It's Okay (but not really)

It's okay....that I'm writing this "It's Okay Thursday" post at 7:45pm Thursday night.

But not really....I need to stop being such a slacker.

It's okay...that I spent an hour and half at Urgent Care this morning 

with 50 other flu ridden people.

But not really...because ain't nobody got time for that. 

It's okay....that once I finally got seen at Urgent Care, 

it took five minutes for the doctor to look up my nose 

and realize that my snot was in fact green 

and I did indeed have a sinus infection.

But not really....because that five minutes cost me half of my Christmas money.

It's okay....that I've been "fighting" that sinus infection for the past week and half. 

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a pile of used tissues and Sudafed. 

But not really...because it's hard to be jolly with a stuffy nose.

It's okay....that my husband is trying to take down our Christmas decorations already. 

But not really....because Christmas is barely even over. 

It's okay...that I secretly just want to leave them up all year.

They're joyful, and taking them down is so much work.

But not really....leaving them all year would be tacky.

It's okay....that my house is a wreck and the only food we have in the kitchen 

is leftover pizza from last night and peanut butter cookies. 

But not really....because I'm not planning to clean or go grocery shopping 

for at least a couple more days.

It's okay...that neither one of those things will probably make it until tomorrow.

But not really...because my thighs are already extremely angry with my eating habits lately.

It's okay....that my Christmas break is technically only seven workdays long. 

I didn't become a teacher for the extended time off or anything.

But not really....come on! 

Seven days is not long enough for me (and my firsties) to completely rejuvenate. 

It's okay....that I'm not putting any pictures in this post 

simply because I'm too lazy to find any good ones.

But not really...because that makes posts long and boring.

It's okay....that it's taken Willow literally three days to eat her Christmas bone. 

(She's still not done.)

But not really....well actually, no really.
It's okay cause she's just so darn cute.

And lookie there, 

you get a picture out of the deal. 

Hope the post-holiday blues are treating you better than they're treating me.

Bah humbug.

Hugs,

Merry Christmas Eve!

Nothing like joining in on a party at the very last minute.
But hey, better late than never. 
Especially since this month's questions were all about
Christmas! (I mean, seriously, what else would they be about.)

~

1) What was your favorite gift given to you as a child?

I honestly loved every gift. I was that child.

I mean sure there were things I got from certain family members 

where I definitely had to put on an Oscar-worthy performance

"Thaaaaanks, I loooooove it!"

But for the most part, I got uber excited about everything I opened!

I do remember one year
getting a talking doll house.
I don't know if that present sticks out in my mind the most
because it was the first big gift I can remember getting
or because I played with that thing for like five years.
It was the greatest.

2) Christmas is almost here, what is that 

one Christmas song you could listen to on repeat?

Mariah Carey - "All I Want for Christmas is You"
(I've almost perfected that last high note...you know the one I'm talking about.)
Chris Brown - "This Christmas"
Faith Hill - "Where Are You Christmas"

Over and over and over again.

3) What are a few of the items on your Christmas list this year?

As always, a new planner.

I asked for this MayBook in particular,
but Robbie's usually in charge of picking one out
and he hasn't gone wrong in the past.

New boots and sweaters. 
I loooove the animal print (surprise, surprise)

I'm obsessed with infinity scarves right now
and I'm obsessed with monograms....well, always.
So I'm really loving this little number. 

Of course, there are lots of things I want for the house too.
Robbie and I really need a new comforter.
I just can't find one we both like.

4) Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions? Explain.

Um...unless you want to be here until next Christmas 
I'll just give you the short version.

My family is extra hokey when it comes to Christmas
and so particular when it comes to our traditions.
My brother and I still act like we did when we were five years old
and we still do a lot of the same things.
My favorite tradition is getting a brand new pair of Christmas jammies 
on Christmas Eve and then snuggling in mom's bed 
to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

My poor attempt at taking a picture of our new jammie pants.
Since Christmases in ENC are usually only about 70 degrees, 
getting real flannel jammies is kind of pointless. 

And yes, this still happens.
With my 6'5" brother, 
husband, 
step-siblings, 
and 15 year old Golden Retriever.
It's a good thing mom has a king size bed!

5) Which do you prefer: wrapping paper or gift bags? Why?

Wrapping paper is definitely more fun to open
but gift bags are much easier to wrap.
I haaaaate wrapping presents,
particularly the bows.
But...the thrill just isn't there with a gift bag,
so I wrap as much as I can!


Go join the fun here!




Hugs,

Eeeek!

School's out (finally)

Pumpkin crumb cake is baked

(yep, I made it again...I'm kind of a pro now.)

presents are wrapped

Christmas movies are playing 

me and the hubs are snuggled in with our two Christmas-bandana wearing pups

the temperature has dropped to (barely) below 50
and the world's still spinning.

It's officially Christmas time, folks!

And if your crazy family is anything like mine

the celebrations start tomorrow

and won't stop until Wednesday!

Eeeeek!! :)

Have a very Merry Christmas blogland!

Hugs,

I have this theory...

...that certain things are true,

even though sometimes I'm the only one that believes them.

For example,

I have this theory...that freshly painted nails complete any outfit.

Essie Topless and Barefoot

And no matter how sloppy and grungy you are that day,

if your nails are freshly painted,

you look polished and sophisticated.

I also have this theory....that fingernail polish

is only meant to last for two days.

It's a conspiracy of sorts.

But in my experience,

after day two, it just starts chipping and looking dull

(no matter how good of a top coat you use.)

And chipped nail polish does not give the same sophisticated look.

I have this theory....that my stuffed animals talk to each other when I'm gone.

And that they get their feelings hurt when I give them away

or put them in storage. 

I still have three stuffed animals sitting on my bed at my mom's house

and every so often I go give them a little squeeze

to let them know they're not forgotten.

I blame Toy Story for this one. 

And speaking of talking,

I have this theory....that my dogs also chit chat when I'm gone.

I like to think they're secretly best friends

and they spend the day chatting it up,

probably bitching about the fact that we left them...again.

But hey, at least they have each other.

I have this theory....that Kim Kardashion is still in love with Reggie Bush.

I don't know if it was the fact that their nicknames were "Tush" and "Bush" respectfully,

which honestly, just always cracked me up,

or the fact that they dated foooooorever

(relatively speaking, of course)

but I'm convinced, they're still secretly in love.

Reggie's new KK look-alike baby mama doesn't really help.

US Weekly agrees.

I have this theory....that if teachers could wear jeans once a week,

they would be (at least) 10% less stressed. 

As long as they're not grungy, "yard-working" jeans,

they should definitely be allowed.

Lastly, I have this theory....that Abe is the father of Rebecca's baby.

A picture (and several internet rumors) speak a thousand words.

That is all.

If you don't watch Breaking Amish, I hate it for ya. 

You're missing out on some quality, questionably real,

A+ for akwardness television.

Just saying.

Hugs,

Why I Became a Teacher

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

Tragedy, no matter how disconnected you may really be, 

will do that to you...make you think.

I promise I'm not going to talk about what happened in Connecticut forever.

Eventually I'm sure I'll be able to stop

imagining what it felt like for those teachers and students.

Eventually I'll stop seeing the faces of my first graders

whenever I hear about it. 

Eventually I'll be able to see the good in society again

and convince myself that the good in our world does outweigh the bad.

Eventually.

Until then, I can't help but reflect on my own decision to become a teacher.

I hear those stories (although I try not to listen)

about teachers hiding their kids in closets,

putting themselves in harms' way to protect their students,

telling them that everything's going to be okay,

even though they know nothing is okay.

And I'm reminded of why I chose this profession. 

It's really quite simple,

although almost everything about my profession tends to make me forget.

I'm doing this for the kids.

I didn't become a teacher so my name could be at the top of the list

for highest test scores in the county.

I didn't become a teacher so all my kids could ace some standardized test

at the end of the year.

I didn't become a teacher to fill out countless stacks of paperwork

and to collect ridiculous amounts of data.

I teach for my kids.

My 23 first grade babies who I love as if they were my own.

I want, more than anything, for them to grow and learn and succeed.

I also want them to feel love and compassion.

I want them to know how proud I am of them - all the time.

I want them to know the difference between right and wrong.

I want them to learn how to be a good friend.

I want to be their support system, so they in turn can learn

how to be a support system for someone else.

Last year was a tough year for me. 

I've mentioned it briefly here on my blog

and not so briefly to those closest to me. 

I lost sight of why I was doing this.

After one year in the profession I had chosen for life

I was jaded and angry.

I was overwhelmed.

I felt overworked and underpaid.

I was envious of people that could leave their job at 5:00 

and be done for the day.

I was cynical....so cynical.

I was discouraged and I felt like I was failing.

I forgot that I wasn't teaching for the "suits" up in their fancy offices.

I was teaching for my kids. 

They were MY kids and they alone were my first priority.

This week, as I'm able to do what so many other teachers in the country are not:

write letters to Santa, make reindeer food, celebrate with The Grinch,

I'm keeping my kids and the love I have for those kids 

at the front of it all.

All the other "you-know-what" (and if you're a teacher, you know what) 

that comes with being a teacher

is just not really all that important at the end of the day.

What's important is loving those babies.

If that's there, all the rest will come. 

Hugs (particularly to all you teachers),

No Words.

Yep, I Went There

So apparently my super-cute, 

super-unique Christmas card idea

was not so unique. 

Darn you Pinterest.

But still super-cute.

I looooooove Christmas cards.

December is the only time I make the long trek down the driveway

to actually check the mail.

(Well, and my birthday week, 

but you get my point.)

I love getting them and now that I've got my own little family

I love sending them.

Sidenote: I know I've said it before, 

but I really do worry about my future kids.

I'm definitely going to be that mom. 

You all know the one I'm talking about.

Anyway, last year we did a whole family picture

notice wee's cahute Santa paws outfit. I die.

but this year I thought it would be cute

to just put the girls on the card.

And believe it or not, 

it only took one shot.

And Roxy didn't run away with the lights still wrapped around her,

ripping half my wall out in the process

(as one of my nightmares predicted)

I swear, those furbabies are the best. 

Go link up with Kristen to see everyone else's Christmas cards.

Hugs,

By the way, I also learned how to do my very first screen shot while doing this post. Hollaaaa.