5 on Fri

1. I leave for G-camp tomorrow and Chris leaves for debate camp tomorrow. Thus begins our 17 days apart from each other. I know that by day 5 I will be homesick and Chris-sick. I will blog some, but most it of will probably be on my new teaching blog, since it is a teaching oriented trip.

2. I bought a cheap ring so I didn't have to take my real wedding rings on the trip with me. I usually don't where them running or hiking because I am afraid I'll lose them.

3. I think most people have heard of Spotify. But downloaded about two months ago, and I listen to it almost everyday. I love finding new music on it.

4. I have read 41 books this year, which is exactly how many books I read last year. I only have 9 more to go to reach my goal.

5. That last one is a lie. I have actually re-read some of the Harry Potter books but didn't put it in my final count. I read them at least once a year, so it just doesn't go into the totals.

Saturday 5

1. I went to the dentist this week. I have problems with my teeth. I really do everything I can to keep them healthy but I still have cavities every time I visit. This dentist actually gave me some prescription toothpaste to see if it helps. He is the first dentist to tell me something other than there is nothing else I can do.

2. Being away from Chris for 8 days was the worst to date, but won't be the worst of the summer. At the end of July I am going to G-camp and he is going to debate camp. We will be separated for 17 days! I honestly don't know how I will do it. I will never understand what it is like to have a military husband and their wives have to be super amazing.

3. History trip = history reading kick. I am looking for my presidential biography to read this year. Last year it was John Adams. This year, I want to read Truman. But I need to find it at the library first.

4. I've had a month off of school and I am ready to start lesson planning now. It is looking more like I am going to be teaching 5th grade Science and Social Studies next year. My top two favorite subjects. It is going to be a fun year with all the stuff I have planned on pinterest so far.

5. Chris spray painted my hand the other day. (On accident and for a legitimate purpose). I am having a hard time getting all the paint off. It is red, so it just looks like blood.

HEY!

1. I have had a whole week of summer vacation. It has been the most wonderful time of the year. I spent two whole days catching up on chores and otherwise being lazy. But that got old fast. Now I've got some stuff planned.

2. We have been watching Falling Skies Season 1. Love it. It is like The Walking Dead, except with Aliens and less blood. I love TNT.

3. I have 12 books checked out from the library right now. And I want to read all of them. This is what happens when all the books I place holds on become available at the exact same time. I am going to spend one day next week just reading.

4. I am going to build some furniture with my brother this summer for our apartment. I hate spending $40 on a bookshelf that is basically crap and will fall apart. I would rather spend $40 on a piece of furniture that is made with real wood.

5. I made Chris a White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake for his birthday. It was pretty awesome.

Fab Friday

1. STAAR (our state assessment) is over for the year. Watching students take tests has got to be the most boring thing in the world. I can't read, grade, plan, have a cell phone, get on the computer etc. All I can do is "actively monitor" my students. I did some calf raises during it. Engaged my abs as I walked, but that is about as much I could do. BORING.

2. 24 days left of school. (Counting today)

3. This is the time of the year where I start planning for next year. I get anxious and find all these ideas I would love to try. I am going to try to implement some of them this year and see how they work.

4. I have finally decided what to get my masters in. As of now, it is a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. And A&M has a completely online program. I am so excited to get started, but it wouldn't be until January 2013. My final goal is to be a Director of Curriculum for a district.

5. I have worked out at least 3 times for the last 7 weeks (only taking the week of the wedding off) Unfortunately, I eat away my workouts (as Jullian Michaels says). I got to get that on the same page but food is so good!

Missing

1. Life kind of gets away sometimes. The wedding is over and I finished my school yearbook. So I should be able to get back into some kind of routine.

2. I hate it when people don't know traffic laws. When two people come to a stop sign at the same time, the person on the right has the right away. Know your rights people!

3. The wedding was absolutely awesome. I loved the reception and had so much fun.

4. I have read 26 books so far since January 1. That is over half way to my goal. I am going to get a new library card this week in our new town.

5. 34 days left of school.

Moving

1. Moving and being without internet for 2 1/2 weeks means lack of posting. It is going to take a bit to get back in the habit.

2. I have unpacked most of the boxes, but now there are the last few that I am procrastinating. 

3. The Hunger Games comes out this weekend. I have re-read all three books in the last week so I am ready. But I won't being seeing it at midnight on Thursday. No way my old self can handle that with work the next day.

4. Spring Break officially ends tomorrow. I've been back at work for two days, but tomorrow the masses (kids) return. 

5. I have a lot of TV to catch up on. Those boxes are going to have to wait some more.

Spring, Books and Movies

1. There are 17 school days until Spring Break. I did not realize that it was so soon.

2. I listen to books on CD. I have realized they only ones I listen to are ones the voice actors have British accents. And then I like to try to talk like them.

3. We might be moving soon. And the new place doesn't have a good library. It doesn't even have a website...so that is not awesome. Of course, I have never visited it so I guess I shouldn't judge yet. How am I going to reach my 50 books this year with a poorly stocked library?

4. Chris and I saw Chronicle this weekend. I thought it was the best (only) movie I have seen in theaters this year. I really did like it. 3.8/5.0 stars. I did not like how it was shot in steady cam.

Another List

1. As long as you read books, I don't judge you, mostly. Unless you read Extreme Conservative Non-Fiction, Weird Self-Help books and Romance novels (as in real romance novels, not two people fall in love novels.) You might as well have a sign that says "Idiot."

2. I wrote this whole post on being a teacher and how I was frustrated that people discredit teachers as real people and that teacher's jobs are so easy. But it was a little rant-y, so I deleted it. Can we all just agree that everyone's job is hard? Unless you get to pet puppies all day long. If you really thing teacher's jobs are easy, let me know. I'll give you my rant.

3. A combination of Downton Abbey and reading a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has me re-reading Pride and Prejudice. I like it so much better this time around.

4. The best part of the Super Bowl is the food. And I had no idea what a safety was until last night.

5. Downton Abbey is really good. And the first season in on Netflix streaming. Always a bonus.

Tuesday Notes

1. Revenge is coming back. Next week.

2. Community is also coming back. But no date has been set yet.

3. I worked out 3 times this week. And on one night we went to the track and did bleachers and lunges. I am still sore. But we did set two days a week to always go to the track. Apparently I like to torture myself. And running is torture.

4. I am going to run a 5k. I want to run the Blue Bell 5k in April. After you finish you get to eat all the Blue Bell you want. That is according to the website anyways.

5. One month down in the new year and I am rocking most of my resolutions. I have read 10 books this month, I have been working out, and I started trying to knit. I can only get the yarn on one needle, not the other. But I'll figure it out. 

Saturday!

1. Sammie and I have been watching Revenge. It is on of our new TV shows from the fall that we both thought would be stupid, but now we are hooked. But I don't know when it is supposed to come back on!

2. I don't read books that don't use proper pronunciations. I have picked up a few that don't use quotation marks. What is the point? I might be missing out on some good books, but I'll live.

3. I got these shoes. I saw them at Target a week ago and they didn't have my size. And then I went later and they had my size. So...it is my conquest of the week. And less than $10.

4. I started running this week. Again. Hopefully I won't stop.

5. I love the non-winter we've been having. Recess outside isn't just a break for the kiddos.

List of Things

1. School has started again. And we are halfway to summer!

2. We had an assembly this week at school. As it was ending, the students were asked to repeat a pledge.

• Presenter: "I"
• Students: "I"
• Presenter: "State your name,"
• Students: "State your name,"

I don't even think they noticed.

3. I am still obsessed with reading. And getting more obsessed with doodling/coloring. In my free time, I alternate between reading and doodling.

4. My school half-year resolution was to leave work on time and not take any work home. And I have stuck to it 85% of the time. Which means I have a little more free time. Some things are not getting done, but they aren't priorities. Sometimes things just have to get dropped. I am okay with that. 

5. I got my hair cut. And now I try to grow it out again. Any suggestions on how to make my ends stay healthy will be appreciated. 

Tuesday!

1. I am really looking forward to Friday night. I can't wait to sleep all night long and not get up until it is light outside.

2. I have a renewed man-cruch on Neil Patrick Harris. Have you watched How I Met Your Mother?

3. My song line for life right now is from Sara Bareilles "Many the Miles"
       "I made up my mind as a young girl, I've been given this one life, I won't worry it away"

4. This is new tv week! So... I am very excited to waste some time watching stuff I don't have time for.

5. I am very happy with the way my classroom is going this year. I have few big behavior issues and if I do have them, I don't let it bother me at all. It is other stuff like lesson plans that stress me out. But I actually have time to do extra stuff with my class because for the most part they stay on task.

Ouch

1. I banged my head really hard on something today. I literally have a bump. And it hurts.

2. Today was my first day back at work. We had inservice and I have 6 more days to get my classroom ready until students come.

3. I have read 3 zombie books this summer. And working on a fourth. They are pretty fascinating. I had a student ask me last year if I thought I would survive a zombie attack. I thought, "Zombie's aren't cool." Well, they are pretty interesting. I think they are my favorite supernatural creature. And Chris and I started watching The Walking Dead, which I love.

4. My classroom is going to be so awesome this year, decoration wise. I will take pictures when it is done. I am counting on a few people (Charleah, Sammie, and Jannette) to come help me decorate. Not all of those people may know they are helping yet. 

5. Refrigerator 

Get Down On Tuesday

1. I am half way finished with summer school. With the students I was blessed with the last 6 days, I don't think I want to teach summer school next year.

2. I got told I looked like I was pregnant yesterday by a student. (Why wouldn't I want to teach summer school?) Needless to say, I made sure I worked out last night.

3. I don't look pregnant. I went to the bathroom and checked. I think he was just being rude. But I did let him know that he would need to learn how to charm women if he ever wanted a girlfriend.

4. I am going to read the biographies of the presidents. I already finished one, John Adams. It was 650 pages long. I told myself I would try to get shorter ones in the future. So I got FDR which is 630 pages.

5. I am going to groom one of our children (son or daughter) to be President of the United States. You can blame a combination of visiting DC, reading the John Adams biography, and re-watching The West Wing for that.

Wednesday. And #300

I am making a come back to Blogging this week.

1. I had a reader specifically ask me where this weekly list was. So I guess I can't stop doing it. (That reader's name is Sammie and she is my sister.)

2. I have 1 1/2 weeks left of summer. And then it is Summer School. And then it is August and so starts in-service. I am not quite ready to go back yet; we'll see if I am ready then.

3. I wish there was good TV on during the summer because I actually have time to watch it.

4. And for a month of non-blogging, I have surprisingly little to say. I will be back with some other stuff.

Get Your Tuesdays!

1. 6 days left of school. And two of them are half-days. I think I can! I think I can!

2. I made my students write a bit this week, since I am going to be a writing teacher next year. It worked out okay. It wasn't anything with much depth, but it is a start.

3. I went to the Houston Zoo on Friday. I didn't get to do it my way. (My way would not be 6 adults and 35 kids in one big group) But it was fun. It was mostly exciting to know that sometimes my students pay attention. The day before we watched some videos and explored the Houston Zoo website and learned some of the animals names. The students were super excited to see them at the Zoo. The were really looking for them.  Also, they were so amazed by the skyscrapers in Houston. They just kept snapping pictures back and forth.

4. I already gave Chris some of his birthday presents. I was too excited to keep them. I was just going to give him one, but then I just couldn't stop. Good thing his other stuff hasn't gotten here yet, so I can be trusted to not give it away.

The Day Before Wednesday

1. My blog is becoming lists and book reviews. I like doing the book reviews, and these lists are a neat little way to tell everyone who reads my thoughts. There will be more book reviews coming.

2. I have noticed that I have hated the ending of the last couple of books I have read. There seems to be a trend in YA literature (trend=the books I read) that says the love interest in the story has to die. Can't anyone live happily ever after anymore?

3. I got my itinerary for my east coast trip this week. I get to go to Harper's Ferry, Monticello, Washington D.C. (a whole free day there), Antietam, the Confederate White House, Williamsburg, and 4 other days of stuff.

4. I put mentos into soda the first time last week. We were doing it as an experiment in science on Friday and I wanted to test it out first. It was kind of a shock how much that soda shot up. My students loved it. One girl was so doubtful and said "I don't think it is going to do anything. I think it is just going to shoot up a little bit and then fall back down." She had already set herself up for disappointment. She was way excited when I drew her name to help me with it though.

5. There are 11 days left of school. But if you take out a field trip, splash party, field day, and the last two half days of schools, that number seems much more manageable.

Talking Tuesday

1. Whenever I watch 24 and a time comes up, I briefly feel how tired I would be at that time. For example, if the time is 10pm-11pm I would think "It is time for bed." 3am-4am? "Why am I not sleeping, I am so tired! "5pm-6pm" I just need a quick nap after work.

2. Chris and I both work in Navasota now so we can carpool to work. We are saving like $60 a week on gas. Maybe more since gas prices are so high now. It is really awesome.

3. I am super-duper excited for spring break, but even more excited for summer. I love teaching, but it is exhausting! Chris told me once "Summer is a teacher's way of getting back at parents."

4. I recently realized that as long as I stay a teacher, I will never have to work a Christmas break. And I never had so far. I have always been able to ask off for work or find someone to cover my shift. Those are my benefits.

Comin'-At-You Tuesday

Miss me? Here is a new segment on this blog here. I don't have a better name for it. I shortened it from "I don't have a real blog post, but I like lists so I'll make lists here instead of blog posts." Make sense?

1. Brandon Davies got kicked off the BYU Basketball team for an honor code violation. Really? That "really" is not for BYU, but for Davies. You had a chance to go to the NCAA finals. Why mess that up with an honor code violation. Have no idea what he did, or when he did it. But hello? It's not like the honor code was a surprise. I guess we'll see how BYU plays tomorrow night.

2. I found a cheap bribe for my students. Ice. They love it. Yesterday I had some in class to practice reading thermometers. And they just begged and begged me for some. Finally I made a deal that if they worked quietly, I would let them have some. And it worked. Don't think I could try it too many times though. 

 3. We got a new lunch menu yesterday and today was Stuffed Pizza sticks! I had some like a month ago and they were so good. I've been waiting that long to have them again. I was so excited for lunch today. I took one picture without the banana. I figured I should add it so you could see I had something healthy.

4. This is the fad in school this week. And they are already starting to die out; I am a little behind the times. I have picked up so many of these in class the last two weeks. My drawers are full of colored plastic string. The thing is, you really have to have patience to do these. Why can't they have that kind of focus on math?

5. I said Crap in front of my students yesterday. It wasn't my best moment, but I had messed up something. And some of my students freaked out. It was funny for about 20 seconds.