Happy Weekend

The weekend has been the best weekend of Madgette's 7 years. As yesterday was Halloween, we started our day off early with crafts at Michael's, then went to Toys R Us for their festivities. We folllowed those up with an event some of the local retailers were having. After that we went to the grand opening of a vet clinic in Porter. We really hit the jackpot there. Chloe must be very lucky because I don't win stuff but with her by my side we won the cakewalk (A Red Velvet Cake) and then won the first big raffle of the day. She got a 40 lb bag of Purina dog food, rawhide chews, a leash, doggie shampoo, a ball cap, and 2 days of hotel and spa at their doggie lounge. Talk about cool!
This is a snapshot of Madison at the Toys R Us event, then this is Chloe with her fru-fru collar.

Today was Madgette's 7th birthday. It is so hard for me to believe she is that old. (Much less that in about 2 months I will have been married for 10 years). The pictures above show her with her BFF in the purple, and then two of her other good friends. The little girl in the red dress is her friend from softball, the other girl in pink is a school friend.

The girls got to dress up, have their hair and makeup done, nails painted, and do a fashion show on the runway. The fashion show was followed by a dance party on the runway, and a ride in the pink limo. I had been telling Madgette for over a month that she would NOT get to ride in the limo because it was to expensive. But, she was so good hearted about it I decided to get it anyway. She was so thrilled to find out she was getting to ride in it!


After the limo ride was over, we came back to the store and the girls changed back into their normal clothes. They had some of the High School Musical birthday cake (which were actually cupcakes) and each got to pick out their favorite "Ragmonster" thanks to Momma Pug. In the pic aboove each girl is holding their own.

**Side note: the Razorback talked to the host girl when she commented how cute the ragmonsters were and told her that their creator was with us. He mentioned that their store really should carry them to which the girl throughly agreed. She then connected Momma Pug with the store manager who is going to call MP next week to discuss this possibility. Woo-hoo! One more step towards the ragmonster empire!

Once we got home, Madgette played with her new toys and gifts then asked me to lay down with her on the couch. Her Poppa Reed called to wish her a happy birthday, then she crashed. And I do mean hard!

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

REALLY???

OK- We all know that I like to talk a little bit. Maybe a few times in my life I have gotten in trouble for talking a little more than I should. So are any of us really suprised that my daughter is a talker?
Her teachers tried to be all nice about it, especially since I am an administrator in district, but what they said in "teacher-ease" is that she is the kid that could run the class for the day while the substitute teacher sits at the desk and eats bon-bons.
She is extremely strong in her English reading and comprehension skills but rather low on Spanish reading and comprehension. Really? My child reads and comprehends better in English than in Spanish. Imagine that! What got me was that when they delivered this information, they cringed like I might explode. Somehow that doesn't upset me. Would I like her to be knocking the socks off of both languages? Sure! But realistically, I am not much use to her in the Spanish language so I kind of expected that.

Are any of you suprised?

Still Trying!

My dear friend Nana tells me that I need to keep writing even though no one is reading blogs anymore, so Nana- this one is for you!

We have had a great day. Madgette and I got up early and went to my appointment with the chiropractor. Had my neck and upper back adjusted. You should have heard all the popping that my spine did! Then we ran into a neighborhood garage sale (it was my friend Catfish and her husband Phruitz neighborhood). Bought a few beanie babies, then we headed to the grocery store.

HEB (my favorite grocery store in the whole wide world) didn't seem to be nearly as busy as usual, so we took our time and did a little shopping. We ordered her birthday cake, which actually turns out to be a cupcake creation with a High School Musical theme. We finished up the shopping then headed to rent a couple of movies.

The Razorback had invited a friend over for dinner so we invited a few other folks over as well and have had a relaxing evening with friends of all ages. I thought we were going to watch movies, but it turns out that the MSU vs. Florida game was to good to turn off so the men overruled us.

Madgette doesn't have school on Monday because of parent teacher conferences. Razorback has to have his stomach scoped on Monday morning, and a gallbladder ultrasound, so Madgette is going to spend Sunday night with a friend and they are going to the movies and play put-put on Monday. She is looking forward to it, but she told me she can't wait for this week to be over because she is ready for her birthday party.

I have several meetings off campus this week. I think I am traveling 2 days. So a lot coming up in the next week...

Questions and Comments

I doubt that anyone still reads this because I have been so lacking in the posting of blogs. I truly apologize, I just can't get it together in the evenings to even blog. As Dr. Gabbert would say, I "Used all my words for the day" by the time I leave school.

I just wanted to let anyone who is still checking the blog that this years exchange student has been moved to another home. She is now located in Magnolia, TX. We are very happy with the move as I am sure that she is. She just did not fit into our family at all.

I hope you are all doing well!

Life for Us

I have finally slowed down enough to blog this evening. Perhaps that is because the hubs is in class, and being a little tired I decided to hit the drive-thru. Claudia is on the other computer in the dining room leaving messages for all her friends in Spain. She is NOTHING like our Julie was last year. Today I had to tell her that I was getting very frustrated with her and explain why. Did I mention she is nothing like Julie?

Speaking of Julie, she called one night last week and is back in the USA. She was able to secure a 5 year visa, and locate a host family in Wisconsin. However, she did not have an easy time traveling- they made her throw away something that was liquid she forgot to put back in her suitcase on a layover. Then when she got to Wisconsin the airline had lost all her luggage! Can you imagine? Plus, her host family is a single older woman who has not moved into the technology age yet. There is no internet, one TV in the house, and phone restrictions for when she is allowed to use the phone. She cried- I cried. I miss her, and feel so bad for her that she isn't happy this year. She said she really misses Madgette a lot.

The Razorback has started the school year with all of us this time. He is working full time during the day in the same school district as me as a special ed. paraprofessional (aide). He comes home and tells me about his day and sometimes it's hard not to laugh because he is going through some of those things every first year teacher goes through. But when I went through them, he thought I was just being a little whiny-- now he is gaining a little more perspective.

I do feel a little sorry for him. He is also taking a full class load this semester with several online classes as well as night classes on Monday and Wednesday until 10. He can do it- I know he can, but a little empathy never hurt anybody~

As for me, I am still loving my job. We have only been in school for 3 days but it already feels like I have been working forever! I have been called many bad words already and today I was nailed in the mouth with one of those stress balls. Luckily, they are little kids so I was able to recover fairly quickly. Tomorrow is a new day and definitely a new adventure!

Madgette is back to liking school. Her arch nemesis is attending a different campus than her this year and she loves it. She tells me on the days she has Spanish class that she doesn't understand anything they say. I think she is putting on just a little! (I know you can't believe that she would be dramatic ;-) Sometimes I just can't understand how she has gotten so big.

That is all the news at our house for now. All the animals are doing ok, and the mail continues to run...

I LOVE My Job

It has been a week since my last post and I know I am falling down on my blogging. Sorry about that- but I am here to tell you that I am definitely a happy woman. I have been on the job for one week and have truly enjoyed every minute of it. From outside sweating painting door announcers, to inside revising handbooks it has been great. I know that I am probably just having a honeymoon period in a new job, but it is a wonderful time none the less. I am looking forward to the upcoming year even though I am worried that I may not measure up or do a good job. The challenge that this year represents is absolutely wonderful.

I am so happy that I am annoying. You ever meet one of those people that you wonder "Who stuck a ray of sunshine up your rear?" Well, I am that person. I know I am annoying and I can't even stop. At the end of the day today our superintendent was talking about how many challenges we would have this year and all I could do was sit there and grin like the cat who ate the canary!

I guess I will just get up each morning, think positively, and pray hard. Here's to a fantastic year!

First Day of Work

Today was my first planning day at the new school. A majority of the staff was there, and I was super excited. Many of you know how I get when I am "on" because I am a little hyper, very outgoing, and a little on the annoyingly positive side. I was definitely like that from 7-4 today but then on the way home I calmed down and became an exhausted woman. I am so tired! It was a great day, but this was the first full day I have worked since the surgery. Did I mention I am exhausted? Night ya'll- It's only 8 o'clock but the bed is calling my name!