All Manner of Pressing Issues

Today after center time, all of my students and I went to our carpet area for share time. I asked for volunteers to share something they learned in their centers. I was getting responses such as “We learned about reading books.” “We learned to work as friends.” “We put together a rhyming puzzle.” Then G. raised his hand. He is my most active little boy and has a very sweet smile on his face at all times. He is a great kid, but just V E R Y active. I bravely called on him to hear what he learned during center time and this is what he said: “We played homeboys and homegirls.”

Where was I during all of this you ask? I was at the reading table conducting DRA’s (reading assessments). I have no idea how I missed an entire game of homegirls and homeboys. I’ll have to tune in next time. I might just learn a thing or two!

I am convinced that the sweetest and most well behaved students were put in my class this year. I am having the best time with this group of students and they have already learned so much! I might be a little biased, but I am oh so proud of my kiddos!

1. straighten/clean house

2. grocery shop

3. eat fajitas (Richard’s cooking!!!)

4. return books to the library (due July 22)

5. watch a movie with Richard

6. work on my Bible study

7. knit

8. water plants

I’ll enjoy a jelly bean or two here and there. Oh and did you notice what’s missing from my list? SCHOOL WORK! Yea! I finished my lesson plans Friday before I left!

How in the world is this already post #203? I am a little late paying tribute to my Bloggy Milestones, but better late than never, right? So, to celebrate these 200 some-odd posts, I am going to follow in the footsteps of many bloggers before me and tell you some (un)interesting facts about myself….I went easy on you–there are only 58.

1. Love to knit, but lately school has taken over.

2. Polish my toenails every 2 weeks and keep clear polish on my fingernails.

3. Cook 4 nights or so a week. On the other nights we eat leftovers or go out.

4. Like to watch our plants grow.

5. I get really proud of myself when I can use some of our fresh herbs in a recipe.

6. I love our church.

7. Will never go to the tanning bed again.

8. Have eaten poptarts for lunch 2 days this week.

9. Enjoy fishing.

10. Love taking road trips with my husband (he drives and I knit).

11. Went to Flordia for a week this summer with my mom and we had a blast.

12. Have completed several Beth Moore Bible studies and am working on one now (Jesus The One and Only).

13. Quit drinking caffeine and am trying to stay away from Aspartame.

14. My husband keeps fresh flowers in a vase for me at all times.

15. Catch myself trying to think of dog names quite often.

16. Am “training” (I’ve slacked the last 3 weeks, but I am back on!!) for a half-marathon with my friend Summer.

17. Love my new washer and dryer.

18. Have not had to buy laundry detergent since mid-June.

19. Usually get the same dish at a restaurant every time I go.

20. Am a provisional member of the Junior League of Little Rock.

21. Go to bed around 9:00 because I am TIRED.

22. Enjoy teaching my little munchkins.

23. Probably over-think teaching my little munchkins.

24. Take a lot of pictures.

25. Graduated from the University of Arkansas (in Fayetteville).

26. Have a master’s degree.

27. Collect postcards.

28. Eat at least one piece of fruit a day.

29. Like to sit in my chair in our living room in front of our fireplace (particularly when there is a fire in it).

30. Am ready for cooler weather (which we’ve had some of, but I’m talking the 50 degree weather).

31. Have a bill at the public library because I get excited and check out lots of books and don’t get around to returning them on time.

32. Love it when my students clap after I read a book or beg to hear it again.

33. My class did that on the first day of school after the very first book I read to them.

34. Like to buy fruits and vegetables because they are colorful and look pretty in our refrigerator.

35. Accidentally bought grapes with seeds on Sunday.

36. Thursday is my favorite day of the week.

37. When I was in college I watched Friends every Thursday night after having eaten at Fazoili’s.

38. That feels like a long time ago.

39. Richard and I think The Office is hysterical and it’s been a long time since I’ve watched Friends.

40. Like to wake up in a tent outside beacuse I like the smell of the dried pine needles.

41. Early morning is my favorite time of day.

42. Slim Chickens is one of the things I miss most about NWAR (have yet to find any good chicken strips here).

43. Love pretty parks.

44. Don’t have a TV in my living room or bedroom (or cable at all for that matter).

45. Am listening to a frog croak really loudly.

46. Wish I lived closer to my family.

47. Hope my children grow up getting to see their relatives often.

48. Used my tax refund one year to buy golf clubs and golf shoes.

49. Tried to play raquetball in college, but I played with boys and they hit the ball too hard.

50. Wanted to play tennis, but got too hot.

51. My students’ eyes bug out when I tell them I don’t watch TV.

52. Only remember skipping class twice in college and it was because I was hungry (I had classes from 7:30-1:00).

53. Love snow.

54. Am ready to go snow skiing.

55. Make sweet tea every week for Richard.

56. Like it when Richard takes care of supper.

57. Like it when we don’t ever leave the house on Saturdays.

58. My favorite sno-ball flavor is Spearmint with cream (Thanks to P.).

I am trying to enjoy these last few hours before school starts! We have had a great weekend (it’s not over yet!). Thursday and Friday nights we went to the Traveler’s baseball games. Friday night we also went out to eat before the game. It was one of those meals where I talked Richard’s ear off! After the game (where I did lots more talking) we decided we weren’t ready to go home yet, so we went to the late show and saw Mama Mia (we had the whole theater to ourselves!). Saturday morning I got up early and went to the Junior League Provisional Retreat which occupied the majority of my day. Richard grilled for us Saturday night! He grilled filet mignon (de-lish!)–we got started cooking a little late, so it was dark by the time we were enjoying our meal. That turned out to be perfect (although I was starving because I had not eaten since 11:00) because we were able to enjoy the torches on our balcony and the sounds of the bugs outside.

I’ve done very little knitting in the last week–I’ve had some sort of allergy issue or something going on, but since Thursday I have felt better–thank goodness! I actually wore one of the wraps I knitted Wednesday night to a play (Gridiron 2008—production of the Pulaski County Bar Association) at The Rep. It was a fun evening and I was glad I had the wrap because the theater was COLD!

The other wrap is still in the works. It’s a quick knit, but several stitches fell off my needles in my knitting bag and that ribbon is very tricky, so I think I need some assistance getting them back on which requires a trip to Yarn Mart. I am also still knitting the baby sweater. It’s coming along quite nicely–as it should be considering this is the 14th time I’ve knitted it (not really). I have several more projects tabbed that I want to get started on soon, so stay tuned!

This morning we went to church and then enjoyed a little lunch date to P.F. Changs.  I am cooking supper tonight (which requires a trip to the grocery store since I haven’t been in ages) and then we’re watching our latest Netflix movie, Rearwindow (a Jimmy Stewart classic). Richard promises it’s good, so I am trusting him.

Tomorrow morning 20 little first graders are going to walk into my classroom! I am excited to learn all about each of them and to delve into our new school year together. But, for now I am going to enjoy these last few hours of my summer!