A Long Time Gone

It has been a while, hasn't it? Whoops. Oh well. We're busy. What else can I say?

Since I know everyone has probably given up hope on this blog, I know there won't be many readers at all. However, I hope to begin typing again. I really enjoy writing, and this is a good chance for me to do that.

So Rob and I are planning our trip out to the Northeast. We are looking at Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. We may possible venture over to Nova Scotia and/or Prince Edward Island, but we'll see about that.

Anyone have any suggestions on what to do? We have requested the travel brochures from the state (except New York. That state is ridiculously hard to figure out.) and have glanced through them and noted what we would be interested in on this trip, but are always open to suggestions. We know that we are going to do a whale watching boat tour, the New England Aquarium, the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Freedom Trail, Dinosaur State Park, a minor league baseball game, Ben and Jerry's, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. There will also be a ton of sightseeing, both along the coast and more inland. We're pretty excited!

Lily is up sleeping right now for naptime, Robby and Grace are working on their gazillionth art project today, Rob is out with a friend watching a football game, and I am sitting here in my PJs. Not to shabby. I really enjoy a good lounging day once in a while. I know there are some things I should be doing, and I might, but nothing absolutely has to be done. Well, I take that back. I should really clean the bathrooms. That is a necessity, but can wait until I am more interested (Tuesday?).

Legos

For those of you who have been wondering and asking, I have an ongoing list of Legos that our family (primarily Robby) owns. Please consult the list for the most updated information. Scroll down, and it will be located on the lefthand column under the quotes.

Free Associations

This is Rob free associating with various song titles.

Alive (Pearl Jam) - lying in bed listening to it while in HS
Talk Dirty to Me (Poison) - Mark
Rockin' the Suburbs (Ben Folds) - yelling
If I Had $1,000,000 (BNL) - monkey
Going the Distance (Cake) - running
Longview (Green Day) - baseline
Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) - flag
Plush (STP) - purple
Thunder Rolls (Garth Brooks) - Sarah
Song for the Dumped (Ben Folds Five) - piano bar
Thriller (Michael Jackson) - Whoo and a crotch grab
Jeremy (Pearl Jam) - kid shooting people
Buddy Holly (Weezer) - black rimmed glasses
Tell Me Whatcha Want (Spice Girls) - stupid video when we were in college
Free and Easy (Dierks Bently) - nothing. Rob's mind is blank.
Middle (Jimmy Eat World) - underwear
White Christmas (Bing Crosby) - Christmastime

This is Rob free associating with food.

dry roasted peanuts - salty
oranges - juice
gumdrops - sugar
potatoes - chips
roast beef - gravy
tortilla chips - salsa
monkey bread - chimpanzees
cotton candy - pink
kiwis - New Zealand
bananas - peel
gingerbread - man
pizza - cheese
licorice - black
broccoli - yucky

This is Rob free associating with random objects.

pillow - fight
Mickey Mouse - clubhouse
hairball - klchhech!
pizza - sauce
rain - bow
Mexico - Mexicans
fall - leaves
messy - Robby
hippopotamus - river horse
towel - dry
shopping - cart
Kleenex - snot
guitar - hero
eggs - Benedict

Forgotten and Outgrown

Have you ever gone looking for something and run across a toy that your youngest child would have loved to play with about 6 months ago, but now seems to old for? I have, and it makes me sad.

We're gonna make America skinny again, one slap at a time.

Slap Chop has the most entertaining infomercial I have ever seen. Vince has so many one-liners worth repeating, it's slightly overwhelming. Enjoy!

Large Personal Space

Sarah has a large personal space. Anyone who knows Sarah well understands and respects that. The last thing Sarah wants to do is spend any time with a "close talker", if you know what I mean.

Sarah was in science class a few weeks ago when something horrifying happened. She was turned in her swivel chair, typing away, while the parapro sat cutting out laminating at the desk, facing the students. This is when a student (let's call her "H"), snuck around the desk, ignoring the parapro competent of answering a question, and poked Sarah in the back of her right arm. Dear. God.

Preventing explosion, Sarah took a deep breath and slowly turned around. "H" was standing there, smiling and posing as if to appear cute, and misunderstood the turnaround as a cue to begin talking.

"Mrs. Spencer, I was wondering if we needed to do all of the diagram or just..." I believe she stopped talking because "H" saw Sarah's face. No one pokes Sarah and gets away with it.

"H" will not be poking Sarah again. Ever.

What to Blog About?

What should I blog about tonight? I know that when I started this blog, way back when, Amy emailed me a list of topics that I could possibly blog about, but I can't find it. Plus, it is all probably pretty irrelevant now. Or maybe not. I can't remember what was on the list.

Speaking of remembering stuff, why is it that I am able to remember who gave Grace, Robby, or Lily a baby toy or outfit and for what reason, but I can't remember why I go into the basement? Why is it that Rob can remember obscure sports facts, actors in movies we've only seen once, and the name of every "oldies" alternative band and every one of their songs and I can't remember what I wore to school the day before? It's sad when I have to look in the hamper in the morning and check.

I digress. What should I blog about? No one is really interested in what I do day to day. I would love to blog about my students at school and the lack of maturity, but I do want to keep my job in this economic crisis. Maybe once in awhile I could, but I can't be specific. I could make lists. I'm really darn good at lists (much to Rob's chagrin), but I don't think people would appreciate my lists as much as I would hope. I could blog about TV, but so many people are doing that already. Has anyone read Nikki Stafford's blog? I really like her writing, and she writes mostly about TV, including some shows that I watch like Lost, The Office, and Friday Night Lights. I highly recommend her blog. Actually, I visited that site just now and read the last couple entries. I forgot I was blogging. Oops.

So, if anyone would like to email me and give me suggestions of what I should blog about, I would be grateful. Plus, then I could postpone writing sub plans and working on stuff for school as long as humanly possible.

The Epic Music War

Rob and I are on a mildly competitive music war with our children.

Rob has been playing Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour in the evenings "occasionally". Lily has taken to dragging a chair over to the drum set, picking up the drumsticks, and letting loose. When she is not drumming, she is grabbing a microphone and singing "la la" into it. Robby likes to play the drums, but tends to get excited and speed up until he is at least two times faster than the beat. Grace likes to play the drums and the guitar, of which she is really pretty good on both. (Guitar Hero 2 has a beginner level that allows beginners to play on just the beat and not worry about the colors.) Because of all the rock they are playing, one can sometimes hear someone (typically Robby) singing "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Beat It". It used to be "I Am the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" before Christmas. Pretty cute.

In addition to the rock influence, I am trying to expose the kids to other types of music. For example, on the way to and from school this past week, we experienced a '70s flashback, a showtunes extravaganza (Wicked, A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, etc.), a High School Musical 3 concert, and a swashbuckling array of pirate tunes. It's great when Lily is wiggling in her seat to the music while sucking her thumb. Robby has been choreographing various routines for the various genres of music. Grace belts out a tune until someone looks at her in the mirror or from across the seat. Then it is whisper-singing.

I hope that our kids have my love of most every kind of music, but Rob's ability to remember song titles and lyrics. That would be awesome. If they could carry a tune, that would be even better.

6 More Wake-ups!

Only 6 more wake-ups until school is out for Christmas break! Yippee! Our break is cram-packed with fun, but there should be some time to relax. I hope to go outside to play with the kids, maybe to go sledding or build a snowman. We'll see, though, because I am not so keen on getting cold right now. It's so hard to warm up.

Speaking of being cold, Rob and I splurged on ourselves and got a heated mattress pad for our bed. It is so nice. I would highly recommend one, even if it does make getting out of bed in the morning incredibly difficult.

So besides going outside, I hope to take the kids to see The Tale of Despereaux, not get out of my PJs for at least one day, get some picture frames hung, and clear my Recorded TV list. That sounds like a pretty good To-Do list, doesn't it?

Changes in Matter

While at Matt and Erin's house on Sunday, Robby and Grace got to choose 4 coins from the coin jar. Grace managed to lose only one on the way home. With the remaining three coins, she asked to buy something off of the snack cart at school lunch. We don't normally let her buy treats off this snack cart since she gets healthy, nutritious, satisfying lunches packed from home. However, Sarah relented just this once and let Grace use her change to buy something.

Rob picked up Robby and Lily that afternoon from daycare and then Grace from school. While on the step inside, Robby exclaimed, "Ewwww! What's that?!?"

Hanging up Lily's coat, Rob notices the drips of something and asks the kids if any of them had juice in their bags.

"Oh no," Grace moans and runs to put her lunch bag in sink. "I bought ice cream today, and I didn't have enough time to eat it. It melted."

Rob cleaned the melted ice cream out of Grace's lunch bag and explained changes in the states of matter to our little scientist.

My Wiki

I have made a wiki for use as my class website. Could someone please proofread this before it is linked to my name on the school website? I am still working on the Coming Up Next page, so that will be ready for viewing later this week or weekend. I would also appreciate it if you email me any suggestions, whether it is about the content or aesthetic nature of the site. Thanks!

Funniest Preview to a Preview I Have Ever Seen

Have you heard of the upcoming movie Bolt? Before the preview was shown at tonight's HSM 3 viewing, there was a special preview to the preview that I found hilarious. Here it is:

HSM 3

I took Grace to see HSM 3 in the movie theater this evening, and I have never had a better people watching experience. There were so many tweeny boppers there with their moms, dads, and friends. I'm really surprised that I didn't run into any of my students.

The movie itself was alright. Acting was more believable, singing was a bit stronger, and the overall theme was just as predictable as the first two HSMs. But I'm serious about the crowd. That's what made the movie. The clapping after each song... The cheering when Troy showed up at Stanford... The squealing when any close-ups of the boys were shown... OMG.

After observing this audience this evening, I solemnly predict that I only have 3 years, tops, to enjoy doing things with just Grace and have her enjoy doing things with just me. Most girls at the show were about 3rd to 6th grade and were there with their friends. They didn't even sit by their moms! I know, I know. It seems naive; all tweens are going to push away their moms at some point. I see it happen as a teacher. I'm just sad when I think that I have such limited time to spend with my little sweet pea before she pushes me away.

Constant Noise

Rob and I both appreciated this F Minus cartoon by Tony Carrillo this morning.

Robby is constant noise. Lord above. Constant. He doesn't stop, no matter how much we beg/plead/yell/weep. With toys, he has them battle and dive bomb each other. Without toys, his fingers argue, dive bomb, and zoom past imaginary buildings. He can sit still, but I am worried that in kindergarten, he will be the one the teachers talk about.

"Man, have you heard that Spencer kid? Holy crap! He doesn't shut up! He was reinacting some World War II battle with his crayons during writing workshop. There was buzzing, crashing, and some tiny voice shrieking for help. I'm worried. Do you think his parents know?"

Yes, we know.

Lament of a Rock Band 2 Widow

My children want to play along. I am humming it without knowing. Rob could barely sleep last night. I do like hearing the songs, most of which I enjoy. However, I would like some eye contact by my husband in the near future. :) I love you, Sweetie!

Answer the Damn Question!

Can Sarah Palin answer a question that is given to her? Really how hard is it to participate in a debate and answer the question. I can't wait to see Tina Fey just run with this on SNL this weekend.

You Wanna Piece of Me?!?

Grace dropped from the monkey bars after school on Wednesday and ended up with a distal radius ulna fracture, or a broken wrist. Oops! She had X-rays Wednesday evening and got her cast Friday morning. Grace even got to choose the color. She has been a very brave girl throughout the whole experience, which makes Rob and I very proud.

I blame McDonald's.

Every year when I see these signs throughout Ortonville, I weep for all of those huge children being sold.

I also call Amy to see if she wants to buy any.

I Love Science!

I suppose you've heard about the new Large Hadron Collider. Very cool. I am so excited about the possibility of new discoveries in astronomy, physics, atomic theory, etc. Even the idea of all these scientists working together to complete it is inspirational.

I don't understand it all very well, but I tried to explain what I did know to my students. Some even went home and impressed/confused their parents. This rap video, done by an MSU student, will help those not too science-literate understand a bit more. Check it out!

Sarah Talks Politics

Watching the conventions has been difficult for me. I think the hardest part has been trying to sleep after watching some speeches. How on Earth can these people believe this way? Have they not seen the U.S.? I mean the entire U.S., not just the suburban areas? I am just astonished, and frankly, a bit disappointed in many Americans and their blinders.

I get so frustrated. It's too bad that no one can hear my witty retorts to their hypocritical remarks. Except Rob. Sorry, Rob. I owe you.

Politics completely and utterly suck.