Let the Count Down Begin...

Okay, so I am shaking so bad I can hardly type. In less than 11 hours I will be starting my SLLA Test for my Masters Classes. I am very nervous about all this. I think at this point it is more of not knowing where the exact room is, what the actual experience will be like- than the actual test taking. I guess we shall see. Of course I must stress over lots of things (like the fact that I think our toilet is leaking in our bathroom- I know, I know, a friend checked it today and said that it is NOT leaking- thanks for checking for me my friend!).

The trip up was fun, and I enjoyed visiting with my wife and Ms. D. We made it to the U of U and found the motel we are staying in. (That can be a post for another day). We enjoyed a nice dinner at Village Inn. It was nice to eat with out wondering what the kids had destroyed- it was much cheaper too- lol.

Well, I need to study a bit before going to sleep (if that becomes a possibility), so I will give you the complete low down tomorrow after it is over.

Let the Dancing Begin!

Tomorrow my kidlings head out to the district dance festival. I am quite excited to have them perform. They have worked hard and look great. It is fun to show off my amazing students to other people. We leave around 10am tomorrow. It is about 90 minutes to the school where we will perform. That will give me time to study and review for my huge 'ol test I have on Saturday. My class is performing first. I love that because then they get to sit and enjoy watching all the other school perform with the stress of worrying about being next. Yea! I am also excited to have some fun parents going on the bus as chaperons with me. It really should just turn out to be a great day. Once this is over, I can focus 100% on my SLLA test.

I am also happy to report that things are still going much better in my classroom. I have been being much more strict with my rules and that has seemed to really get the kids to focus a little more on better behavior. I hope that it will continue to get better over the next few weeks.

Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open. Goodnight Blogland!

Later...

Saturday, Wii-ing, and Guest Appearances

It really has been a nice weekend (so far...I mean- come on! I still have 1 1/2 days of glorious, lazy TV watching, food eating, game playing, sleeping enjoyment to try out! )

Do I have a test next Saturday...Maybe. I probably should be sweating bullets or cannon balls, or some other manly battle weapon. But...I am not. A study session tonight (which I am secretly hoping turns into more of a chat session), a bit of reading during the week, and then it is off to see the wizard...wait, wrong story! But, if I were to go and see the wizard, I would totally ask for a brain. I obviously don't have one as I continue to find ways to eat up my precious time (like a hungry boa in a flock of sheep- and on that note. I had a student inform me yesterday that he had been watching a show where a boa snake had eaten a cow, or lamb, or some other farm animal, and then had been scared by human so it puked it back up before escaping. I still can find no reason for this learning moment- of which I am calling it for lack of a better term at this time- and it was quite disturbing to our math lesson. But, I digress YET again!). So...anyways, in finding activities to apparently avoid my wife and children I have been in college classes non-stop since the fall of 2006 and I can honestly say that I am VERY READY to be done- with college... PERIOD... as in avoid like the plague in the future. 

Then the logical, practical side of me (that those around me call pessimism) start talking in my head (which in and of it self is a pretty scary thought) and says 'what ever dude, you know that you will find something to keep you busy for that is who you are!' and I say back (but not out loud because that too would be a little creepy, especially for those of you who can not hear the talking in my head)- 'NO! I refuse to tie up more of my precious time, be still evil voice'.....

...

...

I think maybe I have said too much. Moving on!

Last night was a blast. I have Wii arm. Now, if you were at this very moment reading my amazing writing out loud to some lucky listener, you would both perhaps titter at that comment because it has the overtones of potty humor attached. However, if you noticed the registered trademark spelling, you would clearly see that I am really talking of the Nintendo Wii. My parents bought the Wii. I am not talking about just your basic package here- nope grams and gramps went ALL OUT. 4 controllers (I know that they have another name, and those Wii-ers out there will wrinkle your brow at my apparent ignorance of Wii-ing lingo- GET OVER IT!). the grands kicked it in the recliners and watched out family fight and cheer and fight (for real, with like words) and cheer...I can see their ploy here! I picture it going like this:

How To Watch Your Children Make An Idiot of Themselves and Enjoy It in 4 easy Steps:

1) Buy a Wii system with all the bells and whistles. Say you need help installing it.

2) When child arrives, get him excited about playing.

3) Sit back and laugh as his children kick his butt in all the games.

4) Repeat step 3.

Actually it was quite entertaining. I do have to say though, that my arm may never be the same. I would caution all you new Wii'ers out there that you NOT start your Wii experience with sword fighting. More than 12 hours later I can still barley lift my arm above my head. That made bountiful baskets an adventure this morning. Speaking of which, you need to take a small break from this amazing writing and go HERE to see what we got today! It rocked. I love fresh fruit and vegetable. I am glad that they have returned to vanquish all the Christmas crap that we still have sitting on our counter. Of course we had to throw a lot of the candy and other junk away to make room for the healthy stuff- YEA!

Well, now that I have entertained you for far too long and with far too much information, I guess I will end with one last amazing moment for the day...

My wife has made her final appearance on her friend's crafting blog today. It has been fun to check out the cards. I am FAR from crafty or desirous to be so, but I love seeing how creative my wife is (and her friend too!). Those more crafty than I need to head HERE. You can learn how to easily make the cards pictured here plus many more in the Small Fry & Co. Birthday Card-a-Palooza (I made up the end of the title- I like how zippy it sounds! And it makes it seem more manly for my manly blog!) 

May the Saturday Zen of Relaxation find you!

Later...

Black Friday and More...

So the ads all went live at 1:08am (by our clocks). I had actually turned the computer over to my wife for a while to hit refresh. I could hardly stay awake. I was curled up in front of the heater (and I think snoring) when she woke me up to start the shopping. Then it was shopping frenzy! I only missed out on three items I wanted, and they weren't super important. We found other items at different sites to off-set most of them. I was very happy with how it all went down. It took me until 3am to get everything squared away and more my wife and I to go through the carnage and list what we got and for whom. Even though most of our Christmas fund is now gone, so is the fact that we had nothing for our kids! Yea! We have a few odds n ends to pick up, and gifts for parents and our family numbers!

So Friday was a long day as far as I was exhausted and did do a whole lot. I guess that is okay too!

This morning (Saturday) I went to my classroom and spent 5 hours. I was hoping for just a couple of hours, but I had a bunch of new books to add to my classroom library and that alone took about 90 minutes to get in. So, with that removed, I guess I was closer to being on track than not! But, I am ready for the week, and that was worth the time. Tomorrow is Sunday and another day of rest (kind of). That will be nice. I hope to take my practice writing section of my Praxis test. It is coming ever closer and my stress and anxiety is climbing ever higher. I hate that I have to pass a $400 test to show that I will be a good administrator. I don't know how a test proves anything at all. But what ever.

Well, I need to run to the church with my wife and copy the program for tomorrow.

More Hughes Adventures coming soon to a blog near you!!!

Later...