Summer, O, Summer, Where have you gone?

Okay, that is a little dramatic, but I am very concerned about the beginning of autumn, by that I mean the school year, creeping up oh-so-quickly. I start my grad class this year before my first day of teaching. Of course, I have meetings, meetings, and more meetings before the school year begins. And I need to have some idea of in the world I'm going to teach my students. Yeah, that might be important.

I started looking at the "Course-Level Expectations," as they are referred to here in this great state, and since they've changed since I was in class, I'm a little lost. So, I'm looking at them for a guide and I'm going to fill out that part of my lesson plans later. As in, after I talk to someone who knows what is going on, since I haven't a clue.

We've gotten moved and somewhat settled in our new place. I love the extra roominess of a house, but I'm already dreading that I have to be the one to mow the yard. Especially when it's hot like it is this week. I think next summer I will find someone to mow it for me! I am thankful for neighbors who have the same mindset as I do with mowing--every two weeks gets the job done! Not kidding the neighbors on both sides of my house mow every two weeks. How lucky is that?

Madeline was not initially excited about the move. I think that she is better with it now that we've been there a couple of weeks. Her room is the only one that is completely unpacked. Her play room area is missing a shelf, so therefore, the toys are not all unpacked. I'm already out of shelf space in my office, so not all my notebooks are unpacked. The kitchen is...well, not done. My room is pretty much unpacked, but I'm still in the process of deciding exactly which clothes can be packed into boxes that go in the garage and which can stay in the house, since meetings start next Friday.

Last week, Madeline and I went to Wal-Mart to buy her school supplies. We found everything we needed. And it's all Hannah Montana. Yeah, that's what I said. I was just starting to appreciate Dora, but now we have to move on to Hannah. Oh boy. I'm not sure what kind of shape I'm going to be in on the first day of school though. Buying the supplies was tough, let alone sending her into that kindergarten classroom. Where did the last five years go? Really?

Ah, a New Semester

So, I applied for a job (which I didn't get), and I put my name in at six different school to substitute teach (who haven't called). And, I'm impatient. I need to know that I'm going to have an income this semester because I may be able to live on Ramen and water, but Madeline cannot. What was my solution?

Take classes, of course!

I'm enrolled in 12 credit hours of classes that I should enjoy including Art and Spanish. I'm also enrolled in Personal Finance, which is probably one that I need, and an upper level English elective. One more semester of student loans won't kill me, right?

Maybe it's just one of those days....or weeks...

Everything will begin to fall into place soon, and I'll find a job or begin substitute teaching. But until then, I'm resting. Or trying to. Getting caught up from all of those all-nighters that I pulled finishing papers or dealing with a sick kid. And I'm not sorry.

My interview for the teaching position at HHS was on Monday. I think that it went very well, considering how hectic my weekend was and how ill-prepared I felt! So, even if you don't want to hear it, here's a play-by-play of my weekend beginning at Friday morning through this morning:

Friday 9am-11am: Wake, breakfast, watch Noggin and/or Nick.
11am-12:45pm: get ready for funeral that I've been asked to play piano for, eat lunch, kiss Maddie good-bye (she hasn't been feeling well, and I don't really want to chase her all over the church during the funeral)
12:45-5:15pm: Travel to and from funeral, play piano, help serve family dinner, etc.
*5pm: Freak out b/c I'm suddenly reminded that it's Friday and I have a "get-together" in an hour and a half that I'm supposed to take food to!
5:15-6:25pm: Change attire, dig through my mother's refrigerator for veggies and sweets, mom quickly bakes some sugar cookies for me, find Oreos unopened (intended for New Year's--woo hoo!), and kiss Maddie good-bye again
6:30pm-3:30am(Sat.):Gab like mad b/c who knows how long it will be before we get together again, even if we want to!! :)
3:35am-6:45am: Arrive at my parents' house, collect my daughter, head to bed, wake up when she does, and send her to grandma!
9:30am: TV is entirely too loud. It's time to wake up.
9:45am: Maddie has hives. I noticed one at 3:30, but was too tired to realize what it was. She's never had hives. Why would she now? Text message two people who might know. My Cousin, RN advises Urgent Care...
11am: leave for Urgent Care in nearby town, mostly to appease my mother, who has not ever seen hives on a little one, and is no help.
11:45am: Two hour wait, Lunchable for Maddie, V8 for me
3pm: Urgent care Nurse Practitioner has no freaking clue what to do and won't even run a throat swab b/c of the hives. Advises Children's [Hospital]. (Note to self: no more urgent care unless I already know what it is!)
*During travel to next Urgent Care, I call my parents who meet me at Children's [Hospital]
3:45pm: Check in at THAT Urgent Care
4 pm: Called back for prelim (this is good)
4:05pm: Sent to "Minor Care" without explanation
4:10-6pm: Wait.
6pm: Friendly doc who diagnoses Maddie with strep throat. Not too concerned about hives. Says hives may be from strep or fever (which she hasn't had, at all). Prescription for Ammoxicillin and recommends Benedryl for hives.
6pm-7pm: Check out of hospital (Couldn't some of this info be taken during my two hour wait?) and find pharmacy across state line that takes my insurance.
7pm-7:30pm drive toward my parents' and find something to eat b/c I've not eaten all day long.
*Attempt (unsuccessfully) to give Madeline her meds. Ugh.
8:30 Arrive at my parents' and crash.
Sunday
6:30am Madeline awakes, chipper. Ugh.
All of Sunday we bum around. Madeline took her medicine better.
Monday
6:30 am: Madeline awakes, chipper. Ugh, again.
6:30-1pm, bum around, do laundry, prepare lunch, etc.
1pm-5:30pm: make sure younger brother can watch Madeline while I interview, prepare, interview (I'm so freakin' nervous!), come home, begin to prepare dinner
5:45pm: I hear Madeline crying in the living room. She says that her neck hurts. My mom arrives home. Madeline begins exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
6:30pm: Madeline is all cleaned up and is asleep on the couch (without dinner)
10:30pm: I go to bed.
Tuesday
6:30am: Madeline awakes, chipper. Geez....

So I took a nap today, and NOW I feel awake. And I should definitely be sleeping. I'm sorry if that was all too much information, but it's been a crazy last few days. Madeline seems totally fine today. She took her medicine like she's supposed to, and I think she had a good day at school too. I'm just hoping that I don't get sick now....

On Graduating

Graduating from college was not nearly as exciting as it ought to be, mostly because I have not found a job yet. Not that I expected to, but it would be nice to join the work force and begin digging myself out of debt sometime in the next decade.

Student teaching was a completely positive experience. I couldn't have asked for a better placement and better students. I learned what I needed to learn, and I can't believe that it's over already. I can't wait to have my own classroom and teach. While I was student teaching, I couldn't help but think that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. And that made all the difference for the semester. I was comfortable and challenged at the same time; I couldn't ask for anything more than that.

On a personal level, this semester has been extremely stressful. I have had school work to complete as well as all the duties of a teacher with all the worries of a mother. There were many times that I was worried about paying bills, but we always got through. Madeline was a real trooper all semester. She's watched more Dora in the past month than I've let her watch in the past two years, just so that I could get some work done. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but not by much. Our routine became: get home, fix/eat dinner, watch TV (for Maddie)/work(for me), bath time, and bedtime. Every night. But we made it.

Madeline is excited about Christmas! I can't believe that it's only a week away... time has just flown by. Madeline helped me set up our Christmas tree around Thanksgiving. Our (not-so-) wonderful cat decided that she really, really liked our tree. I came home one day, about a week after we set it up, only to find it on the floor, ornaments all around the living room, some (including Hallmark Wizard of Oz ornaments) broken. I was furious. I got all sorts of advice on how to take care of the problem (mothballs in the tree, put the cat in the bathroom all day, etc.), but the best solution came from Madeline: "Mama, I think it's time for Tinkerbelle to go live in Granny and Grandpa's barn." So, Tink now lives in my parents' barn. And it wasn't even my idea.

During the Friday-after-Thanksgiving sale, I bought Madeline her own little (pink!) Christmas tree. She is very excited to have her own tree. I think we are going to use it all year round to display her art work. I'll try to post pictures of it, eventually. I haven't been good about posting pictures recently. I blame the crazy school schedule! :)

If I don't see you before, Merry Christmas!

The Cat and Other Adventures in the Household

After a much needed vacation, the cat (Tinkerbelle) returned, mostly unscathed. She has a few "holes" in her fur coat that will eventually fill in, and she is a little more cautious around Maddie. So, perhaps Tink is learning after all.

Madeline began her dance class and seems to love it. She comes home chanting the steps that she is supposed to be learning in class. Doing them is a whole different challenge though... She tends to trip, or "trip," really. She pretends to trip while she's shuffle-stepping. So early to be such a drama queen.

Student teaching is great so far. I really feel like a student so far though... I guess that's a good thing. Right?

Happy Friday to Me

Honestly, this week has really been one to forget. I've been grumpy for no reason, gotten a less than desired score on a mid term, and slept very little. Until today.

I had an interview scheduled for 3:30pm today for a potential student teaching spot. The teacher wanted to make sure that I would fit into the school. This is not a bad thing, but I was beginning to wonder if anyone wanted me to be in the classroom next semester. Both of the other English student teachers have had their assignments for over a month, but I hadn't.

Now, I do. I finally have it. I'll be working in a school smaller than where I went to school, but it is a growing school with what seems to be a great outlook for students. One plus is that the teachers and students are all getting laptops next year. That will make student teaching very interesting.

I also recieved a letter today stating that I'd passed the Praxis. You know, that one that I had to pay $130 for... I passed with almost 30 points over the required amount to pass for the state standard. I felt good about the test, but it's still a relief to know that I passed and don't have to take it again in order to get my certification.

As I See It

A Response to "What Schools Need to Succeed" by Stan Archie, Kansas City Star, April 4, 2008

Urban schools, including (and perhaps especially) the Kansas City school district, are in serious need of re-vamping. It's time for parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members to be concerned about the students in the district. What are they learning, and from whom they are learning? In all of this I agree with Stan Archie.

Also, parents do need to take responsibility for their children and how they act. In this too, I agree with Archie. Parents do need to be involved with their children and their learning. As a parent, I am responsible for how my daughter acts with me and at school. I am responsible for what she sees when she is at home. In that way, I am her teacher. Or at least a teacher, to her.

Archie asserts, "Teachers are not parents, and parents are not teachers. Both jobs are unique and not interchangeable" (Archie B8, KC Star). I agree that as a teacher, I am not responsible in the same way that parents are for the students, but as a parent, I am a teacher to my daughter. I was her first teacher and will (hopefully) always be around to teach and help her along her way in life.

I think if parents thought of themselves as teachers, they would have a new outlook on parenting. Being a parents is made up of being a teacher, a doctor (at least a nurse), fan, behavior specialist, counselor, tour guide, disciplinarian, and many other things all in one.

Let's encourage all parents to take responsibility for their children's learning--don't just say that it's the teacher's job. Parents need to be involved with helping their children with their homework and making sure that they are being involved in school. Teachers are not parents to all students, but parents are teachers. Sorry, Mr. Archie.

***

On a totally unrelated, but happier, note--here are some new pictures.

Maddie and Me

Maddie in a cute hat!

Playing at the park... she is really good at her "cross-eyed" look! Swinging, in MY sunglasses!
Easter Eggs!!
Easter Sunday. She totally posed for this picture... She's just a little goofy!
My adorable nephew!
Yawning... at church
I don't know who's winning... but it's a fun picture!
Anthony and his Da-da! Matching shirts... too cute!
And that's all for now. I will have more loaded on Facebook soon.

School Woes, Revisted

Remember this list? Here's the updated form!

1. Turn in 5 different documents, (Complete)
2. Take Praxis II test (Complete, $130)
3. Register with our Career Services department (Complete, just update resume)
4. Complete scholarship forms (Uhhhhh... didn't do. That's OKAY!)
5. Complete background check (Haven't rescheduled, but will soon, $52.50)
6. Complete 50 hours of observation (42+ done, 8 or so to go!)
7. Pass all my classes (Doing great so far!)
8. Finish thesis paper...(Need to get to work!)
9. Apply for grad school
10. Turn in observation forms

Fun Maddie Stuff, etc.

***

Me: Look, Maddie! Grandpa fixed your shoe!

Maddie: Wow! I'm actually surprised!

***

Maddie: I don't want to go to school today, Mommmm; it's boring!

(I cannot believe that I'm hearing this already... she's three!!)

***

Maddie: Mom, just let me sleep, ok?

(anytime I ask her to do something, when she's not asleep)

***

Maddie: (Singing) Girls are good, boys are bad, girls are good, boys are bad... Mom, is that right?

Me: I have no idea, Madeline, what do you think?

Maddie: (Singing) Girls are good, boys are bad, girls are good...

***

Maddie: Just boys are mean, right mom? Girls are just nice.

Me: Not all boys are mean, Maddie. Boys can be nice, too.

Maddie: Are you sure, Mama?

Me: Yes, Maddie, I'm sure.

***

Me: Madeline, will you sing a song for me?

Maddie: No, Mom, my tummy just hurts now.

Me: Okay, I'll sing a song. (Singing:) On top of spaghetti...

Maddie: Stop, Mom! That makes my ears hurt!

Me: Thanks, Hon.

***

(At the park) Maddie: Hon, will you push me on the swing?

Me: Hon? Who's 'hon'? I'm Mama!

Maddie: (grinning) No, you're Sweetie Pie!

***

Me: Maddie, you know, you need to be nice to your teacher. She wants you to be good.

Maddie: I know, Mom.

Me: Did you know that I'm going to be a teacher soon?

Maddie: Mo-om! You can't be a teacher!

Me: And why not?

Maddie: Because you're four!

Me: No, I'm four and twenty!

Maddie: Four and twenty?

Me: Is that okay with you?

Maddie: I guess.

***

Me: Maddie, what do you want to do tonight?

Maddie: I just want to hang out with you!

Me: Ah, thanks, Maddie.

Maddie: Can we watch Dora?

Me: I though you just wanted to hang out. That means reading or going outside. No Dora.

Maddie: No Dora? No Dora? But, Mo-om. I want to watch Dora!

***

Me: Maddie, be a good girl at school today. Okay?

Maddie: Okay, but, Mom-

Me: No "buts." Just be good.

Maddie: But, Mo-om-

Me: I mean it. Be good!

Maddie: But, Mom, you forgot to hug and kiss me before you go.

***

I'm going to take the Praxis on Saturday. I'm very nervous, but I know that it will be okay. I have spent the last two years getting ready for it. It's just nerve-racking to think that I HAVE to pass this test in order to be certified, and that it costs over $100. There will be no money to re-do it.

***

School Woes

In less than a year, I will be a certified teacher. I can hardly wait, but then, I can. There is so much that I have to accomplish this semester in order to student teach and be certified. Here's the run down:

1. Turn in 5 different documents, (Completed one hour ago)
2. Take Praxis II test, (Scheduled for 3/15/08, $130)
3. Register with our Career Services department, (During next week's night class)
4. Complete scholarship forms, (by March 1, with letters of recommendation)
5. Complete background check, (had it scheduled, FORGOT about it, $52.50/check, oops)
6. Complete 50 hours of observation, (6 down, 44 to go)
7. Pass all my classes, (I'm not terribly worried about this!)
8. Finish thesis paper...


And all this by mid-tem or so... I could have used a warning last semester about all the stuff that has to be done. However, I'm not sure that it would have done any good.

A New Semester

It's crazy to think that my life will always be broken into semesters. I don't ever have to go back to a full calender year of work. I will always be able to have semesters in my life. That makes me happy.

What makes me happier is that the semesters of work are drawing nearer. Twenty-four credits to go...

More...

I recently read this artcile about how a preschooler may be more shy about showing affection to parents. Then, I had to read this hideous article for my adolescent psychology class (I wouldn't highly recomend it) about nine year olds and rainbow parties. Ugh.

The first article made me sad in a way that I know my little one isn't a baby anymore. The other one just scared me. Nine years old? Really? I was NOT thinking about stuff like that at the age of nine.

Then this morning, I as I dropped Madeline off at daycare, she hugged and kissed me at the breakfast area. Then I went to put her jacket in her classroom. As I walked passed her to leave she said, "Mom! You forgot to hug and kiss me!" It's not over yet. I have a few years to enjoy this, right?

School and school

Madeline's currently in a "funk." The kind of funk that makes her want to stay home from daycare everyday. She fights me almost every morning now. This may have started because of my lack of strict scheduling on my part. We got so used to not getting out of bed until at least seven that this semester six is just too early for us. And I do mean "us." I've bribed, I've rewarded, I've even tried to sneak her out while she's still sleeping. Everything seems to cause a fun fit. Last week, I told her that she wouldn't always have to go to daycare like she does now. We had the "kindergarten" talk.

I told her that after she turns five, she'll be able to go to kindergarten "like the big kids do." She was really excited about this. I'm not sure how exciting I can make this for the next two years though...

As I'm typing this from the general computer commons area at school, I have a morality "what would you do" question. There were just two guys sitting in the next "cubicle" over from me, one was obviously taking an on-line quiz or test of sorts, the other obviously helping him. Is this kind of think normal? I never have my friends help me with my on-line stuff other than studying. Is this the kind of situation that needs to be taken reported? Or is this the "norm," sad as it is?

Long Overdue for an Update

This school year has been a busy one so far. Among work, work, school, and Madeline, I feel a little (okay, a lot) overwhelmed with everything. I'm working at Taco Bell only on Fridays now (thank goodness), and I'm tutoring for one-two hours the other four days.

I love the tutoring. I'm not working with the age group that I plan to teach, but that's okay. My "favorite" (only because I have worked with him the longest) is a boy that I will call "James." James has come so far already with me. He is so much fun to work with. He has already written one story for me and is writing another one how. I love his creatvity. I had forgetten how much fun kids his age (8 or so) can be. I haven't been around them for so long...

I'm working on my senior thesis this semester... an enchanting twenty page paper. Did I already tell you what I'm writing about? If I haven't told you, you're going to laugh. Go here: and here:

Those two links take you to the subject of my official senior thesis. I'm analyzing them rhetorically. In a twenty page paper. Doesn't that sound like fun? I'm excited anyway...


In actual news, our President of these United States stated the following during a press conference yesterday:

"No Child Left Behind is helping replace a culture of low expectations with a commitment to high achievement for all. And the hard work being done by principals, teachers, parents and students across our country is producing results. Last month, we learned that 4th graders earned the highest math and reading scores in the history of our Nation's Report Card -- and that's good news. I'm able to report that because we actually measure now in the schools.

There is more work to be done. So long as there is an achievement gap, we have work to do. Our goal is to have every child reading and doing math at grade level by 2014. That seems reasonable to me. Seems like a reasonable thing to ask, is to have every child reading at grade level by 2014, or being able to do math at grade level by 2014. So now is the time not to roll back the accountability or water down standards.

It's reasonable to set an important goal such as that because..."

Now, if you know anything about NCLB, you know that it has many, many great features; however, you must also know that the above statement is a problem. It is stated like a poorly worded binary question. Not "every child" can achieve at grade level. I think DW and the Diva can back me up on that as they have both worked with children with disabilities. I don't know why politicians don't know this. Ugh.

It's September Already!

The school year has been going by so quickly that I have been barely keeping up.... well, at least with this. I've been very busy with school and work. My school schedule starts at 8am two days of the week. Madeline is not too happy about that. You would think she'd be fine; afterall, this is the same girl who would always be up by 6:30 no matter which day of the week. This morning, I entered her bedroom, ready to wake up my sleepy monster, but she was ready for me.

"Madeline, time to get up!"

"Mommy, I'm still sleepin'!"

"Madeline, the sun's up, it's time to get up! We have to go to school!"

"Mommy, my sun's not up. I'm not ready to wake up."

I had to leave the room because I was laughing so hard.... Just another day....

Here I Am

I'm ready to be done with classes for the summer. Really, really, really ready. Thursday is the last day. Thank goodness!

This summer has been good so far, but I don't think that I have accomplished much. Well, maybe I have and just don't realize it because I don't feel that I've thought any of it through.

In May was Madeline's 3rd birthday then my "lil" brother's 21st birthday (he made it through alive!). In June, my first class ended, and the other two began. I've been reading like crazy for school and on my own this summer. I love that. I started a new job 3 1/2 weeks ago. Taco Bell for life... well, at least for now... more on that later.

This summer I've read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelve Night, Macbeth, Hamlet, and a couple of others that aren't coming to mind right now. For my literature class right now I've read Bless Me, Ultima, So Far From God, La Maravilla, Silver Cloud Cafe, and Tatoo the Wicked Cross. Any of these I would recommend. The last of these is a little "icky" as in it has issues that wouldn't be easily discussed. Ewww. But I still liked it. Weird. I know. I've also read Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott. Loved, loved this book. Loved it. Anyone who is or going to be a mother should read it.

Speaking of mothers... my friend Hannah and her husband Luke are going have a baby sometime in the next 7 or 8 months. I'm so excited for them. I know that they are very happy with all that's happening in their lives. Congrats!

FINALLY

I had to sneak in the back way, but I finally got the school computers to let me me post. I had so much that I wanted to say. Now, I can't remember a dang thing to type. So, I'll just ramble on until "it" comes to me.

My summer class is going swimmingly. I am in Shakespeare right now. We are reading Much Ado About Nothing. I have decided that I am Beatrice, pre-Benedick. Maybe I'm not that mouthy (or "shrewish," as she is referred to in the play), but sometimes I am in my own mind. Does that count?

I'm ready to accomplish something that could be categorized as "FUN" this summer. Well, that is, I need to go do something before "mommy mode" turns into "screaming rampage of frustration." I love my daughter. School is going great. But the stress of both is getting to me. I think I need a time-out.

I'm also contemplating a part time job. I need another outlet. Maybe. I really, really wanted one job that I had a couple of interviews for, but the owner needed someone to work different hours than I can. Hopefully, I can get a job there in the fall though. It's at a local education center (something like Sylvan Learning Center, on a local-only level).

Madeline's birthday and party were very fun last week. On her birthday we went out to dinner and just hung out. I can't believe how big she is getting to be. Lately, in public people just ask me if she's three. I think, Is it that evident that she's in her 'try some threes'?

Madeline's party was a hit. Even if I did forget a complete checklist. My favorite "little" brother had to attempt to grill with a baby spatula which was really intended for the cake. He did good though.

After the party, my cousin Keri and I went back to my place to unload and put away the leftovers. The rest of the fam and friends had either gone home or to a different park (closer to my house). My parents, older brother, sister in law, their children, and my daughter went to said park. When my cousin and I arrived at said park, my dad said that my mother had a confession to make. My mother was following Maddie and playing with her at the park. While climbing a certain slide (which I detest fully), my lovely three year old told my mom to go catch her (at the bottom of the slide). Well, as my mother was walking to the front to catch my daughter, my daughter was falling off the back. She fell from the second or third step from the top of the monster slide that I detest. Note that by the time I arrived, Madeline was swinging and all was well (except maybe my mother's nerves). She has a nasty bruise on her arm and a few scratches that are pretty much gone from the side of her face. Steven (the older brother) told me later that he didn't know who cried more: Granny or Maddie.

After this adventure, we went back to my place (to trash it as Steven said [he's the one with the children who would do so, hee hee hee]). We ordered pizza for dinner and anticipated Shreck the Third. Steven, Tina (the sis-in-law), Keri, Daniel (the nephew), Samantha (the niece), Madeline, and I went to the movie. It was great fun. I haven't been to a kid's movie in a low time. I think it's time we start going. Madeline enjoyed it through her heavy eye lids, but cousin Daniel was there to help keep her awake. No worries about wasting the mullah. All was well with the movie, except for the fact that I FORGOT about a certain Erin-friend who was supposed to attend with us. She had called earlier in the day and said she wanted to go with us. I'm such a jerk for forgetting. But I was more concerned about getting the three kids and three other grown-ups all to a movie theatre they hadn't been too. Erin called me at ten after seven. fifteen minutes after I shut off my phone. I'm sorry, Erin. She hung around the 'Burg waiting on us. Then she came over, we watched Night at the Museum (very cute, as was Shreck).

I think I have decided what I'm going to write my senior thesis on next semester. Don't laugh. I'm serious. Strawberry Shortcake. Okay. Laugh a little. I did an 8-page rhetorical analysis on two SS episodes. I think I'm going to expand it. If the teacher doesn't like the idea, I'll switch to something about Gender in Shakespearean plays, or something of the sort. I know interesting stuff, huh? Not nearly as interesting as the OB, but still interesting. Maybe I'll post something serious about how I think girls are portrayed in Strawberry Shortcake, but I think people would think that I'm over-analyzing it. Heck, I think I'm over-analyzing it, but it makes for a good paper.

Spring Break for Mommies

This has been a great week. I'm almost sad that it's Friday already. I was sick last Saturday, and I think I'm still recovering a little. I'm still so tired. But other than that, this has been a great week.

I took a long break from studying (I didn't crack a book until yesterday). That has been wonderful. I do need to really hit the books this weekend though.

One of the best parts of the week has been going to the park and playing outside with Madeline. It's so much more fun when there's no pile of homework at home calling to you. I'm so glad the weather has been so great this week! We had so much fun at the park swinging, sliding, and spinning on the merry-go-round.

One of the other highlights of my week was getting to have a "slumber party" with my cousin Keri. We haven't gotten to really talk since before her wedding. We started talking at 10 pm on Tuesday; we hung up at 3:45 am Wednesday morning. It was great. That may be what I'm recovering from rather than illness! We talked about our family, our families, our friends and our schools. We talked about what you learn in college and what you should learn in college and what you could have learned just as easily in pre-college years. I was telling her about my dreaded history prof and his dreaded class when I told her that I really learn more history from literature classes than I do from history classes. My example was some Missouri history that I learned last semester.

Did you know that one of the stars on the rebel flag is for Missouri? That the MO legislator voted to be a "southern state"? that the governor and the legislator was run out of MO for this vote because it would be an upset to the Union? I had no idea. I thought we were just a border state. I learned this in American Literature last semester.

My cousin didn't know either. So I didn't feel so stupid! Apparently, I am not the only one who lives under a rock and falls asleep in history class. Keri said that I'm really just a history freak in disguise. I think she may be right.

Hey, It's me, The Complainer

I'm trying to not complain. I don't have much to complain about, really. I'm complaing about getting B's or how 1/2 point took me from a B to a C. How does that happen? It's a freakin' half of a point!!!!

I worked and worked on that stuff this week. However, I worked too hard on the new stuff and not enough on the review stuff. I will not get an A on the test that I have studied for all week. Maybe I'm just mad at myself for not realizing all that I needed to do...

Life is good despite my current mood...

...it's warm outside...
...I don't have to do homework tonight if I don't want to...
...I have the change at 30 points of extra credit between two classes...
...I got a nap yesterday...
...my daughter is beautiful and smart....
...and entertaining...

I've Been Distant... I know

I've been just keeping up in my 18 hour course load. However, I just got an "A+" on a paper that mattered from one of the most difficult teachers I have ever had (I mean that in a good way).

I wish I could get a good picture of all of her comments, but I can't. I really enjoyed writing this paper. I got to write about single mother-hood. It was very therapeutic.