A bittersweet return to the grind…

I am writing this post right now and to say I am a zombie would be putting mildly.  I AM SO TIRED RIGHT NOW…I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep last night because, well, it was Sunday night and I don’t usually get to bed real early because there are so many monday morning preparations(school and personal) that must be done Sunday night…So needless to say really; it was a four hour night 
However, when the students filed in this morning, it was so quiet and calm, I didn’t even have to break out classroom dojo to keep them in line…I didn’t even have the calendar math work out because the copier was all jacked up this morning (Mondays…Yeesh!)
Most of the morning went that way.  Things were calm and work ethic was good.  It was really a good day to go back to work with the exception of little to no sleep.
Now my read aloud after recess went too long and math was a rushed and writing got the back burner…typical afternoon stuff but the behavior was still in check.  So I deal better with lags in schedule when I am the cause of it and not the talkers. 

FAstfoward to this evening after supper…I am grading papers from earlier that day and some that I just put off from Spring break.  I AM SO FINISHED TAKING LATE ASSIGNMENTS…I decided that starting tonight and for the rest of my upper elemtentary career, I will not take another late assignment unless a parent notifies me.  I will give extra credit opportunities, but this turning in assignments when you feel like it is over with.  I am sick to death of grading things late or giving making kids extra copies and then grading it again.  We just had our copies numbers limited, so I am limited on the numbers of extras I can make.  I always round out my copies and there are a few extra copies, but the latest I will take it is during recess time.  After that or if I run out of extras, you can do extra credit for half a point per assignment.  I am tired of enabling children to work up to a portion of their potential and having lowered expectations.  Deadlines and due dates are for a reason.  Is this too harsh of me?  I am flexible, I will allow an assignment to be turned in a day late with a parent notification/request but that is the best I can do on that.  I want my students to be responsible…85% of my students grades come from right in the classroom and the other 15% from homework and independent projects.  So, I am posting this information on my classroom blog in just a moment and sending home a note about this tomorrow.  I know it seems like a little late in the game to get all over this, but it has just recently become a much larger problem.  I made this product to keep students accountable for what assignments they are missing as well help me spot trends in what assignments are not being turned in. 
 
Thanks for letting me sound off about this… This item is in my TPT shop and because you let me vent, I am marking it down to 50% off for the next two days!!!  Just click on the pic for a link to the product!!!!  I will GIVE IT AWAY TO FIRST FOUR FOLKS TO BRING THE FOUR FOLLOWERS i NEED TO MY TPT SHOP.  They need to leave me their follower number in comments along with the name and contact info of the person who sent them my way.  That is a grand total of eight of these…for FREE!!!
Also, don’t forget about the giveaway going on here at Shearerly Sadler 4th grade…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looky Looky at my classroom blog update!!!!!!!

So I got a little brave today and googled how to make a blog background…I found three web sources and played  around with them all.  I ended up using PowerPoint for the back ground of the classroom blog…I have to say, I think it turned out just darling if I must say so myself.  I will unveil it to my class tomorrow when they get to the classroom.  They love it when I get creative. Heck, I love it when I get creative.  I had so much fun doing it.  Click this link to check it out…Sadler’s Super Stars

Please leave me some love if you like it! 

I just downloaded and am using Windows Live Writer

I am just trying this out and so far, I think I kind of like it…I am trying to use different fonts to make Things more interesting to look at!  Found this Windows live writer from a blog post I was reading on bloglovin…I cannot remember, Faithful In First I think is the name of the blog…Any who, I know like three blog posts in one day!  I could be going crazy!!!

I liked the idea, really really liked the idea of being able to use the fonts on my computer in my blog posts!!!  Love it so far!!!!!!

Blog Face Lift...

 I do not know how to design blogs but I can sure create a blog header...Maybe this will make my blog more attractive...In the spirit of changes in my life...I can't afford a totally blog make over right now...I would like A Bird In Hand Design for my blog...but for now, I am going to have to get creative and learn to do it myself...I think it looks good right now...

Don't forget about the giveaway I have going on right now!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sometimes the "real" truth can crush you....

 My momma always said the truth will set you free.  It does, it takes a huge weight off your shoulders.  I should know, this past year I had to be truthful with my husband about our finances and the weight was lifted from me and my marriage is on the mend...But when I mention the 'real' truth, I am talking about a deeper truth.  The truth my momma didn't tell me about...The truth you have to admit to yourself.  

This is me today...really, I just took this pic like ten minutes ago...

I am the average gal...I am a wife, a mother, a professional.  I am a daughter, a sister and a friend.  I find that on most days, I put my own needs on the back burner because the needs of those I love take precedence over my own.  It seems almost easier to be the caretaker for others than to be a caretaker of myself.  Its not that I feel a tremendous amount of guilt for it, I just can't seem to get around to it.  I have let myself go in ways that I can't believe.  I just keep buying bigger clothes instead of taking the time to get myself back into shape.  Its either do it at night before I go to bed, but we all know how that turns out, I am so wiped out by that time, I barely get into the shower and into the bed before I fall asleep...Or there's getting up and doing it first thing in the morning.  WEEEEELLLLLL, when my three year old who doesn't sleep through the night (STILL) wakes me up twice in the night and I have to be the one who gets up, getting up at least an hour earlier than normal to work out and shower just doesn't happen either.  I give myself excuse after excuse...I even blame my husband.  I say that I have so many things to do around  here and he just won't do it.  I just don't have the time.  I blame him for me not having the time (even though if I seriously committed to something he would pick up the slack)...However, I don't have the time to be dead either.  So I don't know what to do...

BUT, I have to...I stepped on the scale this morning and the rest of my life literally flashed before my eyes.  My worst fear in life is my three children growing up without me.  I have said it to my husband before, I have even admitted it to myself before, but today, it just hit me really hard as a reality.  I am 45lbs over weight today.  That increases my chances for type 2 diabetes (which I had gestational diabetes while pregnant with all three of my kids), high blood pressure (which runs in my family) and heart disease (the number one killer of women...I think back to ten years ago.  I bent over one day to tie my shoes and my belly was in the way so that it was hard to breathe and tie my shoes.  Also, my papaw asked me one day if he bought me some SlimFast would I drink it...I am not sure why he just didn't call me fattie :)  But, I knew he meant well.  So, I bought my first at home workout program and while I finished my Master's degree and was dating my now husband, I lost 32 pounds.  I started out slowly, but in six months I was one fit little fiddle.  Fast forward ten years and here I am about to turn 40, 45 pounds over weight, and scared for my health...Looking good would just be a side benefit!  Most people hold onto their fat clothes just in case...Not me, I held onto the clothes from ten years ago.  Here are a few of the outfits I am going to work myself back into...

Hubs asked me today what I was going to do about this...no humor, no fat remark or jab, just genuine concern...

I wrote all my stats in dry erase marker on the bathroom mirror...height, weight, measurements, pants size, shirt size, if I can shrink it, I wrote it down...and my husband saw it.  I wasn't going to hide it from him anymore.  I am not hiding from myself anymore.  I have to face this weight and remove it, as well as removing the reasons I overeat, refuse to exercise and the many other underlying reasons why I have just let myself go...He loves me so much, but he doesn't love what I have done to myself.  My kids don't deserve it either...I am sort of lazy, I am overworked, overwhelmed and if I don't take care of me, then I won't be around to take care of anyone else...There is my real crushing truth.  

SSSOOOOO, what are you going to do you ask and why are you sharing this with us...I know what to do and the reason I am sharing is because there are no more supportive people than you guys in the blogosphere...

I just have to do it in baby steps but my reality wants to wake up tomorrow with the body of 23 year old fitness model.  I mean come on, feels like I put the weight on that fast :)  Shouldn't it come off in the same amount of time :)  All kidding aside, this is the seedling of my plan...  It has to be realistic or it just won't work...

Baby steps Phase 1

REWARDS!!!  Do something for myself once a week for my good choices throughout the week.  Since I love soda and chocolate, that is going to be my first reward.  I can have it once a week.  

This week, my goal is to eat clean for a week allowing myself a cheat meal once this week.  According to Dr. Pamela Peeke in Body for Life for Women, this is a necessity. 

You have got to read this book...Something for every woman in every stage of her life!!!

Depravity will kill change.  I think for me, to deprive me of soda and chocolate would be like not attending any other addiction.  I would get it somehow.  This way, I can work for it.  Any exercise I do this week will be a bonus tangible reward like a new pair of shoes or scarf or something fun like that.  

Short term goal:  Size 10 by the time my son's 2nd bday (July 4th)

Long Term Goal:  Size 7-8 by our Disney Vacation, 2nd week of October...I have never been the cute little mommy at Disney, its high time I am!  

I plan to check in weekly and I hope you all don't mind going on this journey with me....Please encourage me, I feel like this is going to be the hardest thing I have ever ever done because this time, its not just about me...

Here is a little something I made for motivation...

Backgrounds are by MyClipArtStore, fonts by MissTiina, HelloFonts, and me...Frame is HelloLiteracy and of course a Melonheadz Graphic!!!

Please save it, copy it, post it; especially if you need it like I do!!!  I am not sure who coined this phrase, but it is another real truth for me!  

Thanks for sticking with and following me in this chapter of life!!  This can only make me a better person, wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister and friend!!

I am in the mood for a giveaway!!!

I love a good giveaway!   I haven't done a giveaway in some time and I am totally in the mood for one!  

Enter with rafflecopter here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I will choose my winners next Friday!

Little Secret...I am planning a big giveaway when I cross 100 followers...if you are interested in helping out with that giveaway, leave me a comment with contact information.  

April's CURRENTLY!!!!!!!

 Yeah!  It's currently time!  I am linking up with Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade for her monthly currently Linky party!!!  I just love these because I love to read all the differently currently's that are linked up and find some new blogs to stalk follow!  So here goes!!!

 

I am seriously listening to some Japanese Educational content for children.  My five year old loves it and watches it on the I Pad all the time.  I love the intonation in the Japanese language, it is interesting to hear the highs and lows in the songs.  I can understand why she likes the sound of it!  

I purchased IFontMaker from the APP store and I have been going to town.  My five year old, (some one who loves Japanese culture) is all over font making.  I have made 5 so far and one of them in right here on my currently.  Here is a link to three free downloads of the first three fonts I have made.  Its just a few posts back from this!  Riley has made two of her own and loves to "make her letters"  She thinks its neat to see her own handwriting appear when I do something in word or powerpoint.  

My house it a huge mess, especially with five of us here and only one person really manning it all.  My hubs picks up some and I am working with my five and three year old to pick up after themselves...I can't seem to get to the real cleaning needs until I get all of everyone elses stuff organized and put back in its proper place.  I will probably still be spring cleaning in the fall and winter...for real!

I am freaking out a bit because our state testing is the third week in May and I still have so much content to get through.  Our state has made strides in making sure that our testing is truly summative and that we aren't left with months of school left where kids aren't really being accountable for learning anything.  Our K-Prep test keeps them focused on something, that and report cards.  Six more weeks before the test would be fabulous!!!

My day is an early one...Plus, I have three children to load and pack.  I have to be up at 5 just to make myself look presentable and then get everyone loaded and strapped in to pull out by 6:45 to make sure we make the school bus by 7:05 and then I have to haul my little boy into my mama's house!  I wish I started just a little later so I could drop the girls off everyday, but that just doesn't work out.  Oh well!  Students last day is June 3, and the state forgave 10 of our 14 snow days but teachers still have contract time to work out after that...I am really not sure when my last day actually is...but who are we kidding, I have summer school for educational specialist degree and then I have all my new stuff I want to have ready for the next school year ready to go.  I don't yet know what grade I will be teaching or if I will even be back in my old school yet...So many unknowns in my future right now!!!

I hope you all have a groovy day no matter where you are or what you are doing!!!