Gnomes Gnomes on the Range!

[2xcited2sleep]

Just checking in... how is everyone doing?

 

[kschafer]

hey C!

We are good here, trying to squeeze in the last few things into our summer break. Went to the zoo Sunday, had a picnic in the park on Monday with friends. Tuesday was appointments and errands in Des Moines. Today more errands around town. I'm going to work tomorrow but we still have to make sure we get in one last trip to both the bowling alley and swimming pool this weekend.

how is everyone else?

 

[jenjolt]

Busy Busy Busy!!! We get to close on the house on Monday, I'm still up to my ears in boxes, and I'm getting ready for the students to arrive on Tuesday!!! However it is all a good busy!!!! I will be glad when I get a routine established though!!!!!

 

[Roxychica7]

YAY for closing on the house Jen! Good luck with it all!

Well Gnomies...wish me luck, so begins the crazy wedding weekend. Blake and I are spending the night on the other side of the water since theres way too many events for us to have to keep driving back and forth. Getting back late on sunday, so I won't talk to you all until monday, but have a great weeknd! And I will try and stay sane too

 

[kschafer]

UGH! I just had to hop over and vent some frustrations!

I went into school yesterday and worked in my room. I got quite a bit of cleaning and sorting done but still have a bit to go. My supervising principal was unavailable all day because of other things going on. She has contacted the organization in charge of the online program my students will be working on to arrange for a training session for me but has not heard back from them. I have been trained on the gradebook program and have set up my seating charts (but really need more info before I can finalize) All of this is prior to my official start date on Monday.

I have 86 students coming into my classroom on Tuesday. Monday I have a meeting all morning and another at 3:00. I have NO idea how in the world I am going to possibly be ready for students given that I know NOTHING about the online program they will be working with (I don't even have login info to go in and play around to see what I can figure out)

Oh yes, and I don't have lots of little things like keys, ID badge, parking tags, etc

I'm supposed to meet with my supervising principal on Monday afternoon but I'm starting to wonder if I will have the option of sending kids to regular study hall on Tuesday to give me time to train and prepare. I don't like the way a request like that sounds but I just don't know how in the world they expect that I will be ready with basically 3 hours of open time left before the kids come.

JJ how are you coming?

We haven't heard a peep from MM, she must be crazy busy with her new job!

 

[ILuvCrush]

ughhhh Katie! What a fiasco! I don't know how these things usually work... but it sounds like a mess. I can't begin to imagine how frustrated you are


My stupis plantar's facitis is starting toact up again....grrr....this is about the same time as it started last year...just in time for our trip.

But is a happier note.... (hopefully) Allison and I are making tie-dyed Mickey shirts tomarrow..... If they come out well I'll post them... if not, well I'll post MY frustrations with that

Hope you all have a great weekend!

 

[kschafer]

Part of the problem P is I don't know how these things usually work either. This job has many of the elements of teaching but has just enough differences to make me feel clueless! If I were this unprepared for the first day of school in a "regular" teaching job, I would know what I need to do next but since this computer program is completely unknown to me, I am in the dark.

At this point the only thing I will be prepared to do on the first day of school is talk about rules (which won't be anything surprising or take more than a few minutes really) I can't introduce the program or discuss procedures or anything

Anyways! I am putting it aside for one last day and going to enjoy myself! I am headed to see Beth today She got the green light to drive this week so we are meeting 1/2 way and planning on lunch and shopping. She is feeling great and I can't wait to see her

 

[jenjolt]

Good Morning Gnomies,
Wow Katie, boy can I relate! It is so frustrating to feel like you are entering the first day blind, ESPECIALLY when we educators know how valuable and important the first days are to setting up a routine with our kids!

We haven't had much time in our rooms so I'm going in tomorrow to get things situated and put up on the walls! Of course the copy system also works different so I haven't made any copies for my classes yet! Thankfully I'm going to put a lot of it online and let my kids know they can access the papers online and they can print it off at home!!!

P...sorry to hear about your plantar flatitis(sp)? Acting up...boo to that!! I hope you and Allison have fun with making your shirts!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Katie- sorry work is so frustrating. Good strategy to put it off for one more day! Hope you have a fun afternoon with Beth!

P- can't wait to see your shirts.

Hi Jen- hope you're having fun in TX!!

Hope the rest of you gals are doing well too. I am planning to soak up some summer sun today. Even though I have a trip coming up I am excited for, I still hate the idea that summer is ending.

 

[AuntieKels]

Sorry to hear the start of the school year isn't running smoothly for everyone. I'm sure everything will fall into place with a little time. Good luck!

Tie-Dye Mickey shirts? Thats awesome! You're so creative. Boo for not being 100% while on vacation - try not to let it rain your your parade!

Wedding schedules can be crazy -some more then others. I was once invited to 4 bridal showers for my friends-brothers-fiance. I had only met her maybe 3 or 4 times before that. I guess I should count my lucky starts I didn't get invited to the other 3 she had.

Some good news from my neck of the woods! DF took a super competitive test to become a Staff Sergeant for the air force and PASSED! He has to go through training but by early 2011 he will get to sew on his new patch and get a raise! We have been praying for him to get this possition for over a year and are SOOOO happy!

We also chose our caterer for the wedding last week! We loved the woman helping us and that they use all local and organic foods. We are having salmon and my dad insisted on a baron of beef (AKA= man food). The rest is kinda up in the air until closer to the season next summer.

Work is crazy this week as we get ready to close for our Furlough. We are also having two weddings in the building today. Who knew so may people would want to get married or have their pictures taken in a library? Needless to say, that always adds to the craziness.

Have a great week Gnomies! I look forward to reading about it!

 

[jenjolt]

Congrats on the promotion for your DF Kels, that is great news!!!

OOOH...wedding plans...yay for finding the caterer you like!! Sounds like its going to be a great menu. I would have to go with your dad on the beef, not much of a seafood fan myself LOL!!!

Have a great week at the library! It does sound busy!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

anyone feeling chatty tonight?

BTW- think I have found my dream job...


TEQUILA AMBASSADOR in the Mexico pavilion. How perfect would that be?? I may have to submit an application in October.

 

[ILuvCrush]

Mickey shirts were a success!!

the girls

mine

The picture of mine doesn't look as nice as the shirt itself does... the mai MH is turquoise with a thin outline of green where the blue and yellow bled together.

Ellie'sbled too much so I did the outlining with bleach, like TK did for hers. Allison liked Ellie's...so we outlined hers too.


Hope you are all having a great Sunday!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Love the shirts, Paula. They came out great.

C, remember your friends when you become the Tequila Ambassador.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Paula- the shirts came out so well! I LOVE them!!

Will do, LL. I do think I'm pretty qualified for this position.

So I'm busy planning my trip but don't think I can sustain a PTR so hope you will put up with some questions here.

One thing I thought might be good for me is to keep a list of healthy snack options so I won't be as tempted to go for the bad for you snacks. Do any of you have favorite healthy snacks? I know there is hummus in Morocco and think most snack stands now have carrot/celery sticks with ranch dip. Anything else you can think of? I'll probably choose healthy <10% of the time but at least I can make the effort of a list.

 

[ILuvCrush]

C... I haveheard that there are no calories in a mickey bar....

but really... I don't think the strawberry bars are too bad for you

AK has that fresh fruit market in harambe.

I dunno... honesty, when i'm at WDW I just don't worry about it. I do somuch more walking than usual, the extra cals aren't really an issue....

P

 

[jenjolt]

WOW!! Your shirts came out so cute P!! I should have you make me one LOL!!!

Well ladies, I own a house!! We closed this evening!! The kids arrive tomorrow so it is going to be an early night so I am relaxed and refreshed for them in the morning!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Hmmm...healthy snacks. I know this may sound silly but those grapes that Disney sells in the purple bags are ALWAYS delicious. I don't know if it's the pixie dust or what but they are the best grapes. That's really the only thing that is popping up in my head but I say...don't worry about it, you will be on vacation!

Good Luck tomorrow, Jen!

 

[ILuvCrush]

congrats homeowner Jen!!



My happy news for today????

My ME packet arrived woohoo!! 34 days and counting!

 

[AuntieKels]

P- those shirts turned out AWESOME! and your girls are so cute too!

Jen - So happy for you! Now you can start decorating =) good luck with the kid-os tomorrow!

C- I don't think I ate anything healthy while in WDW. I actually got sick on the way home from too much Expedition Everest, popcorn and funnel cake. You could try packing a few things to bring in your bag though. I like taking all-natural fruit strips, string cheese, pretzels and celery with PB.

K- hows it going? I hope some kinks have been worked out since your last post.