Our Lazy Weekend

Sometimes it's nice just to stay home and not have to be anywhere. This was one of those weekends. Well, actually, we originally had plans with friends today to celebrate Memorial Day, but that didn't work out, so we stayed home instead. We got Chandler a little pool, and we enjoyed watching him play in it for the first time, and we grilled a few burgers. Otherwise, we didn't really do anything but enjoy the company of each other and the laughter of our rambunctious and silly little boy.

It was actually a nice change of pace. It seems like we usually have a jam-packed schedule when Brent is off work, and this time we pretty much stayed home other than going to church on Sunday. I wouldn't trade these moments for anything in the world...

Monday-Workday

Today was the first Monday I've had in a long time without students, but don't be fooled...I worked hard! Many of these things will only make sense to fellow teachers, but here it goes!

* Faculty meeting with yet another introduction to new standards-CCGPS (the third set of standards I've been introduced to during my career, and I'm just finishing my 8th year of teaching)

* RTI action plans and graphs x15

* Class Rosters for next year- because I believe our input is crucial for next year's 2nd grade classes

* Updated Permanent Records (FTE#s, Report Card Grades, Attendance, Assessment Data)

* But the best part of my day??? I came home to my husband cleaning the kitchen! It was definitely a nice surprise, and it got me in the mood to do some cleaning myself.

Miscellany Monday

So, I have a new favorite snack...Veggie Straws!

Made by Sensible Portions, these tasty, crunchy snacks are so much more healthy than regular potato chips, and the portion size is in bold right on the package. My mom first introduced them to me a few weeks ago, and I was so happy when I found some this past weekend at Sam's Club. It made my day!

Date Night

This past weekend, Brent was off work, so we decided we wanted to go out on a date. I lined up a babysitter for Saturday evening, and that was that...so we thought! We came to realize sometime around noon on Saturday, that we had both forgotten what it was like to actually go on a date with each other.

I mean, we haven't been out together, just the two of us, but a handful of times since Chandler was born, and for a long time before that, we really didn't go on dates that much because Brent's work schedule prevented it. Yeah, I know... almost 6 years of marriage, and we were left kinda dumbfounded on how to plan out a fun date!

At first, we thought we'd go see a movie, but when I checked the local listings, none of them lined up at a time that worked for us. (4:00 p.m. was too early, and 9:00 p.m. was, needless to say, too late.)

We ended up dropping Chandler off around 4:45 p.m. and heading to The Attic in Clarkesville for dinner. (If you've never been, and you want to splurge on a nice but casual meal, you should try it!) Since a nice breeze was blowing, we opted to eat our meal outside. We even ordered an appetizer, which we almost never do. Our food was wonderful, and the company was even better. It was nice to be out as a couple.

With comfortably full stomachs, we headed over to the bowling alley at the Old Clarkesville Mill, and we bowled three carefree games together. We laughed and conversed, and really just enjoyed our time together.

Around 7:15 p.m., we ended up near Demorest Park at the old Demorest Lake. We walked across the footbridge leading to the Swanson center, listened to the tree frogs and running water, and watched the other wildlife around us. Then we sat back in silence for a while and watched the sun fade away as dusk approached. It was time to go pick up our precious baby boy.

Now, I know this date doesn't sound like much to some of you, but for me, it is one of the most memorable dates I have ever had. First of all, I got to spend almost four hours with the man I love. Sometimes I just need a reminder of how blessed I am to have him in my life. Secondly, we really didn't have a set plan when we left our house, and so we just went out and did what we felt like doing...together as husband and wife. I am so thankful for this date night, and I cannot wait for the next one.

Miscellany Monday-Weekend Recap

This weekend marked a first for Chandler, and for me...He had his first planned sleepover away from home. Granted, it was at my parents' house, which is one of his homes away from home since he stays there 3 or 4 days a week, but still, I've only been away from my baby one time over night, and that was a few months ago when Brent and I both had a horrendous stomach virus. (That time, my wonderful in-laws stepped up to the plate, and I was so grateful! I could barely take care of myself, much less a baby.)

Thankfully, my parents did bring toddling Chandler by the school for a little while so I could at least see him for a few minutes, but I sure did miss my cuddle time before bed. It's one of my favorite things, and I look forward to it nightly.

The best part about a sleepover? I got to sleep in until 9:00 a.m., and I haven't done that in a long time!

Before I Became a Mother

I became a mother on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 7:21 a.m. Chandler Jarrett McKay weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz. and was 20 inches long. He is a special gift from God, and I am so thankful to be his mother! This poem is dedicated to him.

Before I Became a Mother-
I slept as late as I wanted on Saturday mornings, and I never worried about staying out late if I wanted to.

Before I Became a Mother-
I took long showers and shaved my legs almost everyday. I brought a lot of papers home to grade, and I regularly spent lots of hours after school in my classroom.

Before I Became a Mother-
I cleaned my house each day and it was pretty much spotless. I never tripped over toys, and I didn't worry about making sure my cabinets would lock.

Before I Became a Mother-
I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, chewed on, or peed on. I had complete control of my mind and thoughts. I rarely forgot things, and I slept all night every night, without a care in the world.

Before I Became a Mother -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could give him shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin or laugh. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep and wonder how the time could fly by so quickly.

Before I Became a Mother -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much.

Before I Became a Mother -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby, or to dry his pitiful little tears, or to receive his wet, sloppy kisses. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I Became a Mother -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure everything was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment, or the satisfaction of being a mother. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I became a mother.

Thankful Thursday

1. I'm thankful for our precious baby boy, Chandler Jarrett, who just happens to be 15 months old today. We prayed for him for a long time, and he has blessed our lives more than we could have ever imagined! He is into everything, climbing on everything, and walking everywhere now. Perhaps chasing after him will help me get in better shape!

2. I'm thankful for good books that make me reflect on the important things. Right now I'm reading this one. It's deep, but it's good! These ladies have inspired me to begin my own list. Perhaps I'll share it on here soon.

3. I'm thankful for my wonderful group of coworkers. We work hard, we laugh and cry together, and we really work as a team. I am going to miss those who are moving on to new things next year!

Monday Was So Manic I Had to Wait 'Til Tuesday to Post!

Yesterday was one of those Mondays that makes a teacher glad that there only a few more Mondays to endure before summer break officially begins. Like the title says, I was on the go the entire day, and my bed felt so wonderful when I finally got in it!

FIRST OF ALL...
I am thankful that God has given me a job. It's not a perfect job, because, honestly, I don't think such a thing exists, but it is the right job for me. There are certainly challenging moments and days, and sometimes I go home at the end of the day wondering if I really made a difference at all. Then, most of the time in the next day or so, one of my students will say or do something that makes me remember why I became a teacher in the first place. I am so glad I answered the call to teach.

SECOND OF ALL...
Whoever decided that kids (especially young ones) should have to take standardized tests is crazy! Some of the questions just make me cringe. It's not that I haven't taught the content, because I have, and I think I've done a darn good job at it, too. It's that some hair-brains who have obviously never even met a child, much less raised or taught one, made the test questions up, and these poor kids are left scratching their heads (or banging their pencils, or braiding their hair, or making faces at each other across the table, or asking silly questions, or asking to go to the restroom...). You get the picture, but I can't help but think I'd probably be doing the same thing if I had to sit through this!

And I have to play the bad guy, which I absolutely hate. I have to remind a classroom of ansy 6 and 7-year-olds that they need to do their best because their second grade teachers will see their scores, yet they can't talk for about two hours. YEAH RIGHT!!! And, yes, I really do have to read each question and answer choice aloud twice, and I really DO have to keep saying, "Choose the answer you think is best.", even though I said it on the first five questions, because that's all part of the test-taking language as well. And, no, you can't doodle in your test booklet.

We didn't take the "official" CRCT in first grade this year like we usually do, so we are having to take it this week, starting on a Monday morning after a Friday fieldtrip, no less. This made for a very long and tiring school day! OKAY- VENT OVER! I promise!

THIRD OF ALL...
I did get a new set of 6 virtual computers in my classroom. This will allow me to offer so many new learning opportunities next year! I've been waiting for them since December, and they finally got installed last week. Now, to figure out how to get them working properly!

FOURTH OF ALL...
Tacos for supper- yummy, easy, and quick, which was great, because while Brent got ready for work, I headed to Clarkesville for a meeting at church. Thank goodness Nana and Grandad were willing to keep Chandler. (You know I had to bribe them... YEAH RIGHT!). We even got a surprise- Aunt Alison is already here, a little earlier than we expected! My meeting didn't last too long, and we even got to visit a little longer than I thought we might. By 8:00, it was time to head home. My sweet little munchkin was out like a light in less than five minutes, and thankfully he stayed asleep as I lifted him out of his carseat and carried him to his crib.

FIFTH OF ALL...
An old friend of mine is in desperate need of prayers. Please, as you think of it, pray for this friend.