Jen in Da Taos!

Hey y'all. We're in Taos, New Mexico for a weddin'. Will be home soon. Don't rob the house; Frank will bite your face off. Theo will pee on you.

Dee woke everyone up in the house this morning so we could watch the sunrise. This, after people had stayed up until the wee hours drinking. Chris told him to f off. :)

Everything is adobe. Macdonalds, Wendy's, Walmart...I told Chris the police cars were adobe. :)

I wasn't crazy about the plane travelling we've done. I don't look forward to the plane trip back. I was listening to my iPod on the plane. Jim Croce came on. I quickly skipped it.

Diamond Jim? Is that you?

Who the heck is this guy? Should I know this dude?
Creepy, but oddly...fascinating.

PS I totally know what song will be my new karoake song. BE FOREWARNED!!! :)

Also? This will be the last one. I promise.

Let's Dance!

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Version

Warning: Language towards the end, after the song.

Subtle Whoring

I remember singing parts of this song as I made my bed at Camp Grandview. I was in third grade. My camp counselor said not a word. :)
What's your favorite line in the song? I have so many...

Househunters: "Rock" City :)

House hunting Saturday was...rather emotional. The day started out light and happy. At breakfast I did my best American Beauty "we will find a house today" voice. We saw so many beautiful homes and a few not so great ones, but overall, the homes were awesome but had a deal breaker here and there. Here are some pics from the day.

This was neat--a little bubbling "brook" off the screened back porch. Sadly, this would be a dangerous thing for two little boys. And yes, we could always drain it, but rainwater, etc. would keep it an issue.

This home had three swings---one of them was on the front porch---a ONE SEATER. Love.

LOVE the views from this neighborhood, but hated the biggggggggg hills (not good for little boys and their toys...or nervous moms...)

My heart jumped when I saw this children's cottage in the back yard of one house. It is actually in the back of our favorite house. Unfortunately, our favorite house has some issues. We have to reluctantly walk away from it because of the potential problems it could cause us. Have any of you known of anyone with a home made from this material?

(Chris at our fave house.)

It broke my heart that we couldn't get past the potential issues, but I know we are making the right decision.

This is so Chris. He's checking out the air conditioning. "We could put the bed HERE."

Other things this mama is noticing is neighbors and POOLS. This house next to the one we checked out has a (nasty) pool and NO FENCE. Scary. NEXT!

After viewing the houses (from 11:00 to 4:30--whew!) I was wiped out physically and emotionally. Especially over the EIFS home. We ate dinner and when the waiter asked us about dessert, I asked, "Didn't I see something about a brownie on the menu?" Chris said, "That's how I know you are stressed out."

Ha.

On the positive side, after spending hours on the computer when we got back home, I found another house I love and we are checking it out in a few days. I feel good about this one.

Check out this backyard!

Happy Belated Birthday Meg

Happy bday to the best sis in law ever! I have so much

fun with you!!!!

Graduation and End of School

17 years ago I graduated from this high school and today I "graduated" again after teaching at my alma mater for five years.

Here are pictures from graduation practice, graduation night, and today (wrap up day for teachers). I had to take Luke and Jake to work since their daycare provider went on a senior cruise with her kids who graduated (from a dif school).

It was a weird day. Full of goodbyes and promises and last looks at friendly and not so friendly co-workers. Luke played all day in my empty room with a little girl who, ironically enough, was O's daughter. She was a sweet little girl.

Luke yelled as we left, "Goodbye lady!!!!" I don't know who he was referring to.

But, yeah. I second that.

House hunting tomorrow. BIG time house hunting. It should be totally exhausting. (But fun too.)

Update

They accepted our counter offer and the home inspection is Tuesday.

I'm off to graduation activities tonight!

God is Good.

We received an offer.
Pray.
We just countered it. Hopefully this will all work out.
They want our new fridge. :)

They want to close June 20th.


Sweet............

PRAY!

Love y'all!!!!!!!!!

Big Strong Boy/Ted

There are so many things wrong about this story, it's hard to know where to begin. Okay, I know where I'll start. The whole boobie picture? Is that boy...er..slow?

In other news, Ted Kennedy has a tumor.

Is it wrong that I keep thinking that he got a lot more years than this gal? I feel very little sympathy for him because of it.

God Said, "So you're lonely, huh?"

Life is so funny. I was cleaning, doing laundry, cooking a casserole in the oven and feeling down this evening. Chris was away and I was lonely. I started feeding the baby and felt sorry for myself. I called a co-worker and invited her over to eat the casserole with me but she was out trying on clothes with another friend. Couldn't come. So I hung up, shoved some squash in Jake's mouth. The phone rang--it was mom. She and some friends from her work were out for dinner break before they went back to session. They were coming by. I was glad to have some company. The boys and I went outside to wait for them and even though I knew I looked pretty unkempt, I was happy to meet them. I was in what I call my 80s jeans because of the hole in the knee, flip flops, and later I discovered squash in my hair...

After their visit, just as they pulled out of the driveway, a young mom with three boys came walking by. I'd met her before. Once, two years ago, she was walking up our hill trying to get her baby to come out.
"I lost my mucous plug a few hours ago," she had informed me and Chris. Chris was mortified.
Then, last year, she came to our yard sale and she and I talked pregnancy stuff since I was pregnant with Jake. We exchanged numbers but never did anything with our boys.
So here she was again. Her two oldest were running everywhere. Her youngest ("mucous plug baby") was in his stroller. The two boys bounded into our front yard and Luke immediately started chasing them. I began talking to the mom and we talked babies and a "for real" play date for the boys. This is when Luke decided to introduce our dog Frank to the two boys and they all three disappeared in the backyard.
Me and the mom followed them. In the backyard the two boys went crazy. They reminded me of Thing One and Thing Two; that's how fast and ZIGZAGGY they were. That poor mom. They jumped in Luke's yellow Jeep and did a "Dukes of Hazard" off the "deep" end of our yard, straight into the fence. The mom was upset at them and I was glad they got out of the Jeep; I was worried they would hurt themselves and we'd get sued. Luke watched all this with glee.

We're gonna have a play date next week. Lord have mercy.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday wishes go out to my nephew David. He turns 14 today!

Friday Nite Excitement

Chris-isms:

1. Chris's personal message to Madonna: "You're OLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD! It was a good run! Go away!!!!"

2. Handing Jake to me, "His diaper smells like the Woodmere bathroom!"

3. On current music: "You know what song is bugging me? That 'I ain't gonna write you a love song" song. Fine! Don't write me a love song! Fine! I get it! Now shut yer cake hole!"

****

I was changing Jake's diaper today (not the one that smelled like Woodmere's bathroom. That was the other night) and flipped his legs up, realized he needed some cream down there and smoothed it all over his bottom and thought, "Wow. It really looks like I know what I'm doin' here with this baby. " Then I realized, "Hey, I DO know what I'm doin'! Cool!" Ever have those mom moments?

*****

Turned in my resignation letter today. THAT was weird, but I felt at peace about it. Was surprised about hearing about some others who were jumping ship too. I think I'm leaving at a good time. The latest thing at school these last few days is...good old fashioned water balloons. Specifically water balloons and powder. They tag team other kids. One throws the water balloon and then his toady throws powder on them. The admins discovered a big tub of water balloons in the BOILER room today. I think it's kind of funny. Harmless pranks compared to what has gone on in other schools, ya know? Of course, I wouldn't think it was funny if I got powdered!

******

LOST was excellent last night, but I'm still...kinda...lost. When did we hear about the Orchid before? I must have missed that episode. And how in the heck are they passing off that baby as a five week old??? Did she mean five months?

****

And now...for a picture. Awww....

A little thing I copied from Kristy's blog...

* Maybe I should... reschedule that new crown fitting.
* I love the smell of...vanilla candles, fresh laundry, Jake's skin, cigars, Joop! and CK1
.* People would say that I...keep too much crap.
* I don’t understand why... I keep so much crap.
*When I wake up in the morning... I love smelling the coffee already brewed.
.* I lost my will power to.. chocolate. All things chocolate.
.* Life is wonderful with...my husband and boys.
* My past made me....into who I am today.
*I get annoyed when....ignorant people who are the meanest things God ever wadded gut in make my day harder than it should be.
*Parties are not... really my thing.
* Dogs are... big and smelly. :)
* Cats… are annoying when scratching at the door at 6 in the AM
* Tomorrow I am going to…give my first exam.
*I have a low tolerance for...willful ignorance.
* I'm totally terrified of... tornadoes, and someone breaking into my house while I'm asleep, and heights.
* I wonder why I thought my life would be...spent in New England!
.* Never in my life...would I get a tattoo.
!* High school was something that...I got through.
.* When I'm nervous... I eat and/or stare at the TV.
.* Take my advice...painkillers are RAD!
.* Making my bed is… something I do more now than usual.
.* I'm almost always...checking my email.
.* I'm addicted to… LOST.
.* I want someone…to find my black shoes. Where the heck are they?

Wednesday

Conversation between me and a beautiful student who is also, unfortunately, pregnant:

Me: When are you due?

Her: August.

Me: Try to get in a pool, cool off a lot. It helps with your back too.

Her: Can I put it underwater? The baby would be underwater...

:) I made fun of her and she realized how silly that was. Cute girl. I really hope she and the father get married and make the best of it...

****

My classroom is looking very bare. It even SMELLS empty.

****

I will miss many of these kids, but some...uh no.

****

What would be a good gift to give to the 3 people who wrote me rec. letters?

****

Seriously, could David Archuetta (sp?) be any more "scrubbed sunshine"???

****

I am bone tired.

****

Ketchup: In fridge or in cabinet? Do tell.

Love This.

Happy belated bday to Papa! (And to Uncle Casey!)

Luke and Dylan

October 2004 and May 2008

Monday

I took the weight loss ticker off. Who am I kiddin'? I fell off the wagon a while back. No big whoop. I'm okay with where I am, and honestly, this moving stress is enough for me right now. Before I start my new job I'll drop a few more. Hopefully.

****

We've had five showings total. One month of it being on the market. Our real estate agent said that in a good market, a house sells within 90 days...this market? Who knows. I really don't wanna rent after seeing all those houses.

****

I finally finished a really good book. It's called The Time Traveler's Wife. Between that book, Lost, and those commercials where the future self visits the present self, I have felt very disoriented at times! I'm sad now that I'm done with it. That's the sign of a good book. I miss it. The movie is coming out this fall; that makes me happy.
*****

Househunters

Yesterday, Chris, Luke and I went to hunt for a house. Yes, I know that ours hasn't sold yet, but I was itching to get a feel of the area and to be "ready" if our house suddenly got an offer (I can dream, right?). It was a really interesting experience. Believe it or not, though we've owned two homes, we never went "house shopping" big time. We made classic mistakes---didn't shop around because we fell in love with one right away. :) Oh well. This time it will be different though.

After we were done checking out the houses, I could hear the Househunter narrator in my head:
"Will Chris and Jen pick the...
....fixer upper in the family neighborhood?
...house with four bedrooms, a rec room, AND a basement men's den (but lacking a dining room)?
...the house that smelled like pee pee and looked like someone built it from leftover lumber?
....the perfectly okay house in a sad neighborhood on the decline?
....the modern home next to the open field that could possibly be something irritating in the future?
....the cool house that unfortunately sits upon the hill where the boys would take one wrong turn with their Diego cycles and end up on the other end of the county?
....the adorable wrap around porch house that has the teeny backyard that doesn't lend itself to baseball tossing? (I felt sorry for the cute couple with the baby who stood in the backyard while we looked at their house. They looked so hopeful as we drove off. I feel your pain, sister.)

Things that surprised me:
How small bedrooms are in newer houses. This 1954 house has spoiled me.
How important a house's smell is when house hunting. Seriously--the one that smelled like pee---we had to immediately turn around and head out.
How many hills there are up there.
How many rail road tracks there are up there.
How different a house can look in person vs. online (this means a bad one online can look much better in person and the other way around too...)
How cute some houses were but they had REAR parking and this was a deal breaker for me.
I know what the "tank farm" is now. :)

After each house, Luke said, "I wanna live in this house." He almost set a little girl's hamster free at one place. Next time, I think we'll leave the Lukester at home... :)

It was fun, but exhausting. Now of course, I'm more anxious to get this sucker sold.

We're Just Ordinary People....

I picked my boys up at daycare like normal on Friday.
Luke greeted me with the following, "It's my money and I want it now!" Then he laughed and laughed. It's crazy what he picks up from TV.
***
I hate how some kids who are GRADUATING write stuff like this:
Class of 08' and We're 1#!!!!! Nice. It's not just my students though. While visiting Dec. last weekend, I saw a sign where a girl was trying to get elected for something at a local high school and she wrote, "DONATE A DOLLAR WITH YOUR VOTE---%100 goes to SUPPORT (something, I can't remember).
****
I showed Ordinary People to my students this week. Several kids read the book for their lit circle. I hate all the bad language in it. I don't get why it had to have so much. That is the only drawback to showing that movie; I did warn the kids and told them I didn't mind sending anyone to the library or whatever if the language offended them. That made them laugh. "Mrs. C, we hear worse in the hallway."
Probably true. Anyway...
Incredible acting in that movie. Just awesome. I don't understand why Timothy Hutton's star didn't rise more in the years that followed. He was in some real stinkers in the 90s. Dinah Manoff was so not cute in this. Hard to believe that this was just two years after she was in Grease. "Let's have a great Christmas, Conrad. Let's have a great year."
I loved how many of my students were all "blah" about the movie (particularly boys) until it really got into the mother/son relationship, and Conrad/Jeanine relationship. Then they perked up and started following it.
One thing made me laugh---when we started watching it, one girl asked,
"Is that Jason's mom? You know, from Friday the 13th?"
"No. Mary Tyler Moore was not in Friday the 13th."

Dear world,
Will this laundry ever end?
Love,
Jen

Grinch Lookalike Monster Guy

It's hard to even look at this guy. Evil personified.
And awww, he's upset at the media. Awww.

JUST LOCK HIM IN THE BASEMENT AND SEND THAT GUY FROM PULP FICTION DOWN THERE WITH HIM!

Passive Aggressive Notes and Other Fun Sites

For a laugh, go here.
Or visit some of these: Apostrophe Abuse Blog
Unnecessary Quotation Marks Blog
FOUND

Question

Just wanting your opinion.

We looked at a few houses on Sunday and we're going back next weekend to continue. Here's the question...if we get a house on one side of the road (basically) the boys would go to a different high school (and yes I know that's a long time from now) than the one I will work at. If we get a house on the other side, the boys would go to my high school. Would you want your mother teaching at your high school? Should I selfishly want them around where I can keep an eye on them? Tell me your opinion. I'm really kind of confused on what to do...

See What She Couldn't

That's so funny that it's all over CNN this morning. We saw the sign while going up to visit Chris's parents this weekend. I said, "Well that's tacky" when I saw it. What do you think?

Hodgepodge

I have this one kid who signs the end of every journal entry with either "Holla!" or "Holla." I love it.
***
I don't get why my students say "minute"=a long time. "Man, we haven't had a test in a minute!" "I haven't had a good day in a minute!" (Other teachers, is this a popular term where you teach?)
***
The theatre department has been cut at my school. Two weeks after the best director the school ever had was honored at a banquet. Irony.
***
The sub who wanted me to get a sub for her is not speaking to me. She's a hoot.
***
"O" is getting her Harriet the Spy on, acting like a mo'ron. She is also a "hoot" in a "God, you are SAD" kinda way.
***
We had a showing yesterday. Hopefully they are waiting two or three days to make an offer, like they are dating us and are just making it seem that they are not "easy". Heh.
***
Got temporary crown put on my toof yesterday. That mother hurt more than the root canal. My dentist is a sadist. He laughed and laughed at my legs squirming around when they were drilling away (God is there any sound as awful as that damn high pitched drill????). He said, "If you move your left foot up a little higher you won't feel as bad."

I gave him the LOOK.

The dental tech (whatever she's called) laughed at that and said, "Whoo she gave you a LOOK!"

It's all good, as the kids say.
Holla.

Just Like His Uncle Casey