Going Wild!

Tomorrow is the second grade field trip to the Houston Zoo! The kids are excited and even the teachers are excited. I'm excited because I have nine parents going! Yep...nine parents. That is more than half my parents. Y'all pray (or wish for us!) good weather. This is the second attempt at this field trip (last one "rained" out) so we really want that chance of rain to stay at 20%.

Oh, and I'll update tomorrow...heck who am I trying to fool...whenever I get to it with pictures of our positively wild time and my positively new red hair!

Bits And Pieces

Though I should really call this post "It Is All Lori's Fault!". I'm going to fill you in on all the little things that prompted the post below, but I thought I'd start with the big things first. So, again it is all Lori's fault! A few weeks ago, she was posting about having snake troubles at her house. I left a comment jokingly saying that I was going to have to stop reading her blog because I was scared this might somehow become something at my house. (Side note: Lori and I are surprisingly alike in a lot of ways so I figured it was only natural!) So, anyone making a guess about what I'm fixing to relate?! Let's all say it together...it is all Lori's fault! Yes, dear readers, I had an experience with a snake.

I usually work late on Fridays at school unless I have plans. I like getting settled for the next week without having to wag all that stuff home. Well, I didn't make it home until close to 7pm. It was already getting dark, but thankfully the porch light came on when I pulled up. (I just replaced the motion censor bulb...thank heavens!) I was busy looking for my keys as I started up the porch steps when I felt (yes...it slithered over my foot!) something go over the toe of my shoe (which were the full coverage running shoe type) and then I heard the slither sound. I continued up the steps thinking it was a lizard. I've had those before remember? Anyway, I turned to look because I was still hearing the slither. That is when I saw it. I stopped and just stared. I didn't scream except in my head. It stopped and tried to blend in with some leaves. I left it down there and hurried on into my house...where I promptly went hysterical.

I called my mom and reached her voicemail. I'm sure the message I left will be quite funny at some later point! Anyway, then I did the mad search of my house to make sure there weren't any in my house. As I flung back the shower curtain, cautiously peeked under the toilet lid, and felt up the foot of my bed I kept telling myself that there is no way that snakes can get into my house. Now before you try to educate me, I'd like to just say that I prefer ignorance people! My mom already explained the awful truth but let me just be blissfully ignorant okay?!

I've already peeked out on the porch and can't see anything amiss, but I can tell you that it will be a quick hop off the bottom step and run to my car when I go out later! Compared to that experience the rest of the week has been a piece of cake.

At work, our team had decided to do secret Santas instead of getting everyone on the team a present. I loved the idea! There is something about a lot of little holiday happiness gifts along the way. Anyway, our campus decided to do this too. I'm a giver so what can I say, I signed up for that one too! It probably isn't a secret but there is a small group of ladies at work that really work over my nerves and I had been hoping that I wouldn't draw one of their names. Wouldn't you know I did. I decided that God probably had a hand in that pick. I know that you can give without wanting to, but you lack that good feeling when you do. So, I decided to focus on the fact that I do enjoy giving and I'm going to proceed with holiday spirit. It also doesn't hurt that my secret Santa is fabulous! I've gotten two gifts this week that have been perfect (purple pens and a cooking magazine) and I had a thought that what if one of those ladies is being Santa for me. They are doing a great job and perhaps this is the season to just let those frustrations go. If you only knew how big of a decision that is for me...I'm not a let-it-go kind of girl by nature. So, it is true. Giving with a joyful heart feels pretty darn good!

Isn't it funny how you have the whole month of December to fill with holiday events, but they all seem to culminate in one week?! Here is what my calendar looks like for next week:
Monday: Wrap Bunco gifts (I'm the hostess this month...seriously what was I thinking when I agreed to that!)
Tuesday: Take off the afternoon to cook the meal for Bunco (another hostess responsibility) and get everything taken to Bunco location and set up.
Wednesday: Staff development (which probably means more work dumped in my lap if I go by previous staff development days)
Thursday: Christmas concert
Friday: Work Christmas party (except without the happy hour out with the girls unlike last year. It made it more fun, but I'm sure it played a part in myself getting up for the Christmas carol singing game...)
Saturday: Another Christmas concert and then a sleepover in Houston

Throw in some holiday baking and present wrapping and the week is incredibly full. I've felt a little bad because I haven't been reading and commenting like I normally do, but it seems like everyone is busy this time of year. Last night I made the commenting rounds and I'm glad to read that most of you are enjoying the holiday season! As crazy as this time of year is, it is still one of my absolute favorites!

The Review...Picture Style

The other morning I started out the door to be greeted by this sight. I had a little "friend" trapped inside the screen on my front door. Thankfully I was on the glass side. I'm not sure exactly how he go in there, but he obviously found his way out because he wasn't there when I got home. Thankfully!


Thanks for all the words of luck on the whole paper making project! That whole day was crazy. I have fifteen kids in my class and one teacher was out (without a sub) so we had to split her class. There were five extra kids in my classroom that day too. If you're a teacher you probably know the difference one new child can make so you'll appreciate the fact that I had five extra! Anyway, I called the kids back in small groups and helped them press it through the screen. It was pretty messy, but the kids seemed to love it! And in the end, that is all that matters. They were pretty excited on Friday to actually see it dried and be able to take it home. This was the paper mush (it was soupy, cold, and kind of smelled). I was happy to dump it out Thursday afternoon!


I had my hands full just getting the kids to make their paper and lay it on the towels that I didn't bring out the camera, but this is what my trial run piece of paper looked like. It was a little thick at the bottom (paper after my own heart!) but it is paper nonetheless!


Yesterday, a bunch of friends and I went to the Texas Renaissance Festival. It was fun! It was pretty much like stepping back into another time. I wore jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt, but there were many there dressed in costume. I suppose they wanted to really get into the spirit of the day. Costumes ranged from the royality garb to a thong and much too small bra with chain metal hanging off it. Anyway, there were many shows to enjoy. My favorite was the jousting. Even if it is fake and the winner predetermined it was still fun! We happened to be sitting in England's section and guess what? Sir Thomas won!


Another show we saw was the Washer Women. It was pretty funny too. I loved this sign...made me think of my own laundry. Though I'd never say that laundry was fun clean or otherwise!