I know they all do it but--OMG Timmy cut his own hair. It was "Wacky Hair Day" at his school so after I left for work Tuesday morning ,Tim took his eyes off Timmy. ..never a good idea! Timmy got a hold of some scissors and he did indeed create a Wacky Hair Style. Bangs cut right up to the top of his forhead. He cut a big chunk off the back of his hair which now sticks straight up! His teacher was so appauled she called Tim at home because she thought he might have done it at school. Are you getting a picture in your head of how it looks? This Wacky Hair Day hair cut... we will live with for weeks. For reasons totally unknown, he cut a hunk out of his eye brow as well. I'd take a picture- but it's hard to look at it...let alone take a picture . I know this too shall pass. Right???
Tuesday Morning--we woke up to hear the names of our schools on the radio! That means...Snow Day Snow Snow Day... Having has MOnday off to celebrate Martin Luther Kings Holiday-The Tuesday was a bonus- A day to celebrate!
So Cinda, Sammie, Timmy and have dragged our sleds down to the hill by the river and we went sledding. Even though I couldn't find my boots- Trugged through the snow and experienced the thrill of fall flat on my face, and then i even took a slide down the hill. Of course I came armed with Hot cocoa-and you could likely hear our laughter hald way to East Grand Rapids. The sun was shinning and it was so warm I even took off my gloves. The river was iced over and the trees were blanketed in snow. It was a great day to be alive!
Timmy and Sammie built a snow volcano in Gelhood's Drive. Tim sculpted and regalled us with facts about snow molecules and crystals. Sammie smashed in the leaves and stick-even though their methods were very different the snow volcano turned out to be spectacular!
When my toes were too cold to move we went inside Sammie's house and worked on her Fossil Project. We ordered Chinese food for lunch and then the kids indulged in some computer time to explore WebKinz and the lastest star charts. Timmy is suddenly interested in Mars.
Wednesday was back to work and I was knee deep in the end of the semester grades, attendance, staff meetings and OM. So this weekend which I spent in bed fighting off the stomach flu-I at least had a great day to look back at and enjoy!
Every now and then things happen that suddenly remind me I have crossed forty and the world I grew up in doesn't exist any longer. Now being a teacher I have always considered myself fairly in tun with the treads, and the lingo. However I find myself using words to describe things that no longer exist. Here are some examples:
Music
Music used to be pressed on these amazing black vinyl circles. The albums covers's were works of art in and of themselves. They listed the songs on the back and often the words....you could sing along! Cranking up the stereo was the ONLY way to listen to Rock and Roll.
Now music is downloaded and sits on my little IPod which I listen to with ear plugs. No more shared music . No more, "Crank that one up?" No more dancing with your partner because the song moves you to dance. Now the only time I get to crank it up is on the car radio-and there is no one to dance with their either!
Friends
When I was a kid we had friends and they were outside. You pedaled your bike through the neighborhood ate lunch at whoever's house you landed at around noon, and made it home before the street lights went on. All the neighbors watched out for all the kids and if you messed up they didn't mind telling you right then and there. And when you got home...you were in big trouble. The adults believed each other!
Trouble
If you got in trouble at school-you were in more trouble at home. Now it's "My bad" or "She hates me"
Hanging out
Remember how we just all ended up at somebodies house? I now set up "play dates" for my son. You have to check on the child's parents and make sure they have no criminal record. If you dare let you kid ride through the neighborhood they have to call when the get there. Now, we schedule swimming lessons, soccer teams, and educational activities. The one summer I tried to Not schedule things I found out the kids in the neighborhood were not home because they were going to their lessons.
T.V's used to have 3 channels and you actually got off the sofa to change the channel.
Telephone had dials where you got to twirl numbers around a disk when making calls. The longer the cord the better. You could pull it into the bathroom so your older brother couldn't hear you. The phone rang-no music or special sound effects just a plain old ring. If you were not home -no one answered the phone. If it was important they called you back.
Paychecks were actually printed on paper and you went to the bank to cash them. Cash remember that thing we used before Debit cards? Somehow actually holding the cash made it seem like you earned real money!
Now I love technology-it is after all my job. But every now and then I miss the sound of a typewriter, the smell of those purple dittos and going to a drive in movie. I guess that makes me offically old!
Check out the video below- it shows stuff even older than me! My how things have changed!
For teachers our new year begins in August when we go back to school. I am thinking that I should have a "New School Years Eve " party in August, when it is warm. All in all going back to work ,it simply did not feel like a new beginning, as everything picked up right where I left it!
2008
Still beginnings do offer opportunities-an imaginary break from the usual-a time to be interspective. I believe those ideas and thoughts are sometimes transformed into resolutions.
So here goes; In 2008 I wil try to:
1. Worry less-celebrate more
2. Seek to find the balance between work and family
3. Remember to do a few things for myself now and then
I live in the little town somewhere in the MidWest, United States
Living the dream.. husband, 3 kids, dog and a house in the burb's. Working hard to balance my roles as wife, mother, teacher, and friend. Some days I do it well and others...well read all about it. To quote JFK,“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” So here's to counting our blessings and living-one day at a time!
ead. He cut a big chunk off the back of his hair which now sticks straight up! His teacher was so appauled she called Tim at home because she thought he might have done it at school. Are you getting a picture in your head of how 
it looks? This Wacky Hair Day hair cut... we will live with for weeks. For reasons totally unknown, he cut a hunk out of his eye brow as well. I'd take a picture- but it's hard to look at it...let alone take a picture . I know this too shall pass. Right???
ead. He cut a big chunk off the back of his hair which now sticks straight up! His teacher was so appauled she called Tim at home because she thought he might have done it at school. Are you getting a picture in your head of how 
it looks? This Wacky Hair Day hair cut... we will live with for weeks. For reasons totally unknown, he cut a hunk out of his eye brow as well. I'd take a picture- but it's hard to look at it...let alone take a picture . I know this too shall pass. Right???
