May 1, 2009
Dear Mrs. Richerd
I’m sorry I did a cartwheel write when we started It wont happin again. Next time I’ll get up follow directions and get up properly. I no I shold not have slid in to the side of the wall. It wont happen again. Next time I will walk and sit down properly.
from Jimmy
March 27, 2009
I GOT MY POWERBOOK TODAY! I’m so happy! I found out about a program called Senuti (“itunes” spelled backwards) that I can download to rip the songs off my ipod and put them onto my computer. It costs $18 but you can have a 30-day free trial (and I should only have to use it once so that should be enough).
So when I first got the powerbook I HAD to have wifi at home. There was something about sitting on the couch, surfing the internet and being able to print without having to do anything. I was in tech heaven. Then, I unhooked the wifi when my powerbook died in the fall. When I hooked it back up recently, I noticed a marked slowdown in my internet speed on the PC. The wifi isn’t worth it anymore. I can’t relax on the couch with my powerbook anymore anyway because Ben would be all over it, trying to take it! So now if I need to get online with it at home I’ll just switch some cables around.
To answer MK’s question, the plan is for 2 kids. Tim and I don’t want to be outnumbered. 
Also, I’m working on my next installment of “That’s Not Going to Happen to MY Baby.” Anyone who has ever seen their kid eat something off the floor will appreciate this one!
March 25, 2009
It’s been a busy couple of months so I haven’t posted in a while. We’re still here! Ben is sick this week (stomach bug- yuk)- I’ve had to pick him up from daycare 2 days in a row. He’s down for a nap so I have time for a short update.
He’s doing well other than being sick this week. I was just saying a few days ago that he’s had a relatively healthy streak. He’s working hard on saying a bunch of words, but he’s still at the stage where usually only Tim and I can understand him (and even then it’s sometimes a guessing game). He says “ball” pretty clearly, and can make the sound of the following animals: cow, dog, owl, monkey, elephant, snake, and lion.
Yesterday a strange thing happened that made my week (if not my month or my year). My beloved powerbook’s hard drive failed back in October. OK, so it’s not MY powerbook; it belongs to the county but after using it for 3 1/2 years I had grown extremely attached to it. I sent it to our computer tech and figured I would never see it again. He said he had sent it away and every time he saw me he asked if I had gotten it back yet (it was supposed to come straight to the school). Yesterday there was a powerbook sitting on the counter of the office all day. I glanced at it, and it looked more beat up than mine. At the end of the day, I asked the secretary about it. She said it had come in the county mail with no note or explanation and no one knew whose it was. I asked around and nobody knew anything about it. So I called the computer tech and he hadn’t sent it, but he would look into it. Today he came to pick it up and said, “I’ll get this set up for you and have it back here tomorrow.” I didn’t ask the details but it looks like I’ll be getting a powerbook again! I hope it’s not too good to be true! Unfortunately I have to wait until Friday since I’m at the other school tomorrow…
On a related note, does anyone know what happens when you plug an ipod loaded with thousands of songs into a “new” computer with only a few? Do the old songs get erased?
I’m so excited to be getting a powerbook again. I use it in so many ways. It is so much more picture-friendly than my pc, so hopefully I’ll be posting some pictures soon!
The other big news is that we’re going to be doing in vitro again this summer! My first appointment is May 27. I plan to blog about it again so everyone can read the gory details.
September 25, 2008
Nothing can beat the story of my friend’s kindergarten student who wants to be called Mojo, but I had to share this story:
Today, I realized that there was a kindergarten student in my class who’s name did not appear on my class list. I knew her first name was Jane* but I didn’t know her last name. So I said, “Jane*, what’s your last name?” She said, “Jane Punky Punky Smith.” I said, “So, Punky is your middle name?” “No,” she said, “Punky Punky*.” I said, “so what’s your full name? She said, ”My name is Jane Punky Punky Smith.”
OK, welcome to Music Class, Punky Punky!
*Jane Smith=not her actual name
*Punky Punky=actual middle name, according to student
September 1, 2008
Well, I’m back to work. The bad news is that my room is tiny. I call it my cubicle. Seriously, picture a small classroom, and then cut it in half, and that’s the size of my cubicle. No windows. The good news is that I have installed surround sound in my cubicle. It will greatly enhance my working conditions! I had a stereo receiver/surround sound system at home that I had to disconnect due to numerous exposed wires tempting Ben. So, I took it to school. It’s great- I can hook up my ipod and have great quality sound. 6 speakers + a subwoofer. I also have the TV, and CD/tape player hooked in to it. I have really enjoyed playing high quality music while I don’t have kids in the room. It’s going to save my sanity this year. Oh, and it will be useful in my teaching, too. 
June 25, 2008
No, it hasn’t been THAT long since I posted! Ben hasn’t actually started school. Ben went to daycare yesterday for the first time. We were blessed to have Tim’s mom stay with us from January-June this year to help us out. It was WONDERFUL to keep Ben and home when he was so small. I was able to go back to work without the worry of bundling up an 11-week old and taking him out in the cold… But alas, Ann had to go back to her own life and this fall, Ben will go to daycare while we are at work.
Because of where Tim and I live and work, there is only one daycare center that would work well. Luckily, it is a great place and I love it! Unfortunately, there are only 8 infant ”spots” and they are hard to come by. Long story short: we have to pay all summer to keep our “spot.” Since we are paying for it anyway, we decided to take Ben once a week to get him used to going. As it turns out, *I* am the one who needs to get used to it!
Ben went for about 6 hours yesterday while I went to the dentist, did some grocery shopping, and cleaned part of the carpet. I didn’t cry, but I was a nervous wreck dropping him off. He did fine. I resisted the urge to call and check on him, but when I picked him up, they said they were surprised I didn’t call. I didn’t want to seem too “overprotective.” They keep track of his naps, feedings and diaper changes on a little sheet and give it to you when you pick him up, which is kind of nice. He did great! He even took 2 short naps. I got a “gold star” from the daycare teachers for labeling everything with his name.
Even though it will be hard financially to pay for day care all summer, there is something to be said for getting used to taking him BEFORE I have to worry about going back to work. If I had been working yesterday I would have been even more of a wreck. Plus, HE will get used to it. And, I can plan my errands and chores so that I don’t have to have him with me when I do things like grocery shop and clean the carpet!
April 11, 2008
This has been quite a week at school. Two words: All County. If you know what I mean, you KNOW what I freaking mean. If you don’t know what I mean, don’t waste another thought on it. I just keep telling myself: it’s good for the kids, it’s good for the kids…PLEASE let it be good for the kids…
One more word (or is it two words?): Yearbook. Somewhere along the line, I got put on the yearbook committee, along with 2 other teachers. And given zero time to work on it during school hours. It’s ridiculous. Something’s going to have to change for next year. My mom said, “well don’t volunteer for it next year.” Umm, I never volunteered in the first place. I’m serious. This isn’t a volunteer situation. At the beginning of the year, the principal assigns various “committees,” such as the Social Committee, to send flowers when you are sick or have a baby (how nice), the Character Ed committee, to promote the character education program with a prize drawn once a month for kids displaying the character trait of the month (yes, yes, how sweet), and the Yearbook committee, to PUBLISH A BOOK. With 3 people on it, one of which is only at that school 3 days a week. And only one of us with much computer experience. I’d go into more details but I’m too tired from getting 4 hours of sleep every night this week. The good news is, as of 3:25 today, the yearbook is done except one last proofread. The bad news: my students are more acquainted with Peter and the Wolf and Wynton Marsalis than I ever hoped they’d be.
TGIF!
March 18, 2008
It’s not too late to to enter the caption contest!
I didn’t do a blog or journal during most of my pregnancy (shame on me), but this is one of those funny kid stories that needs to be preserved for the ages…When school ended last school year, I had told the kids about my pregnancy but I wasn’t “showing” very much. It wasn’t blatantly obvious that I was pregnant yet. When school started again in the fall, it was quite obvious. Some of my little students were surprised to see my “new” belly and a lot of them smiled and laughed when they saw me. I got some interesting questions but this one tops all:
It was the first day of 1st grade music class. We talked about the baby in the beginning of class and how I was expecting a boy and I would be leaving for a while when he was born and then I would come back, etc etc. They had many questions, and of course stories, so we talked for as long as I could stand. Finally, that subject closed, I went on with the lesson. In the middle of the lesson, out of nowhere, a little boy blurted out, “Why are you fat?” For some reason I cannot recall, I was on a “manners” kick that day. I said, “Is there a nicer way you could ask that?” Meaning, it’s not nice to call people “fat” and hoping he would say something like, “Why is your belly big?” Instead, he rephrased the question in his own “nicer” way:
“Why are you fat, please?”
March 17, 2008
Don’t forget to enter the caption contest!
Today in 5th grade band class…
Me (to Girl Flute Player): You’ve made such progress! When I came back from maternity leave, you were still struggling with fingerings, and now you can play with fluency! ["Fluency" has been our 5th grade band buzzword ever since Girl Percussion Player said, and I kid you not, "I can PLAY it, I just can't play it with any fluency!"]
Girl Flute Player: Thanks. I’ve been practicing.
Boy Trumpet Player: Materniwhat??
Me: When I had the baby
Boy Trumpet Player: Huh??
Other Girl Flute Player: You know, when she had the baby, and she took off for a while.
Boy Trumpet Player: OH! [knowingly] To breastfeed.
All Girls in Class: BOY TRUMPET PLAYER!!! (actually, they said his real name).
Me: Well, that’s part of it, but having a baby is so much work that people usually take a little time off to get adjusted.
Boy Trumpet Player: Oh. Your face is red.
Other Girl Flute Player: So is yours.
