Time flies.....

Wow, I had no idea so much time has passed since I last posted. Just a short update:

Was at the school 8 out of the last 10 days of class. LOL Only one of those was as a sub...all the rest were for different end of the year programs!

Then, our A/C decided to die on us....and I do mean "DIE"! There was no fixing it, so a brand new system had to be installed! Let's just say, that was not a very pleasant decision, but one that had to be made. Oh...that decision also meant that our tripped to Texas had to be cancelled. Sigh....part of being a homeowner.

This past weekend was hectic! Besides the A/C company finishing up the installation....we went to see the newest Fantastic Four movie...and then Sunday, spent the day at Kings Dominion. That was fun.

Except for when we got home and the A/C was not working. So, the a/c company sent some men out this morning to find out why....it has been fixed and it is working now.

That has been the last two weeks in a nut shell. The summer has started for the kids and I hope to post about our activities.

Today we are going to the library to get some books....I have already told the kids that we are going to have some reading time every day.

Last two weeks of school.....

I can not beleive that there is only TWO weeks left of this school year!

And what a busy couple of weeks that will be! Monday is field day, Wednesday is the Reading Carnival, Thursday is the Pizza party for the kids with a certain number of AR points. Next week is subbing on Monday for me.... Wednesday is the Kinderrgarten awards day...Thursday is the second graders cookout...then Friday is the LAST DAY! (Thursday and Friday are also half days!)

Then we get to re-adjust our schedule for the summer....but I will give them the first week to just have "fun" without any schedule.

Then I need to start preparing for our trip to Texas, which is the first week of July. I am trying to get everything down the the "bare minimum", to keep the mini-van from being to cramped.

I am also thinking about end of the year school gifts! I am leaning towards some "gifts in a jar" kinda thing. Does that sound good?

Oh..the shame of it....

Here is a post from last year:

Saturday, May 20, 2006
I missed an anniversary!!!
I did not realize that I have been blogging for a year now!

I started this blog on May 10th, 2005! I am a female, so how did I FORGET an anniversary??? LOL

Hopefully, I will not forget the second one!

Since this is the 28th of May....I would say that I officially FORGOT my second blogging annivesary! LOL

Not sure if I am improving or not....but I am still here, for the most part anyways!

I have been TAGGED!

This is a first...LOL I am actually kinda excited that someone thought of me!

It was my Xanga blog that was officially tagged, but since I don't post there often...and when I do, it is about weight loss, so I am posting it here. hee hee hee

The Rules:

1. Each player lists 8 random facts/habits about themselves
2. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names
3. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged and to read your blog.


The eight things about me:

1. I always wanted to be a novelist, but have not written any fiction since I was 22.

2. I have a phobia concerning snakes! My heart races and I feel as if I can not breathe when I see one that is not in a cage.

3. I am supposedly related to Cheif Osceola....but have no proof, just family legend.

4. I took college level courses in the 7th grade. (Experimental program)

5. I love Logic Problems...but greatly dislike Crossword puzzles.

6. I hope to travel to Scotland someday to see where DH's ancestors came from.

7. Both of my "second" toes are larger than my big toes.

8. I was the first girl born on my father's side of the family in 4 generations.



Okay....who will I tag??? Like Merchant Ships, ArmyofFive, Rubygirl, and Homekeeper at Heart. (Okay...I don't read many blogs, so I can only tag four people.)

Wow...been MIA here recently

We are in the final days of the school year and I have been BUSY!

We are getting everything together for the Kindergarten play..which is always a big deal here. LOL

DS17 had his prom this last weekend...helped him get ready for that, I have been subbing quite a bit lately...I guess some teachers getting last minute items taken care of also.

I will be enormously relived when the school year has ended.... Then it will be just getting into a new routine for the summer. LOLOL

Anyways....I have not forgotten this blog....just needing things to calm back down so that I can post more.

Have a great day!

Mount Vernon Field Trip

Well....I survived the field trip! LOL

Actually, it was really fun. I had never been to Mount Vernon before today. I really could have spent the whole day there by myself and STILL had not been able to see everything. I love places like that...especially with the people dressed is period dress and showing us how things were done back then.

That would be my dream job....a historical re-inactor for historical place like that.

Back to the field trip....LOL... I had five girls in my "group"..of course, we all stayed together and they held hands with all the different girls and teachers. LOL I just kept an eye on my girls (okay, I kept an eye on all of them!)...and things went smoothly.

My legs hurt! I walked so much....plus I have a red face! Oh well..that is normal for me. Now I get a week to recover, then I am chaperoning a field trip for my second grader. We are going on a nature hike to look and identify birds and other animals. Yes, I will be getting my exercise in. :-)

Phases in our lives.....

Sorry I have not posted recently, life has been busy...and well, I have been considering an end to a phase in my life.

Several months ago....my DH and I decided to have another child. Well, honestly, it was my idea. He just said he would let me decide and if that is what I wanted, he was fine either way.

Several months later, no pregnancy and my life was busy with projects with the kids school and even substitute teaching. Doubts about another child started forming.... the changes that I would need to make, the things I would be unable to do with my two that I have already had. And most importantly.....WHY did I want another child!

What it came down to....I did not want to face the end of that phase in my life! The thought of my "baby-making" days being over was something I did not want to deal with...but I needed to. After much prayer, contemplation, and talks with DH (tears included)...I have decided to end that phase of my life and move on to enjoying fully the two I have. I enjoy being active in their school. I even enjoy being able to substitute teach there. (Especially the preschool classes).

Although, there will always be that part of me that goes "ohhhh" when I see a newborn baby...I am ready to say that I am content with the children I have. I am SO thankful they are healthy and happy.

So.... as I readjust my mindset....I will be looking for new opportunities to "broaden" my horizens. LOL

****Just a note. If for some reason, we ever do get a "surprise"...I would have no problem switching back to that role. It is just not something I am intentionally going to pursue!

Prayers to all the families affected

by the violence of Monday.




Tears flow.........

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Well...I gave in....slightly.

Okay, my dear little daughter has been wanting her hair cut for weeks now. I have said "no", "not yet", and "when you are older" MANY, MANY TIMES! LOL

She wanted her hair to be like "sally's"....unfortunately, "sally's" hair is thin and straight, so her short bob looks good on her. Lays flat and straight. Well, my dear daughterr's hair is naturally Curly, with a capital "C", and I tried to explain to her that her hair would not look like "sally's" no matter how much her wanted it to... LOL

Anyways, now to the "giving in" part. :-D I agreed to trim her hair some....not alot (even though it looks like it), but mostly to get rid of some of the rough ends that keep getting tangled. Although I barely cut 2 inches off, the lighter weight made the remaining length just spring up. LOL

Here is the before:



and now the after:



Oh...she wanted bangs....so I gave her some..... well, just a slight amount.



See....she got her hair cut and I still have enough to braid and put up in ponytails!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Stratagies for saving money on groceries. Part V

Today's Topic: Coupons.

I use coupons, but not as much as some people might think. :-) I use coupons only when I am truly get a deal. Does that sound strange? Well, I found out that a coupon, in and of itself, does not guarantee a "good deal". I now only use them when the item is on sale, especially as a "loss leader". Okay...correction, I have been known to use a coupon on a product that I would like to try, but do not want to pay full price for; again, hoping to find it on sale at the same time.

I know there are some ladies (and gentlemen) out there that live in areas where the grocery chains have awesome coupon policies. I wish I had the same options. I am starting to utilize CVS' Extra Care Bucks, there seems to be promise to those if you can combine them with coupons. (I will post more on this, once I get a better understanding of it.)

So, if you want to coupon great, find a system that works for you and use it. But please remember that not all coupons equal a good deal.

Stratagies for saving money on groceries. Part IV

Today's Topic: Shopping at Multiple Stores.

I find this one of the best ways to get the ultimate in grocery savings. This ties into the loss-leaders strategy from the previous topic. Check each ad to see if there are items worth purchasing. (This is where the price book comes in also.)

Included in this is for me to drive to Aldi's every 3-4 months (Aldi's is now an hour from where I live) for a larger "stock up". I have found that if I go every 3-4 months, I optimize my savings in balance with the cost of gas to drive there and back. I am also blessed to have a Hubby that works near Aldi's, so if I forget something or need something restocked before my next scheduled trip, he can do that for me on the way home.

**If you live somewhere where driving to several stores is NOT cost effective, you need to concentrate on the one store that gives you the best deals. This can mean different stores each week, but it takes knowing your prices.

For Rocket

October 2000 -- March 2007

You were a good dog, Rocket. You will be missed. Thank you for being our friend and member of the family for the time that you had.

Love you......

It is now official...I am a Substitute Teacher.

Well, I had my first assignment today. Special Needs Preschool. It was really fun, hard, tiring, but fun non-the-less fun.

Actually it is a combination preschool, with the majority with special needs (5 special needs, 3 non). After the other substitute and I found our rythem the day went by nice and truthfully, kind of fast.

We even survived a tornado drill.

I have my next assignment scheduled for the 26th of this month....unless I get called before then. That assignment will be with a second grade class....the room next to my son's.

Well, I am off to surf some more and relax before I start dinner. The kiddos are outside enjoying the 75 degree weather.

Talk to you all later.

Daylight Savings Time Reminder

Turning our clocks forward is coming early this year. Don't ask me why... I read an article about it, but am still not sure WHY they wanted the change.

Anyways, please remember to turn your clocks forward one hour tonight before going to bed. Oh...since we are losing an hour...you might want to try and go to bed earlier than usual.

What fun for us with kiddos in public school on Monday.

Have a great day everyone.

Stratagies for saving money on groceries. Part III

Today's topic: Loss-Leaders!

Loss-leaders are the "get you in the store" sale items that Grocery store chains put on the front page of their ads. They do this in the hopes that you will buy all your other groceries there, at THEIR high prices!

The way to take advantage of these are to buy ONLY the loss-leaders and then leave! LOL There is nothing wrong with doing this. You are not being dis-honest or unethical. I write this because I have heard people say these type of things in the past. Now, if you were not adhering to any limits or conditions to these prices, then I could see the point. BUT if this if the price the store is offering, then there is no reason that you HAVE to buy anything else.

This leads into the next topic on shopping multiple stores, which I will post about next time. :-)

It's a good thing you can "opt out" of this......

Below is an article about Virginia passing legislation that will require all girls to receive the NEW vaccine for certain virus' that cause cervical cancer.

Now, I have no problem with vaccinations, I really don't. MY problem with this one is that it is SO NEW and the government is trying to FORCE us to put it in out daughters!

I want more research to see what kind of long-term reactions might show up. I am always suspicious when some new drug or vaccine comes out and the government wants to push it on us "for the greater good"!

I am relieved that WE, as parents can "opt out" of this, but how long will that be an option? KWIM!

All I know, is that I agree with my dear, dear sweet husband...."there is always the homeschool option." I have a feeling that will come about sooner, rather than later!

Updated:2007-03-02 08:21:59
Virginia to Require Vaccine for Girls
AP
RICHMOND, Va. (March 2) - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Thursday he would sign legislation requiring all sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer.

Virginia would become the second state to mandate the vaccine for the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and the first to do it through legislative action. Texas Gov. Rick Perry sidestepped the Legislature and ordered the shots for girls there, but lawmakers are considering overriding that order.

"I think it strikes the right balance," said Kaine, who wanted to make sure parents would have enough time to review the vaccine and allow them to opt out "without having to jump through hoops."

The requirement would go into effect for the 2009 school year. If parents want to opt out, they must review literature provided by their child's school, then sign a form.

The federal government approved Gardasil, the only vaccine on the market, in June and suggested it be given to females before they become sexually active.


03/01/07 23:24 EST

Stratagies for saving money on groceries. Part II

Today's Topic: Buy in Bulk

This is not just for grains, flour, sugar and such, but also cleaning products, paper goods and anything that I can freeze. This is where having a nice Price Book comes into play. A bulk purchase is a waste if the price per pound is not a savings. Don't assume that just because the package is large that the savings is there! Because of my price book, I know what the "normal" prices are and what the "sale" prices will be (within reason). Also, something to consider, if the product that you are buying in bulk can not be used before it goes bad, IT IT NOT A SAVINGS! Food thrown in the trash is no different than throwing money in the trash.

DH has a contact through work that can order meats through a restaurant wholesaler, if you can find someone like this, make them your best friend! (Okay, that might be considered "using" someone, but hey, we can all use more friends. :-) ) We have gotten some wonderful deals that way. My vacuum sealer was a wonderful investment!

That will be all for today, I will post some more in a day or two.