Alright, enough is enough

Seriously.  I've now been off school for 4 days.  One day - whoohoo!  Nice to sleep in.  Z and I played outside in the snow.  Fun!

Day 2 - Can't leave the house, too slick.  Chris even got two exits up the road and headed back home.  That's something because he usually will slog through.  Roads were really bad.  

Day 3 - Huh?  Really?  What's going on?  Good thing I had a disc of House episodes to watch!  I did help the neighbor get his car out of the driveway.  Yup, me and an elderly gentleman.  We are strong, what can I say?

Day 4 - Thought we just had a two hour delay.  I was up, showered and drying my hair when the phone buzzes.  Closed.  Ugh.

Four days with no structure is no good for my students either!  There are a couple I know who's parents are working with them, reading their 6-Min

ute Solution passages, practicing math facts, reading stories.  Then there are some who, unfortunately, are not.  Time is always something we are short on at school and now 4 days are gone.  There's work to be done Mother Nature!  Lighten up and let us get back to it!

The 'Oey's Dancin' It Up!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Snow Day!

 

A Freezer Full of Food!

My friend Annie and I met this morning at Kroger at 8:30 a.m. and filled our cart up with hamburger, pork tenderloin, ground italian sausage, countless cans of tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef roast, bags of cheese and other add-ins. We took tried and true and some new recipes and cooked and cooked and cooked and cooked!

We have on hand sloppy joes, meat sauce, marinara sauce, lasagne, pork tenderloin, beef roast, 3 casseroles that can be popped into the oven and a meatloaf. I'm so excited!

It was exhausting but I think well worth it. We were even successful at keeping the kitchen clean! All this with a 2 1/2 year old and a 22 month old running around! Whoohoo!

I think I need some more Tupperware, though. Anyone up for a party? :-)

Mmmm, sandy beaches

It is stinkin' cold here in SW Ohio and I can't stand being cold.

We're trying to get some summer plans together and the timing for our annual Florida trek to visit my Dad and Step-mom could possibly coincide with our wedding anniversary this year. Hmmmmm. Interesting.

So, here's my thought and I'm thinking C is going to go along with me. We've never done anything big for our anniversary. Not in what will be this summer 7 years. Dinner, night out, no biggie. Siesta Key is about 45 minutes from my Dad's house. And it's beautiful. And not ridiculously expensive. And did I say beautiful? With warm beaches and non-chain restaurants within a short walk or cab ride. I'm thinking that sounds like an excellent place for an anniversary mini-vaca!

We can leave the kiddos with the grandparents! (isn't that what grandparents are for? :-)

Sounds like a great plan!!!

Fashion Statement

 

I came home from yoga Saturday morning and my darling Z was showing off her dazzling sense of fashion - monkey nightgown, sunglasses and black patent leather mary janes (no socks). I was cracking up!

Friends

 

Meet the 'Oeys. Joey and Zoe. I title this friends because one thing I hope for my daughter is lasting friendships. I hope we have pictures of the 'Oeys for decades to come.

In my life, probably the biggest regret is that I have been terrible at maintaining friendships. I don't mean I need to have 50 close friends. I don't think I could keep up. Friends from my childhood? Hardly any. I have one person I would call a true friend from high school. One. College? Huh uh.

To me a friendship is more than superficial. It's spending time, talking on the phone, seeing little gifts that because you know that person so well you know it will be perfect, listening and being listened to with a swift kick in the rear when you need it.

I have these kind of friends now. You know who you are. I'm so grateful to have adult friendships.

So this is my hope for my daughter, the whole roots and wings thing. Roots being good friends that are there for you no matter what. Long lasting close friendships with people who've been there and done that with you and still like you!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! This is where I am supposed to wax poetic about the previous year and pledge to do certain things in the new year. I know me. Instead of making resolutions like "I will work out 4 times a week for an hour" or "I will eat more vegetables and fruits and less french fries" I need to pick just a couple of things to get better at.

That's how I work in my classroom - I pick a couple of things to do better while continuing to refine previous goals. Last year I said I was going to assess better and make sure my assessments were valid (that includes checklists, notes on students and work samples). This led to being able to better place students in small groups. Also, I was going to be more consistent on follow through with classroom management. Especially tough last year with the class from you know where.

This year at school, I'm focusing on math/problem solving and fluency in reading. So far so good. Last check, all but 1 student was on level for CWPM and the kids are getting much better at working through number stories and explaining their thinking.

So, the other side of my life - the home side. What to pick?

I will be more conscious and aware of spending quality time with my husband. Time is a big thing. So many demands and so little time. Prioritizing and working smarter not harder should help. Also, not having to get up at 4:30 in the morning anymore should give me time in the evenings. Date night will become a must.

I will try some new Flylady.com ideas to maintain the house during the week instead of having to rush around on the weekends. Goes along with the whole time thing - do a little each day along the way to free up some time on the weekends!

I'm now held accountable by writing these words where others can see. No wiggling out of it now!