So I have officially concluded that administering a state achievement exam is THE MOST BORING POSSIBLE THING to do! It is horrible. It's not like they are able to ask for help. I just have to stand there. The thing that's so annoying about it is that I am not even supposed to sit down. So I can't get any work done. I am supposed to walk around and "monitor". Ok, really? They don't need to be "monitored" by me walking around more than they need it with me sitting 10 feet away at my desk. Plus, there is ANOTHER teacher in there...seriously...let me get some work done. It's not like I have time to do it at home. :) Did I mention that the MAP is lasting for THREE weeks?? ARGH! This week is comm. arts, next week is math, and the week after is science. It is excruciating, because I just feel like I am a glorified babysitter right now. We aren't really supposed to be covering new material, just reviewing and focusing on keeping the kids motivated (I have other opinions about THAT, but I guess I will keep them to myself for now.) for the tests...it makes the other 5 hours of the day AWFUL, but whatever.
On the home front, we are alive and well. I am going a little nuts without Cameron--I actually rented a carpet cleaner and cleaned the carpets and the couch on Saturday. I also mopped the floor, cleaned all the bedrooms, cleaned the kitchen, and folded/washed a bunch of laundry (yeah, there is a still a TON of laundry to do)...all in between conference sessions. Yesterday I scrubbed and sanitized my kitchen garbage can. Um...yeah...that doesn't happen very often. But, like I said, a little nuts here without Cameron. I am probably more productive with him gone, but I am most definitely happier with him here. There are reasons that I married the guy! It's because I LIKE HAVING HIM AROUND! :) He is fabulous and I really miss him. A lot. I get out of school on May 21, I think, and hopefully I will be able to fly out once before then to look at/figure out the housing situation.
Anyway, it is only 9:30 and everyone is in bed. I am still up because I keep hoping that fabulous guy Cameron will remember to call me back, but I am not counting on it, since his phone keeps going to voicemail, which means A) it died because he forgot to charge it, B) he doesn't feel like answering it at all, or C) other (You always have to have an other!). He was with his mom when I called, so I told him (and he wanted to) go ahead and hang out with her. She is having a hard time. I am so excited to live closer so we can get to know her better, and she can get to know us and the boys. We had such a good time when she came out after Christmas. It made me want to fly her out here every other week. Anyway, I think I am going to give up on Cameron, because between the dead phone and the time difference, I am not counting on a call.
Showing posts with label Cameron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cameron. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Moving?? What??? (and some stuff about me)
I have this fun thing that I was planning to use as my post for tonight, but it has been usurped and will just be used as an addendum at the end...
Cameron is probably moving 1200 miles away in less than 3 weeks. That's really scary. And really exciting. He got offered a position that souns FABULOUS!!!! today and we are thinking we're going to go for it. The upside of this?? More money for several months while I am still working. Cameron will be able to look for a place for us to live. He is going to be working with people he is really excited to work for. We'll be LOTS closer to family--all of our family (well, most, I should say). He is excited. It'll give us the big change we have been wanting/needing. The downside?? Yeah--I am going to have to do the full-time working/single mom thing for a couple months until the end of school. That sucks. There is no other way to put it. Also, I'll be on my own. And he'll be staying at Eric's. I am not sure how that will work. So, there are lots more ups than downs, but still...AUGH!
Otherwise, we are still lame...still boring...still plugging along. Did I mention that I still have a killer sore/swollen throat? I am starting to be concerned that I have strep and the 20 seconds the Urgent Care dr. spent with me might have neglected to find that--or maybe I just developed it. Who knows. All I know is that my throat hurts SO badly every time I swallow, and it isn't the scratchy, coughy hurt--it is a swollen, smashing repeatedly on a bruise, kind of hurt. I am ready for it to be gone.
And now...because I know we are dying to see it--my email chain thing that I refuse to pass on via email, but will post on my blog where only those who WANT to see it can.
1. Where is your cell phone? none
2. Your significant other? Cam
3. Your hair? Blondish
4. Your mother? Nevada
5. Your father? deceased
6. Your favorite thing? reading
7. Your dream last night? school
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? beloved
10. The room you're in? living
11. Your ex? none
12. Your fear? failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
14. Where were you last night? IHOP
15. What you're not? perfect
16. Muffins? please
17. One of your wish list items? boks
18. Where you grew up? Missouri
19. The last thing you did? taxes
20. What are you wearing? slippers
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? ZERO
23. Your computer? important
24. Your life? crazy
25. Your mood? restless
26. Missing someone? dad
27. Your car? uncool
28. Something you're not wearing? socks
29. Favorite Store? crafty
30. Your summer? moving
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? tonight
34. Last time you cried? yesterday
Ok, this was a random email sent to me from a coworker. It's kind of hard, because I always want to give some cutesy explanation for my answers. Oh well...I enjoyed the effort. :)
Cameron is probably moving 1200 miles away in less than 3 weeks. That's really scary. And really exciting. He got offered a position that souns FABULOUS!!!! today and we are thinking we're going to go for it. The upside of this?? More money for several months while I am still working. Cameron will be able to look for a place for us to live. He is going to be working with people he is really excited to work for. We'll be LOTS closer to family--all of our family (well, most, I should say). He is excited. It'll give us the big change we have been wanting/needing. The downside?? Yeah--I am going to have to do the full-time working/single mom thing for a couple months until the end of school. That sucks. There is no other way to put it. Also, I'll be on my own. And he'll be staying at Eric's. I am not sure how that will work. So, there are lots more ups than downs, but still...AUGH!
Otherwise, we are still lame...still boring...still plugging along. Did I mention that I still have a killer sore/swollen throat? I am starting to be concerned that I have strep and the 20 seconds the Urgent Care dr. spent with me might have neglected to find that--or maybe I just developed it. Who knows. All I know is that my throat hurts SO badly every time I swallow, and it isn't the scratchy, coughy hurt--it is a swollen, smashing repeatedly on a bruise, kind of hurt. I am ready for it to be gone.
And now...because I know we are dying to see it--my email chain thing that I refuse to pass on via email, but will post on my blog where only those who WANT to see it can.
1. Where is your cell phone? none
2. Your significant other? Cam
3. Your hair? Blondish
4. Your mother? Nevada
5. Your father? deceased
6. Your favorite thing? reading
7. Your dream last night? school
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? beloved
10. The room you're in? living
11. Your ex? none
12. Your fear? failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
14. Where were you last night? IHOP
15. What you're not? perfect
16. Muffins? please
17. One of your wish list items? boks
18. Where you grew up? Missouri
19. The last thing you did? taxes
20. What are you wearing? slippers
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? ZERO
23. Your computer? important
24. Your life? crazy
25. Your mood? restless
26. Missing someone? dad
27. Your car? uncool
28. Something you're not wearing? socks
29. Favorite Store? crafty
30. Your summer? moving
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? tonight
34. Last time you cried? yesterday
Ok, this was a random email sent to me from a coworker. It's kind of hard, because I always want to give some cutesy explanation for my answers. Oh well...I enjoyed the effort. :)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Why oh why oh why
is Samuel the way he is? I love the little thing to pieces, but he is a serious trial sometimes. Yesterday, Krista and I were trying to decorate a cake--we bought some tips and decided to teach ourselves how to do it. We did pretty well, by the way--and Samuel wanted some. He likes to open the cabinets and use the shelves as a way to climb on the counter. He gets yelled at about a thousand times daily about this. Last night, after being pulled off the counter for the 54th time, he had apparently had it. So, you know what he did? HE STOOD THERE AND PEED IN MY KITCHEN CABINET! Yes, it is just as bad as it sounds. It required the washing of dishes, the cleaning of the cabinet AND the floor, AND him getting a bath, which is what he wanted all along. In fact, when we asked him why he did it, he said it was because "now I get a bath." He has serious middle-child syndrome! It's a good thing that we love him as much as we do, because between his current attitudes, and his complete lack of willingness to go to bed, he can really make a person crazy!
I was reading another blog earlier, and I realized that a lot of people are much freer with their emotions than I am. I am mostly ok with that. I am not an emotional person. I do things based on reason and logic, and although my gut feeling is ALWAYS what I go with, I don't usually talk about that with others. I do want to make sure that I get the important things across though. I want it to be clear that I firmly believe in the Savior and have a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. I want everyone to know how much I love my family. I love Cameron so much! And my boys are the lights of my life--they are a trial, but I can't imagine being happy without them.
On that note, I was also thinking earlier about the idea of love at first sight. I really always said, and still generally say, that it is a load of bologna! But, then I remember meeting Cameron and realize that I am, in every way, fitting that stereotype (and dang it! I hate that!). The night Cameron and I met was anything but ideal. I had spent the weekend up in SLC at my aunt and uncle's house (including a blind date they had set up for me), and had just been home (at Gary and Vicki's) long enough to get totally nastified--ponytail, jammies, sociology homework. I was in the process of writing a sociology paper when Amie came hurrying in, informed me that I needed to get up, get dressed, and get to the car, because we were going out (Tunnel singing at BYU to be exact--it's where a bunch of local youth get together on Sunday nights and sing hymns in a big tunnel at BYU, and those who have gotten mission calls announce, etc.). Of course, I knew that Amie knew what I looked like, and so did all her friends (so I thought), so I left the ponytail, just changed the pj pants for jeans, and put on a bit of mascara. Yeah--pretty scary.
Little did I know that I would be meeting my husband that night. When I got to Amie's car and climbed in the front seat, I immediately noticed that it wasn't just the two of us--there were two other people in the back. Amie's best friend, and this guy that I assumed was dating Amie's friend. After brief introductions we were on our way, and Cam proceeded to bug me, poke me, generally strive to get my attention, the whole trip. I steadfastly ignored him. Completely. I was convinced that he was dating this girl--besides, I had a couple sorta boyfriends. The whole evening he did lots of dumb stuff to try to get me to notice him--he sang in Portuguese (he knew my dad had gone to Brazil on his mission), he talked up Brazil and the return missionary thing, he even climbed a tree barefoot (to show how agile and athletic he was???). The poor guy tried desperately, and sadly, I was completely unaware.
After being dropped off so I could finish my homework, Amie took her friends home. Then, she came to my room and the first thing she asked was "what do you think of Cam?" I remember her hysterical laughter when I told her he seemed nice, but why was she asking since he was dating her friend. Yeah, apparently he wasn't. She said he had grilled her the whole way home about me. It was the weirdest thing though, because I KNEW that he would be the guy I was going to marry, even though I didn't know him at ALL, and even though I had thought he was dating someone else. I really knew. After we actually went out once, I remember saying my prayers and knowing without a doubt that he was the right guy for me...and worrying about my family's reaction. There were so many reasons not to get married--I lived in NC and had a great scholarship; I was 19; my parents were going to FLIP!
But, I knew, and just 2 weeks after we met, while at my grandma's watching "Dances with Wolves", Cameron told me he loved me, and then asked me to marry him. Although he hadn't yet met my family, I knew things would work out. We picked out a ring, he talked to my dad, we talked to his family, I went back to NC (yeah that...), and eventually, he met my family, moved to Missouri, and we made our plans. Of course, we got married, in the Logan, UT, Temple, and three kids later, are still doing well.
Ok, well that went off on a total tangent, but that's ok. I guess I need to say that stuff too. Now I have to get back to my real life--the one where Ben is running around wearing flip-flops, underwear and nothing else, sitting on the upside-down toy bucket while Sam, who is underneath it, crawls across the floor (trapped). And the life where everything I say to my children is totally ignored. And the life where it is bedtime.
I was reading another blog earlier, and I realized that a lot of people are much freer with their emotions than I am. I am mostly ok with that. I am not an emotional person. I do things based on reason and logic, and although my gut feeling is ALWAYS what I go with, I don't usually talk about that with others. I do want to make sure that I get the important things across though. I want it to be clear that I firmly believe in the Savior and have a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. I want everyone to know how much I love my family. I love Cameron so much! And my boys are the lights of my life--they are a trial, but I can't imagine being happy without them.
On that note, I was also thinking earlier about the idea of love at first sight. I really always said, and still generally say, that it is a load of bologna! But, then I remember meeting Cameron and realize that I am, in every way, fitting that stereotype (and dang it! I hate that!). The night Cameron and I met was anything but ideal. I had spent the weekend up in SLC at my aunt and uncle's house (including a blind date they had set up for me), and had just been home (at Gary and Vicki's) long enough to get totally nastified--ponytail, jammies, sociology homework. I was in the process of writing a sociology paper when Amie came hurrying in, informed me that I needed to get up, get dressed, and get to the car, because we were going out (Tunnel singing at BYU to be exact--it's where a bunch of local youth get together on Sunday nights and sing hymns in a big tunnel at BYU, and those who have gotten mission calls announce, etc.). Of course, I knew that Amie knew what I looked like, and so did all her friends (so I thought), so I left the ponytail, just changed the pj pants for jeans, and put on a bit of mascara. Yeah--pretty scary.
Little did I know that I would be meeting my husband that night. When I got to Amie's car and climbed in the front seat, I immediately noticed that it wasn't just the two of us--there were two other people in the back. Amie's best friend, and this guy that I assumed was dating Amie's friend. After brief introductions we were on our way, and Cam proceeded to bug me, poke me, generally strive to get my attention, the whole trip. I steadfastly ignored him. Completely. I was convinced that he was dating this girl--besides, I had a couple sorta boyfriends. The whole evening he did lots of dumb stuff to try to get me to notice him--he sang in Portuguese (he knew my dad had gone to Brazil on his mission), he talked up Brazil and the return missionary thing, he even climbed a tree barefoot (to show how agile and athletic he was???). The poor guy tried desperately, and sadly, I was completely unaware.
After being dropped off so I could finish my homework, Amie took her friends home. Then, she came to my room and the first thing she asked was "what do you think of Cam?" I remember her hysterical laughter when I told her he seemed nice, but why was she asking since he was dating her friend. Yeah, apparently he wasn't. She said he had grilled her the whole way home about me. It was the weirdest thing though, because I KNEW that he would be the guy I was going to marry, even though I didn't know him at ALL, and even though I had thought he was dating someone else. I really knew. After we actually went out once, I remember saying my prayers and knowing without a doubt that he was the right guy for me...and worrying about my family's reaction. There were so many reasons not to get married--I lived in NC and had a great scholarship; I was 19; my parents were going to FLIP!
But, I knew, and just 2 weeks after we met, while at my grandma's watching "Dances with Wolves", Cameron told me he loved me, and then asked me to marry him. Although he hadn't yet met my family, I knew things would work out. We picked out a ring, he talked to my dad, we talked to his family, I went back to NC (yeah that...), and eventually, he met my family, moved to Missouri, and we made our plans. Of course, we got married, in the Logan, UT, Temple, and three kids later, are still doing well.
Ok, well that went off on a total tangent, but that's ok. I guess I need to say that stuff too. Now I have to get back to my real life--the one where Ben is running around wearing flip-flops, underwear and nothing else, sitting on the upside-down toy bucket while Sam, who is underneath it, crawls across the floor (trapped). And the life where everything I say to my children is totally ignored. And the life where it is bedtime.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Starting out...
So I keep wanting to do one of these, if only because I am SO bad at writing things down. I just need to record the things that are happening in our family. Plus, well, I need a thing that I do that isn't school, or kids, or cleaning, or church, or whatever.
I guess I will just jump in--I am usually a big background person, but I think at this point in my life, that would just take too much time and would get redundant. Hmm...let's see...the highlights: Cameron--works with banks and computers and doesn't particularly love either, but is apparently good at is, so we love his job! Aaron (me)--full-time teacher--8th grade English/Reading teacher at a little, rural school. I love my job, the students are often a pain in the rear, but I love them too. And I LOVE my co-workers--Maggie has become a great friend! Ben just started preschool, and Samuel is starting on Monday. They were so excited to go buy their "pack-packs" and school supplies. Sam has repacked his at least 10 times since Monday. He is so proud of his big boy stuff! Levi is crawling everywhere and has started pulling himself up and tentatively walking around the furniture. He is the sweetest baby! We also have Krista and Maddy living with us until Thomas gets home from Iraq. We are hoping he comes home in May (not because we want Krista and Maddy gone, but because we miss Thomas--not to say that Krista and Maddy don't miss him the most, but Cameron is really suffering. He has a special ringtone set up and everything for his friend!), but he may be gone until next September.
Our life is always just a little bit nuts. In fact, when things start getting calm, we always start getting a little nervous. We are not used to having things run too smoothly. About a week and half before Christmas, we had a big ice storm, which left an inch and a half of ice all over everything--including power lines. So...yeah...we, and most of the rest of Joplin/Webb City, were without power for almost a week. We were actually quite fortunate, and we got our power back on after only five days. Many others were without power for even longer. It was a major awakening of how unprepared we are though--we were really strapped for money after a week of being vagabonds. We ended up staying with Krista's inlaws in Anderson, which was SO generous and great of them. It taught me a little bit more about the way Mary and Joseph must have felt, when no one had any room for them. It was a real struggle finding a place for all seven of us that would be warm and safe. Cameron and I still had to go to work each day, so it was even harder. The reason I am telling all of this is because this happened, and I didn't even look at it as a crisis--it was so minor in comparison to so many of the other things we have dealt with.
I need to do this right now, so I apologize if some of the posts get too personal. I have been struggling with some fairly severe post partum depression since Levi's birth earlier this year. I am hoping that this will be therapeutic--I usually do much better after I write things down or talk things out.
I am also hoping to list at least one thing in every post that tells something I am truly grateful for. I struggle with a lack of optimism (translated: negativity), especially when I am feeling down. So...here goes for today: I am truly grateful for Cameron. He was gone for several days and I stayed home with the boys. It was a really hard couple of days for me--the boys were not being good, my medicine was screwed up, Cameron was mad, I had to go back to work, etc... Having Cameron come home last night was WONDERFUL! I didn't realize how much more smoothly things go and how much more calm I feel when he's around. So...I'm grateful for Cam. He is my best friend and I love him more than anything!
I will try to figure out how to post some pictures soon!
I guess I will just jump in--I am usually a big background person, but I think at this point in my life, that would just take too much time and would get redundant. Hmm...let's see...the highlights: Cameron--works with banks and computers and doesn't particularly love either, but is apparently good at is, so we love his job! Aaron (me)--full-time teacher--8th grade English/Reading teacher at a little, rural school. I love my job, the students are often a pain in the rear, but I love them too. And I LOVE my co-workers--Maggie has become a great friend! Ben just started preschool, and Samuel is starting on Monday. They were so excited to go buy their "pack-packs" and school supplies. Sam has repacked his at least 10 times since Monday. He is so proud of his big boy stuff! Levi is crawling everywhere and has started pulling himself up and tentatively walking around the furniture. He is the sweetest baby! We also have Krista and Maddy living with us until Thomas gets home from Iraq. We are hoping he comes home in May (not because we want Krista and Maddy gone, but because we miss Thomas--not to say that Krista and Maddy don't miss him the most, but Cameron is really suffering. He has a special ringtone set up and everything for his friend!), but he may be gone until next September.
Our life is always just a little bit nuts. In fact, when things start getting calm, we always start getting a little nervous. We are not used to having things run too smoothly. About a week and half before Christmas, we had a big ice storm, which left an inch and a half of ice all over everything--including power lines. So...yeah...we, and most of the rest of Joplin/Webb City, were without power for almost a week. We were actually quite fortunate, and we got our power back on after only five days. Many others were without power for even longer. It was a major awakening of how unprepared we are though--we were really strapped for money after a week of being vagabonds. We ended up staying with Krista's inlaws in Anderson, which was SO generous and great of them. It taught me a little bit more about the way Mary and Joseph must have felt, when no one had any room for them. It was a real struggle finding a place for all seven of us that would be warm and safe. Cameron and I still had to go to work each day, so it was even harder. The reason I am telling all of this is because this happened, and I didn't even look at it as a crisis--it was so minor in comparison to so many of the other things we have dealt with.
I need to do this right now, so I apologize if some of the posts get too personal. I have been struggling with some fairly severe post partum depression since Levi's birth earlier this year. I am hoping that this will be therapeutic--I usually do much better after I write things down or talk things out.
I am also hoping to list at least one thing in every post that tells something I am truly grateful for. I struggle with a lack of optimism (translated: negativity), especially when I am feeling down. So...here goes for today: I am truly grateful for Cameron. He was gone for several days and I stayed home with the boys. It was a really hard couple of days for me--the boys were not being good, my medicine was screwed up, Cameron was mad, I had to go back to work, etc... Having Cameron come home last night was WONDERFUL! I didn't realize how much more smoothly things go and how much more calm I feel when he's around. So...I'm grateful for Cam. He is my best friend and I love him more than anything!
I will try to figure out how to post some pictures soon!
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