TAKS writing camp...

Today we had our writing camp in preparation for the TAKS test. This was a great event that the teachers had been planning for some time. It was a lot of fun for the kids because they got to play games that helped them practice specific skills that they need to know for the test. One of the great things that the teachers do to build morale is to sell t-shirts. Every fourth grader gets one, and so do the teachers. Most of the kids put a nick name on the back of their shirts.

I became the elam-inator at my mentor's suggestion.

I hope that wherever I work as a teacher, that my team will do something like this. So much time and effort was put in by the teachers. The kids had a great time, and so did I!

Back and Forth Back and Forth...

Anyone who has ever been to my house knows that my cat loves to be on the computer desk. For some reason, this has become one of her favorite spots. Anytime that you are on the computer she will jump up on the desk and lie down in front of the monitor. This presents a problem...you can't see the screen! It gets a little annoying having to constantly pick her up and put her on the ground. In fact she is doing it right now as I type this message.

What? You don't want to pet me??

Fine then, I will just stay in your way.

This is a constant back and forth battle! The funny things that pets do.

The Difference Between On and In...

I think many wives ask themselves this same question... does my husband know the difference between on the hamper and in the hamper? I have been married to my husband Thomas for almost four years, and he still doesn't understand the difference between on and in. I thought this would be a comical blog because I am better off than some wives. At least the dirty clothes make it in the general direction of the hamper and not on the floor. Ha Ha!

You still have the flu???

Everyday for the last week or so I have had the sniffles. It mostly bothers me in the mornings when I first get to school. Everyday one of the girls in the class says Ms. Elam, it really stinks that you have the flu. I kind of chuckled the first time she said that because anyone knows if you have the flu you don't get out of bed.
The funny thing is that this has become a pattern. Every morning I will blow my nose, and this student says, "Oh Ms. Elam you have the flu!" I have tried explaining to her that I just have the sniffles or maybe a little cold, but not the flu. This morning I walked in and this student asked, Ms. Elam, you still have the flu? I have finally given up trying to convince her that I am not contaminated with the flu virus. Oh well, another cute story for the student teaching blog.
Ha Ha!

Happy Birthday Daisy...

Today is Daisy's second birthday! She has been such a blessing to us these last couple of years. All animal lovers know that when you have a pet it is like your baby. Thomas loves how excited she gets when he comes home, and I love how she likes to snuggle up to you when she is cold. Thomas and I both had a beagle when we were growing up. So when it came time to choose a dog, it was absolutely a beagle. Even though our little girl gets in trouble some times, she keeps us laughing, and life would not be the same with out her. I've posted a few pictures of the highlights of Daisy's time with us.

Here is a picture of Daisy at six weeks old.

She was so little.

Daisy loves to snuggle up to her daddy for a nap.


Until recently, one of Daisy's favorite things to do
was to chew on her rawhide bone. We couldn't
keep enough of them in the house!

Happy Birthday to my sweet puppy! We love you!

A Sigh of Relief...

I am taking a huge sigh of relief right now. I have been under a lot of stress this week because I was being evaluated by my student teaching advisor today. My mentor teacher knew the feeling of concern that comes from being evaluated, and made some helpful suggestions. I was so nervous! I was worried that the lesson would go horrible, but it went well. I got outstanding scores, and I am so happy!

The Light at the end of the Tunnel...

Last night some representatives from Commerce came to speak to our class. They were making us aware that very soon we would be eligible to take our PPR test for teacher certification. They also handed several of us a letter of anticipation. When I opened this letter to read it, I could see the light at the end of a very long tunnel. The letter stated that they anticipated me to complete my program before August 15, 2009. Tears came to my eyes as I read that letter. I came to the very sudden realization that my dreams of becoming a teacher were very close to becoming a reality. Teaching is not just a career to me. I know that I have a call from God to do this. Obtaining my certification has been a much longer process than I could have anticipated. The efforts have all been worth it. When I think about standing in front of my very own class next year it inspires me. I saw the picture above and realized that I will be planting seeds for a lifetime.

I Love Jose????

Here is a story that you might think is just crazy and off the wall, but I found it hilarious. Christy, Mark, the boys, Daniel and Evelyn were all at our house last night. The boys were in my room watching a movie. Everyone kind of wandered in there. I looked down at the floor and saw a folded piece of paper. I wondered how in the world it got there. The funny thing is what the note said when I opened it up.

It was a love note to someone named Jose! I laughed with everybody, and made jokes about this crazy note I found on my bedroom floor. After the initial laughs were over I started to wonder how that note ended up where it did. I didn't have any kids at school who had crushes, so I knew that it had not come in with me. Here is the really funny part...

It belonged to Kevin!

Kevin had found the note out in Nanny's front yard, and carried with him in his pocket. When I showed Christy the note he saw it and yelled, "Hey, that's mine!" I just had to blog about this because it was crazy and off the wall. You never know what kids will find and decide to keep!

Ha Ha!

To Woman...

I thought that everyone would enjoy this little story. My husband is not always known for being very romantic, and I always have to remind him about special events like Valentine's Day. Normally he would wait until the last minute, and not put much effort into a making it special. This year I was pleasantly surprised. Thomas had gone to play pool with his buddy Luke, and I was supposed to spend the evening home by myself. When I walked into the kitchen, I found my card and the movie that I really wanted waiting for me on the counter. The card said to woman, which I thought was really funny. He had to keep his usual humor in the situation. I was really touched that he would surprise me like that. I immediately started calling people to brag on Thomas. The card was even signed with love, Thomas.

Here is a shot of the movie FireProof.

It is a really touching story about a

married couple who find God and allow

Him to heal their marriage. Thomas even

watched the movie with me when he got home.

Here is a shot of the front of the card.

Romantic Right?

Here is the funny part. This is actually an anniversary card for someone who got married on Valentine's Day! Even though he really didn't read the card, Thomas still got a big kiss, and an e for effort. I loved my present, and the surprise that came with it. Thank you Thomas. I love and appreciate you!

Ughh! Traffic Court...

If you have ever been to traffic court, you know that it is not a fun experience! Today I had to go to court for a ticket that I received almost two years ago. I did not believe that the ticket was fair because it was for not changing the address on my driver's license. I did not know that this was against the law until I got that ticket. In other cities all you have to do is change your address at the DMV and they will usually dismiss your ticket. That is not how the Mesquite tickets work. The only way to have it dismissed is to go to court.
Today I didn't think that I would have any problems. I figured I would just explain to the judge that I was not aware of the law, and that I had had it changed the very next day. Boy was I wrong. I didn't have a prayer because the officer came to court. When the officer is there the judge automatically finds you guilty. There were about ten other people there with tickets from the same officer. No one left that court room happy! I was especially peeved because that ticket was $163! Word to the wise, change the address on your driver's license when you move.

Red Neck Party...

Friday Thomas and I had some friends and family over for an unexpected get together. The weather was warm, and we all ended up outside. Anyone who knows my husband is aware that he has a pass time of working on cars. Lately, he has so many projects that my driveway looks like a wrecking yard, and his friends can't come over with out helping him work on cars. On this particular evening, we had the car hoods up, the garage door open, and a seat from Nanny's van in the yard. We were also drinking IBC Root Beer. This soda is so good, but it comes in a bottle that looks like the real thing! I can only imagine what we looked like to the neighbors! It really was a scene right out of a Jeff Foxworthy DVD.

Nice Engines Huh?

Don't forget the trailer either.

Here is the seat from Nanny's van.
It was our temporary lawn furniture.

You can't have a red neck party without the dog there!

It was really something else. At least now one of the vans and the trailer are gone. The life of a mechanics wife is never boring.

Scared Dog...

If you read my sister in law Amy's blog then you have been introduced to their puppy Roonie. It was really special that they received Roonie while they were visiting us. I was one of the first to see Kaden's happy face when he found his puppy in my living room.
Unfortunately Daisy wasn't to happy that Roonie was here. I know you are probably thinking that she barked and growled at tiny little Roonie. Not exactly...

Daddy save me!

Thomas tried to make Daisy face her fear of Roonie.
She was having none of it!

Look at that Cutie!

It was really hard to believe that Daisy was scared of a puppy when she was more than twice his size. Roonie followed her around for two days, but she ran away every time. Funny huh?

HA and LF...

I thought you guys might like to hear a funny story about one of my student teaching experiences. The other morning, my mentor teacher and I kept several of the students in from P.E. so that they could finish their morning work. This is something that happens if they don't try their hardest. I was explaining a problem to one of the students. You have to be careful of the volume of your voice because the other students will listen in on your conversation.
I explained that when you are trying to find half of a number you divide by two, and when you are trying to find one third of a number you divide by three. I did this by demonstrating that if I had a marker and broke it into two pieces I divided it in half and so on.
Little did I know, someone else was listening. My mentor teacher asked one of the other boys to explain to her how he got his answer. "I divided it by 2." he said. "Why?" she asked. "Because if you have half you divide the word into the HA and the LF." When he said that she laughed and asked him where in the world he came up with that and he pointed at me. When he did that I cracked up. He had overheard how to solve the problem, but missed the explanation totally! Just one of the many experiences to put down in my memory book.