May 2010

There are 13 more days of school after today.  I have 13 more days and I will be unemployed for the first time since 1975.  In 1975 I quite working in April so I could finish that semester of college.  Had Ryan in Sept. Went back to school in January of 1976, and graduated from Oklahoma State University the last Friday in July and began working the first Monday in August.  I have had a job non-stop since August of 1976.  It is really going to feel strange when August rolls around this year and I don't have to go back to school.  I think that I am going to enjoy retirement, but I am going to miss my job, my kids, my fellow teachers and just being part of the system.  I have been doing this for 34 years.  That is over half of my life and when you think about it, I have been doing something in the education field for about 50 of my 56 years.  Now that is a long time to either be a student or a teacher.  WOW!!!

Yesterday all my kiddos were here at my house.  We had pictures made down in the park.  The kids and the adults really did well.  Andrea got some really good pictures, but she always does, even if we have cranky subjects.  LOL  I love having pictures made of everyone but myself.  I guess everyone is pretty much that way.  I have three of the most photogenic grandkids in the world, and I am not prejudice either.  I will post just a few of the pictures that she took.

I hope to write more often when I retire.  Since JJ has stayed with us during the week to go to school here in Anadarko, I haven't written as often as I should.  I should have been writing down the things he did and said, but I have been pretty tired when I get home, so I have let a few things slide.  We have loved him being here with us and the house is going to seem very quiet when he goes back to his mom in three weeks or so.  He has had a good year and I know he made some friends here in Darko that he will keep forever. He has loved every minute of the day with Mrs. Glidewell and Miss Karen.  They are the greatest.  Next year he has been accepted into Nichols Hills Elementary in Oklahoma City.  It is supposed to be the best elementary school in the district.  I hope it is and hope he loves it there as much as he has here.  It is hard to explain that he will not be going to Sunset Elementary here next year to him..  They have toured the school and told the students that this will be your school next year.  He is starting to figure it out and he has a friend that goes to the school where he will be next year.

Well, that is all for now, I better quit and get busy.  I will see if I can get a few pics to load now.

January....2010

Here we are at January 25, 2010.  I can't believe how fast this year is going by.  JJ really likes being in school here.  Mrs. Glidewell is such a great teacher and Ms. Karen is the best.  JJ did such a good job at the little program last week.  We took Amara with us to Stillwater.  JJ and Amanda stayed here to go to Chole's birthday party.  Amara and Dominic love playing together.  He wants to wrestle her.  She is a pretty good sport most of the time, but if he gets to rough...she bites him.  He is 9 months older and tries to teach her how to sing the ABC song.  She talks very well for 18 months.  Dominic is talking non-stop now.  They all love their Bop...and they sort of like GiGi too.  These Grandkids keep us young...or is it show us how old we are by wearing us out.  JJ wants to know if we are  to take him to Hawaii with us this summer.  We will have to wait and see how things go.  We will take him somewhere just not sure where.  Hope to take everyone snowskiiing in December and Disney in the next 2 years or so.  Well, I am ready for someplace warm cause I am tired of the cold weather this winter.  It is supposed to snow again Thursday.  I hope that they are wrong.

Can't believe it is December

Here it is December already.  This year is really going fast.  I think it is because I am going to retire and I have much to do before I walk out of the school on May21st.  I have accumulated many things ove the past 30 or so years. It is going to be bitter sweet.  I know I am going to miss teaching.  I will not misss how things have changed and   feel for all the new teachers who never got to experience the way teaching used to be.  I am not sure what to do with all of the "Things" I will need to get rid of when I leave.  Oh well, I'll figure it out.  I am ready for the break at Christmas to get refreshed for the rest of the year.  It really feels like December today too.  It was 18 degrees this morning.  Tino was pretty quick to take care of business and come back inside this morning.  Tonight we will take JJ to his mom and dad, pick up Amara and then go to Stillwater to see Dominic and watch OSU wrestle. It will be fun to see how Dominic and Amara play without JJ there.  JJ is  going to a Thunder game with his parents tonight.  He will have fun too.  I am running out of time to get my Christmas shopping done too.  I have bought for 2 people and have many left to buy for.  I did get my Christmas cards ordered though....I think they are gong to be really cute. 

Life's A Dance: Time flies when you are having fun!

Life's A Dance: Time flies when you are having fun!

Time flies when you are having fun!

Wow, it has been so long since I have taken the time to write a blog. I think it has something to do with facebook. I have let it take up too much of my time. I also have JJ during the week and we have been meeting twice a month in sorority this year, which I think is great. We have a meeting on the first week and then go to eat or the movies on the third week of the month. I really love being with my sorority sisters. We have 17 members now and they are great women. I have also been in Stillwater about eight different weekends this fall. I love going to Stillwater, I love OSU football, but it is so hard coming home on Sunday and then up and at school on Monday. I am glad that I have made my decision to retire in May. I know I am going to miss teaching, but it is time. It is hard on us old people keeping up with this new technology. When I a say technology, I don't just mean computers....that is easy...it is alot more than that. I think it has helped to keep me young. LOL but I feel the need to be free to travel with Mike, and not just during the hot summer months. We have so many things we want to do and places we want to see. I hope we have enough good years left to do it all. This year does seem to be going by rather quickly. Here it is almost Thanksgiving. I am sure I will miss JJ next year when he is in school in Oklahoma City. I try just to enjoy the time we have. Well, I will try to go back and blog about specific things that have happened this fall at a later time... and add some pics. Take care all.

JJ's First Day of School

JJ came to Anadarko to stay with Bop and GiGi to go to Pre-K. His teacher is Alicia Humble Glidewell. She graduated high school with his mom, Amanda. JJ woke up on his own for the first day. He was ready to go to school. He was probably most excited about riding the bus from his school up to GiGi's school. It is about 1/4 of a mile from his school to mine. Amanda came down and took him to school the first morning. She stayed around to pick him up at my school. She surprised him with a Spiderman balloon and cupcakes. He had a great day. After getting off the bus he said"That was the best day of school ever, GiGi". It is great for him to start with a wonderful attitude like that.

On Friday, Bop to him to school. He had a second great day and again rode the bus to my school and then Bop picked him up to take him for a snowcone. We then took off for OKC to go to the Red Hawks game with Amanda, Amara, Krista, and Dominic. We all had a great ti me. He went home with his mom. Great first week.

JJ's First Day of Pre-K. Aug. 13, 2009