Oh my goodness. He's adorable :)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Side Note...
Scott didn't know we were getting checks in the mail just for using our credit card until tonight, when he read my blog. So now I have to share darn it!
My brain is a jumble:
I've tried, unsuccessfully to write a blog about all the thoughts running through my head, and it's been a disaster. So here is my stream of thought. Keep up if you can.
-I like being out at recess and not having to track the police helicopters as they circle around the school/surrounding neighborhood.
- I miss friend.
- I have no one to run with except the dog, and he's easily distracted and slow. And the neighborhood around our condo is ugly the 50th time around.
- I feel like moving to Colorado was one of the best life choices I have ever made. I love the climate, I love being involved with Scott and his job, I love my new job and I love our daily routine of life.
- I'm worried about the election. If I'm thinking of starting a family, what will life in this country be like in 30 years for them?
- I wish babies weren't so expensive. I want one :)
- Our first field trip was a lot of fun, and I don't feel like I was driven over by Rambo the Monster Truck.
- I'd really like to save money for a vacation next to a beach.
- It's amazing to me that I have parents who call and apologize for sending their children to school in the wrong shoes when before I had parents that wouldn't apologize when their child stole out of my desk, or when I was threatened over hand sanitizer.
- I love getting checks in the mail just for charging things instead of using my debit card.
- I love that the new seasons of all my favorite t.v. shows are starting, without a writer's strike.
- It's hard to be in Colorado and be so far away from my friends who were just a car ride away before.
- It's nice to know that I can hop on a plane and visit these friends. I'm so thankful for long distance friendships. They are amazing.
- These kids, who had their lives turned upside down by the tornado that tore their town apart, have wonderful parents to take care of them and help them make sure they are safe and provided for. Why can't all kids be so lucky? Why do some kids have to be born into unsafe homes and environments?
- I wish there was a faster way to iron men's pants and shirts. And I wish that Scott could wear jeans and a sweatshirt like he could before. OR I wish he could iron faster than my 90 year old grandmother.
- I really want to eat some dinner.
Well, there you have it. The inner-workings of my brain on a Wed. afternoon. :)
-I like being out at recess and not having to track the police helicopters as they circle around the school/surrounding neighborhood.
- I miss friend.
- I have no one to run with except the dog, and he's easily distracted and slow. And the neighborhood around our condo is ugly the 50th time around.
- I feel like moving to Colorado was one of the best life choices I have ever made. I love the climate, I love being involved with Scott and his job, I love my new job and I love our daily routine of life.
- I'm worried about the election. If I'm thinking of starting a family, what will life in this country be like in 30 years for them?
- I wish babies weren't so expensive. I want one :)
- Our first field trip was a lot of fun, and I don't feel like I was driven over by Rambo the Monster Truck.
- I'd really like to save money for a vacation next to a beach.
- It's amazing to me that I have parents who call and apologize for sending their children to school in the wrong shoes when before I had parents that wouldn't apologize when their child stole out of my desk, or when I was threatened over hand sanitizer.
- I love getting checks in the mail just for charging things instead of using my debit card.
- I love that the new seasons of all my favorite t.v. shows are starting, without a writer's strike.
- It's hard to be in Colorado and be so far away from my friends who were just a car ride away before.
- It's nice to know that I can hop on a plane and visit these friends. I'm so thankful for long distance friendships. They are amazing.
- These kids, who had their lives turned upside down by the tornado that tore their town apart, have wonderful parents to take care of them and help them make sure they are safe and provided for. Why can't all kids be so lucky? Why do some kids have to be born into unsafe homes and environments?
- I wish there was a faster way to iron men's pants and shirts. And I wish that Scott could wear jeans and a sweatshirt like he could before. OR I wish he could iron faster than my 90 year old grandmother.
- I really want to eat some dinner.
Well, there you have it. The inner-workings of my brain on a Wed. afternoon. :)
Friday, September 19, 2008
End of summer party...
We had our official "End of Summer" party today, with home made ice cream and EVERYTHING. People at my new school do not know how wonderful they have it. We had parents sign up to bring all the supplies to make "Ice cream in a bag" and to come and help with the party, and they were worried today when I said I had 3 parents sign up to help that 3 wouldn't be enough!
Now perhaps when you've been showered with parent volunteers your whole life 3 is a small number, but when you've taught in the ghetto 3 is like hitting the JACKPOT! I didn't think I would have enough JOBS to entertain 3 parents! I was thrilled!
PLUS I only had to buy salt (and that's because I forgot to put it on the list of items we needed. I ended up borrowing some, so it all worked out!)
As we were making "Ice cream in a bag" volunteers (teacher's aids...GASP I know...we have them... LOTS of them) kept checking to make sure everything was alright, and checked to make sure I didn't need more help. I love how friendly everyone is, and I felt terrible turning them away, but really! When you're used to field trips and parties COMPLETELY on your own, you figure out how to run things like a well oiled machine. I didn't know what to do with myself with all the help!
I told my kids that in honor of the end of summer, they could dress like they were going to the beach, minus swimsuits (it is Colorado after all..) and I thought I would get into the spirit myself and dress for a day at the beach.
Well apparently I need to do it more often :) I got more compliments on my outfit today than I do any other day when I dress "normal" (or so I think). I was wearing a black shirt and a sarong as a skirt (over some black knee-length shorts) and got told by 5 different people during the day how much they liked my skirt. This says one of two things:
a. I did not make it obvious enough to everyone that I was dressing up for a day at the beach, they felt sorry for the way that I dressed myself, caught themselves staring at me thinking I had decided to wrap a sheet around my legs for a skirt, and didn't want to embarrass themselves for staring so they said I looked good (you know you've done it..)
b. I should wrap more sheets around my legs as skirts if I want to be complimented. Forget shopping malls! Martha Stuart living section here I come!
Note to self: Next year I need to be a LITTLE more over the top so people don't look at me and assume I don't own a mirror.
I forget how exciting days like today are for little kids. I've just been dreading it. Dreading the mess, dreading the chaos and dreading trying to teach reading to kids who are excited about "Ice cream in a bag." I told the kids we would be making the ice cream after lunch recess, and when I went to open the door to let them in after their recess, one of my little kids said:
"Mrs. Ward, I was praying that recess would go by faster than normal, and it DID!"
How sweet and innocent :)
Aloha :)
Now perhaps when you've been showered with parent volunteers your whole life 3 is a small number, but when you've taught in the ghetto 3 is like hitting the JACKPOT! I didn't think I would have enough JOBS to entertain 3 parents! I was thrilled!
PLUS I only had to buy salt (and that's because I forgot to put it on the list of items we needed. I ended up borrowing some, so it all worked out!)
As we were making "Ice cream in a bag" volunteers (teacher's aids...GASP I know...we have them... LOTS of them) kept checking to make sure everything was alright, and checked to make sure I didn't need more help. I love how friendly everyone is, and I felt terrible turning them away, but really! When you're used to field trips and parties COMPLETELY on your own, you figure out how to run things like a well oiled machine. I didn't know what to do with myself with all the help!
I told my kids that in honor of the end of summer, they could dress like they were going to the beach, minus swimsuits (it is Colorado after all..) and I thought I would get into the spirit myself and dress for a day at the beach.
Well apparently I need to do it more often :) I got more compliments on my outfit today than I do any other day when I dress "normal" (or so I think). I was wearing a black shirt and a sarong as a skirt (over some black knee-length shorts) and got told by 5 different people during the day how much they liked my skirt. This says one of two things:
a. I did not make it obvious enough to everyone that I was dressing up for a day at the beach, they felt sorry for the way that I dressed myself, caught themselves staring at me thinking I had decided to wrap a sheet around my legs for a skirt, and didn't want to embarrass themselves for staring so they said I looked good (you know you've done it..)
b. I should wrap more sheets around my legs as skirts if I want to be complimented. Forget shopping malls! Martha Stuart living section here I come!
Note to self: Next year I need to be a LITTLE more over the top so people don't look at me and assume I don't own a mirror.
I forget how exciting days like today are for little kids. I've just been dreading it. Dreading the mess, dreading the chaos and dreading trying to teach reading to kids who are excited about "Ice cream in a bag." I told the kids we would be making the ice cream after lunch recess, and when I went to open the door to let them in after their recess, one of my little kids said:
"Mrs. Ward, I was praying that recess would go by faster than normal, and it DID!"
How sweet and innocent :)
Aloha :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
See?
I had a student who usually rides the bus after school, but promised me his aunt was picking him up yesterday. I tend to trust kids when they are positive, but just to be sure, I walked him out. That way if no one picked him up at least he wasn't wandering the neighborhood unattended.
We were waiting for his aunt to come and his older brother ran up and startled him. And without missing a beat my student turned to him and said, as if I wasn't there..."See? This is my teacher. I told you she looked nice."
Now this could mean one of many things.
a) I am a fantastic dresser, and did, in fact look nice.
b) I look nice but in all actuality am a mean-faced b*
c) I am, in all actuality, nice
I try and convince Scott of the third all the time, but he's not convinced (perhaps it's because I force him to watch bad MTV shows, America's Next Top Model and Gossip girl, but when it's his turn to choose I blog instead :))
Tomorrow we are celebrating the "End of Summer" by making our own ice cream in a bag. It could be an utter disaster. I already printed out an itinerary, and all it says is this:
1 parent serve the ingredients
1 parent serve the ice
1 parent serve the salt....
DUH!
That's it. An entire 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and that's what it says. I just can't wrap my mind around 23 kids making their own bag of ice cream.
Wish me luck. Oh..did I mention while making the ice cream we'll all be sitting on beach towels and I'll be wearing a sarong???
We were waiting for his aunt to come and his older brother ran up and startled him. And without missing a beat my student turned to him and said, as if I wasn't there..."See? This is my teacher. I told you she looked nice."
Now this could mean one of many things.
a) I am a fantastic dresser, and did, in fact look nice.
b) I look nice but in all actuality am a mean-faced b*
c) I am, in all actuality, nice
I try and convince Scott of the third all the time, but he's not convinced (perhaps it's because I force him to watch bad MTV shows, America's Next Top Model and Gossip girl, but when it's his turn to choose I blog instead :))
Tomorrow we are celebrating the "End of Summer" by making our own ice cream in a bag. It could be an utter disaster. I already printed out an itinerary, and all it says is this:
1 parent serve the ingredients
1 parent serve the ice
1 parent serve the salt....
DUH!
That's it. An entire 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and that's what it says. I just can't wrap my mind around 23 kids making their own bag of ice cream.
Wish me luck. Oh..did I mention while making the ice cream we'll all be sitting on beach towels and I'll be wearing a sarong???
Friday, September 12, 2008
Raining + Worms
As I was coming in from recess today (after it rained and all the worms were out) I overheard an innocent conversation and almost embarrassed myself. Here goes:
Little boy: I have a riddle. What's soft and squishy and inside my pants?
I called that little boy out of line quicker than you can say 123 and said EXCUSE ME. His response? What Mrs. Ward? It's just a worm.
PHEW. That saved me an uncomfortable parent phone call :)
Little boy: I have a riddle. What's soft and squishy and inside my pants?
I called that little boy out of line quicker than you can say 123 and said EXCUSE ME. His response? What Mrs. Ward? It's just a worm.
PHEW. That saved me an uncomfortable parent phone call :)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
CALL THE COPS!
Scott and I have a predicament. Our upstairs neighbor does not like televisions or pianos. We have had TWO visits from the Evans police department. Each visit, they show up, walk into the apartment, assess the television/piano, laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, and leave. When we got the first visit, we felt bad. We have a built in entertainment center, where we had the t.v. (duh) but worried that the sound was traveling STRAIGHT up to the condo above us. So we GRACIOUSLY moved our television onto a coffee table and put a plant where the T.V. should go. NO big deal right? Call us the Ward-accommodating neighbor-Wards.
When they showed up after I played the piano, all bets were off. I don't play the piano, except MAYBE twice a month, and ALWAYS in the early evening or middle of the afternoon. When it's not even dinner time. Where I come from that's called being considerate of those living around you.
Nope. The upstairs neighbor doesn't like pianos apparently. She likes police. So she called them, they came, said "maybe you can't play your piano while you live here (yeah, that's right football guys. Thanks for moving the freaking heavy piano. We'll use it to hold vases for the next year...)
So I went up to talk to her. And I gave her my phone number, and killed her with kindness. And just asked, that next time we make some UNGODLY noise (say we vacuum heaven for bid) she call US rather than the GOSH DARN COPS. Seriously.
And don't even get me started on our Internet fiasco. We have made 5 different calls. The following has not been changed to protect the innocent.
Phone call one (Aug. 26) :
Scott: "Hi, we'd like to set up Internet"
Dish: "You're all set up for Internet on Sept. 2nd. We'll call you 24 hours in advance to let you know the time. You need to provide NO more information and we will charge you 10.00 installation fee."
Phone call tw0 (Sept. 2) :
Scott: "Hi, It's Sept 2 and we never received a call"
Dish: "I see your order number here. I see we are set to install on Sept. 2. We will call you 24 hours before to arrange a time."
Scott: "Today is Sept 2"
Dish: "I see, well in that case fax us your drivers license and your social security card and we'll set it up another time"
Scott: " No one said anything before about needing that information"
Dish: " How silly, we need that info before we can come. Once you've faxed the info, call this number directly. 888-888-8888. OH and that will be 45 dollars."
A few Min. later
Scott dials 888-888-8888.
Dish: "Please enter the extension provided to you earlier.
Scott: " I received no extension."
Dish: " Please hang up and try again.
Phone call 3 (Sept 2)
Scott : "I called earlier to arrange an appointment to get Internet, they told me to fax over information, which I did, and I"m calling to make sure you received it. "
Dish: "let me transfer you to the correct division.
5 min later:
Dish: "someone talking completely in spanish:
Phone call 4 (Sept 2)
Scott: I've called three times already, and have gotten no where. This is my order number, I sent the information via fax, and I would like someone to connect me to a manager.
Dish: We have no record of an account being set up. Nothing appears that you've paid, faxed, even spoken to someone that works for dish. Let me transfer you...
THIS transfer is great success. We start over again, get a new account number, and set up Internet for Sept 10.
Phone call 5 (Sept 6)
Sarah: "Hi, I'm just calling to verify that we have accrued no charges to our account, since we were at one time told we were being charge 10 dollars, and another time told we were being charged 45 dollars. We have an appointment with your partner, Qwest, to come and set up our Internet on Wed, and want no misunderstandings.
Dish: "We don't deal with Qwest. They are the competition.
Sarah: "You do deal with Qwest. They are coming on Wed.
Dish: "I can promise you with 100 percent guarantee that we don't deal with Qwest.
Sarah: " Transfer me to customer service.
wait-wait-wait.
Sarah: "Hi, I just spoke to someone who says you don't deal with Qwest, yet we have them coming to set up our Internet on Wed."
Dish: "That's interesting. Sorry for the inconvenience. I see your account right here."
Sarah: Hang up.
I'm so sick of Dish, and I only called them once, after Scott said he would NEVER call them again. What is it with us and cable companies? We have TERRIBLE luck.
It's a good thing I'm so friendly :) Or else I might have cussed :)
When they showed up after I played the piano, all bets were off. I don't play the piano, except MAYBE twice a month, and ALWAYS in the early evening or middle of the afternoon. When it's not even dinner time. Where I come from that's called being considerate of those living around you.
Nope. The upstairs neighbor doesn't like pianos apparently. She likes police. So she called them, they came, said "maybe you can't play your piano while you live here (yeah, that's right football guys. Thanks for moving the freaking heavy piano. We'll use it to hold vases for the next year...)
So I went up to talk to her. And I gave her my phone number, and killed her with kindness. And just asked, that next time we make some UNGODLY noise (say we vacuum heaven for bid) she call US rather than the GOSH DARN COPS. Seriously.
And don't even get me started on our Internet fiasco. We have made 5 different calls. The following has not been changed to protect the innocent.
Phone call one (Aug. 26) :
Scott: "Hi, we'd like to set up Internet"
Dish: "You're all set up for Internet on Sept. 2nd. We'll call you 24 hours in advance to let you know the time. You need to provide NO more information and we will charge you 10.00 installation fee."
Phone call tw0 (Sept. 2) :
Scott: "Hi, It's Sept 2 and we never received a call"
Dish: "I see your order number here. I see we are set to install on Sept. 2. We will call you 24 hours before to arrange a time."
Scott: "Today is Sept 2"
Dish: "I see, well in that case fax us your drivers license and your social security card and we'll set it up another time"
Scott: " No one said anything before about needing that information"
Dish: " How silly, we need that info before we can come. Once you've faxed the info, call this number directly. 888-888-8888. OH and that will be 45 dollars."
A few Min. later
Scott dials 888-888-8888.
Dish: "Please enter the extension provided to you earlier.
Scott: " I received no extension."
Dish: " Please hang up and try again.
Phone call 3 (Sept 2)
Scott : "I called earlier to arrange an appointment to get Internet, they told me to fax over information, which I did, and I"m calling to make sure you received it. "
Dish: "let me transfer you to the correct division.
5 min later:
Dish: "someone talking completely in spanish:
Phone call 4 (Sept 2)
Scott: I've called three times already, and have gotten no where. This is my order number, I sent the information via fax, and I would like someone to connect me to a manager.
Dish: We have no record of an account being set up. Nothing appears that you've paid, faxed, even spoken to someone that works for dish. Let me transfer you...
THIS transfer is great success. We start over again, get a new account number, and set up Internet for Sept 10.
Phone call 5 (Sept 6)
Sarah: "Hi, I'm just calling to verify that we have accrued no charges to our account, since we were at one time told we were being charge 10 dollars, and another time told we were being charged 45 dollars. We have an appointment with your partner, Qwest, to come and set up our Internet on Wed, and want no misunderstandings.
Dish: "We don't deal with Qwest. They are the competition.
Sarah: "You do deal with Qwest. They are coming on Wed.
Dish: "I can promise you with 100 percent guarantee that we don't deal with Qwest.
Sarah: " Transfer me to customer service.
wait-wait-wait.
Sarah: "Hi, I just spoke to someone who says you don't deal with Qwest, yet we have them coming to set up our Internet on Wed."
Dish: "That's interesting. Sorry for the inconvenience. I see your account right here."
Sarah: Hang up.
I'm so sick of Dish, and I only called them once, after Scott said he would NEVER call them again. What is it with us and cable companies? We have TERRIBLE luck.
It's a good thing I'm so friendly :) Or else I might have cussed :)
What would you do?
I've started my new job, and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It's amazing, and exactly the way elementary school should be.
I wish we had internet so I could remember all the funny things that have happened so far, but one story has stuck with me for at least 24 hours, so now that I've got a free min. let me share it with you :)
We recently read the story "Ms. Nelson is Missing" which is older than dirt, and I'm sure we all read it when WE were in second grade. The jist is that the kids misbehave so the teacher disguises herself as an evil substitute to make the kids realize what they are missing.
In response to the story, I had the kids write two things they would do if THEIR teacher (aka me) went missing. As I was reading their responses, there were quite a few similarities. For example:
I would get the principal.
I would look for her.
I would do my work and not get in trouble.
I would tell my mom.
I would call the police.
But one special friend wrote:
I would go home and play video games, then I would take a nap. But I would be sad...
It's nice to be loved :)
I wish we had internet so I could remember all the funny things that have happened so far, but one story has stuck with me for at least 24 hours, so now that I've got a free min. let me share it with you :)
We recently read the story "Ms. Nelson is Missing" which is older than dirt, and I'm sure we all read it when WE were in second grade. The jist is that the kids misbehave so the teacher disguises herself as an evil substitute to make the kids realize what they are missing.
In response to the story, I had the kids write two things they would do if THEIR teacher (aka me) went missing. As I was reading their responses, there were quite a few similarities. For example:
I would get the principal.
I would look for her.
I would do my work and not get in trouble.
I would tell my mom.
I would call the police.
But one special friend wrote:
I would go home and play video games, then I would take a nap. But I would be sad...
It's nice to be loved :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
