Almost done . . .

It has been one of those years at school.  The entire 6th grade has had a reputation since Kinder of being especially immature, unorganized, unmotivated, not doing homework, etc.  It's weird since they come from four different elementary schools.  Must have been something in the water in '96.  So, you can see why I now have a countdown to the End of School on my blog. (See right!)

I am very excited to have reached my minimum donation amount for the Avon Walk ($1800)!  Yeah!  I would still love to reach my goal of $3000, of course, but at least I don't have to pay out of pocket to walk!  I need to really get on the training thing.  Especially with the weather cooling for a few days.  

Connor has a friend at school that always asks if he can come over to play.  I don't know the kid very well and have never met the parents so I feel a little weird about arranging a play date.  I guess this is how you get to know your kids friends.  It is nice that he asks!

Kelsey is talking up a storm!  3 word sentences, sometimes more!  It's crazy how different boys and girls are.  Connor knew only about 20 or so words at 2 years old.  Kelsey, of  course wasn't walking until she was almost 16 months.  

Currently in our district we are experiencing low enrollment and some teachers are being laid off.  Originally they gave notice to 240 teachers in our district - that's about one third.  They have slowly been "recending" the notices, which means letting the teachers know they still have a job next year.  All but one of the teachers at my school got recended.  It's very unfortunate.  He's a great teacher.  Apparently there is still hope that he may be back.  We are expected to have 100 less 6th graders at our school next year so we are supposed to lose 2 sixth grade teachers, who will be transfered to another middle school.  Luckily, my principal has indicated that it will not necessarily be our two newest teachers (they are both great)!  But, that also unfortunately means it could be me!  I sure hope not!

Also, our principal had to let 2 custodians and 2 office clerks know they will be getting layoff notices in a few weeks.  Things are going to be tough all over.  The kids coming up to 6th grade better be way better than our current rascals!

San Diego

Here are some pics from San Diego!

Connor with the "treasure" map!

Kelsey fell asleep on the "Journey into Africa"

Stroller time!
Riding the carousel . . .

What a beauty!

Here are some recent pics of Kelsey from Penney's. I can't help but brag. Sorry!

Psycho

Connor's new favorite song is called

Psycho by Puddle of Mudd

It's really funny because now Kelsey knows it by the third note and gets SOOOOO excited and starts dancing! Hilarious! You have to listen to the words. At least the first few lines to know why this is so funny. At least I like the song also! The kids just like to sing "Maybe I'm the one. Maybe I'm the one."

Here's a cute pic of Connor from a recent field trip to Adventure City:



And a cute one of Kelsey from a party we went to at My Gym:

How Could You?????????

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU AMERICA??????? HOW COULD YOU VOTE OFF THIS!?!?!?!?!?





We voted and voted. He has not been in the bottom three yet. The other two girls that were in the bottom three have been there multiple times. I can't believe the two of them are still on the show. Dan said he wanted to write "A strongly worded letter". I said "To who?????, America?????" He said that he would take an add out in the newspaper. . . . I thought this would be cheaper. :-)

Are you doing it?

Ladies, you should be feeling them once a month! It's for your own good!


How to feel your boobies:
~use pads of fingers
~press firmly
~examine collarbone and underarm area

What to look for:
-lumps or thickening
-puckering or inflammation
-nipple discharge

When to feel your boobies:
>monthly
>same time each month
>preferable a week after your period

Where to feel your boobies:
~in the shower
~before a mirror
~lying down

Visit the website!

Feel Your Boobies.com

Avon Walk

Don't forget the Avon Walk is in 160 days! Click here to see my Avon Walk Page! You can donate from that page!

My Avon Walk Page

Today Connor had quite an "adventure" (to put it nicely) in our house while he was supposed to be napping. Grandma was upstairs, so he snuck out of his room went into our kitchen and got some bread to eat. Then I guess he decided to cut the bread, so he got a variety of Cutco knives out of the knife block (2 steak knives, the really long bread knife and carving knife) to cut the bread on the couch. For those of you who don't know, Cutco knives are extremely sharp!!! I cut myself once with the cake froster!

So, back to the story, . . . so I think he got thirsty from eating all of the bread and decided to get a sippy cup. Since he can't reach them I think he climbed on the counter which enabled him to reach all of the stuff we keep in the cupboards, like desitin. Instead of getting a drink he decided to play with the desitin, spreading it all over the kitchen sink, counter and floor (luckily not the carpet). Also he spread it all over the bathroom counter and toilet seat cover (which he decorated with a sharpie a few weeks ago). I think he was trying to clean it off of his hands because it was all over the faucets in both the kitchen and bathroom as well as the towels.

Also, in his bathroom he somehow found an old lipstick in one of the drawers (I think my sister must have left it in the bathroom when she lived in there). So he decorated his toilet with the lipstick. (He also colored the grout in his bathroom with a green marker about a month ago.) This is becoming an epidemic!!!! I am ready to put him back in a crib with that net-cage thing!!!

I was, of course, most concerned with him playing with the knives. Praise God that nothing happened to him! He has apologized to me a bunch of times and keeps randomly telling me he will not play with knives any more.

TIP: The only thing that gets desitin off of stuff (like your hands or the sink) is baby wipes. The Kirkland brand ones from Costco are awesome for that! And cleaning lots of other stuff!

Questions on Lost . . .

While trying to fall asleep on Thursday night after watching "Lost", I came up with some questions . . .

If people have such trouble finding the island, how did the Darma people find it in the first place?

How did the others get there? Some of them seem to be "original inhabitants of the island". So, how long have they been there? The character that talks to teenage Ben about gassing all of the Darma people has not aged in the current episodes. Do the original inhabitants of the island not age? Does this have to do with the healing power of the island or the space/time continuum?

How come Ben does not have trouble finding the island?

How can the others get to and from the island without having trouble with the space/time continuum? They have traveled to and from the island in a submarine, is the space/time continuum not messed up when you are under water?

How does Charles Whidmore (Penny's father) tied into all of this? Does he have anything to do with Darma? Or with Jacob? What does he want with Ben? In the flash forward do Ben and Sayed work for him?

Why would pregnant people die if the island has healing powers?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

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Boring Bumper Stickers

I think I have seen it all (not really) . . .

Bumper Sticker:
"Happiness is
being a home-school mom"

Really? REALLY?

That's all you can come up with for your bumper sticker? With all of the clever sayings, political or religious statements, or just plain hilarious one-liners, that's it? Who was the genius who printed that up?

And to make matters worse, it has no punctuation.

Great teaching, mom.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The In-Laws LOVE to Tango!

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Dan and Krista gettin' their polyester groove on!

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Dan and the kids "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"

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Mom and Emmy-Lovin the Oldies!

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The Strike is OVER!!!!

At long last, a strike chart you can get excited about!

With the three-month-old WGA strike finally over (yay!), the networks are feverishly finalizing plans to salvage what's left of the current TV season. At the same time, I've been quietly picking at my moles to get a preview of those plans — the results of which appear in chart form below.

Keep in mind that the following information remains extremely tentative and is subject to change (and probably will). In other words, I strongly suggest you refresh your browser at least once an hour to ensure that you're getting the most up-to-date scoop possible.

24
Season 7 postponed until January '09.

30 Rock
Expected to shoot 5 or 6 new episodes to air in April/May.

Aliens in America
Eight pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Back to You
Two pre-strike episodes remain. Future TBD*.

Battlestar Galactica
Returns April 4 with first half of 20-episode final season. Production on second half could start as early as March. Airdate for those TBD.

The Big Bang Theory
Expected to shoot 9 new episodes to begin airing on March 17.

Big Love
Expected to go into production on Season 3 in the spring. Airdate info is TBD.

Big Shots
No new episodes expected. Ever.

Bionic Woman
No new episodes expected. Ever.

Bones
Four pre-strike episodes left. Unclear whether additional episodes will be produced for this season.

Boston Legal
One pre-strike episode remains. Expected to shoot 6 to 8 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Brothers & Sisters
One pre-strike episode remains. Expected to shoot 4 or 5 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Burn Notice
Production on Season 2 expected to get under way in late April. New episodes could start airing as early as July.

Cane
No additional episodes expected this season. Future beyond that TBD.

Chuck
No new episodes until fall.

The Closer
Expected to kick off its fourth season this summer.

Cold Case
Expected to shoot 5 new episodes to begin airing on March 30.

Criminal Minds
Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to begin airing on April 2.

CSI
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 3.

CSI: Miami
Expected to shoot 8 new episodes to begin airing on March 24.

CSI: NY
Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to begin airing on April 7.

Desperate Housewives
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

Dirty Sexy Money
No new episodes planned until fall; three remaining pre-strike episodes will undergo some tweaking and kick off fall run.

ER
Expected to shoot 4 to 6 new episodes to air in April/May.

Everybody Hates Chris
Twelve pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Friday Night Lights
No new episodes expected for this season. Future TBD.

The Game
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 8 or 9 additional episodes to air in March/April/May.

Ghost Whisperer
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 4.

Girlfriends
No new episodes expected this season, although a special one-hour series finale is being discussed.

Gossip Girl
Expected to shoot 5 or 6 episodes to air in April/May.

Greek
Kicks off second half of Season 1 on March 24. Still awaiting Season 2 pickup.

Grey's Anatomy
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May

Heroes
No new episodes expected until fall.

House
Expected to shoot 4 to 6 new episodes to air in April/May.

How I Met Your Mother
Expected to shoot 9 new episodes to begin airing on March 17.

Jericho
Seven episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Journeyman
No new episodes expected. Ever.

Las Vegas
Two pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Law & Order
Expected to shoot an indeterminate number of episodes to air in spring.

Law & Order: CI
Expected to shoot an indeterminate number of episodes to air in spring.

Law & Order: SVU
Expected to shoot an indeterminate number of episodes to air in spring.

Life
No new episodes expected until fall.

Life Is Wild
No new episodes expected. Ever.

Lost
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot five additional episodes to air in April/May.

Medium
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot additional episodes for this season.

Men in Trees
Eleven pre-strike episodes remain, the first of which airs Feb. 27. No additional episodes expected this season.

Moonlight
Expected to shoot 4 new episodes to begin airing on April 11.

My Name Is Earl
Expected to shoot 8 to 10 new episodes to air in April/May.

NCIS
Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to begin airing on April 8.

The New Adventures of Old Christine
Seven pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected this season.

Nip/Tuck
Season 5 concludes Feb. 19. Production on the show's eight-episode sixth season expected to start up this summer. Airdate TBD.

Numbers
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 4.

October Road
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

The Office
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to air in April/May.

One Tree Hill
Five pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 5 or 6 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Prison Break
Two pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Private Practice
Slim chance it could return with 4 or 5 new episodes this season. Either way, it'll be back in the fall.

Pushing Daisies
No new episodes until fall.

Reaper
Three pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 5 or 6 additional episodes to air in April/May.

The Riches
Seven-episode second season kicks off March 18.

Rules of Engagement
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 14.

Samantha Who?
Three pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot an additional 3 episodes to air this spring, likely after Dancing with the Stars.

Saturday Night Live
Returns Feb. 23.

Scrubs
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Four additional episodes will likely be shot; unclear whether they'll air on NBC or go straight to DVD.

Shark
Expected to shoot 4 new episodes. Airdate TBD.

The Shield
Final season already shot. Airdate TBD.

Smallville
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 5 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Supernatural
Two pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 4 or 5 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Two and a Half Men
Expected to shoot 9 new episodes to begin airing on March 17.

Ugly Betty
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

The Unit
No additional episodes expected this season. Future beyond that TBD.

Without a Trace
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 3.

Women's Murder Club
No new episodes expected this season. Future beyond that TBD.

* TBD = To be determined

Happy 2008!

Hellllloooooooooooooo BLOG WORLD! I am back! I have had a very busy Fall and am hoping the upcoming winter will be less so. Christmas vacation has been good, yet extremely busy with family, projects, and cleaning (blah!).

My brother-in-law and family came from Ohio last Thursday and it is always so nice to see them. We have had some good hanging out time in the last week and I will be sad to see them go on Saturday.

I have been busy cleaning, cleaning, oh and also . . . cleaning. I hosted Christmas at my mom's this year (since we are living in her back house). It was fun, but it took me 2 days to get the dishes done. I threw my back out on Christmas eve, so that made it very challenging. Then we had stuff piled all over our tiny house. Laundry. Toys. Presents from 3 different Grandparent's houses. The took me another 3 days. Now of course it is time to do laundry again. Will it ever end?

I am pooped out. And by that I don't mean tired. I mean I am sick of poop!!!!!!!! These two weeks off of school have been challenging for us in the potty training department. Connor does not like to tell us when he has to go. It's been about every other (or maybe every third) day that he goes poop in the toilet instead of his pants. Not fun. Besides cleaning him up, and washing underwear (or sometimes throwing them away), and changing Kelsey's poop twice a day, I also am dealing with dog poop!!! Why does this happen to me?!?!?!?! (See blog from Nov 2006 "Poop Day 2006) I can't tell you how many times Connor has stepped in poop and then tracked it all over the yard! Another thing to wash. His shoes and the walkways outside. Well, today He stepped in it in his brand new shoes and then tracked it into the house onto the kitchen rug that I had just washed and put down not 5 minutes earlier. I lost it. It was not pretty. Needless to say, we have a very clean rug now.

Hope you all had as fun of a Christmas as I did!