Yikes! I was soooooo busy this summer doing nothing that I didn’t bother to post a blog. I’m sure you all missed hearing from me since there is so much traffic on this site… or not. Well, since April… I read 44 books, Logan started 1st grade, he also learned how to ride a bike, taught Rudy how to catch a frisbee in the air, laid carpet in my basement, refinished the wood floors in my hallway, I started my 4th official year of teaching, I saw lots of old friends at my 10 year reunion, a wedding reception, and a trip to the Science Center, Jeremy got a job as an accountant in Greenville, decided to move due to said job, began mentoring my second student teacher, and aquired yet another beautiful baby niece. Well, I guess I have been kinda busy. There. Now you are caught up.
Milestones April 17, 2009
Logan has reached many important milestones this week.
1. He is adding two digit numbers to one digit numbers.
2. He is understanding place value to the hundreds place.
3. He can give you more detail about amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds than most adults I know.
4. He can name and give facts of about 15 different dinosaurs.
5. He can clean his playroom to perfection.
6. He can identify all of the basic parts of sheet music and draw a treble clef.
7. He tied his own shoes this morning.
8. He told me that he would be 7 before I knew it.
Where are those bricks that my grandma always threatened to put on my head? I could really use a few right now!
Vote for Jeremy! January 7, 2009
If you reside between Washington Ave in Alton and Prairie St in Bethalto, or Kendall Hill in Wood River, VOTE FOR JEREMY PLANK!! He is running for Wood River Township Clerk and is very excited to serve the community. Please visit www.plank4woodrivertownshipclerk.com to check him out.
Recovering…FINALLY! January 7, 2009
Well, Monday was initially set aside for, well, work. Those plans were brutally halted when Logan decided to run a high temp (104.5!) for the whole weekend. I went in on Monday morning to put together my sub plans to take him to the doctor, but instead, wound up getting a fever myself. My throat was sore, my fever was increasing, my son was whinning. I wound up stopping at the Walgreens clinic in Alton before taking Logan in to his doctor and low and behold… Strep Throat! Logan wasn’t complaining about a sore throat, but I havd them test for it anyway. Sure enough, he had it too. My mom called. She had it too!!! I’ve spent the past two days in bed or on the couch. I am going stir crazy, but my illness has not allowed me to stand up to do anything. I had to call in sick today because I am still contagious, but was given a very special gift. SNOW DAY! Yes, mom, this is supposed to be spent shopping, but I am just grateful to not have the sick day docked from my total. I hate having subs. I am left with more work before and after than going to work would have been in the first place.
Well, I think that I am finally well enough to take on the 12 year olds tomorrow, at least physically. I have practice for the musical until 5 PM, so here is to a full recovery.
PS: Puppies are adorable when they are dreaming! Rudy must be chasing Logan around the house in his head right now! It makes me want to squeeze his soft little increasingly enormous body!
razors January 1, 2009
So we wpent New Years Eve without Logan for the first time since his birth last night. It was very sad, but he is usually fast asleep by the time the ball drops anyway. I called and sure enough…
We went to my cousin Brittany’s house to celebrate. Good food, fun games, distant cousins, the party had it all, but unfortunatley, my teeth decided that they would rather chew on my cheek. I bit the inside of my mouth so hard that they went all the way through thte skin. Worst part… I did it eating a cracker. SOOOOO not worth it. Then, once the damage is done, it is almost impossible not to make it worse, I bit through it again. This time it was eating a cashew. A little better, but still no bon-bon. It bled everywhere both time and now I am left with a HORRIBLE canker sore. I hope it heals by Monday. Thesse things are impossible to talk with and that makes teaching… complicated. Grrr!
Running with Rudy January 1, 2009
Well, Rudy went for a New Years Eve run with me around my neighborhood. The other day, he lasted for 2 miles and today he flat out refused to move after 1 3/4 miles. I picked him up to carry him home and found that his paws were bleeding. I feel sooooo bad! I didn’t even think about the street being rough on his little enormous puppy paws. I cleaned them up and put salve on them when we got home. I even gave him a manicure. How horrible am I? I think he hates me. Like any son, I’m sure he’ll get over it.
What is Wrong With ME??? December 31, 2008
It doesn’t matter what I do or don’t do, I cannot seem to get into my bed until after 2 AM lately. It is presently 2:05 and I am fighting myself on whether I should just stand up and walk upstairs. I would be much happier asleep in my cozy bed. I would defiantly be happier in the morning when I have to get up. Jeremy would be happier because I would not be crabby. Rudy would be happier because I would take him for a run. Logan would be happier because I would be more patient with his endless string of pointless and unanswerable questions. The only people benefiting from my illness are the ones who own the gas stations that sell me all of those expensive Monsters to keep me coherent after the sun comes up. This will be happening in about 4 hours, so maybe I should bite the bullet, shut the laptop and climb the steps. OR… I could play another game of solitaire…
Smart Cycle December 31, 2008
Logan got a Fisher Price Smart Cycle for Christmas this year and has spent over 15 hours on the thing. It is very educational while being active, so he is not wasting away in front of the TV. I highly reccommend this wonderful toy to anyone who has a kid big enough to pedal a tricycle.
He also got a Leapster 2 which he has enjoyed on car rides. This is packed with learning games and is controlled like a video game and has a touch screen with a stylus. I can download the info from the games he has played to see what learning standards he has met. LOVE IT!!
As a teacher, I’m glad that companies are coming out with technology that will help kids learn instead of frying thier brains. Way to go Fisher Price and Leap Frog!
Hello Again eWorld December 31, 2008
I’m still alive. Since I’ve been MIA, I have had many things happen. Logan turned 5 and with the extra year, developed a TON of independance.
He is showering himself (really thoroghly), getting his own breakfast, dressing himself (he even matches his clothes), cleans his own playroom (I mean, puts things in the right places and everything!) , and takes care of his new puppy all by himself! This brings me to the next huge change in our lives. We figured since Logan was becoming so responsible, it was time to grant his wish for a puppy. Meet Rudy the Collie!
Logans has been feeding him, taking him outside for potty time, and playing with him in the yard. He even cleans up his messes! The puppy is growing exponentially. We expect him to be about 40 pounds in a couple months.
I have also been continuing work on my master’s degree in Instructional Technology. It has been very time consuming and a lot of work, but I am excited about the raises I get for getting credit hours! Jeremy finished his second bachleors degree in December, this time in Accountancy. He says he is done, but I won’t believe it until that happens.
I will try to stay more current since my dear mother says I “stink” at blogging. Oh well. We will see how she fares after a month or two 
. You will be eating your words dear mother!
The Best Trip to Six Flags EVER!! July 24, 2008
Our trip to Six Flags was an undisputed success! Our day began with the Moon Cars, the Log Flume, and learning how to stand in line patiently. It was horridly hot, so the guys stopped for drinks while Janae and I took the kids to the new Bugs Bunny Park. On the way, we met Scooby Doo, Shaggy, and Bugs Bunny!
We got to the kids park and the kids rode all of the kid rides. They had fun, but by the last picture, you can see that Logan was ready for some higher thrills!
The adults took turns riding the awesome rides like the Superman while the other two put kids on little rides. It was a great system! We decided to try the kids on the Scream’n Eagle. They were tall enough, but were they brave enough?? HECK YEAH!! We had to pry them off of it when it was over! WE promised we would try it again. We took them to the Tidal Wave for a cool-off. Another total success! Then the Mine Train, then Tony Hawk’s Big Spin, then the Scream’n Eagle again! The kids behaved, the lines were short, the water was cold, the sun was out, the day was PERFECT!
The next day we went to Hurricaine Harbor. It was Saturday, cloudy, packed, and not nearly as much fun. Friday’s success would have to count for Saturday too. On the up side, we got home at a reasonable hour.
We will definately be going back. If your kids are 42″ and like the hills in your car, try Six Flags. Go on a weekday and buy the souvenier cup. It is $12.99, but you get free refills for the rest of the day and $1 refills if you bring it back next time. Can’t beat that!
