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My Greatest Challenge as a Teacher...

I found out early this week that one of my preschoolers dad committed suicide on Thanksgiving. What do you say to a little girl who doesn't quite understand what's going on. This has been the greatest challenge for me. I'm very emotional about the whole thing and don't know what to do. I tear up everytime I look at her. She told me that her dad will be in heaven now and that heaven is a good place. She talks about him all of the time. She even wants to be dead so she can be with her dad. How sad is that! I've been so strong in front of her every day this week and I just break down as soon as I walk in the door at home. My heart goes out to the family. The whole family is in a state of shock, I feel for the mom because just last week she told me that the dad moved out of the house for awhile, (I'm assumming marriage problems) and now to have to deal with this. I'm sure she's feels some of the blame. I know what it's like to have your family break apart when you're at a young age, but I can't imagine going through something so tragic as this. He was a great person and leaves the world at the young age of 30 also leaving behind a wife and four daughters. Part of me is angry too...I know that life can have it's ups and downs and sometimes you wonder how you're ever going to get through it, but can life really be so bad that you feel you need to take you're own life to make the people you love suffer?

Reflecting on November...

As I look on the calendar I'm thinking that time really does fly as you get older. (It's December 1st is tomorrow!)
I'm reading through all of my friends blogs and I realized that I have not made a post in awhile. A lot has happened over the this last month that has me reflecting on my life...

I was in a craft fair at the beginning of the month and I had a great time. I only wish that I had more time to sit and relax and be creative with my crafts. I always thought that it would be fun to own/ operate a "crafty" type of store. (I even managed to make handmade Christmas cards again for this year.)

I attended a bridal shower for Corey's brother's fiance' and found myself so excited again just thinking about how happy I was when I got married!

I went to two baby showers and I was thinking about what I would be like as a mother someday. It scares me. I know I'm going to have a smart ass kid...I can feel it. I'm thinking that in two years I would like to start trying and hopfully by then I will have a better teaching job with great benefits. Corey and I once said that if we reach 30 and we haven't had kids forget it. Well 30 isn't too far away and I think we're changing our minds.

I can't believe how many birthdays were in this month. I did my best at getting around to see everyone. I just wish I could have been able to afford to give them more. I love giving gifts...when I have the money.

Speaking of money...I'm excited to say the Corey and I have finally paid off soooo many bills and have gotten rid of soooo much debt that I can see the end. I know debt will never go away, but getting rid of as much of it as we can feels pretty darn good. Now if I can only figure out how to be a better saver.

Thanksgiving was great! I enjoyed being able to sit and relax and not feeling so rushed to get from place to place. Corey and I are finally working out a system.

I'm growing out my hair and what a challenge that is!! I got it highlighted on Monday, but it still looks the same. It's hard for me to be daring with color. Someday. I'm trying to find neat ways to style it, but I'm having no luck. So the next time you see me...be supportive and tell me to keep going. There are days I feel like chopping it!! (So, if there's no picture in our Christmas card this year...you'll know why.)

Color Me Mine!

This weekend was so much fun! On Sunday my sisters and I had a "sister day" and drove to St. Paul to paint some pottery. We went to a place called Color Me Mine!

http://www.colormemineonline.com

I have always wanted to go to a place like this. The store is filled with pottery and you pick which piece you'd like to paint. It's pretty inexpensive...depending on what you want to paint and how big the piece is. There's a $10.00 supply fee which includes the use of all of their supplies in the store...paints, brushes, stamps, pens, etc. it also includes the glaze and "firing" the store does for you. In about a week they give you a phone call and you go back and pick up your finished piece of pottery. (I suppose at this time you're only tempted to paint more.)

I'm thinking I will contact all the girls (Aimee, Liz, and Anne) the next time our boys have a weekend away. Unless the guys would like to be creative too...they have great group deals.

Just when we get the JEEP paid off...

How frustrating to own and maintain a car.

Saturday Corey and I were bouncing off of the walls because we finally paid off his JEEP. No more car payments for Corey!!! YEAH!!

Today I come home for lunch to find Corey home working on his JEEP again. Last year he replaced everything when his heater core went out, but for some reason this year he has NO HEAT! Imagine that. Now he's fixing his brakes!! His lights don't work and I worry that he'll get rear ended. Luckly he only has to dart across Hwy. 21 to get to work. He's checked fuses and bulbs...what the hell could it be now!! He doesn't seem be having much luck now that the thing's paid off.

So...any guys reading this and listening to me vent.....HELP COREY! (or at least come over for a beer and watch him try and fix the thing...it'll calm him down.)

Thanks.

Weekend of Parties

My weekend was full of baby showers. For those of you wondering...going to the parties did not get me in the baby mood. It was fun and cute, but made me realize how much work having a baby would be. Maybe when I finally settle into my public school teaching job I can think about babies. (Public school offers great benefits!!!)

Friday night Nora, Stafanie and I went to the Canterbury Autumn Festival. It was a blast! For those of you who love crafts/ craft fairs...this is for you. We spent a good three hours roaming the tents and building looking for the perfect decor. for our houses. I ended up buying a sign for my kitchen that says..."I have a kitchen because it came with the house". For those of you who know me...I don't cook. I do love to bake cakes, cookies, etc. So my kitchen is just another room in the house. I also got a smore bear. Every year I attend this craft fair and see the same guy who carves animals out of wood with a chain saw. He makes a cute bear holding a stick with a marshmallow. I've always told myself that when the time came that I'm living in a place that has a fireplace that the bear would be the perfect thing to set in front of it. So...I bought the smore bear...and he does look cute in front of the fireplace.

Saturday my sisters and I went to a baby shower for our friend Tina. We all grew up with Tina so it was great to attend her baby party. She got so much stuff!!!
Sunday was another baby shower for my cousin and his girlfriend. It was fun, but a little akward considering I didn't know very many people there.

Now I'm into another week of school and rushing to get all of my Thanksgiving projects done. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week!!! Yeah...time off for me. I've been looking forward to it. I'm thinking that this year I'll head out early to get the good shopping deals and hopfully get my Christmas shopping done.

Wish me luck!

Craft Fair

Today Holly (Corey's cousin) and I were in a Holiday Boutique & Bake Sale to benefit homeless animals. It was held at the Lake Harriet Spiritual Coummity Center in Mpls. I had a lot of fun!! I have been in a craft fair before that was much bigger than this one, but it was nice to have it be low key this time around. There were 25 tables full of Holiday gifts and baked goods. They had munchies and hot cider and a silent auction. It was hosted by the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society, a non-profit, all volunteer group dedicated to improving the lives of companion rabbits. Holly owns four rabbits and is a member of this group. I just joined her and set up a table of my own to try and make some money.

I thought about Aimee the whole time. (I should have had you come with me Aimee!) They had lots of gifts for rabbits, cats and dogs. Mostly homemade items. I, on the other hand, sold birdhouses, handcrafted cards and fishing lure ornaments. I did pretty well considering it wasn't a heavy crowd. I ended up selling 1 birdhouse, 9 cards, and 4 ornaments.

I'm excited to do more events like this in the future. It's great to rake in the money and not have to deal with tax exempt issues like the last fair I was in.