Flying Solo

First Day of School...

2008-08-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Well, technically it is...being as it is 1:47 a.m. and I WIDE awake! School starts in 6 hours!!!
John is very excited about his first day tomorrow and I cant wait! I will post pics! I am excited to be going to first grade (haha). This wknd was rough, woke up sick Saturday with major sore throat and ear throbbing....but thought it was allergy related so I popped some allergy meds and headed to Auntie M's. It was like 30 mins into our drive that I literally stopped functioning and fell asleep. Remained in major pain, major fever and sleep zone until about 9 this morning! Went to the emergency clinic to learn I have STREP THROAT!!!!! Man, I think its worse than the FLU- but probably only because it hurts to talk and eat - my two fave things. But, the doc gave me a shot in my a** and penicillin. Around 9pm I regained my strength and ate for the first time since Sat morning- and now here I am WIDE AWAKE at 2am ----- AND SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW!

Oh joy, this school year is starting off fabulously.

More later, XOXO.

Uncle Dana's BDAY!

2008-08-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

And, here are some pics from my sweet Uncle Dana's 55th Bday dinner!

Movies are awesome, books too...

2008-08-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

I went from NEVER going to a movie (for people over age 5) to seeing THREE this wknd! YAY! Saw 'Swing Vote' for a date with Josh...was VERY good. Rented Nim's Island AND August Rush and WOW- both so good. And, Im getting into reading again. I LOVE books and reading and I havent done that in way too long. I love the smell of books. Im hoping it gets me off the computer- Im on it way too much. (Blog excluded, I wont give this up).

Let's see, Sydney has her cast. Most of you know that. She climbed up her dresser and jumped off...fractured her wrist....and OF COURSE they give her a entire arm length cast- makes perfect sense to me! Well, she has been caught on her dresser nearly everyday since so I guess the doctor knows what he is doing.

John is all ready to go for Kindergarten and had a great day school shopping with Yia Yia (THANK YOU) . He even organized all his clothes so he could be ready for school. He is going to be going to the school where I teach in Conroe, Armstrong El. I wanted him to go to our neighborhood school but the logistics of coming and going dont work and we cant afford childcare for him. Barely will for Sydney. The positive is that I wont miss his first day (all day!) and all the fun K things like the K program, class parties, field trips, etc.

Josh's job is up in the air, he is a pilot and these are the times. So, if youre reading this- please say a (BIG) lil' prayer for us. We are supposed to know very soon if he gets to keep it or not. Which means also keeping our health benefits!

There was a great quote at the very end "Swing Vote" that just touched me. It went something like.... "How is it that in the richest country in the world....good people, with a good education and good jobs, can barely afford to live here?"

Yes, Im getting all emo again- so I will end with that....

XOXO, us

New Table, New Bunkbeds, New Baby

2008-07-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

John has new bunk beds... (for free!)

I have a new breakfast table and 6 chairs... (for free!)

Sydney picked her own baby from the store for first time... (14.99!)

Going to Galveston for the rest of the week.... (PRICELESS!)

XOXO

Bye Bye Aunt Billie...

2008-07-13T12:52:00.001-07:00

My sweet Aunt Billie finally went home today. She is now living with the love of her life, Bill, in heaven. I bet he is so excited to see her again.

Love you Aunt Billie. See you on the other side. XO.

Im catching up....

2008-07-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

Hello all!
I cant sleep at all tonight (its 2am Thur morn!) - so I figured I should finally update the ole family blog!

Lets see...

John likes guitar lessons thus far, and also has taken liking to Tennis! He did one week of tennis camp two weeks ago, and asked to go back this week! He is growing up so fast. His mouth gets in his way from time to time- but he definitely comes by it honestly. Kindergarten should whip him in to shape! I just hope he doesnt get bored...he's always seemed a lil advanced for his age to me. We shall see soon! Oh, and he has a new bed! A bunk bed no less....so THAT mustve been why no one visits, no extra beds or rooms in our humble abode....WELL COME ON DOWN....there's a lil twin bunk waiting for you!

Sydney is well, our lil demanding, but oh so delightful, diva! :) She says about 3 new words everyday. And, people comment on how well she talks (and how much!) but I never saw it as out of the ordinary...but consider the source. I can NOT believe she will be two in the fall. . She really loves drawing and painting...particularly on my walls, my window sills, herself. I guess we couldnt get through TWO kids without that phase. And, she is quite the dancer. I will have to upload a video of her dancing...we just laugh and laugh and she never stops just shakes it more for us! LOL.

Josh is flying away- trying to fly as much as possible while Im home with the rascals for the summer. With furlows and layoffs looming all around the airline industry, we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best! Although, we believe at this point its pretty imminent. Boo. Hiss.

As for me... I repainted our front room and I have officially claimed it a breakfast room. Not only did I find John's bunk beds for FREEEEEE, but I have also found a round dining table (with a leaf!) and 6 chairs....FOR FREEEE TOO! Conroe ISD has a nifty lil thing in our email system called "Virtual Yard Sale" and im becoming quite addicted. Especially when I find FREE stuff. And, I think its about time that I proclaim, "YEA BABY! IVE LOST 30LBS AND 14 INCHES THIS PAST YEAR!"....ahhh, and it feels good. Just a lil bit to do on my goal list in that category...but I definitely feel better about myself.

Tabitha came and visited for two weeks in June. I love that girl. She came into my life when she was 3, can you believe she proudly showed me her 15-yr-old's driving permit!?!? I dont like this... she lives in Missouri with her sister. Im hoping we can get her back around the holidays...although buddy passes (FYI>>>) have QUADRUPLED this month. Again....BOO, HISS.

I am teaching first grade next year. Im thankful to have a VERY secure job, but I am having great difficulty getting excited about first grade. I feel a little guilty about it, because I dont want that to transfer to my classroom. But, first grade is the one grade I said I would NEVER teach. HA! Im hoping to get into 3rd, or higher.... hopefully soon. I HAD started my Masters Degree this month-- but was horribly NON impressed with the program I was so I dropped it and I am searching for another- preferably not all online. I think I do better in real classrooms. Kind of ironic since Ive bored you all with this long blog....Ha.

Well, enjoy the latest pics. See how much the kids have grown, and even get a rare Josh picture sighting! haha.

Love you all.
Us.

And now, the positive, fun news...

2008-06-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

John starts GUITAR LESSONS next week! He is very excited...and we are excited to see how he takes to it as well. He has been doing tennis this week here in our neighborhood and LOVES it....so that is exciting. Such a good kid, a bright kid. And, not counting his occasional 'moments' he is an incredible big brother and conversationalist. We are so proud.

Sydney is saying new words each day, she is quite the chatterbox...no need to elaborate on where she gets THAT from, huh?! :) She said, "OTAY" (for OK) for the first time today. LOVE IT. She is putting 2 and sometimes 3 word sentences together...that's impressive for her age. And, of course she is the life of the party in our house right now. Neither of my children are couch potatoes, but this one...whoa. She wakes up saying "outside, nakie (blanket), piwOH (pillow), apoo jats (apple jacks), TittyTat (kitty cat), go, momma go...." in this recurring train until her finally hit the ground from my arms....and away she FLIES- she never stops. We cant wait to see her grow up (ok, so maybe we CAN wait forever and dont like seeing her be less of our baby girl at all...but ....).

And, Tabitha is coming to visit for two weeks! We will have her next week. We havent seen her since last summer and we are very excited. Its the longest she has ever stayed with us. And can you believe, she will be SIXTEEN this fall? Whoa. She is 2 years away from being how old I was when I first met her and decided to be in her life....Aaaaaaaaaaaa!

OK- now that should leave all smiles, because my last blog was whiney and sad. :)

What a week...

2008-06-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well, what a emotional week. My Aunt Billie is passing away. I went to see her this week and was forever blessed because she looked up at me (when not so much as breathing shallow and unresponsive previously) and said "hi jamie" in a garbled, exhausted voice. I was delighted and so completely heartbroken at the same time. She is in ICU and we are all 'waiting'. No change. Just waiting...ugh, the inevitable. I said my goodbye to her as I left her side and I wispered in her ear "we are ok, so you can leave now to, if you are ready". I dont know where it came from- I just knew I needed to let her know somehow that it was "ok". SO, I now sit and wait.

That along with hearing that I didnt get a job I really hoped for and that another position I was lined up to interview for (all still teaching related) was "not going to make". Ohh....yay.

Oh, and then my sweet friend Ann went in for a surgery and the docs basically screwed up and punctured her and they had to recover from that and not continue the original procedure had me worried all over again for a loved one.

Oh wait- Im also starting my Masters in about....well...1.5 hours officially. And I am scared sh**less and beginning to wonder why I thought I should pursue that at this time in the first place!

Lord! Look at me, I am throwing one heck of a pity party! Well, thats why its MY blog. It is often a release. So, here I release this stress and worry of all these things. And, I love you forever Aunt Billie....and "its OK".

PreK Graduation

2008-06-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is a great slidehow that my AM class homeroom mom made. So, enjoy! :)
I had a fabulous (and small) class this year...which means I should be wary of what comes next year!

jamie

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-06-05T07:22:00.001-07:00

The Mo. County shelter...

2008-05-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

We rescued our "Thumper" from the Mo. County shelter... and the following link is to a photo album of all their cats & dogs who need homes. Its updated almost daily! Consider fostering kittens and/or pups until they find their forever homes, because this saves them from certain death. We may just foster one day, when the kids are older. Its kind of like when you get to play with someone else's kids- but then give them back eventually! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mocoshelterphotos

Betsy's new baby

2008-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends, Betsy, welcomed her second daughter into the world recently! Little Lyla Grace....her big sister is Laney. Too cute! She "just knew" this baby was a boy.....SURPRISE! Two girls, two proms, two weddings....two times the drama! Just kidding...they are such a gorgeous family. CONGRATS! XOXO

2008-05-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

This is John and Thumper. And the adventure continues....

life (as ambiguous as that is...)

2008-05-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

What a wknd. We have new life in our family in the form of a sweet lil boy kitten named "Thumper". He is gentle and lets Sydney pick him up by his skull and romps around and attacks feet and cuddles...kittens are so fun to watch grow up. Like children, but in fast forward. If only people could purr, lol. I love that sound. I am excited to watch him and John and Syd grow up together. I know one day John will find other interests and the kitten will become more of mom's cat than his....but, thats just a reflection of life. :)

Then, I was faced with the inevitable passing of my sweet Aunt Billie. Inevitable because, well- we all will eventually. She is in the ICU with pneumonia and she already has COPD, diabetes and congestive heart failure. She looked 10 times better yesterday, but it is still the ICU and the situation is what it is...so I am preparing myself. Or, allowing myself to feel what I know will come, whenever it does. She is my great aunt, and 83. We have become so close as I have become a mom. Listening to her stories, and having her give me insight to my own children and family based on her wealth of knowledge on astrology has been a complete gift. Whether you buy into astrology or not, I can tell you that all her observations have been so true they are scary. And, I love the science behind it all (its NOT mythology). She is full of life, she was a breast cancer survivor BEFORE they really had races and media and technology like today. She was a nurse. And, probably the hardest job she has ever had, she was a mother to five children. She still tells me about her one true love as though she is a teenager in puppy love. To listen to her tell stories and impart wisdom is something I almost feel guilty about--- guilty because not everyone gets this lucky. To truly listen to an elder is to truly bring validity and humbleness to any facet of your life. And, it makes me warm with joy to know her and have her. The day will come no doubt, but I am thankful for this day.

My first blog!

2008-05-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

This is my very first blog....cool! Being the talker and thinker that I am, I dont why I havent tried this yet. I'm glad to have a place to share my family with other family and friends. But, for now I am only counting downs these last 14 days until school is out!! YAY! I am so thankful to have found my way back to teaching after a two year hiatus (*WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING?!). And, now-- John Gregory will be starting Kindergarten in the fall...When I started teaching (the first time) he was only 5 months old. Time flies.

More later...
XOXO
Jamie