I am an Olympaphile

Apparently I am an Olympaphile, according to Bob Costas.  I have really enjoyed watching the olympics this year.  I, of course, would have liked to see more coverage of some of the less popular sports, but have enjoyed it nonetheless.   Sorry Trebs I thought the olympics were great!

Hopefully the IOC can fix the gymnastics scoring as it seemed heavily NOT in our favor.  It seemed we got ripped off quite a bit in the scoring.  If you saw ANY of the many interviews with Bela Karolyi you could know this.  :-)  I've got to rent Nadia again!  If you did not see this on TV back in 1984, you've got to put in on your Netflix!

What???? It's over already????

I was back to school today for a bit.  I needed to organize my classroom.  I moved rooms this year after 10 years of being in the same classroom!  Our staff had 2 sixth grade teachers leave due to downsizing, so I was sent over to the sixth grade quad from my cozy little home in the 7-8 quad.  I was not very happy about it because that may mean I will see less of my friends from that quad.  So I am hoping for a good lunch schedule!  (We have two lunches, so I am hoping to be with those friends!) 

My cupboards were quite the "hot mess".  (It's the new catch phrase, apparently).  So I went in to organize.  I had a very productive four hours of work.  I feel like I have most of the stuff in my room in place.  I just need to do some decorating.  And untangle the mess of cords that are attached to the sound system in my room.  I pulled out two cords from that mess that aren't attached to anything and don't go to anything.  Weird.  

It's sad to be back to school already.  Summer was quite shorter due to the fact that I taught summer school this year. There are technically 11 weeks from the time school got out until the time school starts.  Four of these weeks were taken up by summer school and half of the last week is a work week.  But, I can't complain right? At least I had time off.  Dan has been a temp at his company for almost a year and so he doesn't earn any sick or vacation time.  He is on the list to be hired, but they are in a hiring freeze right now, so we are just waiting.  "Wishin' and hoping and thinkin' and prayin'.  Plannin' and dreamin' each night . . . "

I am Emma!

Take the Quiz here!

You are Emma Woodhouse of Emma! You like being the queen of your social circle (small and provincial as it may be), and feel it's your duty to help those less influential than you. You often meddle in the affairs of others, though you do it with a pure heart. You are often deluded in your flights of fancy, but your good intentions and creative spirit make you someone anyone could like.

Survivor La Verne

Dan and I perform at the Beijing Olympics.  We were in the rhythmic gymnastics competition.  

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To clean or not to clean

I'm trying a new hair product.  I bought it after seeing an ad on TV!  I know, CRAZY, right?  But I actually LOVE it! It is called Wen by Chaz Dean.  (Check it out by clicking on the pink link) It is a "conditioning cleanser".  His idea is that you should not use shampoo to clean your hair because it is too harsh and strips the good stuff from your hair.  Anyway, I LOVE the way my hair feels.  And it feels really clean!  I can't believe I bought something from an infomercial.  It was pretty cheap!  AND I can't believe that I really love it!

Happy Birthday

Here are some pictures actually taken on Kelsey's B-Day.  She got a pink cowboy hat from her Noni and Papa that she LOVES!  She wore it out to her birthday dinner at Red Robin.

Classic Kelsey face!

A little apprehensive of the servers singing to her at the restaurant!

Fun with brother...

Two

    

My baby turns 2 today.  I can't believe it!  She is amazing.  She loves to talk (although most of you have not heard her) really loud.  She loves baby dolls and cars.  She sings off key and skips 7 and 8 when counting to 10.  She know most of her ABC's and loves guacamole.  She has big, beautiful blue eyes and thinks all of the characters on Little Einsteins are named June.  Her hair is finally long enough to put in pony tails and she is finally starting to stand still for this (which means I will have to get up even earlier come fall).  Her favorite activities are closing doors, pushing her stroller around, and putting lids on water bottles (no toys required!).  She finally can say Tinkerbell and now screams it at the top of her lungs when any Disney movie begins.  She is a gem.  I love her and I love being her mommy.

You Know You're A Mom When . . .

your dashboard looks like this.

New Look

Decided on a new look for the blog.  Comments?

You're how old??????

WOW!  I turned 32 today.  I still answer 25 or 27 often when people ask how old I am.  It's like an automatic response.  I can't help it.  I also almost wrote 2003 on a check yesterday.  Hmmm.

Pretty in Pink? Not.

After being gone from summer school for two days (Friday I was sick, and Monday we were in Arrowhead), I am now home again because Connor has pink eye!!!!!  I don't like missing this many days of work, not to mention the fact that I will not get paid for those days I am not there.  (Summer school is hourly.)

Liposuction can get you to work

Want a new way to power your car?  Use your fat butt.  Read all about it here.  Hilarious!

We had a great weekend in Arrowhead with the fam.  Day one:  Super HOT! But we went to see Get Smart to beat the heat.  Funny stuff.  Day Two: Shopping!!! My kind of day!  Here are a couple of pics of the kids from Arrowhead!

As we drove out of the 73 dees-grees weather in Arrowhead up to the highway overlooking the Inland Empire, I couldn't help but thinking how hot it could be back home and that I was Descending Into Hell.  My premonition was confirmed when I saw this headline. 

One Word

"One word that describes me" on Facebook came up with this word for me after taking a 7 question quiz:

"Phlegmatic:

This is the word that best describes you!  The dictionary meaning of the adjective phlegmatic' is unemotional, stoic and calm.  As a phlegmatic person you are reliable, reasonable, contented and observant.  You possibly get stuck in ruts because of your dependence on routine and lack of enthusiasm.  Although often seen as shy and reserved; you have many friends because you are dependable, rational and kind."

I disagree with it saying I am unemotional.  I think anyone who know me would say I am emotional, sometimes overly so.  I am not shy and reserved and do not like being described as having a lack of enthusiasm.  I should stop taking these dang quizzes.

I also found out my 80's sone is "Wanted Dead or Alive" which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!  Especially the live version!  AWESOME!  And my 90's song is "Smells Like Teen Spirit".  Cool.

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 . . .