tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564640456020199512024-03-21T12:18:24.812-07:00PennyCandy's two centsPennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-33582229361225226402011-11-21T15:17:00.000-08:002011-11-21T15:28:01.806-08:00DarknessDarkness comes again. I do not just mean the lack of sunlight outside. <br /><br />When son #1 and 2 were little we moved to Michigan. I lost my beloved grandmother and I slowly slipped into a depressed state. I knew I was there but did not know how bad it was until son #2 sat down next to me one morning and with his hand on my face he said "don't cry Mommy, I love you." This was monumental for him and I. He has an auditory processing disorder and that was one of his first full and understandable sentences. It was also what made me realize I needed help. <br /><br />I went to the doctor and to my minister for support. It took a little more than a year for me to work through all that had happened and I slowly came off the medicine. I have been without depression since then ... up until now. <br /><br />I realized Sunday that depression was slowly creeping back into my life. The dark has started to seep into my everyday being. I do not feel as hopeless as I did when the boys are little. It was a single comment by someone I know in passing that made me realize that the events of this year were and are weighing to heavy on me. With the simple words "you look defeated" I realized that for the first time in very long time a felt defeated. <br /><br />What brought me to this point is not really necessary to discuss; what is important is that I recognized the dark before it swallowed me whole. So today I met with my doctor and with her help and the support of my family and friends I hope to step out of the darkness very soon.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-7275089800105130642011-11-05T17:36:00.000-07:002011-11-05T17:57:53.386-07:00Saturday SchoolSo today was not the first Saturday school of the year but it is the first one that the social studies department worked. We shared the day with English. <br /><br />For this Saturday school we had 101 students show up. The disappointing piece; only 6 of them were mine. The 6 that showed are all doing fine in the class...the other 56 not so much. Okay maybe the other 45 not so much. I have 4 students that have zero for their average. Yes you read that right a zero. They have turned nothing in. They are making me crazy. How do you sit in class, do your work, and then not turn it it? It makes no sense to me. <br /><br />After Saturday school was over I had my massage that was followed by a nap. That always makes life better.<br /><br />Husband I also did our Samaritan's Purse shopping this evening so that they can be turned in at church tomorrow morning. When we do this each year we always do a boy box and a girl box. I always hope the little girl that gets the box is a girly girl because I pink and purple that box out. Hey it's my once a year events. <br /><br />Life is good.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-27688784760705766702011-10-22T16:22:00.000-07:002011-10-27T17:12:04.327-07:00Homecoming WeekSo growing up homecoming was never a big deal at my high school. At least I do not remember it being a big deal...BUT in Texas is is more than a big deal it is a HUGE deal. <br /><br />So the festivities went as follows Monday was Celebrity day. A few students dressed up and 4 teachers dressed. I was one of those teachers. I borrowed my youngest son's Renaissance costume and I became William Shakespeare. The photo is below. <br /><br />Tuesday was career day and because we had big wigs coming in the building I dressed like a very good teacher; heels and all. Guess what my students dressed as? Basketball players and rappers. I did have a few that dressed as doctors and CEOs. <br /><br />Wednesday was crazy; it was retro/tacky day. You got to pick which one to be. I went way retro and wore a poodle skirt with a sweater set and white keds. I was retro. Most of our kids came in tacky clothes and I do mean T-A-C-K-Y. The principal had to give them a very stern warning about there behavior and clothing. They got it under control and had a great day the rest of the day. <br /><br />Thursday was pink-out for breast cancer. I have a pink shirt that has a pair of cowboy boots and hat that says "Give Cancer The Boot". I wore that. I also have one with pink boxing gloves that say hope and love with the pink ribbon with the phrase "fight like a girl". I decided not to wear that one. <br /><br />Friday was spirit day so I wore my traditional blue dress with the highlander blue-black and white plaid. <br /><br />Overall it was a good week and we get to extend it to Monday because we can sport our Ranger gear with jeans. Go Rangers!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50WZ5_MLfI8BMYvh-j8wflHfks8sUzQvMFDISWfQ_jLQdT3FNCVWSJJvrsSYsHsRpr29-8QsH335GLkKjmRYTppqrSjm6vpt157hXK8Agytgi1keLy3c6Q9XwNstU8H_gcYI6-N9huEg/s1600/Shakespeare.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50WZ5_MLfI8BMYvh-j8wflHfks8sUzQvMFDISWfQ_jLQdT3FNCVWSJJvrsSYsHsRpr29-8QsH335GLkKjmRYTppqrSjm6vpt157hXK8Agytgi1keLy3c6Q9XwNstU8H_gcYI6-N9huEg/s320/Shakespeare.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666464658831228898" /></a>PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-32361966050221267202011-10-08T19:40:00.001-07:002011-10-09T05:15:38.984-07:00What is that?I was sitting in my office this evening trying to make myself do some work. That did not happen. <br /><br />Then I heard a sound...I sound that I have not heard in a very long time. Could it be...yes it is...RAIN.<br /><br />Rain that we have needed for so long. Rain that has been falling for an hour. Rain that is also accompanied by thunder and lighting. Rain that the ground is soaking in; if I listen carefully I am sure the ground is letting out a long low sigh. Like a human takes in a breath of fresh air or a long drink of ice water on a hot day. <br /><br />Rain that delayed the Rangers game and a marching competition but a rain that was and is much needed so the delays are very much worth the trouble. Rain fall all night long I will not mind and neither will the ground or the rivers.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-5980424345155516102011-10-01T17:32:00.000-07:002011-10-02T16:19:13.044-07:00A picture is worth a thousand words<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqTEHKeeJd1sViqFRpR51wFS6PA5jHOxV1PQVfgotu1554BgbNtdias-M36IYNw0lKfUETdZP3WQtrfOh65s7JVqUj4MdhmDKmkxF78IiYh7HFReSAHor_4zGlaTO_Lzeqm2_FkTwRMM/s1600/Spring+2010+U.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqTEHKeeJd1sViqFRpR51wFS6PA5jHOxV1PQVfgotu1554BgbNtdias-M36IYNw0lKfUETdZP3WQtrfOh65s7JVqUj4MdhmDKmkxF78IiYh7HFReSAHor_4zGlaTO_Lzeqm2_FkTwRMM/s320/Spring+2010+U.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658687290520446306" /></a><br />I took this picture at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.<br /><br />It brings forth many thought to my mind. What does it bring to yours?PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-53585316039677711812011-09-24T14:30:00.000-07:002011-09-24T15:14:23.170-07:00S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NightThe line from that Bay City Rollers song decided to enter my brain and Pandora radio is not on. Ugh!!! Oh how long has it been since any of you have heard that song? Lucky for me that is the only line I remember from that song. <br /><br />I remember when I was a young teen I could not wait to be old enough for an outing that did not involve family and Saturday night in the same sentence. I was not allowed to date until I was sixteen and my friends and I lived in the middle-of-nowhere so our Saturday night fun had to happen during sleep-overs. <br /><br />When I was in elementary school my best-friend was also a Belinda and when we were in first grade we had our first sleep over together. I do not remember a whole lot about the sleep-over. I do not even remember if I made it all the way through the night or if my Dad had to come and get me. I do know that she lived in a two-story house on a pretty steep hill and she had neighbors; it was a very small housing development. I thought they were rich and that she was the luckiest girl I knew because she did not have to collect eggs from the chicken coop or deal with the nasty smell of cows. <br /><br />The sleep-overs are remember the most are all jumbled together because as I entered Middle School Belinda and I developed different interests and Debby and I became best friends. We are still close even with several miles and states between us. She is godmother to son #1 but now I am chasing rabbits. Back to sleep-overs. <br /><br />We lived several miles apart when we were going visiting that meant a parent had to drive us. This was a good thing because it often meant that we could turn a one night sleep-over to a several day sleep-over. <br /><br />There are three that I remember the most that I am willing to write about. A girl has to have some secrets. <br /><br />The first one I remember was the night that we stayed up and watched "The House Of Wax" with Vincent Price. The movies left us so terrified that we checked in the closet (multiple times), under the bed and even all the other nooks and crannies that we could think of. We left all the lights in her room all night long. I know I did not sleep much that night. To this day I still do not like scary movies. <br /><br />The second one was not so much the sleep over but the event after the sleep over. My mom and dad came to pick me up from Debby's house; which is located on a very steep hill. There was ice on the hill from a storm that had passed though and our car was at the top of that hill; no one was in the car at the time our parents were talking when all of the sudden our car started to roll backwards down their driveway. My mom yells the car is moving stop the car. My dad without thinking does what she says. He tries to stop the car but instead of stopping the car he fell backwards on the ice and hit his head pretty hard. Man...when he stood up he was madder than a wet-hen. Luckily he was not hurt and the car was not really damaged either. We laugh about it now but at the time it was a little scary. <br /><br />The third one was actually a sleep over at my house. Once again it was not the sleep over but what happened when the two of us were together. I had decided to enter the Miss Renssalaer County beauty pageant. Deb was in the audience with my parents cheering me on. I placed 6th. It was fun and I liked that my best-friend was there for me. <br /><br />I guess this isn't really about Saturday nights anymore but it is about my best-friend since forever. <br /><br />This is the same friend that let me cry on her shoulder when I had my heart-broken; I am a hopeless romantic so it has been broken often. She was part of my wedding party, and we see each other whenever I come to town. <br /><br />She also made the trip to Fort Worth to visit. Not once but twice; both times while my husband was away on business trips so she helped me keep my sanity. I was a brand new mom with a baby that got sick often and he did not sleep well. She gave me time to shower and nap if I needed to. <br /><br />Her birthday has just passed and she usually reminds me that she is younger than I am, by less than 2 months but she still reminds me. So instead of wishing I was out on an S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night I wish I was having a sleep-over with my best friend. <br /><br />Love ya lots and lots Deb and Happy Birthday.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-10462473397753788122011-09-20T17:08:00.000-07:002011-09-20T17:18:24.607-07:00MapsI am going to enlighten you about the use of maps in my class.I am not sure if I find what I am about to tell you funny or sad; maybe it is a little bit of each.<br /><br />Last week I had my students create a mental map of the world. They were given a piece of plain paper and they needed to draw the world. Once the world was drawn the continents, prime meridian and equator needed to be labeled. I do not care how perfect the continents are because I can not draw but their placement and realitive size need to be correct. The also need to indicate where the following places are: The Galapagos Islands, The Amazon River Basin, The Gulf of Guinea, Lake Victoria and Borneo. For those of you that do not know the importance of these is they are all on the equator. They also have a list of events, cultural items, ect. to place on the map. <br /><br />I am grading these assignments and this is the part that makes me smile, laugh and cry all at the same time. Africa is smaller than New Zealand, Lake Victoria is located in Mexico, Asia and Europe do not touch each other. Mexico is bigger than South America, the Atlantic takes up almost the whole page. A few of them are actually pretty good but most of them not so much. So we will be completing more of these as the year goes on and my hope is that they get better. I also hope it is sooner rather than later. <br /><br />If you know what the world looks like without looking at a map or a globe please take the time to thank your World Geography teacher.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-42802549393698279182011-09-13T17:38:00.000-07:002011-09-13T18:32:32.849-07:00Monday Monday MondaySo Monday was very interesting indeed. <br /><br />I left work a little early (with permission) to go see the orthopedic surgeon. I have been bone-on-bone in both knees for several years and I can no longer take the medicine that has been controlling the swelling and pain in my knees so my rheumatologist sent me to see this doctor. Good news; I do not need to have knee replacement surgery because there is a new injection out there that adds cushion back to your joint. This injection reduces the pain and swelling which means no knee replacement for at least 5 maybe 10 years. I liked that news. The bad news from him was he can not help with the tendon in my foot, I knew he would not be able to but a girl can hope. So I get to go see a different specialist at the end of the month. Fun for me!!<br /><br />I left the doctor and headed for Target where I found everything I wanted in record time. Well almost everything...I am looking for a pleated skirt and I can not find one. I found one I really liked on-line but I am not wealthy enough to pay $750 for a pleated skirt. <br /><br />I left Target and head for home during rush-hour and as I approach one of the busiest intersections in town my car died....it would not even make a clicking sound. Of course when it comes time for me to "go" I can not because my car died. Instead of getting out to help me the two young guys in a massive SUV start beeping at me. "REALLY" like that will make my car start. All these people go around me beep at me...one even flipped me off. "Oh Okay Big Guy... I hope your Momma/Wife/Daughter/Sister never ends up in this situation". Out of nowhere comes this African-American man that looks like he is in his 50s or 60s and very skinny and he helps me get my car into the parking lot that I am not very far from. We did have to navigate 3 lanes of traffic to get into the lot. As he is moving my car and older Hispanic man gets out of his truck and blocks traffic to help Issac push. <br /><br />I did not see where Issac came from because Issac had been on the city bus traveling in the opposite direction when he saw my problem he told the bus driver to stop he needed to get off and help me. I had never laid-eyes-on Issac until that day and I probably never will again. When I asked him why he stopped he said he saw someone in need and he knew he had to help because no one else would. Issac and I got to know each other a little bit while I waited for my husband to show up. <br /><br />Issac lost his job at almost 50 years old in July and he became homeless at the beginning of September. While I waited for my husband to come and meet me I bought Issac dinner at Jimmy John's. As he and I sat in Jimmy Johns talking we did get strange looks from the customers that walked it. Issac was missing his two front teeth and his clothes were well worn. They did not have any holes and they were clean but slightly large on him. I just smiled at them as they looked at us. <br /><br />Jimmy John's was another wow. When the manager realized what had happened he would not allow me to pay for the full meal. He charged me for the drinks only. Once Paul arrived I gave Issac some money so he could rent a room for the night instead of sleeping in the shelter or on the street. I know some people will think he will just use it for alcohol or drugs. I personally believed Issac when he said he did not need money for his deed and thus I offered. We have two large shelters in our downtown area and while both are well funded they are still shelters and men always get the last spots in the shelters. With the economy the way it is right now they shelters are bursting at the seams with families. Several of the students at my school are living in those shelters because their families have lost their income and have been evicted. <br /><br />My battery was dead but still under warranty. The real culprit was my alternator, so it is at the shop being fixed.<br /><br />Monday September 12th is not a day that I will soon forget.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-42305407816098377882011-09-10T18:33:00.000-07:002011-09-10T18:44:26.936-07:00Just another Saturday....If you have followed my blog at all you know I work in an urban district at a low performing school. With that comes extra work...I knew it when I signed on and I am good with that. <br /><br />Today was one of those extra work days. We walked the neighborhood to find kids that are not coming to school. Well I did not walk because of my foot but I was on campus in the front foyer to greet anyone that came into the school. This year we did not have as many students to look for which was a good thing. The flip side...the students we needed to find were not found. <br /><br />After lunch we started our Professional Learning Communities (PLC). I am part of the student achievement PLC. I am paired with a great group of people and I am not in charge...score for me on that one. Our task is do find out why we have low student achievement and then what are we going to do to fix it. We already have some great ideas and if we make the kinds of gains this year that we made last year we will be off the list. When we get off the list you will hear not only me but everyone that is involved with the campus cheering. So in May of 2012 it will not be an earthquake you feel it will be us stomping and cheering.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-57045661932125131492011-09-07T17:43:00.000-07:002011-09-07T17:50:58.701-07:00Just RightSticking with my theme this is going to be short and sweet. <br /><br />Today was another first for this school year. Today I went to the doctor for an ear infection that I picked up at school. Oh joy for me. <br /><br />But even better while I was at work today; I popped something in my foot. So now I am wrapped with an ace and I need to go see a specialist about my foot. <br /><br />A student of mine is missing the first three weeks of school. She is in the hospital and has been since the beginning of August. Hopefully she will come home this weekend and come to school Monday. <br /><br />On a better note; I got 4 yes 4 new students today. They are really great students; I am getting 2 more tomorrow. Even so my classes are fairly small. This year is just so smooth for me so far. Here's to a year that just continues to get better. <br /><br />I do think that taking the month of July off also helped me to find myself and get rested and unstressed so that I could come back with a ready mind and body for work. <br /><br />I would say it is Just right.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-51944913635982606332011-09-05T14:00:00.000-07:002011-09-05T14:11:57.201-07:00A new school yearToday is our first day off in the new school year. We start August 22nd so while my family that is up north have not yet started I have already completed 2 weeks of the new school year. <br /><br />This year the opening of school was much smoother compared to last year. When a plan is in place and everyone and I do mean everyone know what the plan is and then they follow it life is so much better for everyone. <br /><br />I still have a few frustrations; I teach 10th graders so one would think that parents would say my child will need standard supplies and purchase them when the sales run. Every year I have students that come to school with nothing. Not even a pencil. Of course I have some on hand but I do get frustrated that there was no thought about essential school supplies. I still have kids that do not think they should have to read or do homework. They will quickly realize that they must do these things or they will not pass my class. <br /><br />On the flip-side I have my joys; students that love history and want to be challenged by me and they specifically requested my class. I get to teach a special topics in history class this year so I have the best and the brightest. In fact they know what they are in for because they have had me before. I did have to give up my language center kids because the district moved those kids to a different building. I do miss them. <br /><br />I did have a sad moment when we started the year; our long-time department chair retired at the end of the last school year. I miss him very much and still get a little misty-eyed when I realize he is not in his classroom just down the hall from me. <br /><br />I decided to free write for awhile and see if it unclogs my stress and inability to write.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-6993296933525843942011-08-31T17:41:00.000-07:002011-08-31T17:52:38.056-07:00Empty NestWe technically have an empty nest. Son number 1 has moved to NY for a job. Son number 2 lives in a college apartment on campus.
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<br />Sounds empty; but it is not. We have 4 children or I mean animals still living with us.
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<br />First we have Sugar Son number 1's dog that he could not take with him. She is 14 and she is old and grouchy. She is a golden retriever and something. She barks at me all the time and I do mean all the time when she does not like something that I do or do not do fast enough.
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<br />Second is Cookie this is Son number 2's dog that can not live on campus with him. She is a beagle basset mix and she is not only as stubborn as all-get-out she is also as dumb as a box of rocks. Not a good combo at all but on the flip said she is a sweet as can be when she is not being stubborn.
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<br />Third we have the cat. This is the cat I did not want. The cat that my wonderful husband spent his Christmas money on to bring into our home. She is nasty: she makes to much noise and she leaves a mess in the laundry room at least once a day.
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<br />Fourth and most importantly we have my baby Winston Princeton Churchill. Winston is now a year old. He is a baby horse disguised as a dog. He weighs 75 pounds but still thinks he is a lapdog. He is as fast as a greyhound and as protective as a German Shepard. He is also so very sweet and lovable. He is my baby. PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-57336363955739599272011-08-29T17:45:00.000-07:002011-08-29T17:49:07.900-07:00Over a YearIt has been over a year since I last posted or read anything in the blog world. So I thought long and hard before I clicked back in today. I realized that I missed the blog world but I'm not sure how to fit it into my life.
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<br />Last school year was the roughest of my career. I was beat down almost every single day and I was not sure what I would do when the end of the year came. In the end I stayed in the building I have worked in since the 06-07 school year. I can say I am very glad that I did because this year is completely different. We had a great opening week of school.
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<br />I have decided for now short and sweet posts need to be my motto. PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-23535732959127365082011-01-14T19:38:00.000-08:002011-01-15T08:55:24.893-08:0050th Anniversary50 years ago today Stanton L. married Alice Mable. They are my Dad and Mom. My sister, brother and I hosted a 50th anniversary party for them this summer when the weather is better for traveling. I've written about the party and posted a picture or two but today I wanted to pay a special tribute to this wonderful couple. So raise your imaginary glass and toast this wonderful couple with me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KS5P1wGydS0zh-wp5P57NOC1BqqA09CIuZdbJOGv75-NjcWokrFMxpxP9erHVuh_CG6YKHZEWEYNz2pX8Fxnhbrx0IuUHerMu7_vijPAfICJIjR2XIem38sL_OBZ6K6q4yKBGNL2ZoA/s1600/Alice+and+her+father+1961.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562255887157994146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KS5P1wGydS0zh-wp5P57NOC1BqqA09CIuZdbJOGv75-NjcWokrFMxpxP9erHVuh_CG6YKHZEWEYNz2pX8Fxnhbrx0IuUHerMu7_vijPAfICJIjR2XIem38sL_OBZ6K6q4yKBGNL2ZoA/s320/Alice+and+her+father+1961.jpg" /></a><br />This is Alice walking down the isle with her father, Raymond Phillips. Alice's sister Liz told a story at the party this summer. She said their father was not so sure they should get married in January because of the potential for horrible weather. But the day they got married it was sunny and there was no bad weather. A very good sign, or at least that is what I think.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyk5tEZnUgC9RxozjPFBdh7MG0gq55BCEP4rihH6IpNljooCrv-9Y9kf6AdJgVKx-5GdEma1eWHnaoTTiLSGij9yBssVkzlexqT95zoP0K6KdbMqBMbGdg2tNkQrwl5gPb17PWz__wEYY/s1600/Dad+why+are+we+here.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562257201702672386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyk5tEZnUgC9RxozjPFBdh7MG0gq55BCEP4rihH6IpNljooCrv-9Y9kf6AdJgVKx-5GdEma1eWHnaoTTiLSGij9yBssVkzlexqT95zoP0K6KdbMqBMbGdg2tNkQrwl5gPb17PWz__wEYY/s320/Dad+why+are+we+here.JPG" /></a><br />Here the happy and half surprised couple. Mom knew about the party...Dad did not. He was very surprised and they were both very honored and thrilled that people were there to celebrate with them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QgdW9XMREZTWKR6yWUkzAFA5jlGQbhrc-DX9Varnz06ccYyEz-ljaNFPhyJ9Hz7IYt_pqcpyGBr2gamHCIpemlZMjoh_WLUttOp7WfpceXcu8wLqhb1ta8qB1Hx8oPEugJ-W-JaqZOY/s1600/Alice+and+Stans+wedding+party.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562259754268934418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QgdW9XMREZTWKR6yWUkzAFA5jlGQbhrc-DX9Varnz06ccYyEz-ljaNFPhyJ9Hz7IYt_pqcpyGBr2gamHCIpemlZMjoh_WLUttOp7WfpceXcu8wLqhb1ta8qB1Hx8oPEugJ-W-JaqZOY/s320/Alice+and+Stans+wedding+party.jpg" /></a><br />Our parents had a small wedding and a small wedding party. Of the original members of the party only one was able to attend. Robert has been a long time friend to my parents and we were so thrilled when he and his wife were able to attend the party.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJGH6yaD6hj2jErsefNHYJ39_CITqdYY0w8tbBlbfAacOfIdGPzmIr1tU0rcCOKbBGf6ZDyj3vF40VxPkzNENw2JeCo_v9VRXbki19GHdejiHXYzAmxbthUnH5TO-Ql0JhN_qEz2CHwY/s1600/Bob+Hoffman+speaking.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562260377982127906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJGH6yaD6hj2jErsefNHYJ39_CITqdYY0w8tbBlbfAacOfIdGPzmIr1tU0rcCOKbBGf6ZDyj3vF40VxPkzNENw2JeCo_v9VRXbki19GHdejiHXYzAmxbthUnH5TO-Ql0JhN_qEz2CHwY/s320/Bob+Hoffman+speaking.jpg" /></a><br />Robert paid tribute to our parents.<br />As pictures were collected for the 50th anniversary scrapbook, I did not come across pictures of the guests at the wedding but I do have pictures from the party of family and friends.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatEtLoCkrfHlC8hHjnIZ-7WO0_ssdv1mdpabvvQncMO53J2YeEhdtdKrMLqHnEailUtJzMlnCIMgheCeDsc_2f29eLEIWdMEPY0zoqLEjYW0VJb-WnPslAdosTYbkC_XZDuDTgkRNHgs/s1600/Great+Uncle+Van+Great+Aunt+Suzy+Great+Aunt+Irene+and+Great+Aunt+Nete.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562262251074935378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatEtLoCkrfHlC8hHjnIZ-7WO0_ssdv1mdpabvvQncMO53J2YeEhdtdKrMLqHnEailUtJzMlnCIMgheCeDsc_2f29eLEIWdMEPY0zoqLEjYW0VJb-WnPslAdosTYbkC_XZDuDTgkRNHgs/s320/Great+Uncle+Van+Great+Aunt+Suzy+Great+Aunt+Irene+and+Great+Aunt+Nete.JPG" /></a><br />Our family is blessed by the fact that several of our great-aunts and uncles are still alive and well enough to attend the celebration.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnbUbtIrD_mYsKihVswHQ9Al9cMngPE64YXo26pmFccs-QZPLttd5r78Rree-Sq0MFfcqTTQj5AHn58sN99iG1BI9e58QY2GioT7SQuEJjJNS_I5duJthNt-n96gqjVt-NCHB_7cVQA0/s1600/Bev+Dad+and+Shayna.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562264858966009234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnbUbtIrD_mYsKihVswHQ9Al9cMngPE64YXo26pmFccs-QZPLttd5r78Rree-Sq0MFfcqTTQj5AHn58sN99iG1BI9e58QY2GioT7SQuEJjJNS_I5duJthNt-n96gqjVt-NCHB_7cVQA0/s320/Bev+Dad+and+Shayna.jpg" /></a><br />Bev's parents were friends with our grandparents and they and their extended family continues to be an important part of our families lives. In this picture Bev is hamming it up as she usually does with Dad and his granddaughter Shayna.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOZkDrx1FtcKrjiWoYRxyxVCO10GcD3EjS1pixy4A0r8-GPDklrzsMU5M6OoWpyHKAe5pCpYZMHn8cMAcdRHloTr4PLsawQtB0YDhHsT29jY6s2LWOh0pvHEp65_V27bf3v837_q2uh4/s1600/Enjoying+the+Party+C.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562267427768343714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOZkDrx1FtcKrjiWoYRxyxVCO10GcD3EjS1pixy4A0r8-GPDklrzsMU5M6OoWpyHKAe5pCpYZMHn8cMAcdRHloTr4PLsawQtB0YDhHsT29jY6s2LWOh0pvHEp65_V27bf3v837_q2uh4/s320/Enjoying+the+Party+C.JPG" /></a><br />A random shot of famiily enjoying the celebration.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2DdMPhLP7OLS5suefHmcaun6qnGoEH8iM80GLDeEMmxnP0PrM6W8jue4LE03MzmfBCOIg9hM3cvav2YzMyEu906fre-kbZFKIeLbJ5PJVqpRpNya-wGabbpccEJYTOzaWcYrFELBApo/s1600/Enjoying+the+party+B.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562267942543988754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2DdMPhLP7OLS5suefHmcaun6qnGoEH8iM80GLDeEMmxnP0PrM6W8jue4LE03MzmfBCOIg9hM3cvav2YzMyEu906fre-kbZFKIeLbJ5PJVqpRpNya-wGabbpccEJYTOzaWcYrFELBApo/s320/Enjoying+the+party+B.JPG" /></a><br />Friends enjoying the festivities.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSb9DqSkNIZy9Xa1fqBTF74jPBrdX8gPSsTWsvojXcAhlPhGU-A00cXW51FTJ5ak8yzcvFfXUi7wfUBIx8VUCpjnkKmDMdLmlUjMiqsZKt-Z0l0Tsk4A6JiN5lRBepHBRrr4kc0KdflA/s1600/Dancing+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSb9DqSkNIZy9Xa1fqBTF74jPBrdX8gPSsTWsvojXcAhlPhGU-A00cXW51FTJ5ak8yzcvFfXUi7wfUBIx8VUCpjnkKmDMdLmlUjMiqsZKt-Z0l0Tsk4A6JiN5lRBepHBRrr4kc0KdflA/s320/Dancing+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562270218225609218" /></a><br />The happy couple did not have music or dancing at their wedding but it was provided for the anniversary celebration. My brother-in-law Kevin is a great guy and after Shayna and I picked out special music to have for the party Kevin set it all up and made sure it played. My parent's love to dance and it was great to see them take a spin on the dance floor. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3RMelgaKPRR6JCwj24e-rYlci737zrHw4zy7vTPTPFCjWuwnDdx9jW2yGy1XGXgxlOsE67NGQQ4gq6FTMkRKrEpGgNapVo-y_w_KQZjnCmK1v91TPuvCLmLFFobP6tmdc3WbkDKSqmM/s1600/Alice+and+Stan+with+gifts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3RMelgaKPRR6JCwj24e-rYlci737zrHw4zy7vTPTPFCjWuwnDdx9jW2yGy1XGXgxlOsE67NGQQ4gq6FTMkRKrEpGgNapVo-y_w_KQZjnCmK1v91TPuvCLmLFFobP6tmdc3WbkDKSqmM/s320/Alice+and+Stan+with+gifts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562274973201322130" /></a><br />Gifts are usually part of the wedding and here Alice and Stan open some of their gifts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT2-3vV8jso1MAQc5B7tibNByEUFrxBS9IAuUzps2VBvxIAGiI-XPu9UweDKDaMjUxZDfQObhe1Ikn-CLcmeKFJ_dORiQAnU6sgeRD-XX8FJbuJC7Y3UczkrITr1S1gvxKrSXmchbRdQ/s1600/Enjoying+the+Party+E.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT2-3vV8jso1MAQc5B7tibNByEUFrxBS9IAuUzps2VBvxIAGiI-XPu9UweDKDaMjUxZDfQObhe1Ikn-CLcmeKFJ_dORiQAnU6sgeRD-XX8FJbuJC7Y3UczkrITr1S1gvxKrSXmchbRdQ/s320/Enjoying+the+Party+E.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562271142576120242" /></a><br />One gift they recieved at the party was a song from their grandson Colin, Colin just happens to be my youngest son. Yes I am a proud Mom. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0NQAzOfAfqRpy7CLrAvZ27sBNQet4_uh4IpDX0g4Xrq1Ez0YEXSn0hkqdAVRUJYXl9hZ020kE6MwgDsEgLShpXJKtlL6yEqZuFlPfqZGf8fpoGPWjCorynaq3-pSg9UyzydWp79yA1A/s1600/Alice+and+Stan+cutting+the+cake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0NQAzOfAfqRpy7CLrAvZ27sBNQet4_uh4IpDX0g4Xrq1Ez0YEXSn0hkqdAVRUJYXl9hZ020kE6MwgDsEgLShpXJKtlL6yEqZuFlPfqZGf8fpoGPWjCorynaq3-pSg9UyzydWp79yA1A/s320/Alice+and+Stan+cutting+the+cake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562275565092780610" /></a><br />Cutting the cake, I always such a sweet moment of a wedding and I really like it when they do not mush cake in each other's face. Our parents were kind and loving to each other.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQzFftI7aWD41_gqXmhq1yFFoCN9Ttsj37MJzgODmqvKpq_ntSsqX5BWkfcasQwakdKM5i90gFZmPdvcymJrsGfDBuC30_7D7oXnYXvZa_VsWY9GH90PO4MmdCJmx16X_HoUo4omHHDo/s1600/Cutting+the+cake+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQzFftI7aWD41_gqXmhq1yFFoCN9Ttsj37MJzgODmqvKpq_ntSsqX5BWkfcasQwakdKM5i90gFZmPdvcymJrsGfDBuC30_7D7oXnYXvZa_VsWY9GH90PO4MmdCJmx16X_HoUo4omHHDo/s320/Cutting+the+cake+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562276115831473042" /></a><br />My sister found a great bakery and the cake was wonderful. I love the cutting the cake picture. I really thought I had a better picture than this but I can not seem to find it. Maybe it was someone else's picture but you get the idea. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTk0cAtKC9uWmGVdDjmOp3p78JjAcTohaRYLHv78abUkenmKR2Vk-AQY3RTdh6xUIA6117eUU6X-uBD30CDowwKX5ZwseOSeoyRpAw_vqvhZ6M3NGC9YHb4ELnyVl00LvYCkJZx7HWzY/s1600/The+Kiss1961.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTk0cAtKC9uWmGVdDjmOp3p78JjAcTohaRYLHv78abUkenmKR2Vk-AQY3RTdh6xUIA6117eUU6X-uBD30CDowwKX5ZwseOSeoyRpAw_vqvhZ6M3NGC9YHb4ELnyVl00LvYCkJZx7HWzY/s320/The+Kiss1961.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562276637226280850" /></a><br />The kiss, is where I will stop. Once again we says cheers Mom and Dad, Alice and Stan may you have a wonderful 50th anniversary with more wonderful years together. <br />We love you.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-23999616412847062272010-12-28T14:59:00.001-08:002010-12-28T16:24:50.972-08:00A Year in PicturesLast year around this time I decided to set goals for myself. You know a list of things that I wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. That did not happen my life was over the top hectic. So this December I am looking back at 2010 in pictures so that I can take time to reflect on the past year and enjoy the good in my life.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JpUaFEHasl_xmVUu6o59Ejq2sHo7wmadh38CEb1IMb50KklJ_rYPr3zGdQy7tOYD5xOFhth2eQrxfcbsmdxoNjxr5K8uN1eLxsjyNqF_GwOjjOSs96JPynI2lDsV8ljJ07Yyh-FqRJU/s1600/Snow+Day+2010+C.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JpUaFEHasl_xmVUu6o59Ejq2sHo7wmadh38CEb1IMb50KklJ_rYPr3zGdQy7tOYD5xOFhth2eQrxfcbsmdxoNjxr5K8uN1eLxsjyNqF_GwOjjOSs96JPynI2lDsV8ljJ07Yyh-FqRJU/s200/Snow+Day+2010+C.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555882240608479090" /></a><br />Last year we started with a snow day. We also had 12 inches Christmas Eve of 2009. We have had none this winter and I am personally okay with that. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf3_f9BsA9-N2gedfHdUy4XDJnyq6XW3_mEJ9yP_6aOaMWvVBO7iMq5ibrSwVC2tzrL5QRQ96DRIXCzEi04jYLD-crchUnmZgcK1tES9oo-Vvi1qHW6yY2hPTWVCG9CMzuuX5iWZ4lCA/s1600/AP+World+History+Set+up+A.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555873121230932578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf3_f9BsA9-N2gedfHdUy4XDJnyq6XW3_mEJ9yP_6aOaMWvVBO7iMq5ibrSwVC2tzrL5QRQ96DRIXCzEi04jYLD-crchUnmZgcK1tES9oo-Vvi1qHW6yY2hPTWVCG9CMzuuX5iWZ4lCA/s200/AP+World+History+Set+up+A.JPG" /></a><br />This is one of the many ways that I arrange my classroom. I almost live here during the school year so I thought it would be a fitting photo to include in my reflection. When we ended the year it was with packed and covered rooms because we were getting a face lift; the building is 50 years old believe me it needed the face lift. Gone is the nasty dirty carpet. I now have nicely tiled floors and new lighting and paint. It is wonderful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv1G6KockOgg-_LLjQFa7Vvq2mSbXu1BUvtpWicAx2qzW2IzdytekDnjrB_lNPJvqnrQlTvwj0L15z3vfbErrNgNndD4OXd9AsR6J07wJcIpc1hpaZllQTUqwX4-0l19i216xsezkPAk/s1600/Linda+Weber%2527s+class+art+Jan+2010+A.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555874090608632034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv1G6KockOgg-_LLjQFa7Vvq2mSbXu1BUvtpWicAx2qzW2IzdytekDnjrB_lNPJvqnrQlTvwj0L15z3vfbErrNgNndD4OXd9AsR6J07wJcIpc1hpaZllQTUqwX4-0l19i216xsezkPAk/s200/Linda+Weber%2527s+class+art+Jan+2010+A.JPG" /></a><br />The classroom across the hall from mine is a high needs special education classroom. The teacher is unbelievable with her students. I stand in awe of what she does each day. Her class was learning about diversity and each student created a diversity picture. They hung them outside of my classroom because there are no lockers on my side of the hall. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvzfj8iTyEU4ZjLlyLjP3PXQFwjmJvTQGhyMl7fhqXIw6MvvtR0fYwan3Qvvy22eaFe4ailTXBbSWm_GD_Rw582q9tdUY9OUAWqrFkrerdY7b9zu9Y9VdiFsTQg6FuU8MPxS_TOp6Zq4/s1600/Winston+Summer+2010+Laundry+is+great+A.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvzfj8iTyEU4ZjLlyLjP3PXQFwjmJvTQGhyMl7fhqXIw6MvvtR0fYwan3Qvvy22eaFe4ailTXBbSWm_GD_Rw582q9tdUY9OUAWqrFkrerdY7b9zu9Y9VdiFsTQg6FuU8MPxS_TOp6Zq4/s200/Winston+Summer+2010+Laundry+is+great+A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555876037181784274" /></a><br />As most of you know I have a new man in my life Winston Princeton Churchill. This is him when he was still very little. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrX6RQR2oFCCQwbWE6wfOtQs2_ImVB2Qkuf-w0kk5zqc4LSwMNu9ysKGXWt0CoAF8pXnrbFC5yUZDB1R4QF3_eFs9832XsJTsxSQfCc6wbEz4Jf044FcDfwKZxboMeJyKs9vEDolopSg/s1600/Royalty+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrX6RQR2oFCCQwbWE6wfOtQs2_ImVB2Qkuf-w0kk5zqc4LSwMNu9ysKGXWt0CoAF8pXnrbFC5yUZDB1R4QF3_eFs9832XsJTsxSQfCc6wbEz4Jf044FcDfwKZxboMeJyKs9vEDolopSg/s200/Royalty+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555876536486253266" /></a><br />Here he is being very royal. He is now to big for this as well. The poor baby also has hip displacia; so for now he is on glucosamine just like his Momma. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ao9SrlXUan-wWE5zaAutKu0i2URiqHGTIvPfkihY5upsruhQ__dSu3pFiSAMcqT8MFr-9N6_KglQCJSSrqJF5dk3uTMUBom9xonnyiHXTxEvfuWJzwr7BehE6lmZxE6tUEgr8clGM4o/s1600/Cookie+look+at+the+bikes+Dec+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ao9SrlXUan-wWE5zaAutKu0i2URiqHGTIvPfkihY5upsruhQ__dSu3pFiSAMcqT8MFr-9N6_KglQCJSSrqJF5dk3uTMUBom9xonnyiHXTxEvfuWJzwr7BehE6lmZxE6tUEgr8clGM4o/s200/Cookie+look+at+the+bikes+Dec+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555877032980633362" /></a><br />This was taken just a couple of weeks ago. Winston is now 8 months old and he loves Cookie the beagle basset mix that likes to be up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8IMYrK5io6lZM1n_2LiGBcE6uOAVPoMo78fuBi3sXsBsj0AfKflXq2x1xDU2XvrDcX5S6J1dRv1r_xZaXnp0ghDloGIsVQeOBpyzS8erqqCjZLuK4TyhL_2GqvvtV-2TiqTM0bOzeWI/s1600/Dancing+4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8IMYrK5io6lZM1n_2LiGBcE6uOAVPoMo78fuBi3sXsBsj0AfKflXq2x1xDU2XvrDcX5S6J1dRv1r_xZaXnp0ghDloGIsVQeOBpyzS8erqqCjZLuK4TyhL_2GqvvtV-2TiqTM0bOzeWI/s200/Dancing+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555877750251022210" /></a><br />This summer we went to Yankeeland and threw a surprise 50th wedding anniversary for Mom and Dad. This is one of my favorite pictures from this party. There are many others that it could be a whole post of its own and I may just do that on their official anniversary date which is January 14, 2011. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKbUdr6uO3PSw23dEJ5I-fPYhlmOqNVd4ZuGRTRpOBMR60-RFJipjh-CgpnnS0u3C_ykjo7p7uoh2BkIhCTND-hyw21t1FQgvJwVPc5TQrdH5_OioDdcLZkp6IjmP8zEdmxrS2rt3D5I/s1600/Olana+Trip+with+Heidi+Summer+2010+J.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKbUdr6uO3PSw23dEJ5I-fPYhlmOqNVd4ZuGRTRpOBMR60-RFJipjh-CgpnnS0u3C_ykjo7p7uoh2BkIhCTND-hyw21t1FQgvJwVPc5TQrdH5_OioDdcLZkp6IjmP8zEdmxrS2rt3D5I/s200/Olana+Trip+with+Heidi+Summer+2010+J.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555878993698584002" /></a><br />While in Yankeeland my sister and I took a day trip together. Just the two of us. No kids and no husbands. We went to Olana the owner was one of the Hudson River School painters. His property and home are just breath taking. I love the Persian influence that is evident throughout his home. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxomgwmPl0k7gaQK4IOnlta9mPixKDCsb3LRaBjkp3YDN5LXkIdbj9zz92PmmWL415k4Q9_yn1TLxZQzPsfgJ86lOSIxHrmRXZka9WqgHVnQXdhDmAp0m0MjWuaE-Xs6w6LMXSfBZz98/s1600/Tamarac+Class+of+1980+30th+reunion.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxomgwmPl0k7gaQK4IOnlta9mPixKDCsb3LRaBjkp3YDN5LXkIdbj9zz92PmmWL415k4Q9_yn1TLxZQzPsfgJ86lOSIxHrmRXZka9WqgHVnQXdhDmAp0m0MjWuaE-Xs6w6LMXSfBZz98/s200/Tamarac+Class+of+1980+30th+reunion.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555881524912456594" /></a><br />I also attended my class reunion this summer. It was the 30th a little less than half of the class was there; we had 126 students in our graduating class. Many of these people I had known since grade school. It was wonderful to see them again. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzoDXI4DcXlBp9HUgMWQo4Be0CnnYqwX5MQtOl7QuICQrTUSMOpHw1ztTJAlXrr1o8-Kxw-ElotdKrvapyeZX-9ZJO7ZEt49iIIcr0Chlkf4EtR1rh8s-90zRJXUxjt3L6vV2qBS1_dU/s1600/Mom+and+Dad%2527s+C.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzoDXI4DcXlBp9HUgMWQo4Be0CnnYqwX5MQtOl7QuICQrTUSMOpHw1ztTJAlXrr1o8-Kxw-ElotdKrvapyeZX-9ZJO7ZEt49iIIcr0Chlkf4EtR1rh8s-90zRJXUxjt3L6vV2qBS1_dU/s200/Mom+and+Dad%2527s+C.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555883321623155010" /></a><br />I often talk about Yankeeland and the property I grew up on the next couple of pictures are of that farm. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEy3JiC6g8SS8f9wdFUMDHqKNQAsyGzS0_vcXlFkAjROqQ3zPnh6IKdqoP0uOEHzQ8GbY_BmpaquFktoX1yJZrHy9Z-jlOIShBYSbLshukp3QLtGNKT33HbstWSdZ6qn6w6KRyjtpmJ1o/s1600/Mom+and+Dad%2527s+E.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEy3JiC6g8SS8f9wdFUMDHqKNQAsyGzS0_vcXlFkAjROqQ3zPnh6IKdqoP0uOEHzQ8GbY_BmpaquFktoX1yJZrHy9Z-jlOIShBYSbLshukp3QLtGNKT33HbstWSdZ6qn6w6KRyjtpmJ1o/s200/Mom+and+Dad%2527s+E.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555885440480048546" /></a><br />This is the old stage coach road that led over the mountain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWiFXTA-g-FUQSDRCAdrTYHH9d_6WdatDlvM1avlR0J6zWJFqvrO3dbh8B2pRUBY1DkbnluJERX5LaOgpkuuzqEU9yScX2azG9JlYDytCTf_y8467W6ijFIgB-YXphElEUx39IyePxR8/s1600/Mom+and+Dad%2527s+B.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWiFXTA-g-FUQSDRCAdrTYHH9d_6WdatDlvM1avlR0J6zWJFqvrO3dbh8B2pRUBY1DkbnluJERX5LaOgpkuuzqEU9yScX2azG9JlYDytCTf_y8467W6ijFIgB-YXphElEUx39IyePxR8/s200/Mom+and+Dad%2527s+B.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555885720988232210" /></a><br />This is the view from the back bedroom the creek is one on my favorite places on the farm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uojRqSGLURc_9P3vgEFYgt5esNG0lSAVLuQ9W6kIrqYpoBMQUkN0EtaoB9W71O_-G3LCk-dpTzQ8KHnF28XF5SM_uJZg-9svjmr816p2yiHxWKCFCjehVWi4_mhhpuxjrMZ8u_OJrdc/s1600/Belinda+Alumni+of+the+Year.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uojRqSGLURc_9P3vgEFYgt5esNG0lSAVLuQ9W6kIrqYpoBMQUkN0EtaoB9W71O_-G3LCk-dpTzQ8KHnF28XF5SM_uJZg-9svjmr816p2yiHxWKCFCjehVWi4_mhhpuxjrMZ8u_OJrdc/s200/Belinda+Alumni+of+the+Year.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555886582318462770" /></a><br />I went back to Yankeeland in October because I was one of three people named alumni of the year for my high school. It was a huge honor. This photo is of me listening to the hostess read what was written about me and why I won the award. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGvtQKb6i8_j7c5F833t6E1dhjIKl30Tnr8ROQTV8Fap6bEVRvgyz4aRLIwz5z99fTNtMjJ_1yAUvdQ7zQo6d9b2HvQTGjhqkqZA5Yp2lUR1tsyc6IFMVu2rY3mWYMowF05u3AkTehp8/s1600/Belinda+and+Derrick+Alumni+of+the+Year+Dinner.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGvtQKb6i8_j7c5F833t6E1dhjIKl30Tnr8ROQTV8Fap6bEVRvgyz4aRLIwz5z99fTNtMjJ_1yAUvdQ7zQo6d9b2HvQTGjhqkqZA5Yp2lUR1tsyc6IFMVu2rY3mWYMowF05u3AkTehp8/s200/Belinda+and+Derrick+Alumni+of+the+Year+Dinner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555887138154579394" /></a><br />My brother was kind enough to be my date for the ceremony because Mr. Doohickie was unable to attend. He was a wonderful date. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmywxHvbbTNxB_A9TqDbxy1n6mKh7CIVlS29grQSnK7XsVrxhOwtwfZN3qkKEn3nbG9Kagm-VVkXMHXSp8FSu8tVFFlSyCUw9R23uboYGjXzCyUgY8FrarXCq_KXZgZqIKulXOvC3vcQ/s1600/Heidi+and+Kevin+Barcomb+Alumni+of+the+Year+Dinner.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmywxHvbbTNxB_A9TqDbxy1n6mKh7CIVlS29grQSnK7XsVrxhOwtwfZN3qkKEn3nbG9Kagm-VVkXMHXSp8FSu8tVFFlSyCUw9R23uboYGjXzCyUgY8FrarXCq_KXZgZqIKulXOvC3vcQ/s200/Heidi+and+Kevin+Barcomb+Alumni+of+the+Year+Dinner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555887843224343570" /></a><br />My sister and her husband were also able to attend the dinner. They make such a handsome couple and my sister has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G7vfSSaf9lW0GFNxsomY1lyh060wYT4wP0jIq2SuIl6gJJHpE_rT_DIA9-9TjAvB-A8qqScETztgek62R33aRrbphtQGUCOpJR6qqluLmYgi8e5K0GXudgTP7c1PvFda0Bj6DdGNiNA/s1600/Dad%252C+Mom+and+Belinda+Alumni+of+the+Year+Dinner.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G7vfSSaf9lW0GFNxsomY1lyh060wYT4wP0jIq2SuIl6gJJHpE_rT_DIA9-9TjAvB-A8qqScETztgek62R33aRrbphtQGUCOpJR6qqluLmYgi8e5K0GXudgTP7c1PvFda0Bj6DdGNiNA/s200/Dad%252C+Mom+and+Belinda+Alumni+of+the+Year+Dinner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555888577152965426" /></a><br />This is me with my Mom and Dad before the awards portion of the ceremony. My Mom is the person that nominated me and the letter she wrote was very moving, even though I knew I had done all of the activities that she talked about it still made me tear up that what I did was recognized by the committee as something that was worthy. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfJosIknO24gdliUh9BQwWAjHPuXq7i8Id9OcJgJKo7zOGADw8zCm6g1amD2ywSbOsw2wueQSnz5SFK2hSHq0-_zwHlD3u17GmrfO99ij8CsgFcWsqTc-03JDQujjaZ-3tUFDXCVOT-U/s1600/Belinda+with+the+committee+members.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfJosIknO24gdliUh9BQwWAjHPuXq7i8Id9OcJgJKo7zOGADw8zCm6g1amD2ywSbOsw2wueQSnz5SFK2hSHq0-_zwHlD3u17GmrfO99ij8CsgFcWsqTc-03JDQujjaZ-3tUFDXCVOT-U/s200/Belinda+with+the+committee+members.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555889308285987970" /></a><br />Receiving my award.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOnP5MeQZ3LX7CFvAZxdCHPzsSgkhFWDu5mL2Nu0htKxirfCf8PZiNKR1dwQx0LbikjBtSE0XSZC7rpnA5glmk_KrBSbhb55zkkFXXKdSjXVnUSlCCaTGWBVacV-vcJt7F_hjT0b_QC0/s1600/Alumni+of+the+Year+Recipiants.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOnP5MeQZ3LX7CFvAZxdCHPzsSgkhFWDu5mL2Nu0htKxirfCf8PZiNKR1dwQx0LbikjBtSE0XSZC7rpnA5glmk_KrBSbhb55zkkFXXKdSjXVnUSlCCaTGWBVacV-vcJt7F_hjT0b_QC0/s200/Alumni+of+the+Year+Recipiants.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555889591547117634" /></a><br />Myself with the other two award winners; both of which were members of the class of 1974.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvvuNmoPJsQCQaaVHphDdJSWTijOeRtLCo7PSfvEtTelrkWIRT3WvtAph3HSywiYtZyBjvsd7mZu9FRXXsm-UTBVJ4eL7AiUcoTahrFr_3q2OuHcMg6rmEqTPthflXnPbB63bZ1Bj5ZQ/s1600/so+pretty.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvvuNmoPJsQCQaaVHphDdJSWTijOeRtLCo7PSfvEtTelrkWIRT3WvtAph3HSywiYtZyBjvsd7mZu9FRXXsm-UTBVJ4eL7AiUcoTahrFr_3q2OuHcMg6rmEqTPthflXnPbB63bZ1Bj5ZQ/s200/so+pretty.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555890135174787186" /></a><br />The last big event or should I say purchase occurred in November of this year when City Cyclist announced they were going out of business. I finally decided to try riding a bike again. I had not ridden since 5th grade when I took a nasty fall and damaged my knee cap. When I had surgery several years later the doctor asked me why I had never had my fractured knee cap set. So this was a huge deal for me I have always been afraid of falling. I am happy to report that the step-through Biria is a wonderful bike and of course Mr. Doohickie is thrilled that I will go on rides with him. But please do not expect crazy camera shots while I am riding or long posts on the rides we take. I will leave all of that to him. <br /><br />Overall 2010 has been a good year even though work has been extremely stressful. Onward and into 2011 and waiting to see what changes it will bring. <br /><br />Happy New Year to each of you.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-73100148407140668832010-11-27T17:27:00.000-08:002010-11-28T07:00:44.089-08:00BrutalBrutal – not a word I use very often. My Sister-in-law uses it and I have to say that from August 2nd until now that word fits my life. Do not get me wrong there have been some great things that happened in July and in October. Unfortunately the stress of work has outweighed the few great and has kept me from being creative in any shape or form. My sister, niece, aunt and best friend have all been reminding me that I have not blogged in awhile so I am going to give it a shot. In all honesty if I had not read TC’s comment about wondering where I was the other day on my blog I am not sure I would be writing. I was pretty sure that the blog world did not notice that I was missing. I know my family and friends tell me I need to write but they hear from me in emails, phone calls and FB so if I did not write a blog for them they would eventually get over it. In fact they have kindly stopped bugging me. <br />July took us to Yankee Land; we got to see both sides of the family. While we were in Yankee Land I attended my high school reunion, I graduated 30 years ago. Gasp where has all the time gone? This was not the main reason for the trip there was an even more import event that was a very special one. My siblings and I hosted a surprise 50th anniversary party for our parents. Technically their 50th is not until January 14, 2011 but traveling to Yankee Land in the winter can be tricky so we decided to play it safe and throw the party early. A wonderful time was had by all and my Dad was surprised. We had to give in and tell our Mom because of information we needed that only she had. Family and friends both old and new were at the party, good food, great conversation, music and a little bit of dancing along with toasts and memories shared with each rising of a glass. Once the party was over and the church hall was clean the immediate family went back to my parent’s house where we had dinner together and more great conversation. Along with the party the gift to my parents was a scrapbook memory album. People sent well wished and pictures to be included in the album. The best was one of my Dad’s cousins found there original wedding invitation in with some old pictures he was sorting through and he sent it to my parents for the album. If I had been able to write this shortly after it had happened I am sure there would have been all types of details but that point has come and gone. It is the end of Thanksgiving break and I am just now finding time to write. <br />We returned home with a day or two to spare and it was back to work for me as the Lead Content Teacher (LCT). We were starting another school year with a new principal. The powers that be in their glass and ivory tower downtown do not know how to “fix” the school I work at so they keep changing principals. Ah gee let me help you with that … you with your PhD. Leave us with a principal in place for more than a year and a half. That’s how you fixed the other “problem schools”. We did not “break” in a year we can not be “fixed” in a year. So I have a new principal she is number 4 and of course she knows what we need to be “fixed”. Therefore the first order of business is to change everything that we do, even if it worked great. To make matters worse the four of us that wear the LCT hat got to be schedulers for two weeks because the student’s schedules were a mess. I therefore taught for 1 day in the first two weeks of school. Crazy…I know. Oh and we switched to a block schedule a whole different nightmare. With all that being said I still love my job I am just worn out at the end of each day and I use the weekends to get caught up which leaves little time for anything else. I am starting to get a grip on all the new requirements and responsibilities that have been given to me and it will be all right in the end. <br />October found me making a trip by myself to Yankee Land again. Two times in one year Wowy-Zowy for me. I went home to receive an award, I along with two gentlemen from the class of 74 were named alumni of the year. I was thrilled to be nominated but to win was just amazing. I told my Mom I will not get chosen they will select research scientist, lawyers and those types of people. I am a high school teacher and while what I do is important lots of people do what I do. The two gentlemen were…you guessed it a research scientist and a lawyer. When I got to Yankee Land my sister met me at the airport and we went out to eat and then dress shopping. An occasion like this warranted something awesome to wear so I purposefully did not go shopping here but waited for my sisters input. We do not get to do sister things very often, we plan to change that in the coming year. That will be another post. The night of the ceremony arrived and I was very nervous but I calmed myself by practicing my speech in my head. So my Dad, Mom and I met my Sister, Brother and Brother-In-Law at the country club where the dinner was being held. It was very nice and the food was excellent. My husband and sons were not able to make the trip so my Brother was my date and he was a great date. The one mistake I made was thinking that I had my short speech memorized – after all I talk all of the time it is part of my job. So my speech did not come off smoothly because I left my notes behind. A big piece of advice; never leave your notes behind if you win an award. I also started to cry something that I did not foresee either. So humor me because I am going to write what I should have said. <br />Good Evening; when I received the message that informed me I could speak tonight my first thought was oh no. But I quickly realized if I can speak in front of students, staff members and parents daily I could do this. <br />I want to take a minute to thank the committee for selecting me for this honor. I am honored and humbled.<br />I need to thank my husband and sons even though they are home in Texas their support and love is what keeps me going day in and day out. <br />I also want to thank my sister Heidi and my brother Derrick for cheering me on and being there for me and for being with me tonight. My brother-in-law Kevin for understanding my profession I thank you as well. <br />Most importantly I want to thank my mom and my dad Alice and Stanton. My parents have encouraged, supported and given advice when I needed it. I know they are very proud of me and this award is as much theirs as it is mine. So again thank you. <br />Yes I know some of you want pictures. I had to get a new computer and my pictures are not on this one. That will have to be another day that I post pictures. I have papers to grade, a test to create, lesson plans to write and grad homework to finish all before Monday morning. I used this week to rest and relax. I can not promise that there will be a post before the New Year but I will try to stop by more often and read everyone else’s blogs.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-64144687344135619442010-06-27T13:04:00.000-07:002010-06-27T13:20:04.242-07:00The New Man In My LifeI have been very busy with the end of the school year. I work two half days this week and then I am done until August 2nd. But school is not the only thing that has kept me away from blogging; the other bigger event is the new man in my life.<br /><br />His name is Winston:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LQzVJyh_ZMCpvDUFv1-0viqg6jBjm1YL_XhtykCBDOJPPnLK0OOYwD9-FPN7nqvHsGEtbGmWLVUV9RRRy3pIBWcPolTcFEt2hI0iPykzySQG-b1gsSdG-iLuEsHp1s7Z6lnlpiffovU/s1600/2009+2010+137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LQzVJyh_ZMCpvDUFv1-0viqg6jBjm1YL_XhtykCBDOJPPnLK0OOYwD9-FPN7nqvHsGEtbGmWLVUV9RRRy3pIBWcPolTcFEt2hI0iPykzySQG-b1gsSdG-iLuEsHp1s7Z6lnlpiffovU/s320/2009+2010+137.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487550099736568322" /></a><br /><br />My two sons were out walking their dogs a couple of weeks ago and this sweet little man got between them and walked home with them. Our oldest thought it was Buddy, a dog that gets out regularly but it was not.<br /><br />He does not have a chip in his body, no one has called or contacted the shelter about him. So after trying to find him a home I decided that this was his home and I am the new lady in his life.<br /><br />Winston is going to be a big boy, he is most likely a Grayhound German Shephard mix. He is so sweet.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-18973042891052867332010-05-16T05:18:00.000-07:002010-05-16T18:18:21.818-07:00My SisterMy sister had her birthday in March, the 16th to be exact. I had planned to write this wonderful tribute to her and surprise her for her birthday. Life was a mess in March and most days I felt like I was running on a treadmill and could not get off. So better late than never and hopefully she is still surprised. Oh and a disclaimer before I start; it is not my intention to make you cry.<br /><br />I was an only child for almost 6 years and I think I spent three of those years wanting a baby sister and I finally got one. I loved her from the moment that I saw her, and wished just a little bit right from the start that I could be more like her. She is fearless.<br /><br />We did not always get along especially when she was younger. As little sisters do she wanted to tag along and I was the typical big sister I did not want her following me. My sister was a tomboy and she is still very athletic, she does the whole tri thing which I will never understand but I am so amazed and proud that she does.<br /><br />The trait that I most love about my sister is her fearlessness. Is that really a word? It is now. She broke her arm 3 times before she was twelve. "Look Mom I can slide down the icy hill like Penny Candy and Tim" move forward a few hours and her arm is in a cast. She fell of the horse "look no hands" bam on the ground a few hours later and another cast. I don't remember the third way it must not have been as exciting as the first two or maybe she was just an old hand at it by then. She doesn't give up or let an injury keep her down she just lets it heal and goes right back to the activity that she loved or loves.<br /><br />After I want away to college we grew closer and as the years past our bond became stronger. My sister is one of my best friends. We can talk on the phone or chat on FB for hours at a time. We joke and say she has my child and I have hers. Her oldest daughter and my youngest son are 6 monthes apart and NP Diva is very much like me while my second son reminds me so much of my sister he makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I think it happened this way so that we are always close to each other even though there are hundreds of miles between us.<br /><br />My sister loves completely and she is a fierce protector of all that she loves. She has what I consider to be one of the toughest jobs in the world and she is amazing at it. She works with people that have suffered Trumatic Brain Injury. She has started Bookin Feet to help girls build their bodies, minds and self-esteem all while still having two young children at home.<br /><br />I have learned much from my sister and I am not even sure that she knows it. I learned that love needs to be a two way street and if both people can not give freely then it isn't really worth trying to hold onto. I also learned that dating someone because everyone else thinks you should was not enough of a reason to keep dating the person. Younger than me and wiser than me. She is also one of my biggest cheerleaders. When I doubt my ability my sister is right there to remind me that I can accomplish the task and she reminds me of what I have already done.<br /><br />My sister is an amazing woman, a great Mom and not only the best sister I could ever ask for but also a wonderful friend and my life would not be as full if I did not have her to share memories with.<br /><br /><br />My sister does not like many pictures of herself so I will not put many up but there is one picture that needs to be in the post and I hope she doesn't object too loudly.<br /><br /><a href="http://s414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/?action=view&current=gramheidibelinda.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gram, Heidi and Me" src="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/gramheidibelinda.jpg" width="420" height="526" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love you and Happy Belated Birthday Sister of Mine.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-25287116104569214802010-05-09T19:37:00.000-07:002010-05-09T19:38:33.229-07:00Okay...maybe notLet me start by saying I am never again going to say my goal is to bring balance into my life. As I tried to become balanced I actually became unbalanced. It did not help that I have spent many weekends not feeling well. <br /><br />So my goals for this year are out the window. I am just going to take each day as it comes and do what I do best, plan a little and fly by the seat of my pants a lot. Hopefully with the end of the school year just around the corner I can get back to being my normal self. <br /><br />I actually had time to sit down today, Mother’s Day and read blogs it was nice to catch up with Bone, TC and my cousin Felicia that just had a beautiful baby boy. I also had dinner with my dear sweet husband and our two sons oh and I did laundry. <br /><br />I have not written in so long, except for a grade school paper every week, I have forgotten how something else to get back to once summer is here.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-23359562319736732112010-02-21T14:51:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:58:29.130-08:00This Week….AwesomeI had a great week at work. There are three very different events that made it awesome. <br /><br />First, I was nominated for Teacher of the Year again this year, but I decided to take my name off the ballot so that someone else could be on the ballot. I am not saying I would have won if my name was on the ballot but I really wanted to give others the opportunity. It is enough to know I was nominated again. <br /><br />Second, my class played the Urban Game. It isn’t really a game it’s an exercise in learning but they think it is a game. Let me take a minute to explain the game incase you have never played it in your world history class. When the students walk into the room the desks are set-up in pairs, with one piece of copy paper in the middle of the desk and two pieces of colored paper with directions and background information for the pairs. The timer was set for 5 minutes to copy the key, when the timer goes off they need to start reading the first paragraph and complete what it says. They had 5 minutes for that as well. If they are not finished when the timer goes off they have to just keep going. They are only told that the river needs to be 1-inch wide, the rest is up to them. With the first 10 minutes completed I start readying short blurbs about the industrial revolution and in those blubs are the directions for what needs to be added to their village next. There are 21 rounds to this game. My perfectionists hate this game because it goes to fast, my ADD kids love it because it is so fast paced and even though my ELLs say it is hard at first as it goes on and they find their rhythm they like it as well. One of the first things they put in their original village is a “nice house” of course many of them draw it way to big so other things have to be really small or they have to erase and redraw. By the end their paper is covered and we then talk about how fast the Industrial Revolution felt to the people of England when it first started. This also launches the lecture about the Industrial Revolution that they now can picture in their mind as we talk and take notes. <br /><br />Third and to me the most awesomest of all. I know awesomest is not really a word but I used it once this summer and it is now my trademark word. Anyway back to the third item. It occurred this Saturday, I held an AP World History study session at my high school from 8am – 12pm and I had 8 students that attended. I believe that I have between 10 and 12 students that can pass the AP exam. All 8 of Saturday’s attendees are in the 10 to 12 count. It was so great to watch them work together on timelines, the Chinese Dynasties of the Classical Era and essay skills and to see them realize that they knew and remembered a lot more from the first half of the year than they thought they did. I am holding another study session this Saturday and I hope it is as good or better than this one. <br /><br /> On a scale of 1 – 10 I would give this week a 9.5, not a 10 because the one problem I had all week was the temperature of my classroom. It was so warm (above 70 with the fans on) that it flared my asthma.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-59862041333581550402010-02-07T05:38:00.000-08:002010-02-07T05:41:01.184-08:00What Am I…Crazy….Maybe?Second semester is upon us and with it comes standardized test season. Oh boy the kids love it the teachers love it. Therefore we are all well rested and in the best moods ever. <br /><br />Last Saturday I went to data training, from 9 to 3 so no massage that day. I was able to keep yesterdays appointment and believe me it was so worth it. This time of year I think I should get two a week but I do not have the time or the money. Sorry back to data; now that we answer to a test everything is data driven. What SEs (student expectations) are they weak in; lets look at the question and see what they do not know/understand. Usually it is vocabulary, please read to your children and use expanded vocabulary with them. It makes everyone just a little bit less stressed. The training I had Saturday had to be turned around this week and given to our teachers so during our in-service I trained the Social Studies department using the new data strategies. <br /><br />So I decided I was not stressed enough and I added grad school to the mix. Yes I am back in grad school. I had been once before but then when our oldest son got sick I stopped. I did not return to Norwich for my Military History degree I am now taking classes through Texas Women’s University and getting my MA in curriculum and instruction. Why the switch you might ask when I had only 4 classes plus my presentation left for the MMH degree? Okay maybe you haven’t asked but I’m going to tell you anyway. Money…the district is paying for half of this degree but none of the other. Also an MA in C&I allows me do to so much more than an MMH. I would still love to get my MMH one day because it offers more credibility when I write. So far the hardest part about the class I am taking is not the work load; it is the idea that I have to tape myself teaching. Ugh! I do not like to be taped, have my picture taken ect. One good thing I have lost enough weight and toned that I do not look horrible on video. <br /><br />Why am I concerned with what C&I will allow me to do since I do not plan to leave the classroom anytime soon? Well first some day I would like to be a full-time Academic Coordinator and eventually a Dean of Instruction. This degree allows for that, plus I might be up for another promotion at work, it depends on what the district will allow. My principal wants me to be the EHHS Academic Coordinator next year but I do not want to leave the classroom so she is pushing for it to be like the LCT spot I teach 3 classes and wear the AC job the other half of the day. It would be so fabulous…but I’m not sure the district will approve it. If not I’ll stay AP World History Teacher/Social Studies LCT. <br /><br />So I am crazy busy but deep down inside I love it. To make it even better it is shaping up that I will be traveling this summer for trainings that are work related.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-19128595140542585022010-01-06T19:21:00.000-08:002010-01-06T19:22:35.300-08:002010 GoalsI have not set goals for myself in awhile but decided that I would do so this year. So here they are. Yes my sister and my cousin are rubbing off on me, in a good way. <br /><br />1. Now that I am going back to grad school, changed venues and my degree plan but I am going back. My grad school goal for this semester is to have at least a 3.5.<br /><br />2. As many of you know I am not the gym type but I do need to work out because of the fibromyalgia. So my goal for this year is to work out for at least 1 hour every day with one day off every 10 days if it is needed. I think this is doable because we got the Wii Fit for Christmas this year and I love it. I’ve worked out everyday for at least an hour and half since December 26th. <br /><br />3. To outline the first draft of the World War I book I have running around in my head. <br /><br />4. This one is going to be hard to measure but I want to balance my work and personal life a little bit better than I have in the past year. <br /><br />5. To get a passport. I am the only one in the family that does not have a passport. <br /><br />6. To apply and be selected for an AP World History reader position. <br /><br />I think this is enough considering that I have not set goals for myself in a very long time. They are not resolutions they are goals. I have to keep telling myself that. In the past when I made resolutions and I did not meet them I would be mad at myself. I am hoping that because I am calling them goals I will not be so upset if I do not meet all of them. Wish me luck and I’m off and on my way. Now Bone is rubbing off on me too with the song lyrics. They are close enough to the Carpenter’s “We’ve Only Just Begun”.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-73897005909450749232009-12-31T14:11:00.000-08:002010-01-01T14:55:53.835-08:00FinallyI finally feel like I have something to say in a blog post. After I got over the unconfirmed H1N1 I was so far behind at work and at home I did not have time to write but I also felt drained creatively as well. It took me several weeks to feel like myself again. <br /><br />As Christmas approached I was still overwhelmed and felt I could not take the time to write before I got all the holiday activities taken care of. While doing so I had lots of thoughts running through my head so here they are in no particular order. <br /><br />Christmas is so very different once the children of the house are young adults. There are no grandkids yet, which is a good thing, at 19 and 22 they do not need to be making babies. So I was having a hard time getting excited about Christmas. We usually put up a huge tree in the front room but with two weeks before Christmas left and the tree wasn’t even in the house yet we opted to buy a smaller prelit tree. So Paul and I went shopping December 13th right after Church because we had to. We had to go shopping because the MHMR gifts were due at the Church that evening.<br /><br />For those of you wondering MHMR stands for Mental Health Mental Retardation. It is an organization that provides services to families that have child/children with these issues. Every year our church puts out an MHMR tree and members shop for a child they select. We picked a little boy that needed winter clothes and wanted a tricycle. We got almost everything on his list, I forgot to get pull-ups. We wrapped the gifts and took them to the church. While we were out we did pick up our new tree smaller prelit tree and that was it. I was still not in the mood to shop, I really felt like the Grinch. The tree actually sat in the box for a week before we sat it up. <br /><br />So the weekend before Christmas I knew shopping had to get done. My love and I went shopping together to purchase family gifts. Tuesday I went to the bike shop to get my love his gift. The Christmas spirit hit me at that moment in time. My love had given me a list of what he needed from the shop. But he had always talked about a Cutter so I asked the shop owner which of the bikes was the Cutter. She showed me the bike that he had talked about for months and I decided to surprise him I got him the bike instead of the things he needed. For those of you that know me and know my love and his bike obsession you understand the big deal that this is. With the help of son #1 and son #2 I got it home, “wrapped” and hid before he got home. This is the front of his bike on Christmas morning. <a href="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/Christmas2009/Christmas2009001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/Christmas2009/Christmas2009001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> I was still not used to my camera and the idea that I could retake a picture. <br /><br />With the arrival of December 26th came my Grandmother’s birthday. This year I paid honor to her memory by working a puzzle. My Gram loved puzzles; she always had one going on a card table in her house. <a href="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/Christmas2009/Christmas2009006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/Christmas2009/Christmas2009006.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>So we sat at the table and over the next two days we put the puzzle together and I told my sons stories about their great-grandmother. It was nice. Son #1 had to prove that a round puzzle could be picked up and stay together. <br /><br />I also got my first digital camera for Christmas and it has been fun learning to use it. One of my first pictures that I took was of the cheesecake that I made for Christmas dinner. <a href="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/Christmas2009/Christmas2009002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp224/PennyCandyPhotos/Christmas2009/Christmas2009002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />You might be wondering why I took a picture of the cheesecake…it did not crack. My cheesecakes always crack and while it does not ruin the taste it does ruin the presentation. <br /><br />I brought no work home with me this time. I have cleaned house and I am trying to turn our spare room/junk room into an office/guest room. It is taking me longer than I would like but it is getting done. This is a very big deal I hate cleaning and bringing no work home might make some people think there is something wrong with me. <br /><br />I have not made a New Years resolution in years but I am actually contemplating making one or two. So with that thought I wish the blogging world a Happy 2010.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-17692309222938806002009-11-21T08:48:00.000-08:002009-11-21T13:26:09.957-08:00SickI will start off by saying I hate missing work. It makes me crazy so when I got sick last Saturday I told myself I would be better by Monday. After all grades were due, my students would be writing their first DBQ (document based question) in class and it was the week before Thanksgiving break so it would be hard to find a sub. On top of all of that I was supposed to leave right after work Wednesday evening for Austin. I had a conference to attend with my department. Being sick for more than 24hours was not an option.<br /><br />So I was really peeved Sunday evening when my body temperature went above 101. I called the on-call doctor and he called in Tamaflu. My building has had confirmed cases of H1N1, the latest case was a teacher that I eat lunch with everyday and that I sat next to during in-service training. I knew that I would not be better Monday so I put in my sub request, and I spit and sputtered the whole time I was filling out the information. Did I say I hate missing work and I really hate being sick, I am not a good patient at all. So much for thinking that the on-call doctor was wrong I was still sick Tuesday and would see my doctor Wednesday. <br /><br />I went to my doctor Wednesday morning, hopeful that she would say you can go to Austin, just drink lots of water on the trip. That of course was so not what she said. I think she delights in telling me what I do not want to hear, not really but it sure seems that way. Her actual comment was you have an unconfirmed case of H1N1 and there is no reason to run the test at this point because you are on Tamaflu. She also stated that she was not surprised that I have it but was surprised that I had been successful thus far in not getting it. She told me Austin was out of the question and that I was out of work for the rest of the week. As you can imagine I was not a happy camper. She gave me prescription cough medicine and sent me home to rest. <br /><br />So I came home, called in a sub for the rest of the week and went to sleep. I am still not feeling great but I do not have a fever anymore. Now that Thanksgiving break has officially started I am not worried about missing work.<br /><br />I am worried that my kids are now behind by a week, lets be honest subs do not really teach they practice crowd control for the day.<br /><br />One funny dream that was medicine induced did occurred early Wednesday morning. I was in a classroom before I got sick and the teacher had the famous Teddy Roosevelt political cartoon up for the kids to analyze and that must have stayed with me because T.R. was in my dream. In my dream T.R. and I were walking the halls of my school that were now shaped like Latin America but instead of carrying his "big stick" he was carrying a big pink highlighter. He had me by the arm and pointed to the math teachers that were highlighting their data, science and English were doing the same and then we got to my department. They all had their highlighters to mark up the data but they had no data to use. I sat up with a start and texted my principal at 6:30 in the morning because I realized that all the data my department need was still in my classroom. She texted back "no worries" because she brought extra data with her. Oh thank goodness was my response back to her and then I went back to sleep until 1 in the afternoon. At that point I finally admitted I was really sick and stopped thinking about work for about 15 minutes. <br /><br />So the moral of my story is love your job so much that you hate missing it but if you get sick get to the doctor ASAP to get checked out. Confirmed or unconfirmed H1N1is no fun.PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756464045602019951.post-49373085466688108422009-11-18T16:49:00.000-08:002009-11-19T16:46:22.536-08:00Happy Birthday Mom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwdiUi64Nw_zs5tyiFzHr-2fAa1IR0YjJFhuEZqoJTJX7ZpOkLM4vZDC3XGqSmdW3fcWA0DDIm3G0lymh47TRS5kIye8UVhD-HifeVgBg3iwCO3q3oZs0EuDNQlrni9wc3sfasqi7Fjg/s1600/Alice-Belinda.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405611180831030706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwdiUi64Nw_zs5tyiFzHr-2fAa1IR0YjJFhuEZqoJTJX7ZpOkLM4vZDC3XGqSmdW3fcWA0DDIm3G0lymh47TRS5kIye8UVhD-HifeVgBg3iwCO3q3oZs0EuDNQlrni9wc3sfasqi7Fjg/s320/Alice-Belinda.jpg" /></a><br />This is my Mom and I when I was 3.<br /><br />In May I did a tribute to my Dad; today it is my Mom’s turn. Today my Mom turns 70. My Mom does not seem 70 to me that is a grandma age; oh wait she is a grandma and has been for the last 22 years.<br /><br />So I have been trying to decide what I would say about my Mom. I think in away it was easier to write about my Dad because fathers and daughters have a different dynamic than mothers and daughters. There are so many things to say about my Mom but they do not really capture who she is.<br /><br />The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of my Mom is her smile, when she smiles her beautiful blue eyes light up and her happiness radiates across her whole being. This smile of hers makes me smile even when I am not there to see her I can still imagine her smile. She smiles often, especially around her grandchildren.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgabm45oDH3KLx2KrIzjFpz1pkePZQWWc3Jtc9zuzHboPWO3H0FJwvlhqJwv6fooclXXp5vIHSCLiejq7V6g_R8xi6v3_M0pvMA8fp3vf0Zb-TOBOV_i7O5hYQ2Tu7N3aGz7yCjv85l0s/s1600/Grandma-Alice.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgabm45oDH3KLx2KrIzjFpz1pkePZQWWc3Jtc9zuzHboPWO3H0FJwvlhqJwv6fooclXXp5vIHSCLiejq7V6g_R8xi6v3_M0pvMA8fp3vf0Zb-TOBOV_i7O5hYQ2Tu7N3aGz7yCjv85l0s/s320/Grandma-Alice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405613987818875026" /></a><br />Mom and Kenzie<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2onJEhoFCLFulZLZEUoeHdwd6TP2kACXZm5Zdfi8XDcwRIqhbed9S9BKAR4VZFWrGu_oG8qah3CQs8oxit3JCpE2uM73FW_v_EjusnHjb6AlaVHG3dtZXMolr8OhKV1CAtT4aA8DKF9M/s1600/Alice-Family.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405612954479727202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2onJEhoFCLFulZLZEUoeHdwd6TP2kACXZm5Zdfi8XDcwRIqhbed9S9BKAR4VZFWrGu_oG8qah3CQs8oxit3JCpE2uM73FW_v_EjusnHjb6AlaVHG3dtZXMolr8OhKV1CAtT4aA8DKF9M/s320/Alice-Family.jpg" /></a><br /><br />My Mom is between her two brothers. <br /><br />The most important part of my Mom’s life, at least from my perspective, is her family. It is how she was shaped and how at times she has defined herself and in turn how we as a family define ourselves. My Mom puts all of us first and at times has actually put herself last, even when she should have been much higher on the list. The times that she went without so that we could have what we needed. I think most Moms do this but when it is your Mom that is giving up it leaves a mark on your heart because you realize just how important you are to her. <br /><br />My Mom grew up in a large loving family and she sees her sibling often. They have supported each other and their extended families through thick and thin. My Aunts and Mom giggle like school girls when they get together, especially when my Aunt from Arizona comes to town it really is like they are teenagers all over again. Food, I can not talk about my Mom and her sisters without mentioning food believe me there is always something to eat. I do not think my family ever gets together without eating, everyone brings something to share and when I am home for a visit my Mom makes what I ask for which is so cool of her.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91SFIOP2PcL7F1W36RmvGyuDN2tgtCFmILz9EGMeZcISZPutpi4RZ1DvvLbkl1zkKSPByN68z2xLO9guphRJewIVcprxaE7uGH6b95xu9yeVZ-4MFlOiFFsEuHnU00xgJdv1iV30UmGY/s1600/Alice-Stan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91SFIOP2PcL7F1W36RmvGyuDN2tgtCFmILz9EGMeZcISZPutpi4RZ1DvvLbkl1zkKSPByN68z2xLO9guphRJewIVcprxaE7uGH6b95xu9yeVZ-4MFlOiFFsEuHnU00xgJdv1iV30UmGY/s320/Alice-Stan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405615185967133634" /></a><br />My Mom and Dad, this is one of my favorite pictures of my parents.<br /><br />I remember when I was in school the bus used to drop me off at the end of the road, it was a long walk at the beginning or end of the day with school books. I mentioned to my Mom that other kids were getting dropped off and picked up right outside their doors but we had to walk. My Mom did some investigating and went to some school board meetings and got the bus to come part way up the road so we did not have as far to go to the bus stop. It was that image of my Mom that stuck with me when I had to fight for our youngest son to receive the services he was entitled to within the public school system. <br /><br />When I was sick, tired, achy or frustrated my Mom took care of me and even now if I’m sick, tired, achy or frustrated I pick up the phone and call my Mom she makes me feel better just by listening. When I was in middle school I got badly hurt on a trampoline in gym class, I had to go to the emergency room and my Mom stayed with me through that. She was there when I woke up from my knee surgery and she wiped my tears when my heart was broken by a boy. She came and stayed with us each time one of our boys was born. She cried with me when I miscarried and was happy for me and with me when I carried a pregnancy to term. <br /><br />My Mom has also been a rock for my sister and brother and there have been plenty of times when we have said we do not know what we would do without Mom. She is there in a pinch and helps in whatever way she can. She and my Dad are a team and that is why when I got married I wanted both of them to walk me down the aisle and they did. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtOpEJ2GSWdqpkzsmcZpDCD_uQGNkp2vZrbSNDO1JpY_3cwLKwTgGT7TRAubBxX5GpQuawyD1rEJwkqIf35pTjEcpOhIO1LCN0p1v_PXxIDunvlj53ckFV6QknlSvphT46vb0tPz_z0o/s1600/Alice-Belinda-Stan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtOpEJ2GSWdqpkzsmcZpDCD_uQGNkp2vZrbSNDO1JpY_3cwLKwTgGT7TRAubBxX5GpQuawyD1rEJwkqIf35pTjEcpOhIO1LCN0p1v_PXxIDunvlj53ckFV6QknlSvphT46vb0tPz_z0o/s320/Alice-Belinda-Stan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405617429531087426" /></a> <br /><br />So Mom we all wish you a very happy birthday with many more to come and we all love you very much. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY DEAR MOM HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! That is all of us sing off key, well except for Colin he is right on the mark.<br /><br />I am sure my sister will also post something about our Mom with pictures as well and that Mom will see this at some point. We Love You MOM!!PennyCandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998433304599368727noreply@blogger.com6