Rocky

Ok - so today at school I definitely did not bring my "A" game. More than likely it wasn't my "B" or "C" game either. Which, you know...you win some and you lose some. Thing is, everyone gets to have a bad day at work now and then. I think it keeps me humble and also is a reason to keep trying really hard. Anyway, so having a bad day stinks, especially in teaching because then your kids suffer. Well, it stinks even worse when you are having a bad day, your kids forgot to bring their brains to school, AND your reading coach decides to come in and watch you teach. For those of you who don't know...at my school, at any time during the day any number of people can walk in my room and usually they are caring a clip board to keep a check and make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. SO, all three of those things combined make for a pretty rotten day at school.

Getting to the title of this post:

I got home tonight, after a meeting at school, and sat down on my couch completely depressed. I was flipping through the TV channels and after watching the wipe out election, I stumbled upon the movie Rocky II. I watched it for a few minutes and was immediately inspired to "be a better person" and "never give up". I'm pretty sure that the writers of this show placed those messages throughout the movie secretly so that whoever watched it would be brainwashed into thinking they could overcome anything. Conspiracy Theory? Guess it worked. Exhibit-A. MOI!

"You Can Vote However You Like"

This is a video that Jenny (friend from school) found. We decided to atleast show it to our kids and had toyed with the idea of having our kids actually do it. My class and Jenny's class would have done it serious justice! The video is actually a great way to teach kids about the different parties and candidates! Watch out - it will play in your head :)

Morgan Faith Howard

My good friends, Clint and Sara, just had their first baby! Morgan Faith was born Oct. 21st. Mom and baby are now doing wonderful! After a few scary events with Sara especially, things are starting to get much better. They were finally able to go home Saturday night and are so happy! They said she has Sara's eyes and everything else looks like Clint. Welcome Morgan!

What do you find when you come home?

I walked into my apartment after a long day at work only to find a wondeful surprise from Abby. Before you start looking at the evidence, please remember that she is 6 months old and still very much a puppy. She has a wondeful habit of ripping apart anything and everything she can get her hands/paws on...and then some. Today, she found a blue highlighter on the table and proceeded to "do her thing". So, enjoy the entertaining pictures and think of me as I scrub away on the couch AND my dog.

"What did I do?"

Close up

"And...how is this my fault?"

More Pictures...

So, I just thought you would enjoy another picture of little Elayna :) I envy (vocabulary word last week for my 3rd graders) Diane and my mom because they get to go see her in a few weeks and I'm left home throwng a fit in silence. I can't decide who she looks like more, Ryan or Gloria. I guess it's good you can see both of them in her :) Anyway, enjoy the picture!

My New Niece....Elayna

I wanted to introduce everyone to my new niece, Elayna Vaye Mabry! She was 9 lbs 13 oz and 21 1/4 inches long. HOLY COW GLORIA! Way to go! I can't wait to meet her and I have to wait FOREVER! Mama and baby are doing wonderful. Dad is proud. What a wonderful family!!

Visiting Weekend

This weekend I am dogsitting for Krista and John. They have a yipper dog. Now, most of you know how much I struggle with a positive view of yipper dogs (hence the nick name, "yipper"). Anyway, sometimes I make an exception like in John and Krista's situation, also in Jessi and JW's situation, and Tony and Tanya's situation. SO...Bailey is staying with Abby and I this weekend. Well, besides the howling all night long and hating my dog, things are going relatively well. It's actually pretty hilarous to see the three of us try and fit on the recliner in my livingroom. Just ask Jana. She stayed with me last night because she has to take her Reading Praxis tomorrow at Harding. She was so sweet and gave me a small break last night by entertaining the "girls" on the couch. (See picture). Well, long story short...we are having a blast playing together and for Abby, learning boundries of personal "dog" space and also manners about playing with others. Sometimes - it can be a pretty hard lesson...