April 30, 2006
Selena
Andrew’s JROTC group came home from the competition with a huge trophy, but Andrew himself got something even better …
A new girlfriend. Nifty, huh.
Posted by tami at 7:43 AM Comments (4)
April 29, 2006
Hamburger Hands
Friday, our class walked to College Park. It was lovely:
I could just picture myself under one of those trees with a thick book.
Instead, this is where I spent the entire time:
Sixteen three and four-year-olds need watching, so alas, there was no book to be read. I actually didn’t even take a book, but it was a beautiful thought.
****
Andrew came home from JROTC with his fingers looking like this:
Today, he has a competition at EKU, so I pray for him and his poor fingers. The Sergeant now refers to him as “Hamburger Hands”. How lovely.
Posted by tami at 9:31 AM Comments (0)
April 28, 2006
Conserve
Last night, Ashley received her award for winning the conservation-writing contest for her school. Her essay was about how we need to conserve water. One of the judges stated that normally sixth graders are the lowest grade to win this award, but Ashley is only in fourth grade, so we are doubly pleased.
She received this framed award along with a T-shirt:
She won this fish bowl in a door prize drawing:
Posted by tami at 1:33 PM Comments (0)
April 27, 2006
Shudder
It seems to me that other bloggers are able to take pictures in public without being starred at.
Whenever I lift my camera, I feel as if every eye in the room is on me. Why is it some people can take pictures of the atmosphere, themselves, and everything else without people gawking? I always think to myself people are wondering: “Why is she taking a picture of THAT?” or “She better not try to take a picture of me.”
Maybe I am too self-conscious.
My camera doesn’t require flash 90% of the time. I find this has lifted my confidence and allowed me to take pictures in many places that I would not ordinarily, but I still feel odd about it.
Does anyone else feel this way?
Posted by tami at 4:11 PM Comments (4)
April 26, 2006
How Beautiful
I have said it many times; if you have never visited The Lexington Cemetery, you need to. Right now, the spring tulips are in full bloom, the ducks are waddling around, the goldfish are gigantic, and the turtles are bigger than ever.
Here is my newest photo gallery displaying the cemetery. There are 38 photos, which makes this my biggest gallery to date.
Posted by tami at 9:16 PM Comments (0)
April 22, 2006
Suggestions
In yesterday’s post, I said that I wasn’t complaining. However, I do have complaints, but I like to call them suggestions. If I could give parents some advice, here is what I would say:
1. Drop your child off and leave. Don’t stand there and talk for 15 minutes because more often then not, by that time, your child doesn’t want you to go.
2. Give us correct phone numbers. Don’t write down a number that has been disconnected. If your child gets hurt, we need to be able to contact you.
3. Make sure that all the people who will be picking your child up are on the release form. If there is the slightest chance that your great Aunt Mable will pick your child up, she better be listed on the form.
4. Make sure that your preschooler has an extra change of clothes in his or her backpack. We don’t want to call you away from work over a pee accident.
5. Make sure your child has a backpack – an appropriate sized backpack. If a folder will not fit, it is not big enough. (We do have a child that brings in a backpack that you couldn’t fit a greeting card in.)
6. Don’t call us in the middle of the day. Wait until the end of the day when the kids are gone. It is extremely hard to educate when the phone is constantly ringing off the hook.
7. If the weather is cold, please send your child dressed appropriately. We do go outside and your child will not be left in the room.
8. Don’t expect us to hold back an entire class for your child. If you want your child to eat breakfast – be here on time.
9. If your child is potty trained, please dress them in something they can pull down easily. If they are unable to get their belt unbuckled, leave it at home. It may look cute, but it’s not so cute when they have to pee and cannot get it off fast enough.
10. Do not send invitations to a party unless you invite the entire class. This is a BIG no-no. Feelings get hurt and it is not fair.
I’m sure I have more suggestions. I’ll probably think of a few as soon as I post this. It would be interesting to see the other side of this. You know, parents suggestions to teachers.
Posted by tami at 8:54 AM Comments (3)
April 21, 2006
Spring School Days
The skies are no longer a dull grey; the trees are no longer bare. Everything is a bright, vibrant blue or emerald green. Flowers are popping up everywhere. The weather is warm enough that the kids don’t have any need for those heavy winter coats. We can go outside and play when it’s not raining, so the kids really don’t want to be inside for any length of time.
It’s been a difficult week in preschool. Spring has sprung and I would swear that someone told the kids that summer was coming soon. I think this way because they are wild. Kids that would normally sit still and listen, now have springs in their steps. They want to dance around, poke their neighbors, and get in their faces, skip, and, in general, run as if their pants are on fire. They feel the need to yell, scream, and talk incessantly. They are wiggle worms.
That behavior started last week. This week has been hard because CATS testing started in the main building. Everyone has to be super, super quiet. They won’t even allow the use of hand dryers in the restrooms during testing times. (I find this a tad extreme, but who am I to judge?)
What this means to the preschool is, we cannot use the gym – at all. If it is raining outside and we cannot go to the playground, we have no other option than staying in the room.
Guess what.
It has rained three out of five days this week. That means that we have been stuck in the classroom ALL DAY with three and four year old children and no gross motor. There is only so much dancing that they will do. After a while, it gets old and they want to start running around.
On top of the kids being riled up in general, our lead teacher had one of her instructors from her college come to observe her for a grade. Our lead teacher decided to make ice cream, so the kids got very excited. On this same day, one of the main preschool leaders came to observe all of us. We had a parent volunteer, and there were three different therapists coming in and out and all the while, we are trying to control a class, educate, and make ice cream.
I am not complaining about this. It was stressful. I had a good time and the kids did too, but my stress level was in the red. It is typically easier to control the class and things are more relaxed when there are not so many people there to observe.
CATS testing continues through next week. Also, our lead teacher’s instructor will be back to observe again.
More stress.
I think I need a raise.
Posted by tami at 5:46 PM Comments (1)
April 19, 2006
Gump
Today marks the first afternoon that I get to watch my nieces from 3 until 5 PM:
Their daddy joined the National Guard and left Monday. He will be gone for six months. I have many mixed emotions about this whole situation, but I will not express them here. As Forrest Gump said, “And that’s all I have to say about that.”
Guido was as excited as could be seeing them. He found it hard to keep his tongue in his mouth:
Posted by tami at 3:56 PM Comments (1)
April 18, 2006
Three Different Thoughts
My, oh my, it is a glorious day! When I got home from work, I took Guido out back and got a surprise … my Wisteria Vine is in bloom. I love the heavy purple and white clusters and the way the vines wrap around the deck to make it even more private.
This is the first year that our Dogwood tree has bloomed. It has many delicate white flowers that I hope stay around for a little while. My Bleeding Heart is already enormous and the Hosta’s are digging their way out of the soil and into sunlight. After all, why would you want to stay underground when it is so pretty up here?
The grass is green and the trees are filling out every day. Our Weeping Willow is slow to bloom, but you’d better watch out when it does! The neighborhood kids love walking down the sidewalk and grabbing onto a branch. I think all kids are attracted to trees in some way; especially those they think would be nice to swing from!
****
The school year is slowly ending and I keep wondering when I may be able to write about the goings-on at school. You know, certain things happen that would blow your mind, but I’m not supposed to discuss anything. When does the statute of limitations run out?
****
Andrew has carried the same backpack to school all year. This means he has carried it since August with no problems – no word from anyone. Unexpectedly, this past Friday, Mr. C. announces over the intercom that all teachers should check their student’s backpacks and make sure that they are mesh (see through) material.
To make a long story short, Mr. C. confiscates Andrew’s backpack. Andrew tells him that he has carried this backpack all year and Mr. C. replies that apparently his teachers aren’t doing their jobs good enough.
Mr. C. is a man of few words.
We scrambled this past weekend trying to locate a suitable backpack. Kevin finally bought one at the campus bookstore. Fortunately for us, it was on sale since it is the end of the year … and what FREAKS buy backpacks for school at the END OF THE YEAR??? People, I am talking four more weeks here!
This whole ordeal ticks me off. Some rules are enforced, while others are put on the back burner. Why wait until now to enforce this one?
Posted by tami at 3:39 PM Comments (4)
April 16, 2006
Easter Gallery
Happy Easter!
I have a new photo gallery. You can view the pictures HERE. This is a two-page gallery and you just click to enlarge.
Posted by tami at 9:25 PM Comments (1)
April 15, 2006
How Well Do You Know Me?
Gardenwife sent me this cute email. She had filled out the answers according to her life. Once I received it, I was supposed to fill the answers out according to my life, and then send it back to her. Instead of responding directly to her, I figured I would post it on here. I had to take out one whole section called “four places I have lived”. I have lived in Lexington and Winchester, Kentucky and that is it.
How Well Do You Know Me?
For instance, did you know...
Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Cashier at K-Mart
2. Cashier at Winn-Dixie
3. Demo girl at Sam’s Club
4. Bookstore worker at a local college
Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Steel Magnolias
2. Fried Green Tomatoes
3. The Hours
4. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Amazing Race
2. Survivor
3. Desperate Housewives
4. ER
Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Ashville, N.C.
2. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
3. Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Orlando, FL
Four web sites I visit often:
1. Google
2. Amazon
3. Internet Movie Database
4. MSNBC
Four of my favorite foods:
1. Pizza
2. Fried Chicken
3. House Salad
4. Cheeseburger
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. England
2. The Mall
3. The Book Cellar
4. Taking a walk
Posted by tami at 9:32 AM Comments (4)
April 14, 2006
Heavy Breathing
It was a wonderful night for a walk – warm with a slight breeze. However, I was sweating by the time I reached my house again. Guido was frazzled too:
Posted by tami at 7:23 PM Comments (0)
April 10, 2006
Favorite Food
By far, my favorite food is pizza. There are certain pizza places that I won’t go near though. I won’t name them here, but I will say, just because you can get it for $5 doesn’t mean you should and it definitely doesn’t mean it’s going to be good.
I like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s, but when I really want great pizza, it’s Joe Bologna’s all the way. This is what I’m talking about:
I can go for one of these anytime.
Posted by tami at 9:35 PM Comments (3)
April 9, 2006
Homes By Martha
I read with much interest the story in TV Guide written by Rebecca Paley about a neighborhood of homes bearing Martha Stewart’s name. Apparently, Martha is now designing homes from the outside right down to the fixtures.
The homes, which were available in North Carolina, had twenty different floor patterns to choose from and ranged in price from $220,000 to $550,000. They are already planning to erect more Martha homes around the U.S.
This is a great concept and one that I would never have thought of. Imagine the celebrities who could work with designers and put their stamp on a home. People would be buying these like crazy!
There are many possibilities. J.K.Rowling could design a Harry Potter house. George Lucas could do Star Wars. In fact, I remember years ago someone built a Simpsons inspired HOME and a couple right here in Kentucky won it!
I think Martha has come up with another terrific idea!
Posted by tami at 9:18 PM Comments (1)
April 8, 2006
Clear?
We did more shopping today. This time it was to get Ashley some spring shoes. I don’t know if anyone has as much trouble buying a pair of shoes as we do, but I just about go insane.
Near fall, we have to buy black shoes and then in the spring we have to buy white shoes. I’m sure this is simple for most people, just not for us!
We looked at Wal-Mart, laughingly really, just because they never have a huge assortment of white dress shoes and if she actually found a pair that she liked – they would be out of her size.
I don’t mind buying a cheaper (cheaper does not mean less cute) pair of dress shoes because she only wears them for a few hours on Sunday morning and to a few special events throughout the season. It’s not as if she wears them to school all day.
After Wal-Mart, we checked Target, Rack Room Shoes and Kohl’s. Keep in mind that at each of these stores, she tried on about four pairs of shoes. They were too big, too small, too tight, or too ugly. I would love one pair and she would hate them. She would love another pair and I would hate those.
Finally, we went to Carnival Shoes. After she had tried on about five different pairs of shoes, I decided that I was finished and I would let her do her own shoe shopping. I sat down in a chair beside Kevin and I thought to myself, “She’ll never find a pair on her own.” I was almost smiling as she grabbed a box off the shelf. Guess what.
She found her spring shoes. They aren’t white, but who was I to fuss?
Don’t clear and silver shoes just scream spring?!
Posted by tami at 9:07 PM Comments (1)
April 7, 2006
Lanyards
I was in desperate need of summer shirts. It had been years since I invested in any, so yesterday when I got the chance, I went whole hog:
I also found a new lanyard, but before I show it to you, let me explain what I am talking about.
In the school where I work, we are required to wear badges that include our name and picture. Some people don’t wear them at all, others simply pin them on. Most though, wear their badges hooked on the end of a lanyard.
From what I have seen, most teachers rarely change lanyards. They wear the same one all year. Well, you know I can’t be normal.
Here is my lanyard collection so far:
While shopping at the mall, I found a lanyard that I thought I would never see.
The Pug:
Yes, you can clap! It is wonderful!
Posted by tami at 1:30 PM Comments (3)
April 6, 2006
Stromboli's & Suncoast
Today, we shopped at one of my favorite places - Fayette Mall.
First, we ate in the food court:
I always get the pepperoni Stromboli sandwich, whereas Ashley gets a slice of plain cheese pizza:
Andrew ate a Great Steak Sandwich from The Great Steak & Potato Company. When Kevin eats at the mall, this is where he eats also. I don’t think I will ever venture from Sbarro’s though.
This was our view from Dillards:
The only thing that displeases me is the fact that they took one of my favorite stores out: Suncoast Video. I bought all kinds of cool stuff in there that you wouldn’t find anywhere else including some very cool movie t-shirts for Andrew. I miss it every time I go in!
Posted by tami at 11:48 AM Comments (1)
April 5, 2006
Iced
When we went to Wal-Mart, Andrew made sure that he bought his chocolate chip cookie mix and a tub of icing. He loves feeding us sweets whenever he can:
Here is the finished product:
When I wonder why walking does nothing for me, it may be a good idea to look back at these photos ;)
Posted by tami at 10:55 AM Comments (2)
April 4, 2006
Chick Flicks
Yesterday afternoon, I watched Calendar Girls.
This movie was terrific! I did have to keep the subtitles turned on; I had no idea it was a British comedy! If I didn’t do that, little funny bits would escape me; for instance, one of the teenage boys referring to “Rubber Housewives”. I thought I knew what they meant until I Googled it! (I wouldn’t recommend doing that especially from work.) This would be a great movie shared among best girlfriends or husbands with their wives.
Since Kevin has class Monday evenings, Ashley and I watched
Terms of Endearment. A coworker suggested that I would like it and hinted that it would make me cry. Well, I did like it. I liked it very much, but alas, it did not make me cry. What came as a total surprise were all the famous people who played in it. The year was 1983, so they were much younger then.
Posted by tami at 11:06 AM Comments (0)
April 3, 2006
Instant Karma
A friend sent me this funny story in email:
My ex-husband had this annoying habit of bringing greasy old carburetors and things into the house to work on. So, last week, when my friend called to tell me this story, my first response was, "Where did this guy live"?
Now, reassured that I was never related to him by marriage, this really is too hilarious not to share.
The way my friend told it, this guy pushed his motorcycle from the patio into his living room, where he began to clean the engine with some rags and a bowl of gasoline. When he finished, he sat on the motorcycle and decided to start it to make sure everything was still okay. Unfortunately, the bike started in gear and crashed through the glass patio door with him still clinging to the handlebars.
His wife had been working in the kitchen. She came running at the noise and found him crumpled on the patio, badly cut from the shards of broken glass. She called 911 and the paramedics transported the guy to the emergency room.
So far, the story is humorous, in a "that is what you get for being a big enough lout to bring your motorcycle into the house," kind of way. But, here is where I really split a gut.
Later that afternoon, after many stitches had pulled her husband back together, the wife brought him home and put him to bed. She cleaned up the mess in the living room and dumped the bowl of gasoline in the toilet.
Shortly thereafter, her husband woke up, lit a cigarette and went into the bathroom. He sat down and tossed the cigarette into the toilet, which promptly exploded because his wife had not flushed the gasoline away. The explosion blew the man through the bathroom door.
The wife heard the explosion and her husband's screams. She ran into the hall and found him lying on the floor with his trousers blown away and burns on his buttocks. The wife again ran to the phone and called for an ambulance.
The same two paramedics were dispatched to the scene. They loaded the husband on the stretcher and began carrying him to the street. One of them asked the wife how the injury had occurred. When she told them, they began laughing so hard that they dropped the stretcher and broke the guy's collarbone.
Talk about instant karma.
--Written by Rebecca Dudley of the Brush News-Tribune
Posted by tami at 11:59 AM Comments (0)
April 2, 2006
PB Cookies
We took Guido to PetSmart last night for some much needed toys and treats. We ended up buying some peanut butter cookies made especially for dogs. He hasn’t tried them yet, so I’ll have to let you know how he likes them. All of our friends who have pugs have been feeding their dogs peanut butter forever and they all say that the dogs LOVE it, so we’ll see.
As I was driving, I took this picture of Guido on the way there because he was so excited:
Once we arrived, we saw some lost ducks in the parking lot:
Here is Guido on the way back home:
He was totally pooped!
Posted by tami at 10:07 AM Comments (0)
April 1, 2006
Meeting Celebrities
Every morning on the way to work, I listen to the Bob & Sheri radio show on station CD106.3. They are hilarious to listen to, but also very informative. Sheri is intelligent and insightful, while Bob is more straight-laced. They make a terrific team.
Sheri has written a new book and last night they were both at Joseph-Beth promoting her book and their radio show.
I had never been to a book signing, so I was extremely excited! Kevin and I talked Ashley into talking to the CD 106.3 guy and getting herself a t-shirt:
I know that I gushed when I met Bob and Sheri, but they were awesome! A guy from their crew took a picture and me and Ashley with them:
Sheri signed my book and they both autographed a picture of themselves for Ashley. It was great fun!
Posted by tami at 11:09 PM Comments (3)