Gnomies Gone Wild

[MegansMom]

Happy Monday Gnomies!!!!! Winter is SO overrated.....I totally agree!!!! Now that Christmas is over, I am done with the cold and snow....bring on the sun and flowers....but I know that isn't going to happen any time soon! BOO!

I have enjoyed being a SAHM, but I do believe that I will be going back to teaching in the fall. We too have some big things we want to accomplish, and I know they will happen sooner if I go back to teaching....plus I want to get back to building up my retirement stuff. I definitely think that Moms who are teachers really have it made....especially when they get to school age, and since Megs is going to be starting first grade next year, I might as well work the same hours she is at school and get paid for it! I am a little nervous though about transitioning back into working full-time, and Mommy-ing full-time. I know that I will definitely be spending much less time at school before and afterwards than I did before I had Megan. CP....how do you juggle it all???? Do you have any tips or secrets that you think helps to make your days easier.....for schoolwork, dinner prep, laundry, cleaning the house, etc.?!?!?! I just keep thinking that even though it is going to be hard having to work again, it will be a great reward when we build our dream house and take lots more Disney trips.....maybe even go DVC!!!

 

[kschafer]

OMG, look at what my friend just posted on FB:

Look on the far right, the non-costumed CM is my high school friend! Apparently the job change he mentioned last summer involved working with the Showboat Jubilee -- how cool!

Here's another one

 

[jenjolt]

WOW Katie thanks for putting that up!! How cool would it be to work there!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Jen, I am not sure I have any great tips, but I do know that I am pretty strict about work stays at work. I head into work a few minutes early every day and use my planning time to the utmost. I very rarely (maybe once or twice a year) will take anything home. I feel like when I am home, I am home. As far as all the housework and stuff, I do the bare minimum. And for dinners, I do a lot that can be two nights' worth, so I am only cooking a couple of times during the week. How is Megan feeling?

Katie, those pics are super cool! Makes me want to go work at Disney more than ever!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Cool pictures, Katie!

Love the DVC dreaming, Jen (MM).

Glad your rooms were warm, CP & Jen (JJ).

LL - hope your day hs been OK.

Well, as if I had any doubts, today pretty much confirmed it:

I HATE MY JOB.




OK. Venting over. Thanks for listening. As if you had any choice.

 

[MegansMom]

CP---thanks for the tips....they are very helpful because they are a good reminder of what my priorities will be when I jump back into the wild game of teaching!!! You probably don't realize it, but I have been admiring how effortlessly you achieve the two so well for years! I know you have many stressful days, but I also see how devoted and creative you are as a Mom, and from hearing stories of your past students, I know what an effective teacher you must be as well!!! You have really been a good inspiration to me that I can make it really work next year. I am sure I am in for a culture shock, but I think once I eventually get back into the swing of things, it is really going to work out in the long run for us. Once I go back, we are going to start our plans for selling this house and building our "forever home!" This is exciting for all of us! And if Tom keeps progressing in his love for Disney vacations, I know the extra income can help us to one day be DVC owners! How amazing would that be! I love most what you said about leaving work at work......that is going to be my aim!!! Megan deserves 100% of me when I get home! I think if the housework begins to seem "too much," I will just have to enlist the help of my other two home dwellers to pitch in too, or maybe I will just call Molly Maid!!!! Now that would be the life!!!

Love the pic Katie....that would be so much fun!!!

C......can you quit and just go work for Disney?!!?!?!?

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a day. It felt like 17 days combined into one.

Love those pics, Katie!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oh how I would love to work for Disney! I look at their job postings from time to time. Unfortunately - at least for me on the outside- they tend to promote from within so I'd probably have to start at the bottom, which financially I'm not really able to do.

So somehow I have to find the silver lining in my current situation which right now just feels impossible. I know i have the Oct trip to look forward to but that is too far away to be quite real.

Sorry your day was yucky too, LL.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

So... on this most unhappy day a DVC contract has been advertised that catches my eye. Is that too much of an impulse purchase??

Sadly, I think so but it is nice to dream. And that sure would perk me up... right up til the point I had to write the check, anyway.

 

[sunny_stace]

C - I'm sorry you had a yucky day....I'm not fond of my job at the moment either. Solidarity sister!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

LL- you were interested in seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway, weren't you? Mousesavers is advertising a deal, in case you haven't seen it.

No enabling going on here... no sir.

 

[Lady Lallie]

LL- you were interested in seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway, weren't you? Mousesavers is advertising a deal, in case you haven't seen it.

No enabling going on here... no sir.

I do want to go see it but I think I'm holding out for it to come to Boston. Wanna go see it with me when it finally comes??

 

[jenjolt]

OOOH Mary Poppins on Broadway I want to see that!!!! I will have to wait and see what comes to Houston they have some great shows that come in to that town.

C...sorry you had such a bad day!!!! Same to you too Stace!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I do want to go see it but I think I'm holding out for it to come to Boston. Wanna go see it with me when it finally comes??

Sounds like fun... maybe we could have a New England DISer meet.

------------

Solidarity, Stacy!

Thanks, Jen! Any thoughts on purchasing DVC?

 

[jenjolt]

Sounds like fun... maybe we could have a New England DISer meet.

------------

Solidarity, Stacy!

Thanks, Jen! Any thoughts on purchasing DVC?

My thoughts are that you should buy LOL!!!!

My thoughts on me are that we are going to make it through this pay cycle and recoup from the last tution bill and then you never know what might happen LOL

 

[2xcited2sleep]

My thoughts are that you should buy LOL!!!!

My thoughts on me are that we are going to make it through this pay cycle and recoup from the last tution bill and then you never know what might happen LOL

Good thoughts all around. I may call in the morning....

 

[kschafer]

Good thoughts all around. I may call in the morning....

C and Stace, sorry to hear you had crappy days!

Jen (MM) I am probably returning to teaching in the fall too. I've only had 2 years away but it has been a good break and I think when the time comes, I'll be ready to go back. I agree, as far as jobs go for working Mom's (and Dad's too) teaching is about as nice as they come. I hope to get a position in our town (I used to work in a different district) so the entire family will be on the same schedule. Good luck with your search!

 

[MegansMom]

Happy Tuesday gang.....our Tuesday morning brought more snow, and our first snow day----although none of us quite understand why?!?!?! It is rather cold here, so maybe it was just a combination of the two!

K--I am feeling pretty good about the decision to go back....I think it will be nice to have a schedule, a paycheck, and the extra moolah for our plans for building our house and of course LOTS of Mickey trips!!! MAYBE DVC TOO!!! That is REALLY exciting! I am hoping to find a job at one of the two high schools that are only 10 mins. away from Megan's school---this way, I will be VERY close in case I need to go get her early, and also so that I will be close for pick up time.....dropping off will be no problem either! Obviously, I will be very close to home too!! The PERFECT situation would be to find a job at one of those two schools, and be able to ask for last block planning---those schools get out about 20 minutes after Megan releases, so if I have planning, then I can hop over, pick her up, and we can both go back to my classroom to finish out the day. The only other annoyance about going back to work is that in order to reinstate my teaching certificate, I am going to have to take two 1 credit hour online courses in the field of my choice. I have found two courses through University of Phoenix that will work and focus on the topic that I completed my Master's work in while I was pregnant with Megan.....so should be a breeze, but it just drives me NUTS that I have to do that anyway!!!!!! Especially when so many educated professionals are emergently certified here in KY when a vacancy can't be filled. I hate jumping "through hoops!" Wish me luck that I can get all that quickly taken care of this spring or summer. The two courses combined will only take me six weeks.

Speaking of Mary Poppins ladies.......I TOTALLY forgot to tell you that Tom and I bought tickets to the Mary Poppins show that is coming to Cincy in April for Megan as part of her Christmas gift from Mommy and Daddy. SHE and I are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!! I hate that we have to wait until April, but I know we are going to have so much fun! She squealed with joy and teared up when she realized what they were on Christmas day! The theme for their dance recital this year is Mary Poppins too!!!! All their dances will either be songs from the movie or the Broadway show!!! Her costume is adorable too.....as soon as we get it, I will post some pics here to share with you!


C-----all your talk of DVC contracts makes me want to go sneak a peek!!!! Do you think it is a better deal doing resale or signing up with them at DVC spot?????

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Jen (MM)! All of your compliments are so flattering! I don't always feel like I do a good job of balancing everything, but I do try. Some days are definitely more successful than others. Hurray for a snow day!!! We are so hoping for one later in the week -- hopefully it won't be like last year when every county in NW Georgia got snow except us. We are planning on going to see Mary Poppins when it comes to ATL in May -- very excited about that! I know Megan will have a great time when you take her in April!

C, I think you have a lot of us sneaking peeks at DVC resales.

LL, are you having a better day today? I hope so!

 

[ILuvCrush]

hi all!!

hope everyone is having a better day today.... I feel yucky an was 'extra' at work... so I camehome early, ratherthantough out the whole day.

Jen... Mary Poppins sounds great... and I must say, sounds like a much better recital than my girls this year. Ours is "A day at the Cafe" which sounds OK... but Ellie found out her HipHop class is to be "Salad"

I'm all for everyone buying DVC I can't say enuff good things about it.

Leave me out of the "howto handle working full time and mommyhood" discussion... causeI pretty much stink at it.

Paula