Such is life...

Now that my year has started again and I have gotten the hang of wrangling two kids (OK, like that every really happens!), we’re going to try this whole blogging thing again.  It’s cathartic and will definitely help me keep a hold of my sanity.  At the very least I won’t feel like I’m bombarding Mikey with it all.
 

It’s been a WHILE since I last updated, and I know most of you keep up with our shenanigans via Facebook.  But, for those who don’t here’s a little recap of life in our Madhouse.  The munchkins are growing, which I have mixed feelings about. 

Little man is officially a big boy at 3 ½ years old.  He is learning so much at school.  It’s hard to believe that in less than 2 years we will be sending him off to Kindergarten.

Our princess is getting too big for her own good too.  She turned 1 in May and gave us the present of taking her first real steps in front of the whole family at her ‘smash cake’ party.  She’s been running ever since.  In less than 2 weeks she will start preschool at the same daycare as Logan.  The teachers are already excited to get their hands on her adorable little chubby cheeks!

Mike had it a little rough the last 6 months or so.  In March, Mike tore his ACL and damaged his meniscus while at work.  Of course worker’s comp covered it all, but took their sweet time approving an MRI that would have identified the tears.  In the mean time, he started a new job with a sister company (YAY!) and had to travel to New York and China for business.  Here comes the real fun.  May rolls in with three birthdays (my niece, me, and Ryleigh), the same niece’s wedding, and…wait for it…a trip to the Emergency Room!  I will say that my 4^th period students had never been as good as the day I got the call that Mike had a blood clot and was told to go to the ER now!  Commence with the shots of blood thinners, countless doctor visits, compression stockings, swelling, pain, and countless emails and calls to worker’s comp…who still owes us money we had to front for some of the visits. Add in another trip to Vietnam and the fact that I have been in workshops for about a month this summer and that 3 weeks of those included me staying overnight Sunday through Thursday at NC State and Mike’s summer hasn’t exactly been the greatest.  If anything, these trials have strengthened our love and our marriage.  I love him more today than when we married 5 years ago.  In short, we have just chucked this school year up as not being our year and are confident that the next one will be MUCH better! 

In the coming days, I plan on blogging more about the fun stuff that we did over the last year and my newest obsession, Pinterest.  For now, I bid you adieu with a few pictures of my munchkins.

 

 Ren Faire 2012

With Papa...eating their ice cream

Dixie Classic Fair 2012 with Cousin Ethan

 

Logan's Birthday Breakfast

Sibling Movie Time

  

Easter 2013

 

Prom 2013

 

 Ryleigh's Birthday Smash Cake

 

Ethan's Pre-K Graduation

Our Little Builder

-Aimee

 

 

So much for my goal to write more often...

Hello, blog-reading citizens.  I know, I know! It's been a month since I blogged about anything, so I've already messed up my first goal for this year. [And, yes, I realize it's October, but, as a teacher, my years run from July - June.] 

Fall is in the air, which means it's my busy season.  September brings with it the return to working 50+ hour weeks, which is MUCH more difficult with 2 kids.  Then comes my whirlwind. 

Within a month, I coordinate all details for our homecoming court festivities, including nominations, voting, assemblies, halftime presentation, and attire...again I remind you that I teach/mentor high school students and that they, and sometimes their parents, have no idea what the term modesty truly means.  During this time I also have to write a professional development plan, tutor at least twice a week, attend a minimum of 2 meetings a week, and organize a fieldtrip for girls interested in pursuing science careers.  Did I also mention that Mike is finishing up a project for work that has given him very little time off!

Needless  to say, I'm tired!  Last night was homecoming and it went off without a hitch.  I actually got some grading done during Friday's planning time and had a good day with little man.  Mike and the kids met me at school for a tailgate and Logan stayed at the game until after halftime...and he was a perfect angel. 

Today, Mike finished up the most time consuming portion of his project which should allow us to partake in the seasonal festivities around the region.  I think pumpkin picking is in on the docket for next weekend, followed by the Ren Faire, then Halloween and a trip to Atlanta!

I promise to keep you all posted on the fun activities.  As for tomorrow, grading is the plan of the day!  I want to get pretty much caught up on all of the grades that I've been postponing over the last 3-4 weeks.  Think of me as you enjoy this beautiful weather! 

Happy Fall, Ya'll!!

Random Rambings of the Week...

Hello my cyber followers. After reading my dear sister-in-law's blogs all summer, she has inspired me to be a better blogger.  Blogging can be extremely cathartic and after some of the weeks I have throughout the year, I need a constructive way to get out that energy.  If only to save my wonderful husband from having to hear about it so much!

P.S. If you don't follow my SIL's adventures in overseas military life, you most definitely should! She is witty and insightful and is currently doing this for a living (kind of) as she takes care of my brother and their household in Germany for the next two years.

So for this week, I've decided to just jot down some of my random thoughts.  The things that have come to mind throughout my summer and the beginning of school.

 

1. Whoever said "Poop" happens, never potty trained a 2 year-old boy!

We're keeping it G-rated here kids! :) 

 

I don't know what it is exactly about releasing your bowels into a pot, but apparently for two year olds it's really scary!  Scary to the point where some will master #1 and not do the deuce for MONTHS!  No big deal, right?  Except for the fact that if they aren't mastering the timber drop, then they are either going in their pants [yuck!] or are withholding it until the last possible minute!

 

Our big boy was of the second variety. He would go days without anything and then would either go in his pants or in his diaper at nap time.  We used bribery, coaxing, fiber filled foods, and every other tactic that might get him to go. In the end, the shear will of his teacher at school and the promise of the pretend kitchen he wanted for Christmas were the deciding factors. 

Aren't those boxers just the cutest things?!?!

 

He's had less than a handful of accidents since then and this week we saw an even bigger marker of our little man's growing independence.  For three days in a row, he has taken it upon himself to go to the bathroom and take care of business.  Pray, for the sake of my sanity and my water bill, that this continues!

 

2. Physics isn't all that bad, but the new crap that we have to go through is!

 

So, most of you know that I'm teaching physics for the first time and the thought slightly terrified me.  Not that I'm not still VERY behind in planning, and I probably won't feel truly confident until after the semester is over. 

 

 

It is a relief that the student I was afraid of...you know the one that will question you at every step and point out ALL of your shortcomings...is utterly confused by the simplest math based problem in the class.  He also has a bit of a chauvinist side to him and it kills him to have to ask a woman for help, which makes my heart leap a little.  Maybe by the end of it all, I will have been able to broaden his horizons in more than just forces and motion.

 

Well that's all for now.  I'm off to enjoy breakfast with my family, go to church, and then return to try and plan some physics.  Happy Sunday, all!

 

 

Science Teacher Extraordinaire...maybe? hopefully?

As I enter my tenth year of teaching, I find myself less prepared than I have ever been.  School starts in a little more than a month and I have yet to truly plan a single lesson.  In all honesty, it would normally not bother me to be in this state, but this year is different.  This year, I am teaching two new classes. 

In addition to my wonderful anatomy, which I've taught so long now that it basically plans itself, I am now my school's only physics teacher and one of only a few physical science teachers.  I keep telling myself that I'm excited about this change, and a part of me truly is, but who am I kidding?  I have a degree in BIOLOGY, I only minored in chemistry because it only required taking one more course and I needed the elective hours anyway.  Oh and physics, dear physics, I took those two courses in the Summer so I wouldn't have to deal with them for an entire semester! 

Am I insane? 

I have a newborn at home, a toddler, and I've now agreed to teach a course that not only have I not taken in years, but that has also changed significantly in terms of how it is supposed to be taught.

On the bright side, I have some wonderful colleagues from other parts of the state who have jumped right in to help bail me out of my sinking ship.  My goal for the week is to use their materials to make a life raft that will help me survive the first few weeks, then maybe I'll be more confident in myself.

I've always said that a good teacher never thinks of themselves as such.  I guess a blessing and a curse that forces us to search for new methods of reaching our students, if simply for the sake of our consciences. 

Well, I guess I better start fishing through the material on the desk in front of me.  Thankfully, I have about another week of summer school left that can be used as planning time. 

Until we meet again,

Life in a whirlwind...

I'm a mother of two...who would have thought it?!  It almost seems surreal.  I have two great kids!  Ryleigh is sleeping through the night, even though she has her first ear infection. Logan is doing well as a big brother, he has his days (like all two year olds), but is overall a big help.

Logan is a little water rat and it looks like Ryleigh will be too!  She LOVES her baths.  We're headed to the pool this weekend and maybe we'll put Ryleigh in for a few minutes! More updates soon.

Welcome home...Ryleigh's first week

Ryleigh was scheduled to join us on my birthday, May 5.  The younger doctors at my practice informed me that they would like to induce my labor before that date due to my chronic high blood pressure...why push the envelope on what has been a perfect pregnancy.  Cool!  I planned to start maternity leave May 1st, hoping to be in labor later that day.  Think again!  The 'old-school' doctors I saw at the end of my pregnancy said no to induction unless I was overdue.  Induction is scheduled for Monday, May 7th.  (At least I got to see The Avengers on the big screen!)

We started the whole process around 9 am...7 hours of labor and three pushes, over a period of 5 minutes, later and she was here! Mike took a potty break and almost missed it!

Ryleigh Jane

4:25 pm ** 7 lbs 11 oz ** 20.25 inches

We came home Wednesday afternoon and thought all was good.  Bring on Sunday and the beginning of a cough for Logan.  By the next night, he couldn't sleep.  Off to the doctor...which we had visited the day before for Ryleigh's weight check...and it's croup!  Not nearly as bad as it was last September, but still contagious.  Then the doctor throws the big blow to my hormone riddled and very emotional body...Ryleigh should probably be removed from the home until Logan is better. **Punch to the gut**

My mind begins to race as I hold back the tears....She wants me to choose between my newborn and my sick child...How can I leave him without his mommy?...It's too early to leave Ryleigh's side...I can't send Logan away, not when he's not feeling good...We have to think of something else!  I can't handle this right now.

Mike and I pledge not to split up our little foursome, though I think his agreement is purely for my sanity.  So, I spent a couple of hours last night sanitizing my bedroom and living room so I could isolate Ryleigh from Logan.  Mike is sleeping upstairs to minimize cross-contamination at night and my mother-in-law is watching Logan in the living room while he is at work.  Here's to hoping that he's better by the weekend!

On a side note: I have the best family ever!! My mother is my rock and my daddy is too cute with regards to my children...he turns to mush!  My sisters-in-law have been an immense help with Logan, watching him while I was in the hospital and taking him to school while I am not allowed to drive.  My mother-in-law didn't think twice about coming over to watch him today.  Then, of course, there's my Mikey.  He's been the best husband anyone could ask for.

I'm still here...

It's been a long time since I posted on here and a lot has been going on in our lives.  For a brief recap...

October - Mikey took his annual trip to the NAYCE convention for work.  This year was in Orlando and much closer than normal, but it forced him to miss Logan's 1st Halloween Trick-or-Treat.  We did a local church's Trunk-or-Treat, which made up for it.  Little man was Captain America...and too adorable!

Daddy with Logan as Captain America.



November - One of my best friend's got married.  We had Thanksgiving with Mom, Ro, and her new Beau, Ronnie.  Great times and a non-stressful month.  Thank goodness, especially since I was still experiencing morning sickness from our little bug.

December - We decided to have a reveal party where everyone would be informed of our peanut's gender at the same time...even us!  The only people who knew what we were having were the Ultrasound Tech and the baker from our local grocery store. We loaded up the skype for some German-based interaction and cut the cake...It's a girl!!! 



Discovering that our little 'bug' is a lady...Welcome to the family Ryleigh Jane!



January - We began the new year with a family trip to Summerfield, FL.  Back to Homosassa Springs Park...Logan had a BLAST!...Time with Aunt Debi, Uncle Bill, and Michelle...Finished it up with a church service at Grandma and Pop Pop's church.  It felt like I finally got to say goodbye.

Walking with PaPa in the Villages...who'd have thought my Daddy would become a softie!

My Carolina Boy...Experiencing his first piece of Florida...a juicy orange!
Now we gotta get him up to Jersey for a Taylor Ham, Egg, & Cheese Bagel. I know he'll at least eat the bagel!

Visiting Grandma and Pop Pop.

At Homosassa Springs...

Looking at the gators...such an animal freak, like his momma!

Daddy, Aunt Debi, and Uncle Bill

Then we came home to celebrate Logan's 2nd birthday.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed and this is the last party to be thrown at our house.  In NC and January, we just can't house all of the family and friends.  But everyone had a great time.

Eating his ice cream cone cupcake.



February - A fairly quiet month that began with me losing one of my wedding rings in our local grocery store.  Apparently I am the only woman in history who's fingers shrunk during pregnancy.  Mike and a clerk looked for 30 minutes, but one of my bands was long gone!  Thanks to some great sales and a loving husband, I have a new ring that fits. It's a little big, but won't fall off!  (My finger is over a size and a half smaller than the day we got married.)

My new ring.

Celebrating Mardi Gras courtesy of my Aunt Cyndi...all the way from NOLA.

March - We moved Logan into his big boy room as we finish up preparations for Ryleigh's arrival.  He's doing GREAT in school.  We love his teachers, as does he, and they love him.  He's learning more everyday and I am always amazed at what comes out of his mouth.  The newest addition to his ever growing vocabulary is, "No, mommy 2 minutes please" and, of course, quoting his favorite movie, Despicable Me.

Playing like Daddy...going to be a little carpenter.

Loving his new big boy room and bed!

More later, now onto planning some more for my 6 weeks out.

It's weeks like these that make me wish I had a 'REAL' job...

For those of you who didn't realize, I have had a banner two weeks here in NC. 

Last week, Logan was hospitalized with croup for two separate nights.  That's right, he went to the hospital Sunday night, seemed better, went home Monday, and was readmitted Wednesday!  Then yesterday, I got a text at 2 am informing me of my grandmother's death.  She had been sick for a while and hospitalized over the weekend.  We were expecting her passing and she was ready to rejoin Pop Pop in heaven, but it's always painful to lose someone that close. To top it off, Logan has surgery to put tubes in his ears this morning, we are leaving in 30 - 45 minutes.  It's been a busy fortnight.

It's times like these that I wish that I had a REAL job.  Most people can take off for major events like these rather easily.  The work will be done by someone else or it will be there when they get back the next day.  Such is not the life of a teacher.  I missed 2 full days and 2 half days for Logan's croup/hospitalizations last week and I am missing 1 today for his ear-tube surgery.  Because of this, I can't afford to take off another day to drive the 10 hours for my grandmother's funeral.

It's not neccessarily the money that makes me unable to afford the trip, it's the intangible 'damage' that will be done to the progression of my lessons.  When I am absent, I have 86 kids to think about.  What will they do when I am gone?  Will they behave?  What work can I give that will keep them on track for when I return?  I know that some of my students appreciate me now, and some will appreciate me later, but few realize how much I agonize to be away from them and put a halt to their learning.

In truth, I could probably make it to the funeral if I drove through the night without really stopping and got only a couple hours of sleep, but my father, Aunt Debi, and mom have convinced me that Grandma would not want me to jeopardize my son who has just had outpatient surgery and my unborn child to attend a ceremony for her body.  She would tell me that it's not really her in there and that I can say goodbye from anywhere now. 

So, goodbye Grandma!  I love you.  Have fun with Pop Pop.  Eat a steak, have some cake, and just enjoy being with him again.  I will do my best to pass on the values you taught us to my kids, both natural and adopted (students)

My son, the shy one...

So, I picked up Logan from school yesterday and asked him to say Bye-Bye to his teacher Miss Kaycee.  He politely waved and he teacher made a comment like, "We'll get you to talk soon."  I was SHOCKED!  My son has been talking for over a year!  He speaks very well for his age.  Just this morning he reached for my hand and guided me into the kitchen saying, "eat buh-fast" (toddler translation = eat breakfast).

Well, apparently not at school!

I had to inform both of his teachers that he can say several words, including Grampa, Nana, Ball, Duck, and Casey!  With this new found knowledge, both have said they are going to work on getting him to talk at school.  Who knew my son was so shy?!?!

Random thoughts that have filled my head over the past few weeks...

• I miss my brother and sister-in-law.  It's not like I saw them that often, but it was nice to know I could drive a couple of hours and be at their front door.
• Logan is growing up way to fast.  He's already 18 months old.  Yesterday, the nurse soothed us with the fact that he was receiving his last immunization before kindergarten.  KINDERGARTEN!  He will start kindergarten in 2015....it seems all too soon.
• I want another baby.  I would love a baby girl.  My own little Ryleigh Jane to join her big brother.  Soon enough, I guess.  We'll start trying again this fall for our 2nd and final child.  Boy or girl, they will be greatly loved.
• I miss Europe.  I just went with some of my 'kids' and had a blast!  I miss the trains and the scenery.  Learning a new place.  It was horrible leaving Mike and Logan behind, though.  Sadly, with the economy as it is, I can't see us going over anytime soon.  Though I'd love to try Germany and visit Dave and Case.  They'll be there through at least 2014, so maybe if people start chipping in now, we can see them before they leave!

Breakthroughs...

Logan ate a green vegetable on Saturday.  He devoured an entire package of the peas from sugar snap peas, leaving Mike and I the hulls to eat.  This is only one of many changes we've been going through in the last month. 

Logan is loving daycare, especially Art and Water Play.  He still cries sometimes when I drop him off, but Ms. April and Miss Kaycee assure me that he never cries for more than a minute.  Mike definitely gets the better end of the deal, though.  Until recently, he has always been the one to pick Logan up...I was missing out.  You get to see him play and have fun and when he sees you there he just RUNS as fast as he can.  HE lunges himself into your legs to be enveloped by Daddy's or Mommy's loving arms.  It's great!  More updates to come...

Logan's 1st Day at Preschool (5/2/11)

When I feel that I'm a success...

As many of you would probably agree, we criticize ourselves more than anyone else ever does.  I often find myself questioning myself...as a mother...as a wife...as an educator.  Am I doing all that I can?  I know that it will all be 'OK,' but who wants to settle for just 'OK'?

There are sometimes when I feel successful.

When I bake, I feel like SuperMom!!!

Zucchini Bread for the men at home.

There are, of course, other times when I feel the sweet taste of success...When Logan smiles at me.  When a student says thank you (yes, it has happened more than once!).  When Mike holds my hand in the car.  I'd just thought I'd share my simple joy.

Aimee :p

The Dryer is Innocent and Other Random Facts of My Day!

• The  refrigerator is a thief...especially when you have a young child!  Logan pushed his phone under the fridge on accident this afternoon.  I did what any mom would do and got on the floor with a flashlight.  I saw it...gleaming red...over half of the way under the massive appliance.  Of course it's not on the floor, though.  It's on some kind of plate that can never be reached!  I am now convinced that all those socks that go missing are really under the fridge.  THE DRYER IS INNOCENT!!!
• Adults are worse than children when it comes to following directions.
• It's truly depressing when strangers speak to you with pity in their voices after you tell them what you do.
• The most adorable thing ever is to watch your child dance.  Logan has started shaking his little tooshie! :)

Short but sweet...gotta go bathe the booger.

Frustration!

So, I know you were all on the edge of your seats to see if I could get through the massive amounts of papers I had to grade. Well, I have! All but a single project for my smallest class, I was planning on grading it tomorrow morning. (It's computer based and I don't have the program on my laptop.) Why am I frustrated, you ask? Because the geniuses that work for our online grading system put an unannounced maintenance weekend in place. That means, no grades for me until 6 am Monday! Now this is normally not a problem, but Logan is up by 6 am and I have a meeting which I will miss most of my planning period for. Oh, and grades are due at noon! FUN! Why would they have an unannounced weekend? Click the link on their 'We are down' page and it says maintenance for April 2011 is from the 22-25. Apparently, they just figured out that it was EASTER and they don't want to work on that weekend...you know, when they could actually have it from Thursday to Saturday and possibly bypass screwing over the teachers and students and still have a holiday. So, I head to my email and try to find out if there is anything that can be done. To my dismay, there is an email from NCAE (NC Assoc. of Educators) stating that, though it has not been approved, the motions are on the table in the General Assembly to cut the extra pay that teachers with Masters' Degrees and National Board Certification receive. Ummm, those both pertain to me, and that would be at least a 20% pay cut! I know I shouldn't worry until it's passed and that I should be thankful to have a job, but OMG!

At that point, I might as well leave the profession. I hope it doesn't come to that.

The life of a mother/teacher....

Who knew how difficult it would be to keep up with my grading with a little one? Ok, so, I'm not stupid. I totally realized that it would be a struggle, I guess I just never thought I would get so far behind. It probably doesn't help that I have 3 different courses that I teach daily, including one with no book and no true curriculum. At the moment, I am buried under the last paper of 3rd quarter...the Honors Anatomy Research Paper. As I read, in an attempt to dig myself out, I am amazed at the lack of writing skills in our youth today. Those of you who know me may wonder why I assign papers to begin with. "You're a science teacher. What does that have to do with writing?" I've heard this so many times...from parents, students, administrators, and fellow teachers. It doesn't even suprise me anymore. My simple response is, why wouldn't I write with my kids? So, as I spend the wee hours of the night and Logan's 2 hour afternoon naps grading papers this weekend, think of me and my fellow mother/teachers. Being a mother is hard enough without having to bring home work as well.

Yes, Miss Aimee, there is a God...

...and he has answered our prayers! Logan is now eating MUCH better. He will actually eat chicken now! Chicken Soup - YES! Chicken Nuggets - YES! Chicken Tenders - YES! He's also eating mac-n-cheese again. On the vegetable front, I can say that I am truly thankful to live in a world with V8 Fusion. With vegetables and fruits, I have replaced his plain grape juice with it and he loves it! That's a good thing, especially since he won't consume many vegetables. He'll eat sweet potato and carrot (lightly honey/sugar glazed). However, if it's green, then you can count him out! He'll try them...Into the mouth they go...swirl it around a bit...then out it comes again. Oh well. I'll settle for whatever I can get. Our next goal is fish (like simple fish sticks first), then beef.

HELP!!! My son is a lacto-fruititarian.

Logan will NOT eat meat!

Feed him vegetables you say...but he won't eat that either.

He will eat grilled cheese and PB&J...no pasta or hot dogs or ravioli. He is even refusing our go to soups now. If you have any ideas, please let us know!

They grow too fast...

We signed Logan up for preschool on Thursday. He begins his studies on May 2nd. They has a whole curriculum set up for the kids...March is 'Up in the Sky' month. It is actually quite cool.

Before I know it he will be walking and talking on his own. He's had simple words, like ma-ma, da-da, uh-oh, and ball, down pat for a while. In the past week, however, he's picked up 2 new words that are the cutest. First, he has learned HOT. Of course with the 13-month old accent it sounds more like, 'ott', but we know what he means. The newest addition to his repertoire is to pick up a phone...it could be your cell phone or one of his toy phones or just his hand...and place it next to his ear saying, 'eh-oh'. The child is saying hello.

I know this may seem trivial to some. I have personally heard stories of my own childhood where I was 14 months old saying, 'Ducky ow-side, momma.' But I think it's exciting!

What are they thinking?

So, most of you know that I am a teacher. Before Logan was born, I was often given the 'wait until you have kids' look. Well you know what? I am a parent and I STILL honestly have to say, what were they thinking?!?!?! I would like to pass on some tidbits of wisdom from a veteran teacher, yes I am now old, to fellow parents.

1. Your child will lie. All animals are born with a self-preservation instinct. Children are no different and will tell you that their teacher only gave them 1 day to do a major project. Realize that your child may be stretching the truth and try a novel idea...Contact the teacher!!

2. Laws apply to your kid too! Just because your child has enrolled in a course that involves them leaving campus, does not mean you should give your un-licensed driver the keys to your car. Just because they are stressed at school, does not mean that they must do drugs.

3. Adults are NOT out to 'get' your child. Most of us just want your child to succeed. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't bad teachers out there, because there definitely are. Just remember the old verse, "You reap what you sow." Odds are that a paranoid child/parent is also a slightly defensive and or combative child/parent.

4. It is NOT ok to swear at your child. Children learn by example. They are not born with a filter. If you routinely swear at them, they will not know when it is inappropriate to curse themselves. This is especially true when you come to the school and swear at teachers and principals.

5. Read to your kids. I don't care if you read the racing form, the TV guide, or the back of your beer bottle. Just expose your kids to reading. It will increase their vocabulary and they will actually do better in school and in life.

Welcome the Toddler

So, Logan has officially reached toddler hood. The boy slept for 11 hours last night...8:30 -7:30. We have reached the 1 nap a day stage and I can truly say I'm excited! Now all we are waiting for is the toddle, or for him to let go.