This weekend was pretty good - for me anyway. Colby has a nasty cough and he has a disgusting runny nose. He's been cranky and didn't eat hardly anything this weekend. He slept a lot too. Brandon didn't feel very well this weekend either. He had a bad headache on Saturday and slept the day away. I took an afternoon nap while Colby was sleeping...it was magical :-)
On Saturday I took advantage of the good weather and cleaned out the RAV. I didn't wash it, but at least the inside is dust free and vaccumed. I also went grocery shopping, which was a bad idea. I was pretty grouchy at Walmart and frustrated in general with everyones rude, less than considerate behavior toward the strangers around them...plus I couldn't find a good parking space.
On Sunday we went to Roanoke and helped out with the Crawlers down in the nursery. It was sort of fun, but I still feel weird around everyone elses kids. I know mine inside and out, but I'm not so sure about everyone elses. Brandon spend the afternoon playing Mr. Fix-It. He put insulation around the pipes under the house and put weather stripping on the bottom of the front door to keep the cold air out. Plus he finished the walkway he started in the fall (all he had to do was put some railroade stakes in the boards to keep them in place). I cleaned the house so that Brandon's family wouldn't be appalled when they came over for dinner. We had spaghetti for dinner (not too fancy), but at least Brandon's dad can stop complaining that we never have dinner at our place (which would be false anyway, because I busted my a$$ to have christmas eve dinner at our place and it was SCRUMPTIOUS). I hope everyone had a good weekend and has a fantastic week!
Family
Here we are at the Virginia Tech Horticulture Gardens (Photo by Jenna Gill Photography)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Now It's Friday
Today I overslept by 45 minutes...somehow I still managed to be early to school (and no, I wasn't speeding). I must waste a lot of time on a regular basis or something. Maybe I watch too much of the today show in the morning and neglect to do things as quickly as I could.
Brandon has decided to start tinkering with electronics. He's super obsessed with solar panels, so don't be suprised if we get a solar panel on our roof within the next couple of years. He bought supplies so he can solder things together and make small electronic devices. He seems to like it a lot...I hope his hobby doesn't get too expensive.
Well...I'm off to bible study with my Roanoke sunday school class. I hope that more people will be there. I'm sure they're tired of looking at me and Colby all the time :-)
Brandon has decided to start tinkering with electronics. He's super obsessed with solar panels, so don't be suprised if we get a solar panel on our roof within the next couple of years. He bought supplies so he can solder things together and make small electronic devices. He seems to like it a lot...I hope his hobby doesn't get too expensive.
Well...I'm off to bible study with my Roanoke sunday school class. I hope that more people will be there. I'm sure they're tired of looking at me and Colby all the time :-)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
It Feels Like Monday
All day I've been feeling like it's Monday. Clearly it' not, but I just have to keep reminding myself that tomorrow is Friday (yay!) and then I have two days off (yay!).
Today started off with a two hour delay, which means I got to watch the Today show for longer. I have to admit I cried over a story about a Down syndrome kid who got to play basketball for the last game of his high school career. I was impressed by the student who gave up his starting spot so that Patrick could play and I was impressed by the student body who chanted to have him put back in the game in the second half and stormed the court at the buzzer. I know my kids are a pain, but I am now convinced that every student that walks through my door is capable of doing so much good. It's my job to give them opportunities to do the good and see the good in themselves. I realized at school that making them see the good is a hard, hard task that most teachers don't try to tackle. I think that sticking to teaching your subject is easier, but what do they get out of that? Sure they'll know the grammar rules, vocabulary words and the stories you've taught, but what have they learned about life when they leave? What have they learned about contributing to their community? What have they learned about doing the right thing even when nobody is lookings? I'm sure that student who gave up his starting spot didn't know he was going to be on national television. I'm sure the student body didn't think they'd be in the national spotlight. But because they learned to do the right thing, they were.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering how these new tighter rules worked out at school - I think the kids were weirded out that so many teachers were watching them walk the locker banks. I think because we watched them like hawks, they moved faster. Some kids didn't seem to understand the reasons we were doing it, but maybe in time they will. My concern right now - what will happen when the kids get tired of it and decide to fight in the cafeteria where the have to stay in the morning until the bell rings?
Today started off with a two hour delay, which means I got to watch the Today show for longer. I have to admit I cried over a story about a Down syndrome kid who got to play basketball for the last game of his high school career. I was impressed by the student who gave up his starting spot so that Patrick could play and I was impressed by the student body who chanted to have him put back in the game in the second half and stormed the court at the buzzer. I know my kids are a pain, but I am now convinced that every student that walks through my door is capable of doing so much good. It's my job to give them opportunities to do the good and see the good in themselves. I realized at school that making them see the good is a hard, hard task that most teachers don't try to tackle. I think that sticking to teaching your subject is easier, but what do they get out of that? Sure they'll know the grammar rules, vocabulary words and the stories you've taught, but what have they learned about life when they leave? What have they learned about contributing to their community? What have they learned about doing the right thing even when nobody is lookings? I'm sure that student who gave up his starting spot didn't know he was going to be on national television. I'm sure the student body didn't think they'd be in the national spotlight. But because they learned to do the right thing, they were.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering how these new tighter rules worked out at school - I think the kids were weirded out that so many teachers were watching them walk the locker banks. I think because we watched them like hawks, they moved faster. Some kids didn't seem to understand the reasons we were doing it, but maybe in time they will. My concern right now - what will happen when the kids get tired of it and decide to fight in the cafeteria where the have to stay in the morning until the bell rings?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
It Feels Like the Weekend
Today was my second snow day in a row - I feel like I've just had a weekend. At this point I'm almost wondering if it's even worth it to have school tomorrow...why not just wait until next week and start with a fresh new week!? What do you say? No? :-(
We didn't have bible study tonight either, though I'm not sure why. We rode around Radford to get something to eat and didn't have the least bit of trouble. I guess I'm just disappointed because I was really looking forward to discussing the second chapter of Esther. It was so interesting and filled me with relief to know that God doesn't need me to look a certain way for him to love me.
We ate dinner at this place called Tuscana. We were served Italian food by a guy who sounded like an actor in Defiance and was named Amir. Go figure. I would describe it as a hole in the wall, but the food there is excellent. We've gotten calzones there before and they are amazing. And their huge! A small calzone takes up the whole plate! I think a large one could feed a small country!
Wow, I reread my post - must be a slow day in the lives of the Gills. At least Brandon gets excitement - low speed pursuits and foot pursuits are cool.
We didn't have bible study tonight either, though I'm not sure why. We rode around Radford to get something to eat and didn't have the least bit of trouble. I guess I'm just disappointed because I was really looking forward to discussing the second chapter of Esther. It was so interesting and filled me with relief to know that God doesn't need me to look a certain way for him to love me.
We ate dinner at this place called Tuscana. We were served Italian food by a guy who sounded like an actor in Defiance and was named Amir. Go figure. I would describe it as a hole in the wall, but the food there is excellent. We've gotten calzones there before and they are amazing. And their huge! A small calzone takes up the whole plate! I think a large one could feed a small country!
Wow, I reread my post - must be a slow day in the lives of the Gills. At least Brandon gets excitement - low speed pursuits and foot pursuits are cool.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Snowy Tuesday
Today was a snow day :-) It snowed enough to cover the grass, trees and cars, but not enough to cover the roads. It was pretty, but not dangerous. I took Colby to daycare for a couple of hours so that I could go to school and work on some things. Then I decided that since he was already at daycare and I was already out to go to Walmart and do some grocery shopping. Not that I mind taking Colby - he loves Walmart! So much to look at! So many people that are always saying hi! I just feel bad taking him from somewhere warm and exposing him to the arctic weather. The best thing about my snow day is the fact that I got to see Brandon for a little while before he had to go to work. On power shift he usually has to leave before I get home so I don't get to see him, but not today! The other good thing about the snow day is that I got to work on my crochet project. I'm making a bag for all my crochet supplies then who knows what I'll do. Maybe I'll make a blanket or something. Or a scarf. You can never have too many scarves in weather like this.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Bumps and Bruises
For the first time I got a call from daycare saying that Colby fell and bumped his head. He has a light blue bruise on his forehead now. Apparently he was standing, decided to let go of what he was holding on to and try to walk, but he ended up falling instead. I was worried, but then they said he'd been fighting the ice pack they tried to put on it. I figured if he was okay enough to fight the ice pack that he was okay. He was standing up and seemed alert when I picked him up, so I'll just let him be. It won't be the last time he bumps his head. Plus, I'm proud of my fearless child trying to be independant :-)
Today we had a teacher work day before our new semester. We had an emergency meeting this morning to discuss the problems we've been having with fighting at our school. Apparently we had four times the amount of fights this past semester including fifteen or so in the last six days of the semester. And guess who's behind all these fights - my darling ninth graders - mostly. We're going to be more strict with them and monitor them closely throughout the day, which is a pain, but my opinion is this - if they're going to act like hoodlums, we'll monitor them like they're hoodlums. My thoughts keep going back to my eighth grade year when someone was killed in a fight at the high school I was supposed to be going to. If our new rules can prevent something like that from happening, then I'm all for it. I have zero sympathy for students who think it's unfair that they now only have four minutes to get to their next class, that they are being shooed out of the locker banks without getting to talk to their friends, and that they're being made to go inside the building instead of being allowed to congregate at the bus circle. One day they'll understand that school is for learning and the only thing they should be worried about is their grades - not whether they're going to die when they go to school.
Side note: It's snowing outside! Maybe we'll get a two hour delay tomorrow!
Today we had a teacher work day before our new semester. We had an emergency meeting this morning to discuss the problems we've been having with fighting at our school. Apparently we had four times the amount of fights this past semester including fifteen or so in the last six days of the semester. And guess who's behind all these fights - my darling ninth graders - mostly. We're going to be more strict with them and monitor them closely throughout the day, which is a pain, but my opinion is this - if they're going to act like hoodlums, we'll monitor them like they're hoodlums. My thoughts keep going back to my eighth grade year when someone was killed in a fight at the high school I was supposed to be going to. If our new rules can prevent something like that from happening, then I'm all for it. I have zero sympathy for students who think it's unfair that they now only have four minutes to get to their next class, that they are being shooed out of the locker banks without getting to talk to their friends, and that they're being made to go inside the building instead of being allowed to congregate at the bus circle. One day they'll understand that school is for learning and the only thing they should be worried about is their grades - not whether they're going to die when they go to school.
Side note: It's snowing outside! Maybe we'll get a two hour delay tomorrow!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Political Know-it-alls
Do you know someone who "knows" everything about politics? No matter how much you've read or researched, you can never be right because they "know" everything? I know a person like that and they drive me crazy. Last night Brandon and I had a really good date - we went to the Roadhouse and had a baby cactus blossom and steak followed by a viewing of Defiance (pretty good by the way if you like to see family angst, love stories, and Nazi's getting killed) and Cold Stone. We were having a wonderful time joking about people and things we'd done lately only to be spoiled by the following conversation.
FIL: How would you rate Obama so far?
Me: Who knows, he's only been in office for less than two weeks.
FIL: What about the stimulus package?
Me: "shruggs"
FIL: What? You don't know what's in the stimulus package?
Me: Nope.
FIL: What?
Me: I got things to do.
FIL: Like what?
Me: Babies to take care of, papers to grade, food to cook, bible study to go to...
FIL: You don't care about all that pork?
Me: I didn't hear anything about pork.
FIL: Well maybe you should take some time to read.
>:-( Why should I take the time to read, no matter what my opinion is, it won't be good enough. I HATE it when people do this. Have you ever heard that you shouldn't discuss politics? Well I agree! Unless you're going to be open-minded, don't bring it up! If you want to look down your nose at me as someone too young to have an informed opinion, then don't bring it up! I hate that my perfect evening ended like that. Later when we were home and lying in bed, I was still mad. And now I'm mad because I feel like I should have an informed opinion, but guess what, I'm not going to go look at what's in that bill. We elect officials to make decision for us. They should read the bills and pass them as they see fit for the better good of thier constituents. If they don't do this, we'll fire them during the next election. And in the future, don't discuss politics with me unless you're going to be objective and not snotty about it.
FIL: How would you rate Obama so far?
Me: Who knows, he's only been in office for less than two weeks.
FIL: What about the stimulus package?
Me: "shruggs"
FIL: What? You don't know what's in the stimulus package?
Me: Nope.
FIL: What?
Me: I got things to do.
FIL: Like what?
Me: Babies to take care of, papers to grade, food to cook, bible study to go to...
FIL: You don't care about all that pork?
Me: I didn't hear anything about pork.
FIL: Well maybe you should take some time to read.
>:-( Why should I take the time to read, no matter what my opinion is, it won't be good enough. I HATE it when people do this. Have you ever heard that you shouldn't discuss politics? Well I agree! Unless you're going to be open-minded, don't bring it up! If you want to look down your nose at me as someone too young to have an informed opinion, then don't bring it up! I hate that my perfect evening ended like that. Later when we were home and lying in bed, I was still mad. And now I'm mad because I feel like I should have an informed opinion, but guess what, I'm not going to go look at what's in that bill. We elect officials to make decision for us. They should read the bills and pass them as they see fit for the better good of thier constituents. If they don't do this, we'll fire them during the next election. And in the future, don't discuss politics with me unless you're going to be objective and not snotty about it.
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