The Unofficial Chatterbox Thread! Everyone is Welcome!

[funnygarcia]

The child is asking me "what should I pack?"

uhhhh whatever you need ???

I told him toiletries, he looked at me with that vacant teen boy look of "I have no clue what that is" .. staring at me for a few minutes before he finally asks.. what's that?

You would think he has never gone anywhere, c'mon kid figure it out!

This is just an overnight, next week is a four day weekend to pack.

 

[funnygarcia]

anyone want our expected rain and snow mix?? anyone?? Because I'm really not in the mood to admit that winter is approaching, very quickly approaching.

Long sleeves? jeans?? noooooooooooooooooo

Bought performance long underwear for J, yep they are going to march in the rain and the snow in Iowa this weekend. Crazy!

 

[sameyeyam]

We have a couple of Toila Trees in our front yard.

 

[sameyeyam]

anyone want our expected rain and snow mix?? anyone?? Because I'm really not in the mood to admit that winter is approaching, very quickly approaching.

Long sleeves? jeans?? noooooooooooooooooo

Bought performance long underwear for J, yep they are going to march in the rain and the snow in Iowa this weekend. Crazy!

We are sunshine and 60ish. But I think that's all supposed to change on Tuesday.

 

[funnygarcia]

I feel ucky, up too late.

Snackage and nap until E is done with his run..

Goodnight.

 

[sameyeyam]

I feel ucky, up too late.

Snackage and nap until E is done with his run..

Goodnight.

Goodnight B. Happy dreams! Sorry, got sucked into a chat with an old boyfriend on FB.

 

[staley7580]

Megan - I wish you were going there for spring break...well my spring break...last week of March, first week of April. I think we will probably make our annual trek to my sister's for spring break and we would have lots of extra hands to help you manage the kids.

When you get your dates pinned down, I may let my sister know. As you know, she lives nearby, has an AP and is always up for a WDW trip.

We will be there May 1st-undecided... any where from the 12-15th. I wish you were going to be there too. That would be fun! We could leave all the bigger kids with the younger kinds and drink our way around Epcot! Ahhhh... My husbands dream vacation!


BEST day today. Went to Joanns.. Bought TONS of fleece so I could make the babies winter gear, and some tulle for Kaylee to make her a tutu to go under her minnie dress she is wearing on Halloween.. and a bunch of patterns that were on sale. Then to the pet store... toy store.. We are getting Kaylee a rock tumbler for Christmas.. She is OBSESSED with rocks. So it is really the best gift for her.

Baby store.. for costumes for the babies. They were 50% off, but didnt have what I wanted. Then lunch, and home for Alex to change for the swimming party... Dropped him off, went and paid the cable bill... Picked Alex up at the pool.. Where they fed Kaylee some cake, and snatched the babies away to play with them. He had fun, and picked a Hannah Montana doll for the little girl that she had been wanting FOREVER. I picked it out, but Alex told me what he wanted me to get her.. Luckily it was on Clearance for $10.!!! Down from $44. So she was VERY happy.. Alex was happy.. The mom was like DANG! He sure can pick out presents! Said he was well on his way to landing a girlfreind. He is only seven! but the girlies they LOVE him. Freaks me right out.

Anyways.. I am so tired now. We left at 8 and didnt get home until 5. LOTS of running around. Thankfully the babies were so good today. Little angels!

 

[sameyeyam]

We will be there May 1st-undecided... any where from the 12-15th. I wish you were going to be there too. That would be fun! We could leave all the bigger kids with the younger kinds and drink our way around Epcot! Ahhhh... My husbands dream vacation!


BEST day today. Went to Joanns.. Bought TONS of fleece so I could make the babies winter gear, and some tulle for Kaylee to make her a tutu to go under her minnie dress she is wearing on Halloween.. and a bunch of patterns that were on sale. Then to the pet store... toy store.. We are getting Kaylee a rock tumbler for Christmas.. She is OBSESSED with rocks. So it is really the best gift for her.

Baby store.. for costumes for the babies. They were 50% off, but didnt have what I wanted. Then lunch, and home for Alex to change for the swimming party... Dropped him off, went and paid the cable bill... Picked Alex up at the pool.. Where they fed Kaylee some cake, and snatched the babies away to play with them. He had fun, and picked a Hannah Montana doll for the little girl that she had been wanting FOREVER. I picked it out, but Alex told me what he wanted me to get her.. Luckily it was on Clearance for $10.!!! Down from $44. So she was VERY happy.. Alex was happy.. The mom was like DANG! He sure can pick out presents! Said he was well on his way to landing a girlfreind. He is only seven! but the girlies they LOVE him. Freaks me right out.

Anyways.. I am so tired now. We left at 8 and didnt get home until 5. LOTS of running around. Thankfully the babies were so good today. Little angels!

Let me tell you a little story about a rock tumbler. DD just had to have one, she was obsessed with rocks...so one Christmas we got one. They are NOISY. No, let me rephrase that, they are BEYOND NOISY! So we plugged it in on the back porch, still too NOISY. We then put it inside a cooler chest on the back porch, still too NOISY. We wrapped the cooler chest with a couple of heavy blankets, still too NOISY. So we finally took a huge long extension cord, ran it across the yard, clear out by where the swingset is at...ahhh....yes, finally it wasn't very NOISY, unless you went outside...where it was still too NOISY!

Oh and did I mention that you have to leave them running for several weeks (about 4-6 weeks) to polish the rocks? Now ask yourself if you want to listen to a noisy motor tumbling rocks inside your apartment?

May I suggest you buy a lovely little velvet bag with beautiful pre-polished rocks that you get from the store.

 

[funnygarcia]

I remember we got one as a family gift when I was little, I don't recall anyone ever using it though. It was sent to the basement to collect dust, mildew, and dryer lint.

I asked about it once, my sis said they only used it a few times .. it needed a lot of supplies, took a long time... and of course my mom never bothered to buy a refill. Now I "hear" why.

If I find any more agates while visiting my folks I will send them to Kaylee. All the way from the big "puddle" in MN (Lake Superior)

 

[funnygarcia]

Don't want to give all the details but.... E had some extra excitement in his room on Friday.
He didn't want to start a new lesson, figured they would play some fun games and have a laid back class hour.. well, that's not how it worked out.

He had a group playing in one half of the room, the others in the other half. Keeping an eye on each group. They playing a trust game, one person is blind folded and the others have to verbally guide him thru a "mine field". Apparently there was a trust issue.. E turned his attention away just for a minute and heard some yelling/ screaming. Upon investigation, found out someone had kicked the blindfolded boy.. bent in fetal position, rolling and holding himself in agony. (yes, there.. ouch!),

He stopped the games, called security to take on the task of finding out WHO was the kicker. While being interrogated and the kicked sent to nurse.. E continues the games with other group.

They play a simple game with a soft squishy ball. Things are going nicely and then.... two students have decided now is a good time to carry out their own agressions... one whips the ball hard, at another's face. WHACK!

The other is pissed, the fists begin to fly.
E in his wisdom decides to break them up, has one backed up to the wall.. the other is being held back by classmates. Classmates let go, E is now in the middle as the fists come flying over his shoulder. Separate yet again, one escapes to the hall. He runs after, another teacher finds and apprehends .. security is called yet again.

Now he has one in the nurse office, three on suspension (2 fighters and the kicker).. He writes reports, makes phone calls and talks to various administration staff.

Oh yeah.. he gets back to his class and gives them a stern lecture. One boy has had enough, pissed for who knows why.. gets up, slams his water bottle to the floor and decides to go toe to toe with E.

He replies "fine, if you're gonna do it, then go for it" ... boy finally eases back, all a blubber angry mess and class continues.


Have I mentioned this was all in his first hour of the day??




::

 

[sameyeyam]

OMG Bernice! That's horrible. I'm glad that it all ended relatively well, but sheesh what an ordeal to go thru. That sucks that they can't be trusted to have a relatively fun day instead of lessons. Hopefully he can talk to them and make a lesson out of that!

Have an idea instead of fun games next time....try a Toaster Quiz. Keeps everybody at their desks, but still fun to play. Ask questions, if the person thinks they know the answer they pop up (like a piece of toast). If they know the answer they get 1 extra credit point. He can ask the questions about the next upcoming chapter or lessons. Gives E an idea of where the kids are at and is fun for kids. My 11th grade history teacher did this and all of the kids thought it was fun. It was more fun then regular work, but not something that gets out of hand, plus gives kids a bit of an overview of upcoming lessons.

I'm sure glad that nobody, especially E, got hurt!

 

[funnygarcia]

I pointed out to E that the day was doomed to fail.. children are behavior barometers of the worst kind. Anytime a change in temp, rain, snow, big storm is approaching the chances of out of control behaviors increase. I thought that wasn't as true at middle school level, you would think they grow out of it after preschool.. but maybe in some ways pre teens are just bigger preschoolers trying to cope with all the changes in life and their bodies.

It snowed that night, I bet Monday will be icky too-- our first big snowfall of the season expected for 2-3 inches.

 

[XTinabell]

Yikes, and that is why I will not be getting a job dealing with youth. How awful and for a first day! Ugh talk about stress. Glad that kid backed down and didn't start swinging at E.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Let me tell you a little story about a rock tumbler. DD just had to have one, she was obsessed with rocks...so one Christmas we got one. They are NOISY. No, let me rephrase that, they are BEYOND NOISY! So we plugged it in on the back porch, still too NOISY. We then put it inside a cooler chest on the back porch, still too NOISY. We wrapped the cooler chest with a couple of heavy blankets, still too NOISY. So we finally took a huge long extension cord, ran it across the yard, clear out by where the swingset is at...ahhh....yes, finally it wasn't very NOISY, unless you went outside...where it was still too NOISY!

Oh and did I mention that you have to leave them running for several weeks (about 4-6 weeks) to polish the rocks? Now ask yourself if you want to listen to a noisy motor tumbling rocks inside your apartment?

May I suggest you buy a lovely little velvet bag with beautiful pre-polished rocks that you get from the store.

Ditto on the noise issue! I had one when I was young and my parents made me put it in the garage but it was still loud. And I don't remember it polishing the rocks and we let it run for a long time!

 

[sameyeyam]

I pointed out to E that the day was doomed to fail.. children are behavior barometers of the worst kind. Anytime a change in temp, rain, snow, big storm is approaching the chances of out of control behaviors increase. I thought that wasn't as true at middle school level, you would think they grow out of it after preschool.. but maybe in some ways pre teens are just bigger preschoolers trying to cope with all the changes in life and their bodies.

It snowed that night, I bet Monday will be icky too-- our first big snowfall of the season expected for 2-3 inches.

BRRRR!!!! Although I must admit that does sound tempting to be around snow while I'm having hot flashes.

You couldn't pay me enough to teach middle school!

 

[tinkermell]

Why is it that when one things goes wrong nothing goes right after?

I called my cc company thinking it will be a quick call, not only did it take 40 minutes on a long distance charge ( calling from the UK) but I found out my card was shut off because it hasn't been active for a year. Hello, emergency card!!

I now have to reapply but I can't because they won't let me if I live overseas.

After the crappy phone call I realize I forgot to start supper and after getting it going I now realize that I'm going to miss my bus to take me to my exercise class!

Now I'm going to be fat with no emergency money! Fat and poor!

And the stupid tear away thing on the movie envelope wouldn't tear away properly and there is paper all over the table for me to clean up. Fat, poor and messy! Great!

Not a good day I presume?

Drive-by Hi!

Hi!

Soooo... im thinking about changing our trip back to Disneyland. For SO many reasons. Im afraid my mom will buy our plane tickets, and we wont have the money to go... or that the babies are to small for this kind of thing.. or it will be to hot.. its a hard trip to plan with two 14 month old babies.. taking Alex out of school for two full weeks.. I dont know. We are comfortable at Disneyland.

Uh oh!

Hey!! How is your DD???

She's is all better now, thankyou!

NO!!!! YOU MUST GO TO WDW!!! The babies won't be too small, the weather will be lovely, Alex will go on to read, write, do math and graduate even if he misses two weeks.

Good call Alison!!

Megan - I wish you were going there for spring break...well my spring break...last week of March, first week of April. I think we will probably make our annual trek to my sister's for spring break and we would have lots of extra hands to help you manage the kids.

When you get your dates pinned down, I may let my sister know. As you know, she lives nearby, has an AP and is always up for a WDW trip.

That is reallly nice of you!

We will be there May 1st-undecided... any where from the 12-15th. I wish you were going to be there too. That would be fun! We could leave all the bigger kids with the younger kinds and drink our way around Epcot! Ahhhh... My husbands dream vacation!


BEST day today. Went to Joanns.. Bought TONS of fleece so I could make the babies winter gear, and some tulle for Kaylee to make her a tutu to go under her minnie dress she is wearing on Halloween.. and a bunch of patterns that were on sale. Then to the pet store... toy store.. We are getting Kaylee a rock tumbler for Christmas.. She is OBSESSED with rocks. So it is really the best gift for her.

Baby store.. for costumes for the babies. They were 50% off, but didnt have what I wanted. Then lunch, and home for Alex to change for the swimming party... Dropped him off, went and paid the cable bill... Picked Alex up at the pool.. Where they fed Kaylee some cake, and snatched the babies away to play with them. He had fun, and picked a Hannah Montana doll for the little girl that she had been wanting FOREVER. I picked it out, but Alex told me what he wanted me to get her.. Luckily it was on Clearance for $10.!!! Down from $44. So she was VERY happy.. Alex was happy.. The mom was like DANG! He sure can pick out presents! Said he was well on his way to landing a girlfreind. He is only seven! but the girlies they LOVE him. Freaks me right out.

Anyways.. I am so tired now. We left at 8 and didnt get home until 5. LOTS of running around. Thankfully the babies were so good today. Little angels!

What a lovely day!

Don't want to give all the details but.... E had some extra excitement in his room on Friday.
He didn't want to start a new lesson, figured they would play some fun games and have a laid back class hour.. well, that's not how it worked out.

He had a group playing in one half of the room, the others in the other half. Keeping an eye on each group. They playing a trust game, one person is blind folded and the others have to verbally guide him thru a "mine field". Apparently there was a trust issue.. E turned his attention away just for a minute and heard some yelling/ screaming. Upon investigation, found out someone had kicked the blindfolded boy.. bent in fetal position, rolling and holding himself in agony. (yes, there.. ouch!),

He stopped the games, called security to take on the task of finding out WHO was the kicker. While being interrogated and the kicked sent to nurse.. E continues the games with other group.

They play a simple game with a soft squishy ball. Things are going nicely and then.... two students have decided now is a good time to carry out their own agressions... one whips the ball hard, at another's face. WHACK!

The other is pissed, the fists begin to fly.
E in his wisdom decides to break them up, has one backed up to the wall.. the other is being held back by classmates. Classmates let go, E is now in the middle as the fists come flying over his shoulder. Separate yet again, one escapes to the hall. He runs after, another teacher finds and apprehends .. security is called yet again.

Now he has one in the nurse office, three on suspension (2 fighters and the kicker).. He writes reports, makes phone calls and talks to various administration staff.

Oh yeah.. he gets back to his class and gives them a stern lecture. One boy has had enough, pissed for who knows why.. gets up, slams his water bottle to the floor and decides to go toe to toe with E.

He replies "fine, if you're gonna do it, then go for it" ... boy finally eases back, all a blubber angry mess and class continues.


Have I mentioned this was all in his first hour of the day??




::

Holy mackeroly!

That sounds like something you would see in a movie!!

I'm so glad that E is OK!!! Youza!!!

 

[funnygarcia]

Thanks everyone.
Keep in mind, the students he teach have been through more heartache and stress than any of us can imagine. Not every middle school classroom has this extreme concentration of poverty, highly mobile and homeless population mix.

As E has said, they can't expect every child to do well in school until they can "fix" their parent's poverty.

The word is out among the students :"Don't mess with Mr G"
That was one way to earn their respect .. okay not the best way

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Hello!

 

[sameyeyam]

Thanks everyone.
Keep in mind, the students he teach have been through more heartache and stress than any of us can imagine. Not every middle school classroom has this extreme concentration of poverty, highly mobile and homeless population mix.

As E has said, they can't expect every child to do well in school until they can "fix" their parent's poverty.

The word is out among the students :"Don't mess with Mr G"
That was one way to earn their respect .. okay not the best way

I understand that those things can have an effect on kids. But I think that too many people use that as an excuse for bad behavior. I believe in having high expectations for all kids, regardless of income level. If you expect them to have a low standard of behavior, that is exactly what they will give. I think E is right to let them know that he's not going to put up with crap.

 

[staley7580]

SO... we went to a Cub Scout meeting at Alex's school.. Just an informational meeting. Turns out they dont have a group at Alex's school.. they want to start one. So they had NO leadership or anything set up yet. They wanted volunteers.. Guess who volunteered?? MY HUSBAND! and NO ONE ELSE. He was thinking that he might try for assistant leader or something.. But none of the other parents were offering up, so he did. The head guy is supposed to call tomorrow, so we will get all the info then.

One more thing for me to do.. But Im excited about it. Alex was SO excited that his dad is going to be the leader. I told my mom, and she got all mad. Said we have to much going on already, and this will just be to much. Maybe so, but it is what we signed up for by having so many kids, you know? We knew things were going to get more hectic when he went into this year.. Plus it looks like something that will involve the whole family, and that is really good.

Dh was a cub scout as a kid, and I was a girl scout.. so this was something that we always wanted to get the kiddos into. and if he is the only parent willing to step up, then he is glad to do it. But it means that I dont get to join the moms of multiples group like I had planned. Oh well. I like kids more then grown women, for the most part.