Third Grade Projects

So far third grade has been the year of school projects.


We have the "Sense of Wonder" project.


And the "Planet Project."


Plus the "Traditions" project.

Faith is such a procrastinator combined with perfectionism that we usually end up about ready to kill each other by the time we are done. Daddy got to do the space project - that's his thing - and they had an even harder time working together than she and I did. And I keep hearing that she's just like me and that's why we have a hard time????

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I got out to see my Gma and Gpa's place today. They are looking really settled it and it seems just the right size - the little bit extra of computer/office space really does make a difference.

My mom and stepdad's move went smoothly - turns out that one of the movers used to work with me back in the early 1990's at McDonalds. He said he recognized me because of my laugh and my smile - I was kind of hoping it was because I was still so skinny and twentyish looking but no such luck!

I've been ignoring my grading and working on Christmas cards today. Ended up having to order more since I underestimated how many I would need - too bad I didn't figure that out earlier as I would have got in on some big online savings!

Yesterday I went out to the Scholastic Books Warehouse Sale. Got some great deals - almost everything is 50% off cover price - St. Nick and Santa finished filling their baskets! Then I took Faith over to see my mom's new place - she approves - and on to do our shopping for the Giving Tree at church. I let Faith pick the recipients this year - you can read who is receiving the gift and what they would like (8 year old girl, clothes size 10) on an ornament ahead of time. We bought for an 8 year old girl and a 3 year old girl and I sure hope they both like pink clothing since everything Faith picked out was pink!

Gearing up for the last two weeks of school before Christmas break - things always get a little crazy with schedule changes for school programs or special Masses and possible SNOW DAYS but we will make it though! Dont know if I'll enjoy having a snow day for the extra time at home and not having to drive in the chaos or just be annoyed that I have to replan everything I had figured out for the next two weeks!

Post Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was quiet but nice this year. My mom and stepdad held the last hurrah celebration at their place because they are moving next Friday! It was small - just the three of them, the three of us, and my grandparents. Both the other sibs, spouses, and kids went to the in-laws. Although it was small, it was very nice! Our biggest challenge was keeping Faith occupied with no cousins and all of the grandkid toys either packed up or gone. Bless Auntie Chelle for stepping up to the plate and getting in some quality aunt-niece time - love you darlin'!

Then Dan and Faith were off to Chicago-land to see that side of the family. I stayed home because I was supposed to help mom pack - but she didn't need me. So I went all crafty - making a Christmas surprise for Faith and some other things I picked up at a JoAnn Fabrics sale - I may be finishing craft projects up to the day before Christmas!!

Faith and Dan decided that two nights away from mommy is too long - they can't keep themselves organized for that long!! Gotta love them!!

Another funeral

My sister is coming down for the sixth or seventh funeral of a high school classmate's parent. While it is a sad occasion, I'm actually kind of glad! I'm going to get some quality niece and nephew time on Saturday and Faith will get some cousin time also. Only her oldest won't be here because he has a hockey game and my BIL is a coach.

The two older girls will be in Barbie and American girl heaven, while I'll get some serious play time with the little ones - yeah!

Eleven Years

Wow - today it has been eleven years since I said "I do" and officially joined my life to the guy who shares the other side of the bed! When we took the plunge, we picked the date because it conveniently fell on Teacher's Convention weekend (no school for two days prior) and it is a date that DH would have a hard time forgetting. Got to love the man, he know's my birthday and his sister's birthday are in the first seven days of the same month, but can never remember which day belongs to which of us! I think the part I love the most is that he's such a great dad - Happy Anniversary babe!

Halloween 2009

The Ladybug Fairy

The Teaching Pumpkin
with friend

Moving

My grandparents are moving in one week - for the first time in about 8 years. My mom spent the day at their apartment packing up the kitchen. It sounds like it was a huge task. My grandmother used to do lots of cooking and baking, but hasn't much in the last few years. They found all sorts of pots and pans, cookware, baking items, spices - you name it, they found it - within their small kitchen!

Then they tackled the pantry. They have a deep pantry so sometimes things got lost in the back - lost for years lost. The descriptions of what somethings looked like when Mom pulled them out of the pantry made me feel nauseous just having them described on the phone. I can't imagine what it was like to actually be there and experience it first hand.

At the end of the day there were: (1) several trips to Goodwill; (2) boxes of items to move, to take to the church rummage sale, or to store at my aunt's house; (3) five bags of trash; (4) three bags of recycling; (5) a goal to clean our pantries this weekend by both my mom and me!

Keeping it all Separate

I've been bouncing around today from blog to blog - keeping it all separate. What do I mean, you ask? Weeellll..... I've got this blog, I've got a student blog, and I've got a parent blog. And the school sponsored website that needs to be maintained and the wiki I've been experimenting on with my class, and I'm feeling a little bit technologically divided.

There are good reasons everything is separate. This is my spot to be me, just me, the non-teaching part of me. My student blog is for fun stuff that they might enjoy and a spot for some literature response homework. My parent blog is a spot for weekly news and other info that needs to go home because the school website is not the easiest to work with. The school sponsored site has to be there and I've now made it virtually needless to update that - my homepage there is just a bunch of links to other places!

And the wiki is a work in progress - I've actually got to type up some directions for my students this weekend so that hopefully they can do some things without having to have me standing right next to them. It's been fun but also challenging to incorporate all of this technology - plus the mobile laptop lab and the smart boards at school! It's one of my goals for this year - I'll keep you posted on how it's going for me.

Minnesota Trip

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We had so much fun visiting with the family in Minnesota! Faith had the back of the van all rigged out for her own personal enjoyment! My dad and stepmom were staying in the same hotel so we had a pool party on Friday night!

My sister's two youngest were being baptised - they are three and two. They did great! It was a very different service than I'm used to, but Faith did a great job. I was impressed that she was able to tell me about and explain so many of the differences herself.

Soccer Action

Yesterday's game: Faith did super on defense.

And not too bad on offense!
Our team made 5 goals and only allowed 1!!!

Change

My grandparents are moving from their two bedroom apartment into a one bedroom apartment. This has been very stressful for both of them - lots of worries about what to do with all the stuff won't fit into the new place - some of which has been moved with them and cherished (or at least stored) since college some 60 years ago.

I'm the oldest grandchild - only ten years younger than their youngest child. Right now, I'm also the one who lives closest to them. This has been great in many ways - Faith loves to go and visit their house and I'm only minutes away if they need something. Their new place will be farther away for me, but probably better for them. It's close to their church and to many of the places they like to go to.

Gma and Gpa have always been there for me. I think it was their faith and belief that eventually brought me back into fully practicing my religion. It's been hard seeing them grow older. They were such young grandparents - my memories of them are so different than my youngest cousins' memories! In many ways, they are like another set of parents to me. I guess this experience of seeing them grow older and more dependent is giving me some practice for what I may be experiencing with my own parents some years down the road. Though I look at my grandparents and then at my still working, extremely active parents and step-parents, and hope that it will be many, many years until that happens.

Fall Soccer

Today was the first game that Faith's team played this season. It's a big change for them. They are used to playing 4 on 4, with no goalie, no ref, the coach on the field, and for 4 10 minute quarters.

NOW they play 6 on 6, with a goalie, a ref, the coach off the field, and for 2 25 minute halves. Plus the parents are on the other side of the field from the players so they can't go hang with mom and dad when they aren't in the game!

I was so impressed with all of the kids on the team! We only have 10 kids all together and 2 of them weren't there today. Which meant they got A LOT of playing time. No one was whining about how long they had to play or asking to be subbed out after only playing for 2 minutes - they have grown up a little bit since the spring. They are starting to catch on about what each position does, passing the ball, and dribbling it instead of just kicking it away from where you are.

They only thing that went wrong was that the manager forgot to have a parent assigned to bring a snack and beverage for after the game. So the manger (ME!) had to quick run to the grocery store during the first half and pick up some snacks and beverages. Good thing everyone liked bananas and Sunny D!

Third Grade

Faith is having fun so far this year in 3rd grade - and boy does it feel strange to know that my baby is that big! She loves her teacher, likes almost all the kids in her class (most of the time!), and is even not too cranky about having homework.

She came home this week twice with math homework concepts that some of my fifth graders are having challenges with. Not my girl. I asked if she wanted me to check it over, and she said "Ok, but Mom, I know they're all right." And they were! I'm hoping it's because she's such a great mathematician not that her teacher is a better math instructor than I am!!

Her latest project is a "Sense of Wonder" where she needs to choose a wonder that God created, learn about it, and create a project. They are only supposed to be brainstorming right now...which is a great thing because the current brainstorm involves an expanding rainbow, a pulley system, multiple clouds, and lots of glitter - heaven help me!

Music Rings Again

Today was my choir's first Sunday back from our summer break. It was so nice to be back with a group of people who share my love of music! We are the "contemporary" choir - meaning we like non-stodgy music - and encompass members from all age groups. I love all of the care, concern, and support each of these people brings to every other member of our group! It was great to be "home" and I hope the congregation is glad we're back too.