fhs cake

i decorated this cake for some of my former students at forbush.
it was a costco cake. i just attempted the logos of all the colleges that they will be attending this fall.

 

our new wheels

here's a shot of the isuzu rodeo we just bought on ebay. we scored a pretty sweet deal on it and the mechanic gave it a clean bill of health, so we're pretty excited about it.

 

we are getting rid of the element for several reasons:
1. i am not going back to school in the fall and this frees up some car payment money.
2. i hated the element doors. if someone parked to close, it was nearly impossible to get the boy in and out.
3. i hated the element back seat. it was so far back away from the door, that getting the boy in and out has been difficult. when he was rear-facing, i had to get all the way in and out of the car everytime. now that he's bigger and foward-facing, it's not as bad, but i think that it will get harder and harder as he gets heavier and taller.
4. also, since i'm staying home next year, i don't need an ultra-reliable vehicle. i have a cellphone and it's not like we venture out very far these days... an old, used rodeo can do the job.

that said -- anyone want an element?

goings on

it's been quite busy around here. sort of. i guess.

on thursday, i subbed at forbush. that evening, we went to statesville to pick up a car that we bought. we're getting rid of the element, if anyone wants it. the reason? well, that's a story for another time.

of course, we watched lost when we got back. wow.

today, isaac and i tried to go a consignment baby sale, but decided not to when we got there too early (i mis-remembered the start time) only to find about 50 moms and kids just standing in line, waiting for the best deal. it's crazy.

then, we had a lunch meeting at brewnerds/kernel kustard.
this evening, we went to see derek's mom, aunt and pawpaw. isaac showed off.

and that's the short and sweet (about to fall asleep) version of the last couple of days.

just an update because i'm bored...

...i don't really have anything to say. it's been quite uneventful around these parts.

let's see...
isaac is yapping away in his crib, trying not to start his nap. he likes to procrastinate, making it hard to schedule anything these days. i like when he takes so long to get to sleep that by the time he wakes up from his nap it's bedtime. only he's not tired. on nights that i tutor, i'm sure derek loves that, too.

we just took a walk, during which mr. isaac t. decided that he was done riding in the stroller about 5 minutes from home. i think the snot on his face and the cold weather weren't agreeing. so i carried him the rest of the way (uphill) (with lucy pulling the leash) (and pushing the stroller with whatever arm wasn't holding a 23 pound baby-zilla).

what else?
ok. after our super fun cake making expo last friday, we've decided to do it every friday. this friday we'll be making a firetruck cake for pj. next friday, we'll be making isaac's cake. (note: i am now taking suggestions for the theme of isaac's cake). the friday after that, we'll be tasked with making a cake for the newly arrived olivia f. after that, we have openings. so, rachel, maybe....

ummmmmm.... (this is a serious one)
i'm desperately trying to decide what to do next year as far as school vs. staying home goes. on some days, i can't even fathom staying home for another year. on all days, i hate the thought of leaving the boy. i miss teaching. mostly the kids. not really the grownups. or even the math. just being in that environment. i'm so incredibly torn. and i have to tell my school what i plan to do by april 1st, or i don't get to go back. well, i guess maybe i could. but, until april 1st, it's guaranteed. anyhooo... that's what's been plaguing most of my waking thoughts for the last month or so.

well, it seems that the boy hasn't made any peeps in the last few minutes, so maybe he's nodded off. that means: i can a) get something done, b) take a nap myself, c) shower after having carried the boy, dog and stroller uphill for five whole whopping minutes or d) surf the internets.

hmmm.....decisions, decisions.

New Job

Today is officially my first day on the job.

Up until today, it has been summer vacation. But, with teachers in Yadkin County reporting back at 9:00am this morning, I am officially a Stay At Home Mom.

It's weird to think about everyone getting all ready for school. Cleaning their rooms, writing lesson plans, attending meeting after meeting... math meetings, staff meetings, SIT meetings, coach's meetings, staff developments, building supervision schedule meetings... and on and on.

The boy has had a wonderful day so far, so I feel like I've made the right decision. I'll let you know how I feel after his next meltdown....

:)

AP Scores

My AP scores are in. I'm disappointed.
For those that are unfamiliar with the AP scoring, kids can get a level 1 through 5.
They get a 1 automatically. They need a 3 or higher to get credit at most colleges.
I had:
6 level 5's.
7 level 4's.
7 level 3's.
1 level 2.
and 4 level 1's.
I knew I would have a few failures, but not 5 kids! I feel bad for a couple of them, because they worked their behinds off. I'm sure they're more disappointed than I am.
Well, that's the closure on my teaching year. On to motherhood....

Retired

I turned in my keys, cleaned out my room, handed in my gradebook and it's final: I'm officially a 100% stay-at-home mom.

Baby's First Teacher Workday

I took Isaac to school today. We had a teacher workday and Jena couldn't take him.
Another teacher brought her teenage daughter to school and she watched him while I went to a (my last) faculty meeting. He was crabby, but she managed.

He took a little nap on the floor of my classroom (on a blanket, that is). Then, we went to lunch. The boy made lots of friends and flashed his cute smile at everyone. Soon, he let me know that the party was over and he was ready to go home. He's been sleeping since we got home. I think all the excitement wore him down.

One more day of wrapping up my affairs with Forbush High School and I am home free! It's exciting.

Lorena blogged about her day with Isaac yesterday. Check out her blog here.

Last Exam

My last exam is today. I can't wait to stay at home with this boy:

Check out these videos:
Irish Dancing (For Julie) and Our Semi-Mobile Boy

The Last Friday

I taught my last class today.
We have four days of exams next week and that's it.
I'll be a full time mom. (except for a couple of workdays).
It's crazy.

Numbers and Other Useless Information

Years that Derek and I have been married: 4 (Today)
Weeks that the boy has been alive: 16 and 1/7th.
Days until he's four months old: 7
Days left until last day of school: 22
Work days left: 16
Class days left: 14
Teaching periods remaining: 2 (today's the last day of new information!)
Non Exam days left: 10
Number of consecutive wins the Sabres need to win this series: 3
Average number of hours the boy sleeps at night: 11
Average number of hours the boy sleeps in the day: 1
Average length of nap (in minutes) for the non-napping boy: 20
Starting bid on ebay for the non-napping boy: $100
How many pounds I need to lose to get back to prepreg weight: 10

What I'm doing now: Blogging, duh.
What I'm supposed to be doing: Planning.
What's on my iPod: Come Sail Away by Styx.
What's next: The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani.
How that mixes: I don't know.
What the boy is wearing today: blue and gold rugby "short-alls".
What I had for breakfast: Cinnamon Life. Mmm.
What we did in 1st period: Played Trivial Pursuit.

Ok, I've killed some time. I guess I'll do work. :(

It all comes down to this...

My kids are taking the AP Calculus exam this morning.
It feels like a GIANT weight being taken off my chest.
I think they will do well, but I won't know until July.
I'll be sure to post the results when they come.

Back to my "morning off"....

Weekend Project #2

My second (and probably more pressing) weekend project is to grade 25 AP exams. Well, the Free Response section, that is. The multiple choice is done (and was about 50 times easier). My kids take the exam on Wednesday, so I can't really procrastinate this activity (which is EXACTLY what I'm doing right now!).

There's a total of 6 questions for each kid, each with 3 or 4 parts. It's a daunting task. I'm jealous of Drizzle (last year's Calc teacher) who had 14 kids and Mrs. Jordan (next year's teacher) who has 15-17 kids registered. It figures.

:)

Stay At Home Mom

So, today, after much deliberation, financial examination, self introspection and family prioritizing, I informed my school that I will not be coming back in the fall.

That's right, I'll be a Stay-At-Home Mom. I need to go shopping for some tapered (and elastic) jeans and some white sneakers. We also should have purchased a minivan instead of the Element.

I'm still a little bit torn over the decision. I had it made at Forbush. I had good classes, a room in the new (fancy) building and enough paper to last me for the next several years. But, I know that I will not regret staying home with the monster. I can always go back and teach. I can't get back the time with the boy. Besides, it's technically only a "One Year Leave". So, as of right now, I'm heading back in a year. :)

So, now the long drawn out countdown until summer (32 school days) just turned into a (seemingly) longer, more drawn out countdown until my next career change -- to a Stay At Home Mom.

The End.

Grandma Trip #3

My mom is coming again!
She hasn't seen Isaac T. since he wass 5 weeks old. He'll be 11 weeks old tomorrow.
He's so very different, I wonder if she'll even recognize him.

I started back to school. There are 41 days left in the year.

That's all.

Hip Hip Hooray!!

Why all the enthusiasm, you ask?

1. It's Friday. In a few short hours, we'll be starting another weekend.
2. The weather is beautiful!
3. The boy slept really well last night.
4. There's one week until Easter vacation!
5. I have 3 more days of Calculus lessons and then we are reviewing until the exam.

:)
:)
:)

1st Day

it's actually the second day, but i'm writing to update how the first day back went.

um, i don't want to be back. it's hectic. i have to find time to "get" isaac's food twice a day. anyone with any knowledge of teaching knows that it's not easy to find 20-25 minutes in your day. much less, twice.

i don't even know why i'm spending time typing this.

the kids are good. i had to yell at them today. i think they are still on substitute teacher coast mode. that, combined with a little senioritis, and some chippy attitudes doesn't make for a fun day.

i was so glad to get the boy yesterday. i wanted to play with him more, but he was grumpy and wanted to sleep. but, not enough to go to sleep. just enough to be grumpy.

he did, however, have an excellent night last night. he slept from 9 until 2:15 and then from 3:00 until 5:30. I fed him a little at 5:30 and then he went back to sleep until about 7:00. hopefully, this is a sign that things are going to start to get better?

that's all. back to work. bleh.

What I did on my maternity vacation....

It's back to school for me tomorrow.
I'm dreading it.

I can't believe it's been six weeks since Isaac was born. It feels like yesterday that we were thrust into our whirlwind adventure of child delivering. But, then again, it seems like 100 years ago that I had my first sleepless night. It seems like way longer than six weeks when I remember all the times I held the inconsolable monster boy while he screamed his little heart out.

I don't know how things will go tomorrow. I know I'll have never been in more a hurry to get out of there than I will be tomorrow. Did that sentence make any sense?

In other news, I had my six week checkup visit. Things are back to normal. Blood pressure and healing and stuff. My weight isn't quite normal, but it's back in the 100's (instead of the 200's!)

Well, I guess I should attend to any last minute details of getting ready and get some sleep so I can be raring to go in the morning. Bleh.

Last Week "Off"

Today is the first day of my last week off of school. I'm not really all that excited to go back. On one hand, I will get a much needed break from the crying. But, I know that the crying will not last and I will be missing out on a lot of stuff from 6 weeks until 4 months. What if he starts to like the babysitter more than me? That will be tragic. I'll cry. Then, I'll be mad, since I was the one that had to have him and then get through the first 6 weeks. I'll beat her up. And I'll take it out on him when he's old enough. I'll probably ground him for it when he's 12 or so. :)

Anyhow, in other news, I am still battling a vicious cold. I don't know if Isaac has it yet or if he will get it. Hopefully not. Derek is home today. Partially because I'm sick. Partially because his back still hurts. It was a rough day yesterday, but he had a pretty good night. It would be glorious to have a good day.

back to the nerds

I went to school today and taught for a period. It was good to get out of the house and back into civilization.
The kids were good. They were a little rambunctious at first. One student even asked what childbirth was like. Nice. Anyhow, we learned about the derivatives of inverse functions. I say we, as I was a little rusty myself.
I'll go back Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week for that class.

The boy was good. It was rough going this morning. We planned to get up at 6:15 and I would be on Isaac Watch while Derek got ready and then we would switch for me to get ready and be out of the house by 7:30. We managed to make it, but it was definitely not like any mornings we've ever been used to. Isaac was an angel with the baby sitter. I guess he slept a lot of the time away. He cried when I picked him up, but only until we pulled out of the driveway and started rumbling down the road. Now he's fast asleep, and I'm about to join him!