Way Behind...

and I know it.  Everyone says that teachers are so lucky to have a such a great schedule.  We get off at 3:00 during the school year, get all the holidays off, and have 3 months in the summer off too.  Although all that is true on the contract, I have yet to meet a teacher that really works those hours.  All this to say, teaching summer school has been a very challenging experience!  The first week ended with me taking my kids to the computer lab.  Whoever thought that putting rolling chairs in a middle school computer lab, was not a teacher of middle school students.  After losing nearly all my toes, we headed back to the room and it was absolutely everything I could do to not break down in front of them.  I was so tired and felt so unappreciated that I wanted to just cry.  

Last week was better.  They are getting to know me and I them.  Needless to say, we did NOT go to the computer lab this week.  I'm not sure if we will venture there again.  There are just some things better left unturned!  Although it may sound like I am miserable, I'm really not.  All the kids have their moments and really show me that they are still kids who want to learn and be successful.  At this point, I would still consider teaching summer school again.  However, only if it was a half day position like this one.  A whole day of this would have a totally different reaction from me.  

Riley is doing great.  She finished her last week of swimming lessons and is officially a bathing beauty.  She is growing very fast and new things come out of her mouth daily.  This morning I went in her room to get her up and she said that she needed her baby.  She turned to me and said, "Baby, happy!"  "That's great, did she sleep well?" "Yes" "Is Riley happy?"  Riley turned to me and says, "Nope, Riley tired."  I just thought that was hilarious.  She is really turning in to a little lady and able to have more of a conversation.  She was in Austin this past weekend with her Paw Paw and gets better and better at talking on the phone.  Anyway, ever time I hear, You're Gonna Miss This (a country song) it makes me think of her.  She is amazing and my ultimate inspiration.

I hope you all have a good week, and I will try to post a little more often.

July in a flash...

Well here we are... July 4th has come and gone and the month still goes on.  July 4th was a little different for me than the last few years.  Riley was in Austin with her Paw Paw and Auntie Danielle and so I didn't have the opportunity to dress her up and sit her on the front porch to take pictures of her with an American flag.  I know in the future she will appreciate this fact. However, I was  a little sad.  

Therefore, the 4th of July consisted of grilling in the backyard with the neighbors and watching the lunatic neighbors set off fireworks.  I had a good time, but couldn't help but miss Riley.   So another holiday has come and gone.

July 7th started a whole new experience for me...Summer School!  For the last three days I have felt a little like the teacher from "Freedom Writers".  I went in ready to touch the lives of every kid in the class and knew I would be the one to make a difference.  I don't think that the dream is over, but it is definitely harder than the movie makes it look.  I have 15 kids who have all failed 6th grade math and they are reluctantly in my 6th grade math class for the next four weeks.  If you have never seen the movie "Freedom Writers" I highly recommend it.  A great movie and currently my life!  Anyway, for the past three days I have given them candy bars, items from the dollar spot at Target, pretty much everything they wanted and it hasn't worked.  Maybe that is the problem...I need to be a little harder.  After all, these are the kids that didn't succeed during the year and this is why they are here!  Tomorrow is the last day of our week (thank GOD) and I am going to make them see the light. ( I have said that every day this week, but I know this day will be different!!!) :)

Anyway,  I will make it through and contrary to what you are thinking right now, I really love the challenge.  These are my types of kids.  The ones who need the extra attention and love.  Doesn't make it easier, just more rewarding!!!  I will get through to at least one of them!!!

Riley is doing great.  She ended up with a little ear infection so she had to drop out of swimming lessons for a week, but she will pick back up next week.  Everyday she asks if she is going to get to swim with Ms. Desi (the swim teacher) and I have to tell her next week.  I know she is looking forward to it.

So...that is all the news in my life.  I hope that if you are actually taking the time to read my blog that you will post a little response so I know I am not doing this all for nothing :).  Hope you are doing well. 

Still Swimming

Riley just finished two weeks of swimming lessons at her school and she is now officially a fish!  She loves it.  Her teacher said that the first two days they couldn't get her in the water.  That surprised me a little because she did pretty good with me when we went to the pool.  However her hesitation was not at ALL apparent at her class.  She will be continuing classes for two more weeks so by then, she will be a better swimmer than me.  

After she passed her beginners class we went swimming at "Wan-daddy's" house and she showed everyone how much she had learned.  She even let Wandaddy throw her in the air and she loved it.  I am really glad that she loves swimming so much, but there is definitely no fear of water in that little girl and that could be good and bad :).

Other than that, I am over half way done with my grad school classes for the summer and I will be teaching 6th grade math for the second summer session.  I am excited about it because it is something I have done before, but new for now since I have been teaching 4th grade the past 5 years.  I have also been working on getting my backyard in order so I will work more on that when I have time.  Riley loves being out there so I have really enjoyed fixing it up.

Hope all is well with all of you!  

Falling Behind!

I am falling a little behind on my "weekly" posts, but I told you that would happen :)  Happy Belated Father's Day to all of you fathers who may be reading my blog.  I was lucky enough to have my dad and step-mom over for dinner on father's day.  My dad is one of those people who is VERY hard to buy anything for so I decided to cook him dinner instead.  I made all of his favorite dishes which included "Yum Yum Chicken" and "Chocolate Pie."  We also had a nice salad and watermelon (which was pretty much devoured by Riley).  I was very glad that my sister got to join us and Riley was the entertainment (you're shocked I am sure).  

All of this was after returning from Cuero where I attended one of my best friend's sister's wedding (did you get that).  We went down on Friday, helped set up and decorate the reception hall, went to the rehearsal dinner, and then attended the wedding on Saturday.  I had a lot of fun and really got to experience the "small town life."  Apparently it was pretty obvious that I wasn't from around there because everywhere I went people asked me what I was in town for.  It was a blast though and a beautiful wedding as well.  

Now we are almost halfway into another week of grad school for the summer.  Things are going pretty well and as soon as this week is over, not only will I be half way done, but most of the assignments that are required will be completed too.  That will be nice.  I am hoping to teach 6th grade math during summer school for the second half of the summer, but I haven't heard if enrollment was high enough yet so we will see.  If  I don't teach second summer session, I'm not really sure what I will do, but I am sure I will find plenty to occupy my time :).  

Anyway, that is all that has really happened since my last post.  I have included some pictures of Riley and her friend Brock swimming.  I am sure you are starting to think that is all she does (pretty close).  Have a good rest of the week and stay posted!

All Alone

This is the first official weekend of summer for teachers and Riley has been in Austin with her Paw Paw and Auntie Danielle since Thursday.  Thursday afternoon I cleaned the garage top to bottom and got rid of the dog crate that was in there.  The dogs had left about two months ago, but the crate was just something I hadn't gotten a chance to get to.  So I was able to take out my aggressions and destroy it pretty quickly.  However, what was left behind was probably the most unsanitary thing I have ever seen.  I will spare you the details, but I was pretty furious that Riley had been exposed to that situation!  Anyway, it is clean now and way more organized than it has ever been.  I hadn't cleaned it since I have lived here (almost 5 years).  It has been cleaned, but not by me so there were many little treasures (if you want to call them that) that I didn't even know were in there... That was Thursday.

Friday, I spent the day cleaning the house from top to bottom.  I like to do that when Riley is away for a few reasons... I can do it a LOT faster, it will stay clean a LOT longer, and I can take a nap when I am done if I get too tired :).  

Saturday I didn't really do much.  However, I worked up some courage and headed out for an evening alone!  I have NEVER gone out by myself, but it was actually pretty fun.  The first 45 minutes or so I was a little anxious and nervous, but then I realized I really didn't have anything to be anxious about.  Riley was in good hands and I had no responsibilities but for myself!  SO, I went to Wild Fish.  It is a new restaurant/bar close to my house.  It has phenomenal food and a great atmosphere.  I was there until about 10:30 that evening so I guess I had figured out how to relax.  I think I will go out alone again.  I am becoming secure enough to do that...

Sunday, I went the grocery store, cooked some food for the week for Riley and I, mowed the yard, and took a nap.  Now I am just waiting on the arrival of my little doodlebug to get home!  I have missed her and can't wait to see her.  She starts swimming lessons tomorrow at he school so she will be excited to start the week.  I start back to Grad. School tomorrow, but it is only for 4 weeks so it won't be as bad as last summer.  

Unfortunately since I didn't have Riley this weekend, I don't have any pictures to share.  Really she is the only reason you are looking at this blog in the first place :).  Stay tuned and I will get some more pictures up soon.

Have a great week!