Wrap Up

Community Service: Wednesday night Alex and I sang with the choir for the Thanksgiving community service held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lapeer. It was the first time we sang together since our days with the Flint Festival Chorus and Flint Youth Chorus when we used to do the televised Holiday Pops Concert with the Flint Symphony Orchestra and the annual choral concert in February at a Presbyterian church in Flint. We literally had one rehearsal at 6pm before the service at 7pm. Good times, I really need to make an effort to sing with a choir regularly, maybe the Lapeer Community Chorus.

Thanksgiving: The kids and I went up to my brother's in Big Rapids while Rob went down to Rochester to eat with his family. After the early crew left we got a few games of Nerts in, always destined to be fun and a great ice breaker. Wish I could have stayed longer but my teenager was bugging me to go home. Light weight! The boys went home with my mom from there to hang for a couple days, they got to see Planet 51 on Friday and go to the Detroit Science Center on Saturday. Surprisingly I didn't really take any photos.

Volunteering: Since the end of October I have been going in to help at the church office once a week to hopefully alleviate some stress for the Office Manager (and my dear friend) by helping with CD duplications, making copies, cutting down inserts for the weekly bulletin, etc., whatever will help her keep up with all the tasks she's responsible for overseeing. It has been an enjoyable time and I am happy to be of service there. I've also changed over my bulletin board as well (photo soon).

Being Neighborly: Last weekend my neighbors were in a car accident that had them both hospitalized so I lent a hand by feeding the cats and dog and letting the dog out and in, even sitting up at the house with him for an hour or so in the evening and watching some tv to keep him company. Thankfully they are both ok, Mr. came home for the weekend and Mrs. should be released in the morning.

Crazy Blessing: A couple weeks ago the guys from Rob's shop went to a trade show in Las Vegas, one of them hit big while he was there and in order to keep good karma so he'd be able to hit again sometime he "paid some forward" and gave Rob and I $500 cash because he "knew we could use it" and he and his wife gave into their church as well. Awesome timing too because with having to fill the propane tank, tagging the van and having my insurance double AND still trying to pay on the property taxes it wasn't looking so good budgetwise.

MyNoWriMo: Being that I did not meet the challenge this year during National Novel Writing Month, I have purposed to still continue to work on my novel at my own pace under the title My Novel Writing Moments to be primarily conducted at Starbucks on Tuesday nights while the boys are at Young Marines. This seems to be my most productive writing time and I've enjoyed the routine of sipping on a Peppermint Mocha Half-Caf Grande in a real mug with whip cream piled high, nibbling on a scone and writing long hand.

One more Daybook for November

For Today... November 29, 2009

Outside my window... Very very dark.

I am thinking... I thought maybe I'd be missing homeschooling by now but, nope.

From the learning rooms... everybody back to school tomorrow for Trimester 2!!!!! Yeah!!!

I am thankful for... daily hugs from my boys.

From the kitchen... mini pigs-in-a-blanket.

I am wearing... my heart on my sleeve.

I am reading... Woman's Day mags.

I've been watching... last disc of Big Bang Theory: Season 2 and all the discs from Bones: Season 3.

I am hoping... to have the 08/09 taxes paid in full very soon.

I am creating... an incredible mess in the living room as I work the ceiling project.

I am hearing... the television and the dog snoring.

Around the house... rearranging furniture again as new things arrive and old are moved out.

One of my favorite things... Thanksgiving Day leftovers!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Direct TV installation, pulling entries for another batch of writing work, substituting for Ethan's teacher on Friday, and maybe one more day this week if I get lucky, and basic domestic duties.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:

(no turning back now!)

A few highlights

Kids Fellowship was .... interesting. The kids were pretty charged up and I was a bit disapointed in the overall behavior. There wasn't anything major but just things that you think, really, did we have to go there? Like eating gross combinations (oreos dipped in ketchup), grabbing at the desserts like you've been stranded on a desert island and haven't eaten in five days, running around the sanctuary and jumping off the platform over very expensive sound equipment, and throwing around prayer cloths like they were some sort of bomb. In addition, we experienced technical challenges getting the movie to run on the big screens, so to keep them settled down I started telling Knock, Knock jokes, then a couple kids had jokes, next thing you know we had a line of kids waiting to tell their joke on the mike. It was humorous for a while.

The fall play at NBHS, "Murder in the House of Horrors" was an audience participation piece. As you walked into the school, the hallway was set as a museum with exhibits featuring live people. Each station had a button that, if you pushed it, would set them in motion telling their history. The characters from the play were "milling about" the museum but they could only interact with you in character, I couldn't just go up and start talking to Alex as my daughter. It was cool, they also brought groups of attendees up on stage as if they were being taken on a tour of the Egyptian exhibit, which the topic of the play centered upon.

They also held a question and answer time with the audience to help the detective find out more abou the suspect and make sure he didn't miss anything. During the intermission members of museum security interviewed people about who they suspected to have commited the murder. Alex did well with her part as the "Egyptian bitch," and was especially notable in the improve segments.

The kids are on break from school already. Yesterday was a half day, I picked them up at dismissal and we motored down to see my bud Anna for haircuts. Yeah! I even got my color touched up (love it!), Ethan got his racing stripes, Fox did the "7th grade cut" again, Alex got hers trimmed and re-layered, and Ben decided to hold off on the buzz cut and just had her trim up the edges, keeping it longer on top. Everybody looks great, she's really is the Best Hairdresser Ever! I'll try to get a snap at Thanksgiving of the new-cut crew.

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving everyone, I'll be heading up to Big Rapids to feast at my brother's with a gangful of family. Peace, out!

TGIF, Y'all

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1. We need a new groove.

2. The kids had a great time singing and it made me smile.

3. If you want my honest opinion I'll give it to you.

4. Sing it because you love it.

5. Massachusetts has a proposed 5% sales tax on elective cosmetic surgery; I think I really don't care.

6. Spiked EggNog makes for a happy holiday.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Kids Fellowship (dinner & a movie), tomorrow my plans include seeing Alex in "Murder in the House of Horrors" at NBHS and Sunday, I want to kick back and hear a good word from Alfonso Vargas!

Updates......

Substituting: Did 2 half days this week, one for the Art teacher, had three Kindergarten classes that worked on a project to go along with Eric Carle's "Pancake, Pancake" book, they cut out a pan, pancakes and butter and glued the food on the pan. Fun times. Today I was in for one of the elementary music teachers, did 5th grade woodwinds at the Ruth Fox then back to the lower elementary for Ethan's 3rd grade class (we had a blast singing patriotic songs) and two 4th grade classes that were doing a lesson on quarter and eighth notes. Kinda dull, I wanted to do some movement games with them but they were taking to long to settle down so we didn't get to it.

NaNoWriMo: I'm only up to 6,000 words and the month is slipping away quickly. I've had the most luck when I go somewhere and sit with my notebook and write long hand as opposed to sitting and writing at my computer. The rate I'm going I may not win this year but you never know I may have a wave of inspiration before month end.

Conferences: Today I snuck in conferences with Ethan's and Ben's teachers. They both had good reports overall. Ethan is right on track with his reading scoring a 3.4 which is right where he should be, spelling is improving, and she said for the most part he is good and attentive in class. I also found out a little bit more about how the AR testing works. Ben is in a very challenging class and the teachers are really trying to make to best of their situation. Because they had several kids move, leaving them with a smaller class size, when new kids came in at the beginning of the year they got stuck with them and many came with 'issues.' So they are overloaded with "high-maintainence" students. Ben is slightly behind in reading, placing at a 3.8 which is end of third grade level although he is in 4th grade. They said this is nothing to be too concerned with but he should be encouraged to read some more advanced books. Also, he can be a little spacey, not going to the bathroom when a break is offered and then 20 minutes later going up and asking if he can go. This can be most irritating as an instructor and we will have a discussion about it. But generally he is pretty quiet in class and likes to keep to himself and not work in pairs or groups. This is very different from how he acts at home, loud, talkative, bossy, and explosive at times. Hmmmm. Guess he saves it all up for the ones who know him best.

Wordless (gettin' ready)

Blog Award

My friend Penny gave me my first Blog Award! Thanks girlie, it takes one to know one!

Here are the stipulations that came with this award:
1. Choose 5 stand out blogs.... or as many as you desire.

2. Thank the blogger who gave you this Award. (check)

3. Answer the questions below with only one word. Or two...or three...OK? Now do it!

--

Where is your phone? My office

Your hair? Short

Your Mother ? Healed

Your Father? Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Favorite food? Fresh

Your dream last night? Nothing memorable

Favorite drinks? Cherry Pepsi

Your dreams? Make Music

What room are you in? My office

Your hobby? Collaging

Your fear? Denied

Where do you want to be in six years? Grosse Pointe

Where were you last night? Home

Something you're not? Tall

Muffins? Yes, please.

Wish List Item? MacBook 13inch

Last thing you did? Alex's GVSU Housing Deposit

What are you wearing? Cothes

Your pets? Dog

Your friends? Priceless

Your life? In transition

Your mood? Good

Missing someone? the skinny me

Your vehicle? Ford Club Van

Something you're not wearing? Federick's of Hollywood

Your favour colour? Red

When was the last time you laughed? This morning (Thanks Ben)

Last time you cried? Yesterday, of gratitude

Your best friend? They're all the Best!

One place you go over and over? the library

One person that e-mails you? Mom

Favorite place to eat? Kyoto's

And my awards go to Lisa @ Cornerstone Home Learning, Sarah @ Teach a Fish, Michelle @ Smile, Wink, Nod, Penny of course, and Jennifer @ Great Commission Air!

Bullets

• Got the van tagged up and legal today! She's a beauty.
• Started tearing down the ceiling in the living room, talk about one of the most disgusting jobs ever!
• Have 2 1/2 day sub jobs this week
• Rob will be heading to North Carolina this week for a tech call
• Got the house payment in on time this month!
• Getting ready to make Alex's housing deposit for Grand Valley.
• Saw "This Is It" this weekend with Mom, it was awesome, I want to see it again. What a great loss of talent even if he was bizarre in his personal life.
• Mom was moving a little slow, commented about soreness, but seemed well overall.
• My garage has been turned into a butcher shop, with Rob's cousins all over processing their deer. Fun.

Fill 'er In, it's Friday!

1. Plans and schedules are made to be changed.

2. I'm happy when things fall into place naturally.

3. The last thing I drank was instant coffee with French Vanilla creamer.

4. One of the most valuable things in my life is my health.

5. I like pretty much everything on my pizza.

6. Dear November, how odd you are.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to makin’ bank, tomorrow my plans include a movie with the moms and Sunday, I want to rejoice as the kids choir ministers “God Will Be Exalted”!

Updates: I did a floating day on Tuesday at the elementary, started with a first grade, busy bunch but worked relatively well, then I went into Ethan's 3rd grade class for a short time and lastly I did a 2nd grade room, we worked on updating their science journals, they're growing seeds in bags, plus we had recess, time went pretty quickly. No major problems or disturbances in any class or maybe my tolerance is growing. Today I'll be in a 2nd grade room all day since Ms. Jen did not need me at the office today since they are all caught up on their duplicating and copying for the week. Also, I realized on my last check that I got paid more for a couple of the jobs I took, not sure why, but I'll just call me blessed and bank it!

Speaking of blessed: this finally arrived at our house this week. My dad bequeathed it to us a while ago but Rob had it 'stored' at the shop AND as a family Christmas gift my dad is hooking us up with Direct TV, installation should commence later this month.

What's up with the kids? Everyone is doing well although Ben is still experiencing some frustration in his classroom due to some unruly kids causing the entire class to be punished ie: don't get down to lunch on time or miss out on recess. I'm going to talk with the teachers about this at conferences which are coming up soon. Fox is rockin' and rollin' still holding all As and an A+ in Math and SeminAR. Ethan is getting a groove on with his spelling but needs to take more time with his AR tests, he's not always scoring high enough for his points to count. Alex is working diligently to keep up with her 'creative writing' assignments, we use the term loosely since the teacher still hasn't gotten a grip on what the word creative means, for their final assignment they're putting together a memoir. Alex used several poems in hers just to use some creativity. Good for her. She got another 85% on her second Philosophy quiz so she'll probably end of with a B in that class. The play goes into final production next week and performances start Thursday. Wooo.

Wordless Wednesday (the obsession continues)

Twisted Daybook

For Today…

November 9, 2009

Outside my window…

gorgeous, sunny, mild temperature, virtually no wind

Any place I’d rather be today….

walking in the mountains.

What I’m not wearing….

Dolce & Gabana.

What I probably shouldn’t be thinking….

Peppermint Mocha Half-Caf Grande.

Latest attempt in the Kitchen ….

my first Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

From the learning rooms ….

a poem from Ben, I think it was from last year but I recently rediscovered it.
Things That Go Together
by Ben Parton

Ben and math go together
So do hens and peck
Hard and steel - lunch and meal
Also cards and deck

Beaver and wood go together
So do soft and feather
Flea and itch - paralyze and twitch
Also news and weather

What I hope to accomplish this week….

inner peace,

a thinner middle, and

a multi-million dollar lottery win.

The reality of what will happen this week….

writing entries and novel,

substitute teaching,

Young Marines for the boys,

cleaning at my mom’s house,

cleaning the Fellowship Hall after an event,

and helping in the church office.

Dream project of the month….

to get the living room finished on the manufactured side of the house,

tear out bad ceiling drywall,

replace with new drywall,

re-spray the ceiling section,

paint,

put up track lighting,

enclose the place where you can see the house is actually two pieces,

AND new carpet.

yea, I said DREAM project.

But since we “have not because we ask not”

I formally ask the Lord now for this project

to come into reality.

IJN.

Hey, He gave me a van - stranger things could happen.

What I’m thankful for….

the ability to dream and sing and praise and worship.

If I had a nickel for every word I’ve written for NaNoWriMo so far this year …..

I’d have $250.30!

Highlight of my weekend….

our Harvest Dance Company ministry at church,

they did a dance for special music yesterday

that was wonderful;

from an Israel Houghton song

based on Psalm 91 – long life!

Something I’d like to share with all my friends….

my multi-million dollar lottery win!

Or at the least, hopefully a few giggles.

Picture thought I’m sharing with you:
Caught Alex @ the back window! Bonus - cousin Karl @ the front!

And here’s an extra freebie!

Fill-In

for Friday

1. Speak now or forever hold your pee!
2. If I ever get everything accomplished in a day I intend to I will either pass out or celebrate, depending on the day.
3. Sticks and stones can do serious damage to windows.
4. My favorite type of cake is white with LOTS of sweet frosting!
5. Maybe now I can sleep better.
6. One for the money, two for the show.
7. As for the weekend, tonight I'm going to attempt to make a Pineapple Upside-down cake for Rob's birthday, tomorrow I need to RECYCLE! and celebrate Rob's birthday, and Sunday I have a sound rehearsal after service with the kids choir in preparation for takin' it to the masses next week!




Updates: I picked up an afternoon yestesday in the 1st grade I was in before (Ben's old teacher). One of the med boys did not have a good end of the day. He went beserk for a minute running around the class, throwing open cupboards and drawers, going in the bathroom and yanking out the paper toweling and stuffing it in his mouth, running around the class punching boys in the chest then running back to them and hugging them. It got really weird for a minute. I got him settled and had to stay right by him and literally lay hands on him to guide him out of trouble. I put his coat on him, set him in the chair and stood behind him with a hand grabbing onto his jacket to keep him there while we watched a quick Pink Panther toon for the last few minutes of the day. He calmed down as we all watched then held my hand all the way out to the bus. Yikes. After dismissal, I spoke to a teacher that works with him. She said he's actually greatly improved from where he was last year wherein he would literally take off running out of the class where ever he decided to go, inside or out. Again, I can't emphasis, teachers are not paid enough.
--

Impulsively I made a phone call to the realtor listed on the sign in front of the old school house. At first she couldn't find anything but then later called me back. It was listed under vacant property, with a $49,900 asking price and land contract terms. The building is 1,920 sq.ft. that's all the info I have from her message. I would love to, by some miracle from God or Oprah Winfrey, buy and restore the school and use it as an art center, to host a community children's choir, visual art classes, yoga, and creative movement classes for super cheap or free. I did a quick google search about restoration grants but didn't delve to far into it yet. The realtor mentioned a grant option also. Hey, maybe I'll write a letter to Oprah for one of her secret blessing shows......
--
NaNoWriMo is off to a rather slow and fizzling start for me. I'm only at 2,101 words so far. I just haven't had the gumption to coffee up and stay up half the night, the time change has been hard on me this year. We've all been hitting the hay by 9pm around here. Odd. And my days have been really chopped up this week with subbing and appointments. I am however hopeful that an energetic burst is forthcoming. I like my story concept and have been thinking about it alot, mentally planning out options. So far I haven't named my characters, refering to them only with pronouns, eventually names will be assigned but not sure exactly how or when. Trying to keep some mystery unfolding as the story progresses.
--

Blessing in progress. A very dear friend recently offered to 'help' keep Ethan in gymnastics. I am extremely touched. We haven't talked specifically about it yet since the offer was made via internet but I'll keep you posted. Having some time to adjust to being in school full time was definately prudent and it has been nice not to commute down to Rochester in the evenings. Plus with soccer and cross-country, it would have been virtually impossible. But 'E' is definately missing it and he needs a physical outlet more than the other boys seem to. He is such a monkey! Plus the older boys miss hanging out with Gramma and Grandpa and our regular stops at the Rochester Hills Public Library.
--

Have a happy weekend everybody!

Looks like it's going to be a crisp one.

Wordless Wednesday (somebody's been snooping again!)

Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook

--

For Today...
2 November, 2009

Outside my Window...
pitch black & chilly

I am thinking...
I need to get my butt in gear and start writing, but I'd rather sleep.

From the learning rooms...
the wonderful world of substituting. Picked up a call this morning to sub in one of Ben's classes, he's part of a 4th grade team. Her homeroom was a VERY rowdy bunch, Ben's group was much mellower. Materials left did not fill up the time, we got through everything quickly.

I am thankful for...
duct tape.

Ben's Doc Oc costume was fashioned out of lots of it over toilet paper rolls.

From the kitchen...
a fabulous meat & spinach lasagna, I figured out the secret to the layering!!

So good we had it again tonight.

I am wearing...
black loose pants, a black turtle neck and my gray knit vest, black socks and black leather slip ons, plus a very cool necklace a friend gave me long ago. I always get remarks about it.

I am reading...
just finished Danielle Steels' "One Day at a Time." Awww, married a movie star. Puke, really.

Now I'd like to get back to Mommywood, I know more literary puke, right?

I am hoping...
to be extremely productive tomorrow

because I can tell

there probably won't be much happening tonight.

I am creating...
a long to-do list,

starting with laundry for MYSELF!

I am hearing...
Ethan sliding into my bedroom and declaring "Holy crap on a cracker" a line from a Big Bang Theory episode. We really need real tv, this watching dvds over and over is getting old.

Around the house...
living room partly pulled apart to redo section of ceiling but project abandoned,

laundry to be washed and folded and put away,

kitchen is a disaster,

teenager having a meltdown but sleeping now,

boys doing homework and looking for something to do for a bit before bed,

looks like watch Wall-E is winning out.

Fox is also writing.

One of my favorite things...
bedtime.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
renew tags for the Saturn and dog license,

write,

clean,

Young Marines for the boys,

physicals for the boys,

help in the church office,

maybe sub one more day.

Picture Thought For The Day: