Senior Pictures

This is also another long overdue post.

Doug had his senior pictures taken in early
August and it took forever for us to get them.
Yes, their mistake because we told them to
change our address in their system and they
didn't. You may think these are good, and a
few are, but most I didn't even bother to scan.

We had retakes done last Monday and we're still
waiting for those to arrive. We've got to make
a choice for the yearbook and we are certainly hoping
that the retakes are so much better, and arrive before 10/5.

Anyway, leave a comment and let us know which you like the
best.

Long overdue update and I've been tagged

I've just got to say thanks Ange! Yeah right :)~

She tagged me to post 5 weird things about me or
my pets
Ok here goes...

1. I have a glitter phobia! Yes you read it right I
hate glitter, will not touch glitter, and will usually not
buy anything that has glitter on it. It also drives me
absolutely bonkers when girls put glitter in their hair and
cannot get it out after washing their hair. ((((shudder))))

2. I sort my m&m's into piles of color. I eat them in the
order of least to most. Sometimes I put them into color patterns
if I have the same number of different colors and then I must
eat all of the color patterned groups together.

3. My last three dogs have been adopted from the pound.
Coincedentially they all have been black cocker spaniels.
Now what are the chances of that?

4. I have never EVER been on a roller coaster. I will probably
never go on one either.

5. I guess the last weird thing about me is that my husband
owns a hearse and has nothing to do with the funeral business
yet anyway.

My class started 2 weeks ago and it seems to be going ok so far.
Each classmate is tutoring a student for 10 weeks. We'll be
doing reports and such about the progress that each student is
making.

School has been quite difficult to say the least. I've got
a group of students who are not used to being so structured
and two that I've been dealing with behavior issues.
Some nights I feel like I've had the life sucked out of me
and go home and literally vegitate, nothing else.

Now I'm supposed to tag 5 others:
unfortunately most of my blog
readers have already been tagged.

Nancy M.
Shellie J.
Cindy Simon
Douglas
Brian

Is it Winter break yet?

Yikes my class has just been difficult. Kids who are way below grade level, kids who need social work, kids who need speech, kids with behavior issues, kids who don't do their homework, and a smattering of a few good kids thrown in. All of that and we've only finished like the 3rd or 4th week of school. To top it off I'm getting a sinus infection and my Masters class began this week too.

I've been working on getting Brian a 504 instructional plan set up at the highschool. They were to have a meeting on Thursday and haven't heard any outcomes from that. He needs these modifications set up to help him have success. He's already on a downhill slide with grades. I'm supposed to not push about homework because he says I'm on his case all the time. Yep I am but I'm a mom and a teacher so where does it say not to push? It is more than push, it is fight. If the kid doesn't begin to take it seriously, he'll be putting himself on the 5 year plan by the first semester of freshman year. He needs these modifications, they'd better see it too; and fast!

Club team volleyball tryouts are tomorrow night, Doug for sure will try out and probably make it, Brian is undecided but Don said he'd like to see him play so he'll have been playing up until the highschool season starts.

Doug has senior picture retakes on Monday. I hate having to retake them, but seriously the first ones were just not good. The yearbook pictures were rotten. There actually was only 1 or 2 that I would even consider buying.

I've continued to go to water aerobics. I feel better when I go, but I'm getting a sinus infection and I with that and pictures on Monday I hope I don't miss the Monday class. I also have loads of homework. My next masters class started. UGH it's like tutoring a student for 1.5 hours for 10 weeks on Tuesdays. The class is worth 1000 points. I can't believe 1000 points it is quite extensive and I'm just ready to quit. I'm so tired of working and going to school. I know I can't complain it is a free masters degree, but this is my 3rd year in the program and it's just burning me out, me and probably the other 25 students too. It is to the point where it is about jumping through hoops. That is the one thing about college and teaching, how many hoops you've got to jump through. Continually there are hoops, do this, do that, document this, document that, blah, blah, blah; change my name to Teacup the Hoop Jumping Poodle and hold up the hoop! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh right now my life is just to crazy and out of control for me. Does that mean that I'm a control freak?

Well I'll just keep plugging along trying to keep my head above the water, holding on for winter break.

I feel great!

I really was concerned that I might be a bit sore after
yesterday's water aerobics but nope, not an ache or pain
anywhere. My joints actually feel a little less stiff and
I thought I should do some exercise today and technically
I did. I walked up three flights of stairs, down a flight,
around to the next hall and up or down again. It was
open house/curriculum night at the high school.

Don and I went to some together, some apart and to some
not at all. Found out how to use the online grades and
got the passwords. AAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh now I'll know
all the grades with no surprises! Unfortunately there are
already a few not so good ones for one of my sons.

OK...stop right there Laura, you've been told this is no
longer an area you are to worry about.

Ok self, I know that but it's hard!

Ok, I realize that sometimes it might just suck to
have a mom who is a teacher, smart and very, VERY
Nagging and sets high expectations.

So I'm trying to work through this, he's getting older
and must do this on his own. Geesh, I could have
used another exercise class instead of the stress
of open house. Oh well, I'll be over it by tomorrow,
I hope.

Anyway as of today, I'm an advocate for water
aerobics. I almost can't wait to go back
for the next class.

Trying to be good

This week I've trying to be good and eat more healthy.
Don and I have been taking walks and I try walk a little
further each day.

Well we've had Y memberships for quite a while.
Maybe a year and a half.
Well we were gong ho for a while; then like most
exercise programs it went kaputz.

Well today we went back to the Y. Don and I took a
deep water aqua aerobics class. I was so proud of
going and of Don for going with me to support me.
Although Don was the only man there, we saw two
people in the class that we knew. One of our friends
even said her husband comes. Maybe that will encourage
Don to keep going. It felt very cool and envigoriating.
I think I'll go back again.

I also found out since the last time I'd been there that
they put in a quick workout like a 40 minute circuit
similiar to curves. Geesh a lot changes when you
don't go for a while.

Any and all encouraging words accepted on this weight loss
journey.

Did I mention...

I'm a mom to two high school boys? I know you're probably
thinking geesh you're so young to have 2 sons in
high school let alone one who is a senior. Well you know
you're absolutely right! I am too young to have two high
school sons. LOL I know your eyes are rolling cause I'm
having a little laugh myself. Although I truly can't believe
that the boys are in high school.

This is so nice to have them together in one school again.
Poor Brian though, he's going to have the Jan Brady syndrome.
You know "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha". It's already started.
Some of Doug's friends, especially the boys from volleyball
walk down the hall and say "hi little Doug!" I tell Brian
that it's not too often that seniors pay any attention to
new freshmen, so that's a good thing. Hey can I help it
that Brian and Doug look alike to a lot of people? Good genes
I guess. He also says Doug taps him on the shoulder. I say
that he's your brother and at least he's acknowledging you're there.

So as we deal with looking at colleges, back to school issues, open
houses, senior pictures (don't even ask about those, that's a whole
nother blog rant) football games, homecoming and such we are just
hanging on for the ride. Don and I will be empty nesters way too
soon. I can't even bare to think about that yet. I am way too young
for that.

So this is another short week of school so after this week, we're full-tilt
and headed into a school year of many changes. I hope and pray some are easier
and less traumatic, and the year goes smoothly for all four of us.

Peace-out

Today I saw something miraculous

Today in church I saw something I would have never expected to see.
We have a bunch of friends who are in our small church group. Some of these friends
are the reason we started going to church again. Some are friends we met specifically because of our small group. These are the people who will stop and pray for you if you need it. I truly believe this group to be a strong reason why I continue to go to church. Well one man who comes to the group comes because it is a social gathering. He comes because he wife is a believer. This man comes to church to support his wife, period. That's all. He's told our group that he's a self proclaimed heathen. A Heathen.

Well today I've seen it all. This man, who calls himself a heathen was baptized. A full immursion baptism. There are so many people who know him that it was a total shock to so many people. Only 4 people knew it was going to happen. I swear it caused many people to cry. Jaws dropped. It was truly a miracle. I wish I had my camera.

If you believe in the power of prayer, this man told Don and I that he needs a lot of prayers right now. If you possibly could say a prayer for Dave that he continue to believe and feel the spirit in his heart. I know he would appreciate that.

I have to say, God works in mysterious ways.