School ~ So Cool!

You know you're a teacher when you spend Saturday night cutting out laminated name tags for your students and making "red light/ green light" signs to put in the middle of 26 cafeteria tables. The countdown is on-- Approximately 36 hours left until my brain flips to autopilot and I become outnumbered by a room full of 5 year olds. Can't you just hear the sounds of the the "controlled" chaos as you read this?

We had Meet the Teacher Night last night and all but 2 of my little munchkins showed up. They are cute and so excited to start kindergarten. Probably not as exited as Ashley is though. She got all fancied up to go meet her teacher, Miss Wagner. Miss Wagner's room happens to be right next door to my classroom... I was hoping for a little more distance from my darling diva, but Miss Wagner will be a great fit for Ashley, so I'm happy. In true Ashley fashion she has already made some new friends, and organized a meeting at the slide for the first recess. Watch out world, here she comes!

Ready to deliver school supplies


Ashley and Miss Wagner


Best seat in the house!


And now, a panoramic view of Mrs. Ellis' classroom!

The Great Escape

She did it. She made the great escape. On her own, independent, and free from the rules and expectations of the big people in charge. She wasn't gone long, but all the while I was hoping we had trained her well and given her the skills she needs to survive the big, bad world. Here she is once she decided to return to the safety and security of her home and loved ones.



Silly Sophie. Apparently there are a few low spots under the fence and we think she chased a rabbit (they are everywhere in our neighborhood) right out of the backyard.

That's really been our only excitement this week. Jonathan went back to work on Monday and I went back on Wednesday. My mom and aunt came up to help with the kids (THANK YOU!) and help me work in my classroom. I'll post more pictures later once it's all complete, but here are my Happy Helpers busy at work...

Ellis Family 100

1. I worked in my classroom last night from 7:00-midnight.
2. With no air-conditioning.
3. By myself.
4. For the 2nd time.
5. Probably going back again tonight.
6. Jonathan thinks I'm crazy.
7. He stays home with the kids and calls once an hour to check on me.
8. Trevor goes to sleep about 6:30 every night.
9. He is a good sleeper-- now.
10. He was good as an infant, then started only sleeping in 45 minute intervals at around 7 months old.
11. I thought I was going to die.
12. Finally he snapped out of that phase at about 11 months old and has done well ever since.
13. He sleeps for 12 hours on the dot.
14. Ashley still has to be convinced to go to sleep.
15. We used to have to drive her around in the car when she was a baby.
16. We still have to pat her back for a few minutes before she will go to sleep.
17. She often asks for a snack as she is getting in bed.
18. Her favorite food is Chinese Food.
19. She also loves salad with almond slivers on top.
20. She was a very picky eater when she was a baby/toddler.
21. She wouldn't eat mac n' cheese until a few months ago.
22. Trevor is a great eater.
21. He will eat anything.
22. Except for bananas.
23. Neither one of the kids drink juice.
24. Their choice, not mine.
25. I love juice.
26. Especially with Bacardi or Vodka in it.
27. Margaritas are my favorite.
28. I might take one with me tonight while I work at school.
29. Jonathan loves red wine.
30. He'll probably drink a bottle by himself while I'm gone tonight.
31. We sound like such lushes.
32. Jonathan also likes poker.
33. He'll probably play online tonight while I'm gone.
34. He's also going to watch the men's USA Olympic basketball team play tonight.
35. He's obsessed with basketball.
36. Glad that's his profession.
37. Sophie is obsessed with Jonathan.
38. She likes me.
39. But she loves Jonathan.
40. She barks like crazy when he comes home.
41. She barks like crazy when he leaves the room and comes back 2 minutes later.
42. Just like she's barking now at the salesman who rang the doorbell.
43. He lied and told Jonathan I said to come back on Saturday and we would purchase whatever he's selling.
44. Jonathan came to get me (interrupt blogging).
45. I told salesman he was "smoking crack".
46. I have never seen him before.
47. Whatever.
48. I'm glad I have a real job and don't have to walk door-to-door trying to sell something that no one will buy.
49. I would be horrible at sales.
50. Ashley always seems to know when I'm trying to "trick" her into to something.
51. I always know when she's lying to me.
52. She can't keep a straight face.
53. Just like Jonathan.
54. Are you still reading this?
55. Stop reading and go watch the Olympics.
56. Ashley made "Go USA" signs and taped them up in our house.
57. Ashley now wants to go to China and eat Chinese food there.
58. That is not on my "places I want to travel" list.
59. This 100 thing is harder than I thought.
60. Trevor is napping right now.
61. I would have been pissed if the lying salesman had woken him up.
62. When he does wake up we are going to Lifetime.
63. It's the fitness club we belong to.
64. Only for the summer.
65. It's impossible to make time for it once school starts.
66. We love it there.
67. The kids play in the Kids Club area while I work out.
68. When Jonathan goes with us he plays basketball.
69. Then we go to the pool.
70. Ashley makes new friends each time we go.
71. She is very outgoing and friendly.
72. Even the lifeguards know her name.
73. I think she flirts with the high school boys.
74. OMG.
75. I think we'll put her up for adoption when she turns 16.
76. Just kidding.
77. Maybe not.
78. Let me tell the graduation present story.
79. You may have already heard this.
80. But it's worth repeating.
81. While stopped at a red light Ashley says
82. "That's the car I want you to buy me for graduation."
83. I look over to see a silver BMW convertible.
84. She then says
85. "What did your parents buy you for graduation?"
86. I say
87. "Luggage."
88. Ashley says
89. "What?"
90. I say
91. "A suitcase."
92. She says
93. "I am NOT getting a suitcase for graduation!"
94. OMG.
95. Wonder what Trevor will want for graduation.
96. I'll be 47 when he graduates.
97. Jonathan will only be 46.
98. I am 11 months older than he is.
99. But I look years younger.
100. Right, honey?!?!

Deals Of The Day and the Dancing Diva

I love a good deal, so I was pumped when we got 3 good ones in one day! First, a man came over to give us a free estimate to repair our dining room table. It fell victim to the move and one of the pedestal legs splintered and broke. Thank goodness Jonathan was home to deal with this because the man, in his not-from-America accent (even though his name was Larry) quoted us a ridiculous price. Jonathan told Larry where he could take that price and amazingly, Larry came down over $300! Good Deal!

Lots of businesses try to honor teachers by giving us discounts on school related purchases. I guess they feel sorry for us having to spend our own hard-earned money on things that the school district should buy for us. Anyway, I was buying fabric for my bulletin boards and the lady helping me surprised me when she said that her store gives teacher discounts, and she pulled out an additional coupon from under the counter and scanned it in for me! Good Deal!

We went with the Sparks and the Maywalds to the Prosper Party Place-- an indoor bounce house place. We split the cost and for $8 per family our kids got unlimited bounce time, game tokens (and the tickets/prizes) pizza, drink, and a slushie! Good Deal! Ashley thought it was an especially good deal because they had a stage and played Hannah Montana music the whole time! Here are some pictures and a video of the Dancing Diva...

So, I thought I could dance...

I started taking dance lessons when I was 3 years old and danced all the way through high school. I loved dancing and was pretty good at it-- or so I thought. Compared to my friends on So, You Think You Can Dance? I was not even dancing those 15 years, just moving around a little in a sequin leotard. OMG! Does anyone else watch this show? (Jonathan, you don't count since all you do is mock this beautiful art form) It's my favorite show of the summer and I have been watching it for several years now. It's amazing how far dance has come and I watch each week truly jealous of what those people can do. Ashley watches it with me and is certain she is on the road to dance success-- hopefully all of the money we spend on dance lessons for her each year will help fulfill that dream. I'm going to take her to watch the live tour of the show when it comes to town in the fall. Maybe they'll let her in if she's dressed like this...



Trevor thought he could dance too, with the barstool. It apparently was not in the mood and pushed him to the floor with a bloody nose. Sorry, no picture. :(

Christmas in July

I had my first meeting with my new teaching team tonight. The meeting went well, but just means that we are one step closer to starting a new school year. I always get excited, but I still wish there were more than 11 days left of summer.

We bought some of Ashley's school supplies the other day and when I got home tonight she wanted to get it all out and re-check the list to see what we still need to buy. (I remember doing this when I was a kid!) She is so excited about kindergarten she can hardly stand it! It's very cute. I asked her tonight how it felt to be an "almost" kindergartner-- Here's how she answered:

Ashley: It feels fantastic!
Me: Have you ever been this excited about something before?
Ashley: Of course. My birthday, Christmas, Easter, and definitely Christmas.
Me: You said Christmas twice.
Ashley: 'Cuz that's when I get the most presents.
Me: Are you serious?
Ashley: Yep. Oh! I bet that's how excited Trevor was yesterday when we gave him those old toys. I bet he thought "this is like Christmas in July!"

No, I don't make these things up. And, just so you know, Trevor was very excited to get the "old" toys. They were Ashley's when she was a toddler and I forgot I had saved them. One was an Elmo toy, so you can imagine the jibbering excitement when we pulled that one out. No video this time, just a picture...

Seriously...

First, I wake up this morning at 6:15 with Trevor and while he shovels a waffle into his mouth I inspect the touch-up paint job that I did last night. It was still wet when I went to bed, so imagine my shock this morning when I realize that the paint is not the right color. Polka dots all over the house. Seriously?

I never win anything. I register for all kinds of crazy things and never win. So you can imagine the pure excitement I felt when I got the call Friday morning that I had WON the "$150 Classroom Makeover" that I registered for on Thursday while spending my own money at the teacher store. A classroom makeover? Seriously? :) As teachers everywhere will agree, this is HUGE and definitely a great 1st thing to win. So I load my 2 protesting kids into the car today and set out to claim my prize. My bubble immediately burst into a gazillion pieces when they hand me a catalog from which to order $150 worth of teacher resoure books from which I can copy worksheets to use as I teach a room full of non-reading 5-year olds. Classroom Makeover. Seriously?

I am a TV junkie. Reality is my favorite. I had put Trevor to bed and was sitting down to watch Denise Richards: It's Complicated on Tivo from last night (Jonathan is gone to Open Gym tonight). A little bit later I hear Trevor start to cry. Now, before you jump to any parenting conclusions, please understand that he does this sometimes and will lay back down after a few minutes. Apparently more than a few minutes had passed (Denise is really complicated) and here comes Ashley, marching toward me from her room. Here's how the conversation went (be sure to read this while wearing a dance costume from 2 years ago and 2 different colored scrunchies in your hair:

Ashley: Mom, do you hear Trevor?
Me: Yes, He's OK.
Ashley: How do you know he's OK? You're watching TV instead of checking on him.
Me: I'm sure he's fine. I'll check on him in a minute.
Ashley: Seriously Mom, you need to take care of your son. (turns and marchs back to her room)

Serioulsy?