3. I don't like to bathe and or shower. I know it is gross, I just don't like to take the time. Of course I do it, I just have to give myself a pep talk EVERY TIME before I do it. My favorite things to do on days off is to not shower or bathe. In fact, I know I couldn't be a stay at home mom because I know Cody would have to ask me how long it had been since I washed my hair, because I am not disciplined enough to do it if I know I am not going to see people.

4. I abhor cold cereal. There is something that grosses me out about puffy bread floating in milk. There is not one kind I like. Now, hot cereals, I could eat every meal, but cold cereal is disgusting to me. I have not had more than 5 bowls since I was like 13. They funny thing is, when people hear this, they always make suggestions of different types of cereal they like as if it will change my mind. I do not like cereal, Sam I Am.

5. I love Diet Big Red. It is my soft drink of choice. It is so sugary and sweet and marvelous. Not everyone appreciates Big Red like they should. If it has been awhile since you have tried it, go ahead and drink one. You won't be sorry. Plus, if you get the Diet Big Red, you won't even feel guilty for the calories.


Did you learn something new about me?

well...

2 pink lines...yep...we are pregnant. I cannot believe it. Our kids will be about 11 month apart.. I am guessing the due date is the end of Novemeber. I got nauseous 2 days in a row and then last night after everyone left from the girls night, I took the test. We are blessed, but not excited. Cody was at the station when I called him. I think he almost passed out. I know I am rambling, I am just in shock. I mean, can you imagine? Well, happy april fools day and I hope I am the first one to get you. Of course this entire post is a lie and I would not be able to type if it was true because of the heartattack I would have suffered.