2009 r

This year has been all about change for me. I think the only thing that has not changed is the size of my bum.

New career, new car, new place to live. For one that doesn't like change that is an awful lot.

My sister got married this year. Her wedding was incredible and so much fun. It was an honnor to be one of her brides maides. I am looking foward to being an Auntie in a few years. My sister married a great guy and his family is awesome and lots of fun.

I went to Portland and Seattle to visit my friend and sister. I love visiting people I love.

Talked to my friend about my school. She contacted someone who was able to get people in the community to help out the school. It was so amazing! I went to the school and 50 families got a $125 food box from Walmart and got things like milk, turkeys, bananas, etc. They also got a toy and each school aged kid got a shirt, jacket, and socks. They also are having more jackets sent to the school. And they presented a check to the school for $3000. I got a lot of hugs. News chanel 15 wanted to so a story on it but u didn't get the vm until it was too late. Now that would have been stressful. It was amazing to be able to have so many families get a little extra support over the break. The most amazing part is the people were telling me they would like to make this an annual tradition and make it bigger next year. All that good karma led me to have the best Xmas. I still can't believe some of the awesome gifts I got. I wast expecting much of anything.

My students wrote letters to Santa. And woe did i learn the true meaning of Xmas. Now I did have a few kids ask for the new toy they wanted. I wasn't expecting some to only ask for a pair of new shoes. Shoes!
As a child my mom taught me to help those that need help. I love that she instilled that quality in me when I was so young. As a child I loved doing the Christmas Tree Angels.
Xmas is not just about getting a child a new toy but necessities as a new pair of shoes or a jacket so they have something to wear on these chilly mornings.

Some things that are not totally amazing.

When I moved my dog decided he could not be home by himself. He tore up my stuff. A lot of flip flops got ruined that first month. My mom thought of a solution having my parents dog (his bff) come over during the week. Now everything is just dandy with my dog. I just have to drive their dog home on Fridays and pick him up Sundays. Which adds a lot of miles to my car. I guess a happy dog is a happier Angela. Plus my parents dog is goofy and always doing strange things. Yesterday, he wanted to lay on the couch. When Deuce did not figure out from being looked at for 5 mins he climbed up on top of Deuce and sat on him for awhile. He is a big boy to boot (97lbs). I enjoy his silly antics. He makes me laugh.

This year I also deveopled alergies. Nose spray was not scary as I thought it would be.

I am excited to see what happens in 2010. I think there will not be as much changing. But you never know!

Not sure

I love what I do. The kids are awesome. I love going to the classroom It doesn't feel like I work.

So why do I feel like this is not a job I will do the rest of my life? And why do I look at other job fields?

Pier One is Out

I'll just start this blog off by saying that I am dumb.

I have always bought a lot of my house decorations, dishes, and yes even some furniture from Pier One. With newly chosen colors for my house I have started looking at other places and I can't believe how much cheaper other stores have cute stuff for.

My new favorite places to buy things so far are Target and Kohls. I went to Marshalls and they even had some cute super cheap vases.

I am now decorating my house for a bargain. I love all the money I'm saving.

*I did get a huge picture from Pier One for about 80% off. I'll still shop there but will only look at the clearance section. There is no reason for me to pay full price.

Decorating

I have been living in this house for over 3 months. I have not decorated anything. A little bit in the kitchen. Nothing is hung on the walls. In fact I went through a lot of my decorations and just put them back in a box. And have no plans on ever pulling them back out.
Truthfully I have been unable to decorate because I don't know where to start color wise. I want a color that I going to love for years.

I went to Pier1 and found some inspiration. Bedroom:



And for colors I would do black and the burgandy from the letters. Never a color I thought of but I think it will look great.

For the kitchen I found chair cushions that I think would match the placemats I recently purchased. It's a pale blue and brown.



Then I could pull the brown and light blue into the living room. I am thinking of replacing my couch. I am pretty sure it wil be dk. brown. I just don't know what material I want it to be due to the dog. :-/

Break

Its been great being on winter break the last few days. Yesterday, I went to the doctor and I got meds for alergies. Very strange to have allergies after so many years without them.

I'm going on a date. I was told that I'm getting a suprise when he picks me up. I asked him what color it is, 'red and green'. Guess whose getting flowers... I love flowers! It's seem like years since I've met a guy that I can talk to on the phone for hours. It's awesome to be excited about someone. I was starting to think those were just feelings of the past. :D

Christmas Spirit

I have decided that for me...teaching and blogging do not mix. I cannot seem to blog anymore. Even though my life is so eventful these days.

Part 1:
For Thanksgiving I went and visited my sister Heather and my brother-in-law Christopher up in Seattle. It was so much fun and awesome to spend time with them. They bought a house so it was very cool to finally see what it looks like. They also got two cats so I got to meet their little family. My brother-in-law has the best family. It was fun to spend time and see them all again. I cannot wait to go back.

Part 2:
Most of my kiddos have nothing. This week I gave them one of their Christmas presents, early. It was a 24-count box of crayons that I had gotten at Wallmart at the beginning of the school year for 25 cents a box. Most of them were so excited about all the colors! It was cute that they were excited but kind of humbling.

As part of a district assessment. The first graders are writing a letter to Santa. I had two of my kids that all they said was 'they wanted new shoes'. My kiddos are 6 years old and they just want a new pair of shoes. That's heartbreaking.

I am generally a positive person. I try to look at the bright side of things and don't like bad situations to affect me.

One thing I have learned this year. Is I have little Christmas spirit. I don't know why I love the holidays. This year a Christmas miracle is taking place and I don't even know where to start.
I was talking to my really good friend the other day and telling her how I was kind of bummed about Christmas for all of my kiddos. I had learned that some of them are even stressed about having 2-weeks off (what kid would think that, right?). Well, what I didn't realize is that the school feeds them breakfast and lunch. And they hopefully eat dinner at homes. That broke my heart to hear that last week. What child should have to be worried about eating over break?

She told me she was going to talk to some of her contacts and see what she should do.

This morning I get a call from a guy that works in the Governers offie and he has some contacts and what would help my school out the most (the area my school is in is very rural and very poor - so there are no places in the area of the school that can provide assistance). Well, this guy is amazing he told me there is a meeting at lunch time and to get back to him asap so they can get some things approved.

I got an e-mail later on from him after my assistant principle called him back. That they were looking at giving 50 of the neediest families $75 and to give $10 to 125 kids for something to have. My assist. principle said that shoes and jackets where more of need than toys. There was things at the bottom about food but at this point I could not focus because I was in total shock.

I e-mailed the guy back and told him that his e-mail brought tears to my eyes and how amazing this all was. He replied back and told me that it has gotten a lot bigger! I am still in total shock. I think it will hit me in a few days the impact that my friend has made. I never really believed that one person could make such a huge difference. After all I am 1-1st grade teacher in a state with thousands of others. I am grateful and glad for all of my friends and how amazing they can be.

Part 3:
I am excited about a guy! I don't even remember the last time I have been this excited and have had such a connection with someone (I am such a cynic when it comes to men, or I was...). Happy Girl am I!!! Sorry no details just yet. But, I'll keep you posted.