Merry Christmas To All.....

From my family to yours we wish you a great holiday season with a happy and healthy 2008! We just finished icing some sugar cookies to leave for Santa. The anticipation is growing as we wait until tomorrow morning.

Stay safe this week!

Migraine

Thanksgiving week I had a whopper of a headache. Now tonight Jamie has one. I feel his pain. I have loaded him up with Tylenol, Advil, Mt. Dew, and a dark bedroom without a toddler making noise. Hopefully that will do the trick. I wish there were a migraine med that worked instantaneously and was available over the counter!

Back to the Grind

Three weeks of working with holiday-excited 8 year-olds, then the sweet reward of winter break.... Aaahhhhh. I can't wait. The past four days have been wonderful. Teegan is getting older and a wee bit more self-sufficient. Being home with him for 24 solid hours alone isn't the chore that it used to be.

This weekend we finally took down the crib and put together his toddler bed and his twin bed. He has chosen to sleep on the toddler bed. (Keeping my fingers crossed...) He has done really well the past two nights. He just goes in and falls asleep without any issues. Nap time is a little more difficult, but we managed today alone without Jamie. He is growing like a weed!

We put up all the Christmas stuff this weekend as well. This year we even started doing some lights outside, as well as inflatable snowmen. Burl Ives is next to our front door telling all of our visitors to have a "Holly Jolly Christmas." Teegan is still testing the waters with our Hawaiian tree. He says "No Touch!" when he comes into the room, but today I saw him touching it with his foot. Apparently that doesn't fall into his "No Touch" regulations.

Ug, well back to lesson plans.

Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for so many things this year. Here are my top 10 examples, not in any particular order:

1. Family- Loving husband, super son, wonderful parents...the list could go on and on.

2. Career- I love my new assignment, coworkers, kids, boss, and the security of education in this economy.

3. Friends- God bless them! They know all about me and still want to hang out and be a part of my life. ;-)

4. Sesame Street- Elmo's World provides so many 20 minute sessions of silence in our house to get all the needed things done like cooking, lesson plans, laundry, cleaning, blogging, facebooking, etc. Plus it is really flourishing Tee's vocabulary!

5. House- When I think of our old house I can't imagine that we even lived there! I can't even think of where we would keep all of Teegan's stuff. Our new house is so cozy. I also like walking to work!

6. Health- This year I started feeling normal again for the first time in two years thanks to a new supplement and diet program. I am back to a normal weight and feeling good. I am also thankful that my mom survived her heart attack even though she still doesn't exercise. The rest of the family have had great health too which is a huge bonus. I pray constantly that we all continue to have good health!

7. Jamie- I know he falls under the "family" but Jamie deserves one all to himself. There has been a time in my life where I never believed that a miracle like Jamie could happen. In 2002 he miraculously appeared into my life and I thank God daily for such a gift. He really, really takes care of me. He is a wonderful father as well. I find myself in awe of his love for Teegan and his motivation to help him learn all he needs to know.

8. Decision Making- I am thankful that I resigned my position on the fire department and will be relinquishing my paramedic status in March. It was a very hard decision to contemplate. In fact, I spent almost a year thinking it over. There are so many reasons why my decision has been such a great one. I am seeing them more and more each day. I am still connected to it through Jamie, but I am glad that he is with it and I am not. I served the state's citizens for 11 years and that is currently about a 1/3 of my life so far. I think I have done my good deeds in that area.

9. Technology- This ever-changing world provides us with so many advances to enjoy!

10. America- Things aren't very upbeat anymore with our economy, but I am confident that we will turn this problem around. We have a lot of things that need to change and hopefully we can make those changes as a country. I am still proud to be an American and wouldn't trade that for anything.

Yay Mustangs!!!

Good job Southern Cal boys and your Class A state title. The game was terrific and I wish I could've been there! This was not the first time that we have been to the dome, but this was certainly one of the best football games I have watched on TV in a very, very long time.

It's A Boy!

Congratulations goes out to Marcy and Eric on their newest little addition to the family. Noah came into the world on Thursday. On Friday Jamie and I went to see the happy family. Everyone was doing well and Mr. Noah is quite the little peanut. He is absolutely adorable and we couldn't be more happy for them. Marcy's prayers and life long goal to become pregnant and give birth have come true. She will continue to be a fabulous mother. Noah and Joshua are very fortunate little boys.

I think that Noah's birth has also given the Iowa Hawkeye football team an added good luck charm as well. Thanks Noah!

At the end of the rainbow....

Is a great home! Since we have all been up since 4:30 this morning we were able to catch this picture. I love rainbows and have since I can remember.

Well the election didn't go as we had hoped. I think both candidates had good potential, however I was very fearful for both running mates. I am not a Palin or a Biden supporter. I hope now that Barack can serve his four years safely so that we don't end up with Biden in the driver's seat. I am not a supporter of Hilary Clinton what-so-ever, but she would've made a better running mate. (I can't believe I just said that.) I also hope that we don't just pull out of Iraq and leave a bigger mess behind. Things are improving greatly there, after all this time, and it would be bad not to finish the job.... whether it was needed or not in your eyes.

I also hope that Barack indeed looks at the government programs that are not working and fixes them. I certainly hope he starts with the welfare system of this country. It has been broken for decades and needs to be revised. Welfare should not be a way of life.... it should be a stepping stone to a better life. Our government doesn't owe anyone, anything. Helping is one thing, enabling is something totally different.

So, lets sit back and let the "change" begin.

Stressed OUT!

Worrying really sucks.

Halloween is Coming Boys and Ghouls!!!

Moooohhhhaaahhhaaahhhaa! Enjoy this video. I don't recommend viewing it at your workplace. Although there is nothing bad in it, you just might not want to watch it there.

I am at a tech conference this week and it is wonderful. I have so many new things to share with everyone. I am even considering starting a small private business. I will teach others technology, create photo enlargement prints, books, movies, and such for others, or help people create their own projects. I need a name for my little company. If you have any ideas let me know. I also need to come up with a brochure and pricing. More info to come in the coming weeks!

Fall Is Upon Us

I love fall.... HATE winter... but love fall. The past few days have been chilly too! Pretty soon all of the pretty leaves will be lawn mulch. ;-(

Tee has been sick this week. Fevers, vomiting, feet peeling, yeah its been a fun week. Jamie and I are praying not to get it and taking our vitamins. Hopefully we can make it west this weekend but no promises.

You may have noticed that I added two new videos. One is for my Jamie. This is his new hero and mentor in his work world. The second video describes my work world. I have had to listen to many cat stories this week. Jamie and I about pissed ourselves when we found this video. Please, by all means, ENJOY!

I hope you have a good weekend.

The Above Videos Say It All

At least SNL can fault the Democratic Party for some of the mortgage issues since they can't seem to take any blame themselves. I don't consider myself Democrat or Republican. I rarely, rarely, rarely EVER express my political thoughts. This however is a shame. Which candidate has less corruption potential.... your guess is as good as mine. They both suck and once again our country is going down the crapper year by year, president by president. Obama supporters need to see that he is not a "Knight in Shining Armor" like he is made to look in the eyes of the media. He wants change and that is great. But I ask you.... at what cost? I feel a Clinton corruption term heating up.

Family Day

Yesterday was a monumental anniversary. A year ago we went to the SF Airport a married couple and returned home a family. Tee has been with us for a year and a day now. Time is flying by so quickly. Before his arrival it felt like every single day was 2 and a half. There was tension, stress, tears, fears, illness, etc. Now that he is here there are still a few of those... ;-) .... but we are absolutely blessed beyond measure.

Yesterday Jamie and I just looked at him for a long period of time and had the same thought at the exact same time... We couldn't have gotten a better blessing from above. Tears just came into my eyes out of no where. God works in mysterious ways. We spent 5 years being very angry at our turn of events. We questioned God's will and plan. After all, we were good people, did many things for others, tried to live the best Christian life that we could. All we ever wanted was to have children that we could raise to be good kids, and more importantly, have that sense of family that 3 Golden Retrievers just didn't fulfill. We were confused, beaten, and emotionally crippled at the face of infertility. If we could only go back and give God the trust and faith that we so selfishly took away from Him.... we would.

No, I didn't give birth to this child. If I could've I would've. I will say this about that though....

***When you get that call for referral you instantly go into a 3 month uncomfortable labor until the next phone call which is when they tell you your child is ready to come over. That call would totally mark the breaking of the water. I was in a wedding during that phase of my delivery last year. I can't believe I held it together at all. Sorry Karen.

***THEN... you go into the delivery phase when you wait until that plane lands safely and out walks the Korean escort with your beautiful baby...who you, NEVER believed fully, would EVER be placed in your arms.

***The tears of joy and relief are so overwhelming, you forget who you are and the struggles that you had encountered.

(Doesn't that sound like a real birth to you???) It may be the closest thing that I ever come to an actual childbirth.... and I am completely satisfied with that.

When I look at Teegan and get that "motherly" warm and fuzzy feeling inside, I only have God to thank for that..... and a courageous woman who, had it not been for her ultimate sacrifice, I would not be a mother today.

So, I guess, the lesson of the day kids is this.... Sometimes we are dealt things that we can't handle or think we can't deal with. In the grand scheme of things there is a plan. We are not "all knowing" for most of the duration of said plan. This makes said plan a mystery and sometimes, in the words of Red Foreman when talking to his son about infidelity issues, VERY UNPLEASANT! (That episode was on this week.) That is why we need to have faith in ourselves, our family, friends, and most importantly our futures....no matter how tough it may get. Don't lose your 6th, 7th and 8th senses.... FAITH~HOPE~LOVE

Jamie's in 7th Heaven

Yes, it is that time.... Amy Grant is here. And guess who was lined up to meet her during her sound check today.....JAMIE! He is like a kid in a candy store. Since he is an official "friend" of Amy Grant, he got to spend an hour with her today before the concert tonight. Doesn't he have the glassy-eyed look, aka. deer in headlights? It's like he is concentrating on keeping his eyes open for this once in a lifetime opportunity. He knew this would be the one and only time in his life that he would get to take a picture with her and he needed it to count. Perhaps I am over-dramatizing it a bit, but funny nonetheless.

So, tonight it will be Jeff and Jamie going to the concert. I am staying home and babysitting the T'ster. I will enjoy my Tivo. Thank you Jeff, for enduring this show for me. I don't think I can ever go to another one after the last Christmas one I went to. Jeff is taking one for the Sauter team tonight.

This morning we went to an organic farm which had an orchard, a pumpkin patch, and a beekeeping area. Teegan got to pick out a pumpkin and we had a carmeled apple. Though, not anywhere near the Pokie's quality, it was tasty to say the least. (Carroll people understand that no carmeled apple will ever compare to Pokie's)

If you want to see pics of the patch email me. I will send you an invite to the Picasa album.

"Go Away IKE! TINA Ain't HERE!"

I was browsing hurricane Ike photos on YAHOO! News and found a picture of a small house all boarded up. On the front picture window covered in plywood there was something spray painted. It said, "GO AWAY IKE! TINA AIN"T HERE!" I about pissed myself. How funny. I mean, hurricane's aren't funny, but at least the residents can find some humor in it.

Happy Hump Day!

One inservice down, several to go, but at least one is over! Wow, I swear I get bored way too easy. I think I was a child that was cheated out of an ADD diagnosis in the 80's. However, in my defense talking about the statistics of reading instruction, blah, blah, blah, could bore anyone I guess.

Not much going on this week. Tomorrow night is Kindermusik and Jeff's birthday extravaganza. We are splitting up to cover both. I am going to the birthday party and the boys are going to music class.

Friday is homecoming. I am not sure if we are going to go to the game or not. I think Teegan might like to see it at least. Even if we are there for 20 minutes I think it would be fun for him. Time will tell.

Let's look forward to Friday!!!!!!

I'm Back!

Sorry that I fell off the Bloggin' train the past couple weeks. It has taken me that long to get things going with school and home. I'm always amazed at the transition between summer and fall. You would think it would be old hat to me after all these years, but not so. Every year is an adjustment.

Not much is new with us. Tee is talking more and more. He likes to repeat what you say. I am stepping up my efforts not to swear out loud. He is also an Elmo fanatic, which doesn't please either of us. You can only listen to so much Elmo in one day. Tee brings us the remote and says, "Elmo! Elmo!" I can tell you that 70% of the time we tell him that Elmo is sleeping. I can't stand Elmo's voice! I have to read, clean, or listen to my iPod when it is on. Tee's other new fad is chicken nuggets. Good bye mac-n-cheese, hello Happy Meals. He also likes it when I make nuggets and tater tots in our oven at home.

We went to a wedding last night. It was a fabulous venue. It was nice to have an outing by ourselves. I can't begin tell you how much I have missed that. Having a child certainly changes your marital dynamic. I feel like we meet in passing and talk about toddler stuff all the time. We skipped out on the ceremony last night and just sat in the hotel lounge to hang out until the reception started. It was just nice to say the least to relax like that with the person you love and not have to worry about anything.

Well, have a fantastic week. I will try to find more things to blog about sooner. I hope everyone's September is off and running at a good pace. I can't wait until the 20th. PAYDAY!!!

T.G.I.F.F.

(and you know what the extra "F" stands for!) What a week. I feel like my wheels have been spinning since last week at this time. I am tired, exhausted, melancholy, etc. Thank God Jamie is home tonight and tomorrow night. It would be sweeter yet if he were home on Saturday, but I will take Sunday I guess.

Tonight we had Kindermusik class. My son showed some definite toddler ADHD tonight. (I like to call it TADHD) He really likes the music but he doesn't want to move on to the next activity or sit with us and actually do the movements. Last spring when we visited a class he did much better. I am hoping that he will get better with practice. We have a book and activities that we need to do with him each week for homework. Jamie and I are also going to have to start singing the songs to him too. That should sound pretty. We won't be demonstrating for you if you visit either.

Saturday I get to take Glory to the pool for the annual Doggie Dive. We go every year and let BooBoo swim. Too bad Jamie has to work. Hopefully I can get a sitter for the T'ster. We don't take Libby anymore due to her seizures and her hatred for the water and people.

Okay, before I go, let me recap my thoughts on the Olympics this week;

1. Shawn Johnson- Thank God the judges got the last one right. I guess they are going to formally investigate the alleged gymnast from China who they believe to be 14. If they find that she was too young they will strip her of her medal. To me they should strip China of the team medal too and give it to the US.

2. I was watching the track team tonight and not only did the men drop the baton in the 4x100 but the women did too. It reminded me of LoLo hitting the hurdle the other night. Mistakes that hurt 100 times worse during the Olympics. I hope they can let go of their mistakes and move on.

3. Softball- I still can't believe that they are dropping the sport. That is a shame. I think the team sports make the Olympics what they are. They are a team effort to accomplish the goal of gold. I am saddened that BMX biking has entered the games. Like equestrian I feel that they should be dropped. A gold medal should come solely from the human body, not a horse or a bike. Hell, why not put NASCAR in it?!?!

Well, I need to get going. We are watching Elmo right now. MAN, I hate his voice and laugh. Tee just loves watching the last 15 minutes of Sesame Street. Elmo's World is a daily event anymore. Teegan can even say Cookie Monster and Oscar now. I think I am going to start listening to my iPod during Elmo time everyday.

Happy Friday!

Angels Sent From Above

Don't know if any of you have caught this on the news or not but there was a NYC traffic officer who got hit at a busy intersection a few days ago. She ended up getting trapped underneath a school bus. She was 7 months pregnant. A bunch of onlookers came to her aid. 20 of them lifted the bus off of her so she could be rushed to the hospital. She died due the accident but the doctors were able to save her two month premature baby.

The man who caused the accident had his license suspended several times and was driving that day without one. They have arrested him and charged him with homicide.

This story really moved me today. For all the crap that is going on in the world there are still people who know how to do the right thing. My hat goes off to all those good samaritans who saved that baby's life. I feel sad for that officer and her family, but at least they still have a piece of her left here on earth. I am sure that it was no small miracle sent from above. That little boy has angels watching him!

The link for the CNN video is to the right on top of the column. Please watch it. You will be moved. Also, please pray for that little baby and for his family as they deal with two of the strongest human emotions simultaneously.... Death and Birth.

J*U*S*T*I*C*E!!!!

This week the jury found Vicroria Osteen NOT guilty on the alleged assault that took place on a Continental Airlines flight. (Remember my Preparation H post?) Justice has been served! Thank God!!

That is the best news I have had all day. Last night was a bad night at our house. Tee head-butted me in the temple and It knocked me senseless.... literally. I have a bruise on the side of my head and it hurts to eat, move my eye, and yawn. He protested his new toddler bed in the middle of the night so we just gave in and put him in bed with us. As I was laying there he just gave me a full blown strike to the head. Jamie was very concerned. He jumped up really fast to come to my aid. He said that the thump was really loud and he knew I had to be hurt. Teegan was fine.

So, at 4:00 this morning we assembled his crib back together. Jamie stayed up the rest of the night to make sure I was okay. It made me feel much better. Well, that and the donut he went and got me this morning before he left for work.

Well, my parents should be here soon. They got home from CA today and are coming here on their way home. Talk to you soon.

Alright, alright, alright.... I'm gonna put my baby's afterbirth under a tree.

The Yahoo! headline reads.....

"McConaughey to plant son's placenta in orchard"

Yeah, that's what it says. I can't even comment on this article other than to say...What the f*&^&^?!?! I say this because this is Matthew's comment from the article:

"It's going to be in the orchards and it's going to bear some wonderful fruit," he says, according to an interview transcript. "When I was in Australia, they had a placenta tree that was on the river ... and all the placentas of all that tribe, all that clan, whatever aboriginal tribe that was, all the placentas went under that one tree and it was this huge behemoth of just health and strength. This tree was just growing taller and stronger above the rest of Mother Nature around it. It was gorgeous."

I'm glad he did his research on the ACTUAL tribe that he was observing, to at least know their name and all. What an interesting character. Okay, if this "planting" hasn't occurred yet, where is he keeping it? His son is almost a month old. Guess what's in the McConaughey fridge???? Be very careful when you reach for the milk!

You know, it is no wonder why Kathy Griffin is such a success. Look what she has to work with out there!
And once again I go to Youtube for some blog footage. Here is tonight's installment. It says it all.



Happy weekend!

Our Society... Troubling to say the least!

Okay, tonight I read a story about Victoria Osteen. Let me preface this by saying that I really like Joel Osteen's broadcast. I also own his books. They are very good. This is why the article about his wife on Yahoo! News tonight troubled me.

Apparently, Victoria had something spill on her seat during or before a flight. She, I guess, got really angry and demanded that it be cleaned up immediately. The flight attendants are saying that she was out of control, full of rage and tried to get into the cockpit. They also claim that she shoved one of them. Well, now this flight attendant... who had surgery on her breasts prior to the incident due to a "medical condition" says that the incident has given her post-traumatic stress disorder among other health problems including hemorrhoids. Okay, hemorrhoids??

So, this week they are in court about the issue. I really think that this sucks. Just because they have money people think that they can take a crack at them. The flight attendant is suing for 10% of their entire net worth. America is becoming one giant crock of crap! Seriously, what have we become? What are we teaching our children about responsibility, caring, fairness, etc.?

It was wrong of Victoria to get upset, but I highly doubt that she went to the extreme of what they are claiming. The Osteens even have witnesses of the event. So, I guess the moral of the story is my friends.... don't yell at someone or they can sue you for post traumatic stress syndrome and hemorrhoids! I would love to buy that woman a tube of Preparation H and give her the famous Austin Powers line, "Yes Frau, on the whole, I think Preparation H feels good." If you care to check out the article here is a link or a url to paste into your web browser.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080807/ap_on_re_us/osteen_s_wife_lawsuit

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Happy Hump Day

Happy Wednesday. I am a single parent for the second consecutive day. Teegan is growing up so fast. He loves bathtime now and so do I. He is finally at the stage where he can bathe himself pretty much with little assistance and he loves playing in the tub. I give him a bath in our master bedroom bath. That way I can see him while tidying up our room at night. I never stay out of sight of him, but it is nice to be able to pick things up.

Today we had to go without cell phones, internet, and land line telephones for a few hours as something happened to our services. We also couldn't use our debit or credit cards or pay at the pump gas cards. I guess a fiber optic line got cut. It was kind of scary not being able to communicate. We didn't even have the capability to call 911 in the event of an emergency. I'm confused as to why we lost cellphone service as well, but Jamie said that the towers are connected via the ground through the fiber optic network.

Well tomorrow is yard work and hopefully garage work, followed by classroom work. Ug. It is all coming together slowly. We really need to weed the landscaping, mow, and trim the hedges. The garage is just a disaster area and even 30 minutes of work would make an improvement.

Well, have a happy hump day. Pretty soon it will be the weekend.

Ali

"Miss Truvy, I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair."

Last night I cut Jeff's hair. I think it turned out well. Seriously, all I could think about was the movie Steel Magnolias where Annelle is trying to get a job cutting hair. I was laughing so hard on the inside! Here is a picture of my work.



The picture would've been better but my camera only had one picture left before the battery died. We didn't get a retake. It was fun cutting hair in a third world country in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. I think I am going to cut Jamie's tomorrow night when he gets home. :-)

Have a Happy Tuesday!

Vitamin Universe

Alright. I have to admit. I am tired of feeling like crap for part of every month. Today a friend of mine told me that her doctor suggested that she start a routine of 4 specific vitamins and minerals. I investigated this concept and found valid research promoting the idea. So, after a quick trip to Vitamin World and GNC I am a vita-junkie. I am currently taking:

*Ground Flax Seed (Dash-O-Flax)
*Stress B Complex with Vitamin C
*Liquid Minerals (Kryptonite included I swear!)
*Mega Woman Vitamins WITHOUT IRON and IODINE

I am not taking the daily suggested doses yet, but hopefully if all goes well I will be by the end of the month. I also bought this probiotic supplement that is the equivalency of eating 8 containers of yogurt a day in one pill. I am not sure about that one yet. I want to start with my new series before I add that. Hopefully the above 4 don't give me montezuma's revenge as it is. I really think that the B complex will do me the most good. I ate a PowerBar a day for 18 months and quit last December. I got Influenza A and its cousin Influenza Shamalama Ding Dong in January and February. I was sick all winter after that. I am hoping that this stress B helps the most.

Well, I am about to take my hair clippers to a friend's house and attempt to cut his hair. Peace be with me! Hopefully he won't hate his new do.

Ali

Raspberry Beret

You draw a raspberry, you draw a French looking hat, and you add them together. What do you get???? A blank stare from your husband. Bless his heart, you could tell the wheels were turning but the hamster wasn't on it. Tonight was game night and Jamie and I struggled through I Love the 80's vs. Caryle and Jeff. They smoked us twice with their sharp-edged movie and music trivia, not to mention Jeff's acting skills. Hulk Hogan and He Man were a stitch. There will be a rematch soon, hopefully. We have to gain our dignity back. :-)

This week is another week working at school and in my classroom. Next Friday is the big dance. We're back in action with school starting that next Tuesday. Oh, summer.... where did you go my love? Please come back soon.

Today we had several people stop by and it was nice. Mom and dad were here for the afternoon. Karen and John stopped by on their way home from Mt. Ayr. Marcy and Eric stopped on their way home to pick up their dog Doogie. I love that little pup. He is so cute and likes to protect me. Jamie wasn't fond of getting bitten this morning. Haha. They became friends by the afternoon though. Their son Joshua is home now so I am sure Doogie is thrilled to be at home playing his little heart out.

Mom and Dad are the travelers this week and will be in California. Teegan cried and cried when they left this afternoon. They won't see each other in two weeks. :-( I promised to email pictures of daily life over the next two weeks so they can see him in action. I am sure when MiMi and Papa get back he will be thrilled.

Well, nighty-night. Have a wonderful Monday!

Services Welcome This Week...

Okay, After spending the afternoon working on misc. house projects I have an idea. Well, it is that, an "idea" because it will never occur.

Anyway, here it is. I need to hire the following people....

1. Cleaning Lady (Self Explanatory)

2. Roof Repair (Our garage is leaking again)

3. Home Organizer (The more I try to work on the kitchen and the garage, the more messed up they seem!)

4. Nanny!!! (Maybe I could fulfill a lot of these jobs if I didn't have a toddler "helping" me all day!!!!!

5. Chef (Teegan is once again eating chicken nuggets and I am working on a weight watchers meal.)

6. Bulletin Board and / or Classroom Decorator (I am dreading even thinking about this and it is coming up quickly.)

7. Personal Stylist (Okay, my wight is yo-yoing. I am back into some of my older clothes. That is COMPLETELY okay, but I feel like I need a style boost.)

8. Lottery Ticket Broker (The ONLY way 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 will ever happen!)

What jobs would boost your daily life this week????????? Feel free to leave a comment.

Blah Sunday

Blah... it's Sunday. Jamie's at work and Tee is in rare form. He has been up since 4 a.m. I'm not sure what his deal is but this isn't the first night it has happened over the past week. I can put him in his crib and he just plays or cries. I just want him to sleep. He has to be tired. I know I am. So, we are here until tomorrow morning all by ourselves. Woohoo. I guess I will try and find something to occupy my boredom. Organizing the garage and or kitchen is high on my list. Our bedroom needs major attention as well. If the wee one would fall asleep I would feel more comfortable going down and starting those projects. Time will tell.

This week I will be working at the school entering data for our new information management system. That will be fun. Jamie is going to stay home with Tee so I can work. I hope he has fun with that. For so long it has been the other way around. Now he gets the chance to relax and bond with Tee. Since there is less than 3 weeks until I report back to work, I have a lot to get done in my own classroom as well. Jamie and Tee will have many days in the future where they will have to be pals.

Well, have a happy Sunday. I will post later about my progress. The day after we finalized our adoption the whole family went to the zoo. We also went to Build-A-Bear to make a new bear. Here are some pics of our day. Speaking of the zoo trip I found the stupidest person living in our area the other day.

Okay picture it.... we are driving around the zoo parking lot looking for a space to part. In the row with the open spot we see a big, black GMC Denali with tricked out rims and the whole nine yards. They have a saying imprinted on the back window. It said, and I kid you not...

"Enjoying high gas prices...... Thank an environmentalist!"

Excuse me? What? I was dumbfounded. I understand that drilling four our own oil would help, but it is not going to solve a thing when you have millions of idiots like this guy driving vehicles that waste gas! I am absolutely amazed at this jerk. Here he is driving this huge SUV, with plates stating that he lives in the metro area, and he has the idea that it is an environmentalist's fault. Okay dip-stick, which name I feel is being nice, how is it their fault when you drive a gas guzzling machine just to look good? Man some people are stupid. I guess if you have the money to drive such a tricked out machine you have the money to pay for the gas! Quit complaining!!!!!

After we started leaving that person did as well. I wanted to get a picture of the sticker so I could post it. He was in front of us and the pictures didn't turn out well.

Anyway, thought I would share some good old Iowan stupidity today. :-)

It's Final!

We finalized today! Yay!! Tee is ours forever and always. It was a really fun day with family and friends. The pictures to the left are of our lawyer, judge, and the yummy cake that we got in honor of the occasion. If you would like to see additional pictures of the day, I can email you the Picasa album for the day. We are so relieved that this process ended today. There isn't anything left lingering above our heads with this process. When I think about it, this has been a dream and goal since 2003. It has taken us this long to complete our family. Tee was worth the wait! I would recommend this endeavor to anyone willing to take it on. I hope more couples would think hard about adoption.

Tomorrow is a family day for us. I think we are going to go to the zoo. I hope you are all having a great week!

What a freaktastic week!

Okay, sorry I haven't updated in a week but here is how the week has progressed for me.

Monday- Fun day. We had the day off and went swimming, napped, etc. After calling the jury "hotline" they said that I needed to report for duty Tuesday morning.

Tuesday- (Day from hell) I showed up to my jury duty. Only Ali would have jury duty when they are starting a murder trial. There were 50 of us that showed up at 9. After the informational film.... describing the jury process and all the new friends we were going to meet, they got started. Out of 50 I was chosen to be in the top 34. It was awful. I was sweating it big time. After 3 hours of questions I luckily.... PRAISE THE LORD.... was excused. The trial is going to last 2 weeks. I have T's adoption court date on Tuesday so they let me go. Whew! After that I should've went home but I went to work at the fire station instead.

Wed, Thurs, Fri- I subbed PE class. WOW. I have a new appreciation for all elementary PE teachers. I am sore all over! I mean seriously, I haven't felt this much pain since Jeff and I took the trailer park pilates class taught by Petula Pilates herself. Now my hip is back out for the 3rd time this summer also. URG!

This weekend we are cleaning getting ready for company next week. We are also going to make a Costco run. I am excited to see Marcy's new house on Saturday night. We are bringing her a lot of baby stuff. Sunday is my dads' birthday. We are still working on those plans.

Well, happy Friday. I am finally in bed. I will have sweet dreams of my upcoming Hy-Vee weekend donut that Jamie will bring home tomorrow morning. Mmmmm,,,, chocolate icing with cream filling. What could be better on a Saturday morning?

Later.

Pee-Pee in the Potty!!!!

Today my son went pee pee in the potty! Woohoo! Go Tee, go! We have started using the potty before bath time everyday. Tonight Jamie called me and told me the good news. (I am working a 24 at the fire station today.) I am so proud of him. We met at Hy-Vee to eat supper tonight. Tee made his Daddy proud by chowing down as usual on the buffet. Some days he eats like a trucker. We needed milk at home so after eating we traveled to the back of the store to pick up a gallon. All the way back he screamed "Hello!" at people and smiled and giggled the whole way. It was really cute, but it was borderline embarrassing. Gotta love my little man.

Today we got some other wonderful news. My friend Karen will be teaching again and we are in the same district. In fact, our buildings are in close proximity to each other. YAY!!! She will make a great addition to our teaching community.

Tomorrow is a big day too. My other friend Marcy is going in for an ultrasound to see if Aunt Ali is going to get a niece or a nephew. I can't wait. I am living vicariously through her with this pregnancy. I have the food cravings now, I just hope I don't get the labor pains in November. ;-) Marcy, make sure you tell your little one to uncross its legs tomorrow morning. I can't wait to find out!!!!! Teegan will either be getting a good buddy or a potential prom date. ;-)

If you are curious about our city's vote to get a new fire station.... it failed for the third time in 4 years. It was not a good day yesterday. I worked and everyone was down. The count was 57% No to 43% Yes. The phrase of the day was.... We are only doing 43% of the calls today or we are only going to respond 43% of the way and they will have to meet us. ;-) How crappy can our citizens be that they wouldn't want their public safety people to be safe? I feel like if they don't care about me, why should I care enough to get up in the middle of the night to go help them? I will still do it because that is the kind of person that I am. I will tell you it isn't going to be easy for a while.

What absolutely made my day today was a thank you note from a patient that I had yesterday. He wrote out this nice card and said that I was one of our town's finest citizens for helping him the way that I did. We also had a lady come up to us at lunch yesterday and apologized for the vote on behalf of the community and thanked us for all that we do. People like that make this job worth while. It just sucks when the community as a whole can't get behind us to give us a much needed building improvement. So, for those "NO" voters, you may think you'll never have a fire at your house or ever have a medical emergency, but when you do, we will be there because that is who we are... Ever-helping, ever-faithful, and ever-ready! Whether you appreciate it or not.

On a different note, I got the perm and am in the "you can't wash it for 2 days" phase. It sucks. I'm not sure I like it yet, but I haven't had a chance to wash and style it myself. I will make the call then and post a picture this weekend.

Well, I need to sign off and go take some Tylenol. Please....if you live here in town....don't fall tonight. I have already been picking up enough people off the floor this week. And Jeff.....Stay out of the bathtub tonight. (He knows what that means.) :-)

Ali

Manic Monday

Okay, WHAT a day. I worked fire today and we had a 3 doozies for calls.... I've fallen, I'm dead, and I'm choking. I feel like this is the first time that I have sat down all day. I am reclining on my Tempurpedic bed, watching my DVR programming. It is raining so hard that we don't have satellite at the moment. Tee is sleeping. He actually fell asleep on the way home from Subway at 6. Mondays always tucker him out due to daycare excitement.

Okay, I have been insulted three times today and have to vent about it for a second. First, on our I've fallen and I can't get up run they looked at me and said... "Oh, they sent a skinny one." Yeah, I can't lift a lot but I can try. Basically it was like....she is too weak to get me up. Then, while at the hospital a paramedic came out and greeted us and said, "Hey gentlemen how are you?" He realized after he said it that I was a girl. Okay, now I must look manly or something. THEN, my FAVORITE of the day, the medical examiner, who I haven't seen in over a year and a half greets me with, " It's so good to see you! I haven't seen you since you were pregnant. How old is your little one now?" ?!WHAT!? I told him that I haven't ever been pregnant and that we adopted. He felt really embarrassed. Seriously, that is how my day has gone. I am so glad to be home with a child who is sleeping, dogs who have been outside and fed for the evening, and my laptop. You have no idea.

Tomorrow is a free day!! YAY!!!!!

Movie Night

Today we did a lot of shopping. We hit all the favorite Sauter spots: Jordan Creek Mall, Old Navy, Best Buy, Costco, and Target. We stocked up on essentials. We got a new wireless router, an outfit for Teegan's pictures tomorrow, diapers (potty-training can't come soon enough), new blow dryer for my future hairstyle coming on Tuesday, water, gatorade, toothbrushes, and more. Oh, and we got more "forever" stamps at Costco. The USPS frustrated me when they raised the postage rate again. So much for that "forever stamp!" I told Jamie we should save a pack of them and use them in 10 years just to spite them.

At Best Buy we got a new DVD that was on the major cheap rack. It is Smokey and the Bandit 1-2-3. We got all three movies on the same disc. So that is what we are doing now, watching part one. Jackie Gleason was just on and said this line: "Don't go home, don't go to eat, and don't play with yourself. It wouldn't look nice on the highway. You can think about it, but don't do it." Watching this movie on cable TV doesn't do it justice. It is way better uncensored. I can't believe I was allowed to watch this movie as a little kid!

Have a good Sunday. One more day of the holiday weekend until back to normal on Monday. I work IFD most of the week. Jamie will be putting in quite a few hours too. Tomorrow Tee gets his 18 month pictures taken. I will post them as soon as possible. We are debating on an outfit right now. I got two things today on major clearance that I like.

Happy Holiday Weekend

God bless America! We have had a child for 1 year now!! Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of our referral call. A year ago today we sat ever so anxious awaiting our envelope that would arrive on the 5th due to the holiday. Tomorrow will be the day that we saw his picture and read his file for the first time, making the decision to accept the referral. Wow, it has been such a wonderful year.

Tonight my parents came over and we had dinner. I grilled out. Then we went on a walk. Tee got a USA cupcake with a sparkler in it for dessert. He was impressed. He went from the highchair to the bathtub however.

Well, have a great weekend. I am going to move my saltwater fish tank tomorrow. YAY!!! Can you sense my sarcasm? It is the last thing that I have to move into my new room. Speaking of my new room, I worked in it for 2 hours today. It is taking shape. As I sit in it and think about things, I realized today that this could be my classroom for many years to come. I want to make sure I have everything just right so I don't have to move again.

Ali

Back to the Blog

Hello, I'm back. Vacation in Chicago was fabulous. Tee got to see his first Cubs game. They lost horribly, but he got the Wrigley experience. By the way, taking a toddler on vacation is exhausting. The only things we managed to do in the two days was make it to a mall and Wrigley Field. I wanted to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo and eat at the Rainforest. We were too tired to get it done. Our hope is for next year. By then we are hoping that Tee has a little more "Stranger Danger" mentality. He talked to everyone on the subway and wanted to touch them as well. SInce we were all shoulder to shoulder riding the train is was hard keeping him contained. At one point he was touching this really scary looking guy who looked like he had meth on his mind. The guy was nice about it, but it was a little nerve racking. When we got off the train the first thing I did was wipe his hands down with an germX wipe. Call me a germaphobe if you will, but you didn't see the guy. Teegan spent 20 minutes giving him high-fives and fist bumps.

I have computer training this week for work. I am pumped! We are doing a system data conversion with our main software program. That will take up three days this week. Then I work the FD Thursday which is funny. Last year on the 3rd I worked IFD and got a call from our social worker telling us we had a son! We are getting his pictures taken Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of referral. We also have a court date this month to finalize! Everything is set in place for him to be legally ours. So much stuff going on this month.

If you are in the market for a new mobile device to keep track of your contacts, music, photos, etc. I strongly recommend getting an iPod Touch. It is fantastic! It also has wifi and you can surf the net, check emails, look up Google Maps, stocks, and weather. I am very pleased with it.... a fantastic value. It is basically the iPhone without the crappy cell phone service and a monster cellphone bill. You don't need a smartphone if you have one of these.

Have a great weekend!

LIfe in the Fast Lane

I started back at the fire department last friday night. I work every day this week pretty much. I have to say, not much has changed. We are still getting strange calls and some from the same old customers. Man, I need to write a book someday. Between working with kids and working as a paramedic, I have a lot of stories.

Teegan had Mighty Minnows over the weekend. He had mixed feelings about it. I think he will eventually start to love it. He seemed to like Kindermusik a lot better than this. I think we have a fine arts boy on our hands. That's okay too..... as long as he learns how to play golf.

Jamie is still busy. He is on "vacation" this week from his fulltime job. However, he is working 5 days this week at his part time job. Between the two of us doubling up on the work paychecks, we should be able to save up some cashola.

Well, gotta get some shut-eye.

Hi, How are ya?

This week has zipped on by. I can't believe it is almost friday. You know, for months I spent a lot of time thinking and hoping for TGIF. Now, it just isn't the same. Now fridays mark just another week of vacation gone.

This week I finished my tech class with the AEA. I am on our district's technology team. It is very exciting to think about where we are going with our district's action plan.

Today I went to the Apple Store and took a one hour class to help build my mac skills. It was very informative. I like having the one-on-one time with a genius.

Tomorrow I am keeping T at home in the morning. We are going to tot time at the swimming pool.... weather pending. His "Mighty Minnow" class starts on Saturday and I want him to get one more visit in before then.

Speaking of weather, it sucks right now. Enough rain!! Our rivers will now crest on Sunday morning. Downtown DSM is flooded. Most the people we know have water in their basements. We don't. Thank you God we appreciate all that you have given us with our new house. The highway is closed to go east from 65/69 which stinks. (It would stink a lot more if I still worked in P.C.) Our 5-day forecast looks very promising. Let's hope it stays dry!!

Tomorrow night is my first shift back as a paramedic. Wish me luck. I hope that it is an easy night and we get to sleep. It will be quite the shock to my system.

Well, I should go so I can get to bed. I am watching the A-List Awards on Bravo. Kathy Griffin is hosting and her show was back tonight too. I have mixed feelings about her anymore. Before her Emmy speech I was really a superfan. After her speech, I have realized that she can make me disgusted. I want to stop watching her show, but it is really funny. If you are a follower of the show I would like to comment on her new boyfriend..... What the heck?!?! Okay, is she that shallow that she has to date a billionaire for the monetary benefits? Truthfully, I couldn't even kiss that guy. He creeps me out, Different strokes for different folks. I just can't imagine that her motives are centered toward his personality and not toward his millions. Another thing that frustrates me when it comes to her.

Okay,good night. I will post later about our weekend.

Last Wedding of the Season

Well our wedding season has come to a close. Saturday marked our fourth and final wedding to attend for the year. It was a wonderful ceremony and the reception was phenomenal! Props to my family. The spread was unbelievable. It was also nice to see family members that I haven't seen in months or years.

This week my summer "reality check" kicks in. I have class for the next two days, have to take my mom to see her cardiologist on Wed. and will be working the fire department on Friday night. Next week I work quite a bit up there too. Last week of lounging around will be all but a memory by the end of the month.

Today we got T his first Cubs jersey. I broke down and bought it even though I protest that they are that expensive. He will be in style in a few weeks at Wrigley Field. I can't wait to finalize his adoption so we can post pictures.

So help me..... Mother Nature......stop with the rain already! We are flooded over here. I said those words this past winter in regards to the ice that we kept getting. Enough is enough. I want a day with sun and warmth that isn't "sticky" or super windy. We have not had a good precipitation year to say the least.

That is all for now. Have a fantastic week.

Done!

Whew, what a day, week, month, year, etc. Today it all came to a close and it is very bittersweet. The kids left yesterday, and I have to admit, I got teary-eyed when a couple walked through that door. Some of my kids left an imprint on my heart. Then today it was the last staff day. I hugged, thanked, and said goodbye to the people I have worked with for the last two years. Tomorrow I will remove the last few boxes of my personal belongings. In two weeks I can move into my new building and room. I'm kind of scared to tell you the truth. My friends are across town and the kids that I have worked with are there too. I know I won't be an army of one, but right now it feels that way. My new building has soooo much to offer and more, however I won't get to enjoy it with my friends. Probably sounds stupid to you the reader right about now I guess.

Until tomorrow....

The Ticker Don't Lie!!!

Holy Crap! 3 days left until "Summer Freedom" and I am in denial. I can't believe, even though I really can if I stop and think for 5 seconds, that this week is it. Two of my cherubs left on Friday due to family vacations. It was bittersweet since I really enjoyed having them in class. Monday will mark the other 20 leaving me forever....forever.....forever. Wow, that just sounds so permanent. Like I said, bittersweet. I will miss them, and it has been an interesting year, but to think that they are on their own from now on is humbling. I hope I served them well. I hope they have all the tools they need for the next grade. I hope I see them again even though I will be at a different building. Luckily, I will be able to check up on most of them returning to 5th grade in our building. The others though, I wish them good luck and farewell. I hope they make me proud somewhere along the way. One of my kids I have had for two consecutive years now. I will miss seeing her next year the most. Man, she isn't even mine, and I feel like she is leaving for college or something. I am not looking forward to that moment in 17 years, let me tell you!!!!

Well, two missions today.... 1. Kitchen clean up. I still have things out of place from our Memorial Day BBQ. That coupled with the fact that we have ANTS EVERYWHERE! I can't stand it anymore. I am spraying TODAY! If that doesn't work, we are calling a pest control company. Having a toddler is not helping the cause to rid the house of ants either. We can't keep up with him while he eats. Food just lands on the floor.

Second mission....2. Start looking at the garage. Cleaning is a must! Now that my classroom is in there, I need to really prioritize some space. My classroom junk will be gone on Tuesday or Wednesday. We can't even get our bikes or strollers out right now hardly at all. It would take some work.

Okay, lastly the Sauter family is currently taking donations. I'm joking, but we found out how much our adoption finalization and citizenship costs are going to be. We are looking at $1,600. I about crapped and fell off my chair yesterday. This whole thing has been such a financial undertaking. This is like the icing on the cake of debt. Please don't get me wrong. We have been ultimately blessed and am so glad that we took this path. I wouldn't have it any other way. However, it does dent the bank account and that hurts from month to month. We were really talking about starting the process over again, until we realized yesterday, that isn't possible yet. The "new homestudy" would cost $2,000. Now we need to concentrate all of our funds on our finalization, not a start up. That is okay, but I just hope that we can start again in the next couple years. Right now I just want a SSN so we can have a legal DEPENDENT and our adoption tax credit next year. That should replenish $10-12K in our account. Thank God the government pays for almost half of this process.

Have a great weekend!

Peace be with you Parkersburg.....

and may you never see this degree of destruction ever again. Last night at 5:00 a major tornado ripped through this innocent Iowa town located near Cedar Falls. It took the lives of 7 people and injured dozens of others. It even destroyed the high school there.

This situation makes you realize that we are mortal. Our homes are cable of being destroyed. All of our belongings could be vanished in a matter of seconds. What would you do if this were you? All the citizens were carted out of Parkersburg last night to stay at a facility with cots and food. The citizens were able to pack what they could. This makes me question what items I would take with me if, God forbid, this ever happened to our town. It is such a horrible thought it almost makes me sick as I type this. The displacement alone would be horrible enough. I would feel ultimately blessed if I had all of our household members still standing.

I guess what it boils down to is that life is fragile, belongings are meaningless, and like Ecclesiasties 3 states...there is "A Time to Rebuild." I pray that all of the people of Parkersburg rebuild and have all of their needs met in the coming months.

If you are curious to see pictures of the aftermath they can be located on our local news channel's website:
www.whotv13.com

Our Critique So Far...

Olympics......SUCKS! Don't waste your time. It gives you a headache.

Lego Star Wars......Would be good if all you wanted to do was read and or get lost. I can see where kids would find it cute, but overall it stinks.

Tiger Woods Golf.....My new favorite video game next to Guitar Hero! WOW what a fun game! Much better than the Wii Sports golf game. There are endless possibilities with play. You could literally spend hours, even days, playing this game. Jamie and I are tied 1-1. I am getting the hang of it now and am a force to be reckoned with! (ha ha)

Party Games....They would be fun if you had a group of friends over and had a couple drinks, but I prefer the real thing when it comes to air hockey, darts, shuffleboard, etc.

Brunswick Bowling......Really good too. A must have if you own a Wii. Like Tiger Woods Golf, there are many possibilities for play. Wii Sports bowling is good, but this is quite a bit better.

Well, got to go. We need to eat so we can continue our weekend free trial of this thing. I also want to go back to school and get the power cord for my PS2 since I accidentally left it. I feel like a little Guitar Hero tonight.....Still by far the COOLEST game ever invented!

To Wii or not to Wii That is the Question

Well, we borrowed Karen and John's Wii last night for the weekend. Being the "techy" person that I am, I want to see what all the buzz is about. Well, after having it for one evening I can say that Jamie's Wii age is 49 and mine is 62. Jamie has found SOMETHING (game/software) that he is good at....Wii Golf. It is cute to watch him play it and he even gives me pointers. (This from a man that can barely get through the easiest song on Guitar Hero.)

Today we rented some new games. Karen and John's choices didn't really impress us. They are interesting, but we need more games suited to our tastes. We definitely aren't "Resident Evil" fans. That game scared the crap out of me last night. I am not good at shooting people and there is a ton of gore to it as well. We rented Bowling, Tiger Woods Golf, Lego Star Wars, Party Pack, and Olympic game between Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.

I will rate the games for all of you later. Have a happy Saturday. If you are in Iowa stay warm and dry! Nothing like an Arctic blast to get you through a "Start of Summer" weekend!

TGIFF!

Well, tomorrow will mark my second to last Friday at my current building. After this week I am counting it as a huge blessing. This has been an odd week, full of ups and downs, good and bad. I can't wait for tomorrow for more than several reasons. The biggest being that my husband is going to be HOME! That's right, I said it...HOME!!! He can help pick up the house and take Mr. T to the doctor. For some strange reason I think he has ear infection again. I don't want it to escalate over the holiday weekend.

So, this week I have been packing like crazy. My whole world is in disarray. My house is a freaking mess, my classroom is 1/4 in boxes in my classroom, 1/2 in boxes in my garage, and 1/4 scattered around my room. The kids are doing a good job packing and loading my truck everyday. Only 5 and a half more school days left! I have to be out June 3rd. I get to move into my new room across town on the 4th.

Our vacation is set for June 25-27th in Chicago. We are taking T to a Cubs game at Wrigley. We are also going to visit Koreatown. This should be quite the experience for all of us. We have never traveled with a toddler before. We are actually staying in Skokie which is closer to the stadium and Koreatown. We will take the subway to the game. I hope he doesn't freak out on us.

Well, I need to keep cleaning. Happy Friday to you.


P.S. I talked to Justice's new owners this week. She has eaten 5 pairs of flip flops, a baseball glove, and most of the flowers they have planted this year........AAAAHHHHHHH, It wasn't just us!!! She is going to start her training this week for them. I know she will do good. They also said that when the 3 kids go to school she just goes from window to window looking for them as they get on the bus. (This would be the type of loving behavior that I miss greatly, just not the destruction part.)

Supper....

Mmmmmm.....Pizza and beer. What a delectable combination. It comforts me after another day of craziness.

What A Weekend!

I am happy to report that I survived the 5K and the 1 Mile events on Saturday morning. I wasn't last and had a really good time. My in-laws were here on Sunday. We got to grill frozen hamburgers....ooops. Teegan was a ham and very social.

Today I realized more than ever that the countdown is on for the end of the year. My kids are checking out left and right. I am struggling to keep them engaged. I also have many boxes to pack and move home. :-(

I need to keep it short tonight. I have to get checking papers so I can record them tomorrow. Have a great day!

Ali

What's Up?

Okay, I am fooling myself. There is no way I can do this 5K on Saturday morning, let alone a dog walk that afternoon. I went out on my nightly 2-mile stroll. I tried to run off and on and just can't do it. I get this awful pain in my lower left side. It sucks. I want to push through it but it gets worse and worse. Jamie has volunteered to walk-jog with me on Saturday morning now that he doesn't have to work with the state setting up some mobile emergency thing. He may end up taking Glory on the dog walk. I have tried to compile an upbeat iPod playlist. I hope it helps!

I am so tired. Last night we had Pilates class and then did the 2-mile stroll. I was awake all night last night. I had so much adrenalin and endorphins running around my head I couldn't sleep. I have been tired all day too. :-( I also need to go grocery shopping before I go to bed. Oh, and those benchmark tests aren't going to correct themselves, just like the bedroom isn't going to miraculously be clean by morning. UG, I need a personal assistant! The money is great but I can't wait until Jamie becomes a member of our family again in July.

On a funnier note, I gave Tee a bath tonight. He felt the need to eat the bubbles in the tub and got the coolest bubble beard and moustache you have ever seen. He looked like Burl Ives as the snowman in the Rudolph special. I think it is his eyes. I sent the picture to a couple people and they agreed. He loves his bath time. When I ask him to get out he shakes his head and says, "No!" Then he pushes my arms away. We are working on teaching him the word "Yes."

Tomorrow night I have to go to my new school for an open house. All the elementary schools are open for an hour or so. Since we are building a new building and they redistricted the lines, kids are moving all over the place. This will give them the chance to see their new school and meet the possibilities for their teachers next year. I wonder what the turnout will be?? The nice thing is that I will be able to walk to my destination!!

Well kids, I need to cut this short and start checking benchmark assessments. I won't even tell you how many I have to do. :-( Again, personal assistant?!?!?!

Later

Greetings Again....

It has been a week since my last update. First of all, Justice continues to do well with her new family. The 3 kids have all come to school raving about their new dog. Supposedly she is not really eating too well yet, but is starting to eat more and more. I have to tell you that it was nice today not to have to take care of her. It rained all day and the other dogs were easy to get in and out and entertain themselves in the basement today.

Second, I was in an accident yesterday. My car is damaged to the tune of approx. $1500. It was my fault and I got a $100 ticket. I was backing out of my driveway and there was a car in my blind-spot. The other driver is 15 and doesn't have a license, only a school permit. She has driven twice by herself and has been in an accident both times. (Hmmmm what do you think that means?!) For me to be backing out of my driveway at approx. 5mph I have a lot of damage to my car. I am not thinking that she was going the speed limit by any means.

This week at work I attended another technology class at the AEA. It is part of an 8 day class that the district is sending me to. To my surprise, the district is sending me another training on Monday. We are purchasing the program Infinite Campus. I am the elementary representative for the whole district. I was shocked that they chose me to go and very happy too.

On Monday I started Pilates class with my friends Jeff and Erin. However, Jeff is actually my husband while we are in class since his name is "Jamie" on the roster. The teacher welcomed us as husband and wife the other night when we walked in late. He is the only guy in the class. Jeffrey ditched us on Wednesday night because he had an emergency art project to finish. We endured the pain without him. I hurt myself on one of the moves. I got this awful cramp in my upper arm that wouldn't go away. For two days I had numbness and tingling down my arm. Fortunately, I am recovered. I will just watch what I am doing next week. Jeff and I are taking Boot Camp next month together. That ought to be equally as interesting! By the way, Pilates makes you want to fart non-stop. Hopefully I will get toned with both classes. I am gaining weight left and right.

Well, it is Mother's Day weekend and it is my first one. On Friday night after school a group of us went and got manicures and pedicures. Then we had a 9-5 movie party at another friend's house. It was awesome. We laughed and laughed at the one-liners. You can tell that the work world is so different now with political correctness and sexual harassment, not to mention technology!. One of my favorite parts is where Mr. Hart is wooing Doralee and he apologizes for the convention weekend in San Francisco. She then says, "Mr. Hart, it's not your fault. I just need to check and make sure there is actually a convention next time." Funny stuff. Marie the alcoholic still tops my list of favorite one-liners though when she says, "Atta girl!"

So, right now it is 12:30 at night. I have the downstairs picked up. I have prepared a roast with carrots and potatoes in the crockpot. I have an angelfood cake baking in the oven. Now I need to take this party upstairs and start cleaning the disaster area I call our bedroom. It looks like Hurricane Katrina stopped by for a visit up there in every room. Tomorrow I have a 12 inch stack of papers to grade or record. This will be our last week of grades so I can get report cards done. The year is drastically coming to a close.

Next Saturday I am running a 5K and then walking another one in that afternoon at the 1st annual WOOF Walk. Glory will be joining me now that Justice is gone. I will take pictures.

Until I type again......

Ali

Bittersweet....Tears and Joy

As I get ready for bed tonight I have mixed emotions. It has been a very interesting weekend to say the least. On Saturday I had the opportunity to have Justice, our littlest golden retriever, go spend the afternoon with a family who is really wanting a dog. They live on a acreage, have two boys and a girl all in elementary school, and are very nice people. Well, they LOVE her and have decided to keep her.

We acquired Justice after she was given to us from the breeder where we got our oldest dog, Liberty. She was failing to thrive due to an abcess on the top of her head. She was involved in a fight within the litter. Another pup scratched her head and she got a nasty infection. They had to drain it several times. Then she wouldn't eat and didn't gain weight. The breeder was going to put her down and I just couldn't stand for that. She was too cute and perfect for that. So, we ended up with a 3rd dog that we never anticipated. 

Over the past year an a half she has grown and developed. She topped out at 36 pounds which is tiny for a golden. She had loads and loads of energy and kept the other two dogs on their toes. There was also a destructive side to her. She had her way of getting into mischief. However, when you found out the things she was doing, she had this look about her that just made you shake your head and smile. 

Ever since Teegan got home in September we have felt that we just have too many "people" living in our house. We just lost all of our "dog time" after he arrived. I feel really guilty about that. In fact, it eats at me constantly. The older two are okay because they got the intensive love and training from us before we became parents. Justice on the other hand has missed out on a lot of TLC.  We knew that something had to be done. When this couple talked with me about wanting a dog and I suggested they try out Justice I knew it was the right thing. 

I am thrilled, absolutely thrilled, that she is at a home where she is the center of attention and has a lot of room to run. I am however very saddened by her absence. When I woke up this morning I felt like a piece of my heart was missing and also had a pit in my stomach. Tears have rolled down my cheeks several times today, Jamie's too. 

She was my "Bitsy-Baby" and got me through the agonizing wait for our adoption to come through. In fact, she was our baby for a year before Teegan arrived. I don't know how I would've gotten through that wait without her. After Teegan arrived though there just wasn't enough time in the day to meet everyone's needs. Unfortunately, that meant that the dogs, especially Justice, had to go without attention. This led to Justice being very naughty and having too much stored energy. 

Ug, it is amazing how a creature, such as a dog, can get into our hearts as deep as they do. You may not be a dog lover, perhaps a cat lover, and can relate. I know what we did is what is best for Justice and for us. I just wish that it was easier, and that hole in my heart would seal over. Hopefully it will in the coming days or weeks. 

Godspeed Justice. I hope that your new life holds everything that we couldn't give you. May your days be long and happy with your new family. We loved you enough to save your life after you were born with all of your trauma and drama in your litter. Now we are giving you a better life with your new family. 

Papers....We've Got Papers!

Yay! What a way to start the weekend. We got our son's official adoption papers in the mail. We can now finalize his adoption. This makes me feel so good. Soon he will legally be able to use his given name instead of his birth name.

Today I am cleaning, cleaning, cleaning! In fact, I even have a babysitter coming over to play with Teegan while I can work some more. This is new for us. I am a little nervous, but I know it will be okay. She is a really good kid and Tee loves to play with everyone.

By the way...I found this article and thought it was very interesting. Click here to view article. It pains me to go to the gas pump and drop over 40 bucks. We could have it worse though. At the end of the article it looks like we could have it a lot better too. I wish I lived in a country where it was 12 cents a gallon!!!!!

Happy weekend!

Electricity....EEEElectricity!

We're on the last lap in my science class. Only one more concept to go! That chapter is on electricity. I was inspired by my childhood again today when the lyrics to Schoolhouse Rock's "Electricity" song popped into my head. Have a listen.....

Have a great Friday!

Pizza The Hut

To start...I am in a much better mood tonight. :-)

Well, the Pizza Hut bug bit me tonight. I haven't had Pizza Hut for years and the last time I had it we were in California. As a kid that is the only place we ever got pizza from. 

Jamie was on a mission tonight to get us Papa Murphy's new taco pizza but low and behold they don't have it here yet. They were supposed to get it last week. (Thanks for the coupon on SATURDAY then, people!) I craved taco pizza all day and was excited to try something new. When Jamie came home with a Hawaiian pizza, I just wasn't satisfied. I needed taco pizza. I said to myself...."Why not get Pizza Hut, it has been so long." So we did. Not bad. I kind of feel like "Pizza The Hut" now though. Very full, very full indeed. 

So, does everyone have good weekend plans? My cousin is having a bridal shower on Saturday. Since Jamie is M.I.A., and I have Teegan all weekend to myself, I am not attending. Hopefully I can get my gift for her to my sister-in-law who is going. I will however be continuing my "Earl May" abilities and keep planting our flowers and shrubs. 

I love pretty flowers but came to a realization today. I want a butterfly garden really bad. So I bought all these flowers and grasses and such to plant. Then I got to thinking. I bet all these will attract bees and other things that sting. Crap! I hate, and are allergic to, all things that sting. Hopefully, I will remain sting-free despite the beautiful garden I am about to design. Even if I get stung I can use my paramedic skills to save myself I guess. ;-) 

Have a great night!

Good Evening

Wow, I can't wait until this school year is behind me. I will greatly miss my kids, but I am ready for summer. I am also ready for the freaky weather to get back to normal. We had major frost today. My kitchen is a mini greenhouse right now with all of our 2008 flowers and shrubs inside. Who needs Yankee candles?! The fragrance is strong enough.

Okay, "What's Bothering Ali" is up next. Here goes....

1. With our economy the way it is, the recent WIDESPREAD flooding in Iowa, not to mention the prices for fuel and food and the housing market mess, our governor thinks he and other political officials need a raise. I will have to watch the news to see if it passed or not. I don't know why it wouldn't considering that would be like me voting at a school board meeting for teachers to get higher pay. Duh, it is a no brainer. Of course they are going to vote yes considering it will give them more money. This "raise" will make our governor the 12 highest paid governor in the nation. Okay, perhaps if Iowa wasn't going down the shitter right now it may be warranted within reason. However, I think they could wait a year to pass this. Come on, Iowa isn't the 12th largest state in the nation population wise. Why do we need to pay our governor more that what he deserves? I would trade his current salary for mine for even a day!

2. The San Jose Sharks are not playing up to their potential in the playoffs. Dallas is kicking their butts all over the ice. They lost AGAIN tonight making them ahead 3-0! One more loss boys and it's curtains. Hockey will be over golf will begin. You didn't win the Pac division championship for nothing guys! Get going!!!!!!!

3. Have I mentioned the weather yet???

4. After taking Tee for a bike ride tonight I parked my bike and the stroller-trailer on the driveway. When Jamie got home we went inside to get ready to go to supper. We looked out the window and what to our wonderful eyes should appear.....not a fat man and 8 tiny reindeer..... JUSTICE EATING TEE'S BICYCLE HELMET! The darn thing is absolutely destroyed. There goes $20 down the drain and the kid only got to wear it for 2 weeks. UUUURRRRGGGGG!!!!! Back to the doggie dilemma I guess. 

5. Lastly, Cleaning. Okay, given the fact that my husband is M.I.A. these days due to the wonderful opportunity he is getting with this temporary position, it is harder and harder to find the motivation to clean. My house is a mess. I'm not proud of it. I just don't have the time, or more so the energy, to do it. Tonight we picked it up at least. Well, the downstairs anyway. The garage is in shambles. The kitchen floor is disgusting. The bedrooms are frightful. My "type A" is really kicking in and it is bothering me. I think we are going to finally search out middle and high school babysitters to help me out. I need someone to play with Teegan so I can get stuff done. I also need to search babysitterland due to the fact that I am signed up for Pilates and Boot Camp for the next two months on Monday and Wednesday nights. Urg, that just brings up a whole new battlefield for stress. Who will we find? Will they be good and trustworthy? How  much will it cost? Can they drive or walk here so I don't have to pick up and drop off? Welcome to my world. Wanna trade for a day????? :-) 

Alrighty. This has been very therapeutic. Thanks for listening! Have a wonderful evening. I need to keep cleaning. 

The Elementary Teacher's Curse.....that involves Sesame Street and childhood

Okay, so I am teaching multiples and factors today in math class. To preface this in case you have forgotten a multiple is pretty much counting by a certain number like 2,4,6,8,10 and so on. A factor is what can be divided evenly into a number. For instance the factors of 12 are 1,2,3,4,6,12. 

ANYWAY, the kids got to use the multiplication chart in their math books that was 12x12. I wrote the numbers on the board 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. ALL OF A SUDDEN a classic Sesame Street clip popped into my head. You know the one....Pinball 12. The one that goes 

1-2-3   

4-5    

6-7-8-9-10     

11-12 

Do do di do do do do do di do do do do dodo do. 

You get the picture. So tonight I snickered at it and decided to look it up on You Tube since I haven't seen it in a while. Okay, I realize that there are a lot of bored people out there in the world and that the internet is an information super highway for freedom of expression. The clip below came up. Watch it and afterward you can read my comments below. 

So, I love the fact that the girl in the remake is mixing a martini throughout the song, then drinks it. I know I wished I had one of those while I was teaching math today. ;-) Just kidding. What is up with the Ghostbusters outfit? I'm pretty certain that pinball 12 is a 70's creation, not to mention that all the outfits that the actors have on involve the 60's and 70's. And the ending credits were just dumb. But overall, pretty funny. If you type in "Pinball 12" or "Sesame Street Pinball" you can see all kinds of clips about the cartoon. I would recommend it if you are an 80's kid like me and that silly song gets stuck in your head. It has been in mine all day. Hopefully I have passed it onto you!!!!!

"No Doggie, No No!" said Teegan

You can tell our dog has a behavioral disorder when our 15 month old child sees the dog out of the blue and says, "No Doggie, No No!" We are trying like mad to make Justice fit in around here now that our family dynamic has changed. Before Teegan we were on top of Justice, training her to be a good puppy. Well, ever since September, we have been bad dog owners. Right now she is out of control. She destroyed, and I mean DESTROYED, the work that we did on the deck last spring. She feels the need to get under the deck to chase the rabbits that go under there. To watch it reminds me of a Bugs Bunny cartoon to be honest. The rabbits AWAYS outwit her. 

We have seriously toyed with the fact of finding her a new home. It breaks my heart because she is such a wonderful dog. We just don't have the time to train her. The big two are just as calm and lovable as always. I know Justice could get there but it will take another year or so. 

Now we contemplate. Do we find a new home for her or not? I would give her away in a heartbeat if she could go to a family that I knew that would love her as much as we do. I don't want to just give her to any old person where I would spend months worrying about her. 

If you are interested or know anyone that might be let me know. 

One Moment Please....Violet

I feel like I  am becoming a weekend warrior. So many tasks to complete and not enough time to complete them. The weddings were wonderful yesterday.... however I am relying on Jamie's judgement with the first one. It sounded really nice. They served fondue at that one. The second wedding was really great. The chapel was beautiful and the Celebration Barn was as equally cool if not more. Job well done Diane! 

Well, I better go enjoy the nice sunny cold day. We had to explain to my nephew yesterday that just because it is "shiny" outside that doesn't mean it is warm. He wanted to play outside yesterday but Iowa has somehow received a cold snap. We have gone from near 80 to below freezing this week! 

Later.

Oh, to be a toddler again....

I wish I were a toddler again. To be carefree. To have all your needs taken care of. To not have to go to work everyday. TO HAVE NO INSIDE VOICE OR INNER MONOLOGUE! Man, wouldn't that be nice. I would only want to go back for a few days though. ;-) Yesterday we took Tee on a Target and Costco run. He was soooooo loud. We are teaching him Shhhhhhh and he is picking it up nicely. However, he will shhhhhhh and then scream-babble right afterward. 

Well it is wedding weekend! I have two to attend tomorrow although I am only going to one. Jamie is the best man in the first one. He has to wear a black tux with a pink vest and tie. I will be taking LOTS of pictures. Jamie is not a pink fan. Must be the macho fireman in him. The second one is here in town. I am going with friends since Jamie will still be at the other wedding. We will all meet up at the reception. 

 I need to go have  a cup of ambition to get all the toys picked up, the house cleaned, the dog chores completed, and get these wedding gifts wrapped. Later Gators. 

Headaches Suck.

Yesterday Jamie had a headache. Today it has passed to me through osmosis or something. I know it has to be the weather change, allergies, damn contact lenses, etc. I have taken Tylenol Sinus, Zyrtec, and hope to peel the plastic off of my eyeballs here momentarily. I wish that Lasik surgery was cheaper. I would have it in a heartbeat to correct my vision!!!! 

6 of my kids were gone again today. I think I passed them the plague of spring break '08. They have fevers, coughing, vomiting, an such. I only had 13 kids the other day in class. the other 9 were out with strep, bronchitis, or whatever the spring break plague is. 

Well, I need to go have "Art Time" with my son. He is at his art table whining. Now he is bringing me a crayon. Gotta go. 

Later.