2008

Since today is the last day of 2008 and I have some free time, I decided to take a look back on the year.

Personally:

*5 years of marriage

*the leaky basement was finally fixed ($3000, and a beautiful tree loss, later)

*we became godparents

*2 new family members (2 cousins had new babies)

*Brian changed jobs a few times (I think he is finally somewhere where he can be happy)

*I am still looking for full time work

*now sub for 2 school districts

*bought a new snow blower (which has come in very handy this year so far!)

*reconnected with several old friends, via Facebook

*3 years as homeowners

*family and friends are relatively healthy (I have a cold as I write this!!)

*broke down and bought an Apple computer (love it!!!)

*another successful summer school (3rd year teaching, 3rd school-Wonder where I will be in 2009?!)

*bought 1/4 of a cow (freezer space is very limited now!!!)

*had several bonfires in the backyard with friends

Other big happenings:

*first African-American president elected

*Appleton hit record snowfall for the month of December (broke the record set in 1887)

*stock market in trouble

*gas hit all time highs, only to come down again

*several companies shut down production-leaving many jobless (several right here in the Fox Valley and more in Wisconsin)

*unemployment hits an all time high

Hopes for 2009

*stock market recovery

*continued health of family and friends

*less snow

*a full time job

*continue a happy, healthy marriage

*attending at least 1 wedding, possibly 2

*ability to spend as much time as possible with family and friends

*lower unemployment rate-more jobs created

*possibility for more travel-not just to visit family or friends

*Sylvan enrollment will increase so we can all get back to the hours we were used to

*safe travels for all family and friends

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, but...

...enough is enough!!  It is not even winter yet (officially) and we have already had one of the snowiest Decembers on record.  And more is on the way, just in time for all the holiday travel.  We are not getting hit as hard as the areas south of us today, but I am still sick of the snow.  Don't get me wrong, I love the snow and it wouldn't be Christmas without it, but there is a limit.  When it snows about every other day, that is too much.  

We have lots of travel plans, SOUTH, for this weekend which I hope are not affected:

*Housewarming/Christmas with friends in Waukesha

*Christmas with mom's side of the family in Hales Corners.

*And I have a cousin that is supposed to be flying in from NY this weekend.  Hopefully that will happen, I haven't seen her in a year!

And if that wasn't bad enough, we are supposed to get more snow Saturday night into Sunday.

Mother Nature sure has some twisted sense of humor!!

Well, here is wishing safe travels to anyone going anywhere these next few days, even it is just down the street.  

Happy Shoveling Too!!!

I love student teachers!!!!

I probably didn't feel that way when I was one, but now that I am a sub, they are great!!

I subbing in a 4th grade classroom today, with a student teacher.  He was at the point where he was teaching everything.  So, why take that joy away from him to change things and confuse the kids.  I am not one who like to confuse kids and take them away from their routines.  So, Mr. Lamers taught the class today.  

What did I do all day??  I watched, and circulated the room to help out where necessary with directions and behaviors.  Now, keep in mind that they were 4th graders, so they didn't need much help.  There was also an hour break in the morning for Gym/Music.  There was nothing that needed to be prepped and Mr. Lamers was all set to go for the day.  So I read my book, a lot of my book.  

My day was a pretty easy one.  I like to have those every once in a while.  I hope that all of you get an easy day every once in a while.

Recess Duty

Up until today, I have had recess duty for the past 6 days that I have subbed.  As a teacher, I know how precious those recesses are, both to students and teachers.  And being a sub, I don't mind covering the required recess duty so the teachers can get a much needed break.  But every day was starting to get a bit much.  I would leave in the morning with my boots and winter gear prepared for duty.   And sure enough, but the time I read through the plans, I would see I HAVE RECESS DUTY written there.

I usually don't mind recess duty-when the sun is shining and there is no snow on the ground.  6 days of recess duty is a little much when there are so many layers required to just go outside.  And then with the snow, there is a little extra watching required to make sure that there are no snowballs being made or thrown and that everyone is playing safely in the snow.  And again, if the sun is shining I typically don't mind that much.  However, lately it seems that the wind has been pretty strong on my duty days.

I am beginning to wonder if teachers schedule conferences and necessary meetings on days that they know the will have duty, just to make the sub suffer!!

Luckily today was 5th grade at the intermediate school, so I had a pretty good feeling when I left this morning that there would be no recess duty in my future today.  I was right and was able to stay inside and warm all day long!!!

Happy December!!

Winter is definitely here!!  Our snow blower got it's first voyage today, since we bought it.  And it works great.

We woke up to a wonderful blanket of wet, cold, white stuff this morning.

I am told that there has been measurable snowfall on Dec 1st, for the last 3 years-more so down south from us.

And now the winter driving begins, along with school closings and delays.  

It is the weather like this that actually makes me want to put up the Christmas decorations and get rid of all signs of fall around the house.  I am sure that our decorations will be up by the end of the weekend!

Happy Holidays to everyone!!!

Turkey Day and Early Bird Survivor!!

I am happy to report that I have survived 2 turkey days and 1 morning of shopping, early bird shopping!!

Turkey Day #1 was at the in-laws on Thanksgiving.  I was a little worried about this one, since there is some history there.  Surprisingly everyone was on their best behavior.  One SIL even played a game with the rest of us!!  There was no arguing, shouting, complaining, or raising of the voices.  All in all, it was much better than expected.  

Turkey Day #2 was at my parents on Saturday.  This was just my parents, Adam and my aunt.  So nothing really out of the ordinary there.  Mom kept retelling the same stories, and the rest of us would just roll our eyes, knowing we had already heard the story.

Early Bird shopping was great.  Brian and I were up at 4am, and out of the house by 4:30am.  We were standing in line outside of Best Buy by 4:50am. (Best Buy opened at 5)  We were in and out of there in 15 minutes.  Then it was off for more shopping.  There are no injuries to report from the morning and we got everything we set out for.  I am happy to report, that thanks to this early shopping day, we are almost done with our Christmas shopping.  We returned home by about 9:15, after visiting 6 stores and stopping for breakfast!!