Yikes

Poor Zoey, Sarah and Trevor are without power from the big snowstorm in CT. Their house was 56 degrees yesterday afternoon, and you know it was colder once the sun went down. They can't go to Sarah's parents' house, because they are also without power. Keep them in your thoughts - no power and no heat is rough with a 1 year old in the house.Sarah liked my kindergarten-teacher-idea of painting with pudding. Looks like Zoey liked it even more!

Stuff that Makes Me Mad, Part One

RIDICULOUS SALARIES

Average police officer's
annual salary: $48,210
They risk their lives daily,
to save the lives of innocent people.If you divide by 365 days in a year,
that's $132 a day.


Average elementary school teacher's
annual salary: $40,063
We teach kids to read. And write. And do math.
And, increasingly, how to be
a productive citizen
(since a lot of kids are getting
less of that at home.)Divided by 365, that's $109 a day.


Average NBA player's
annual salary: $5,150,000.
They're paid to play 82 games a year.
They're paid to play games.That's $14,109 a day.


And they're on strike because
their salary might drop by 5%.

Poor things will only be left with
$4,892,500 per year.

Only $14,000 more
per day than teachers.

How will they live on only
$59,664 per game?

Do they realize that they will still
make more for ONE of their 82 games
than a police officer or a teacher
makes for an ENTIRE YEAR?

Aren't they embarrassed to be
mad about that salary cut?

I know they have
special athletic talents
that most people don't have.I get that.

But how many lives
have they saved?

How many kids
have they taught to read?

Wordless Wednesday

Almost wordless, because you know me!
Today is the ARL Installation Assembly.
Stresses me out!!!
130 kids on a field trip
and I had to have training
in how to administer emergency meds
to a diabetic kid and several asthmatics.
Therefore, a funny for you!

Why I Like Animals Better Than a Lot of People

I guess that sounds bad. But it's true.
Here are some reasons:

They're not afraid to tell you when you look stupid.

They listen to their moms.

They're not afraid to reach for the stars.

They know how to relax. Without alcohol.

They're not afraid to be themselves.

They're loyal.

They're good listeners.

They don't need words to say thank you.
Hope my animal friends gave you a smile today.

Hi and WOW!!

How did I miss AN ENTIRE WEEK???? Okay, first of all, we went to GRANDBABYLAND!!!!!!!!!! This time, it was the SC version of Grandbabyland, so we got to see Avery. I've decided to put a spin on the usual Nannie pics - I am the least photogenic person on earth, so I blurred my face in this one. But I just HAD to show you how HUGE he is!!!!
he is only 8 months old!!!!!!!!!!
We had a FABULOUS time, I can't tell you how much fun we packed into our visit!! Of course, I was uber sad when we got back.

I was also uber sad because I let my husband talk me into stepping onto a scale while we were there and O M G!!!!!!! Therefore, I've been exercising every morning before school.

And now it's ARL time. Here's a link to a post if you want to read about ARL.

This year, I have 130+ 4th and 5th grade kids to place in jobs and lots of new challenges.

So between ARL spreadsheets, ARL ID badges, ARL job lists to post, SmartBoard activities I've created for my class, in addition to exercising each morning, I have not been on the computer much. Anyway, I am BACK and will try to post again tomorrow or Sunday. I'm sorry if you've been checking, only to find NADA!

Lke Father, Like Daughter

Hey, it's Zoey's FIRST WRITTEN WORD!!!!!!!!
This was sent to me by her proud daddy. Not bad for 13 months old, eh?

Oh, and PLEASE GO HERE and check out the AWESOME animation her daddy, Trevor, did for an ESPN blog!! Click that arrow and make sure your speakers are on! Nannie/Momma is just bursting with pride over her two great writers!!

Evening conferences tonight, so I need to get going early to straighten up my messy classroom. Company's coming! LOL

From the Mouths of Babes

My kindergartners say the funniest things.
We've been learning about the 5 senses.
Today, a little girl told me she could 'hear' trees.
I asked how that was possible.
She said (making a swaying motion),
"When they wave."

Another child said he could smell acorns.
I said skeptically, "You could SMELL an acorn?"
He said, "Yeah, if I got close enough!"

I asked another child if he could touch a lion.
He said, "NO, it would bite me."

And when I asked a little girl if she could touch a butterfly,
she looked at me like I was crazy and said,
"NO, they fly up in the sky."

LOL

How Did This Happen?

Avery's mommy requested a
monkey Halloween costume for him.
I'm making him this one,
except the felt is a gold/camel color.He will look cuter than this boy,
because, well, he's just cuter, LOL.


And here is a real tear-jerker,
at least for me it was.
Zoey is wearing this costume.

And here is her DADDY, wearing it in 1983.
(Same exact costume...with the eyes repaired.)
I made it for him.
That's my mom holding his hand.
She has been gone since 1991.
How did this happen,
that I somehow "lost" 28 years??
Where did that time go?
It's hard to comprehend how time flies...

Gotta Be Fair

One of my daughters-in-law once commented that we are the most FAIR grandparents she knows. (This was part of a conversation about why Pop-Pop and I can't move to either CT or SC...otherwise, it's like we're saying, "See ya later, Avery!" or "Have a nice life, Zoey!" while we live within a few minutes of the OTHER grandchild. Does this make sense? We could fly, but there's this little thing called MONEY.
But I digress.)
Anyway, Avery is getting SO big, too!
And YOU are going to have to put up with more Proud Nannie pics!
Here he is:

And look, TOOTHIES!!Nannie loves you, Avery!

Look How BIG

Zoey is getting!!
I didn't contact her little friend's mom to get permission to show his face, but I LOVE this photo and wanted to post it - hence the blurred oval.
These were taken at the Apple Harvest Festival where Zoey lives.
All I can say is thank goodness for cameras and webcams.
She is growing SO FAST!!
Nannie loves you, ZoZo!!!!

New BOY-FRIENDLY Monogrammed Tote

Don't you just LOVE our new tote?
This is for Addison's little brother.
I LOVE the rickrack on the handles!!


Addison's Nana previously ordered this

and this from us

Here's the listing for our new tote. You'll have to copy and paste into your browser if you want to see it. Blogger won't let me do a live link today!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58460801/childs-lined-tote-bag-totes-for-all

Monday

My sentiments, exactly, Cat.

(I like the end, where they mock Cat.
Cat, apparently, does not.)

Silent Saturday

Not really silent, because I stink at keeping my mouth shut.
But short, because I'm so excited...
we're going to the Fall Festival today!

CLICK HERE
to check out the
great food, fun folk art, cool performers...

So I'll leave you with this thought: