• Today was my last visit with the physical therapist for my injured hip. It is feeling better, but it's such a fun place. I'm going to kind of miss it.  I was given some of those giant stretchy bands and a whole bunch of exercises to keep working on. No more putting it off. Time to get back to the gym!
• I had a new student start today. She's very cute and quiet (and has a really cute name I wish I could share, but can't.) The count is up to 10 girls and 2 boys, and rumor has it another parent was looking at signing their child up for our Pre-K program sometime this week. Oh yeah, it's another girl.  I feel so bad for my two boys.
• I'm trying to do better at cooking meals. I actually cooked 3 times last week, and I'm cooking tonight.  When I grocery shopped, it was with a plan! I have a list of meals to make this week, and I'm going to do my best to stick to it.  I really hate to cook though.
• The Christmas program is coming along. Now that the script is written, and the songs downloaded, it's time to start working on the media part (video clips) and costumes. We have 28 berets to sew, 17 sheep costumes, 3 donkeys, 3 cows, and 3 doves.  Besides that, there are props to make.  Add in all the practice time we have to fit in with teaching 27 preschoolers and Kindergartners 7 songs, and you have me counting down the days until Christmas break.  Two glorious weeks off!!
• Poor Marissa. I was supposed to take her and her friends for a day of shopping in Schaumburg, IL for her birthday...which was at the end of September. Between lack of funds, sickness, and conflicting schedules, it still hasn't happened.  
• Today my afternoon coffee is now my evening coffee.  It's just been that kind of day.
• Everyone in this family has an early bedtime tonight! It's for my sanity's sake.
• Stupid baseball! I was looking forward to Dr. House. Boo!
• I took all the leftover Halloween candy to school and actually let my students have some at snack time today.  Only because it was "Cc" day and c says "k" as in candy. It's a rare treat for me to give them any sugary substance, so for them it was a great day.
• The weather here was beautiful today! Sunny and a perfect fall day. Too bad it get's dark early, I missed out on going for a walk.  The whole cooking dinner thing wrecked that plan.
• Ooh! Exciting news. This Sunday is the Mercy Me concert!  I'm very much looking forward to seeing them and Tenth Avenue North.  I've never gotten to meet the Tenth Ave. guys and I really hope that can happen.
• We have card club this Saturday too.  That's always a good time!

Well, dinner is almost done and Monday is almost over. Can I get an amen for that?!?

Unfortunately, and nice and kind and good thoughts I had about that have been pushed out of my head. By what you ask? Stress and Christmas carols.  The stress coming from the fact that we are 30 school days away from the Christmas program. That I'm still working on. This is a hard one. I wrote the dialogue and chose the songs and I'm just afraid it's going to be a big flop.  That and we're kind of getting a late start. It'll be ready to start teaching them by Monday.  At least that's what I'm promising myself. 

In year's past, we've had a larger group with older kids, and done a full-blown musical. This year with just the Pre-K and Kindergarten, things are different.  Our theme is "Christmas Around the World".  I am excited about the songs I've found. Did you know you can get "Jingle Bells" in ANY style you could ever want on itunes?!?  I've spent hours today listening to song clips to determine which is best for the 12 songs we need.  The daycare classes sing 2 songs each, and then the Pre-K and Kindergarten will do a mini-play with 6 songs throughout. 

The other issue is that this is the first time I've done anything like this. I'm trying to rest in the knowledge that I've put my all into this and done my best, and no matter what anyone says about it, it's a good thing.  That's hard.  I could never, ever be someone who constantly gets critiqued on what they do. My skin is not that thick!  Well, back to itunes.  I need one more Christmas song that fits in with our theme. It's not as easy as you might think.

Since I'm a glutton for punishment, and my throat is raw from coughing, I came right home and took some more cough syrup.  I was in my flannel jammies, and in bed by 12:30.  Didn't even eat lunch.  I'm feeling 'not right' again.  Kind of shaky and weak.  So, in my bed I shall stay with my laptop to keep me company.  At least until the medicine kicks in and I fall asleep. Oh how I pray for the oblivion of sweet sleep to come soon.  I'm not looking forward to the fuzzy feeling later though, or to the conferences tomorrow.

The day was actually going fairly well. Until we were in the middle of our handwriting lesson. I had the students bring their papers up to my desk one at a time and we would look at it together and determine if it was their "best work" (we've been having issues with rushing to get our work done;)  As one little girl was walking away from my desk, one little guy was walking up. He decided to slide his paper to me across the desk as he was also on his way to the tissue box with a very runny nose.  Unfortunately, he slid his paper right into my coffee which spilled all over me, my white shirt, my white scarf, and my shoes.  Poor little guy was horrified!  It was a simple accident, and I made sure he knew that.  I was feeling very sticky and had a Dr.'s appointment scheduled immediately after work.  Thankfully we live close and someone was available to cover my room for 15 minutes so I could run home and change.  The fate of my white clothing is yet to be determined.  

The doctor's appointment was fine except for the waiting room. There was a sign that said if you were coughing you would be given a mask to wear. I didn't want a mask, so I spent 15 min. trying NOT to cough. Not fun.  Turns out I have bronchitis. She gave me a script for an antibiotic and some cough syrup (woo hoo- the good kind with codeine in it:) After coughing all last night, sleeping propped on pillows and realizing that Nyquil doesn't do SQUAT for me, this was very good news!  I decided to kill two birds...you know, so I went to Meijer to fill the scripts and pick up some much needed groceries and toiletries. Like toothpaste. We were at the point where you scrape the inside of the tube trying to get some on your brush. I was told half an hour. I did my shopping, went and waited in line. It's now been an hour. Still waiting. Finally get my antibiotic.  Yeah, it's the free kind! Unfortunately, they had a run on cough syrup with codeine and were fresh out.  They told me Kmart's pharmacy had some.  I told her I would never, ever set foot in that store. I hate it! She looked at me strangely and told me she'd call Walgreens. Great, they have it.  Off to Walgreens.

Repeat the process. Drop off the script. Wait. There's only 6 people ahead of me. Walgreen's is NOT that big.  I decide to go sit in my car. At least I can sit and cough in peace without people glaring at me for coughing and not wearing a mask.  I wait the 'estimated' 15 min. and drive around to the drive-thru to see 5 cars ahead of me! Seriously?!?  And that script ended up costing me $10. 

I finally made it home with a plan to make grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner...because that's ALL I can manage.  I did buy bagged lettuce at the store, so I served a vegetable too (and fresh at that.) 

Dinner's over, homework has been started, and my husband is straightening the kitchen. I'm getting ready to load myself up with meds and go watch some Dr. House.  I just hope life doesn't bully me tomorrow.  Because I WILL cry like a baby. 

My sick was brought on by allergies. I'm positive of it. Every year, and I mean every year, at this time (late October) I start getting cold symptoms. It eventually moves into my sinuses, my throat (I lose my voice), and then go into my lungs.  I've been coughing for days now, and my husband finally made me take some cough medicine last night so HE could sleep.  Through the whole week I've been dealing with this stuff, I've had no fever at all.  If it was swine or some other type of flu bug, I'm pretty sure I'd have a temp. Besides, the fact that I had this same thing at the same time last year, kind of proves it.  I have 2 options at this point. The ENT (ear, nose, & throat dr) wants me to have sinus surgery. I don't! I'm going to look into allergy shots and see if that is something that would help. We shall see.

I got in bed Friday afternoon and have slept and watched movies until today. I'm finally feeling ok enough to be out of bed. Praise God the drummer in my head has stopped the incessant pounding!  My voice is back, and I think I'm on the mend.  Today I have to catch up on all the weekend stuff I missed by laying around in bed.  Laundry, school stuff...you know, the 'work' of the weekend.  I'm hoping my family pitches in without too much griping and complaining. 

I hope all of you, my faithful readers, are well and healthy!

I was also introduced to Jason Gray.  I'd never heard his music before that night, but somewhere in the middle of his second song, I knew I HAD to buy his cd before I left that night. It's pretty much been all we've listened to since. His new cd is called, "Everything Sad is Coming Untrue".  I love his way of writing.  The lyrics to his songs just speak to me.  It's tough for me to pick a favorite, but I think it would be the title track.  I can't say enough good things about Jason Gray! I got to chat with him for a few minutes after the concert too. He's a really nice (and really tall) guy, and sooo funny!  If you get a chance, check out his website and for added fun, turn on the narration. So fun!

Next up was Addison Road.  I love these guys!  Jenny and I met over a year ago and I consider her one of my friends. I just don't get to see her or talk to her very often.  I mean, touring in a rock band is a LOT of work.  They unload their own stuff, set up their own merch table, and pretty much it's work.  Yeah, it's rock and roll and it's fun, but it's their job! To top that off, they're traveling with a baby.  I so admire that they have left living a "safe" and "comfortable" life to do what God has asked them to do.  To write songs that bless people like me and many, many others.  Jason Gray said it best that night, "to be a musician and in the ministry is certain finacial ruin." Yet, they love God and HE is taking care of them.  It's awesome to see! My favorite song by Addison Road is the last track on their cd called, "What Do I Know of Holy?" 

The headliners for this tour were Sanctus Real.  I enjoyed their concert a lot too.  I didn't realize how many of their songs I knew. I really liked that they played the songs that get air play on the radio.  It's no fun to see someone live and they play all their obscure songs that no one has ever heard.  I like to sing along.  Which may be why my voice is suffering so now, but it was worth it!   One of the neatest things was that it was the last night of the tour, and Matt Hammitt, the lead singer for Sanctus Real was having a birthday the next day.  All the bands were very excited to be wrapping things up and heading home to their families.  I think the last concert of a tour has the same excitement as the last day of the school year.  I was loving life for them. 

One of the best things was the concert being an hour away...headed east. Which meant, they were an hour ahead of us.  So, going home we gained an hour!  I don't get why so many of the concerts I want to see are on Sunday nights.  It wrecks the whole week to start Monday off dragging and tired.  But you know me, I would do it all over again!

Apparently, Squarespace only likes Jason Gray, because it's not letting me upload any of the other photos. Which is really ticking me off!  If you want to see the rest of my concert pics, you'll have to go check them out on my facebook page. 

The good news is I don't have a fever. The bad news is I had to send my husband to the store with a grocery list because there's no 'quick' food in this house. We're also lacking the components to make a complete meal.  We could have some noodles, some stuffing, and some olives, but I don't think that counts as an actual meal.  My husband has called me 5 times already. In my haze of illness I wasn't able to write a "husband proof" list.  There's only 8 things on the list.  I'm telling you, if the phone rings again I'm going to weep. 

Ooh! I just thought of something though. I think we have a new episode of house on the dvr. Yeah. A little Dr. House is sure to make me forget about the sandpaper in my throat.

Remember way back before school started in August when a friend was helping me make a tent for my classroom?  Turns out she is amazing and I'm not much help at all when it comes to sewing things.  Here's the finished product!  Isn't it cute?  The tent that I originally found was $350. I wouldn't spent that in a REAL tent!  This one ended up costing right around $45.  To thank her for her hard work making this awesome tent for my classroom, we went out for a great brunch at the neatest restaurant called, Jelly. They have an amazing spinach-feta omelette. 

The kids are loving the tent. I've dubbed it our "reading tent" and the rule is if you're in the tent you have to have a book with you, and you need to be looking for letters and blends in the books.  The library center has previously been avoided like the plague, but now children are in there "reading" the books. I love it!! 

Bekah is sick with a sore throat and fever, and Alisha and I have been having trouble breathing.  Since they all laid around in MY bed with their germs, I sprayed the bed with anti-microbial stuff and now I'm waiting for it to dry. I'm so tired! I just want my pillow and my blanket and my bed!  Maybe if I turn on the ceiling fan it'll dry faster.  Someone might just find me asleep at the dining table with the impression of a laptop on my face in the morning. 

I give up. Damp with germ-killer or not...I must go to bed. Goodnight.

________________________________________

Our Bible lessons have been very entertaining this week:

We've been learning about the Israelites in the wilderness this week. I asked them who remembered what the people of Israel called the food God gave them.  One child called out, "Chicken!" 

One little guy missed a few days of school with a cold, and only managed to memorize part of our memory verse for the week. He gave it a go at test time though..."How awesome is the roof on high!" (Psalm 47:2) For those of you who aren't Bible scholars, that should be, "How awesome is the Lord Most High." 

During center time, some of the students broke out in spontaneous singing of one of our praise songs.  They were singing "Who is the King of the Jungle", which goes: Who is the King of the jungle? (oo-oo) Who is the King of the sea? (bubble-bubble-bubble) Who is the King of the universe and who's the King of me? J-E-S-U-S...yes! Except, their version went something like this: Who is the King of the jungle? (oo-oo) Who is the King of the sea? (bubble-bubble-bubble) Who is the King of the "inaverse" and who's the King of me? K-R-A-Z-S...yes!

___________________________________

Our curriculum lessons are also quite entertaining at times:

"When 9 steps on his head he looks like number 6." (translation 'stands on his head')

We were learning the t-blends (ta-te-ti-to-tu) and I was asking them to think of words beginning with those blends.  I even gave clues. You take a bath in a tu-, tu-... One confident girl raised her hand and told me that the blend 'tu' is in the word 'tup'. I told her I wasn't familiar with that word and asked her what it meant (yeah, my bad.) She told me, "It means up in Chinese."  I responded, "You speak Chinese?" She said, "NO! I just know it does!" Ok then. Tup it is.  Hey, at least she heard the blend.

The class was to be working on a dot-to-dot picture of a squirrel.  A number of them were doing more talking than working and someone was trying to tattle on someone else.  I said, "I'm sure she was getting ready to say that you need to be doing more working and less talking."  One very honest little boy called out while still diligently coloring his squirrel, "No. She said he has a big butt." (referring to the  squirrel)  I had to stick my head in my cabinet and pretend I wasn't laughing.

Each of the children have a job that they keep for a week.  I was having the teacher's helper collect the worksheets at the end of our lesson time.  As she collected another student's paper, the little girl tattled, "I didn't obey her to take my paper!"  (translation: I didn't give her permission to take my paper.)

On the day we were learning letter Bb, I had a bird puppet and some berries that we were going to "feed" it in a game.  I asked the class what birds eat.  A little guy raised his hand and answered, "Chicken."  (cannibalism??) 

________________________________________

Well, there you have it. Those are just a few of the funnies that keep me loving my job. I really do love those kids!  One of them told me he misses me and loves me when he doesn't see me.  Awwwww!  I melted like butter.  And after the whole head-in-my-hands circle time admission of defeat, they all offered hugs to me before they ran off to play in centers.  I am so blessed I can handle a temper tantrum or two.