Cutie Pies

The girls and I survived our 4 days without Steve/Daddy. Actually had some fun time and had dinner at other people's houses so things stayed very mangageable. We are all looking forward to hugging Daddy in the morning!

Dancing Queens

Adah, Eli and Jen come for a visit

There is a whole lot of cuteness coming your way...be prepared. We enjoyed our friends visit. We were served yummy soup and pumpkin pie! They have set the standard for visits folks. But seriously, we loved our time with them and just when it was time to go they started playing nice together. Except Adah...she was a trouble maker.

We miss you Daddy!

I have been so busy I have become boring. My days are all crazy and I end up tired and brainless when I finally have a moment to myself. Thus the lack of pictures or even something creative or funny to say.

But a 5th grade girl showed me this video today and it made me laugh so I will share it with you...Bush has never sounded better. And some people have a lot of time on their hand.

My feelings exactly...Mom...don't watch this....

Oh my goodness could they be any cuter?!?!

Contact Paper and scraps...

Make a great craft project for a snowy/icy day. Both Ella and Molly were able to have fun and were obviously proud of their final products.

Found these at my in-laws house in a cupboard...

In case you can't see they are paintings of The Pier at Old Orchard Beach...Very Cool!

Huh?!?!?! or Wha-Wha-What?!?!?!

Allen's Attraction

Regardless of why they drink it, Mainers undeniably have a Number 1 favorite when it comes to brands of hard alcohol: Allen’s Coffee Brandy.

But it’s not only Number 1. Because the state tracks bottle sizes separately, it is also ranks second, sixth, and tenth in terms of numbers of units sold each year. No other brand registers more than once in the top 10.

Next weekend in the Bangor Daily News and bangordailynews.com, reporter Bill Trotter explores the reasons behind the drink's perennial popularity and its troubling reputation.
-Bangor Daily News

Even in the Washington Post

Go Pats!!!!!!

EleFun is tons of Fun

Charlotte is TWO!!!

We got to celebrate Charlotte's birthday yesterday with the family. Lots of Fun! And what a great GIRL my niece is becoming!

This is what Molly looked like all Sat. Morning

I started going through clothes to see what the kids will need for Florida. Molly loved her sister's old swimsuit and then her hat came out of the dryer...they say you lose 90% of your heat through your head!

But as she has grown, her smile has widened with a touch of fear and her glance has taken on depth. Now she is aware of some of the losses you incur by being here-the extraordinary rent you have to pay as long as you stay.
-Annie Dillard

Re-reading Necessary Losses by Judith Viorst. I am going through some mid-life existential thoughtfulness. A paradigm shift-thanks Dave Hebert-of what is important. No more guilt about staying home with my kids-no more stress about finishing the house-Enjoying my time with Steve-I am recognizing that this time is so sacred so special. I can't talk about doing things with people I love some other time. Now is the time. I am making plans to laugh and love and see and spend time with...watch out!

I think it is the impending entry of Ella into Kindergarten. All day, every day...she is entering some world where I lose presence, where I lose sight and insight into what she is doing day in and day out. Where she starts establishing connections that have nothing to do with me. That are all hers. thank god. But still...

See...I am going through something...It makes me grumpy, it makes me happy, it makes me sad, but hopefully in the end I will have loved the best that I could.

Beth the Bread-Maker

Driving in the car the other day, Ella told her friend that I was a bread maker. Steve ,of course, piped in...Yep and I am a bread winner...har har. I love making bread. I have made anadama, french, oatmeal molasses, and recently three loaves of yummy decadent more like a dessert cinnamon raisin bread.

Everytime I get out a packet of yeast my heart races and I get a little bit of a thrill. I love pouring it into the water and Ella and I will stand over it watching it froth. It is so fascinating and it smells yummy.

So my advice to you is to take some time this weekend and make some bread. Find a simple two step recipe...Betty Crocker has a great recipe for oatmeal molasses bread which is low-fat, and YUMMY with any kind of stew or soup...we had it with Pot Roast. You don't have to spend the whole day letting it rise, rise time is only 45 minutes. You will be happy you did. I guarantee it!

Parsons Beach today. The weather was perfect for a winter trip to the beach.

What I have done today...

1. Woke up late
2. Got breakfast for the girls and I, made my lunch and left for work...late.
3. Got to school...late.
4. Talked with George about our agenda for Student Council.
5. Listened to Jacob read braille for the morning announcement. It was very inspiring/moving, etc...
6. Wrote a bunch of emails-coordinating my career day I am organizing for April, parents, teachers, PTO president
7. Made a bunch of phone calls-superintendent re: expelled 8th grader making plans to get him back in school. Parents re: struggling son. Another guidance counselor re: transferred students medms number.
8. Chatted with another teacher about being a working mother.
9. Spoke with curriculum coordinator about organizing NAEP assessment.
10. Met up with Sped teachers to give them questionaires to fill out for NAEP assessment.
11. Wrote parent letter for the principal about NAEP.
12. Lunch with a group of 4th grade girls. Actually very fun! Missing two girls who have a tendency to make it not so much fun.
13. Met with Principal and Superintendent about expelled student. And student trying to enroll in our school who does not live in our district, but used to and is wreaking havoc in our community on weekends because his parents drop him off on friday afternoons and pick him up on Sunday-14 years old.
14. Ate my lunch while entering MEDMS information on new and exited students.
15. Read Kelly's Blog
16. Checked my bank account balance
17. Spent 8th grade learning lab with 2 of my favorite 8th graders. Listening to music and helping with homework. And writing this list while I was waiting for them to finish stuff.
18. Now I must finish so I can attend to homeroom and checking with another student. Then it is Student Council Meeting after school and FINALLY HOME!

Hope you enjoyed this snapshot into a day in a life as a guidance counselor...