Lovin' Life

I know it hasn't been long, but Kelly and I are really enjoying this no TV thing. In fact, last night after Jenna went to bed I moved some hostas and then cleaned out a flower bed since I still had at least an hour of daylight. If I had TV, I don't know if I would have done that. But, I just put the baby monitor in the kitchen window and went to town in that flower bed. It was a geat feeling looking around and seeing how much I got done.
After work, Jenna and I went for our normal walk around the neighborhood with Bella, Dingo and Grandma Rosi. It was very relaxing after a hectic day at work. When we go back to the old homestead, Kelly and Grandpa Jerry had delivered Jenna's swingset! We were so excited. It is a hand me down, of course, from my co-worker Tracy. Her kids don't use it anymore so she offered it to us. It has 2 swings, a basket swing, a slide and a monkey bar swing-thing. Anyways, Grandma (in Cleveland) gave Jenna a baby swing for Easter, so we hung that up and went for a ride in it last night. Jenna loved it! She was all smiles and was happy to stay there for hours it seemed.
Kelly and I feel so blessed to live where we do with so many people around who are so giving and caring. I don't know what we would do without them. I only wish they weren't calling for rain today so Jenna could go for another ride today. Oh well, there will be plenty of time I am sure.

It's only Monday?

Today was a very busy day for us. Work called yesterday to inform me that the other office had a water leak so the entire staff and adult special needs clients were told me meet at our office. (An additional 40 or so people this morning.) Luckily, they cancelled the preschool classes for their side of town so we didn't have 3 times the preschoolers, only the adult clients were bussed over. It wasn't too much trouble for us, just a little more chaos in the morning. My students were actually pretty good today. I think they all got stamps in the morning and only one lost his in the afternoon. (That's a good day at preschool!)

My boss did tell me that the SPED Coop called him this morning and asked when my last day of school/work was. He asked if there was a specific reason why and they just said they were tossing around ideas. Not sure what that means, but it does look promising for a job for me next year. Rumor has it I will be back at least part time at North Daviess, which is where I was last year, which is just great with me! I already know teachers, parents and students that would make the transition very easy. I will let you know when I know more.

As for Jenna, she is cutting another tooth, just as my mom predicted. (guess she does know more than I ever gave her credit for :-) Anyways, it hasn't broken through the skin yet, but you can feel a very hard spot directly to the left of her first tooth. She did sleep well last night, which was great and I am hoping for another good night of sleep even with the teething. 10 hours straight, I can't ask for much more. She also ate sweet potatoes for dinner along with a Mum Mum cracker that I broke into pieces for her. It is a cracker that I got at Wal-mart which just dissolves in her mouth, no real chewing. I was looking for something she could eat/teethe on and these say that they can be eaten as soon as they are able to eat solid food. She can push it around and gum it a little bit and she feels just like a big girl eating. In the past I have tried giving it to her as a whole cracker, but tonight I broke it up in pieces and she liked it better that way. In fact, she ate the whole thing.

Okay, off to bed for me! only 11 more days of preschool, but who is counting.

By the way, Kelly wants me to make this blog by invitation only like others we know. I am going to do that next week. I will send out a new email to those of you that I told about this last week. If you don't get one or can't get in to view my blog and you want to just email me. Thanks.

Busy weekend!

Our friends Andy, Terri and Grace came for a visit this afternoon. Kelly even took some time away from his barn to come in and talk to everyone!

Jenna and Grace got along great, as usual. Bella was a bit jealous and tried to be in the middle of everything but she is so gentle with Jenna that it was okay. Grace and Jenna are really looking forward to this coming weekend when Grace will be spending the night Saturday night. It will be Jenna's first sleepover!

Weekend!!

And so begins our first weekend without TV. Actually, we still have our DVR with tons of shows recorded, so it won't really count.

Jenna and I had a good day. She ended up going to the sitter today. (she doesn't usually go on Fridays but I had an appointment and lots else to get done so I took her there.) I was told Jenna went for her first open buggy ride today and she loved it. She has been in a closed buggy with the sitter and kids, but this was the first open buggy ride. I know she loves to look out the window in the car so I can't imagine what she thought of the buggy.

I went in the AM and cut my friend WP's lawn and pulled his weeds since he is out of town on travel. That took about 4 hours. Then I came home and started Spring cleaning. All I got finished was the upstairs bathroom before I had to shower to leave, but at least that is something. Finally, I went to the hospital for my first ever mammogram, just a baseline. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

This weekend I am hoping to get some work done in the garden and our yard. Bean went in her backpack for the first time ever as something of a trial run. We have used our little pack before, but always in the front position. This was the first time I tried her on my back. She actually did very well. She fussed at first and then she was sleepy and started to fall asleep. She probably would have slept in the pack, but I didn't want her out in the sun too long. Besides, I was exhausted from all the work I did in the morning and I didn't want to do anything else. So, I planted two flower boxes and then went inside and laid down with her. She slept well, and I at least got to lay down something I don't get to do often.

Hopefully tomorrow we will be outside all day working in the yard. Jenna loves it out there and so do I. I just can't wait for the water to warm up so we can swim.

Drastic times

Well, Kelly and I made a drastic decision last night. We cancelled our DISH network. Actually, we have been talking about it ever since we talked about having children. We didn't know if we could actually do it, but when we moved here we didn't have TV for 3 months and we were so happy with how much work we got done and how much time we spent with eachother. Not to mention the added money saving factor. So, we decided to cancel it altogether. Of course, living where we live cancelling DISH means we have NO TV! Not even one fuzzy channel. Can we handle this? I guess we shall see.

Actually, I know Kelly can handle it. Turning off the internet would be impossible for him, but turning off the TV, that is nothing. It is me that I am worried about. I don't really watch it, just have it on for noise really. But, then I find myself sitting in front of it not wanting to walk away for fear I will miss something (even though we have a DVR!)

Well, I agreed to 6 months with nothing. I told Kelly that if he has time he can try and hook up the antenna before he moves. (That will get us 2.5 channels I am told, But at least it would be something.) I told him not to worry if he can't do it. If need be, I could get netflix at a lot cheaper price and at least have something to watch at night. Or I could walk next door and watch NCIS or SVU with them. Wish us luck!

And just a personal note to my mom: This assures that Jenna won't watch too much TV. None at the Amish baby sitter I am sure, and very little at home since it will only be one of the 5-6 baby DVD's we have. We are trying to follow through on all the things we said we would do "when we had kids!" At least we are trying.

Hey Everyone!

Okay, my first attempt at blogging. I don't know how good I will be at it, but since I have a little one and my family is so spread out I thought I would try it.

This week has been good. As everyone knows, Jenna popped her first tooth out this week and that has helped her demeanor SO MUCH!! Not that she was a fussy baby at all before, but now she has gone back to sleeping all night, which is great. I was starting to worry with Kelly leaving in July what I would do if she didn't sleep well! Especially if I get a "real" teaching job next school year.

On that note, I have talked to the Special Ed Coop, which is who hired me before, then told me they couldn't hire me, then hired me again and laid me off after 6 months last school year. Anyways they probably getting stimulus money from the govt and they will create a 2 year temp position starting next school year. And I heard through the grapevine that the woman who is helping "my kg kids" from North Daviess will be retiring. So, it sounds like they will have at least 2 teaching positions open for next year. I called the director and she wouldn't tell me anything for sure, but since I was RIF-ED (reduction in Force, ie laid off) they have to hire me back before they advertise to hire anyone else. (Unless I am not certified in that area).
The Director did mention to my boss that he will probably have to find a new teacher for the Loogootee school (mine) next year. Since I am the only teacher in the school we are guessing that I will be hired by the time summer school is out. Anyways, Kelly and I aren't counting on anything. We have been let down by them twice before, so we will just wait and see. Although the money would be great since we are going to have 2 houses/ living situations to pay for starting in July.

Nothing much else going on here. Jenna just went to sleep and it is only 8 PM so that should give me time to check my plants in the greenhouse before I go to bed. I have peppers, tomatoes, and squash planted so far. I think I bought 10 tomato plants this year, and I might stop with 10 instead of the 23 I had last year. We did use all the sauce, ketchup and tomatoes, but I just don't know how much time I will have to can, etc. with Jenna under foot. I won't plant them in the ground just yet, but I am hopeful that the 80+ degree weather this weekend will really help them develop strong roots and let me get some early tomatoes on the plants that stay in the greenhouse. Last year we had some in June on those plants.

Okay, off to other things!