Saturday, July 18, 2009

Where has the time gone???
I've started the 2009-2010 school year and so far I really like my class. I've had a lot of positive things said to me from the parents and even got a standing ovation after I finished my Open House (it was a first!). This is my tenth year of teaching, and yet it doesn't seem possible.
My business, Cat's Custom Classroom Creations has started to take off! I've had four orders placed online (from all over the U.S.) and then many people that I work with have placed orders for various items. It's been really exciting and fun, but a little stressful at the same time. There's only me working on this stuff, and I make everything by hand, so it takes a while to actually complete an order.
I'm about to track out on Friday!! WHOO HOO!! My mom and dad are coming down on Saturday and are staying for a week and then Steve and I are heading to Carolina Beach for a week. We've rented a beach house and are SO excited to get away for a week for our third anniversary.
Scott and Christie asked Steve and I to be the Godparents for LilyAnne... and we're super excited!! We're going to be going to the mitten in October for the Baptism and to visit Steve's family. His dad's wife Sue Ann was just diagnosed with breast cancer (again), so we're going to go up and see them and hope that by October things are better for her than they are now. We ask that you keep them in your prayers as they go through this ordeal together.
Enough from me for a while... I'll write again soon but I need to go to bed!!
Until next time...
>^..^<

Sunday, June 14, 2009

So the whole "Post A Day in May" thing was a nice idea, but once I went back to work, I didn't have time to write anymore.

So, it's been just shy of a month since my last post. We have finished the EOGs (End of Grade tests). The kids in North Carolina take the EOGs at the end of the year. The 3rd and 4th graders take a day of just reading and then two days of math. One test is with a calculator and the other is without a calculator. In fifth grade they do the same as 3rd and 4th, but they also do a science test.

The test is a BIG deal down here because not only do they announce how every school did on the test, but it's not just a measure of how many passed/didn't pass. They really care about growth. So you could have a whole class that everyone passed, but if they don't make growth, you're in trouble. The school gets recognized and ranked based on the growth, and there's bonus money attached to each school for the growth that the kids show. So it's so competetive and very stressful.

Needless to say, this year, I didn't have all my kids pass the tests and they didn't all show growth. I got my scores on Friday and seriously had a hard time with it all. I feel like I need to just hang it up and quit teaching. I don't know what else I could have done this year. I seriously gave 100% to my teaching every day and I did so much EOG review that I thought I'd lose my mind! I have to think, I can only lead my students so far... if they aren't willing to give 100% themselves, and I KNOW they didn't all give 100% all year... then there's only so much that I can do. Right?

Anyway... that's been the biggest thing that I've been dealing with lately. We bought a bunch of stuff for Scott and Christie's baby shower this weekend. I'm not sure when their shower is, but we bought them some much-needed things that we hope they'll love. I also bought the baby some killer onesies. They are seriously cute!! It's only two more months until I am an aunt again and I can't wait!!

My mom called me yesterday to confirm that they're coming down to visit me over my next track out. So July 24th-31st they will be here. It should be fun! We have our beach house from the 1st of August-6th and I can't wait to go to the beach and just chill. I think we might go to Myrtle Beach, SC for one of the days because it's only 45 minutes away!!

Alright... that's enough from me for now. I'll try and post again before the end of my school year, but it's going to start getting really crazy around here. Next Friday we have our next season ticket Bulls game, and then Saturday night we're going back for a game with my 4th graders. It should be fun!! It's also Father's Day next Sunday...

Until next time...
>^..^<

Tuesday, May 19, 2009


Sorry I haven't been following my goal of "A Post A Day In May." Things happen...


We drive up to Michigan on Thursday, May 7th to surprise my mom for her graduation and for Mother's Day. The plan started out with the intentions of us surprising Scott and my parents, but then my dad decided to go up north to the cottage and Christie (Scott's fiance) found out-- she was a little worried that if someone didn't tell him that we were coming, he'd miss out on our visit. So I ended up telling my dad, and then it became really hard for Christie to keep it from Scott.


We stopped in Olmstead Falls, Ohio to have dinner with Kevin and Greta and their boys Ben and Ayden. They are two of the cutest kids! Ben is getting so big!! Ayden is just about to turn one, so I helped make a few pages for his birthday book. We were able to hand-deliver them and they loved how they turned out.


From Greta's, we headed to Scott's place. We got in after midnight, so we didn't stay up too late visiting. On Friday, my Aunt Margie had helped me with a surprise for my mom, and told her she'd meet her for lunch at Applebee's. Scott and Steve and I went to Applebee's at noon, and there was my mom. She was expecting to have lunch with my aunt, so when we walked in, she did a double-take, but then thought it couldn't be us. Then when we started walking towards her, she realized that we were there for her graduation, and she started to cry. It made me cry and I was so excited to see her and to know that we surprised her!


It was one of the best moments ever. Once we got to the table I hugged her and we both cried. The only "bad" thing was that Steve was not able to find his passport before we left and his birth certificate was included in the passport. So, we weren't able to be at the actual graduation ceremony (held in Windsor, Canada).


We were able to get over and see Aimee and Matt. We got to hold Tanner (he's so tiny) and had a little bit of time with Lucas. Then we headed off to Albion to visit Mitch and Jess and saw their new baby Elizabeth (she's six months). On our way to Albion, we stopped at 7-11 and I was able to get my Slurpee and BBQ Better Made chip fix. It was sooooo delicious!! We had Hungry Howie's for dinner (their pizza is the best) and then drove back to Redford.


My mom stopped over to Scott and Christie's place and we got to see her again before heading off to bed.


Saturday morning we got up and Christie had made muffins (so good) and then after breakfast we went to Mongolian BBQ to meet my parents for lunch. It was so great to see my dad!! We had a delicious lunch and we decided to go see the Star Trek movie. it was really good!!!


After the movie we went our separate ways and Steve and I went shopping. I was able to get some new undies and bras (hooray) and then we went to IKEA and got a few random things as well as a cute hippo and some hippo crib sheets for Scott and Christie's fetus (Lil).


We stopped and picked up some flowers and a balloon for Scott and my mom (Scott graduated the weekend before with his BS in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University, and my mom got her Master's in Pastoral Studies). We then went to Montana's (my parents love that place) for dinner. We gave them their gifts and flowers and balloons and then we had a nice dinner. After dinner we headed over to Dairy Dan for dessert (we love Dairy Dan!)


We went back to my parent's house and just hung out there before leaving to go back to Scott and Christie's place. We were pretty tired so we went to bed pretty soon after getting back to their place.


Sunday morning we got up and drove over to St. Sabina's to meet my mom for mass. It meant a lot to her that we came and went to church with her. It was my first time in a Catholic Church in over a year... in fact, I can't remember the last mass I attended. I don't think we've been to mass in over a year... maybe even two years.


Anyway, after mass, Scott, Christie, and Alex (her son) met us for the Mother's Day Breakfast that the church was having. After mass, we went back to Scott's for a few hours and then we met my mom and dad at Kerby's Coney Island for lunch. I miss coney dogs!!! I am glad that they aren't around here though... it's a nice treat, but so tempting!!


We went back to Scott's place and then got ready to head over to Christie's sister's place for a Mother's Day BBQ. It was a really nice party and I got to meet Christie's sister Jackie, her husband, Christie's brother, her mom, and then Fr. Terry came over also.


We got back to Scott and Christie's and I took come cute pictures of them. We stayed up for a bit and enjoyed the last few hours together and then we went to bed.


It was in the four o'clock hour when we got up and showered. We were on the road by five and then had a nice drive back to Carolina. We got home around 4:30 and that's with several stops! It was much quicker coming home for some reason. Steve says it's because we took a different route.


I had all day Tuesday to rest and recover, while Steve had to work. I ended up going into work around 3:30ish and started to get my room ready for track in. Renee and Cheryl came in to help and it was wonderful!! I didn't get the whole thing done by 6:30, but it looked pretty good. From there we went to Diana's house for dinner and a meeting.


Renee is the parent of one of the boys in my class. She invited me to join her sorority Beta Sigma Phi (a women's group). They aren't social Greek and it's nothing like a social sorority-- but they have Greek letters and call themselves a sorority. Anyway-- it's been nice getting to know the women in her chapter. There are only seven of them (they have a maximum of ten) and they are all great. Very friendly, caring, and all a little older than me.


They asked me to join (extended an offer of membership) on Tuesday and I accepted. I am glad to be apart of their group and to learn more about Beta Sigma Phi. I am still an AGD and still have that in my life, but I just don't know any AGD's down here and the ones that I've met through the Junior Circle are nice, but not people I want to spend a lot of time with.


Anyway-- I am glad to have met some new people and to have a group of women to establish a relationship with. I miss my friends from MI and I wanted to have friends outside of work. I hate that the only people I do things with are people I work with. It makes it very difficult to separate work and play.


So that's the latest from me. I have a Leadership Team meeting this morning at 8am. Not sure what we'll find out. We have grade-level meetings with my principal on Thursday and we're supposed to find out staffing for next year. I don't know what grade I'll be teaching and don't know what track. I assume I'll be 4th grade track 3 (same as I am now), but you never know.


A funny thing happened recently... a parent on track 1 in 3rd grade found my Bb (Blackboard) site and then ventured to my website. She sent me a really funny (and nice) email asking me to move to track 1 (the fourth grade track 1 teacher is leaving). She said she'd do anything-- bake me cookies, wash my car, LOL. It was really funny.


Oh! I almost forgot to tell you what happened with my OBGYN appointment!! I got my lab results back and basically, everything is still totally normal, except my thyroid. My thyroid levels were high, so I am now on something for that. I take one pill a day and hopefully it'll help my levels. I was also taking some progesterone but the bleeding never stopped. However, I feel like now that the ten days are up, I AM having a period so maybe it worked and I'll restart my cycle as planned.


Enough from me. Until next time...

>^..^<

Wednesday, May 06, 2009


Well, this morning I got up and went to the obgyn. I've been bleeding for more than 21 days (a lot more information than anyone needs to know) and it's been a mix of light-heavy flow. Steve suggested that I go to the doctor because (his words not mine), "Anything that bleeds for more than a week should be dead." LOL


So, I went in and they did a CBC (complete blood count) lab workup and then she did an ultrasound and pap to see if there's something causing the bleeding (wound/tear). Fortunately, there was nothing wrong inside, so she decided to put me on progesterone. It's a hormone that will stimulate my period. Basically, I'll stop bleeding in a day or two of starting this, and then I am on it for ten days. At the end of the ten days, I should have another period and it should re-start my cycle.


I hope it works. She also wrote me a prescription for intercourse. Seriously. It' on the fridge. I think it's hilarious! So now there are no excuses for not having sex... it's a prescribed activity!! :)


I also had a nail appointment today and then Jen (my track mate at work) called to see if I wanted to grab lunch. We went to the Carolina Ale House (my favorite place) and then I just got home. It feels like a Friday...


Until next time...

>^..^<

Tuesday, May 05, 2009


Today I cleaned the house (finally) and just need to vacuum and it'll be all set. Then I watched Sex in the City. It was actually an enjoyable movie. I never got into the series (no HBO) but I thought it was a good movie.


I returned a pair of shorts via the USPS and then came home and had lunch. I watched The Hills from Monday night. Which made me think about Family Guy from Sunday. If you didn't see it, it was soooo funny! It was all about Lauren Conrad (she dates Brian) and how she really is smart, but has to play like she's dumb on television for the show. Brody Jenner was on it and so was Heidi and Spencer and Audrena. Very funny.


Anyway, The Hills was very good (of course) and then I watched Gossip Girl from Monday night. It was okay... not the best episode, but not bad. I just wish Rufus and Lily would get engaged already! LOL


Lastly, I watched College Life from Monday night. The one guy FINALLY got kicked out of his dorm-- which made me happy because he's a tool.


Ahhh... this is my last Tuesday of freedom. I go back to work a week from tomorrow. I am kinda dreading it. I love teaching, but the last six weeks of the year is the WORSE and then throw in EOGs and starting a new year and then the first three weeks of a new year... I'll be amazed if I am still alive in July for the next track out.


Heavy sigh...

Until next time...

>^..^<