Terrible Blogger...

So I've become the worst blogger in the world... So many things to update...

1. The move is complete. Well, at least the moving part...I'm beginning to think the unpacking phase will never end... But we have a goal. Neoga's city wide garage sale is May 1--we'll hopefully recover part of the garage after that.

2. Tate is going to be 1 in just 4 short days! I can't believe it! It's already here! How can a year go by so fast?! I'm going to get new pictures taken on his birthday so I'll hopefully post a new one then, but I'll go with one of his older ones for now...

3. Work has become a slight point of stress for me. RIF'ing (Reduction in Force for those of you not in education) has come to Cowden. We lost 17 positions in the district at last months board meeting, 13 aides/assistants and 4 teachers. The state is in a terrible position and the schools are taking a huge hit. Business programs in high schools are being cut to the minimum (I guess thats me right now) or eliminated all together some places. This is my biggest fear! I've never been happier to be dual certified in math as well. They can't get rid of that at least...

4. Ben's job is going well. He works with some pretty interesting guys now...

5. Went back to working at Zales, though I work very infrequently...just about every other Sunday, unless I ask off, which I've done quite a lot lately. Still selling Tupperware too...if you need anything or want to host a party, let me know...shameless plug, I know...

6. Still going to Weight Watchers...I'm a mere 10 pounds away from my goal weight right now... hoping to have them gone by the first of June to reach lifetime membership... have my fingers crossed...

7. On a completely unrelated note, as I type this I realize that as Tate's birthday approaches, my friends Jane and Eric are celebrating their FIRST anniversary today! One year ago (the last time I saw you I think) we celebrating the joining of 2 wonderful people! Congratulations!

That's all my tired brain can think of at this exact moment. As it is 3:26 am, I should probably attempt to get a little more sleep before my little man wakes up and a whole new day of battles begins!

More soon! (Hopefully, unless I fall off the blogger wagon again...)

Endings and Beginnings

Quick updates:

Ending - First quarter at school ended last week. Parent teacher conferences tonight and tomorrow morning. Only saw 6 parents, one of whom is the teacher across the hall from me. Not sure she even counts. Hoping for a better turn out tomorrow, but if not, I'll get my work for the weekend done for the most part.

Beginning - Second quarter (duh). Yearbook is FINALLY moving on to something other than ads. My kids at school are doing quite well and the year is progressing quite nicely. At this rate, it'll be Christmas before I know it.

Ending - My maternity leave...from Zales. I mentioned to my former (and now current/future) boss that I would come back on an as needed basis to help her if she needed it. She called and I'm going to work every other Sunday starting next week. Works well for a little extra daycare or bill paying money.

Beginning - a little more money coming in each week. It's not a lot, but every little bit helps.

Ending - or ended - the first half of the first year of my little guy... I can't believe he's 6 months old already! He's really closing in on 7 months already! Time has gone so quickly! We got his 6 month pictures taken about 2 weeks ago and once again was amazed at how well they turned out. But I'm a little partial and can't help but think he's just very photogenic!

Beginning - every minute I get with him just keeps getting better! It is so much fun watching him discover things. He's really enjoying his feet right now...if he could just get them in his mouth...

Ending - my lease on my apartment (at the end of January). Not resigning. The building has been taken over by a different rental company (a real estate agency, no less) and its going downhill. I think there have been 3 different people living below me since last spring. The current one at least seems to keep normal sleeping hours, unlike the last who had pounding music until 3 in the morning practically daily.

Beginning - moving back home. It has been decided that Ben, Tate and I will be moving in with my mom. We're hoping to eventually buy the house from her, but in the meantime, money is tight (just like for everyone else), the state is talking of furlough days for their employees (mom works for a state university) and we're going to try consolidating some expenses. We'll be having a VERY LARGE garage sale in the spring. I'll try to remember to post details when it gets here. I know this is the right and best option for all of us right now, but I still can't help but feel a little like a failure because we're moving in with my mom. I'm just hoping that it ends up being a good deal for her, because I'm sure it will be a good one for us.

Ending - this post.

Beginning - a warm bath and a little sleep, hopefully. G'night

Wrap up of September

So much has happened! The first quarter of school is nearly over (it's going SO fast!). Yearbook ad sales are over--with a new best sales season--$12,020 in ad sales! I'm so proud of my ladies!

My lovely mother celebrated a birthday milestone this month--by babysitting for me at a volleyball game... She's such a trooper! Here's to as many more birthdays!

Ben had a very short stay on unemployment this time (thank you lord!). He's working as the Accounts Manager for National Rent To Own in Mattoon. He's spent the last 2 weeks training in Decatur to prepare for the store in Mattoon. He has 2 days left there before moving to his store! So far, things are going well.

As for Tate, we're nearing 6 months already! I can't hardly believe my little guy is getting so big! I took a couple of pictures today while he was playing in his walker. His new favorite thing is to squeal and throw all his toys on the floor. Just the beginning of that joyous habit.

As for me, things are busy. I've been working at the home volleyball games keeping the score book, as I have every year since starting at CH 5 years ago--hard to believe I'm in year 6 already! I've been tutoring a homebound student since the beginning of the school year. Volleyball is coming to an end--with Scholastic Bowl right on its heels. I may even go back to Zales for a bit during Christmas. If I have too much free time, I'm not sure what I'll do.

Updates...

I'm a terrible blogger...I'd nearly forgotten about this... It's been in the back of mind, but that corner is becoming very crowded.

I think I've taken on too many things. I was home yesterday with absolutely nowhere to go (plenty to do, though), but felt completely unmotivated to do any of the things that needed to be accomplished. I was perfectly content to watch Tate wiggle on the floor and even listen to him fuss--a rarity for him, but something he's doing more of lately.

So, now I sit here at nearly 10:30 on Sunday night, another week of school looming ahead, midterm grades due by 3:00 tomorrow afternoon--with nothing accomplished for the coming week. Luckily this is a slow week--Monday evening, grocery shopping; Tuesday evening, volleyball game and my Mom's birthday dinner (late night, of course); Wednesday evening, Weight Watchers meeting (hoping to hit the 30 pound mark); Thursday evening, tutoring; Friday evening, so far nothing planned; Saturday afternoon, Tupperware party in Lincoln, Sunday, winding down and starting another busy week.

On a completely unrelated note, Ben starts a new job tomorrow morning. For those of you who didn't know, Ben lost his job the weekend before Labor Day. Luckily his period of unemployment was short-lived and included a few days of substitute teaching as well. He's beginning his training as an Account Manager for National Rent to Own tomorrow. He'll be driving to Decatur for 2 weeks for his initial training, then he'll be working at the store in Mattoon.

As for Tate, we're continuing the solid foods. The only thing we've discovered he just simply doesn't like is squash. His little tongue just pushes it right back out. He's getting so big, so fast! I'm a terrible mom, as I've had no time lately to take ANY pictures of him. He's taking fewer bottles and I feel like I never get to hold him anymore. In fact, it makes me want to go in and pick him up from his crib just to cuddle him while he sleeps.

As for me, school is hectic as usual for this time of year. My students are, well...the same as always. Some are surprising me with how well they are doing and others with how little they are doing... Such is life...

More later...but who knows how much later...

Random thoughts...

So this is what this blog is all about, right? So here goes.

First, I started tutoring one of my students who is homebound this semester--she's having a baby in November (if she makes it that long) and has been put on bed rest. Unfortunate, but she's doing fairly well--bored, but healthy. She is doing amazing! Not only is she determined to stay current on all her assignments, I think she may even get ahead in some classes! I have this student in 3 classes, including my yearbook class. Since our ad sales campaign is in the fall, she is selling her ads over the phone--and doing great! She rocks...I'm quite proud of all she is accomplishing right now. Hoping she can get ahead so she is able to take a short break when she has Ella.

The first full week of school is over now--not too bad either. I have some pretty good kids this year. I'm still adjusting to life with very few freshmen (has been too tough...) and a schedule full of seniors--definitely a change for me. So far, they're not too bad. Ask me that again in 6 months when they all have senioritis and I'm sure you'll get a completely different response.

Tupperware is going fairly well, just closed 3 parties today, have 2 coming up in September, but I'm always looking for more--let me know if you want to earn some free stuff. The entire reason I started this business in the first place was to help offset some daycare costs--so far, I'm breaking even. Hope I can continue that. Wish me luck!

Speaking of daycare--Did i mention that I have a great sitter?! She is awesome--Tate has done so well with her! I'm so glad I found her!

I'm thinking thats about all I'm thinking right now...but I'm sure more will come soon...hopefully some will involve pictures...its looking a little boring...

First "Week" of School

So, it's over...Our first week back to school. I guess you can call it that--we really only had 1 full day of classes, but I'm going to count it. I have never felt so unprepared for a year to begin! I knew that Tate would take up quite a large amount of my time, but never imagined I'd go in for the first day of work without having done more than 3 or 4 hours of preparing since I left.

I've also discovered that I was never destined to be a stay-at-home mother. I've been ready to return to work for about a month and a half. A 4 1/2 month maternity leave may be great for some, but apparently I require much more adult interaction than I was getting.

My classes don't seem to bad so far. I've got a few that a probably going to push it to see how far they can get (some every year). But, for the first time is 6 years, I have a schedule that is NOT predominantly freshmen. I think I have 8 or 9 all day. In some ways, this is a pleasant change--in others, not so pleasant. As the yearbook advisor, it is typically more helpful if I can identify the people in pictures...this could prove challenging--but I'm up for it!

Overall, I'm looking forward to what I feel is going to be a pretty good year. I'm jumping in with both feet tomorrow, with lofty goals of finishing chapters and giving tests/quizzes by Friday already. We'll see how long that optimism lasts!

For everyone else returning to school this week (or just recently). Have a happy and safe year! Best of luck!

Firsts...

Today was Ben's first experience with feeding Tate cereal and fruit...apparently this morning's feeding did not go nearly so well as this evening. Let me just say--I've never seen Tate this excited about food. Now if anywhere near as much as was on his face made it to his stomach that would make it even better. I think nearly every part of his face got a little bit of cereal and pears. I guess that's why we bathe at night!

We're 5 days in to this cereal thing and so far so good. Definitely more fond of fruit than veggies, but we eat the veggies, too! (We've only tried green beans so far--thought I'd start with something more basic and work up to sweet potatoes and squash) I'm determined to get Tate to eat and like fruits and veggies like me. Hopefully he won't be as particular as Ben when it comes to fruits and veggies!