Tears Today
Watching Jessica leave for work got me to thinking about the day she leaves in August and doesn't come home to sleep in our home. So, I started crying........ I cried and cried and cried....... Today has begun in tears, is still being spent in tears, and probably will end in tears tonight. Everything on t.v. today has me crying......
Enchanters First Competition of 2010-2010
The first competition for this school year started as a bittersweet experience for this Dance Mom. This would be the first performance that Jessica has not danced in since she was 3 years old, Julianne would have her first solo as an Enchanter, and Jessica would not be able to attend with us since she had to work. Spirits were high, but they soon were buried beneath the tears of a mom, a daughter, and her team.
In the first 5 seconds of kick line, Julianne fell! I instantly had that feeling of not being able to move and yet wanting to run on the floor and pick her up. My little trooper (16 is little, lol) kept dancing through her tears and the pain, while we watched from the bleachers in tears and in pain for her. After she fell, you quickly hear me say something not appropriate to say hear, cry out "Julie", and then figure out I stopped filming as you look at my pants for the rest of the dance.
She stuck it out and did her solo, unfortunately placing 6th, as she had to change some of the harder moves in her head while she was dancing! A few hours later, one ER visit, and a trip to Chili's had her calm enough to sleep. It is one in the morning and I am not sleeping, I am reflecting.
Verdict: No dance for at least 10 days (this takes her out of the Enchanter Dance Show) and we need to visit an orthopedic surgeon.
The fun never ends...... Julianne is always and forever FIRST in my eyes.
In the first 5 seconds of kick line, Julianne fell! I instantly had that feeling of not being able to move and yet wanting to run on the floor and pick her up. My little trooper (16 is little, lol) kept dancing through her tears and the pain, while we watched from the bleachers in tears and in pain for her. After she fell, you quickly hear me say something not appropriate to say hear, cry out "Julie", and then figure out I stopped filming as you look at my pants for the rest of the dance.
She stuck it out and did her solo, unfortunately placing 6th, as she had to change some of the harder moves in her head while she was dancing! A few hours later, one ER visit, and a trip to Chili's had her calm enough to sleep. It is one in the morning and I am not sleeping, I am reflecting.
Verdict: No dance for at least 10 days (this takes her out of the Enchanter Dance Show) and we need to visit an orthopedic surgeon.
The fun never ends...... Julianne is always and forever FIRST in my eyes.
Friday Facts
Today's fact is:
"Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order."
"Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order."
I Did It!
I ventured over to Leelou's Blog Layouts and took the plunge. My heart was pounding because I was so afraid I would mess this up. Kudos to Leelou for the goof proof directions! I love my new look so much that the insomnia is almost bearable..... I can stay up and look at my pretty blog design, LOL. Now to figure out Google Docs, Scribd, and all this other blog stuff. I have a few more sleepless nights on the horizon....
216 Days to Go.....
It is 12:03 a.m. and I am awake, again. My body is tired, my mind is not, so here I sit. I wonder if the nights from now until Jessica leaves to college will be sleepless, moreover, will the nights over the next 4 1/2 years be sleepless? I better start putting this creative mind of mine to work with some D.J. Inkers teacher tools, rather than sit here in the gloom and doom of empty nest contemplation. My poor 16 year old, Julianne, is probably thinking that I will not leave her side since I won't have to divide face time between her and Jessica for a while. Newsflash: she is so right!
I guess I have myself to blame. I nurtured, taught, loved, laughed, molded, scolded, kissed, squeezed, hugged, prayed, and bled for Jessica (I always will.....) so that she would one day be able to venture out into this world and make her way within it. Our children are definitely our hearts walking outside of our body. I never felt this more than at this very moment.
The journey continues......
I guess I have myself to blame. I nurtured, taught, loved, laughed, molded, scolded, kissed, squeezed, hugged, prayed, and bled for Jessica (I always will.....) so that she would one day be able to venture out into this world and make her way within it. Our children are definitely our hearts walking outside of our body. I never felt this more than at this very moment.
The journey continues......
Random Acts of Kindness
Each year, from MLK day to Valentine's Day, I challenge my first graders to perform random acts of kindness. The challenge is to perform 100 acts during that time as a class. I send a letter home to let their families know to be on the lookout for any kind acts performed. It is so hard for my little ones to do this randomly and without letting anyone know "Hey, look at me! I am doing something for someone else.". They want credit for every little thing, LOL. Each time they are seen performing the random act, whoever spots them must write a letter to the class as documentation. We even get the staff involved, so what they do in school counts too!
I am so proud of them each and everyday when my students turn in their letters. They love when I read them out loud, they get their sticker to let everyone know what they did, and they they get to put a sticker on our 100 chart. The chart has a faint picture of Martin Luther King Jr. (I found it on Edhelper years ago) on it to remind students of why we need to pay it forward with these random acts of kindness.
Try this with your students next year, they will astound you with just how kind they can be!
Janine
I am so proud of them each and everyday when my students turn in their letters. They love when I read them out loud, they get their sticker to let everyone know what they did, and they they get to put a sticker on our 100 chart. The chart has a faint picture of Martin Luther King Jr. (I found it on Edhelper years ago) on it to remind students of why we need to pay it forward with these random acts of kindness.
Try this with your students next year, they will astound you with just how kind they can be!
Janine
219 Days to Go (more or less)
Yesterday was such a busy day for me, so I came home and didn't even turn on my computer..... It is a rare day when that happens!
Today marks 219 days until Jessica goes off to college. The date isn't exact, but it is close. The amount of days doesn't make a difference to me. I am equally sad on any given day to think that this baby I nurtured will be out on her own. As proud as I am of her, I can't fathom not having her in our home every day. I need to get through not only the next 200 or so days; I also need to get through the next 4 years.
I am comforted that I will share the journey here as the written word comforts me like nothing else can.
Today marks 219 days until Jessica goes off to college. The date isn't exact, but it is close. The amount of days doesn't make a difference to me. I am equally sad on any given day to think that this baby I nurtured will be out on her own. As proud as I am of her, I can't fathom not having her in our home every day. I need to get through not only the next 200 or so days; I also need to get through the next 4 years.
I am comforted that I will share the journey here as the written word comforts me like nothing else can.
My Daughter Continues to Amaze Me
Drum roll please:
Jessica has been accepted into the EXCEL program at UCF! She is 1 of 200 students who were chosen for this program. The reality of college and watching her leave is now real, not that it wasn't before this, but there was still a chance of her staying in Miami. The countdown really begins today.......
Jessica has been accepted into the EXCEL program at UCF! She is 1 of 200 students who were chosen for this program. The reality of college and watching her leave is now real, not that it wasn't before this, but there was still a chance of her staying in Miami. The countdown really begins today.......
Friday Facts
My daughters and I are always looking for useless facts of information, which makes for some great conversation when you don't know what to talk about. This gave me an idea to share "Friday Facts" with blogland! So come back every Friday and check out the week's fact, you just might learn something new!
Today's Fact:
Coca-Cola would be green if colouring weren’t added to it.
Peace and Blessings,
Janine
Today's Fact:
Coca-Cola would be green if colouring weren’t added to it.
Peace and Blessings,
Janine
Enchanters Visit Heartland
The Enchanters dance team visited the residents of Heartland (nursing facility) and played bingo with them. The residents were so happy and the girls really enjoyed being with them. As a mom, I was so proud of Julianne, she was a big hit with all of the residents. She has found her calling as a bingo caller, LOL. Giving back to the community is a blessing and everyone should learn something from these girls. They gave up their Saturday for a good cause.
Downloads, Uploads, and Everything in Between
As I scan through the blogs of fellow teachers, I am amazed at the work these teachers are sharing with their students. I wish I was in first grade again! My next goal is to learn how to make and share the things that I have made over the years (I want to make them cuter). I might have to pay my girls to help me with it, but it will be worth it. I am so happy that I have found this outlet, I really think things are going to go well here on my blog.
Happy Friday!
Happy Friday!
Just Another Saturday.......
I have been thinking about what I would write to finish off my first week as a blog author. Even though I didn't write everyday, the intent was there, but the body and the brain were tired. I finally got some sleep this week after staying up way past my bedtime during our winter break.
This week I was able to take a moment and think about what 2011 will bring my way. In April I will be married for 24 years, in May I will turn 43, in June my first baby will graduate from high school, in July my grandmother will be 91, in August I will send Jessica off to college, in October my husband will be 48, in November Jessica will be 19, and on December 31st Julianne will turn 17 and be half way through her junior year in high school.
Looking towards these events, the year seems shorter than 12 months. I hope each day will linger and I will be able to breathe in all that each day has to give. I don't want this year to be over in a blink of an eye. The future holds so much promise, but I wan't to hold on to each minute just a while longer.
I pray I will not let any moment slip through my fingers. I pray that our family will be continually blessed. I pray that we will forgive and forget, be peacemakers amongst men, and make our way to our own happiness.
I pray.........
This week I was able to take a moment and think about what 2011 will bring my way. In April I will be married for 24 years, in May I will turn 43, in June my first baby will graduate from high school, in July my grandmother will be 91, in August I will send Jessica off to college, in October my husband will be 48, in November Jessica will be 19, and on December 31st Julianne will turn 17 and be half way through her junior year in high school.
Looking towards these events, the year seems shorter than 12 months. I hope each day will linger and I will be able to breathe in all that each day has to give. I don't want this year to be over in a blink of an eye. The future holds so much promise, but I wan't to hold on to each minute just a while longer.
I pray I will not let any moment slip through my fingers. I pray that our family will be continually blessed. I pray that we will forgive and forget, be peacemakers amongst men, and make our way to our own happiness.
I pray.........
Still Learning
I have my first follower! How exciting! As special thank you goes out to Yolanda for being the very first to find me and become a part of my journey.
Returning to work after our holiday break hit me hard, by hard I mean I couldn't wake up on Monday. I did make it and when those 23 first grade faces smiled at me, the hard hit subsided and my heart felt a spark. We went right to business after sharing our best moments during the past two weeks. We have been spending the past 2 days preparing for our mid-year writing assessment, I think we are ready for tomorrow. I will cross my fingers anyway!
Jessica is still waiting for letters from some of the colleges and universities where she would like to spend the next 4 years of her life. I, on the other hand, wishes the mailman would forget our address...... Not really, but I can't look at her without seeing my little 3 year old ballerina scampering across the floor singing and dancing to Getting to Know You from The King and I.
Julianne had a hard day today, but she will overcome the adversity that she is facing. I think watching your children realize that the world really is a big, bad place sometimes, is one of the difficult moments in parenting. I also know that we must allow our children to work through these times on their own, while letting them know that we are here for them when they need us.
The first week of 2011 is half over and I am still smiling!
Returning to work after our holiday break hit me hard, by hard I mean I couldn't wake up on Monday. I did make it and when those 23 first grade faces smiled at me, the hard hit subsided and my heart felt a spark. We went right to business after sharing our best moments during the past two weeks. We have been spending the past 2 days preparing for our mid-year writing assessment, I think we are ready for tomorrow. I will cross my fingers anyway!
Jessica is still waiting for letters from some of the colleges and universities where she would like to spend the next 4 years of her life. I, on the other hand, wishes the mailman would forget our address...... Not really, but I can't look at her without seeing my little 3 year old ballerina scampering across the floor singing and dancing to Getting to Know You from The King and I.
Julianne had a hard day today, but she will overcome the adversity that she is facing. I think watching your children realize that the world really is a big, bad place sometimes, is one of the difficult moments in parenting. I also know that we must allow our children to work through these times on their own, while letting them know that we are here for them when they need us.
The first week of 2011 is half over and I am still smiling!
New Beginnings
My blogger days have begun and I am excited as I sit here thinking about what I should write. As the year begins there is so much on my mind and I am already becoming overwhelmed with thoughts that need to be put into action.
This blog will be used to document my daily life as a mother, a wife, and a teacher. Where one ends the other begins and the circle is complete. I hope to share many wonderful words, but I know at times the words will be less than wonderful as challenges arise. This year will be nothing short of a challenge as I watch my first born embark on the road to college. She will leave her purple walled room of comfort and the warmth of her embrace will be missed. The next six months will be filled with acceptances and rejections, but we will survive, we have to survive. Words will help me through the tears and give me the strength to watch her blossom from high schooler to college freshman.
Reading is the common thread amongst the roles I find myself in, so it will be no mistake that reading will be the common thread within my blog. You will be able to find comfort in the words that I read and how they impact my daily life. I only hope that you will be able to share with me, as well.
I look forward to 2011 with anticipation and hope. Join me on the journey.......
This blog will be used to document my daily life as a mother, a wife, and a teacher. Where one ends the other begins and the circle is complete. I hope to share many wonderful words, but I know at times the words will be less than wonderful as challenges arise. This year will be nothing short of a challenge as I watch my first born embark on the road to college. She will leave her purple walled room of comfort and the warmth of her embrace will be missed. The next six months will be filled with acceptances and rejections, but we will survive, we have to survive. Words will help me through the tears and give me the strength to watch her blossom from high schooler to college freshman.
Reading is the common thread amongst the roles I find myself in, so it will be no mistake that reading will be the common thread within my blog. You will be able to find comfort in the words that I read and how they impact my daily life. I only hope that you will be able to share with me, as well.
I look forward to 2011 with anticipation and hope. Join me on the journey.......
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