How Else Will the World Decide to Poo On My Head?

Ok, so Mike is home. That's one good thing. He surprised us on Saturday. Happy to have him here. But when will the universe stop cosmically crapping on my head? Two weeks ago, I had a student randomly show up at school that had moved to Tennessee 3 months before. OK, fine. So, I scramble to get him back into the routine. Friday afternoon of that week, I find out my Special Ed student will be with me all day. We're still transitioning and it's still rough. And this morning, I find out another student came back after not being in school for over two months.
And tonight, I find out the superintendant does not feel "optimistic" about the temporary teachers having jobs next year. So, looks like I won't have a job next year. Awesome.

I don't have time for this!

Seriously. I don't have time to post anything until April. Or May. Or maybe after school is out in June. So, here's a couple of recent pics just to appease the masses. (Does it count as a mass if there are only, like 3 people who ever read this? I guess it depends on how big they are.)

Santa!!

Santa was OK at first....














But then, Shannon realized who was actually holding her...
















At that instant, all hell broke loose...
















Merry Christmas!

Who Do You Love, Baby?

2 days later, when asked if she loves Papa Jim, she responded "Yesh." All is well.

I Walk for Her!

What makes anyone decide to walk 60 miles without a gun pointed at their head? For me it was a needle, an IV, a hospital bed in my parents' living room, one rapidly-dividing cancer cell that took my mom, my dad's wife, my daughter's grandma, my grandpa's daughter, and my aunts' and uncle's sister. I did it for my aunt, for me, for my daughter, for my husband, my family, my friends, and for people I will never meet in this lifetime. Hell, I even did it for my dog! I mean, who knows how many biscuits she would get each day if I weren't there to give them to her?

November 20, 21, and 21 were three of the most grueling, emotional, hysterical, sobering, and silly days I have ever experienced. I walked with my mom's cousin, Lea Ann, and her friends Lori (a 20-year breast cancer survivor) and Judy. They are from Dallas, and flew out to walk in the San Diego 3-Day to celebrate Lori's 20-year anniversary. I met them at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the opening ceremony. After we all had a good cry over those we have lost and those we refuse to lose, we began our 60-mile trek along the coastline. I must say, if you are going to walk 60 miles, part of which is one hell of a hill, you might as well do it in a gorgeous place like San Diego! Day 1 was easy compared to Days 2 and 3. By the time we rounded Mission Bay to set up camp, I thought my legs were going to fall off. Surprisingly, they didn't, and we were able to continue walking in Day 2.

By the end of day 2, my knee was really starting to ache. Those darn down-hill miles realy took a toll on it, so I asked the medical personnel to tape it. I even got to visit the chiropractor. Oh. My. God. If he weren't married, and if I weren't married, I would chase that man to the ends of the earth. He may not have fixed my knee, but I swear I stood straighter after he worked his magic on my back & hips! I am encouraging Mike to pursue a career in chiroptractor-ness ... Chiropractician? Chiropractorate? Anywho, it was awesome. But, like I said, it didn't fix my knee. Day 3 was really hard for me. During those long stretches between cheering stations and official 3-Day cheer teams and supporters handing out free mimosas and beer, it was really tough. What kept me going, through the tears, was the thought that "dammit, if Mom went through chemo and never complained ONCE, I can walk one more f-ing mile!" Thanks, Mom, for helping me continue! And while I did take the sweeper van once, I think that mile I "missed" was taken care of the night before, when I was walking to the bathrooms and shower and dining tent from my own bright pink tent in camp. By the end of the walk, my knee was shot, but I had NO BLISTERS ON MY FEET!!! YES!!!!

Walking with three amazing ladies and one beautiful angel right next to me, I will never forget this experience. And while it may take me until 2011 to recover before I try it again, I WILL WALK 60 MILES IN 3 DAYS AGAIN.


A million thanks to all of my supporters! I could not have had this amazing experience without you! You will always have a place in my heart!



Here is the description that was written by a 3-Day staffer:

The San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at Del Mar Fairgrounds. The morning was chilly, but our smiles were warm. With a toot of the horn from the Surfliner train, we were off! Some of the highlights along the route included the great community support in Downtown Del Mar, the picturesque La Jolla Shores boardwalk, an Elvis sighting before lunch, SDFD Station #13, balloon bouquets in Bird Rock and

homemade treats from Bird Rock Elementary School students and local Brownie troops. After a long day of walking, we gathered at Crown Point Shores, our home away from home for the weekend and enjoyed some music from local band, “The Stoaks." On Saturday morning, we woke up early, ready to hit the trail again. We enjoyed breakfast burritos in Point Loma, the Pair Tree decorations and the beautiful homes and sailboats along Sunset Cliffs. Smile Guy and Little Grin cheered us along, and the Dancing Ballerinas sang: “1, 2, 3 Shake your boobies 3, 2, 1 Keep walking till you’re done 1, 2, 3 Shake your boobies 3, 2, 1 We’re dancing till you’re done.” South Beach Restaurant handed out sodas and Kleenex, “Hugs 4 Jugs” passed out water, dogs dressed up to support the cure at Dog Beach, cheerleaders welcomed us to the lunch stop and Team Tami showered us with pink Gerbera daisies on the way out. Bonita Fire Department showed their support and we got a glimpse of reality stardom at a pit stop with Gillian Larson from “Survivor” and other reality shows. Pit stop 4 featured a free hug fairy, and the San Diego Police helicopter cheered us from the air. Our final day of walking featured the Madcaps mother/daughter group along the SD Channel Bike Path, Surf Cities National Charity League in Heritage Park, a pink Mission Hills Nursery, Roosevelt Middle School cheerleaders, cheering by SD Enforcer’s Football League and a serenade from Francis Parker School students. Thank you to the San Jose and San Diego police departments, who brought smiles to our faces all weekend with their cute cops on bicycles. Our incredible journey ended with a celebratory Closing Ceremony at Petco Park. The money we raised will help Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund save lives.

Pit Stop #1, and our first hill.

















I loved all the bee- .... uh, support we got along the way!
















Our tents.

















I walk for her...






















And her...






















Most of all, her!






















like this picture because it looks like I'm winning!
















Stopping into Wine Steals for some morale mimosas.

















The safety crew was freaking awesome!















I love a man in a tutu!






















these bike cops really helped keep us going!
















Mike & my dad brought Shannon to visit me at lunch!!















Happy to be at the end!





















So happy to see Petco Park!













Salute to the survivors.

Well, Well, Well. Fancy Meeting You Here.

So, it's been a while since I last blogged, huh? There's just something about being a working mom that sucks the time and energy out of your day. It feels good to have a 3 week break only beginning today. It feels like the possibilities for these next 3 weeks are endless. But we all know I will "squander" away the time playing with Shannon and trifling around the house. I suppose sometime around the beginning of January, when the 11th is looming closer, I will get a bug up my butt at actually grade those writing assessments, redo my math wall, organize my math sponge worksheets, et cetera. But for now, I'm taking full advantage of my time off. Know what I did today? I took S to Irene's, went to the commissary, then dropped off some rental DVDs, popped into the Post Office to mail out most of my Christmas cards, wrote MORE Christmas cards to the people I forgot about but sent us cards, returned a sweater at T.J. Maxx (and consequently spent 3 times as much on stuff for myself. What's that you say? Christmas is a mere 4 days away? Whaaaa?), then marched on over to Michaels to pick up some gingerbread house essential, worked on some forms for BTSA, picked up the munchkin, put her down for a nap, piddled around on FB, picked up dinner at Quizno's, and took it to the boat to have dinner with Mikey. I was a busy little beaver! But it was a good day to get all that done. The water was shut off from 7am to 6pm for water main repairs (completely necessary for San Diego's infamously exploding water pipes!).

Last night, we took a trip down to Chula Vista to the new church site, where I was *ahem* the lead angel in our living nativity. Yes, that's right, the lead angel. Jealous, aren't you? I got to stand on a "platform" (also known as the top of a ladder) above the stable, looking angelic and statuesque, as the preschool childeren acted out the story of Christ's birth. It was pretty fun. Especially when one of the preschoolers looked up after I had been up there for 20 minutes, and yelled "Hey look!! An Angel!! Be good!" {smirk} Shannon got a kick out of the sheep and the donkey. I am pretty sure she thought the donkey was a big dog because she marched on over to pet it and yelled "Go! Go!" at it. Where was it supposed to go? It was tied to the stable!

Speaking of Shannon, it's time for baby brags! She is soooo big and soooo smart! She is flushing the toilet (um, yay?) and giving hugs and kisses of her own volition, and she is even starting to sing. She sings "aaaa, baayyyy" and then I have to finish the rest of the alphabet for her when she yells "MAS!" at me. So, I'm raising a dictator, I guess. Her favorite word now is "no," which I think is hilarious because I know she doesn't mean it, she just says it because it means something. The other morning, I went in to get her up, and she said "Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, I pretty!" You sure are!! And yesterday, she woke from her nap, saying "Katie, up!" Kid can call me Katie all she wants. I ain't answering till I get Momma! Though it does make me giggle inside. Irene tells me that Shannon likes to take things from the other kids and run away with them, taunting them to run after her. {giggle} She learned that by playing with Dargan. The only boy, who is over 2, is afraid of her because she is Miss Alpha Dog now, and demands things of everyone there. She and the oldest girl scrap like sisters, but when one is lagging behind on outings, the other runs back to help her keep up. Very sweet! She may be opinionated and stubborn (Um, she gets that from Mike.... {crickets}), but she is extremely loving and gives hugs and kisses and snuggles to everyone she knows. I ask her all the time if she loves so-and-so, and if she can say their name, she does, but if she can't, she just says "yesh."

Picture time!!

Trick-or-Treating on Halloween in Old Town. Mike is Herman Munster, not Frankenstein! "There's a difference! Geez!"















Helping daddy open presents on his 30th birthday!













Taking music lessons from a man with no musical talent whatsoever.
















Loving Aunt Lyz and Uncle David's singing Christmas trees.




















Taking a walk on Thanksgiving.




















My 10-year class reunion, which left much to be desired. Thank god for BFFs!




















Best toy ever: floor-skimming curtains.






















A day at Balboa Park.















Our Christmas card for 2009















Curled up in her favorite chair with a good book, a bottle of warm milk, her blankie, and some Goldfish. Life can't get any better!

Shoe Fetish

I have never met a child as obsessed with shoes as mine is. She must have shoes on at all times, otherwise, she screams bloody murder. Take this morning for instance. She began flinging burp cloths onto the floor to try to get to the shoes she has never even seen that are on a shelf much higher than she should be able to see. And when she couldn't get them, she threw a tantrum of epic proportions, pointing to the closet the entire time. As soon as I realized what she wanted and put them on her feet (over her feety-pajamas, mind you), she was a happy camper again. That is why I leave at least one pair on the floor. That way, she can walk around with them in her hands until we can get a chance to put them on her feet.
When we drop her off at daycare, the first thing she does when she sees Irene is check out her feet, just to make sure she's wearing shoes. Irene has started wearing shoes every day just to make Shannon happy. Hilarious!

Party Time!

Now that Daddy is home, we were able to have S's birthday party yesterday. Most of the family and friends came, and it was awesome to see everyone. I was really happy to see everyone that came, because I know that most of them had a long, crappy drive to get here! We decorated with a picnic theme in "Middle Earth," (fenced-off portion of the front yard) and I know S had a really good time. She bounced from person to person to person, and I don't think I saw her for more than 2 minutes the whole time! She is such a social butterfly! But 2 hours of partying was plenty. She was exhausted by 6:30, and was spacing out in her backyard swing. After she went to bed, Mommy & Daddy got to play with all of the new gadgets. Like her V-Tech doggie and Cozy Coupe. She made out like a bandit with the gifts. Lots of books, movies, and interactive toys. A friend of my dad's gave her a Tickle Me Elmo Extreme. I'm not sure what's Extreme about it, other than being extremely annoying. But, she likes it. yay.

Today, we went to Sea World with Mike's brother and his family. I remember now why I don't go more often. It wasn't terrible. but it would have been more fun if we had been able to teach S to sleep in a stroller. I think she would have enjoyed it 10 times more if she weren't exhausted from the party yesterday and had taken more than an hour-long nap. She melted down like I had never seen. Wow. I can't imagine being one of those parents whose kid does that on a regular basis. I'd end up institutionalized. Anywho, the other reason I'm not a Sea World Season Pass holder is that it really doesn't take long to see everything worth getting the kid out of the stroller for, so being there for more than 3 horus is pointless. The one thing that saved it was the Shamu show. As soon as we sat down (and got our food. (Mmm... dry chicken sandwiches and mini cheesecakes... only half sarcastic), S could not take her eyes off the stage. She was so into the show! I have never seen her so enthralled with a non-toy. She loved it! That made the whole trip worth it!

Picture time!
The cake. Mike is very lucky to be alive after causing the frosting on the cupcakes to melt overnight. I had to fix them as well as I could. Men...














Pretty flowers sent from Mommy's godparents, Leigh & Karen. Thank you!















Fernando and Auntie Shannon (where's Uncle Josh? Always working!)

































Yum.







































Picking up candy from the pinata because the big kids were doing it.
















Lazy Sunday morning in the new rocker. One of two toys she is obsessed with.















The other toy she is obsessed with. Mommy did good! And yes, that is a sock monkey sticking out the side!




















At Sea World with Cousin Austin.






















Could NOT take her eyes off of the Shamu show!!
















Still enraptured, even at the end! Um, Austin, you're missing it....
















Having fun with Daddy.

Daddy's Home!!!

YAY!!! Daddy's home! He came home yesterday, and hopefully, this will be his last patrol ever! We picked him up at the Naval base yesterday around 3, and Shannon had a good time walking around the parking lot with the other kids. Daddy finally got to leave the boat just before 5. Shannon couldn't see him when he was still on the boat, but he came down to run some cables, and when she saw him, she had a huge grin on her face. and when he finally got to leave the boat, her arms and legs started kicking and waving like crazy as soon as she saw him. It was adorable!

Before I post the pics, here's another Shannon update:
She has been walking all over the place, and is saying several new words. Apparently, -ish means Goldfish crackers and yelling "Gada.... Gada.... Gada!!!" out the back door means "Dargan, come inside and share my apple with me!" She also says hi, which sounds more like "aye." The other day, she pointed to the bee on her pool, so I said "bee" a couple of times, and she repeated it. When I asked where the bee was, she pointed to it and said "bee." Smarty pants! She also likes to turn the light switch off when we leave a room and push the button to close the garage door. And last weekend, I caught her trying to "lock" the door with her toy keys. She is learning so much!!!

Pictures!!


Shannon's Halloween costume














Helping Mommy set up the tent to get used to camping.
















Here comes Daddy's boat!!





















haha, trying to get a picture of Daddy and S at the same time. he's on the lower deck.






















Here he is!!!