Change is good...right

So we are in our 4th week of school and things are busier than I imagined. I am enjoying my new position but miss PPCD so much it's crazy. I miss it for a couple of reasons...the kids (my own class) and the fun! The kindergarten students are a hoot for the most part and bring a challenge for me since I have been working with 3 & 4 year olds for the past 6 years...mainly with disabilities. For the most part, the teachers have been receptive to my suggestions and cooperative in this team effort. However, we have a long way to go and a big plan to work through.

Deja is enjoying 4th grade so far...no complaints as of yet. She is doing much better with organization and responsibility too. Now, it is just the 4th week of school and this all could change with the change of the wind I'm sure. It is my guess that they have been doing quite a bit of reviewing which has keep their load light. I suspect that the pace will pick up from here on out. She seems to take more of an initiative and even expressed interest in trying to make the Battle of the Books team. I support her in that decision and goal whether or not I think she will be chosen.

Moving on to other fields...thanks to my dear friend, Shannon, I am back in the dating arena. It is going well but nothing serious yet. I am completely cool with that. I am enjoying getting to know a really nice gentleman but have some reservations. I am working through them and trying to keep an open mind. I do admit that I am picky and just think too much about things that are really trivial. I am working on that and hope that I can set all that aside for once. If anything changes...I will definitely keep you all posted. Hee hee

Oh...two more of my close and dear friends, Rosa and Mel, donated some of their precious time to me a couple of weekends ago and helped me clean out Deja's room. Oh my goodness...let me tell ya what that was like. Pure madness! She had so much crap it was unreal. No...seriously...call it Sanford and Son for sure! After a couple of days we got it cleared. I still had a ton of stuff in bags and boxes in my house for a future yard sale my sister and I are having. For those of you who don't know what my house looks like...it is a super small town home. I needed to pass out maps so you could navigate your way through. I am so being serious on this one. Well...I got all that into my storage shed, which is stuffed to the max now, and was able to get my house in order. I still need to get Deja's bed painted and moved in and get decorations since we are redecorating. It went from pastels...mainly purple with butterflies and flowers to red, white & black. I painted 3 walls white and 1 red. Her bedding is white with a simple floral pattern that works up for the foot of the comforter up. Much more of a "big" girls room.

Slowing sliding in

So last night I purposely stayed up late because I could. That sounded like a good enough excuse. I wasn't exhausted so why not read and watch some tube. Besides, Deja was staying the night with Gammy and Papo so I didn't have to be 'Mommy' for the night. I also told myself I could sleep in in the morning.

The morning quickly came and my body didn't cooperate with my original plans! What the honk! I was wide awake at 7:15 am! Can I just sleep until 9:00...please? No. My body had a different plan, from where I don't know. I would like to know so I can make sure they never arrive again. I tried to keep my eyes closed tightly in hopes that I would drift off to sleep but that never happened. Despite the change in plans I got to lay in bed for a while and watched reruns of the Golden Girls. Love that show.

I finally accepted the fact that sleeping in wasn't in the cards this morning and got my Mexican tail up and showered. After I was up and at 'em I made my way up to school. I was eager to get my things in place since changing rooms. I also wanted to get some sort of rhyme and reason to my boxes for my new roomie, Mel. Since I will be in Kinder classrooms more than at my desk, Mr. Perales put Mel and I together. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate.

In the short period of time I spent up there today I was able to get my boxes moved and hid, my desk and computer set up as well as get some housekeeping completed for a new teammate. As I sat at my new desk, in my new room (in timbuktu) and in my new position I quickly realized how different this year will be. I won't have my own class to greet on August 25. I won't have name tags and lunch tags to make or centers to set up for that first day. There are so many things I am going to miss about having my own class. Will it get easier?

Oh My Goodness

Time has flown by this summer...or at least it is starting to feel like it. I think when ESY (extended school year...Special Ed summer school) started and ended had a huge impact on how the summer played out. Even though Deja and I took a vacation I still feel like we need one. I have come to realize after many trips that not all vacations are relaxing. In so many ways it feels as if last school year just ended and now the new year is around the corner! Yikes...I'm not ready!

I barely recall our last day of summer school as it sort of flew by. I feel like I was a mere speck of paint in a overly chaotic painting trying to be seen and heard. The kids knew I was barely breathing and they fought me for every bit of air. They were all over the room like jelly on toast! It was mad! Some how and some way we survived, barely, and made it out of there alive on Thursday. It was sad to watch them leave as that was my last time to have my "own" class unless I teach next summer.

Then the weekend vastly arrived for us to celebrate my Mom's 60th birthday! I can't believe it! As a child 60 sounded and seemed so old. I know now that it isn't but it is still 60. My Mom doesn't look 60 as if there is a 'look' for it. I think was is hard about watching my parents hit the 6th decade of their lives is the confirmation that we are all growing old and there is nothing we can do about it. Either way...our family had a great dinner together in her honor...I think she loved it too.

And there is school. Deja will be entering 4th grade and that alone makes me sad. I can remember vividly the day she was born and I hope I never forget. As much as she is still a little girl she is growing up so much. I find myself watching her and reminiscing on when she was a baby and toddler. I loved her giggle and voice! But it does please me to watch her develop her personality and passions just as much. She has grown into quite the scientist which was never what I expected. Love it!

To wrap up all the events August brings year to year comes her birthday. She will turn 9 on August 23 when we will have a pool party and sleepover. I had to make some major changes in our budget this month after a surprising find that I didn't get the check I was expecting. My summer school payment authorization form wasn't turned it! That is another story in itself. So one of me dear friends...like another sister...has graciously offered her home & pool for the event. I can't even begin to thank her enough! So those plans are underway where I have no doubt it will be grand no matter how small. I finally got the invitations made and mailed which was a bit later than I wanted but it is done.

Flying by...

Deja and I are having quit the vacation so far. We survived NYC twice sore feet and all...but loved it! I don't have a favorite moment or site yet...too many to choose from, no doubt! We saw the typical tourist must sees....Empire State bldg, The Today show (was on there 3 times that morning), Tiffany & Co, FAO Schwartz, American Girl store, Toys R' Us (rode the ferris wheel inside too), Times Square, Grand Central Station, Radio City Music Hall, Ground Zero, South Street Sea Port, Chinatown, Little Italy, Statue of Liberty & a broadway show...Phantom of the Opera! Oh...about 1/4 of Central Park. We divided this all up in 2 days and we were going non-stop from early morn till the wee hours of the night.

While in the city we met up with TJ, a friend from H.S....and Diana's brother...and had lunch. So the city was quite the adventure to say the least. Would love to go back when we have more time to cruise on through vs. flying by.

The Jersey Shore and Pine Beach/Toms River were wonderful and relaxing. We had wonderful hosts and couldn't have picked a better place to stay.

So we caught a train out of Trenton, NJ and are now in Quantico, VA with our cousins. Our plan so far is to go into DC for tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't storm!

I'm off to bed. Nite Nite

Summer Vacation

I am so pumped and ready for our trip this week. Deja and I will be joining a long time friend, Shannon, and her two sons to NJ on Wednesday. We will be there for 6 days when we take a train to Quantico to visit my cousin, Carlos, and his family. We haven't seen them in at least 3 years, maybe 4, so I am excited.

Deja and I have never been to any of the places we are visiting and are a bit overwhelmed with all the possibilities. Luckily, Shan is quite familiar with the area and will help us layout an itinerary. I think the plan so far is to go into the city at least 2 days. I know that we may not see everything on my wish list but we sure will try. I really want to spend a day on the boardwalk and beach too.

While in Quantico, we will go into DC to go site seeing as well. Deja is pretty excited to see the White House as well as I am. As I said, I'm so overwhelmed by what all there is to see and do.

Birthday Bash

So another birthday has rolled around and I am starting to feel he uphill battle. This past week was a fun and eventful celebration of another year completed and a new year to come. I got to have drinks and bar food with some friends last week at one of my new fav spots. Please don't ask where because it is embarrassing to admit. LOL My teammates at summer school also brought lunch on Wednesday for me which was so yummy! Homemade enchiladas, tropical salad, brownies galore & ice cream. It was great! Oh...homemade Spanish rice tambien. LOL

As if that was not enough partying...my two best friends suggested that we go out on Friday. So that we did. There were 8 of us total that night...a nice group. Melissa was freakin' hilarious at dinner and I think I am not the only one to think so. Dinner was great....at Mi Cocina. Let's see...who was there: Melissa, Joe, Jay, Jack, Masaki (Jack's wife), Mino (Masaki's sister) and Jimmy. Jay, Jack & Jimmy are brothers....some of the best men you will ever meet!

So after dinner we walked over to 8.0 to party some more...some of us stumbled over there while others walked. They had a great live band so I got my groove on the dance floor. OK...like as if that took much. I did have some help from my wonderful friends. They were just pouring the drink down my throat. LOL I think I even got some random chic to get on the dance floor with me. What's up with that. The night was just filled with lots of laughter amongst friends. I loved it!

Concert in the Gardens

My dear friend Karrie called me up yesterday morning to let me know that she had 2 tickets to the concert in the gardens that night...Friday night. It was actually a concert and laser show. So Jay and I took advantage of the opportunity and enjoyed a great concert.

The weather couldn't have been any better. It wasn't too hot, actually pretty mild with a slight breeze. We listened to the Fort Worth Symphony play some selections from Harry Potter, Star Wars and more while having a picnic & a glass of wine. Oh...they actually played the entire Star Wars Suite from the Trilogy. It was great!

I felt bad because Jay planned ahead and brought his camera. However, after I pointed out that there was a blurb about photography & video taping on the tickets...that it was prohibited...he left it in the car. Well...there were some people in the audience taking pictures. We tried with the cell phones but they didn't come out great.

I have added two pictures I took of the fireworks on my cell and one from their website. That one is the laser show.