F YOU

I was shelving books and almost disrupted a group of students taking a test with my giggling.  All over the call number of a fiction book by an author with the last name Young.  F YOU.  Hehehe.

Now? Really?

After having our house for sale since March, we've decided to stay for a while longer.  The sign is only still in the front yard because if we take it off the market before the 6 month mark we have to pay a small fee.  So of course, today, someone wants to see the house.  After we've been gone all weekend and the house is a total mess.  Oh well.

Coming Home

Coming back from a trip is so exhausting and stressful (the drive with Korra crying, unpacking, etc) that it almost cancels out all the relaxation and fun of the trip.  Almost.

Library Aides

I put up a few flyers to see if any students would be interested in becoming library aides during homeroom.  I thought I'd maybe get 20 kids (4 per day of the week).  Over 50 applications were turned in!  Eek.  Now I have to disappoint 25+ kids...

Much Needed Cabin Time

After a very hectic week, I'm so, so thankful we are going to the cabin for some fun and rest this weekend!

Web 2.0

In a workshop for Web 2.0 resources for middle and high teachers.  Was really excited about it, but some of the other teachers are not allowing us to move as quickly through the material as I would have liked.

Compliment

One of the PE coaches was using our copier yesterday while I was giving a research lesson.  Today she came up to me and told me how well she thought I delivered the material really well.  It was such a nice compliment, especially since I felt like the kids weren't paying me a lick of attention.  

No Walk

Had a hard day.  Really wanted to go on a walk.  But it's raining.

Morning Algebra

I did a little algebra this morning and figured out how many more books I'd need in order to make our book/student ratio the same as the other middle school.  10,034 MORE books.  That's more than all the books in my old library.  I think I have a very strong case.

Disney Spotify

What makes a busy day better?  Listening to my Disney station while working on a book order.

Number Crunching

I'm gathering a little data to help in my quest to get ALL THE BOOKS from my old library.  Today's data includes a book to student ratio from each school.  I have 8.42 books per student.  Most of the other schools have 20+.

Eating Spaghetti

Couch and Chair

Going with my assistant to get my couch and chair from the old school and bring it here.  Thankfully both our husbands are coming to help!

Blog Slacking

I haven't been posting as much during the school day.  Mostly because I don't have my old assistant to complain about.  Say what you will, but she was great blog fodder.

Floppy Disk

Korra was emptying out the bottom drawer of the computer desk and she unearthed a floppy disk labeled "Mush."  On it, if I remember correctly, is a collection of AOL Instant Messages between Nate and me from when we first started dating (11 years ago!)  Too bad we don't have a computer that can read floppy disks anymore.

Bike Trailer

Korra's finally big enough to ride in the bike trailer, so we got it out and spent 30 minutes pumping up tires and assembling.  We knew Korra wasn't going to be a fan of the helmet, but she did really well... for the first block.  She cried the whole second block.  Our first family bike ride (and our first ride since I was 4 months pregnant!) lasted approximately 6 minutes.  Here's hoping the next one is better!

"Reading"

Korra has this book with pictures of babies doing different things (touching their toes, playing peak-a-boo, clapping their hands, etc).  She'll flip through the book and do whatever the pictures show.  Such a smart girl!

Dinner Rut

I usually enjoy cooking and finding new recipes to try, but I'm in a rut.  I need some ideas for relatively inexpensive and healthy dinner ideas.  Help, please?

Website Incompetance

I feel completely unqualified for the website updating that the school wants me to do.  Even when I do Google searches to try to figure out how to do certain things, I can't find what I'm looking for because I don't know the correct terminology.  It's so frustrating.

Nice Assistant

She brought me pizza and Swiss Cake Rolls for lunch.

Walker

Overnight, Korra decided that she's done with crawling.  She still walks like she's drunk, but she's walking all the time now.

Hump Day

I've only seen the camel "Hump Day" commercial once, but I hear the kids say it about 30 times every Wednesday.  Starting to hate it as much as I used to hate the kids doing South Park impressions.  Almost.

In My Mind's Eye

I'm making a list of the items I want from my old school.  It's weird how a year and a half later I can still picture what's in every closet and cabinet.

How It Went

Realized I didn't tell you how the meeting at my old school went yesterday.  It was about as good as I could have expected.  My ideas were listened to and I think I stand a good chance of getting the majority of the books.  And best of all, I didn't cry, yell, or tackle anyone.

College Pics and Tones

Apparently Korra subscribed my phone to "College Tones and Pics."  And of course, I can't figure out how to unsubscribe.

New Tricks

Korra can point out her toes and ears, rubs her hands together when you say, "clean hands," and sticks out her tongue when you do.  She's learning so much so fast!

Talking to Myself

I have become of aware of how often I talk to myself while working only because I now have an audience (my new assistant).  I think she worries for my sanity, especially when I address my Brain directly (and by name).

A Little Anxious

This afternoon, I have a meeting at my old school.  Me, 2 other librarians, and a bunch of people from central office.  We're meeting in MY library to discuss what to do with MY books.  As you can see, I'm having a bit of trouble letting go, even after a year and a half.  Every time I think about one of those admin people touching my books, I also imagine myself tackling them like a football player.  I need to get some control over my emotions pronto.

Korra's Words

Korra "talks" quite a bit, but there are a few things that sound like real words and she sometimes uses them in the correct context.  Here's the short list:

Uh-Oh

No (someone please buy us a copy of The Strong-Willed Child!)

Daddy

Cheese

Shoes

Still not sure if we'll count any of these as her real first words, but we're getting close!

One More Sunday

I just need one more Sunday...

Les Miserables

Finally get to see Led Miserables.  It was so great.  Such a beautiful story of grace.

New Backpack

Korra got a new backpack.

Livingston

Leaving for Livingston, Alabama right after school today to visit the in-laws at their new house.

Hands Bulletin Board

I'm pretty pleased with how my new bulletin board turned out.  I had a bunch of the kids trace and cut out their hands on old book pages.  I used this as a border.  Then I had other kids color and cut out letters that say, "Get your hands on a good book."  Thanks, Pintrest, for yet another bulletin board inspiration!

Breakfast Burrito

As I was enjoying my homemade breakfast burrito this morning, I thought that you all might enjoy the recipe inspiration.

I start with what was originally a recipe for a hashbrown quiche.  I pour some frozen hashbrowns into a greased 9x9 pan and let them thaw.  Then I pat them down to make a crust, sprinkle with some salt and pepper, and then bake it for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees.  Meanwhile, I whisk together 5 eggs, chopped onion, chopped spinach, shredded cheese, and some bacon bits.  Pour that over the hashbrowns and then bake for another 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  This by itself is a yummy meal, but since I eat in the car most mornings, I cut a slice, roll it in a tortilla, and warm it in the toaster oven.  Delicious breakfast on the go!

Teen Shoes

A student asked me if I was a teenager.  She said she thought I might be because I sometimes where Converse Low-Tops.

Morning Dough

I was almost late for school this morning.  Why?  Because I was sure I had enough time to make pizza dough before breakfast.

I'm an Adult

Signing the paperwork on our refinance today and then celebrating like adults- by going to Target to buy socks and dishtowels!

Teacher Book Club

I decided to start a Book Club for the teachers.  We'll read whatever is most popular with the kids at the moment.  I think this might be a really good thing!

Mama

I've been trying to teach Korra to say Mama.  I say, "Mama" and use her hand to pat me.  Clearly, there has been a misunderstanding because now when I say, "Who am I?" she pats me twice on the chest.  She got the action, but missed the words.

Soundtrack to my Insomnia

Couldn't fall asleep until after midnight.  Woke up around 5 AM.  This song keeps playing in my head.  Thanks a lot, Nate.

Throw Up

Korra just puked all over herself right after getting out of the bath.  99% sure it's from drinking a gallon of bathwater and then wiggling like a crazy girl while I tried to put on her pajamas.  Back into the bath!

Move for a Church

I heard a pastor speak on NPR this morning.  I was so intrigued, I looked up her church.  And now I want to move to Denver so I can go to this church.

Saturday in Review

Went for a 3 mile walk with Korra, did some yardwork with Nate, and went to the grocery store.  Korra and I spent some time going through the huge pile of hand-me-downs she got.  Seriously, this baby has enough clothes to wear an outfit a day until she's 2.  We had Zucchini Enchiladas for dinner, which were very yummy and then Korra went to bed early so Nate and I are going to watch It (first time for both of us).

Comparative Art

Found this old picture of Nate's cake decorating skills (from when he worked at Bruster's).  Do you think Korra gets her artistic talent from her dad?

Bathtub Art

Gave Korra the tub crayons and here's what she created.  Pretty impressive considering it was he first time using a writing utensil!

Asparagus

I wish I could show AL how much Korra loves asparagus.

189 Books

5 boxes of new books were delivered this week and thanks to a couple of canceled classes, I got all of them processed today.  Can't wait for the kids to see them on Monday!  So many graphic novels!

12 Month Check-Up

Korra weighs 17 lbs and is 27 in long.

Working on the Railroad

Almost all the railroad crossings are closed for repair.  Really hard to get around town- especially if you live on the "wrong side of the tracks" like we do.

So Much Gray Hair

Decided to go get my hair cut since I took a half-day for Korra's doctor appointment.  I had no idea the salon would be so busy on a Thursday at noon.  Maybe it's senior citizen discount day?

They Shrunk

My nursing bras suddenly don't fit anymore.

First Ride

Took Korra for a ride in her new wagon.  She loved it!

Out with the old, in with the new

Ran couple reports and did a little math and figured out that in the past calendar year, I have discarded 2,269 books.  In that same time period, I also bought 882 new books.  I also decreased my average book age by 5 years!

Boxes of new books were delivered but I'm too busy today to process them. Sad librarian.

Little Red Wagon

My parents bought Korra a Radio Flyer for her birthday and like a truly good father, Nate put it together for her as soon as we got home.

We finally had the whole family together and totally failed to get a photo.

Tired Girl

Unfortunately, Korra was pretty tired by cake time.  She enjoyed the few bites I gave her before she just started rubbing her face, thereby spreading frosting from the edges of her mouth all over her face and hair, making her just as messy as if we had given her a smash-cake.  She then had a very enjoyable birthday bath.

Birthday Cake

Here's the cake I baked for Korra.

Cousin Clark

Korra and Clark!  8 months apart but only about 2 inches and 1 pound difference in height and weight!

Happy first birthday to my amazing daughter, Korra Mae!