YOU Educators!

"...have no right to my money."


"Should shut up and take your medicine."


"I'm paying you, I can say what I want."


"Quit whining!"


Wow...so, yeah.  I am a Catholic school teacher.  You can't say/type this to me and actually have ANY justification, no matter how remote they might be for my public school colleagues. YOU DON'T PAY MY SALARY!





Wisconsin, teachers have become the enemy.  This politically divided state, has vilified teachers.  We are all classified as lazy and money grubbing.  Self-centered and unqualified.  It has caused a rift in society. And, in truth, I am not sure we will heal.  There is so much venom being spit on BOTH sides of this debate, it is bound to leave scars.

I fear for the future of our children.  Education is key for the future.  Considering we are the first generation that will have less than our parents and we are raising the first generation that will have shorter life spans than the generation before, I am saddened.  Truly.  Education is the key to reversing  that.  Be it through public education or otherwise.  But that may not happen.  At least, not easily.


Teachers are under a microscope and under attack.  I love my job.  I love teaching.  As a Catholic school teacher, I am SO not in it for the money.  Anyone who thinks I am is either a fool or an idiot.  Those who go after my public school counterparts, go ahead and walk a week in their shoes.  And ONLY after that will I hear you out regarding "those teachers".

No paper for copies, but not enough books for every student.  Class sizes over 40, with hungry, angry, lonely, abused kids.  2 computer labs for 1500 kids and we wonder why they don't have the skills employers are looking for.  Breaking up fight after fight after fight after fight.  I have had fights break out, between family members - during parent teacher conferences.  My shoulder has been dislocated...and my jaw.  I have been thrown down stairs breaking up fights in their stairwell, only to have it all go dark for a moment.  Class loads nearing 200 each semester - try grading all those papers after you have put your kids nicely to bed.  Class supply budget = what sales can I find at Wal-mart or Hobby Lobby.  Think I am exaggerating?  


Please understand.  Under federal law, every child is GUARANTEED a FREE (at no cost to the parent) and APPROPRIATE (meeting every child's specific and individual learning needs).  That is not always an easy task.  Some kids are visual, while others are auditory.  Some kids cannot sit still in their own skin, much less through a continuous lecture.  Some kids are terrified to speak - to anyone.  Others are bursting at the seams to be heard. Some have been abused or neglected and just need to know that ANYONE cares if they live or die.  Others have parents that are SO involved that they are terrified that any misstep will be a disappointment.  Some kids are hungry, some are sick.  Some kids are surpassing any expectations that were assigned to them at birth, while others have everything going for them and yet, still not succeeding.  Some are religious, some searching for God, some have no idea about religion.  Some kids are so proud of what they have done and enjoy the fact that did a great job.  While others have grown up already knowing that they can't do anything right, so they refuse to try. Some kids are already parents and some are parenting the younger children at home.  Some have beautiful homes, and yet others are in shelters or bouncing from couch to couch.  Some are on a couch because mom had enough and kicked them out.


And they are all in one class.


And there is a teacher at the front of that classroom trying to reach each and every one of them, in whatever way possible.  That teacher is a parent, a nurse, a social worker, a tech support person, a therapist, a negotiator, a crisis manager.  They often make sure there is enough food in the home and clothes for the kids. I have personally taken kids shopping for supplies and clothes when they needed them. And I know many more that have gone far above and beyond that and have their place in heaven assured.  But remember, it is all while they are teaching.  And teaching means so much more than you could ever know.


It is Catholic Schools Week.  I smiled as I added the keychain that the Lower Campus sent home with my kids.  That same night, I found my "I Support PUBLIC Education" bumper sticker from my previous life, in a box I finally took out of my trunk.  I was saddened.  My guilt came rushing back.  I left my kids in this war zone.  There are teachers fighting to give them the best education.  There really are.  But more and more are just tired.  Tired of the politics.  Tired of being under a microscope.  Tired of making something out of nothing...remind me to tell you about my ghetto smart board and document camera.  Just tired.  I am afraid we will lose some of these awesome teachers because they are just tired.  And the pay, my friends, is not THAT good, no matter what the hype may say.


So, before you attack, on either side, remember.  Those are real people.  We have become so detached with the advancement of the Web.  We have lost sight of the fact that on the other side of this discussion, there are indeed REAL PEOPLE.  With hopes and fears, with dreams and goals.  Some are in it for the money.  Some are horrible teachers.  Some are horrible people.  But, the vast majority of us are just trying to make a difference, even if it is just that one kid.


So instead of me having to choose between public schools or Catholic schools, let me say this...

Can you see the light??

It is coming from the end of the tunnel.  Eleven more days until the end of Med classes.  I will have time to correct papers, meet with students in my classroom without the 3 stooges bothering each other over the 47 blue colored pencils that are not worthy of their drawings -- they all must have access to the sacred ONE, update my blog, run to the bathroom...all those luxuries I must have taken for granted. 


February 12th, please come fast!

Moments When I Miss Teaching in a Public School

I miss my kids, but most would have graduated and moved on to college.  So, that guilt has been put to the side.  I do feel guilty when I get frustrated with classes of 30+, given that my numbers were nearing 50 when I left public school.  Especially when my other classes are around 25, which I could given anything to have some days.


I also can go on and on with my list of positives.  My children are receiving an education I could never have afforded to give them, even teaching in the public schools.  My faith can be shared with my students, especially when they ask.  I don't have to avoid their questions regarding my beliefs or tell them I can't discuss that by law.  I LOVE having the computers in my class.  Going from a school of nearly 1000 kids and had 50 computers to a school of 300 in the high school and 200 in the middle grades, where EVERY child has a computer is indeed a God send to this geeky teacher. The parents are involved and can always be reached.  When I said my department needed a media library, I was given more money than I needed to buy DVDs.  As I said, I can go on and on.  

But, some days I miss my paycheck.  I know that sounds superficial, especially in this job market.  J and I both switched at the same time.  He left MPS to become a FF in July of 2010 and I joined the SJCA family the next month.   He took a hit to his salary to become a firefighter and I did as well to teach in a Catholic school.  I would make the switch again in a heartbeat.  Anyone who says we are in this for the money is either a liar or a fool.  We have about half the money coming it as we did this time 2 years ago.  Which is okay, but it has forced us to be more creative.  And some things just have to wait.


We save for when there is something we want.  Resale shops and Craigslist have become my friends.  It really has helped us to focus on what really is important.  In some ways, it has been a blessing to have less money.  

O was laying down pretending to
sleep as Daddy pulled her back up!

But, right now, I would have had a nicer camera if we were both still in our public school classes.  I would have a lovely DSLR to capture my kids' childhoods.  My Nikon point and shoot has died, which leaves me with my Droid. I love my phone.  But, as we were playing on the local snow hill today, I was missing any sort of zoom.  My sad little 4x on my phone just wasn't cutting it.  <sigh>  


I can't really fuss to J about it, he feels guilty and realizes all the sacrifices our family has made for him to follow his dreams.  He has even said that my camera is the one thing he wants to make sure we buy new and sooner rather than later.  I try not to talk about it when there is something I want. I try and just save for it.  But, he needs new bunker boots.  Their uniform allowance has been negotiated away, which means my savings has to go for his boots.  I found them at a local fire gear store, run by one of the BCs in J's department.  Ebay has the same price, so why not toss the $400 his way, instead of in the hands of a stranger.  So, I will start over after the kids' birthdays this month.  My Nikon will have to wait and the world will have to see my world through the eyes of my phone's camera.  It is all good.  If this is my biggest concern, we are doing just fine.

D making her way back up like a big girl!

So, how I got this discussion started in my head was while we were at the sled hill at the middle school in our neighborhood last night and today.  We FINALLY got some snow and the kids were DYING to go play.  So, we got the snowboards, tubes and discs out and trekked the couple blocks over.  O has never been sledding and LOVED it.  She was not a fan of walking back up, given the amount of ice under the snow, but we were out there for 2 hours last night after dinner and nearly 3 today.  The kids had so much fun.  And I couldn't capture it the way I would have liked.  <sigh>  I am really am not fussing.  But, my oldest was on the other side of the hill.  I couldn't get any pictures of him.  The little ones needed my attention, especially with the drain tile at the bottom of the hill.  It is there to keep the kids from going into the street, but trust me when I say it HURTS when you run into it.  (I'm too old for such collisions!)  I think there is a sled magnet in that tube, I don't know how many times they headed that way.  But, again, it kept me from getting any pics of the big kids.  A zoom lens would have been awesome!


So, enjoy the pictures from my camera phone.  I think I use it for a camera just as much as I do as a phone.  I feel lost without it, not because of the phone and messaging, but because of the camera.  

B - my Shaun White in the making!!

My girls - racing!

Daddy taking over, pulling the girls up the hill for me!

My angel making snow angels.

I was the keeper of the toys as
kids ran home to "go". :D

Starting to get tired!

My Snow Buddies waiting patiently for us to
come home!

Not Sure if I'll Survive

My loverly husband will probably shoot me if he reads this post.  So if you don't hear from me again, you'll know what happened.  


Paramedic school is almost over.  We have 26 days left.  We are almost there.  At that point, he'll go back on schedule and begin his field training.  I think he will have a love/hate thing going on that point.  Having to be in an engine house, but locked in a box, might just be the death of him.  But, he will love having the down time available to him to work out.  


PM school has taken its toll.  He no longer works out with the boys.  He spends a ton of time studying.  He is home everyday and therefore roped into homework questions and belly rubs.  I think he also snacks more at home, he is a snacker.  I often find empty boxes laying around.


Not long ago, he looked in the mirror and saw his dad.  He did not like that.  So, time to find an answer.  A few summers ago, the Atkins worked really well for him.  But that was the summer and I was home to be his conscience.  He won't have this luxury AND every 48 hours he is under the influence of a crew of guys who don't ALWAYS have his best interest at heart.  So we needed to find something.  He decided to try the Weight Watchers software.  He really doesn't want to do the meetings, although I have heard that they help TREMENDOUSLY, so we paid for the on-line access to see if that will help.


So, I started looking at myself in the mirror.  Four babies later, I am not certain this is my best place.  After babies 1 and 2, I went right back to where I was.  Baby number 3 came at 31, yeah...there was a difference. Besides I never totally lost that weight because when surprise Baby number 4 came, I was totally unprepared, AND she was a C-Section baby.  Never totally lost the baby weight.


Now, truth and honesty.  I can't fuss much.  I am still an 8/10.  But on my shorter frame, there really isn't anywhere to put the extra pounds.  When I stepped on the scale in the hospital, I was at baby number 2 weight and NOT HAPPY to see that number.  So, I decide to jump on board with my husband. I have a target number in mind.  I have a date in mind.  I found sites to help me get there.  I am hoping this will help.  Once we get my husband back in an engine house, I will also be able to find time to exercise.  That will be half my battle.  Until then, Wii's  Let's Dance and portion control will have to do.


So, I figured out my points and thought, "Oh, this will be easy."  Yeah lasted until last night.  Two Special K bars and 2 bananas later I was starving.  Grabbed an applesauce cup.  (Snuck a donut when a frosh brought them in for my class for her b-day, that was 7 points shot to heck) And I was left with 4 points for dinner.  Sigh.  So, I decided to feed the muppets and wait for my hubby to come home. (I think I must make more trips to the fridge in the afternoon than I thought. If nothing else, WW is making me think.)  He has SIGNIFICANTLY more points than I do, so he had room to spare.  Me??  Yeah - that would be a bowl of Special K (teeny tiny, too I might add) and an apple.  But, I made it with a couple of points to spare.  But...there was so much food calling my name...you should have heard it.


Not sure I will survive this experiment.  Today, I made sure I left room to eat a real dinner.

Baby Steps to Save the Babies

My hubby was THRILLED to pick up some OT this weekend.  He is feeling SO out of touch with his career as a FF.  I was so happy that he wiggled his way back on his own engine, as well - as opposed to compressed air (where he was miserable with his OT last month). 

But, what made me even more happy??  One of his calls.  My husband must be amazing, I am finding that I hear more about his shifts than a lot of SOs.  One of his calls was to a woman with a breathing issue.  It was not his life saving measures or his calm nature in a crazy environment that sent me into a love-sick tizzy.  It was a question he asked a member of this household.  He noticed there was a woman with a baby.  My FF double checked to be sure she had a crib in house for the babe, and that she was using it.  I was so thrilled.  Even though I am working on it, there have not be an official measures taken to incorporate our FD into our infant mortality issues, my FF did.  He did not blow off my crusade, he took it to heart.  Which is exactly why he has my heart.


For those of you unaware of my crusade, please feel feed to read about it here or here or here.


Maybe all it takes is one guy noticing and doing the same thing the next time he sees a baby on a call. One guy notices him, who has one guy notice him...you get the idea.


I am still taking this on as my crusade.  I am still working to keep babies alive in Milwaukee.  Maybe it takes baby steps to save the babies.

Why I love my FF, Reason #78943

My Secret List

I was watching one of my many crime dramas, since I had time to catch up on my over-full DVR, and there was a police wife having to ID her husband's body.  And she talks about how she has always waited for this day.  Later in the episode a pregnant police wife falls apart in regards to THAT phone call.  I have thought about that THAT phone call, actually THAT knock on the door.  The one I probably won't be able to answer.  I have thought long and hard about it.  How I will handle it, who I will call, how I will react, how I will go on.


Now, you must understand, I am a Type-A personality.  You'd never know it, looking at my house some days, but even the best strategists know when the battle is no longer worth fighting.  I have lists for my lists.  I never go shopping without my Cozi list.  My terms are planned out by unit, in mid-summer.  I have everything planned out.  I even have a Secret List.  With every sympathy card I have sent to a wife or family of a FF who died in the line of duty, I add to my list.  Things that I don't want to forget when I can't remember my own name.  Things that are important, but will seem like nothing if that day comes.

I have that knock on my door planned out, written out.  I have names and numbers. I have who is supposed to tend to my kids, so I can tend to my husband. I have notes for things my husband has mentioned in passing or at other funerals for his service.  I have notes, numbers, lists and even a note reminding me to breathe, literally - I know I will forget.  I want to be able to tend to things, even if I am going on auto-pilot.  Even the most magnificent robot works best if there are good instructions.

B taking it all in at E2

Now, statistics are on my side. MFD has only lost two firefighters and one recruit since I was in daycare.  They are an amazing department.  BUT...that does not mean it is never going to happen.  That explosion last year where we had FFs jumping out of the window moments before the explosion, reminds us not to get too comfortable with our firefighters in those structures.  Even the best laid plans...even the best trained firefighters...


It is not an enjoyable conversation to have, but be sure to have it.  Look into a living will for your FF, but also for you.  If you can't make your wishes known, how will anyone know?  Make your voice heard and be sure your FF's voice is heard, if, God forbid, the time ever comes.


But, until then, enjoy your firefighters and your families.  Say what you need to say, before you can't say it.  Live life, even if it is not how you planned it.


Be sure to remind your firefighter to come home safe and that they are never alone.

A Geek Through and Through

If you ask me why I carry a purse, it is to carry a tampon and all of my electronic devices.  I LOVE toys.  Most of these can be combined, but with the career shifts we have made, I will have to deal with what I have.  Anyway, my purse has to be big enough to hold my phone, my camera, my Flip cam, my Garmin and my i-Pod. Yeah, I guess my wallet, too.  I love toys.  My Nook has been my friend for a few years.  I am a Geek in my classroom.  I just love technology.

I think I need to keep a copy with me at all times!

On Monday, I had a series of tonic-clonic seizures.  Not MONSTER half hour seizures like I am used to.  But they wouldn't let up and kept coming and coming.  We got the attention of the ER crew when I had one walking in the door.  Anyway, not what I want to chat about, boring topic really.  What I want to chat about are the toys.  In the ER, I couldn't speak.  That part of my brain hadn't settled down enough to play nice with my mouth.  You all know my thoughts on phlebolomists, if not, read here.  Well, it makes it tough to express your concerns or PAIN when you can't talk.  Luckily, my hubby had not left for school yet when my brain went haywire, so he could act as my voice. He warned the lovely vampire about my veins and yet, shockingly, when she could not get in, she started digging for China.  I think my eyes were going to pop out of my head as I silently pleaded with my husband to make her stop.  He did intervene and she moved on to yet another vein and another and ANOTHER.  After about 5 minutes, he finally said enough was enough and told her to either step aside and he would do it for her, or get a nurse in.  She left in tears.  I don't really feel bad.  I was ready to puke and or pass out and would not have been able to even worn anyone.  Want to know the kicker?  She did not even need to be digging in my blood supply - they got what they needed when they put in my IV.  But, again, this is about my geekiness, not about my dread of hospital vampires.


So, I get to my room and they want to do another level check.  Sheer panic took over.  I couldn't breathe.  I did not want to do this again.  So, the nurse makes a deal.  One shot, she misses I get a vein viewer.  Never heard of it, but if it keeps her from digging, I am all in!  So, of course, she misses.  And sad thing is, she is the go to girl for uncooperative veins.  She makes good on her end and brings in the vein viewer.  When the come the size of and i-Pad, I am buying one and keeping it on my person at all time.  I have not read up on the technology, but it illuminates the veins, making them easier to see.  The technician can see when they roll.  I was so geeked out by this, I made her give me a moment to take pictures.  This made my whole hospital visit worthwhile!!

   



Sorry, I know I am easily amused with gadgets.  But this...this is the UBBER gadget of all gadgets.

Back to the Old Routine

Well, sorta.  The kids and I went back to school yesterday.  Yesterday was an amazing start.  First, I have to say I didn't want to go back to work.  As odd as it sounds, I can't remember the last break I wasn't DYING to get back in my classroom.  This year...I would have loved a few more days.  The kids and I had so much fun. I LOVED Christmas for the first time in years, which I talked about here.  I look forward to next year when my FF is able to be home.  We missed him during the day and we missed him while he was studying.  Anyway, my first day back was good, I missed my kids more than I realized.  Today, I had 2 periods off, as my juniors had test prep to attend.  For a teacher who is teaching an overload, that was a very pleasant surprise.  

I CAN'T TELL YOU - Jenny Holzer

I have some very exciting news, but I can't share it for a few months.  And, ahem, NO, I am NOT pregnant.  If there is to be another little one in our pack, it will not be from my womb.  But, none-the-less, I am very excited and looking forward to all that it entails!  


Now, my FF sent me his schedule. (NOT that I can make it work nicely on my phone, not matter HOW I turn it.) There are too many MFD guys in the PM class that are on the red shift.  So, all these months I have been looking forward to being on the red shift with a FireWife friends of mine and that is not to be.  We will be on the Blue Shift while he is doing his training in the box, sometime in February. (I can't seem to get an ACTUAL date out of him.)  After that he'll go back on the truck on the red shift until graduation in April.  From there, it's anybody's guess what Med unit he'll land at.


So, even though I have my schedule back and we are all getting used to getting up at 5am and out the door by 6:15am, I still need my FF to get back on schedule and figure out which schedule that is.  I miss his schedule. I miss my space.  I miss having someone to help me a few afternoons with the kids.  (Like today, when we had noon dismissal and my children were MONSTERS in my classroom.  I should have taken a picture of the MESS they made in my room.  I texted my hubby that I need a Nanny on Thursdays.  Too bad all my girls at work had Bball practice, otherwise I have a ripe crop to pick from.) But, I digress...


Happy New Year!  Welcome back to whatever your normal is, now that the kids are back in school.  Make 2012 the best yet!

A Cleaning Crew

My husband has always loved fish.  We started with a 10 gallon hex in college, with mollies and angels.  Never had much luck with gouramis, but always tried.  Black stone, "natural" plants.  Once we were married and had kids, we had that same hex and a 20 gallon long with some cool goldfish in N's room.  His goal was to have a saltwater tank.  He got that tank about 4 years ago. A 72 gallon bow front tank.

And it was beautiful.  He loved it and loved working with it.  Live sand and live rock. The most beautiful fish you have ever seen. Eventually my FF upgraded his lighting to allow for corals and began reading up on reef safe fish and LPS vs. SPS. It was beautiful and therapeutic.   Fish tanks are documented to lower b/p and anxiety. Fish are just plain good for my husband.


And then the fire world found us.


I love my husband, I love the tank.  But I have enough on my plate with the kids, the house and my classroom.  I will walk the dogs and clean up kids' puke, but the tank was his responsibility.  We lost some fish with his EMT classes in 2009.  He was working all week and in classes on Saturday and Sunday for 12 weeks.  He barely kept his sanity, so care of the tank was at a minimum.  


He got through that and focus returned to his guys.  The tanks took some TLC, but it became beautiful again. He joined a reefers club, started networking.  Life was good.  It was a discussion point for all who entered our home.  He loved it and the tank was beautiful, yet again.

The MFD B.I.T.  - Bureau of Instruction and Training.  This is a FireBell
picture taken at a training in 2000.

Then came the fire academy - 07/26/10.  (I heard it chanted so often the date is ingrained in my brain.)  




This turned our world upside-down.  The first 4 weeks of the academy, I was able to keep things going well. But, I started teaching at a PreK-12 Catholic school an hour away from home.  I went from teaching AP Euro and US History in an inner-city public high school (that I still miss nearly everyday, but at least the guilt has subsided) to Church History in a private Catholic school.  I got to experience class sizes under 40.  It was crazy and good all at the same time.  But I was a single mom at this point.  J's world was at the B.I.T.  He was there from 6:30 each morning until 7 each night.  He was there on Saturdays to study in peace, practice throwing up a ladder and chopping for 5 minutes on each side, as well as to wash his turn out gear.  There was not a lot of time for us to pay attention to the tanks.  After work, the kids, the dogs...the poor fishies just lost out.


After graduation, he swore he would get it up and running. He promised.  But it was more a case of barely maintaining a tank.  There was no love, there was algae, there were water levels that were lower than is healthy, an overflow blew the ballast for the metal hallide lights and we just did not have an extra $400 laying around for a new set. Some corals, feather dusters and a few fish survived the neglect as well as our move.  But the tank was still not good, we still had to get through the rest of paramedic school.  i was not sure how this was going to go.  About 6 weeks ago, we lost Nemo.  He was an original inhabitant of our tank.  It was a said day.  At that point, I broached the subject of his dedication to this tank.  It is time consuming and costly.  I asked if he wanted me to post it on the forum or on Craigslist.  It took some soul searching.

Chopper, our last cowfish.  They are so cool!!  Kind of hover and have
the most adorable personalities!

But, he cleaned it up.  The live rock is scrubbed and set back up, the sand bed was tended to, the glass was clean, the water levels safe for life.  Two weeks ago he got another pair of clowns, teeny compared to our last set, but beautiful none-the-less, as well as a flame angel.  I think the next that will be added are a pair of Banghaii Cardinals and a Hippo Tang.  I would like a Panther Grouper and a cow fish (my personal favorite fish of all time), as well.  Lastly, the plan is to add a six line wrasse to control the bristle worms and a yellow tang, which can both be territorial, hence their late arrival. 


But, and here is where this all started. We still have some algae issues.  There is a need for a cleaning crew.  So, last night, we headed out to get a couple of Emerald Crabs, some Red and Blue Legged Crabs and some turbo snails.  The Cleaning Crew has arrived.  It is a natural way to help out my hubby with the maintenance work.  The Crew shows that he is really thinking about getting this tank up and living again.  It looks as it did in the very beginning, sparse, barren, but life is starting to splash some color.  Perhaps it is a good thing, to just start fresh.  We have done it with our careers, our move to a new city - why not the fish tank as well.


Now...if I could just get a cleaning crew for my house...


Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

There Is a New Era in Our House

This was take #895453.  Still no good.

Christmas has come and gone.  We have more clothes, shoes, books, new Air Hogs, DS games, Giovanni is now a member of our family forever (a post for another day, it is a cool story) ... it was a GREAT holiday!!!  


BUT...Barbie has moved in with TWELVE of her sisters.  Santa brought the girls an enchanted princess vanity. (Which, amazingly, there has been NO fighting over.) She has been asking for a Barbie for a few months.  We gave her a Barbie we got free Black Friday of 2001 when we spent 500 million bazillion dollars.  And I think EVERYONE else got the same idea. We have mermaids and prep school girls.  We have princesses and we have ballerinas.  They are all still clothed and their hair does not look scary.  And, they are all cleaned up and in their suitcase...for now.

I got the one on the right, complete with chair, twirler
and her top was actually a swimsuit.
Sooo COOL!  NOT!!!!

You have to understand, I am NOT a girly girl.  I think I was meant to be a guy and therefore, as such, assumed I knew what I was doing and refused to ask for directions and ended up in the ladies line.  Barbies drive me crazy.  I mean it wasn't MY fault GI Joe took that Twirly Girl Barbie I got for Christmas in 1983 and she was executed with an M80.  Sheesh.  Let's just say the pink aisle has been avoided for decades.  My dad LAUGHED at me when we found out baby #3 was going to be a girl.  I think he made some wise crack about being allergic to the pink aisle.  I think he is the reason why D is SUCH a girly girl.  O being a tomboy will be my saving grace of sanity.


And now, now the pink aisle has come to me.

Monday night I even posted for help on Facebook when it came for storing Barbies. D was walking around with this gaggle o' girls.  So when we spent our gift cards yesterday, a Barbie suitcase on wheels seemed a perfect solution, especially since it was on clearance.  So far  (20 hours) it has worked perfectly.


Happy holidays!!  I still have 5 more days of break and I intend to enjoy EVERY minute!  

From Our Firehouse to Yours

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Caroling for Kyle.

A community pulls together for a local boy with cancer

Laura Thompson-Schaeffer

, Nonverbal Communication Examiner

December 22, 2011

Eleven year old  Kyle McGetrick, from Barnegat, NJ is losing his long battle with cancer. As a saddened community learned of this, the local fire department surprised Kyle and his family by driving 100 fire trucks past his house last night complete with sirens, flashing lights and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause. In this beach town, Barnegat, Kyle's dad, Gene, has also served as a firefighter. What started as an email that went out which expected to bring about 20 firetrucks became a spectacular convoy. This email was suddenly forwarded and passed around to all those concerned from other local fire departments leading to the biggest township display of love to a local family. Barnegat fire chief, Mike Moore gave Kyle his fire helmet among other gifts. Though Kyle often feels too sick to leave his bed, he was moved to get up and wave to all his supporters from his window. Kyle has been battling cancer more than half of his life. 

I saw this and literally stopped what I was doing.  First, posted it to my FB page and then on to here.  This little guy must have the biggest glow to him.  What started with a hope for 20 rigs, exploded into 92 trucks and a handful of other emergency vehicles.  All within 24 hours.  This is what a fire family does.  This is what the Brotherhood is all about.  If your department would like to send a patch for Kyle's collection, here is the contact information.

Kyle McGetrick

Barnegat Fire Company, No. 1

PO Box 539

Berenegat, NJ 08005

Kiss your kids, hug your firefighters and remember what the true meaning of Christmas is, what the true meaning of family is.  The fire family will drive you nuts sometimes, but they will always be there when you need them.  This was AMAZING!

Just Another Year

Whoa...I was a bit cranky last year.  I guess last year was rougher than I thought.  YIKES!!!  (NOT one of my finer moments!)  I am glad to have another year on, another year experience, our first year starting without diapers since Y2K when N was born, another year laughing at and loving my family, another year at the awesome school I teach at.  Just another year to thank God for!



So, our craziness is about to start.  Hanging out with Grandpa this afternoon, just because.  In-laws' house tomorrow (with a 2 1/2 hour drive both ways), sneaking it a midnight mass after we get back in town, Christmas morning here, later morning at my mom's side, afternoon at my dad's side and the Packer game later that night.  Yeah a Christmas with my firefighter!  BOTH DAYS!!!! Mark this year down!


Hubby has off from PM school on Monday, won't that be nice!



Enjoy your family, where ever they are and be safe.  Merry Christmas!