Mondays

Mondays are the worst days. Today was the worst Monday I've had in a long time. With the limited amount of sleep I got, losing my keys, leaving my lunch in the car to melt and having to drive two hours for a one hour class... I'm ready for the day to be done.

I should be writing lesson plans right now but obviously I'm not. I am supposed to have 65 days in the classroom and I start teaching next week. I'm still observing for this week and it has been a good experience so far. My biggest concern about this whole student teaching thing was leaving Benson. Luckily we have an amazing family who has helped out and so I always know he's in good hands. This week was so nice to get out of the house and do something that is my own thing but now that excitement is slowly dying and each day I miss Benson more and more... its only been one week.. it'll be okay.

at least that's what i keep telling myself. I wonder if he is going to be confused who his parents are now? what if one day I go into his crib to get him and he doesn't want me?

He's six months old now and is very aware of his surroundings...hopefully aware enough to remember who I am at the end of the day. 5 days down, 60 more to go.

Christmas Review

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. It was really nice to be home and not have to travel anywhere. A few highlights that we've learned from the last few weeks are:

1) Benson loves to watch his train go around and around. (and he can sit up now!)



2) I have very mixed feelings about the idea of putting two long waxed skis and having them buckled to my feet and "skiing" down a mountain. I'm not sure why people like to call it a hobby or a sort of recreation... I think of it as a great form for punishment though.

(no pictures for this lesson learned...no need to rehash past trauma experiences)

3) Eating desserts and adding either butter or whipping cream to every meal can lead to excessive weight gain...like 7 pounds of weight gain.

baby steps

So yesterday I went and put Benson down for a nap...45 minutes later, he was still playing in his crib with his stuffed bear. I went in to explain to him that he needed to nap and he just looked up at me and put his arms out for me! It was his first time to reach out towards someone....It made me feel like a million bucks.

Santa Baby

This post goes out to my dear friend who is expecting a baby sometime soon. Her due date isn't for another few days but I made a prediction that the baby would come today...so

dear baby,
please come today. We are all very excited for you to come and we are all just waiting to meet you...and if you don't come today my husband will never forget to remind me how I didn't guess the right day. Your dad took his last final so he has free time and your mom doesn't want to go back to school...Pleassee Pleassee come today!
love,
Gini, Scott, Benson

Tis the Season

Tis the season for hussle and bussle, for getting things done, and trying to remember the Holiday spirit.

Things always seems to get crazy this time of year and it definitely has for us. It started with our boiler breaking...and after 20+ hours, seven different repair men, three space heaters, two flooded carpets, one melted bucket and a blow dryer..we believe it is fixed. they are coming today to check on it and hopefully we will never hear from Manwill Plumping again!

Thank goodness that great food comes along with the holiday traditions and Benson is just old enough to enjoy it. He has now tried pumpkin pie, pears, bananas, yams, and avacodo. He loves them all! I'm very grateful for Scott's parents idea of buying a highchair for their grandkids and then leaving it behind when they left for Hong Kong...Benson loves being in it!

We are celebrating this Christmas at home and my parents are flying out today to spend it with us. They live in North Carolina and wanted a white Christmas this year.

After the holidays I will start my student teaching! I'll be teaching US Government and World History...I am so scared! but very excited to finally finish school!

So, if the postings start to slow between now and April..you know why. I'll be up to my elbows in grading and lesson plans!! Wish me luck!

Play Date

Benson had his first play date this last week and it was soo funny to watch him and his cousin play together! Benson can't quite sit up on his own so I think when he can the play dates will be a lot of fun! They were so cute we couldn't help but take a few shots. Thanks for the pics A!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving
This year we have a lot to be grateful for. The last couple months have seemed to have some dark hours but each time we have been blessed with tender mercies that have pulled us through the hard times.

Here are things that we are grateful for (not in any order):

- Family
- Scott's job
- Ice Cream
- Our home
- A healthy baby
- airplanes
- gchat
- Friends
- King size beds
- Pacifiers
- Dishwashers