A Magician?

Gizmo has mastered (?) the art of making something disappear, then reappear again.  Watch out, David Copperfield!

An Elementary Faux-Pas

My afternoon was going great today.  My classes were well-behaved, my students were having fun, and I was generally enjoying my job.  My third grade class left, and I took a quick peek out the door to see if my fourth grade class was waiting.  I didn't see them, so I went back into my room to get a few things ready.  

I then hear two girls come to my door - "Mrs. Tina, are you ready for us?"  I couldn't believe it - my class was outside ready to go, but they were so quiet - unheard of in an elementary building - that I didn't even know they were there.  I walked outside to see the entire class standing perfectly quiet and still, and the teacher beaming with pride.  

"I can't believe you are so quiet!  Way to do you jobs!", I compliment my fourth graders.  This particular group has been fantastic so far this year, a welcome change for their teacher, who had some real hellraisers last year.  

The teacher says something complimentary about the students to me.  I don't really remember how it all led up to what I said, but as I respond to the teacher, I said it.  

The word.

The S-dash-dash-dash-dash-dash word.  

Shut up.  

Now, I didn't tell the kids to shut up.  I didn't tell the teacher to shut up.  I said it in a very complimentary, Stacey-London-on-What-Not-To-Wear, "shut-up!"  way.  

You should have seen the looks on those kids faces when I said it.  The teacher's face said it all.  I might as well have dropped the f-bomb for the looks I got.  The teacher, of course, found this very hilarious, and I had to apologize and explain to the kids what I meant.  And in the end, they were entertained and amused by all of this.  

I'm sure my students will go home tonight and when asked how their day at school was, will lead with that story.  

A Very Minnesota-y Weekend

Went to a surprise birthday party/keg party and sat around a bonfire on a crisp Friday evening?  Check.

Admired the start of fall foliage, and hoped that Winnie and Sarah will make it to Minnesota in time to see it?  Check.

Planted mums in my flowerpots and bought pumpkins, with Gizmo helping by playing in the dirt?  Check.

Cooked all sorts of comfort food:  pot roast, soup, and turkey and stuffing?  Check.

Mitch went to a football game on a cool Saturday afternoon?  Check.

Went to dinner on Lake Minnetonka with the family to celebrate Al's birthday?  Check.

What a great weekend!

Any Signs of Baby Left?

When did my little Gizmo get so tall? 

When did my little Gizmo start wearing skinny jeans and graphic tees and looking so, well, hip?

And when did Gizmo's hair get long enough for pigtails?

This week she started to say her own name - "Na-na-na" - among other words, and will officially be off bottles by the end of this weekend.  

My little baby girl is a toddler.  Pass the Kleenex, please.  

True Romance

Here's how the conversation went in the kitchen tonight as Mitch and I were getting ready to indulge in some cake:

Me: (butter knife in hand, ready to cut the cake)

Mitch:  Come give me a hug.

Me:  OK.  (hold butter knife up to the back of Mitch's neck during hug)

Mitch:  Don't stab me!

Me:  I won't stab you.  And if I did, I'd use something way sharper than a butter knife.

Mitch:  I feel the love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another sign of true love:  Mitch sending me a Facebook instant message that says "DUDE" as we sit across from each other on our own computers in the office tonight.

Man, we need to get out more.

Introducing....

.....the Baby #2 in-utero name.  Are you ready?

Because this is pretty awesome.

Here's the backstory.  

Mitch and I were laying in bed one night, and he was flipping through the baby name book in search of some new baby names to add to our foam board choosing index.  He was reading off names from the pages full of ethnic names - Italian, German, Swedish, etc.  Then he started to read names off the Polish list.  And out came the in-utero name.

Helmut.  

It's pronounced hel-mut, with the emphasis on "mut".  And it's glorious.  

Unless it's another girl.  

A Month's Worth of Blogs Wrapped Into One

I've been terrible about blogging. Really, I know it. Lately, I've just been so busy doing stuff (and stuff that isn't even interesting, I'll have you know), and by the time I sit down at night I'm falling asleep on the couch. Ah, the first trimester tired stage. Anyway, I'm trying to make up for it tonight with a major blog about what's been going on, little things that I think are funny, and other random stuff.

*I grew everything in this picture but the onions in my garden. It was damn good.



*Gizmo sprouted another tooth this week - one of her front teeth! She no longer has a completely crooked smile. It looks like the other front tooth is not too far behind. I give the girl credit - she never really fusses when a tooth is coming in. What a pleasant little girl!

What is not pleasant? Her cold. Poor thing has had a runny nose (that I gave to her) for about a week. She's been a trooper, still playing and happy, and really sleeping well, but that poor nose just won't stop. Let's hope we can get rid of that soon!


*These are my friends Dorf and Cin - they are some of the best friends I made when working at MCHS, and have kept in touch throughout the years. Dorf got married last month, and Cin and I were there to celebrate his very big day. Why post this? Because this wedding was by far the sweetest one I have ever been to. It might even be better than Mitch's and my wedding. Dorf and his wife, Lisa, are in their mid-thirties, and had waited for a long time to find the right "one". They were so completely happy and in love, sincere and confident in their vows, and I weeped openly when they talked about how special each one was to the other during their reception speeches. The most beautiful wedding I have ever been to.



*Gizmo and I spent a couple of days at the park as we closed out summer. Mitch joined us one morning. We had a great time. Gizmo just loves to walk around the playground, swing, and eat rocks. I love to chase her, pick her up when she falls, and grab her hand every time she even thinks about sticking playground rocks in her mouth. What she doesn't love to do? Go down the slide. Not even with Daddy.








*Gizmo is my kid. She loves Dairy Queen ice cream. When she can't get the real thing (it's rare that she gets it), she loves to play with my pretend ice cream cones. Don't try to take it away from her though - she'll give you the stinkeye for sure.


*Fall is here! The weather has been so cool and beautiful at night. I'd love to sit outside if it weren't for so many damn mosquitoes. I'd also love to sit outside if I could enjoy a beautiful Oktoberfest, but alas, I can't. Therefore, I sit in the house and complain that I can't go outside. What I did do today, though, is get out my beloved Student Council sweatshirt.

Now, this thing is OLD. This sweatshirt is from the first or second year that I was teaching at MCHS. It's a gray hoodie sweatshirt with Gizmo (the actual character from Gremlins, not my cutie pie!) holding a bow and arrow and a MCHS bandana on his head. It is ridiculous, old, and falling apart. But I can't stop wearing it. I think if Mitch could throw one thing away in my wardrobe, this would be it. Fall is here when I break that thing out to wear in the mornings.

*Gizmo is a movin' and a' shakin' for sure! She loves to dance and hum the songs. Tonight she was even dancing with the TV remote control. Here's a few of her moves -

*Summer is ending.  Which means I go back to work on Tuesday.  Blah.  I've had a busy, but fun summer, and while I was nervous about being a stay-at-home mommy, I'm sad to leave Gizmo this week.  It will be a rough transition until next summer - or the next maternity leave, at least!