Off to School... Off to School... To Prove I am a Fool!

Today was my first day of school! Yipee! Every year my mom calls me, wishes me luck, and asks if I've taken my picture. Um... No... That's what those silly school pictures are for. And seriously, I take the WORST school pictures. I don't get it. When I get them back I will post. I promise. I will even post the past years. They're awful!
In the years prior I haven't needed my mom's luck... until today. Holy smokes! I have a couple of VERY NAUGHTY boys! Who gets in trouble on their first day of school and doesn't get a sticker? These two kids! Who sticks their tongue out at the teacher? These two kids! Who rolls their eyes, sits in their desks, and refuses to work? These two kids! I'm serious... they'd better shape up or they're going to miss out on a lot of fun activities! Once I get the year rolling I hope they understand that I'M IN CHARGE and their little attitudes WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in my classroom!
I'm looking forward to this weekend already. Not because I'm back at work. Okay... a little because I'm back at work and need a break already ;), but because I need Heath home. I'm not a very good single mom. My house is a MESS, Dex (Heath's dog) doesn't get any attention, I don't have an adult conversation except when I pick up Braelyn from Tracy's, and I'm lacking sleep. Stress I tell ya!

Inservice, Open House, First Day of School!

I suppose I better tell ya about my weekend first. Heath got a new vehicle! And no Kerrie, it's not a Fancy Dancy Van like you got. He thought he needed a truck, so that's what he got. We went to SF, got groceries, and went to Scheels. We came home that night and sat around. Today I was busy getting lesson plans ready and some last minute things for open house. Other than that we didn't do much.

Tomorrow is the TRUE start of a new school year. We start the day with inservice and end with an open house. Tuesday we start classes!
Tomorrow Heath leaves for Rapid City for the week. He has some Guard thing, so once again, Braelyn and I are on our own.

It's so hard to believe summer is over. It seems like yesterday I was packing up my classroom at Howard and looking forward to the summer. Now I'm looking forward to Braelyn's First Birthday and Christmas! Those are going to be pretty big events in our house this year!!!

Here are some pictures from this weekend:

Braelyn and I after our nap!

Braelyn loves to crawl up on the coffee table.

And in her toy boxes!

Weekend!

We didn't do much this weekend. Friday night Heath decided to finish cutting down the tree with help from Brandon. We grilled afterwards and hung around the house.
Saturday Braelyn and I went to Howard to a friend's Home Signiture party. We bought a few things and came home to take a nap. Heath came home from golfing and asked if we wanted to go to SF. We went to Menards and Wal Mart. While we were in Wal Mart I got to looking around at all of the shopping carts with little kids in them. I kept looking to see if I could see an adult and I couldn't. I was beyond shocked! There are two things I keep my hands on at all times: my purse and child. I can't believe some people! I seriously think you should have to apply to have a child.
Today we went to church. I'm trying to teach Braelyn that she needs to sit at church so I brought a few books, a sippy cup, and a snack for the sermon. I guess sitting still for 15 minutes is so boring it put her to sleep for the rest of the service. I can handle that. After church we came home, ate lunch, and took a nap. We went to DR for a family gathering in the evening. My brother is moving to Germany on Thursday so this was our last get together before he leaves. Of course there were lots of good things to eat and people to talk with.
Tomorrow Braelyn is starting her adventures at Tracy's! I think she'll have a lot of fun! I will be going to SF to buy some clothes for myself since I got rid of most of them at the beginning of the summer. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I have meetings so I'm pretty much starting work this week. Where did the summer go?

Ready... Set... Let School Begin!

My classroom is ready to go! It is such a relief to have that part done. Next Monday I will get my class list so I can put names on desks, behavior chart, and writing process tags. I'm ready to get the year going! I'm sure after a few weeks I'll be wishing for Christmas vacation... that's just how it goes.
Tonight Kristi, Suze, Braelyn, and I walked down to DQ for the Children's Miracle Network Blizzard thing. There were things for Suzy to play on while Braelyn watched.
Heath started cutting down a tree in the backyard tonight. Um... Yea... I had to ask him to stop and tell him that he has gone high enough because I really didn't feel like calling an ambulance tonight. Tomorrow his friend Brandon will come over to help him with the rest. Oh! He's cutting down this tree because he is going to build a garage (aka Man Cave) where the tree is.
I guess I don't really have a lot tonight. Tomorrow is my last day of summer. My last weekday home with Braelyn (until September 1). My last day of freedom.

Overwhelmed!

Today I met with the other three second grade teachers. Marcy gave us "newbies" a handmade basket, in which she made, filled with lots of goodies! She included a CD of everything she does throughout the year! She's simply wonderful! However, I left feeling like there's so much to do in such little time! I know many of you think school is too long for kids, but as teachers, we feel like there isn't enough time to get things done! My room is pretty much ready to go. I have a few more things to move in and then I should be set. I'm anxious to get started with this new year! Caitlin (my only girl cousin, pretty much my sister) is going to come help me tomorrow.

Yesterday Heath had VA appointments that took him a little longer than expected. Afterwards we went to look at Impalas. We found one at Lithia of Sioux Falls that I kind of liked. Well, I also wanted to see what they would give me for my Grand Prix. Not once did I think I was going to walk out of there with a different car! However, the salesman did. Ugh! Heath and I were NOT impressed! I know now that I will NOT deal with them... EVER!

While Heath was at his appointments Braelyn and I did some shopping. I returned some things and got Braelyn her birthday shirt and the book The Last Lecture. It is a story about a man who is dying of cancer and he wanted to make sure his children had the life lessons that he would have taught them if he would have been around while they were growing up. There is a question in there that Kate (another 2nd grade teacher) and I are going to ask ourselves this year: Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore? This question is asking me if I am going to handle a problem with positive or negative attitude. I need to be better at being a Tigger. Sometimes it's hard and will be hard.

Weekend!

This was a pretty laid back weekend at the Abraham's. Heath had Guard Drill this weekend so Braelyn and I were off to Dell Rapids on Saturday. I had to finish some things in my room: put up more bulletin boards, clean up, organize some things... the fun stuff! Braelyn wasn't being much of a help and Grandma Nae came to the rescue! Rane and Anetta (Rane's GF) came to see the room and, of course, tell their crazy stories from the night before. After Dell Rapids we came home and took a nap. I made homemade pizza, Heath came home, and it was time for Braelyn to go to bed. Heath and I talked for a few minutes and that was the end of our Saturday.

Heath took command of the 211th today!!! I am very proud of him although this will mean he'll be a lot busier on Guard weekends. They had a small ceremony for him and after that we went to the family picnic. We weren't able to stay long because it was soooo hot and humid. Poor Braelyn was uncomfortable! Today we ate at El Vaquero and had DQ ice cream! Yum!

This week I will be busy preparing my classroom (some more) and spending my last week with Braelyn :(. Next week she will be going to Tracy's to play with the kids! I'm sure she'll have a good time!

Here We Go!

My classroom is finally coming together. The teacher before me had a "Star" theme. I tried my hardest to work with that, but as I was working today I had finally had it! I couldn't do the "Star" theme. It just wasn't working! I tore it down, ran to my aunt's fabric store, bought some BRIGHT colored fabric, and went back to work. The theme in 2Ab is "FUN"! I ran out of fabric, but no fear, I got more here in Madison! So, the colors are: Neon Green, Hot Pink, Bright Yellow, Wow Orange, and Purple! Hopefully these colors can keep my spirits up in the winter as well!

Heath started his new job and loves it. We figured out he works as many hours as I do, doesn't work very hard, and gets paid double, almost triple! NOT FAIR! Oh well! I love my job!

Here are some fun pictures I've taken of Braelyn lately:

Braelyn and Maggie watching Heath mow the lawn.

Braelyn in the bath! Crazy hair of hers!