Half-Past Kissin' Time

Dog Days of Summer School

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:23:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but when it comes to summer school, I used to associate it with punishment, makeup credits, community service, etc. but at the school at which I teach, summer school is actually quite fun. Students have all kinds of options in addition to keeping their academic skills up. For the past three weeks, I've taught summer school classes that included academics as well as fun activities like making tie blankets, hand-sewn pillows, and puffy paint fidgets.

Here are a couple of snaps of the fun.

I brought Milo and Steve to summer school classes this week. I justified it by creating some lessons on basic dog care and training, which the kids loved. Each day, we spent an hour working on reading skills, an hour on math skills, and an hour working on crafts and learning about dogs. Milo and Steve were ecstatic about being able to leave with me in the morning, and my students adored them.

Steve got some great exercise on the day students learned that "a tired dog is a good dog."

He fetched until we made him stop, and he spent the rest of the day and night sleeping.lol

Milo was a big hit because he enjoys being cuddled.

He also loves being so close to a table top,

which likely reminded him of our dinner table and gave him hope.

(He's not allowed near the table at our house.)

He also cooperates with dress-up time,

which this week involved special crafts.

Summer school is over now, and I'm looking forward to sleeping in for a few days before heading off on a cross-country road trip. Milo has assured me that he would be no trouble at all if I let him come along, but he will be staying home with Steve and our cat Ted.. It'll be tough to say goodbye this face, though.

How about you? Anything fun planned for this summer?

Birthday Wisdom from My Mom, Elsie

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 03:13:00 +0000

Mom turned 88 today. We're so lucky to have her with us.

Mr4444, Child Whisperer

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 03:55:00 +0000

Mr.4444 has always loved little kids, probably because he is a kid at heart. Kids love him, too, as evidenced by the reactions he gets out of them. Every where he goes, Mark goes out of his way to engage the little ones. When we used to go to church as a family, I'd sometimes have to admonish him for paying more attention to the babies around us than the sermon. He couldn't help it; he just loves baby smiles. At a wedding this weekend, it was no different; Mr. 4444 and the flower girl (Sophia, also a house guest of ours for the weekend). Here he is, playing peek-a-boo with her while her parents stood in line for dinner.

He's the king of weird face making.

Just look at this little cutie's reaction.

Mr.4444 can't wait to be a grandpa.

It's going to be a while, as neither of our children are expecting to be parents soon.

In the meantime, he'll get plenty of practice.

Adorable Elsie

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 21:25:00 +0000

Heard any good corny jokes lately? My mom has a good one:

My mom Elsie is as active as she is corny and cute. Eighty-eight years young, she recently stopped driving, and we seven local siblings have picked up the slack to drive her to her many weekly activities: her hangout with singing friends called the Stumblebums, a few mornings per week at the YMCA for swimming, church choir practice, standing Saturday morning breakfast date with friends, and church on Sundays to sing in the choir. She also cross stitches nearly every day, bakes cookies and other treats, and goes to weekend crafting sleepovers. She's always doing something fun, and she never lets anything get her down for long. For example, she recently had an eye surgery that required her to face downward for 24 hours. When I called her the next morning to see how her night had gone, she chirped, "Oh, it went great! I even wrote a song to share!" You can listen to that little ditty here, but the point is we could all learn a lot from Mom's attitude towards life. That's why we decided to set up a YouTube channel just for her. On it, we shared all kinds of clips of Mom's jokes, song, and stories. If you're ever feeling down, head over to Elsie Mae C's YouTube channel--It's sure to pick you up. Mom's up to 37 subscribers as of this blog post, and she is shocked and tickled to death! Care to join her?

For more blog posts about Mom, click here.

Heard in the Classroom: Effort

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 21:21:00 +0000

A 6th grade student with wisdom (but also a learning disability) was inspired yesterday to create this inspirational message that I just had to share.

Trying your best is the key, but not trying at all will not get you anywhere in life.

I have a feeling she's going places, that one.

Hope this finds you well, happy, and warm. Thanks for checking in.

Labor of Love: Painted Cooler Wedding Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 01:13:00 +0000

Have you ever heard of cooler painting? I hadn't until a year or two ago, when Kendall painted a cooler for a dear friend for her birthday. It's apparently been all the rage on college campuses, especially within sororities, more so in the south. There are Facebook groups filled with girls sharing their ideas and how-tos. You can spend hours checking out painted coolers on Pinterest here, too.

This is the cooler Kendall painted for her friend.

The last scene was inspired by a photo of Kendall and her friend in Hawaii.

As you can imagine, she spent many, many hours on that cooler,

and it was very much appreciated by her friend.

She also painted a small "bubba keg" for another dear friend...

Clearly, if Kendall really loves you, she's willing to go all out, which is why it didn't surprise me when she told me last spring that she wanted to paint a cooler for Kyle's and Alayna's wedding gift. She didn't even entertain the idea of buying them something; she wanted to do something from her heart.

When you paint a cooler, you buy the cooler, remove the hardware, and sand the surface of the entire cooler, including signs of the brand markings. Any parts that aren't being painted need to be taped over. The prepping alone takes a number of hours (not to mention tools, lol). She started the project in May and spent every spare minute on it in the months before the wedding. Had she had consistent time off (without commitments), she estimates that it would have taken "a couple of weeks."

The cooler that Kendall bought is medium sized, the type on wheels, like luggage almost. It's perfect for a trip to the beach. (Since Kyle and Alayna now live in San Diego, it made sense!)

Before she could begin painting, Kendall had to come up with the images and words she planned to paint. She conducted a lot of research on line after reflecting on the interests Kyle and Alayna share. Here's the finished product. Because the cooler was sealed with epoxy resin (the same coating that goes on bar tops (to make them durable), the photos show a glare at times. I took a number of snaps with my camera, but that SD card disappeared, so I'm sharing iPhone photos:

(the maps are of places Kyle and Alayna have visited together)

Binge-watching Netflix is another mutual interest of Kyle and Alayna.

(with a twist on the login screen--It is a beer cooler, after all.)

The next photo doesn't do the top justice,

but it has a woodgrain-looking appearance that looks amazing.
What you don't see is a bottle opener attached inside the lid, too.

Just for fun, soda caps were glued into the bottom.

I conservatively estimate that Kendall spent forty hours creating this one-of-a-kind gift.

Kyle and Alayna love it.

Fly Hunter Harassment

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 00:46:00 +0000

Two little knuckleheads wishing they had a fly to entertain them. (They're my sister's Havatons.)

Don't they have expressive faces?

I hope they made you smile :)

Oil Pulling and Pushing

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 19:47:00 +0000

So I made this entertaining oil pulling video for you guys, complete with miming, humming, talking with my eyes and hand signals, etc. Here's what happened.

Skinny and Company makes a great product for oil pulling, which apparently has many benefits for your oral health. Have you ever tried it? Do you think it's hokey, are you curious, might you try it? To get 15% off an order from Skinny and Company, you can use the code SKINNYCO15.

Adventures with Skinny and Company

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 19:18:00 +0000

Interested in Skinny and Company's 100% virgin coconut oil?

Use the code: SKINNYCO15 for a 15% discount on all of their products!

So Bummed

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 23:25:00 +0000

If you know me or have read Half-Past Kissin' Time for a while, you know that this is my favorite, favorite tree.

Right at the edge of an ever changing farm field, she has held court for years,

catching my eye, standing proudly, showing off her quirky shape and healthy glow.

I have trouble articulating why I've loved her so much,

but I think it's something about her asymmetry, her beauty.

She just has character, and every time I've driven past her over these past 16 years,

she's made my heart swell a little.
If you've ever been with me in the car as we passed this beauty, you'll remember me pointing her out.
If you and I are Facebook friends, she needs no introduction.

As you probably know, I've often been compelled to pull over and take photos of "my" tree.

Maybe I just appreciated her predicability, her dependability,

her regular reminder to stop and admire nature amidst this busy world,

her spirit of openness, of reaching for the sky with arms outstretched, come rain or shine.

I've used the photos for my blog header a number of times,

and my sister knew I loved the tree when she included them

in a thoughtful photo book she once gave to me as a gift.

I can't find the digital originals now, but here are a few snaps....

Last spring, I actually pulled onto the little lane next to my tree and studied her;

I wanted to know why her trunk was misshapen, and I gained a whole new perspective.

I assumed she'd been struck by lightening back in the day,

and I marveled at her resilience.

I know it's crazy, but I thanked her for being awesome, and I drove home.

Today, when I passed my favorite tree, this is what I saw:

I assume she got struck by lightening,

as I could see some raw, white flesh from a distance.

Like a rubbernecker at the scene of a car wreck,

I was afraid of seeing too much, I guess;

I stopped only for this quick snap and moved on.

I didn't want to think about my beautiful tree being gone forever, not yet.

I don't know the owner of the property,

but I hope he/she is as sad as I am; I'll bet it hurt to have to finish the job.

I loved that tree.

Feeling Grateful

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 15:41:00 +0000

I have to start with a wedding photo, of course!

Need I say more?

Okay, I’ll say more. That’s our son Kyle, my mom Elsie, and our beautiful new daughter-in-law Alayna, one week ago yesterday, following their nuptials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is one of only a few photos I managed to snap with my phone that day; the rest were taken by a pro and will be shared down the road.

The bride and groom chose their sisters as their only attendants. Aren't they stunning? Kendall is thrilled to have not just one but two sisters out of the deal!

Monica and Kendall

(Stay tuned for more wedding details and pics.)

For the past couple of weeks, the state of our household involved a whirlwind of activity that would make working at Walmart on Black Friday look like a relaxing vacation. It started with the beginning of my school year (always chaotic, of course), followed by the arrival of Kendall’s Canadian boyfriend Nick, then the wedding, a wonderful group of houseguests including my niece Nicki and her family (plus her lovely sister Steph), followed by the arrival of new groom Kyle (who came home to drive all of his and Alayna’s belongings to California) and finally, the move of Kendall back to college with an entire apartment's worth of her belongings. Yesterday was a tough day, saying goodbye to both kids, plus driving four hours to Minneapolis and four more back in one day (Mr.4444 is an excellent and selfless driver). Needless to say, (or "seedless to nay," as Mom likes to say), it is quiet here this morning. I’m enjoying a cup of coffee and feeling a sense of peace and gratitude for a number of blessings:

*I’ve never seen Kyle more happy than at his wedding to Alayna; he was positively giddy with joy, and as I write this, he is safely halfway to their new home in sunny San Diego. Alayna moved there in June, when she landed a great nursing job, and Kyle (a job recruiter) was able to talk his boss into letting him work from home for a while and continue in California, so they are off to a great start! We are so happy for them. I’ll share more photos when other people share them, as I only took a few cell phone shots that day, just enjoyed the day and let others snap away. Speaking of which, here’s a great shot that my sister Michelle shared.

*My sister Mary took this next photo, which she entitled “Smokin’ in the Bathroom.” I share it because I worked very hard to fit into that dress and am happy I finally made it. I’m grateful for the continued health that’s allowed me to work out, feeling strong and healthy.

*I’m grateful for the many family members and friends who traveled to Milwaukee (two hours away) to help celebrate Kyle’s and Alayna’s marriage and for the fact that they all made it home safely.

*I’m grateful that Kendall, too, is in love and feeling inspired and excited about her studies about to commence (Did I tell you she’s going to be a special ed teacher?!). Parting from her sweet Nick in the next few days will be tough on them both, but her classes will be a nice distraction and will bring her joy, certainly.

*I’m grateful that we were able to break up our Minneapolis day trip up with a visit with Ed, my 96-year-old cousin who is such a dear. His daughter Mary, too, is such a gem, and they both made us laugh with their quick wits.

*I’m not gonna lie; I shed a tear or two when we said goodbye to Kyle yesterday, but I also harken back to the day that Mr.4444 and I drove away from Green Bay and our families, and that obviously turned out beautifully. I’m excited for Kyle and Alayna, embarking on their new adventure together, I’m grateful for their opportunities, and I look forward to one day being a grandma, of course.

*I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that I’m grateful that neither Mr.4444 nor I is sick, although everyone around us (Kendall, Nick, my mom, Mr.4444’s mom) have been very sick this week with one thing or another. My poor mom is now suffering with shingles, and Grandma 4444 is fighting a wicked chest cold; please keep them in your prayers. I’m also grateful that neither one got sick before the wedding!

*I’m grateful for the eight and a half hours of sleep that I enjoyed last night and the extra day (Labor Day) to rest before heading into another shortened week of school; it’s so nice to start the year gently. I’m part of a new team this year, and I’m feeling great about our professional chemistry together; it’s going to be a great year!

Finally, I'm not gonna lie about this, either; it's great to have our house back to ourselves; we can park both vehicles in the garage again, the only stuff laying around is our own, and I need only cook for two again. Of course, there's bedding to wash and plenty to clean up, but there's also a nap in my future and and one more day to sleep in. Life is good.

120 Years of Progress, Thank Goodness

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 21:06:00 +0000

There's something compelling about gymnastics. Maybe it's the potential danger? The thrill of flying through the air? I tried my hand at gymnastics as a kid; I did many a cartwheel and could even walk on my hands, but that's about the extent of it. I had two middle school friends who took gymnastics classes after school, and one day they said they'd teach me how to do a penny drop, but that ended with a head injury, so that was the end of my road to the Olympics. Maybe that's why I so admire today's female Olympic gymnasts and have enjoyed watching them this year.

Back in the day, it was thought that watching female Olympians would be boring. According to Wikipedia, Women began competing in the Olympics in 1900, just four years after the first modern day Olympics was held. (They only played golf and tennis.) They had to wait until 1928 to compete in gymnastics.

These British swimmers from the 1928 Olympics look like a fun bunch, don't they?

photo taken by Anonymous and shared via Wikipedia

You may have seen this awesome video from MTV; it shows the low expectations held for female gymnasts in the 1950's along side today's, and it makes me proud of how far we've come, though I also found it amusing.

I'm so glad I'm a woman of today and that my strength, tenacity, and independence are valued. I would have made a terrible 50s wife, though I might have kept up as a wimpy athlete.lol

Back to School, the Other "Teacher's Pet"

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 14:25:00 +0000

This Is Your Life Wedding Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 05:28:00 +0000

It's customary in this part of the world to "shower" future brides and grooms with gifts for their new life together. Like most people, I’ve been to a number of wedding showers. Here in Wisconsin, a typical shower looks like this: guests arrive, talk, eat snacks, play party games, then eat a meal followed by gift opening and eating cake. If you’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all. Years ago, though, my sisters and I threw a unique wedding shower for our sister Michelle. Our non-traditional, This Is Your Life shower was a big hit, and it was so long ago that I figured I could reprise it for Kyle’s and Alayna’s couples wedding shower this summer.

On the old television show, This Is Your Life, an unsuspecting guest was pulled from the audience and treated to a walk back into their pasts. Unbeknownst to them, family members had helped producers line up “mystery guests” from different points in their lives (childhood, adulthood, professional, neighborhood, etc). Out of sight, the mystery guests would share stories connected to their relationship with the person pulled from the audience, who would then try to guess who they were and would then be reunited with the old friend.

Since Kyle's fiancee Alayna is a great sport and isn’t a fan of being the center of attention anyway (and there was going to be another wedding shower in her home state of Minnesota), I got her blessing to have Kyle’s life be the focus of our shower. He had no idea what I was planning, which was so much fun. (Neither he nor Alayna had ever been to a shower of any kind, so they had no idea what to expect anyway.)

Here are a few clips from our shower.

The intro...[the only video that's a little shaky, I promise!]

Cailie and Kyle were great friends in high school.

Though they were in different grades, they connected via Student Council:

Mr. W, Kyle's former scout leader, really went all out:

Jerrod was a younger classmate:

Kyle's first grade teacher was a hoot!

As you may have noticed, I gave guests a list of the mystery guests and their relationships to Kyle, plus an explanation of what was going to take place so that they wouldn’t be completely lost.

A shower like this requires some planning; I had to first come up with a list of people from Kyle’s past. If you’re planning such an event, consider the following list (which could be expanded quite a bit for someone older than Kyle, who is only 24 and hasn’t been around that long, relatively): Former neighbors, babysitters, family members who’ve moved too far away to visit often, former employers, childhood friends, teachers, classmates, co-workers, etc.

Of course I also had to find and contact the mystery guests, explain the shower concept, and ask them if they’d be willing to participate. It’s important to note that only one of our eight mystery guests was actually invited to the wedding. They did not seem to mind. I recommend leaving former girlfriends/boyfriends off this list unless you’re certain there won’t be any issues. You need to decide an order for the guests and have someone help you keep them hidden until it’s time for them to come in. If you have it in your budget, you could consider buying token thank you gifts for the mystery guests.

A few guests couldn’t make it to the shower, so two recorded their stories and wedding wishes on video, which we projected to our TV so everyone could view them while Kyle sat with his back to the TV. One of the guests (who supervised Kyle in his job in Buenos Aires a few years ago) participated live via FaceTime (again, projected to the TV screen). Kendall was a big help for this aspect of the execution. We also practiced ahead of time and made sure the tv settings were correct before the shower.

I’ve created a video that explains how to plan a This Is Your Life Shower, in case anyone's interested.

As I mentioned previously, neither Kyle nor Alayna had ever attended a shower of any kind before this one. They thought it was great (especially the gift opening part, probably).

Have you ever been to a unique wedding or baby shower? Are showers different in your part of the world than they are here in Wisconsin?

Vote for Elsie!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 02:44:00 +0000

I have great news!! My mom (age 87 years young) is running for President! She gave her pitch at our semi-annual family reunion talent show last weekend. I think you'll find it far more appealing than any others you've heard lately, and I can vouch for her; she'd be a really fun president! See if you don't agree.

If you wouldn't mind helping share the video, I know that Mom would get a kick out of it. Please consider Pinning/Tweeting or otherwise sharing the YouTube link. Thanks!

Family Funny

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 02:34:00 +0000

My mom's side of the family has a reunion that takes place every other August. This year's was as fun as expected, including the usual visiting, eating (oh, the eating), and the talent show. (My mom's running for president, by the way; stay tuned for her act!)

My sister Michelle and I are always expected to perform the "Whimper and Whine" skit, which is forty years old. Seriously, I've been performing it on and off (against my will, mostly) since I was 12 years old. This year, Michelle and I decided to give it a twist as a surprise. With any luck, you'll find it entertaining. [Apologies for the "faded" look to the video. You'll forget about that soon enough, I think.]

In case that wasn't entertaining enough, I'm going to go out on a limb here and embarrass the heck out of myself by sharing an "outtake," if you will, videotaped with Michelle's phone when we were first getting together to practice at her house. I laughed so hard, I....

Well, just watch. (click on the word "watch" to get to the hyperlink)

In my defense, I was totally hunched over with my stomach folded up; that costume was super uncomfortable. Also, I'm over 50 years old and have had two kids. Plus, when I'm with Michelle, I can't help being silly sometimes; we have a lot of fun! (The best part is I have three other sisters with whom I crack up on a regular basis, as well.) It wasn't the first time I've laughed that hard, and I'm happy to assure that it won't be the last*.

*Don't worry; I kept everything under control during the talent show!lol

What Ted's Been Up to Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 05:00:00 +0000

As anyone who has kids or pets will tell you, you're never truly alone in the bathroom.

I captured this of our ragdoll cat Ted, who was entertaining himself recently as he waited for me.

Here's hoping you capture everything you reach for today! :)

Seeing Things Mom's Way

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 02:59:00 +0000

My sister Michelle posted this sentiment and photo on Facebook today:

There's something so special about my mother's kitchen sink. As much as I despised doing dishes as a kid, I love doing them for her now. Besides, today is her birthday, and growing up, we never had to do dishes on our birthday. You may see clutter. I see representations of her smile and the joy that she gets from the little things in life. #grandmaskitchen #knickknacks #memories #childhoodmemories

I smile at Michelle's observation, though these very knick-knacks recently impacted me recently when I cleaned Mom's windows and had to remove a great many of them in order to get to the windows themselves. Every single window had a plant (hanging, or in a pot on the sill), a sun catcher, an angel of some kind, a framed something-or-other, or all of the above.

We don't even try to talk Mom into getting rid of her little treasures; she knows where each one goes and can usually tell you where she got it.

Some might ask how Mom is able to see out her windows, but I don't think she cares; I think she's content to simply enjoy what's right in front of her. She couldn't be happier in her space. Like Michelle said, some see clutter. Others see joy that comes from simple pleasures.

Doing dishes, cleaning windows...at Mom's you'll do them with a smile; and knowing her, that's probably not an accident.

Hello Again, It's Me

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 20:32:00 +0000

Excuse me while I clear a few cobwebs away here, thanks. My daughter Kendall (bottom lip stuck out) consistently asks me when I'm going to get back to blogging. Dave, of 42 North (one of my biggest writing cheerleaders) also prods me once in a while, so I decided to at least post an update. As I typed this, I realized there are many topics about which I could blog for weeks! Maybe this will be the post that inspires me to get back at it.

I'm a teacher off for the summer, but I'm not really, as I'll be attending trainings and meetings, plus teaching summer school and tutoring. I’ve also been spending a lot of time planning for next year. In the fall, I’ll be joining a new 6th grade team, so that should keep me pretty busy, but I’ve always enjoyed sharing the entertainment that naturally comes out of teaching middle school, so I’ll likely blog about that once school starts.

One thing I’ve been doing this summer is decluttering. I read the book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and have been inspired. It has been so freeing to finally be able to let go of a lot of things that I couldn’t (for emotional reasons) seem to get rid of before. I highly recommend the book.

In September I began working out consistently. I lift weights or do other cardio (YouTube videos and Beach Body OnDemand) six days per week and enjoy riding my bike (sometimes with a hitchhiker), now that it’s summer.

If you had told me years ago that I would be getting up at five in the morning in order to work out, I would have bet against it and laughed in your face, but here I am, and I love it. I’m 100% healed from my rotator cuff surgery from two summers ago. (I’ve been gratified to see that my post written to help others facing shoulder surgery has more than 6000 views!) An added benefit is that ever since I started getting stronger, I've had no more pain in my non-surgery shoulder, for which I'd thought I'd be facing surgery this summer. It just goes to show you, when they invite you to do physical therapy to avoid surgery, do it, and do it with commitment; it could save you a lot of pain!

As if that's not enough, I've purchased some paint for two rooms. Since our youngest has been away at college and will not likely return to live here, Mr.4444 helped me turn her old room into a workout room! Here's a photo:

(What the photo doesn't show is ceiling paint peeling.)

I’ve recently finished training to become a Hospice volunteer. My experience with my dad’s passing and my desire to leave this world having made a difference motivated me. So far, I’ve only had two patients, one who passed away the day after I met him, but I’ve already learned something and hope that I can be of more use in the future.

The biggest news I have since we last talked is a wedding! Yes, Kyle and Alayna will be getting married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 27th! I’ve got my dress, shoes, and am working on accessories. What do you think of this necklace? Does it make me look like like a blue hair?

A few weeks ago, Kendall and I threw a “This is Your Life!” shower that was a big hit; I really should blog about that! Here's a photo I shared on Facebook recently with the caption, Gaining a daughter, gaining a son :)

As I type this, Mr.4444 has taken Kyle and a few friends to “Bachelor Camp” in the Sylvania Wilderness Area. The prep for this trip alone would make for a great blog post.

Mr.4444 and I went to Aruba in April and I am now spoiled forever--It was wonderful. It was our second trip without kids, which was a little weird for us but definitely something I could get used to. Island vacations are expensive, though; how do people do it every year, I wonder?! We didn’t have to pay for our flights or hotel (due to Mr.4444’s business mileage), but it still wasn’t cheap. I’ve learned some tricks for next time, though, so I’ll definitely be saving up for another trip in the future.

Milo, Steve, and Ted are doing great. Steve and Milo have been chipmunk obsessed for weeks and have gotten in some trouble as a result. Fortunately, the hot, humid weather we’ve been having has put a damper on their outdoor adventures.

Note the dirty feet (from digging a hole with his accomplice, in the patio!)

We celebrated my mom’s 87th birthday recently with a party at my brother’s house, and we surprised her with a barbershop quartet. This of course, blew her mind, because she is a barbershop groupie!

She just kept repeating, “This is just marvelous!” I’m happy to report that she’s feeling relatively good for her age and is still very active and content.

Two of my sisters flew home for Mom’s party, which meant that we were all together for the first time in four years. We enjoyed many meals and activities together, and of course Mom was thrilled to have all of her chicks under her wings.

My favorite photo (in age order)

Life is short, and I want to get the most out of it; I don’t want to spend too much of my time on a computer, you know? Balance. That said, I do think I have more stories to tell; I’ll be back. Thanks for checking in. I’d really love to hear what’s been going on with you--Feel free to leave a link or just a reply in the comments :)

Ya happy now, Kendall?!

A Very, Very Special Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 01:21:00 +0000

I recently put out an all-call announcement at school,

asking for help with a goal I have,

of helping me make this sweetheart of a man's 96th birthday (Valentines Day)

special by sending him a birthday greeting.

Ed is the charmer I wrote about here and here. He's a distant cousin, a very special man. I adore him.

I've since received a good number of card promises (about 67, I think). Students have made some great cards, but the card I received this morning blew my mind. See if you don't agree.

Each of these balloons on the front of this card are hand-cut, individually. The letters that spell out Happy Birthday were separately and carefully placed.

Inside, I found this:

(again, each detail individually cut and placed)

And the sentiment...it melted my heart.

Here is the creative student who made the card. She's in 8th grade!

Sri is an outstanding student, creative, and human being.

I do not know many middle school students who would go to such lengths for a stranger.

When I commented on how incredible it was, she replied,

"I like to work on things on the weekends."

Ed is going to be so honored to receive Sri's gift.

You may remember that Ed's career (back in the day)

was an interior decorator; he knows art when he sees it!

I can't wait to hear how he liked it!

Want to help make Ed's birthday?

I promise, you don't have to go to the lengths that Sri did!

Text me a t 920 445 8989 and I will share his address!

The Song in Our Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 04:12:00 +0000

Every once in a while, a very special educator casts a spell over a group of children who are forever changed. Mr. P is one of those educators. Having completed a full career as a teacher, as well as as a principal, this snow-topped, 6-feet-tall beanpole charmer just can't get enough of kid-company, apparently, as he continues to substitute teach on a regular basis in our district. I can always tell when Jerry's in the hallway, because children exclaim, "Mr. P!!!!" and run to throw their arms around him in greeting. Everyone smiles when Jerry's around; he's just very charismatic.

Mr. P also just happens to be nearly 80 years old, which only becomes evident when you observe classrooms in which he subs. Mr. P has a unique way of starting class; no class begins without him leading students in a good old round of the 1940's Found a Peanut song. What? Middle schoolers singing Found a Peanut?! Isn't that song too old and corny for 12-14 year-olds? Normally, yes, but not when Jerry's in the room. I've seen it myself; having known Mr. P since grade school, they know the drill. He leads, and they become greasy haired, pimply faced little songbirds with sheepish grins, heads swaying back and forth with enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, though, we haven't seen Mr. P at school in more than a month; in December, he had a spill, breaking a rib. He then got shingles. As if that wasn't bad enough, he developed a staph infection! The poor guy couldn't catch a break and was feeling kind of low. He apologized for not feeling well enough to sub. We responded by sending get-well cards that made Mr. P's day when he received them. He sent a thank you note that read, in part:

Tiffany wrote, "Roses are red, violets are blue, we all get sick, even you."

My response is, "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm getting better, because of you!"

What a sweetheart. Mr. P wrote that he'd read every single card multiple times. He also sent a separate note to a student with whom he'd had had a not-so-good interaction one of his last subbing days, telling him that he forgave the boy and to have a nice Christmas; what a class act.

Because Mr. P was so appreciative, we were inspired to do more. Right before Christmas, we decided to do something really special for him. Guess how he felt about it.

As you can imagine, Mr. P's spirits absolutely soared when he received the video (once he figured out how to play it, which took about a week.lol) Once he got it going, though, he could hardly stop watching it, according to his wife, who stopped at school and (with tears in her eyes) thanked us. She did add, though, that she was losing her mind over hearing that song played over and over! Jerry, though, can't get enough of it, and for that we are gratified. After all, to be able to do something so simple that makes a difference so big for someone who's blessed so many of us, it's a wonderful feeling.

Heard in the 6th Grade Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 04:03:00 +0000

In case you're wondering, very little at school has changed since I last posted. Sixth grade is still sixth grade and as entertaining as ever. Today, for example, this conversation between me (a little cranky) and a glazed-eyed student this morning:

"Dude! We can see your hands."

"What?" replied the boy, up to his wrist in each sweatpant pocket.

"Everyone can SEE what you're doing with your hands inside your pants!"

"Huh?" (His hands still busy.)

"The POCKET POOL! Knock it OFF!"

So, yeah; never a dull moment.

On the personal front, we have some big family news, but I don't want to associate it with this post.lol I'll catch up with you over the holidays :) In case I miss you, Happy Every Holiday! :)

Never Say Never

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 14:57:00 +0000

In the past few years (and recently), I've changed my life in some significant ways (significant for me, anyway). Five years ago, I would have bet you $100 that I would NEVER be doing the following today:

*Working out every day (and loving it!)
*Getting up at 5am to work out (This is seriously shocking to me.)
*Drinking coffee without creamer (and liking it!)
*NOT drinking Diet Coke (and drinking a lot of plain water daily)
*Enjoying cleaning windows (Thanks, Norwex!)
*Leaving my fingernails alone I have no idea how/why I accomplished this. I'm still getting used to taking contacts out with fingers with nails! I'm not painting them with anything other than clear polish; pretty sure I won't graduate to that step -- too impractical for me.
*Loving two dogs (I was once pronounced "not a dog person," and she had a point, though I was not about to admit it.)

Never say never!

How about you? Have you surprised yourself? Is your life different in a way you never expected?

Heard in the Classroom: Survey Says

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 01:00:00 +0000

Recently at school, we asked our 6th grade students to complete an online survey called Getting to Know You. For one of the questions, we asked,

"Everybody struggles with something; what do you hope to get better at this year?"

Here are my favorite responses:

"NOT BLURTING"

"Tartyness"

"To get good grades and stuff like I just don't want to fail because I'm 50% cool and 50% loser"

"Talking to girls"

Another question we asked that resulted in a gem of an answer was this:

Is there anything else you would like your teachers to know?

And the response...

i like haveing every thining perfect

It's great to be back!

Family Funny

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 02:02:00 +0000

Many, many years ago, my mom's side of the family started a fun little tradition. Someone sent a birthday card that was so cute and funny to one of our farm-loving relatives that it had to be recycled to another family member. For years, it was passed on, signed and dated, sometimes with notes added. I remember receiving it once as a teenager and feeling like I was part of something really special. Sadly, no one has seen the card in at least twenty years, and no one can remember who got it last; it just disappeared.

Look what I made! (Mom's maiden name is hidden from the public version)

and the inside...

[Hopefully, Jim will excuse my crowded words!]

On the back, there is a note that reads:

Long ago, a "chicken dinner" birthday card began circulating but eventually got lost. It was fun while it lasted! Please pass this new card on to a D Descendant you love and add to the journey here: http://tinyurl.com/.....

The actual url leads to a spreadsheet like this one.

This is going to be fun!

I used PicMonkey to create the image and words for the front of the card

and Snapfish to make the 5 x 7 foldable card.

With shipping, it cost me $2.49

But, of course, we all know it's priceless.

*Chicken image came usage-rights-free from clipartpanda.com.

Shout-out to my co-worker, Jenni, who provided the chicken feed!