Friday, September 26, 2008
Dumb luck or strategy?
Sharon, my clerk, gave me a puzzle for my birthday. The object is separate the "x" and remove the square. Only two people have gotten it apart: D'Arci and Matt. Matt claims he has a strategy yet we all know that strategy is dumb luck and a lot of shaking! Yep, we educators can be really productive on our planning.
Monday, September 22, 2008
1-2-3!
Top 3 things that have happened since I last blogged:
1. I turned 35 and had an incredible surprise party. I love an excuse for family and friends to get together and this party was so fun. I was 100% surprised. I'll post some photos when Amber sends them to me. the plan for the weekend was to have a small cookout on Sunday so I didn't expect anything else.
Here was the alibi: my actress friend Jeni, I should have known she was evil because she was on Team Jacob, asked me if I would be her guest at her acting class when the students performed their monologues on Saturday. She picked me up but we needed to "drop off a folder to her husband who was leading a retreat session at the park." When we got to the lodge, here is what happened (fast forward through about the first 3 or so minutes)
(I'll add in video in a few)
Seeing all my family and friends gathered just for me was so heartwarming. I was truly speechless and honored that they thought enough about me to go to such measures. However, I now know everyone around me is a good liar so I am always asking them, " Now when you said ____, was that the truth or was that just to throw me off of the trail." Someday I will trust them again!
2. On Sunday September 14, we survived the windstorm caused by Hurricane Ike with minimal damage. With winds hitting 75-80 mph, we were very fortunate to have only lost one storm window on our back porch and power for only one night. Considering 360,000 residences were without electric, and some still with none 8 days later, we have no complaints. The groceries, fast food restaurants that were fortunate enough to have power and the gas stations had lines for what seemed like miles! Due to the citywide damage, we were out of school all last week! here are a few photos from media circuits (none are personal photos) that show the craziness that was Ike's aftermath.
3. My childhood babysitter, Kim Aldridge, came in for a visit from Virginia. It has been 12 years since I saw her last and I was so excited to get to spend time getting to know her as an adult and having her be able to meet my children. Since I was out of school due to the storm damage, I was able to spend the night with my kids and Kim at my mom's from Monday through Wednesday. She is such a giving and loving person. I can remember running to her house to see her and missing her when she moved away although I was only about 3 when she moved.
During her visit she broke the news that she is adopting a baby that is due in April. Since she was not able to have children she knew she felt as though she was meant to have a child and this has just come at the perfect time for her. She always told me that she was going to name her daughter Kristen Gayle after me because I was such a wonderful child (my brother would spin a different story about that) and her best friend. However, one of her relatives just had a little girl and stole my name from under Kim's nose! Therefore she decided that, if she adopts a girl, her name will be Elizabeth Gayle. And Elizabeth just happens to be Audrey's middle name! She had chosen that name before meeting Audrey, who happens to also absolutely adore Kim and even renamed her "Sissy." I think it was meant to be.
I am hoping to get to visit her in Virginia toward the end of the year and find out if Kim is going to have a little Elizabeth or a little Landon. Either way, she will be a spectacular mom! I will post pictures and video of her visit as soon as I figure out how to download from my new camera.
September has been a month of counting blessings. Words cannot express how lucky I am to have such special people as my family and friends in my life. My party and visit from Kim proved that. Also, I lucked out by having all that I know safe and healthy after the storm. I needed this dose of reality this month because I think I was starting to feel bogged down by the day to day mundane things and I couldn't see what is truly most important to me.
1. I turned 35 and had an incredible surprise party. I love an excuse for family and friends to get together and this party was so fun. I was 100% surprised. I'll post some photos when Amber sends them to me. the plan for the weekend was to have a small cookout on Sunday so I didn't expect anything else.
Here was the alibi: my actress friend Jeni, I should have known she was evil because she was on Team Jacob, asked me if I would be her guest at her acting class when the students performed their monologues on Saturday. She picked me up but we needed to "drop off a folder to her husband who was leading a retreat session at the park." When we got to the lodge, here is what happened (fast forward through about the first 3 or so minutes)
(I'll add in video in a few)
Seeing all my family and friends gathered just for me was so heartwarming. I was truly speechless and honored that they thought enough about me to go to such measures. However, I now know everyone around me is a good liar so I am always asking them, " Now when you said ____, was that the truth or was that just to throw me off of the trail." Someday I will trust them again!
2. On Sunday September 14, we survived the windstorm caused by Hurricane Ike with minimal damage. With winds hitting 75-80 mph, we were very fortunate to have only lost one storm window on our back porch and power for only one night. Considering 360,000 residences were without electric, and some still with none 8 days later, we have no complaints. The groceries, fast food restaurants that were fortunate enough to have power and the gas stations had lines for what seemed like miles! Due to the citywide damage, we were out of school all last week! here are a few photos from media circuits (none are personal photos) that show the craziness that was Ike's aftermath.
3. My childhood babysitter, Kim Aldridge, came in for a visit from Virginia. It has been 12 years since I saw her last and I was so excited to get to spend time getting to know her as an adult and having her be able to meet my children. Since I was out of school due to the storm damage, I was able to spend the night with my kids and Kim at my mom's from Monday through Wednesday. She is such a giving and loving person. I can remember running to her house to see her and missing her when she moved away although I was only about 3 when she moved.
During her visit she broke the news that she is adopting a baby that is due in April. Since she was not able to have children she knew she felt as though she was meant to have a child and this has just come at the perfect time for her. She always told me that she was going to name her daughter Kristen Gayle after me because I was such a wonderful child (my brother would spin a different story about that) and her best friend. However, one of her relatives just had a little girl and stole my name from under Kim's nose! Therefore she decided that, if she adopts a girl, her name will be Elizabeth Gayle. And Elizabeth just happens to be Audrey's middle name! She had chosen that name before meeting Audrey, who happens to also absolutely adore Kim and even renamed her "Sissy." I think it was meant to be.
I am hoping to get to visit her in Virginia toward the end of the year and find out if Kim is going to have a little Elizabeth or a little Landon. Either way, she will be a spectacular mom! I will post pictures and video of her visit as soon as I figure out how to download from my new camera.
September has been a month of counting blessings. Words cannot express how lucky I am to have such special people as my family and friends in my life. My party and visit from Kim proved that. Also, I lucked out by having all that I know safe and healthy after the storm. I needed this dose of reality this month because I think I was starting to feel bogged down by the day to day mundane things and I couldn't see what is truly most important to me.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
"Audrey turn!"
Last school year, Audrey was always so excited to see Aiden's classroom at Friends School that we decided to let her go two days a week from 9-12 in the two year old room this year.
Tuesday August 19 was her first day. Travis picked me up from school and we took her together. She pranced down the hall with her "dancy girl" backpack and went right in to her classroom. She walked right into the room and made herself quite comfortable in the block area, not even giving us a second thought.
She played in the kitchen area
and in the sandbox,
finally making it to the coloring table.
She had a blast that day and got a good report stating she was happy, excited, energetic, and that she had already made some good friends. One of them is another little girl named Avery with whom she likes to exchange hair bows.
I am so excited for her future. Audrey is such a sponge, absorbing everything around her. She is so eager to learn and wants to be such a big girl, moreso than I really prefer. Her sweet smile and bounce in her step can win over the hardest of hearts. I am truly a better person for having her in my life. don't ask me how, but this little two year old blessing keeps me grounded.
And yes, many of these pictures are fuzzy because my little blessing broke my camera!
Tuesday August 19 was her first day. Travis picked me up from school and we took her together. She pranced down the hall with her "dancy girl" backpack and went right in to her classroom. She walked right into the room and made herself quite comfortable in the block area, not even giving us a second thought.
She played in the kitchen area
and in the sandbox,
finally making it to the coloring table.
She had a blast that day and got a good report stating she was happy, excited, energetic, and that she had already made some good friends. One of them is another little girl named Avery with whom she likes to exchange hair bows.
I am so excited for her future. Audrey is such a sponge, absorbing everything around her. She is so eager to learn and wants to be such a big girl, moreso than I really prefer. Her sweet smile and bounce in her step can win over the hardest of hearts. I am truly a better person for having her in my life. don't ask me how, but this little two year old blessing keeps me grounded.
And yes, many of these pictures are fuzzy because my little blessing broke my camera!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Day 1 of the Next 13 Years
Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday Aiden was a sweet little non sleeping baby. Fast forward to present day...Aiden started kindergarten at St. Matthews Elementary Tuesday.
He was so excited to go! We had already gone in to meet his teacher, Ms. Hunt, and to let him get acclimated to the room. Unfortunately his first day was my first day with students, too. However, St. Matthews is literally right behind Waggener so Travis stopped him by before dropping him off. D'Arci was kind enough to get our picture together and he was off for day 1!
After we picked him up that afternoon, and dried his tears caused by the confusion of the car rider dismissal, he was so ready to tell us all he did that day...this has never happened before! He usually pleads the fifth but not today! He told me he did all of the following things:
1. Went to the library to check out books
2. Read three books
3. Listened to Ms. Hunt read about a racoon and a box
4. Play on the playground
5. Eat lunch in the lunchroom
6. Play in the gym
7. Went to music
Does all of that activity sufficiently explain these photos taken about 15 minutes after we got home?
Now my sleepless baby boy has turned into a sleepy little kindergartener. My how things change!
He was so excited to go! We had already gone in to meet his teacher, Ms. Hunt, and to let him get acclimated to the room. Unfortunately his first day was my first day with students, too. However, St. Matthews is literally right behind Waggener so Travis stopped him by before dropping him off. D'Arci was kind enough to get our picture together and he was off for day 1!
After we picked him up that afternoon, and dried his tears caused by the confusion of the car rider dismissal, he was so ready to tell us all he did that day...this has never happened before! He usually pleads the fifth but not today! He told me he did all of the following things:
1. Went to the library to check out books
2. Read three books
3. Listened to Ms. Hunt read about a racoon and a box
4. Play on the playground
5. Eat lunch in the lunchroom
6. Play in the gym
7. Went to music
Does all of that activity sufficiently explain these photos taken about 15 minutes after we got home?
Now my sleepless baby boy has turned into a sleepy little kindergartener. My how things change!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Dancy girl and the Jedi Knight
Here are the pictures Renee posted on her website of our photosession last Wednesday at Locust Grove. I love the pictures as she has a wonderful eye. It was a montrously humid day, which explains Audrey's excessive curls and Aiden's sweat drenched hair.
Her website is www.reneelewisphotograpy.typepad.com. You should not only visit the site to see her gorgeous work and read the sweet words that accompany her posts, you should use her! She is terrific with the kids and adults. Very easy to work with and such beautiful photos! She knows how to capture the spirits of her subjects.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Magic #112
As everyone who doesn't live under a rock knows, Breaking Dawn, the last book from Bella's point of view in the Twilight series, came out at midnight today. Due to the overwhelming phenomenon of this series, many bookstores had midnight release parties. Jeni "Nancy" Delancey, Amy "chili dog" Ritchie and I decided that was a must attend party!
There were trivia games, costume contests and lots of talking smack about Team Edward v. Team Jacob.Amy and I are staunch Jacob supporters while Jeni (the one in the brown) seems to care for Edward. Sometimes we wonder if she is taking all her meds. I was #112 out of about 200 to get the book at Borders at midnight. Now my bracelet serves as my bookmark.
Travis assumed I'd stay up all night to devour the story. This cannot be farther from the truth. I like reading it over a little bit longer period of time so I can savor the relationships between these characters. Even though there is more to the story on Edward's side, I just want to enjoy the book and the literary decisions that Stephenie Meyer made to create this unique series.
PS: Jeni has stayed in the Forks and LaPush area. Last night she brought a picture of her camping in LaPush....I could swear I saw Jacob in the bushes! If she'll send it to me, I'll post it...hint hint!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
You Gotta Love a Theme!
For Aiden, the theme of July was zoo month! In the beginning of the month, he attended two different camps for two weeks where he was able to interact with all the animals on a more personal level. Usually when we picked him up that meant we were staying for a while.
Audrey loves going there, too. However, her M.O. is a little different than Aiden's which is to see every single animal in the zoo. Hers is to run, run and run some more! Her favorite is the tigers in their new habitat while Aiden's favorite changes all the time. Lately it has been the elephants and baby Scotty.
Both of them love the goats. Audrey was a little apprehensive at first, declaring " I don hap too," but quickly warmed up to the idea when she saw big brother doing it. Outside the goat area is a great beat-up VW van for the kids to play in. Audrey loves to be in the driver's seat...sounds kinda like Pop, huh?
And just when I think MY kids are big, I see them next to the gorillas.
This year the zoo has added a splash park called Glacier Run. Both Aiden and Audrey had a blast! Aiden's only complaint is that he misses the otters. Have no fear, though! They will be back soon with a brand new home, along with the polar bears and seals.
On Friday night Aiden and Travis got to spend the night at the zoo! Aiden got to pet...
a chinchilla
That night they went on a walk and got to see the animals all riled up and ready to eat. The wolves and snow leopard were pacing, not something you get to see during the day!
They tie-dyed shirts,
Aiden loves all the "behind the scenes" activities he's gotten to be involved with through the zoo programs this summer. I imagine more is in his future, as long as it is not with the roaches or the snakes!
Audrey loves going there, too. However, her M.O. is a little different than Aiden's which is to see every single animal in the zoo. Hers is to run, run and run some more! Her favorite is the tigers in their new habitat while Aiden's favorite changes all the time. Lately it has been the elephants and baby Scotty.
Both of them love the goats. Audrey was a little apprehensive at first, declaring " I don hap too," but quickly warmed up to the idea when she saw big brother doing it. Outside the goat area is a great beat-up VW van for the kids to play in. Audrey loves to be in the driver's seat...sounds kinda like Pop, huh?
And just when I think MY kids are big, I see them next to the gorillas.
This year the zoo has added a splash park called Glacier Run. Both Aiden and Audrey had a blast! Aiden's only complaint is that he misses the otters. Have no fear, though! They will be back soon with a brand new home, along with the polar bears and seals.
On Friday night Aiden and Travis got to spend the night at the zoo! Aiden got to pet...
a chinchilla
a snake
and a lizard.
That night they went on a walk and got to see the animals all riled up and ready to eat. The wolves and snow leopard were pacing, not something you get to see during the day!
They tie-dyed shirts,
created their own bookmarks with animal stamps
and decorated a box to contain the lion's breakfast. In the morning they watched the lion's rip open the boxes to reveal their meal: meatballs!
Aiden loves all the "behind the scenes" activities he's gotten to be involved with through the zoo programs this summer. I imagine more is in his future, as long as it is not with the roaches or the snakes!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Greatness Thrust Upon Him
About three years ago, when I was still teaching, a new student walked into my AP Sophomore English class. Don't ask how but I knew he was a special person. Kristen Knighten is his name, all around awesomeness is his game.
I loved having Kirsten in class because he always exceeded my expections, which were ridiculously high for an AP class already. His creativity blew me away so much that, when it came time to present his Julius Caesar project, I told our Theater teacher, Amy Ritchie, that she really needed to see him. Amy and Kirsten talked and that was the beginning of his career in theater.
Kirsten won our school's Shakespeare monologue competition (with the "unkindest cut of all" monologue from JC) and went on to the regional competition to be recognized by the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. He was invited to be part of Shakespeare in Central Park modern production of Twelfth Night. Pretty awesome accomplishment!
On Thursday July 17, several teachers from Waggener, along with many of his peers, met in Central Park to watch Kirsten's professional debut. As if watching Shakespeare outdoors amongst the stars being serenaded by the crickets isn't incredible enough, it couldn't trump seeing Kirsten wowing the audience as the Duke. I am so proud of him and know that I'll be seeing many more of his productions in the future!
A big thanks to Amber for risking arrest to get these pictures!
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