A Good Day

I am having a really good day so far. Just wanted to share my good mood. I wanted to write down some random thoughts I am having today.

It is funny how the memory works. It seems that physical pain is forgotten very quickly, emotional pain stays forever, and emotional or physical joy is there but takes some work to remember.

Being a kid was so much fun overall for me. However, I don't readily remember a lot of it. Memories have to be sparked by a picture, or conversation. Is this how it is for everyone? I think I have a pretty good memory when it comes to events. Like Jacob says "that is just how my brain works, I'm good at remembering." However, I am terrible at remembering names and interactions with people. So many people in the small town where I live know who I am, but I have no clue of how I know them or what their names are. I feel really bad about this. Does this mean I am self centered or stuck up?

In high school I was often called stuck-up, I never really felt that way though. I really wanted to be more outgoing, but I am a pretty shy person and it is hard for me to initiate conversations. I usually have to have a reason to talk, I can't usually just chat with people. It isn't that I don't want to, it is just hard for me.

A student asked me yesterday "When you were in school here, didn't you want to leave and go somewhere bigger?" I told her that I really liked school and had a lot of fun. I was excited about moving out on my own, but I never hated it here. I have always been proud of where I came from. I think most people look forward to bigger and better things no matter what stage of life you are in, or how happy you are. I have traveled all over the US and to 8 European countries. I have lived in MN, Columbia and Stewartsville. Each place has advantages and disadvantages. Right now Stewartsville is the best place for our family because we are close to my parents, I have a great job, we can afford to have a farm, we live in the country, and we feel safe and secure.

It is just strange to me to think about how complicated life is. It is a series of choices. One different choice anywhere along the way could have made everything completely different for me. I am pleased with the path life has taken. What I have right now is an amazing culmination of bits and pieces of everything that I have tried and liked. My life has been like tending a garden. You plant things you think you will like and as the garden grows weeds sprout, plants bloom and spread, and some die. You have to pull the weeds, replace some plants and nurture it. In the end you have a beautifully full garden that is just right for it's spot. Amazing!

A Word Cloud of My Blog

This is a visual representation of my blog that I created on wordle.net. It is called a word cloud. It used the most often used words from my blog making the most often used words larger than the rest. It gives you a quick look at what I have said in my blog. As you can see I talk mostly about Jacob and Jeffrey, my boys. I am trying to come up with some ways to use this in the classroom. It could help kids find the main idea of selected text, or a way to organize some main ideas from their notes. Any other ideas are welcome.

The Best Birthday Yet!!

I have had the best birthday in 32 years today. It actually started on Sunday. We went to the T-Rex Cafe for lunch. We had a great time.

We were headed home and decided we weren't ready to call it a day. We turned around and went to the Irish Fest in Downtown KC . We all had a great time there as well.

We stopped for dinner near the Power and Light District and headed home. On the way home the boys sang happy birthday to me several times. They were so sweet and made sure that I had fun all day.

Monday we went to dinner and played mini golf. Once again a great time with several performances of the birthday song. We ate ice cream and got an ice cream cake for my actual birthday. Tuesday I woke up to the boys singing happy birthday and dancing. They were very excited about having cake later. I had to go to work and class and when I got home they sang to me again and gave me the best presents ever. They both had drawn me pictures and put together a scrapbook page at mom's earlier in the day. Then Jacob performed a birthday dance and sang an original song. His song was something like "your the best mommy ever, I love you, You do nice things for us, even when you don't let us do what we want to do you are still the best mommy in the world..." It was great. Jacob was a little worried that I didn't like it because I was crying, but I assured him that it meant that I loved the song.

Their excitement was the best present ever. And thank you to Seth too for tickets to the MU v. Nebraska game. That is going to be a lot of fun! I love my boys and am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a mother and a wife. It makes even ordinary days an amazing gift.

Finished week one

This was the first full week back to school. It was pretty good except we found out that there is a possible case of the H1N1 flu in the school. A lot of people are worried about it. I am not that worried. It just sounds like the flu to me. Other than that things went very well this week.

This was also the first week of my last semester of grad school. Both classes seem interesting and pretty easy. One class only meets for 6 weeks, so that will be nice.

This was also the first week back to preschool for Jacob. He was excited to go and has had fun. It was kind of hard to get him ready this AM because he said he didn't want to go because it was boring. However when I got home tonight and asked him how today was he was happy with it. He said they played and played and worked and worked. He said he made a surprise for me, so I am interested to find out what that is. On the way to preschool Jacob made up a lovely song. I can't remember the whole song because it was about 5 minutes long with no repeats. A few memorable lines were: "I love my brother Jeffrey. He is the best brother I have... I love Jeffrey even when he takes my stuff... I wish Jeffrey could come to school with me and be with me every day... I have fun with my brother Jeffrey..."

All in all week one was pretty good and we are looking forward to the year.

Last Weekday at Home on Summer Break

Today was the last weekday at home with the boys before school starts. Tomorrow and Friday Seth and I will be in KC. Today was fun. This morning the boys finger painted. Jacob was very cautious and careful with his paints and Jeffrey just dove right in. They both loved it in their own way.

After an attempt at a nap, the new laptop arrived. Jacob played maze games for 2 hours. It was nice for him to be able to play the game without the computer freezing up. After supper we had to go to preschool registration. The teacher went over all the information we needed to know and asked if there were any questions. Jacob raised is hand and said "I have a question." He asked when the first day of school would be. She told him it will start in 12 days. He is ready to go back. I am glad that he likes school and hope it stays that way.

When we got home I wouldn't let him play on the computer any more. The boys found the boxes and had just as much fun playing in those and they would have on the computer.

I am excited to start my 3rd year of teaching, but I will miss my boys during the day.

MKT Trail - Columbia

We had a great time in Columbia a couple of weekends ago. We decided to take all of our bikes and ride on the MKT and the Bear Creek trails. Before lunch the boys and Seth rode on the MKT. Well, Jeffrey just went about 25 feet between the waterfountain and the bridge. He had fun!

Jacob and Seth rode up the trail about half a mile to try to find a wrench at the grocery store. We needed it in order to attach the trailer for the boys onto Seth's bike. Jacob couldn't make it up the hill so they came back. Jacob was worn out!
After lunch at CJ's for all of our favorite columbia food, we rode on the Bear Creek Trail. We finally got the trailer hooked on Seth's bike and the boys loved riding in it. I was riding in front of them and did't think to take a picture. Even though they didn't have to do any work behind Seth's bike they were very tired. They slept almost the whole way home (which never happens).

Spring 09

We have had a lot of fun already this spring. Even though it has rained a lot, we have found time to have fun. Before Easter we decorated eggs. Jeffrey had a hard time waiting.



Jeffrey just didn't understand why we had to wait for the eggs in the cups. He thought we should just eat them right away. I ended up letting the boys eat 2 each after we had colored them.

The boys looked so cute for Easter.


After church the boys all had donuts. It is a special treat that they get if they are good. (Yes even Seth.) Although I am not sure Seth should have gotten a donut since he hit a parked car after church. He was bragging about how good he is at parallel parking and backed right into the car behind us. It didn't do any damage. We left a note so they could call if they saw something that we didn't. Luckily they didn't call.

Seth is building a corral for the cows so he can AI them this spring. The boys have enjoyed seeing the tractor here and climbing the new fences.

Today we played with bubbles and t-ball. Jacob can hit the ball pretty far. He insists on hitting left handed. I didn't argue with him, but thought it was funny. Jeffrey loves all kinds of ball. He likes to hit, kick, and throw. It was no surprise that he wanted to play t-ball too. He was more interested in it than Jacob was. Jacob only hit twice and then he went back to blowing bubbles. I didn't have a chance to get Jacob's picture playing ball.

The boys are at such a fun age. They are able to play together and love being outside. I can't wait for the summer. I have to take classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and on Tuesday nights. Even though I will be gone at those times I will have a lot more time to spend with the boys once school is out in 2 1/2 weeks (12 school days).

Jeffrey's first potty story

If you don't think poop stories are funny don't read this.

Tonight when we got home from having an anniversary dinner with the boys, Jeffrey said "poo." We thought he was telling us he had already went in his diaper, so Seth was going to change him. However, there was no poo. Seth asked Jeffrey if he needed to go poo, and Jeffrey said "uh hu." Jeffrey ran to the bathroom with no pants on. He was so happy and excited that he was going to be a big boy and go poo in the potty. Seth followed Jeffrey to the bathroom. As soon as Jeffrey was about to sit on the potty he had second thoughts and ran back out to the livingroom where Jacob and I were. Jeffrey had the look on his face that he was going to go at any moment. All the time he was saying "poo, poo..." I said "Seth he is going to go on the floor, take him back to the bathroom. Seth walked slowly in saying "He doesn't want to go. He is sacred of the toilet." Jeffrey's face said otherwise. As Seth made it into the livingroom Jeffrey started to run away and just couldn't hold it any longer. He pooed right on the floor. I wasn't sure that Seth had even seen it because Jeffrey was facing him. I said "pick him up he is going right now. Seth picked him up, but just had a look on his face like he didn't know what I wanted him to do with Jeffrey. I said "GO!" Seth started walking toward the bathroom as Jeffrey kept going. Jacob and I were laughing and gagging. It was so funny and so gross. Jacob kept saying "why did he poop on the floor.?" I couldn't answer him because I couldn't stop laughing. I was so tickled by the whole incident.
As I was cleaning up the mess I heard Jeffrey worrying about what had just happened. Jeffrey was tellign Seth in a very distressed tone "Poo. Floor." Jeffrey was pretty embarrased by the whole thing. we let him know that it wasn;t his fault. accidents happen. We told him we were proud of him telling daddy that he had to go poop. We also made sure he knew it wasn't his fault that he went on the floor it was daddy's.
After we got the boy's pj's on Seth and I went to the kitchen to chuckle. We listened to the boys talk. Jeffrey was filling Jacob in on what had just happened and Jacob was giving Jeffrey encouraging words like "you shouldn't poo on the floor, it's gross. It wasn't your fault though Jeffrey, it was daddy's. It's ok, but next time you need to go on the potty." They are so cute.

9 years

I can't believe how quickly the last few years have passed. On Tuesday, Seth and I will have been married for 9 years. We have experienced so much together. We have built a great life. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been worth it. We have two wonderful kids who wouldn't exist without the two of us meeting by chance about 11 years ago at the University farm.

Seth says we never do anything the easy way. We have had to work very hard for everything in our lives. I guess that is supposed to make you appreciate what you have. I do appreciate having a wonderful friend and partner. I love being married to him and I am glad I ran over him with the hay trailer so many years ago.

Small Schools Aren't Bad

I am really sick and tired of people from KC thinking that big schools are so much better than small ones! Kansas City and St. Louis have the worst schools in the state, they also have the largest districts. I think that once a school district gets so big, there is lack of control, management and oversight. It is also more difficult to provide individualized attention to each student.

There is no way that "local control" of schools was intended to mean a 7 member board and one superintendent control 100's of schools just because they are in the same city limits. I also do not believe that education is best served by being locally funded. I think schools would be in better shape if there were a statewide property tax and that tax was given to schools based on the cost to educate the kids in their district. It would be better if school district boundaries were drawn based on geography, rather than political boundaries. Where one can afford to live should not impact the quality of the education ones children receive.

I am not saying that every school should be k-12 and only 300 students. I am saying that once there are more than 3 high schools in a district there really isn't any local control. In a city large enough to support more than 3 high schools there will be distinct neighborhoods. Unless it is required that at least one board member be from each neighborhood, someone who lives in that city has lost their local control.

I attended and am teaching in a small school. I wish that those in huge districts would look at the good things we are able to do, and how well our kids do after graduation before they just assume that all small schools are bad. The money issue is difficult, but more money doesn't always mean a better education is being provided.

Reflection

This past week has not been quite as busy as usual. I didn't have class on Monday so that was a nice break. (I usually have class at UMKC at 7 pm on Monday and 4:30 on Thursday.) Jacob was sick last weekend, so that was not fun. The poor little guy just laid on the couch Sunday morning and couldn't keep his eyes open. He threw up a couple of times and was fine on Monday. It has been nice here yesterday and today. I finally used a gift certificate yesterday that I got for my birthday (in September) for a pedicure. It was nice and relaxing.

At school it is pretty crazy. We are in the middle of MAP testing. We test for about two hours a day in the mornings. It has gone pretty smoothly so far. It is pretty frustrating for some of my students though.

Tomorrow is a half day of school and then no school on Friday. It will be a nice little break. I am kinda glad they split up Spring Break and Easter break. It ends up being the same number of days, but it feels like more this way, I think.

A little about me.

I thought this was interesting, and a good way to introduce myself to my readers. Feel free to copy it to your own blog. I copied it from the Prairie blog. Mark the things you have done bold.

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Visited 24 zoos in 5 months. 7. Been to Disneyland/world 8. Climbed a mountain. 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29 Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33 Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41 Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45 Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60 Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Gotten flowers for no reason 64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67 Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a lawsuit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee

Big Boys

My baby is now a big boy. This week Jeffrey has learned how to fall asleep on his own. Tuesday night I reasoned with him and convinced him that if he wants to be a big boy he needed to start falling asleep in his bed instead of being rocked to sleep. I told him that mommy and daddy would be so proud of him and he would get big hugs and kisses in the morning if he laid down and went to sleep. He agreed that he wanted to be a big boy and cried a little, but finally gave in and fell asleep. Last night there were no tears and he even told me nigh-nigh as I left the room.