It Looked So Simple

I've been trying to get involved at my new church by volunteering for every opportunity that comes my way. So far it's worked out pretty well for me! However, last week I volunteered to help assemble new preschool toys/equipment for the church's new building, and this...

...this did not go well for me.

Behold the Fisher Price Learning Home:

Intimidating, right? I spent about an hour trying to set this thing up! Just to make one thing clear...it is NOT hard to assemble. There was an instruction sheet with 15 simple steps (with pictures included!). I had to go back and "un-assemble" at times because I didn't properly follow directions. For example...the door is supposed to be one of the first items on, which I realized at about Step 13.

And I expect 24 nine-year-olds to follow directions in my classroom. Little do they know their teacher is a hypocrite...

I suppose I better evaluate my gifts/talents before jumping on the next volunteer bandwagon. Assembling is not my thing!

Pumpkins and Cousins

A couple weekends ago I carved a pumpkin at a birthday party. It was a rather festive thing to do, and it made me feel very autumn-y. Sadly, my pumpkin only lasted a week before it got old and moldy. I came home one day and noticed its upper lip was caving in - it got worse over the next couple days. The poor pumpkin had a massive underbite by the time it went into the trash can! It made me giggle every time I came home, so I thought I'd share a picture of my defeated jack-o-lantern. Poor guy.

In other news, I spent the weekend with my cousins Ashley and Rudy. Their birthday present to me was a photography class so I can better learn how to use my digital SLR camera. Ashley and I took it together this morning, and I learned some super helpful information! I think I finally understand what aperture, f-stop, and shutter speed are. The class was quite challenging for me, and I found myself thinking more than once, "I have no idea what she (the instructor) is talking about". She was very good, but it was a lot of new information and vocabulary!

Speaking of cousins, tomorrow cousin Ashley is moving to College Station. I'm sad about that. I know it's the best decision for her family, and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for them down in Aggieland. At the same time, I will miss her dearly. I'm thankful God graciously placed us in Dallas for the last seven years, and I'm grateful we've had the opportunity to build that relationship. Ashley, you have been such an encouragement to me - know that you and Rudy will be missed by all of us Dallas folk.

Diaper Cakes

Well, I'm writing this at 10:40 on a Wednesday evening. Will I have a hard time rolling out of bed tomorrow morning? Absolutely. But I type away with joy because one of my devoted readers loves me enough to care about my blog. And I love her!

It's been a while! Much has happened since September, but for now I'll share a tidbit from today. My assistant at school (I'm spoiled, I know), wanted to learn how to make a diaper cake for a friend. Which, by the way, I didn't realize were not known in other parts of the country. I have a friend from Indiana who hadn't ever heard of one before coming to Texas! We southerners are strange, making diapers into cakes. Anyway, I went to my coworker's house this evening for Diaper Cakes 101. She graciously offered me a home-cooked meal with her family, and we spent the evening being crafty. Below are pictures of our (almost) finished products. My cake is for my cousin, who is decorating her nursery in a Dr. Seuss theme. Any idea where I can get a small red and blue fish for the top?

Off to bed for now, but I'll attempt to update again soon. :)

Spunky? Me?

Today I found out that one of my students told her mom that I have a "spunky spirit". I have NEVER been called spunky before, and it's not a word I'd use to describe myself. But I have to admit, it's pretty fun to be seen that way!

And then I started thinking back on the last couple of weeks. I'm pretty sure I say and do some quirky things in the classroom. Actually, I KNOW I do. My brother once said "Erin, you say your kids are quirky. Did you ever think that their teacher is making them that way?" Thanks, Brad. ;)

Today was National Skyscraper Day. You might not have known that, but you can thank the internet for that random piece of information. We celebrated today in the classroom. Now...let me clarify the depth of our learning in Miss Cunningham's classroom. In contrast, my coworker across the hall celebrated the holiday by educating his kids on the tallest skyscrapers around the world. Did you know the Burj Dubai is the tallest skyscraper, reaching 2,684 feet? I learned that today from my coworker, who compared it to several other skyscrapers, towers, and mountains. He even pulled down the map to show the kids where Dubai is located.

But us? Oh, no. In Miss Cunningham's class, we celebrated National Skyscraper Day by walking down the hall like skyscrapers. By standing as tall as we could, as straight as we could, and as still as we could (with our hands pointing straight up - for the tip, you know). We got weird glances and questions all the way down the hallway, to which I responded "Happy Skyscraper Day", of course.

So spunky? I don't know. Quirky? Definitely. Sometimes I wonder what in the world comes out of my mouth during a school day. I don't even want to know what the kids tell their parents at home. That I'm spunky, apparently. I think that student was just being kind. :)

Tomorrow is National Newspaper Carrier Day. This one I researched beforehand. Did you know the first newspaper carrier was a 10-year-old boy named Barney Faherty who began his job in 1833? My kids will learn that tomorrow!

It's Like Riding a Bike

So the phrase "It's like riding a bike - you never forget" is actually somewhat true. This weekend I rode a bike for the first time in more than 15 years! I was terrified and thought I might die when I had to practice on the street in front of my brother's house. If you'll notice, there are children - no older than 8 - in the background of my cherished picture below. There were at least 4 of them playing in the street, riding their bikes cheerfully like it was no big deal. I had to take my practice run in front of them, wobbling all over the street with a look of panic on my face. Embarrassing? Yes.

My brother Brad took me on an 11.7 (I will NOT leave out that .7) round trip ride to a Farmers Market in Colorado, and it was a great experience! I loved the mountain view, the brisk air, and the speed that you gain on a bicycle. Within a couple hours, we biked to the market, where we shopped and enjoyed a tasty tamale lunch before biking back home. And I didn't hurt myself OR the bicycle! :) I was amazed...it's incredible how the Lord created our minds and brings even the most long-lost skills to the surface...even after 15 years.

I never knew exercise could be enjoyable! Don't get me wrong, by the last mile or two I was barely making it up hills. It was challenging...but more enjoyable than painful, which is always good, right? Maybe I'll take up biking in Dallas. Although it's probably different biking in the 100 degree heat with the Dallas skyline as the backdrop. Not quite the same.

Boast No More

We sang this song in church this morning, and I love the words. It is a great reminder that I am accepted as a child of God because of Christ alone - because of His work on the cross. Not because of things I do, but because of HIM and His amazing love and mercy. I need a lot of help remembering this!

No more my God, I boast no more
Of all the duties I have done
I quit the hopes I held before,
To trust the merits of Thy Son

Now, for the loss I bear his name,
What was my gain I count my loss
My former pride I call my shame
And nail my glory to His cross

Yes, and I must, I will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus' sake
O may my soul be found in Him
And of His righteousness partake

The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy throne
But faith can answer Thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done

~Caedmon's Call

My Current Pet Peeve

I need to know something. Let me preface this by saying that I love food. And being a single teacher, I tend to find it easier to grab dinner on the way home. Subway and Pei Wei recognize me now, although I'm not sure that's a good thing....

I've been harboring bitterness about something, and I just need to get it out there and confess. When I go to these places to eat, I always ask for water. It's better for me, and I can't justify spending $1.45 on a drink when I'm already spending money on dinner. Very rarely do I order a soda, but when I do, I get a choice of a 12 oz. cup, a 16 oz. cup, or a 20 oz. cup. However, when I order water, I get this:

6 ounces of water. Does anybody else think this is a little unfair? If a customer is ordering water over soda, shouldn't that person be rewarded for choosing a healthier option? Instead of being punished by receiving a tiny cup - that once filled with ice - holds about a teaspoon of water? Occasionally I'll ask for a bigger cup, but on two recent occasions I've been rejected and charged extra.

I apologize for my venting. Maybe someday I'll accept the 6 ounce cup with a smile, but apparently not today. :)