Still working on the longer posts that I have stacking up, but I realized I haven't posted any pictures in the past couple of weeks, so here is a fun one just because. Love them.
How to Draw a Carnation
7 months ago
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
retirement
I AM DONE!!! I am officially resuming my much-desired status of stay-at-home momma and I'm fairly certain that it isn't coming a moment too soon for both Keith and I. We've had a nasty cold floating around our house for the past two weeks that required both Keith and I to take a day off each to mend sick kids (and sick parents). Neither of us have jobs that make it very easy to be gone for even a day. Now that I'm home, this situation won't even be a consideration in the future. I'm the lucky duck that gets to manage whatever yuckiness that comes our way, but I'm really okay with that. I feel it's part of my job as their mom to help make them feel better.
Another chore that fell by the wayside other than my less than stellar blogging skills was cleaning. My house hasn't had a quality cleaning in six weeks and it is disgusting. I spent the morning sweeping (which Luke promptly spread back out before I could it in the dustpan), dusting, straightening, doing dishes, and scrubbing the kitchen. I still have a lot left to do, but I feel like I've gotten something accomplished.
With all of the end-of-the-school-year junk that I've had to do the past two weeks, in combination with the sickness that visited our house, I haven't had much time to post anything lately. I have a handful of posts that have been swirling in my head during that time that I will get out in another week or so. In the meantime, don't mind me doing happy dances over here with my kiddos or scrubbing my bathrooms and floors as I try to get back into the swing of being at home.
Another chore that fell by the wayside other than my less than stellar blogging skills was cleaning. My house hasn't had a quality cleaning in six weeks and it is disgusting. I spent the morning sweeping (which Luke promptly spread back out before I could it in the dustpan), dusting, straightening, doing dishes, and scrubbing the kitchen. I still have a lot left to do, but I feel like I've gotten something accomplished.
With all of the end-of-the-school-year junk that I've had to do the past two weeks, in combination with the sickness that visited our house, I haven't had much time to post anything lately. I have a handful of posts that have been swirling in my head during that time that I will get out in another week or so. In the meantime, don't mind me doing happy dances over here with my kiddos or scrubbing my bathrooms and floors as I try to get back into the swing of being at home.
Friday, May 14, 2010
misc.
1. I have begun the post-baby hair shed. I am seriously amazed that I have any hair left at this point. Yuck.
2. I am beyond ready for the school year to be finished. Nine days of school left until I'm done. Well...let's be honest. I'm already checked out. Done. Out of there. On a serious mental vacation. I'm ready to wake up and snuggle with my babies and not have to rush them off to spend the day with someone who isn't me. I'm ready to take my time to get ready for the day. I'm ready to teach Luke his letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and all the other fun stuff he gets to learn as he approaches the time to start preschool next year. I'm ready to not have to deal with the disrespect that has consumed my days lately. I'm ready to not have 30 kids talking incessantly, even when they aren't supposed to.
3. Luke has met his match at daycare. One of his little friends has taken to biting him. It only happens to Luke. They aren't fighting over toys or arguing or anything and Luke gets chunks taken from his arms. I feel really bad for him; at first he'd cry when it happened, but now he just takes it and waits for someone to help him detach the biter. I'm glad that he doesn't retaliate (although I wouldn't blame him or really be angry if he did), but it still doesn't make me feel any better about the situation. There isn't much that I can do about the situation but remember that Luke only has two more weeks of daycare and then he'll be home (safe) with me.
2. I am beyond ready for the school year to be finished. Nine days of school left until I'm done. Well...let's be honest. I'm already checked out. Done. Out of there. On a serious mental vacation. I'm ready to wake up and snuggle with my babies and not have to rush them off to spend the day with someone who isn't me. I'm ready to take my time to get ready for the day. I'm ready to teach Luke his letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and all the other fun stuff he gets to learn as he approaches the time to start preschool next year. I'm ready to not have to deal with the disrespect that has consumed my days lately. I'm ready to not have 30 kids talking incessantly, even when they aren't supposed to.
3. Luke has met his match at daycare. One of his little friends has taken to biting him. It only happens to Luke. They aren't fighting over toys or arguing or anything and Luke gets chunks taken from his arms. I feel really bad for him; at first he'd cry when it happened, but now he just takes it and waits for someone to help him detach the biter. I'm glad that he doesn't retaliate (although I wouldn't blame him or really be angry if he did), but it still doesn't make me feel any better about the situation. There isn't much that I can do about the situation but remember that Luke only has two more weeks of daycare and then he'll be home (safe) with me.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
mother's day 2010
Mother's Day this year was calm, relaxing, and a breath of fresh air. We went to Mass, Keith ran some errands with Luke, and then we stayed home the rest of the day. I really appreciated the non-craziness of the day. I experience plenty of that at school during the week; it was so nice not to have that on Sunday. Since I had already received my gift awhile ago (a fabulous camera!), I thought I'd take some pictures to commemorate the day.
Reagan swaddled and ready for her nap.
My boys
A typical day at the Waltemeyer household: Luke constantly moving and Reagan finding her hand to munch on.
Jeanne and Holly were also able to come over for dinner that night and help celebrate this day dedicated to moms. I wish that I could've seen my mom, but we'll get together sometime soon.
And now a closing message to my babies:
I am so incredibly blessed to be your mother. I thank God everyday that I have been trusted to help love you and guide you through your life here on Earth. It is because of you that I am able to celebrate such a special day and I am forever thankful for that gift, the best gift I have ever received.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
things i will (not) miss
In 18 days (18!), school will be over for the year and as of today, it will officially be over for me for the foreseeable future. My hands were kind of sweaty as I filled out the official paperwork and submitted my letter of resignation. A little voice in the back of my head kept asking if I was doing the right thing. It's a great thing that my heart and the rest of my brain was shouting, "Heck Ya!"
As much as I'm looking forward to my time at home, there will be things that I will miss. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and one of the clubs on our campus had each student write a nice message about their teacher and presented us with them today. Most kids wrote something along the lines of You are a great teacher and You are nice. A few of my favorites included the kids who thanked me for rarely yelling and for teaching them about explorers. A couple of them even touched my heart. One girl told one of her favorite parts of the year were the times I told stories about Luke and Reagan. Little does she know that those stories are some of my favorite parts too. One little boy even wrote that he likes the way I dress. This one really shocked me mostly because this particular kiddo is definitely not one to notice things like that typically and seems like he's in his own personal Star Wars drama the vast majority of our school day.
I'll also miss the stories that I'll be able to pass on to my family and friends. Kids say the darndest things is a saying that I never fully understood until I became a teacher. I actually had to ask my class yesterday, "Whose pants are these? They have to belong to someone." Why is it even possible for that to be an issue? Another gem happened last week. We had just started our spelling test and after saying the first word, one boy asked me what he should do with it. Um...write it? Spell it? Hell-o! Spelling test buddy! He wanted to know if he was supposed to draw a picture instead of spelling it. What? You really can't make this stuff up.
I love how sweet my kids are, but there are certain parts of teaching that I won't miss. Recess duty is the first thing that comes to mind. I am constantly amazed at what third graders are doing. One of my students ran up and kicked another kid hard in the ankle because he was mad at the status of the soccer game they were playing. Another kid from another class fully threatened another one's life. And we have had to have multiple discussions concerning appropriate character. From making fun of other students to talking about and making inappropriate sexual comments and gestures, we've run the gamut of weird situations this year.
Another thing that I won't miss: vomit. I should be more specific; I won't miss other people's kids' vomit. I know that I'll never escape Luke or Reagan's, but I won't have to deal with kids who, like yesterday, walk up to me (not the trash can) as puke is oozing through their fingers with disgusting force. Poor guy proceeded to continue to puke (in the garbage can now) all the way through the school on his way to the nurse. Even worse is when a different boy starts to shout to the class, "Hey look! You can see the chunks of apple that he had for lunch! And its all over the carpet and it dripped down the hall!" I have never called the front office in such a panic before and was never so close to losing my cool in front of my students.
In all, I will miss a lot about teaching. I will miss the sweetness and loving nature of most of my kids. I'll miss not being there to see them get older and taller. But you know what? I'll get to experience more of that with my own babies: Luke and Reagan. And I wouldn't miss that for anything.
As much as I'm looking forward to my time at home, there will be things that I will miss. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and one of the clubs on our campus had each student write a nice message about their teacher and presented us with them today. Most kids wrote something along the lines of You are a great teacher and You are nice. A few of my favorites included the kids who thanked me for rarely yelling and for teaching them about explorers. A couple of them even touched my heart. One girl told one of her favorite parts of the year were the times I told stories about Luke and Reagan. Little does she know that those stories are some of my favorite parts too. One little boy even wrote that he likes the way I dress. This one really shocked me mostly because this particular kiddo is definitely not one to notice things like that typically and seems like he's in his own personal Star Wars drama the vast majority of our school day.
I'll also miss the stories that I'll be able to pass on to my family and friends. Kids say the darndest things is a saying that I never fully understood until I became a teacher. I actually had to ask my class yesterday, "Whose pants are these? They have to belong to someone." Why is it even possible for that to be an issue? Another gem happened last week. We had just started our spelling test and after saying the first word, one boy asked me what he should do with it. Um...write it? Spell it? Hell-o! Spelling test buddy! He wanted to know if he was supposed to draw a picture instead of spelling it. What? You really can't make this stuff up.
I love how sweet my kids are, but there are certain parts of teaching that I won't miss. Recess duty is the first thing that comes to mind. I am constantly amazed at what third graders are doing. One of my students ran up and kicked another kid hard in the ankle because he was mad at the status of the soccer game they were playing. Another kid from another class fully threatened another one's life. And we have had to have multiple discussions concerning appropriate character. From making fun of other students to talking about and making inappropriate sexual comments and gestures, we've run the gamut of weird situations this year.
Another thing that I won't miss: vomit. I should be more specific; I won't miss other people's kids' vomit. I know that I'll never escape Luke or Reagan's, but I won't have to deal with kids who, like yesterday, walk up to me (not the trash can) as puke is oozing through their fingers with disgusting force. Poor guy proceeded to continue to puke (in the garbage can now) all the way through the school on his way to the nurse. Even worse is when a different boy starts to shout to the class, "Hey look! You can see the chunks of apple that he had for lunch! And its all over the carpet and it dripped down the hall!" I have never called the front office in such a panic before and was never so close to losing my cool in front of my students.
In all, I will miss a lot about teaching. I will miss the sweetness and loving nature of most of my kids. I'll miss not being there to see them get older and taller. But you know what? I'll get to experience more of that with my own babies: Luke and Reagan. And I wouldn't miss that for anything.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
simple and beautiful
This weekend was amazing. Keith had his one Saturday off for the month and we had absolutely nothing planned. It was glorious to just hang out with the kids and enjoy our time together. We weren't having to rush off anywhere or get some errands finished or cram in too many activities that left us tired and worn out. We were able to just enjoy our time together and that was exactly what I needed. Keith and I were able to get some great pictures to commemorate our simple weekend.
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