Tourist

Today's Halloween costume includes a "sunburn" and Crocs with socks. 

Kitchen Gadget Library

I need this!

A Little Too Much for 8 AM

I was sent an email about what changes still need to be made to our new website, but it was written in black and orange and contained as many Halloween references as possible.  I just can't bring myself to read through the puns and take it seriously.

Lunch, Interrupted

My lunch (of pinto beans and cornbread) was interrupted 6 times in 30 minutes... then a class came in.  Guess I'll be needing an afternoon snack!

Potlucky

Second potluck dinner in a row.  Yesterday for a neighborhood meeting and tonight for church. 

Chalk Plus Black Pants

Scoli-what?

Did you know we still show the same scoliosis video (staring Corri English) that they showed when I was in 8th grade?  Apparently scoliosis, unlike hair and clothing styles, hasn't changed in 20 years. 

Skullcrusher

Terrible, horrible headache this morning. Was tempted to call in sick but then I remembered I have 8 eighth grade classes today, my assistant is doing the scoliosis screening, and I'm supposed to take pictures when they announce Teacher of the Year.

I want to help with Daddy

Freeing

Knowing that someone doesn't like you is incredibly freeing.  Now I don't have to go out of my way to be nice to this particular person.  There's no worrying that she'll be annoyed with me when I ask for that thing I need- I already know she thinks I'm bothersome so I might as well live up to it!

Kind of Awkward

Guess who was at my brother's wedding?  My high school boyfriend (BW) and his family. It was a little awkward (we didn't talk except to say hello) but I did chat with his wife about Call the Midwife and Korra spent a good part of her night running around with his 2 year old daughter. Weird world. 

Weird Weather

It was 88* when I went for a walk this afternoon. The high on Saturday is only supposed to be 66. I'd really like it to be somewhere in between for a little bit. 

Brian and Anna's Wedding

Helped decorate the reception venue. Cried when I saw the look on my brother's face when he saw his bride.  Chatted and laughed with cousins, aunts, and uncles I haven't seen in years. Watched Korra dance for over an hour and have the time of her life. 

Blog Readers

Sitting with my sister and cousin who both told me they read my blog posts to their coworkers on occasion. This makes me really happy. 

Late Gift

Stopping at Target on our way out of town to get a wedding gift. Better late than never, right?

Bribery

Nate does not like to get up early.  I want to leave as soon as possible tomorrow, so I've promised him we can stop for breakfast at Taco Bell.  Needless to say, Korra and I will be having oatmeal before we leave.

My Brother's Wedding

My brother just sent me a PDF wedding guide- timeline, addresses, places to eat, etc.  It's getting real, folks!  

Swings

Someone else rocks her boots and loves to swing. 

More Compliments

I've gotten more compliments on my new boots than on any other item of clothing I've ever owned.  Why did I wait so long?

New Boots!

Wearing my first pair of boots (ever).  Got them from Zulily.  I've already gotten compliments on them!

Big Girl

The crib is gone. My baby is such a big girl!

Fun Food

For the baby shower I made spinach artichoke dip and toffee apple dip (two of my favorites!).  For church tonight I made an amazing chocolate bunt cake (using this recipe).  I love having a reason to make good (but not good for you) food and friends to share them with now and then.

Korra's 2nd Birthday Photos

Since we did Korra's first birthday photos a month late, we continued the tradition for her second birthday.

Climbing Out

Korra climbed/fell out of her crib for the first time today. We'll disassemble the crib tomorrow!

Outside Cat

Nobby has officially become an outside cat. He sprayed my leg. So. Gross. 

Overbooked

Lunch with college friends. Afternoon neighborhood baby shower. Dress shopping (for my brother's wedding). Game night with trivia friends. I may have overbooked myself a tad today. 

Homecoming

It's our alma mater's homecoming weekend. Korra loves the mascot!

Daytime Sisters

Korra and her Daytime Sister today at the playground and later watching the band at the high school football game. 

Texters

I got woken up by text messages twice. A college student texted me at midnight. My principal texted me at 5am. Those are both clearly in normal people sleep time, right?

Korra's Favorite Book

Korra's favorite book right now is Everywhere Babies.  I love, love, love the illustrator (Marla Frazee) and I love this book best of all.  I'm glad it's Korra's favorite.  Besides reading it every night, she also enjoys reading to to herself several times a day.  She's memorized nearly all of it, but it seems she prefers to make up words but read them to the same rhythm of the actual words.  Here are some of the things I have heard her repeating over and over as she flips through the pages "reading": not a good mood, not long ago, no end, sook-sook (whatever that means!).  Also, she'll give you a book and tell you, "You read your own book" and then go sit somewhere else in the room and say, "I reading Everywhere Babies by myself."

More by Sara Zarr

I read 2 more books by Sara Zarr.  They were really enjoyable, very feelings/family dynamics oriented teen reads.  The Lucy Variations and Sweethearts.

Katie and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Morning

Hurt my back at yoga last night (first time I've EVER gotten hurt at yoga- something just *pinged* in my back during a pose).  Didn't sleep well because of the storm and power kept going off and on.  Made cream of wheat for Korra and myself with spoiled milk.  Dropped my phone on my pinkie toe and it's now got a black blood blister.

Cabin Recap

Ate the most delicious caramel apple ever. Korra told a lady at the church we visited, "don't sit by me."  Read a good book. Tried 2 new Pintrest recipes. Watched part of Survivor: Pearl Islads. Woke up way too early due to Korra's stuffy nose (but she did cuddle with me for a hour in bed each morning- a rare thing for her). Played Speed Scrabble, Smart Ass, and King of Tokyo. Can't wait to go back for Thanksgiving. 

Overalls

Since they've never gone out of style for toddlers...

Fall Break!

My 3 day weekend at the cabin is about to begin!

Maple Syrup

For the past 2 days, I keep getting whiffs of maple syrup around the library.  I started to think I was having a stroke or something (because, clearly, there is NO maple syrup in the library).  Just figured it out.  The newest "flavor" of hand sanitizer- maple syrup.  Apparently it's very popular with the middle school crowd.  Ewww.

Flashbacks?

I saw 2 girls wearing acid washed overalls today.

Pesky Procrastinators

I have no patience for procrastinators- which is why I am in a bad mood at the end of every grading period.  Thankfully it'll be over tomorrow and I won't have to deal with these whiney, wait-til-the-last-minute students for 9 more weeks.  

2 More Days

2 more days of work and then a 3day weekend at the cabin!

E-Books Fail

Accidentally ordered 5 ebooks- which I don't have the capabilities to circulate.  Trying to see if they'll refund me or send me hard copies.

But Why?

Thanks to Korra's Daytime Sister (that's what we call the 3 year old girl that Nate watches in the afternoons), Korra has started the "Why?" phase a whole year early.  After nearly every statement I make Korra asks, "But why?"

Hashtag?

I just had a teacher use a #hashtag# in an email.  An email that was only to me.  That's weird, right?

$268

We got 2,680 BoxTops turned in and the kids loved hearing their favorite teacher sing Let It Go over the announcements this morning.  He was such a good sport.  Already looking forward to doing it again in February!

Recent Reads

On a whim, I picked up What We Lost at the library.  I could hardly put it down.  So I grabbed another book by Sara Zarr, How to Save a Life, and it was just as good.  They're realistic fiction about teenage girls dealing with big, life-shattering family issues (think a parent dying, a parent's alcoholism, etc).  I enjoyed them so much I've gotten several other books by this author on reserve at the library.

I also picked up This One Summer on a whim, a coming of age graphic novel that I read one sitting.

Coke Habit

Drank a Coke to get rid of a headache last week.  Having a terrible time weaning off it.

One End or the Other

Korra didn't puke at church tonight but she did have a blow-out diaper (first on forever!)

Korra and Cole

Huntsville

Off to Huntsville, AL to meet me new nephew Cole!

Flu Shot

Woke up every time I rolled onto my left side.  Stupid flu shot made my arm sore.

Insurance Is Crap

Called my insurance today and discovered that they'll cover an eye doctor appointment but not the refraction (the test to find out your prescription). And, they'll cover a tubal ligation  (tubes tied) at 100% but don't cover a vasectomy at all. Such BS. 

Calm Voice

Dealt with some challenging students. Had to work had to use my "calm voice."

Stupid Salad

I do not want to eat the salad I packed for lunch.  I want to eat pancakes and bacon.  Or lasagna and garlic bread.  Or a brownie and ice cream.  I am not a fan of this whole metabolism-slowing-down thing.

Black Mold Update

The first maintenance guy was wrong.  It's just a bad case of mildew and only on a square yard area on one wall (and not next to a book shelf!)  Good news!

I'll Give You One Guess

Guess who has BLACK MOLD growing in her library?

Sibling College

Last night I dreamed that my siblings and I were all going to the same college at the same time and that we had decided to rent an apartment together.  So weird.