Field Trips

A necessary evil in the life of a teacher... While I understand the importance of field trips, I don't think most parents (and kids) realize the energy it takes out of a teacher. My kids today got to do things I could have only dreamed of in elementary school. They got to make line graphs using equipment tracking their movements, measure angles and triangles on computers, and see the neatest holiday planetarium show. But, what did they spend this great time doing? Let's see.... throwing food, playing with a glo-stick during the planetarium show, talk, talk, talk, hit each other, talk some more, chew gum, did I say talk? The worst part of all of this was that I personally knew 2 of the presentors!! Embarrassment! I don't know how to make parents realize that if they spent just a little time with their child, their behavior would improve and make everyone (mine and theirs) lives improve! I know times have changed but I just don't understand how the "raising" that worked for us is all the sudden so wrong. We turned out pretty darn good if you ask me... I guess I am going to be that parent that everyone hates because Maggie will not be raised to behave like many of my students did today (I am sure I will have to eat some of these words one day but until then....) Tomorrow is a new day... Wonder what the world would be like if... - parents spent quality time with their children DAILY - parents supported education (not the free part of the actual IMPORTANCE of it!) - there was less focus on money and more time sharing love - people knowing the value of a days wages, earned through honest work - parents parenting

The whole fam together for Thanksgiving...

A special thanks to Clay, Brock's brother for taking the picture. You wouldn't have thought that Mom and Dad closed on the house 2 days earlier.

Maggie and Mee-now

We survived!

1 down, 1 more to go! We survived Thanksgiving! We got brave. Mom and Dad closed on a house in Gainesville, VA (outside DC) on Tuesday so... being the wonderful daughter and son-in-law that we are, we drove a Uhaul full of furniture up there and helped them move out of the rental and in to their new house. Now that doesn't sound to bad but think... 10 hours in the car with a 7 month old! The trip up there wasn't bad but coming home.... hmmm..... what word can I use? AHHHHH! Maggie was fine the first 4 hours but then we reached the point that we are sooo tired that we can't even go to sleep and cried the last 2 hours of the drive. Not fun. But, To mark this momentous occasion- WE GOT OUR FIRST TOOTH! It is through the gum and coming up the rest of the way. As soon as I can I will get a pic posted. So needless to say- I am home today trying to get back to a normal schedule today while Bucky is at the game. GO TIGERS!

Shopping for Christmas

We have set a Christmas budget. We have a $50 per person allowance. It seems like a lot but it is shocking how little you can actually get for that amount. I guess my visions are skewed from growing up in a family that never looked at a price tag. I am one of those that can walk in a store where everything is $25 dollars except for one $200 item and that expensive item will be the only thing I like and/or want. Well, my taste are going to get simpler. I have already stayed under budget for 3 people on our list! (Found a code online for 20% off on one of items which gave me a few extra bucks). Even with that budget Christmas is going to cost us more than I would like. I wish there was some way to get around buying everyone a present. My family has been relatively small until the past 3 or 4 years so the idea of drawing names is not received warmly. I have thought about making gifts but the fear of the reactions of certain family members stop me. The sad part of all this is.... what are Bucky and I getting for Christmas? We have told everyone to give us $$... why? Because we want a new fridge. Ha! I want to see Santa but a white side-by-side under our tree. Mom said that was no fun because we wouldn't have anything to open but I told her we would. We would have two doors, side-by-side to open. Aren't I a smart one?

Voting

I will be the first to admit that I didn't spend as much time research the candidates and their platforms as I should have. I didn't even know about the 3 amendments that were on the ballot until I got in line today but what I did do was take the time to look at my voter registration card and double check where I was supposed to vote. What worries me is what I witnessed today. After standing in line for a little over an hour today, I reach the "check-in" table. The people in front of me had joined the line at the same time. They were at the wrong precinct. We only passed like 5 signs on the way in that said the precinct number and location. Why does this worry me? I know I was not as informed as I should have been. I did not look at all the facts but I was informed enough to know that my registration card tells me where I must go to vote. If you were not informed enough to pick up on that little bit of information, how informed of a decision are you making about who is going to run our country? If you can't read the section on the card in your hand that says "Vote at:...." followed by the address, what kind of facts are you basing your decision on? Enough procrastination- back to my project. Joy.

Halloween

We had a great first Halloween! Spent lots of time with the fam and only changed outfits a dozen times. Maggie enjoyed dressing up it seemed!

My turn

So we finally made the trek... Maggie visited her grandparents in Marion for the second time ever. I know, I know, she is almost 6 months old and they only live 2 hours away. Why haven't they seen her more? I could answer that with a list of reasons but deep done there is only one. I worry about her going there. Their lifestyle is vastly different than ours and the one that I was raised in. I am uncomfortable in their world. Bucky and I have been together over 9 years but still I don't feel welcomed in their home. I constantly feel like they are sizing me up and thinking I am a snob. I try my hardest to do things their way while we are there. I eat their food (it has taken the whole 9 years for my stomach to get used to the grease), participate in their activities (I've learned to ride a horse, drive a 4 wheeler, and make church baskets), and breathe their air (smokehouses make less pollution), but still... Well, for the love of my husband, I put my worries aside and we went. However, I am surprised I still have a tongue after all my biting. Quick recap of the events: we arrive- after 2 and half hours in the car seat, she ask us to drive back to Florence and get her some flowers and food (another 1 and half). We arrive a second time, we sit around while she works. Grandma gives Maggie sweet tea to drink! I say please don't. She does it again and ask why- I tell her that I don't want her drinking that stuff, we are a milk, water, juice family for kids. She says that is crazy- gives her more. I am trying not to jump across the room now, so I hit Bucky and he tells her to stop. She finally does. Why does she not respect me enough to quit? His sister pipes up that Landon (her 4 month old) likes it while shoving her finger covered in thousand island dressing in his mouth. That is followed by the statement from his mother- you should feed her grits with lots of butter in them. Bucky and his sister were eathing that stuff by now. AHHHH!! She raised her children, may I please raise mine now?