Crunch time

It has been much longer than I would have liked since my last blog. However, CRCT is in TWO weeeks! This is what my kiddos and I have worked so hard for! Needless to say it's crunch time!

Last week was spring break. I did not waste one minute of my time off. We started the break off with a trip to Cochran to see my good friend Kristen marry her best friend Charlie. The wedding was so sweet. Both Kristen and Charlie had little girls from previous relationship, and they blended a family sand figurine during the ceremony. It was so sentimental and represented the new blended life they are joining. I know they will have many years of happiness ahead.

We also worked really hard on continuing our project of relandscaping our yards. Yes, this is a rental house. No, I do not care. If I am going to live somewhere it is going to be pretty. We have completely gutted the front yard and it looks so great. Rob has even gotten quite enthusiastic about the progress and outcome. He is very anti-yard work. All of the compliments from our neighbors and random people have been a great source of motivation.

I did take one day off and go shopping in Valdosta. Ahh, retail therapy does the body and soul good! Besides the retail side of things it was just amazing spending the time with Rob. He was able to take most of the week off and we soaked up the time together.

Mama's birthday was on Friday and it was just a long day! We went for the day to Hazlehurst and spent the time with Rob's mama. It was fun! We haven't seen her since Christmas and when we were use to seeing her almost everyday, we have missed her. We helped clean up her yard some and I got some of her daylilies. I was excited. We are going to help her form a bed for part of her mother's day present. We came home and took mama out for Mexican for her birthday. Prior to two years ago I had never seen my mom drink an alcoholic drink. In the last few years she's loosened up and will have a margarita or glass of wine now and then. She was precious and I was just intoxicated. It was fun to say the least.

For mama's birthday I painted her a portrait of her sidekick, sport. I was excited as to how it turned out. Mama loved it. I still have a few final touches, but his personality is really shown in the picture. I wish I could draw and paint all the time. However, life just does not allow it. . . .

We have worked alot on the inside of our house. Moved things around, hung up pictures. It really feels and looks like home. I promise to take pictures soon.

Next stop is our garden. We have planted seeds and they are sprouted. Rob is tilling up the space tomorrow. By summer we will have all fresh produce. If you've never had a garden you do not know what you are missing. It saves tons of money and is so much healthier.

Spring break was hard in a way .... I missed all of my students. A lot of my kids come from rough homes. Therefore, I worried. Were they getting fed? Are their parents somewhat monitoring? I just missed our stories and the fun. Not the attitudes and talkingback. I love every single one of my kids so much. One of the girls I tutor asked me the other day who my favorite was. I went through and thought about it. I could not figure it out. She finally said, "Mrs. White, they're all your favorites aren't they?" And she's right. I don't know what I'll do without them this summer. We are family.

Well, SACCS and GAPS visits our school tomorrow. Therefore, I will write more after the CRCT.

Always,

This thing called life.....

I am in no way trying to complain about life right now. When I look around at the things that have happened to so many of my friends, colleagues, or even others in the blog community I know that I should count my blessings. However, I'm just ugh. I haven't seen the person I call my Husband for more than three hours when I'm not sleeping in around a week. I know that this is our life right now. But, I'm just over this part. I wish he was done with school and could have normal hours. He goes to work at four. Well, I'm a teacher. What time do I get to leave the school? Four. I know it will get better in time. However, I'm just being a grump tonight. I'm lucky enough to be able to tutor four amazing kiddos each afternoon and this helps a lot. I am seeing all of them make such improvements and love each of them dearly.

As I'm writing this Rob comes home early from work because I've been so upset about missing him. Gah, I love that boy.

Enough of that venting and feeling sorry for myself. The writing test was last week. To say my class was behind grade level at the beginning of the year is putting it lightly. Most of my students thought it was amazing if they could write five sentences in August. Last week, I cried during the writing test. They did AMAZING. Every single one of my students did exactly as we had practiced. They all wrote on topic, most were at least a page and a half in length, and about half wrote in PARAGRAPHS! I was so excited and proud. I guess proud was the best word for last Wednesday. Now, we are on to the CRCT. I know they can do it!

As I've mentioned in previous post, Rob and I are renting a house in Tifton. To say that the house has been a constant money pit in fixing what the owner might not always consider important things would be about right. However, the neighborhood is PERFECT. Rob and I love it here. Other than being literally five houses down from my mom, our other neighbors are amazing. Caroline, a fourth grader across the street has taken over the roll as little sister. As well as, a fun drawing partner. We do not want to move and love it here. Therefore, we are staying put, as long as it is in the cards and despite the constant upkeep.

My favorite part of the upkeep is the yards. The yards at this house have not been touched in around at least ten years. So far we have completely gutted the left side and are preparing to plant oak leaf hydrangeas there. This bed was formally covered in ivy. We are still in pain. =). We've also extended the front bed to help lose the funeral home look of the house. I will post pictures when we are done. Yesterday it took us an hour to dig up an ollllllllld tea olive shrub that had been there at least thirty years. However, we did it =). To some this kind of stuff might seem like a never ending chore. Rob laughed at me every time i'd pull up a huge vine and ivy and say YES! It's more like therapy and I looove it.

After completing the current masters class I will be half way done. This program is sooo difficult. It is a constant stress factor and I cannot wait to be done! I have this thing called baby fever and so it needs to hurry up! Despite the fever, I'm not stupid. I have to have this done prior to babies if I can help it.

Until next time.

Keeping up with everything!

WOW has it been a while!

So much has happened.....

1. WE got married!

2. We had our first Christmas together

3. I got a brand new computer, that was much much needed.

I'm sure there was a lot of stuff in between. But that that is the majority of it!

My class is going amazing! We have two weeks until the state writing test so the crunch time has begun.Only 8 weeks until CRCT. Oh, how I have already begun to worry.

The best news is that one of my babies was tested into special education. Having her be in fifth grade and just now tested in was a huge accomplishment! My coworkers and I worked very hard but we made this happen. One of my babies has been off of his medicine for three weeks and we were beginning to beat our heads against the walls. Despite being on/off medicine, he has probably one of the most precious personalities that I've ever came across. This week I told him that I was going to have gray hair by the end of the year..... Well, he proceeds to tell me not to worry he's got some money and he was going to buy me some tracks? I said honey they don't make any for my hair. Oh, was I wrong. The next day he came to school and he had already figured me out a new hair style and he made sure they had it in dark brown =). Moments like these remind me why I love my job so much, even when his behavior makes me want to cry 90 % of the day.

We have began to buy some furniture for the house and it is slowly starting to look more and more like a home. Molly is eating us out of house and home. Beast is so far over his heart worm scare. Riley Anne is her charming self, and tonight Hershel Walker had a tad bit of a scare. Rob bought me a tazor? It is police grade, quite lethal if you asked me. I feel more dangerous than with a small hand gun. He got it for my safety at the school, since I go and work on the weekends. And a coworker and I are usually by ourselves. Well, despite growing up around different types of guns I still watch way to many Criminal Minds and watch too much news. I have a fear of shooting myself or someone else. All week we've had this Tazor gun and Rob has been dying to use the practice round. Well, after an hour of begging I give in. I shot it up high and didn't realize that Hershel was in my lap. He and I both flipped out and he ended up having his right cheek grazed by the thing that came out. Mama came down and saved the day while I cried hysterical. One reason we cannot move.... she was here in two minutes. Hello, these are her grandbabies.

On a much lighter note, I have started tutoring to allow Rob to focus on school more. I have completely fallen in love with these kids. It lets me know that it doesn't matter if I have the gifted class or the EIP class, I am doing exactly what I am suppose to be doing. I love my job. Every single minute.

One of the kids I tutor lives across the street, Caroline. I have fallen in love with this child. When Rob works we spend hours playing Just Dance on the Wii, Drawing, Dollar Tree Shopping..... the list goes on and on. Now, Rob has even gotten hooked and it lets me know how lucky I am to have a husband who loves being around kids as much as I do. Caroline has become our niece that we don't have yet or even a little sister. It's so nice to be in a neighborhood where this type of thing is possible. We have decided we can never move. =).

I have rambled on and on and I have got to finish working on homework, but it will be ook since I get to play on my brand new macbook pro which I am in love with!

I will leave with a few pictures from the wedding......

Is getting married in TWELVE days! No time for blogging lately due to the upcoming marriage. =) Can't wait to get back at it!

Answered Prayers

Hello all!

SOoooo much has happened since my last post! The last three weeks have gone by in a whirlwind! Here are the highlights:

We looked at a house in Tifton,prior to going to Atlanta to see my precious neice. WE LOOOOVED it and claimed it!

We went to atlanta- had a blast and get to see that little girl I call Caroline!

We came to Tifton and immediately started moving stuff from Tifton, Hazlehurst and Macon. It took A full week and three 12 foot trailors and 4 truck loads and 4 packed cars to get all the stuff here.

The next week. . . . . FRIDAY the 30 rolls around and I hear about a job opening. I FLY to the school and drop off my resume. Before I could even get home, I was called for an interview. Once home I found out that there were 150 applicants- needless to say I did not have much hope.

MONDAY had an interview at 9:30 and got a call at about 2:45 . . . . . THAT I HAD GOTTEN A JOB AS A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER! All prayers were answered. GOD IS AMAZING!

I have the most amazing job at a great school and even greater co-workers! I couldn't have asked for a better school and I'm so thankful for the opportunity.

I think this about sums up the last few weeks. Molly Jane has grown sooo much. Had to go buy some new shoes this afternoon because she has eaten four pairs of mine. I know I know put them up high- well evidently she can climb. SOOOOOO. She's eating us out of house and home.


I am really going to try and update more. I just don't leave the school until 8 and i'm there by 7, sooooo. My time is just limited right now!

Hope to catch up on lots of blogs this week. Cannot wait to read all about it =)

We're moving, we're moving!

Hello all,

Last week my mom found us the most precious house! She's taken bunches of pictures and we are in love with it! The house is not even a whole block away from my mom. It has hardwood floors all the way through and tile in the kitchen and bathroom. It is soo precious! It's a little pricier than we wanted. However, its worth it being in the middle of town and so close to my mom. We are so excited! We are set to move at the end of this month =).

School is going great and so unbelievably hard. It's just three times the amount of reading than i'm use too. Its not really hard it's just soooo much! But, oh well we are all doing great so we will keep on with it i guess =)!
I can't believe this is the third thing i'm writing about, but we found the most precious little thing on Friday night and we decided we had to keep her instantly. She is absolutely the cutest thing EVER! WE named her Molly Jane. We think she's part rottweiler and part something else. Here she is, we hid her in my pocket book so that we could take her into walmart to get all of her goodies. She is still a baby baby.

We were up almost all night friday the only part of the night Saturday night. She's doing great wtih the other animals though. But, it is a good thing we're moving b/c we have officially outgrown this apartment!

We are heading to ATL this weekend to see Rob's brother and his family. Most importantly their precious little baby, Caroline! She is soo cute!

Hope everyone has a great week!

It's Independence Day!

It's Independence Day! Everytime I hear that phrase I think of the Martina McBride song, Independence Day. AHhh great song!

So I went to Tallahassee on a job hunt and came back more frustrated than before if that is possible. However, I am a lot calmer about the situation the more that I think about it and pray about it. As I mentioned in my previous post, my Mom and I both started our Masters this week. The work load for this is beyond what I thought it would be. I just feel like Tifton is where we need to be. It is where we always intended to end up and despite the rocky business of not having a teaching job. We feel we just need to head on down.

My masters program is proving that it will be alot of work. However, I'm so excited to be doing it with mama and the other girls I graduated with. Most of us are in the same class and it is so much easier doing it with someone you know and having that support system.

So I guess it's about that time to move. We have to find an apartment/house to rent in T-town soon. Like within the next three weeks! So if anyone knows of anything please let me know asap!

Tomorrow we are going to celebrate Rob's dad's 65th Birthday! It should be an afternoon with good food and great family time. However, we will have to come home and finish homework for the week. Ahhhh, two students in the house is waaay to much =)!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy fourth of july! It's days like these that I miss Aunt Marolyn the most. It seems odd that we aren't all heading to the lake to celebrate. It's so hard and weird how things have changed. Cherish the time you have with your friends and family, you never know how long you have with them.