TISNF!!

So... the beach day was contingent on the fact that I was getting at least an extra $600 this month for creating all of the Math and Science benchmarks for 4th grade using MY SUMMER TIME! We were told that we were getting the money last month, and it didn't happen. Then, we were told it would definitely be in this pay check. I got this months pay check (yes, we get paid once a month, which blows), and it wasn't there. I high tailed my rear to the school board office, and asked why the extra dinero wasn't in my check. Well, the director of testing "didn't get a chance" to check over the tests we made (this was over a month ago, mind you), so now we're not getting our money until next month. The beach can wait a month, but we also bought a chair knowing that money was going to be in my check, AND I always end up spending an extra few hundred bucks out of my own pocket for my room every year. Needless to say, Mr. I'm Too Busy With My Own Life And I Don't Need Extra Money Because I Make An Administrator's Salary got a nice email from me... it was also CC'd to the superintendent. Hopefully if we all ban together, they'll change their mind! So.... do you see why I said TISNF??? (That Is So Not Fair)

The Life of an Absent Blogger

Yes, I am still alive. I have been away for a week. My little priss and I went to my cousin's bridal shower in Pittsburgh. While there, I got to see both sides of my family, and got to have hot dogs from the Hot Dog Shoppe (Grace, you know the pure joy I had in scarfing those down :o) ).

Now, I am setting up my classroom because I start school next week, and the kids start August 11th. Once I get my room in order, all of the stuff up on the walls, and have it completely done I will post some pictures. I think my room looks pretty cool this year, and you'll be able to see a glimpse of a little part of my world. When you think about it, this is where I spend most of my time.

Hopefully we are also taking the munchkin to the beach this Friday. If so, I'll have pics to post of her first ocean experience. Needless to say, I don't think it's going to go so well, but you never know.

So... look for beach and classroom pics. And, get ready for the fun fourth grade kiddo stories to start pouring in again.... they're usually pretty good.

I'm Hooked!

Have you ever had such a rough day that you just wish that you could go back to being a kid again? To be a kid again would mean no bills, no responsibilities besides cleaning up and doing other minor chores, you wouldn't have to worry about a job, finances, and other mundane things. Honestly, there are many times when I wish that I could go back to being a Barbie doll's stylist, and caring for my Pound Puppies, Quints, and other toys. I have such fond memories of my childhood. I really hope that my children can say the same when they are my age, and look back on all of the different memories they made.

One day while I was perusing the Internet, I found a website. This website let me have the opportunity to temporarily step outside of reality, and go back to being a semi-kid again. The memories poured in... Strawberry Shortcake, Popples, The Sylvanian Hills Families, Cabbage Patch Kids, Sweet Secrets, Keypers.... and the list goes on. I was so engrossed in all of the things I found that I used to own. It was sooo fun. If you're a kid of the '80's, and you have fond memories of the toys you used to play with, check this out! I so wish that my daughter would have the opportunity to play with the awesome toys I got to play with as a kid. It really makes me wish that I could have enough money to go on ebay, and buy her one of every kind of my favorite toys. Maybe she'll get some of them eventually, when she's a little bit older.

So, if you're anything like me, and you wish you could sneak back to kid-dom every once in a while, take a look at that site, and maybe it'll help whisk you away from the craziness for a few. It sure brought back some memories for me, and that is something I always enjoy!! From now on, when I need a "break" from reality.... I'm going to take a leap back to my childhood; it may be just for a few minutes, but it's a wonderful few minutes :o)

And It Hit Me Like.... BOOOOM!

While my little one was sleeping today, I started thinking about things I wanted to do with the rest of my summer (thinking... yeah I have quite a bit more time left, let's see what I can do). Then, when I really thought about the "huge" amount of time I had left, it kinda hit me, like hit me HARD..... I only have 3 weeks of summer vacation left! YOWZA Where on Earth did the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were all standing on the bus landing, watching as the kid taxis were rolling away, the sun glistening off of the kid taxi windows, all of us teachers waving like maniacs because we were ready for our own blissful, relaxing summer. There were my "to do" lists with home things, school things, and baby things.... did they get accomplished? Of course not! I kind of feel like a failure because I had big plans for my time, yet again ~ I got to enjoy myself; the time spent with my girl was wonderful!

I am anticipating a wonderful school year. I already know a handful of kids that are going to be in my room, and I am super stoked about having them. I also have some huge personal goals set for this school year (personal being with my own self, my house, and how I want to do my classroom this year). And, any of you who have read my blog before, and have seen a posting about any of my kiddos, you'll get to start reading all of the fun stories again! I love posting about them because I a) get to vent (my little boy with demons, yeah that was fun) and b) they crack me up (my little kid who lived in the state of Vagina and not Virginia)

So, with my last 3 weeks, I am going to have the most fun I can, not worry about my "to do" list, and start fresh in August when we go back to school. Sadly, I have to be back August 4!!! I kinda don't want to go back to school, yet again, I'm the type of person that needs to be active and have something to do. I get bored sitting around home all day. Here's to my next 3 weeks.... hopefully they're fun and full of adventure (we're taking the baby to the beach for a day soon... so that should be interesting!).

Make it an Iced Latte, Please

In the last few weeks, I have had some really amazingly good iced lattes. I had a caramel one while on an outing near Gettysburg at a really cool coffee house in New Oxford, Pa. We just had a new coffee house open here in town, and I had a mocha one along with my breakfast this morning (which was a chocolate croissant with bananas put in to a panini press... amazing I must say). I'm a really big Starbucks fan, but for some reason, these coffee house lattes are ten times better than what I get at Starbucks. I'm getting to the point that I could probably have approximately 10 a day... which is not a good thing!

Papa Taught Me to be a Monster!

Papa thought it was necessary to teach me how to be a monster.... just in case any mean people come along, I can scare them away.


Here we are at Uncle Migak's apartment, and Papa is
teaching me the proper technique.















Partners in crime! <3

I'm getting the hang of it, being a monster isn't so easy...
especially when you're as cute as me!

Still practicing

They always say... practice makes

PERFECT! I look pretty scary here, don't I??? :o)

Princess Biz

Here are a couple pics of our Fourth of July fun! (More will come throughout the rest of the week)



Splashing like a maniac... the first time she's ever been
in a swimming pool. And, it's HER pool; nobody else
is allowed in (actually, nobody else could fit)





















Just chillaxing with her leg up, reading a book on
my parent's floor. Don't forget, she's only 16 months old :o)

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Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

that is my huge sigh of relief to be back in my own home, my own bed, my own schedule... my own everything. While it is nice to be with family and friends, it's always nicer to come back, and just get back to our normal, plain, everyday lives. Miss Priss started walking (finally at 16 months) this week, had her first ride down a slide, her first swim in her own little kiddo pool, and learned some more new words (she's up to over 70, and is starting to form sentences). I'll post some fun pics of her in the next couple of days!! I've missed my home, Internet, and my bed!! :o)