September 11th

What a beautiful tribute!

This morning I saw the relecting pools for the first time on the news.  They are absolutely beautiful.  I still cry every year on this anniversary,  it is so hard to believe it has been 10 years, that day is so clear in my mind, it honestly feels like it happened yesterday....may God bless the several friends that were lost that day and their wonderful families whose pain must be unbearable. You will never ever be forgotten!   

Back to School ~ Woo Hoo!

We began school on Tuesday in the rain, boo hooo had to take pictures inside, oh well things could be worse.....I felt like I ran a marathon that day, had 2 new classes, stayed after for awhile to set up for Back to School Night, went home changed and came right back....I think I ate cheerios and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich all day.....crazy, crazy day.  TOTALLY EXHAUSTED, but by Wednesday morning was glad it was now over and done with.  The rest of the week was pretty good, we're all getting into the routine, although seriously we are all so, so tired, I can't wait to go to bed tonight.  I know I've mentioned I am starting a new blog just for my teacher stuff and that is on the to do list, I have to forward my photobucket info, (which of course I can't remember any of it) to Jenn at Finally in First, I can't wait to see it once it is finished so I better figure out how I can access that information asap.  Jack is adjusting to high school, although it is so overwhelming, he's in a huge school and I kind of feel like he's just a number, there's no warmth there...hope it changes.  On the upside though, he is thrilled with football, he is starting wide receiver, defensive end and is on the kick off and punt return teams.  I'm so excited for the season to start.  Ryan is doing great so far, he loves his teachers and feels like he's grown up a lot, which kinda cracks me up, I sort of agree with him ;)  Danny had a little bit of a sad week, I kept him back in first grade and while I expected this to happen I was totally hoping it wouldn't...he has said a few times that he wants to be in second grade with his friends which kills me, but I know I did the right thing and in a few short weeks this feeling will pass, please God let it pass.  He is in a terrific class, lots of great kids and he's with his teacher from last year who we all love.  I'll just keep praying that he will be a happy little guy real soon.  Well, I know this is short and not full of too much interesting info but I really need to clean up a little and hit the hay.....Happy Weekend!  Go Giants!!!


Me and my boys, Jack 9th grade, Ryan 7th Grade and Danny 1st grade



Me and my little guy in my new room!

My AM cuties!

My PM cuties!

Me and my partner in crime....finally working together

What a week......

I originally wrote this post last Monday, Labor Day, I got a little side-tracked ;)

hit the roof and scraped down the house, ripping the screen

Well, everything I was afraid was going to happen during the hurricane did....a tree, while it wasn't that big hit our house at 2:30 am and scared the you know what out of us, I had a horrible sleep and we lost power for 6 very long days! Talk about jinxing myself (if you read my last post)....However. so many friends were so wonderful and offered their house for hot showers and washing machines. School was supposed to start last Tuesday, but had to be postponed until tomorrow. We got power back on Friday at 4:45 pm, I can't tell you the relief I felt for hours after that. I don't know how those poor people went on after Katrina, they must have very strong wills. It's just so awful to feel at the mercy of others. Hope it doesn't happen again for a ver long time. On the upside, both little guys had their first football games over the weekend and they both won!!! Woo hoo!!! I know this is brief but I really have a lot to do before school tomorrow. Happy Labor Day and here's to a great week ahead!!

Danny #56, look who my little wub has to go up against

Ryan #56

We're battoning down the hatches...

For the last 3 days we have been bombarded by the media about Hurricane Irene to the point where now I am totally petrified...I have trees all around my house so one is bound to come my way, they've got me thinking it's inevitable how insane is that?.....but to calm myself down I keep thinking well...... it could blow the other way, right???!!!  This is so not like me....I always just think everything is going to be fine.....dontcha just love the news grrrrr, they have made me crazy, why am I still watching?  I just hope to God that 1. I am able to sleep tonight   2.  get only minimal damage and 3. we have power so I can finish up the loose ends for the first day of school....which I should be doing now instead of blogging :)  Anywho, we went back for staff development on Thursday and Friday, and Friday around 2, they sent around an email cancelling Monday which was Meet Your Teacher Day and Freshman Orientation, so I'm worried for Jack and all the freshmen, they won't know where to go at all on Tuesday and I'm worried for my little kiddos who I won't get a chance to meet until they get off the bus.....can you say CHAOS! That's what I'm imagining.  Just breathe, just breathe......In the meantime, Danny and Ryan had the football Jamboree today which is the official weigh in, here's my little guy

He did so well and he really is starting to love it.......well I seriously should do my school stuff....... here's to staying safe and calm!!!

Found this blog ~

this morning, Musings of Me.....I love the color booklets she has created!  And I would LOVE to have my kids go to this school, it's Cara's!!  The school spirit here is incredible!!!  How great are these boards!!  Have a great Saturday!!

So excited.....

I'm creating a new blog just for teaching, I cannot wait to see the final product!!!! Dream Team Designs is designing it for me. YAY!! Football Nut will be just for my fam, I think it will be easier that way and more conducive to what I want each one for. I'm sure most people are not interested in what I'm doing at home with the kids if they're looking up a teaching blog, right? When I originally started this blog back up it was really for my sister Annie who lives across the country, then I started finding all these AWESOME teaching blogs, so it became a major mish-mash....is that even a word??? LOL So, it will be a nice change to say the least. And did I mention I cannot wait to see it :) Anyway, onto this past week, I spent the beginning of the week in my room, I think I'm almost done-woo hoo, just a few odds and ends are left. Took Wednesday and Thursday off and unfortunately Thursday morning was a disaster. I went to the DMV....grrrrrrr!!! Talk about torture. Our lovely new Governor shut down many of the DMV's across the state, so now there are only 4 full service ones open. I wanted to scream, shear, shear torture. Spent many hours there. And this morning I was off to curriculum writing for our old/new math program. We have been using Investigations for the past few years. The district has finally upgraded to the newest version. So the day was spent checking and cross checking Investigations with the common core standards. In the past, we only had the kids rote count up to 30 and recognize numbers 1-20, now we've upped it to counting to 100 and recognizing numbers 1-30.....hope it's not too much to ask. I think a lot of kids come in knowing a lot more, but at the same time they're just babies and we expect them to read by the end of the year as well!! I know other districts have the same expectations, just praying it can happen with a half day kindergarten. We shall see, it will be a work in progress :) Anyway, it's Friday...almost time for what else??? football, have a great weekend!  Oh and below, another work in progress, MY ROOOOMMMMM!! YAY!!   

Almost done :)

What I walked into :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....

My most favorite time of the year is now.....I LOVE football and I love that all 3 of my boys play.....I also LOVE getting my classroom ready for the new year......my mornings are spent in my room and my nights are spent on the field, love it, love it, love it......So far football has been great, this is Danny's first year and yes I caved and let him get a mohawk, his hair grows fast and I'm sure by the time school starts it will be all grown in ;)  at least it better be, lol.....Actually it came out much better than I thought, I don't cringe everytime I look at him, I think he looks pretty darn cute. John took yesterday off and helped me move furniture around in my room, it is really coming along, it's an odd shape and I was starting to panic~everything I did, did not look right. I loved my room from last year, it was HUGE and so bright and the best part was the door leading to the outside of the building.  I would be able to go in today if I wanted to.  I really want to get as much done as I can, because you know when everyone starts coming in, we chat way too much.   Anyway, I will bring my cam on Tuesday and take some pics.  In the meantime, I got my class lists yesterday, 18 in the morning and 15 in the afternoon, how great are those numbers!!! That's all for now, hope you have a terrific weekend!!

First day of practice



practicing some moves




love this kid