6 more days...

6 more days until I get to love on some baby bellies!!! That's Rylee, Aubrey, and Adison Stephanie!!!

Friday night there is a shower for Mrs. Gay and Mrs. Jensen!
I can't wait to see them! It's been since OCTOBER!!!!

I have already told them they are posing for pics!!!!

Instant Carmel Goodness...in less than 5 minutes!!!

Awhile ago Rose and I attended our friend's Pampered Chef Party. Not only do these consultants sell you cookware...they make some yummy things for you to try! One of her things she had our was Instant Carmel Corn! AMAZING!

We came up with the idea of making little goody bags for the holidays with all the non-perishable items needed. Everything minus the butter.

After much hard work...we had success and a few extra lbs!

Here is the recipe that you HAVE to try:

1 bag of microwave popcorn
1/4 cup of butter
8 large marshmallows
1/2 cup of brown sugar

Pop the popcorn.
In a separate bowl, mix butter, marshmallows, and brown sugar.
Microwave for 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds. Pour over popcorn for complete sugar coma! It is super messy but that only means one thing...It's SUPER good!!!

All you pregnant mamas out there need to try this! The bebe's will love it!

I wish I had pictures but it was gone before the camera came out. =)

These are great gift ideas! All my parent helpers got one!

Again...don't tell my Weight Watcher lady!!!

My heart...

This week...well, it's been a week...and it's on Tuesday NIGHT!!!!

It started with a phone call Sunday night from Lola. Lola is my friend that works at the high school in the area. She is also Bride #7 for those of you counting!
She had received word that students from her school were victims in a random shooting that took place in downtown Saturday night. I knew my Crisis Response Team was on-call this month so it was only a matter of time before my phone rang. I didn't sleep great that night because I was filled with anticipation.

I got the call at school the next am. We didn't have kids in our district Monday which was a blessing. I reported to the high school to find myself "counseling" high school students for the FIRST TIME. It was scary, wonderful, and eye opening all at once.

Two days later...and many tissues later...I found myself exhausted.
With 2,500 students at this high school, there are 2,500 perspectives. Some were at the scene. Some were on their way to the scene. And some had no idea who any of these kids were. Now, all 2,500 students know these victims well. It's sad that this had to bring everyone together.
The students seem to be coping as well as possible. Tonight is a vigil for the student. One student is still in the hospital recovering from multiple gunshot wounds. It is a miracle she is alive...

Today, I am thinking of and praying for all those families that have been impacted by this...

When I Grow Up...

(Here's the reply the teacher received the following day)

Dear Mrs. Jones, I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in. Sincerely, Mrs. Smith

P.S. This is an email forward..it DID NOT happen in my class...although that would have been hysterical!

Goldfish shortage...

My children eat snack everyday at the same time. We pretty much do everything at the same time everyday...creatures of habit? YES! Need routine for those kids that can't handle "out of the ordinary" days? YES! It's an easy solution to a difficult problem.

One day was goldfish day...please know that one of my FAVORITE snacks is goldfish...don't tell my Weight Watcher leader PLLEEEAASSEEEE!!!! But really who doesn't love a snack that smiles back?!?!?!

Usually, there are NONE left. We get through a Costco bag in one day. Each child who asks receives a Dixie cup full of them. This holds them over another hour and a half till the gourmet buffet in the cafe! yeah stinkin right...my idea of gourmet is NOT Galaxy Pizza! That's neither here nor there.

Occasionally, we have spillage. No biggie. I don't get messy snacks for that reason. I am sure the custodial staff would argue that...but they aren't reading this! =) B spilt the other day. No biggie was my answer...just told him to clean them up and I would have another cup waiting for him. After the mess was clean and the new cup was picked up...I proceeded to my next station...the "CHAIR"...for a nice read aloud. Junie B. Jones is our favorites...we will run out one day! DANG! Back to my story...I noticed that B now had TWO cups of fish because apparently only about 5 were spilt on the floor. Little STINKER!!! I put my hand in the cup and scooped some out...ONLY so he was fair with the other kids...it had NOTHING to do with the fact I LOVE those little orange pieces of HEAVEN!!! I probably wouldn't have done it to anyone else but I know where he lives and his momma keeps a good house! (she will love me for that one!) Just as one piece of orange goodness hits my lips...it came...

"I licked those!"

Awesome...devil child...awesome....

An amazing day for Americans...

I am not one to discuss my political views but I do need to make this post...I would be crazy if I didn't.

For some reason I have felt this twinge of excitement for this inauguration. Never before have I cared. The last one my sister had died in the recent months and did I really care that we were getting a new president? I had other things on my mind.

Today was different. I knew it was on during the day. I wasn't going to record it because I knew I could see clips forever on the news. Teacha had it on in the wee hours in her room while we were debriefing about our weekends. She told me she was going to keep it on so her kiddos could watch...hmm...why not? So I kept mine on too. My students were not this into the movie I showed 2 weeks ago!!!!! I couldn't believe it! They could have watched all day...or so I'd like to think. They asked amazing questions and in return were amazed at my answers. To a little mind like that...it is so hard to wrap their brains around this concept. We proceeded (kind of) with regular classroom routines, but would take short breaks to turn the tv up louder. They loved seeing the former leaders of our free world and their families. They wanted to know where the Obama children attended school. They wanted to know who the guys with the guns were. I think their most enjoyable moment was when the Oregon State Basketball Coach came on for a split second. I explained to them who he was to us as Oregonians. They were mesmerized and at that moment every African American man in the audience with no hair "was him". "There he is!" "No wait, there he is!" They had no clue... They biggest surprise was finding out that people wanted to kill the presidents. Their first inquiry was about the men with guns. I explained the president doesn't go anywhere without security and neither does his family. They couldn't believe anyone would want to kill him. I was proud. They have good little innocent heads on their shoulders. Some surprised me knowing past presidents that have been killed by people. Amazed I was...all morning long. When it was finally time for Obama to come down the flight of stairs and the crowd stood...so did my students. Proud as can be to be Americans. When the crowd clapped after he took his oath...so did my students. They were very happy. I hope they remember this day for a LONG time. I think we are going to have a wonderful few years coming up. I believe in Obama and proud today to be an American.

Below is a phone pic I took of them standing for our New President. (probably THE only day I have not taken my camera!) It's bad but you get the picture. I just noticed the kids have their hands on their hearts.

Makes me happy...

Does anyone remember the blogging everyday about what makes me happy? I know Mrs. Jensen does because she was harassing me about it tonight via texting! Oh how I love texting goodness! I mean I was heaving into making dinner...YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT...and I could easily have a baby/boyfriend (those two have NOTHING to do with each other! Her baby, my boyfriend!) conversation with the cuz. Anyway, back to her harassing...she is one of my avid readers (read: only readers) so I must make her happy. Plus she is preggers and I can't make her upset now can I?

Things that made me happy this weekend: (get your barf bags out!)

The Boy meeting Rose and her family at dinner Friday

Meeting Boy's friends and loving on their baby!

Having dinner with some college friends

Hiking at Tryon State Park

NOT having school today

Eating lunch with mother and nannie

Thinking about my new babies

Dinner with the Semilliams

Saturday with "the guys"

Breakfast with the bride

And the list could go on...

I will try my best to write more often...

Here is a self portrait done by the pup...

Chicken Soup...

This is a little blurb...just a quick one.

I was driving past the high school yesterday. I noticed something on the side of the road and a student bent down by it. His folder had apparently come loose from his hands...papers were everywhere. As you may know, the winds around here are picking up rapidly...papers would fly soon if someone didn't help this poor kid. Just then 3 girls were walking towards him and they ALL helped him with his papers! It made my heart feel good that there are still kind high school students out there!!!!

Pinkalicious!!!!

Add two more girlies to the list of babies!!!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Gay announced today they are having two girls!!!

That's a total of three!

Can you tell I am excited?!?!

Waiting on one more to make four!

Hopefully that one will be a boy so we have some variety!


I didn't get to talk to them...but I hear they are naming one of their bebes after my sister!

Her middle name will be Stephanie!


Update: Their names will be Aubrey Diane and Adison Stephanie! I didn't post their names before...you know all that privacy issue stuff! I didn't want to lose my summer fun with those bebes!!!

I am so excited!

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Gay!!!

I am excited for night time duty!!!

Here it goes...I am out there now!

My Dearest Three Readers...

A few of you have asked when I would blog about "the boy".

Here is it...

I met the boy through Camp Erin. He was "just a camp friend". Until that darn snow hit!!! He teases me that I "ignored" him at camp...okay maybe a little but geez I am not there to pick up guys!!! Facebook then became our matchmaker. What else was there to do?!?!?! So we talked...a lot...on Facebook, text, and finally the phone. We found out a lot about each other...he asked me out...and it's all downhill from there!

He is an amazing person that has had some similar times as I. I enjoy every minute I spend with him and am very excited to see where things go!

Here is a pic of us at the beach this weekend...we went to a funeral. He offered to go with me! He's a keeper!

Slack...

I have been getting some slack from my readers...(read: reader!)

"I haven't been posting!" Well goodness gracious people! Miss MegPie is a busy girl! =)

Some GREAT things are happening around here! I can't disclose quite yet...but I will, I will!!!


One story to share from "our first week back"...

Ladybug had a sharing day from WAY back when we were in school in December...like the 12th or something like that. Anyway, do you think she forgot when we returned? Yeah stinkin right!!! Her show and tell was some pictures of her grandpas...she showed and told what they were doing in the pic. The last picture went something like this...

Ladybug: "And this is my grandpa that is my dad's dad...him and I are drinking a beer in this pic."

I love my job...

It's snowing...

AGAIN!!!!

Bring in the New Year...

Happy New Year everyone! (all three of you that is...)

I have missed blogging, but don't really have any good stories for it.

After the snow cleared...I was out and about the whole week.

New Year's Eve brought craziness and excitement as usual. I have come to LOVE that holiday! Just celebrating!!! No presents, no stress, just a GOOD TIME! And there was NO SNOW which made it even better! I have come to realize that snow and I aren't on good terms right now. Waking up Friday morning to a "light dusting" wasn't my cup of tea.

New Year's Eve the last four years has been spent with the Semilliams clan. That is a mixture of two last names =) The Semet parents have a HUGE party and I have had the honor of attending. The first two years were fun and exciting. Lots of neighbors, friends, etc. A group game, spirits, and fireworks! The last two years have been CRAZY! Last year was a school theme that totally rocked. We had a Rock, Paper, Scissors contest throughout the night. We also ended with a group game won by us..."The Barkchip Bullies". This year was a mystery for a LONG time...perhaps it was the snow that did those Semet parents in. FINALLY the Evite arrived! The instructions were to be there no later than 7:00pm. Wear comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. First thought by many was a scavenger hunt. After much thought and discussion by the Semet/Panzer/Williams crew. It was determined that we were Lazertagging it up that night. IT WAS ON!!! Black paint (actually just mascara!), camouflage, and all black were purchased. The night went on as follows...

Hillary...ready for action.

The Green Team...(part of us anyway!)

Team Sassy...

The vans of doom that took us to our "undisclosed"

location...

Getting prepped to go into the briefing room...

Ready for action with laser packs and all...

Yea for lasertag, friends, and a NEW 2009!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!