My mother, my hero

Student Teacher just gave the class an assignment:  Write a poem or story in honour of a family member who you would like to thank.

My mother was not there when my first tooth fell out
when I got braces
or when I had my wisdom teeth removed.
My mother did not see me graduate from kindergarten
high school
or university.
My mother did not get to tuck me in
wake me up
or worry when I missed curfew.

My mother made the ultimate sacrifice
for me
so my life could be better.
She gave me all the chances
and possibilities
her life could not offer.

Now, my mother is my best friend.
She knows my beliefs
my thoughts
my heart.
My mother is someone
I share my tears
my laughter
my worries with.

She is the strongest
the bravest
the most fearless
Mother.
She is my mom, and I will forever
keep her in my heart.

Student teacher is teaching me to watch and listen. She has a tough job.

I have a student teacher for the next 5 weeks.  This is a new experience for me, which is always awesome!  I hope to learn from watching someone else interact with my students, and hopefully pick up some tips.  I remember my practicum, and it was a huge eye-opener into the world of daily teacher life.  It made me sooo excited to get into my own classroom.
So far, I've discovered that I am a control freak.  I might have issues.  I'm possessive, and controlling, and uptight.  Did I mention the control thing??  Oh my god.  I'm giving up control, and it hurts hurts hurts.  I'm bossy, and I want to leap up and take control.  Obviously I haven't done that, since it would be defeating the entire point.  Poor student teacher would have to go back to university and say "I wanted to teach the class.  I really did.  But the Teacher kept interrupting and taking over, and totally ruined my lesson plans."  The other student teachers would feel sad for her, and my name would be written in some secret book of "Horrible Mentor Teachers - Avoid!!"
I might have to find a way to sit on my hands, and tape my mouth shut.  She's doing a fantastic job, and it will be a good lesson to me to learn to shut up and listen.  But.....it's just so haaaarrrrrdddddd!!

Catching up

I know, I know, I suck.  It's just that life has not been very exciting, so I had nothing to write about!  Also, I am lazy.  Very lazy.

The bake sale was a huge success!  We raised $450 and got a picture on the front page of the local paper.  Don't get too excited....ravens regularly get on the front page, as do random clouds, snow drifts, and rivers.

I haven't talked about Boy Terror lately, but he's doing great.  GREAT!  There was a fire alarm at his school yesterday, and even though he was mid-poop, and very surprised by the alarm, he dealt with it in a calm manner.  No panic, no tears, and no melt-down.  Very exciting!  Last night he was invited to a friend's place for an after school play date.  This is thrilling to us as parents, because we were both social disasters growing up, and we were afraid our little introvert might never have friends.  They played video games, and ran wild, and had a blast!  Woo hoo!  Hubby pointed out that it was a bit weird for Boy Terror to go play with this particular child, since HIS father used to game with Hubby!  Back in the day, they worked at Pizza Hut together, and sat in dark basements playing role playing games that made their mothers cringe.  Oh, the joys of a small town.  Everyone knows your name, your employment history, your relationship stories, and can recite the tale of the one time you did something stupid.

My daughter, my heart.

This afternoon Girl Terror and I went puttering around town.  When we are without the boys, we like to smoosh as much girl-ness as possible into the day.  We went to Bella Home Decor, which is one of our favourite places on earth.  The fact that I made it out of there with spending every penny I have is a miracle.  We were also shopping for baking supplies.  For lunch, I said we should try something new and different (she wanted sushi), so we stopped in at Burnt Toast Cafe, which is a fabulous little eatery.
As we were discussing the baking plans, she asked me what the bake sale is for.  After all, we were planning a 3 day baking extravaganza!  I explained that I am going on a trip to Toronto in May, with some students.  We are going to OUTshine, a summit of gay and lesbian youth and their allies.  It will be nothing short of amazing!  Girl Terror asked a few more questions, specifically about the straight part of the Gay Straight Alliance.  When I told her we are there to support our friends, and prevent the bullying that is a huge part of being a GLBTQ teen, she said "People need to be TAUGHT to act that way?!"
I looked across the table at her.  She was happily eating potato leek soup (which she ordered on her own), being polite, charming, and excellent company.  She was perfectly comfortable chatting with the waitress about the focaccia bread.  Somehow she managed to make a pink flowery head band go very well with her pink camo batman shirt.  She was beautiful, smart, and funny.  And mine.  My daughter. I often wonder how I managed to get so lucky.
We came home and baked.  We made rainbow cookies, heart cookies, and flower cookies.  We counted how much profit we might get at the sale.  And she told me we need to make more goodies, to sell to more students, so we can teach even more people how to act toward each other.
I am so very, very lucky.

There are strange things done in the midnight sun...

Last night, I....
-saw "Grandma Susie" perform
-ate Korean food at the Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant
-watched the fireworks
-observed the Hairy Leg Competition
-cheered on the Tattoo Competition
-was disappointed by the Beard Competition
-danced to a local band, surrounded by folks in flannel, fishnets, feathers, and winter boots
-saw Cancan dancers, who in my opinion had no business performing "Phantom of the Opera"
-and danced some more.

The Yukon is never dull.

random crankiness

Hmmmm....apparently I have very little to say.  The fact is, I've been cranky and foul and just generally unpleasant.  Winter sucks, did you know that?  If you are lucky enough to live in one of those warm, sunny places, good for you.  Now go away.  I don't want to hear about it.  

The good news is that the light is returning.  I can see, every day, that it's a bit brighter outside.  If I were a patient person I would wait without complaining.  HA!  That was a joke.  I am not patient.  And if I stopped complaining my husband wouldn't know what to do.  My students wouldn't recognize me. Yesterday I whined with such force two girls brought me a Dr. Pepper after class, in an effort to keep my head from popping right off my body from the force of my negative energy.  Such sweet girls.

I might have lost my mind earlier this week....I've set up a play date for the Terrors.  For this weekend.  Sunday morning.  NINE THIRTY in the freakin' morning.  Why?  Why would I make other children come experience Morning Mommy??  Those poor dears.  I hope their parents are saving up for the therapy bills.

Hubby will be gone all weekend to an archery workshop, so in addition to bring other children into the house, I have promised to make Valentine crafts.  Also we are doing some baking.  Oooh!  Cleaning too!!  Such a fun time with Cranky Mommy!!

Okay, I think that's all my words for today.  I will work on finding rainbow sparkles, sunshine, and unicorn poop.  Later.

Where have we been??

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!  I haven't been posting, but I've been busy.  Grandma (Hubby's mom) is here visiting.  We've done a lot of unpacking and settling into our new house.  And of course, we thoroughly enjoyed our vacation.  

There was reading...

...and napping....

...and Christmas morning!!

 There might have even been snuggling and hugging going on.

 So from me, Hubby, Girl Terror

  

Boy Terror

and of course from Lucy

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!