Oooops....My bad.

So whenever we study something in science or there are holidays happening, I get on the public library website, type in key words, and click on books that look entertaining to first grade. Then I go and pick them up off the hold shelf, carry them into my classroom, and browse the pictures and the length of words before I decide which one to read (mostly depending on time). I don't necessarily read them all the way through...

We are currently studying penguins so I picked up 20 or more picture books from the library on penguins. Today I read a book about two homosexual penguins to my class of 17 thoroughly enthralled little Christian school students. Before any of us fully understood the meaning of the book, it was over. I was surprised and embarassed but relieved no parents were in the room at the time. I am hoping the story didn't stick well enough with any of kids tonight so they don't go home and repeat verbatim what I read to them. Otherwise I could be out of a job tomorrow (just kidding)....However, it was vague enough that I didn't want to believe it was really what I thought it was. But oh yes, it was.

You see, "Every year at the same time, the girl penguins start noticing the boy penguins. And the boy penguins start noticing the girl penguins. When the right girl and boy find each other, they become a couple. Two penguins in the penguin house were a little bit different. One was named Roy and th eother was named Silo. Toy and Silo were both boys. But they did everything together." CLUE NUMBER ONE MICHELLE!

So the book goes on to explain how these two "friends" watch other boy and girl penguins and do the same things the other couples do, including wrapping their necks around each other, sleeping in the same nest of stones, etc. But the girls stayed away from them and the two boy penguin noticed the girls could do something they could not: lay an egg. So then they go on a comical quest to hatch a rock that looks like an egg until the zookeeper steps in and gives them Tango. And "Tango was the very first penguin in the zoo to have two daddies." And they all lived happily ever after.

Hopefully this went over their heads, but I did learn a lesson from this: Always screen books as well as I do movies!! While the message of acceptance is always good to hear, the overall concept was just a little too premature for this age group, and something better left to have the parents address, not the teachers at school (private or public). Luckily no one had any pressing questions...

The Meltdown Week.

I've never been a huge fan of the word "meltdown" because I believe it is just a nice way for parents to excuse their child's tantrum and chalk it up to being tired, hungry, etc. Tuesday night I threw a tantrum like a baby. It was embarassing but also relieving ( i love to cry so long as no one is watching). I wasn't necessarily throwing punches, but I sat on the couch watching American Idol and sobbing. I think it is because it is tax season and this year is looking grim. Plus, my husband has been so busy working on cars he hasn't had time to take a closer look. But that wasn't really my only issue. Thinking of spending all of our hard earned savings on taxes reminded me that I have to start thinking about a summer job again, and so on and so on. Its funny that with all the physical issues I have had recently, I stress out more about finances. Its like I don't worry about my heart because I know that is in good hands with the doctors but we are all on our own with the money. Of course, I know we are not COMPLETELY on our own. With a little faith and a little prayer I know it can be okay, but it is the faith part that is tricking me (I am that pagan Jesus was talking about in the Bible). I know everyone is feeling the pinch so I will stop griping about it.

So I was not in the greatest of moods this week, but a funny thing happened when Thursday came around: a light at the end of the tunnel (and an end to my PMS :-)): The weekend! So far this weekend I have watched three movies, spent some quality time with Bryan and we are about to go out to dinner and to the mall for more fun tonight, I took some kids to the park while it was still sunny, went on a walk alone, I had a massage and a good nap! We also went to church today for the first time in awhile...the church we went to was by default because we missed the start time for the real one we wanted to try, and we drove past the second one we wanted to try, so we ended up at Brookwood Baptist where Bryan's parents go. In two weeks we are going to try Sonrise, which Bryan suggested and I am looking forward to because we know some people there.

All in all it has been a relaxing weekend, but I am REALLY looking forward to next weekend when we can relax and have fun with family and be away from home and any residual guilt about not doing what we really should be doing. Plus I have been waiting to go to the beach all winter! So even though Mondays are never fun, I am ready to get this four day week over with so we can enjoy our three day weekend! No more meltdowns for me!

Happy (Belated) Valentine's Day!

So Valentine's day snuck up on me for sure this year. I procrasinated to the max, creating valentine cards for my class at 10:00 pm the night before (we ended up having a very fun day at school on Friday, filled with plenty of reading and math related valentine's acitivities, culmintating in a party with tons of chocolate and tons of sugar). On Friday night, Bryan and I were both tired but he got a start on taxes (not looking good so far....which is why I am not doing it again this year...deep breath) and I watched a movie and fell asleep on the couch. I never did get around to making all the Valentine's I planned to.

Yesterday morning while Bryan was working I took a long, long walk in all the neighborhoods around our house. I swear, we live in one giant neighborhood that probably emcompasses half of the Hillsboro area. But this is good for my exercising goals...hopefully I won't get too bored for awhile! It took me back to the Saturday mornings when my Dad and I would get up and go on "early morning bike rides" and come home to pancakes and eggs. While I could smell it in my nostrils, I came home to an empty kitchen :-(. This time I have to make my own eggs...Needless to say, we feel very at home in our new neighborhood. Even the barking dogs are a comfort (thanks to growing up behind a dog kennel :-))

When I got home and dressed, I made some "valentine deliveries" and then accepted my own valentine gift...one of three hour-long massages from my dear hubby. It was magical, though I found out that all my muscles are tight and twisted up. So his intiial gift of two hour-long massages turned into three....I guess I have more stress than I thought! When we both got home I gave him his gift (a box decorated with hearts and filled with candy and snacks for work) and we went out to dinner and Barnes and Noble. We got spumoni for desert from the place where it all started (Old Spaghetti Factory...no, we still cannot bring ourselves to eat there) and a movie (Nights in Rodanthe...not Bryan's choice so he sat next to me and surfed the internet on the laptop while I watched). Overall, it was a nice evening.

Today we have both been busy with little things. I talked to my sister Naomi in Texas and am excited to have been offered a "job" for spring break...babysitting! This will be my first of three big trips this year...usually we never fly anywhere but we also have two weddings in Arizona and Iowa to attend. Since Christmas, we were considering putting money away for Hawaii but that will probably be pushed back until Christmas 2010.

In other big news, I am starting a diet on March 3rd, when we get back from our beach vacation with Bryan's family, which is also big news and we are both looking forward to this! I am sure I will turn bitch once we get back I am denied all my favorite foods but it is getting to the point where I am uncomfortable all the time. I think I will feel better with a few (many) less pounds, and I have a couple friends and coaches to help along the way.

In Bryan news, he is considering selling his CRX and buying a motorcycle. I finally caved. But it is just because I finally realized that he won't give up and motorcycles can't be modified (meaning spending more money on extra parts). In the end it will be cheaper...as long as he is safe....:-(

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's weekend!

In the middle of a crazy month and I can barely keep my eyes open...

I decided three or four or five winters ago that January and February are not my favorite months. Luckily, the days seem to be flying off the calendar pages so spring (as in, spring break) is just around the corner. I already have a lot of goals in place to accomplish during this time. What is keeping me busy these days, in the meantime, I cannot really say. All I know is the last two nights I have only had 5 hours of sleep. Well, last night, beginning at 11 p.m. I watched the movie "Fireproof" which was w-AAAAAAAAA-y better than I thought it would be and thus stayed up until I finished it- I recommend it to anyone.

Other than that, lots of events are happening this month that keep Bryan and I occupied. For example, on Sunday we went to the Portlad Auto show. We also went out to eat alone on Friday night and then with his two brothers Sunday night. We also had our old neighbors over Sunday night and it was fun to see them and catch up with them.It has been fun spending so much time together on the weekends lately, though Bryan has another influx of side jobs coming up. As for me, I seriously need to sit down and crank out my V-day cards. Fair warning: they will most likely be late. But at least I got the shopping done on Saturday (along with seeing a great romantic comedy: He's Just Not That Into You). In school, I had my annual professional observation, an extra day of work in the afterschool program, a new student (who never showed up), an open house, and the need to plan for a unit on Penguins/ Valentine's/100s day/Presidents day and the general month of February, all in the same week(along with my annual trip to the dentist). I was busy and by Friday night I was passed out in the recliner.

Speaking of jobs, Bryan says the shop is finally starting to pick up in traffic again which means extra money for all, and I have picked up (did I mention this?) a job working in the afterschool program on Mondays and Tuesdays at my school, which is easy money and adds up to a significant amount of extra income at the end of the month. Right now, knock on wood, we are doing alright and not too much to complain about. We feel super blessed and happy and comfortable. We do need to start on our taxes, however, and if you remember from last year, we did not have such good luck. Our roomie just did his last night and came out with a favorable outcome (how come he gets to make more than me and I have five years of college experience on him?!?!), so this has hopefully lit a fire under Bryan's butt, who will be taking over the reigns since I don't think I can deal with that pressure.

With all that is going on I have found it hard to sit down at the computer and type emails or blogs or converse via Facebook. I do miss reading *CURRENT* updates on some people's blogs, and I know other people who do as well. So even though this is a crappy and boring blog and I rambled on about pretty much nothing, at least I can still make the effort :-). Happy middle of the week! And update your blogs!

New Car (Again)

Post accident and reimbursement by the offender's insurance company, Bryan was able to purchase the car that he has "been in love with" since he first saw it a year ago. Its a 1990 Civic Si hatchback that is clean and he is only the third owner. The friend he bought it from only had it a year (his friend bought it from an old rich guy who drove it since new)until he had to give it up to pay some bills. I still have yet to figure out what the draw to the car is, but in Bryan's opinion it is better than mine (even though it is 11 years older???). Apparently it has more than meets the eye? Now Bryan is torn about whether or not to keep his other Honda (the CRX which was the racecar) because he may eventually want to use this new one for racing.

In which case, we may eventually be in the market for a third car once again. But, being married to Bryan, I have realized and nearly come to accept that we are ALWAYS "in the market" for more cars. Bryan keeps suggesting I change my car (which I have had for a whole 2 years, but I remain dedicated to my LaFonda the Honda). At least for Bryan the last change of cars was not his choice, but it ended up working out in his favor. I wasn't too keen on his decision to get this one because I am more partial to cars that we buy that actually run. It took him two weeks to get this one up and running again...now it is not so bad. We have yet to come up with a name for this current addition to our fleet...

This weekend we played host to three tiny friends plus one four-legged friend in addition to Fuz (who was freaked out of his mind). Bryan took me out on a date Friday night after I cut out of school early (it was teacher workday) and visited an old friend. We went out to dinner and rented a couple movies that we have yet to watch because we always fall asleep. On Saturday it was super nice, so when the kids came I took them to the neighborhood park. Then my niece Lilah came over (in the company of Simon the dog) and we played and ate dinner. The other two boys, age 2 and 8, belong to my friend Melissa. The two toddlers got along great! The 8 year old just played video games and wrestled with Bryan (his favorite)...After Lilah left, we went to the nickel arcade and loaded the other kids up on fabulous prizes way past their bedtime and we all came home and crashed. It was a lot of fun and Bryan and I continue to enjoy babysitting and spoiling children until their parents pick them up and we can sleep!

Yesterday we ran errands in the morning and then dropped the kids off at their grammy's. Bryan and I headed over to Lake Oswego, where Bryan's boss bought tickets for the whole staff at the shop to watch the Super Bowl in a bar that was closed to the public...it was an open bar and buffet for the private party. Bryan had fun, though I did not because I developed a splitting migraine and don't really follow football. By the time we got home last night, I was ready for a nap and ended up going to bed super early.

So that was my weekend and now it is another week...two weeks from today is my next day off! Valentine's day is just around the corner! Happy February!