double trouble

So I come home from today having had a really good day. I'm excited to eat the turkey soup that's been cooking in the crock pot all day and I'm even more excited to get started on the huge Christmas project my kiddos will be doing in the coming weeks. Anyway, I open the front door to see a black bucket laying in the Arizona room. Now this is not alarming or unusual as our two dogs tend to get into things when they're left outside during the day. Now, I should've known it wasn't going to be that simple as today was the first super cold and windy day we've had so far. And when I think about it our lovely four-legged creatures tend to get into all kinds of trouble because they stay in the Arizona room for the most part during these kinds of days. Nonetheless, I open the back door to find that that black bucket is actually a paint can with the label ripped off. And yes, to answer your question it still had unused paint inside from when we painted our living room. On further inspection of this paint can you could see the teeth marks from either one or both of our lovelies where they tried in vane to open the can with no success...on that one.

As I turn to my left I see this lovely image....

Yes folks that's right...a gallon of paint spilled all over the floor of the Arizona room. As I'm yelling "OH MY GOD" along comes my good friend Apollo who decides to explore with mommy and steps in it. Well, the paint is still wet and he slips scaring himself and flinging paint on my pants, shoes and himself as he tries to get out of it. Somehow, I managed to grab him before he ran into the house and all over the carpet. Here he is with paint on his paws. Doesn't he look happy?

Anyway, so the hubs comes home and needless to say 30 minutes later the floor is cleaned to the best it's going to be and these two trouble makers got what they deserved.

Would anyone like a 2 year old boxer and 3 year old pit bull? I promise you'll never be bored!

deck the halls

I absolutely love this time of year. I really don't care about Halloween and I only enjoy Thanksgiving because it means super good food and lots of it but Christmas...I love Christmas. Actually, it's probably more accurate to say I love this time of year. I love seeing all the lights go up on houses. I love going to the stores and looking at their Christmas displays but only after Thanksgiving. I love lighting my cinnamon candles when I get home from work. I love listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies, especially White Christmas with my mom. I love seeing the kids faces at the mall when they're in line waiting for Santa. I also love that I have a fireplace because it means lots of warm and toasty nights! I just think it's a magical time of year! I only wish we lived somewhere it snowed during this time of year...then it would be perfect!

Today my hubby pulled out our Christmas stuff and I got busy! I got our tree up and decorated. Got my collection of snowmen out, although I think I was very careful and selective in my choices and my hubby is currently working on getting up our lights and lawn decorations. Pictures of that will come later...he's currently muttering to himself and trying to fix the reindeer that won't light up. Did I mention, that this is the time of year that I know my hubby really loves me because he hangs up all of our lights within a day or two of Thanksgiving and the past two years he's even bought the lawn decor just because he knows how much I love this time of year.

Here's my house!

Don't you just love a fireplace at Christmas? The hubs likes nutcrackers and I'm obsessed with snowmen. I think I mixed them well this year!

The tree. Luckily, both of our moms saved us ornaments throughout the years.

My mother-in-law buys me a shoe ornament each year and this is the perfect place to hang them. Since shoes have their own space in my closet and a special place in my heart, it's only fitting that they have their own tree! My parents gave me the the ballet slippers on the bottom when I was 7.

The divider between the living room and kitchen.

The view from the couch. The four snowglobish things my mom found at Hallmark. She loves that store and always finds cute things there. When you push one of the buttons on the one of the figurines they all dance to a Christmas song.

Our nativity scene. We found it 2 years ago in one of the Catholic stores my dad frequents in Tucson. The hubs and I really liked it because we've never seen one quite like it. The figures are unique and the hubs built the shelter. The only thing left is our advent wreath.

Now that the inside of my house is done and the outside is being worked on all that's left is my classroom. That'll be done Tuesday after school. Ooo...I guess there's another reason why I love this time of year...I get to decorate two different places...my home and my classroom. =)

moving around

I can't believe my week is over. Yes, I know it's only Tuesday but in teacher speak...the week of Thanksgiving is crazy especially when you decide to do a program with 50 1st graders and a feast. I'm so glad the district decided to give us a "Fall Break" tomorrow I know I'm sleeping in!

The program went really well and the kiddos definitely loved Mrs. Faust dressed as a Pilgrim. I didn't get any pictures of it but you can imagine...long black dress, white apron, white neck thingy and white hat. I was so proud of my kiddos though. We've been working very hard for the past two week to learn our songs to include sign language for What a Wonderful World, and a small skit. I also had a colleague decide she wanted to do it too. So coordinating 50 1st graders was definitely a feat in its own right but nonetheless, after a rough dress rehearsal yesterday they pulled it together and did a great job today! Our feast also went pretty well. This is the 2nd year I've decided to do it and I stressed the day before last year and yesterday as well. Cooking...well preparing food with 26 1st graders is not easy plus lugging it all home to cook sucks! I worried that I wouldn't have enough food for the parents but turns out there was nothing to worry about. I swore last year I wasn't going to do a big feast again and this I'm swearing that I won't do it again next year but it's fun despite the amount of work and stress that is involved. It's also totally worth it when you're kiddos tell you it's been the best day of their lives.

But in even more exciting news...I think I felt the baby move! It happened on Sunday at my parents house. I was half laying and half sitting in their recliner and I felt this kicking sensation on the right side of my stomach twice. I wasn't sure at first but when I telling Robbie in the car on the way home, he asked if I'd ever felt it before and no I haven't...so yay there is a person in there. =) I keep hoping it'll happen again but no so luck as of yet.

28 ain't bad

This smokin' guy is 28 today. Now if you ask him...he'll cry and complain about how it's "just another day" but I beg to differ. It's the day he came to be on this earth and had that not occurred I wouldn't be his wife. So in honor of the good lookin' man's birthday here are 28 reasons why I love him. =)

1. He makes me laugh uncontrollably...a lot. Sometimes to the point where it's one of the embarrassing laughs where you can't breathe but yet you laugh so loud people stare.

2. He's totally got a bad boy look with his tattoos

3. The way he texts me faithfully everyday at 4:30 to see if I'm on my way home or not.

4. His giggle that only happens around me.

5. The way seeing him play with other people's kids makes me melt.

6. How excited he gets when I make potato salad.

7. Because he's a sucker for the look I give him when I want something...Lord help him if we have a girl.

8. Because he'll tell you how it is without apologies.

9. When he puts his "smell good" on...it makes me want to kiss him for long periods of time.

10. Because he lets me be DJ (for the most part) when we drive places.

11. Because he likes it when I talk to him when he's in the shower.

12. Because even though I act annoyed...the way he's all over me.

13. He listens to me when I tell him "I'm dying" and then tells me I'm ridiculous.

14. He ALWAYS gets up the with dogs when they come in at 6:30 on Saturdays.

15. Because he'd do anything for me...no matter what.

16. Because he executes my visions for our house renovations.

17. When he's bumming in sweats and a t-shirt and his hair is a mess...it pretty much makes my teeth sweat.

18. How he acts around the old ladies at church...so polite and charming.

19. Even though it drives me nuts...the way he small talks with people in stores.

20. He's a really good kisser.

21. The way he's ready to make up after 5 minutes when we fight and won't leave me alone until I forgive him.

22. Because I know how hard he works and how he secretly takes pride in all of his work.

23. The way he looks when he's got his bike jacket on in the morning before he leaves.

24. Because I know he's going to be a great dad.

25. Because he's super protective of me.

26. Because he supports my career and only complains every now and then when I "need" to buy something else for my classroom.

27. How mad he gets when I don't ask for his help with my classroom.

28. Because he's the only person I want to be on this journey with.

There's about a million more reasons why I love him but for now those will do!

Happy Birthday Robbie!

guilty

These two...there really are no words to describe them. Alone they'd probably be okay but together they are trouble. The one on the right, Lady, is the ring leader. She's the one who breaks into my garden and destroys my plants in the attempt to get a squirrel that taunts and teases her. The one the left, Apollo, is the lunk head who goes along with Lady's schemes and likes to dig his way to China and kick all of his tennis balls underneath furniture just to watch you rescue them only to turn around and do it again.

In this picture, Lady looks like she's saying, "Aww, come on mom, please let us stay on the bed. We promise to be good. You won't even know we're here". And Apollo appears to be saying, "Do you mind...I was having a good dream".

the size of an onion

Apparently at 17 weeks the baby is the size of an onion.

Today we had our 3rd baby appointment. I'm 17 weeks and things are good. We got to hear the heartbeat again...well I did. It was the first time Robert got to hear it. I got to hear it twice. I got to the appointment first and didn't have to wait very long at all...the last two times it was about a 30-45 minute wait. This time I got there peed in a cup and waited about 5 minutes. Anyway...the nurse listened to the heartbeat first thing and I asked her if she could do it again when Robert came and she did. During the 1st one the baby was kicking. I have no idea...it sounded like scratches to me. Thank goodness these nurses know what they're doing. Then the 2nd time it took her a minute to find the heartbeat again but then it got louder and louder. Such a good baby already. Then the doctor came in and talked to me about the test they do to see how at risk the baby is for having Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida or chromosomal abnormalities. It freaks me out beyond belief, but I think I'll get it done..tomorrow since it has to be done in a 24 hour period. And he also measured my belly.

On December 15th we get to find out what this baby is. I'm bummed because I thought we'd be able to find out like next week or the week after. The nurse said we'd be able to find out a lot sooner than 4 weeks later but whatev. Robert said it's better because the baby will be bigger and they'll definitely be able to tell what it is. We'll see.

Anyway...I guess it's time I started documenting this especially since I've got a bump now. So here you go...here I am at 17 weeks and 1 day.

face lifts and paint

This weekend the hubs and I finally painted our living room. We've been wanting to paint since we moved in 3 years ago. Our house was built in the 60's and I doubt that the previous owners did anything to update it. The walls were this horrible white color that had slowly faded to this yellowish color due to smoking and when we moved furniture away from the walls you could see the outline perfectly. Sick! So we've been doing small projects here and there to give this baby a face lift. Last year we painted the kitchen and got new hardware for the cupboards. Over the summer the hubs ripped out the gross carpet in the living and dining room and put down tile and now we've painted and got new a light for the dining room. Those rooms are officially done except for Robbie tiling the window sills!

Since our dining room and living are one big room we decided to paint our longest wall one color and the remaining walls another color. I went with an orangey palate since our kitchen is burgundy red, and the colors would contrast with the dark furniture and light tile.

Here's the before. Robbie started taking down the stuff on the walls before I could take my pictures. We bought the area rug last Monday.

Here's the hubs trying to put the anchors in the wall for where our pictures need to go when we're done.

These two were no help at all and couldn't understand why we were taking apart and moving their precious couch. They had nowhere to nap all day and kept walking around aimlessly. But on a side note their couch will be taken apart more frequently so I can vacuum up the disgusting amount of hair and dirt that collects underneath it.

Here's our new light fixture. So much better than the ceiling fan, that when turned on made you feel like it was going to fall out of the ceiling...it was very shaky.

The new color...it looks more peachy orange in real life. =)

The pumpkiny orange color on our longest wall. And Lady, so happy to have her beloved couch back.

The baseboards just because the hubs picked out the color and according to him...they make the room =). We also got new outlet covers.

We worked all day yesterday but it was so worth it to have a whole new living room!

I know he's excited about it. =)

what do I make?

This week has been an absolute crazy one! With a holiday on a Thursday and school the day after made for quite an interesting week. This week has been very trying in my patience. I don't know if it's because of the kind of class I have this year, or the fact that I'm pregnant or maybe a little of both but I find myself counting to 10 while taking deep breaths a lot more than I have in the past...mind you this is only my 3rd year. But this week alone...something has been off. My class has literally turned into the Wild Things...I even asked if they had taken a journey to a remote island and encountered the Wild Things. They of course giggled and said no. But nonetheless this week alone, I have one kiddo who is bankrupt (I use a banking system as my reward system), I took away Fun Friday, took all 25 kiddos to the Principal's office for a "field trip" and taken away the privilege to move around for centers...now they get to sit at their seats and everyone does the same center instead of rotating each day to the 5 different centers, oh and I've also taken away going to the carpet and had a few private conversations in the hallway. I used the term the Wild Things because I literally had kiddos playing games under their tables, rolling around on the carpet, hitting/shoving/pushing, using scissors to cut up my crayons, and erasers and breaking pencils.

Not to mention talking to the same parents over and over about the same occurrences in my classroom. I feel like a tape recorder..."What did I just say", "If you we're listening you would have heard me explain how to do that", "If I could finish what I'm saying instead of having to repeat myself, we could move on with our day", "No, you may not go to the bathroom because you're not asking me the right way", "Are you supposed to get up out of your seat and follow me around", along with my favorites "I'm done...I have no more patience for this", "Honey, I don't know what that says...you wrote it which means you should be able to read it", "If you have to ask me what something says that you've written, you probably need to go back and fix it", "Is this your 100% very, very best handwriting", and "I know someone wants to talk to me but I don't know who that person is because they're not in their seat with their hand in the air".

Yes, I know I teach 1st grade and these kiddos are only 6 and 7 but I expect a lot from them in terms of academics and behavior. Especially, when we spend the first six weeks of school learning how to do things and practicing over and over again. I've also found in my very short time in this profession that they are capable of a lot, especially when you have high standards and expect them to do their very best. We learn very quickly that "I can't" is an unacceptable phrase in 1st grade as everything I give them is something they can do but some days might need some help. We also learn very quickly that it's all about choices. I don't have bad students, just students who sometimes make back choices for example if you choose to play during a work time, then you work during play time...should that be your morning recess or lunch recess that choice is yours to make.

Sometimes I really wonder if I get anything done besides redirect behaviors. Sometimes I wonder if I'm getting through to any of them. Sometimes I wonder if I'm getting through to the parents. But when I hit this path I always manage to stumble upon something that puts it into perspective whether it's one of my kiddos coming up to me an telling me that they didn't used to like Junie B. until I started reading it to them because it sounds "magical" when I read. That of course was followed by the question, "Is there periods on those pages" to which my response was "...Yes, why"? and her response was "Well when my sister reads it, it doesn't sound like there are periods". "Well, maybe you should read it to her, to help her see that reading should sound like talking". Or I happen to stumble across something that makes me see...yes someone else gets what I'm doing here. Tonight I found my inspiration in Taylor Mali. He's a teacher and the poet who wrote the poem, "What do I make". Totally made me laugh out loud and gain a little perspective...while I'm pulling my hair out...I am and do make a difference.

you're not better

Sometimes I'm utterly amazed at the amount of stupidity it takes to run things. I realize that sentence is a complete oxymoron. The amount of people who are my superiors and that I have to answer to in some way whether it be direct or indirect is ridiculous. The number of people it takes to think up the "wonderful" ideas (and I use that term loosely), to make our kids "more competitive" is ridiculous. The number of people it takes to take those "wonderful" ideas and tweak them every other day is ridiculous.

See this is part they so thoughtfully left out when I sitting in the College of Ed. learning how to be teacher. The political part. And the part on how to play the game. I have to say that I'm exhausted from playing the game. I'm so tired of people who have never been in a classroom, other than to the smile and wave and act interested in what I do, or the people who were in the classroom but for a few short years before they jumped into the pond they really wanted to swim in, dictating what in their minds is "best practice". I don't want to play the game. The game has no business being in my business. I signed on to teach and better kids--not listen to you tell me what you think I should do based on what another district does that has nothing in common with mine other than the fact that they have schools. I didn't sign on to read a script all day. I did not sign on to sit in meeting after meeting just to be told I need to go to another meeting to discuss another meeting. I didn't sign on to follow behind people with questions that should've been answered from the get go and ideas that they should be thinking up on their own.

I find it amazing that while I'm expected to have my ducks in a row and have my crap together, it's completely acceptable for people who are in charge of "managing" me to not have there's together. It makes it very frustrating and disheartening to go to work every day. It makes me wonder what my job will look like in 5 or 10 years. Will I even be needed or will everything be done on a computer or via a robot who can pick up a script and read it? It makes me wonder if this is something I really want to do for the next 27 years before I can even think about retirement. I love what I do. I really do. I get such a joy from working with kids although some days I have to count to 10 in my head and take a lot of deep breaths. It's not the kids or typical stuff that comes from a working in such close quarters with other people. It's the people who really don't get it and think that the only important thing is to be competitive in the time of charter schools and standards that come from state departments who really don't understand what kids need.

............

pregnancy shenanigans

I'm pretty sure it's WAY too early for the whole nesting part of pregnancy but nonetheless I just spent the last two hours cleaning my house. Now when I say cleaning we all need to understand that I do the bare minimum when it comes to cleaning---vacuuming, mopping and cleaning the bathrooms and a LIGHT dusting that probably makes my mother cringe every time she comes over...it's one of the many chores I detest. I would much rather spend all day in Phoenix traffic in the middle of July at high noon than clean the house.

But again...I just spent the last two hours cleaning my house. I mean dusting everything...base boards, shelves, behind the TV in our room and my perfume bottles. I vacuumed like it was going out of style and steamed mopped my floors to include the kitchen which usually gets swiffered as an after thought. Holy Cleaning. And surprisingly I feel so much better.

I don't know...I'm perplexed by pregnancy. I officially can't fit into the majority of my jeans which makes me increasingly sad as the days go by. I love jeans! I probably would've worn them to my wedding had I not loved my wedding dress so much. I'm also finding that my memory is fading and quickly. Yesterday, I spent my entire morning looking for 3 green attendance cards that I swore I took out of my box at school. I remember taking them out of my box, stopping to talk to another 1st grade teacher and then getting to my room as the bell rang. After that I have no freaking memory of what happened to the cards. I looked like a freaking nut picking up piles of paper and looking in both of my trash cans 4 times each. Going through my kiddos folders and very close to tearing through their backpacks. I repeatedly asked them "Did anyone pick up green cards from my table" and "What did Mrs. Faust do when we came into the classroom"? God bless 1st graders, they tried in earnest to help me find them but then I think they just got a kick out of it because as we we're lining up for lunch and I'm frantically searching for these stupid cards trying to keep myself from crying like a 1st grader, I began to hear whispers of "Watch Mrs. Faust, she's looking for those cards again". Hello..when you have 25 1st graders watching you for pure enjoyment...there's a problem. Anyway...as I'm leaving the cafeteria to go eat my lunch I'm debating in my head if I should go tell our lovely secretaries what this preggo lady did, while telling another 1st grade teacher what my problem is...I go to the my mailbox and what should I find? The three cards that have left me in an absolute panic. You'd think finding them would have made my life, but no...I'm saddened to realize that my thought process and short term memory are most definitely fading. And good news...apparently this lasts through the pregnancy and after.

I'm sorry but at this point...I don't find this experience "magical".. I find it to be frustrating. Oh I know...it'll be so worth it once we have the sweet bundle of happiness but until then are you kidding me? I'm 15 weeks...I've got like 160-something more days.

I would just like to go and drink an AMP (I think...I have no idea but whatever energy drink I was addicted to in college). But I think that's definitely not allowed. =/

So Obvious...

well maybe not exactly but it's official...I'm definitely sporting a bump although right now it's more of a pooch than a bump but still. I wore my black gap jeans today and let's just say they're officially out of the wardrobe rotation. My kiddos expressed with great delight today that "the baby is getting bigger, Mrs. Faust". I silently thanked them for remembering not to call me fat and said "Yup, isn't that great" although I was also thinking WHAT?!

I know, I know this is supposed to happen but really...I'm only 15 weeks along. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this latest development. Although, maybe I'll stop focusing on other..ahem..areas that have also been growing at what seems like an exponential rate.

I have to be honest...sometimes I'm very excited about having a baby and then other times I'm very nervous when I think about it. Are we ready to be parents...are we going to be good parents...are we completely insane? I mean sure we have 4 pets and they're all alive and thriving (although some days it's touch and go with the turtle). My house is always a mess, I hate doing most chores and I really like to sleep. I have no clue what we're going to do with the baby when I have to go back to work (which brings on a whole new set of anxiety issues). I may be a slight hypochondriac and a little neurotic. I worry about things that are probably more than a little silly and would probably never happen. I guess nobody is really ready to be a parent and everyone does best they can... but it's still very stressful. I just don't want to screw this kid up.

Anyway...back to the real reason for this post. I was so hoping to wait until at least Christmas before I had to start buying maternity pants. I even googled how to buy maternity pants because I have no idea. Seriously...

The picture at the top is supposed to be a pregnant lady's best friend. Guess it's true what they say about best friends...they're there to lend support.

Monsters

Can you guess which mask I wore today? =)

Today was insane!!! Nevermind my previous post where I asked if you'd ever been around kids days before Halloween. Have you ever been around kids the day after Halloween?

It was not a pretty day in 1st grade today. Most of the kids were normal, it was those few that made me think I somehow turned into the wicked witch. Between kids complaining about how tired they were and seeing them all cracked out on candy...I should've called in sick today. Note to self: in the future if Halloween falls on Sunday take the Monday off! Kids were moving their names left and right and handing over pennies this way and that. Although the icing on my day was when I spoke with a mom about how off the charts out of control her kid was...and how I was attributing it to Halloween but still not an excuse to do what he did all day. Her response to me was "I have a special Halloween tradition...I let them eat as much candy as they want". This was also after she expressed that teachers shouldn't have to work the day after Halloween. Um...Hello! How about not sending your kid to school if you've let him eat his weight in candy. Thanks!

Let's all pray that tomorrow is significantly better!