Slap on the hand...

Today I received my first "official" reprimand. I made a judgment call in asking the principal to come speak to my classes (because they are the classes from hell--sorry, but they are). Only when he showed up to do so, he put me on the spot and had me call out those students who were giving me trouble. I just wanted him to put the fear of God into them, not take them out! So those I called out he took to call mom and dad who then had to come to the school! Great. He did this with one class last week then hadn't returned, so I figured things were smoothing over. Well, he returned today. I sent 2 boys out. And then while on lunch duty, my assistant principal comes up to me and lets me know how I should have let her deal with them and we didn't have a paper trail and there were all these other steps to go through. All I could say was, "I'm sorry" and "Yes, ma'am." IT SUCKED. Okay, so I screwed up. But did I - a hormonal, pregnant woman - really need to be told that at the beginning of my lunch duty when I still had to stand in front of a cafeteria full of students? At the end of my duty, the principal came in and asked how things had been with the other class he had spoken to last week. I told him better and then apologized for not following proper procedure with everything. He said, "Who's upset? _____?" I replied affirmatively and he told me not to worry about it. We talked a few more minutes and I felt better, but the whole ordeal did not sit well. So from now on I'll either keep my mouth shut or inundate the office with referrals. I hate getting into trouble. And I was doing so well, too.

Hostess I am not

I have officially decided after Thanksgiving Day that I am not a good hostess. Absolutely not. I freak out over little things (my husband will be nodding his head as he reads this). For example, every time I used the restroom I noticed that my decorative towels had been used. HELLO! They're only to look pretty, not to wipe your hands on! That's why there's one hanging right next to the sink---where you just washed your hands. Anyways. Then even though I probably have the largest, most accessible kitchen, it's also the gathering place. It always has been for the Holloways (and I'm assuming for most families as well). Having extra bodies in that space as I tried to keep food heated, set it out, and simply turn around did not work well. I would clear a space for something, open the oven door, grab the hot food, turn back around, and find 4 or 5 cups in my recently cleared space. So while I'm holding the hot dish (cause counter space was at a premium with all the yummies we had), I'm asking someone, anyone, to please move cups or whatever so I can put down the load weighing me down. *Sigh*

Oh, and my favorite---my dear, dear grandmother. Bless her heart, the woman can fix anything-ANYTHING. I'm serious. She's also an amazing cook. You know, one of those who never measures anything and it always turns out perfectly? That's Grandma. It was just that everything I did she had a better method for doing so. I know she was trying to be helpful, but seriously, let me be an adult hosting an event in my own home. I do know a little! I made one of David's favorite cakes recently and took my grandparents some. While their reaction was that it was very good, my Grandma remarked, "Jamie, you just might get the hang of this baking thing." Really? I might? I mean, did she think I was that bad of a cook? I know she means well, but word choice is key. Bless her heart. That's all I can say.

Overall, Thanksgiving at my house went well, I think. I was a little stressed, yes. Everyone coming to you for everything or wanting you to fix this or that gets to you after a while, especially when you're the last one to do anything because you've been getting everyone what they need or want fixed! Okay, I'm done. It was just very nice to have my house back at the end of the holiday, so David and I could quietly watch tv and enjoy the lights on the Christmas tree. Ahhh, peace.

Thanksgiving Week

With having an entire week off from school, I have a list of items I want to get accomplished. Numero Uno was getting the current office straightened up and moved into the second bedroom. I had most of that done by about 9 this morning. I had filing to catch up on, items to put away, and just junk to go through. The room was a disaster because I had gone on a mad hunt for the crib parts that I knew I had packed away somewhere. I had been looking for a good month when I found them accidentally as we pulled out our holiday decorations. They were definitely not where I suspected I had put them! So one crisis solved (because a new set of parts was going to run us about $100--waste of money).

We've also already decorated for Christmas. Outside we still have all our Thanksgiving decorations up since we're hosting my extended family, but inside it's Christmas everywhere! Our tree is up, our nativity is resting peacefully on the mantle, and snowmen abound. We did it Sunday night after church. I think mom and I are going to make some candy this weekend. Yum!

Elephant Stitch

As I pondered how to write this post, you have to realize how goofy it's going to sound. How amazing is it that God would give David the most perfect spouse for him...and all because of an affinity for elephants? See what I mean? You're going, "WHAT??" Back in college at MC I was part of Kissimee, a tribe whose mascot is the elephant. My husband is an avid, no rabid, no head-over-heels Alabama fan. His passion is HUGE. And what is the Crimson Tide's mascot? Why, Big Al, of course! Throughout the years, we have collected a rather large family of elephants. Which is perfect because be believe we've found the nursery bedding we really want for Mady Grace. It's called Elephant Stitch and is pink and brown--a color combination I love! I have some detail stuff for the nursery already if we go with this set---some baskets (2 smaller square ones), a picture frame with 3 separate windows that can separately flip around so you can put 6 pictures in, and I really want to get a brown shelf so we can fill it with all our elephants for our sweet baby girl. David wants to get a massive elephant to fill a corner so Mady Grace can play with it as she grows. Who would have guessed how a love of elephants would so fill our lives. Oh, and Dave says our daughter's first words need to be "ROLL TIDE!" We'll see about that!

To see the bedding we love, check it out here: http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=62438&CatID=62729&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=153ca27&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=62438%7c62644%7c62645&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=1&CmCatId=62438626446264562729

FREEDOM!

Finally! Thanksgiving break is finally here! I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this break. Let's see. We had Labor Day off back in September, then had September 2 off as well for Hurricane Gustav. So in order to make up for that day, we lost one of our two days in early November (10 & 11). Since the very beginning of September, we've only had 1 day off. That's way too low. The kids have been antsy and unreasonable, the teachers are short-tempered, and I have been getting mean. I'm serious. I wrote 3 kids up in 2 days, and another teacher wrote 3 up in one class period!

I'm so thankful for this break. David and I are hosting Thanksgiving for the entire Holloway clan. Are we out of our minds? Probably so! But it should be fun. And everyone's helping chip in. I love getting up and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, then eating and watching football all day long! And spending time with family is (usually) always fun!

Future Bama CHEERLEADER!!!

Well, there you have it! We are expecting Madyson Grace. Two doctors said they are 80% sure we have a baby girl on our hands. We'll find out December 10 if that's for certain but I've felt this entire time that Madyson was on her way. She played a little shy, in the breach position for a bit. But boy, oh, boy is she ever active!! She's a mover and groover and I can't wait until I can feel her do all that moving! (I may regret that statement later!) Dr. Sams counted her fingers for us. You really can't put into words seeing your baby on the ultrasound screen. David is thrilled. We're going to have a DAUGHTER!!!

Fingers Crossed

So, fingers crossed. Tuesday we go back to the dr. Hopefully, hopefully, HOPEFULLY we can find out if we're going to meet Madyson Grace or Hayden in May! The anticipation is killer!