Christmas Break

I made it through my first semester as a teacher. This 2 week break is exactly what I need. Who would have thought teaching 6 hours a day would be more exhausting than a 10 hour day at the office..... The last 2 days were the worst. The children were soooo excited about the break it was impossible to keep them quiet and teach them anything. My main goal for those two days was to just make it through the day without a computer being broke or a child hurting themselves on the damn office chairs the children sit in. I have asked the principal if I may change out the office chairs for regular chairs becuase at least 3 time a day every day for the past 18 weeks, I have a child that can not sit properly in the chair and fall right out of them and then of course once they fall the chair goes flying across the room (because it is on wheels) and hits another child. I hate those chairs... I tried giving my first graders a sticker at the end of class if they sat properly in their chair and not fall out! It didn't work....... I have given up. I now just make sure the fallen child is okay, make sure the child hit by the flying chair is okay and put the fallen child back in the chair and cross my fingers.

I am also responsible for the yearbook and what a task. There are about 250 children ages
3-17 at the school and with this being my first year there, matching faces to names to class has become agravating... I have about 1/3 of this book done and it is due no later than the first week of February. So, over the next two weeks I am going to attempt to get it complete and then spend January fixing faces with names. I have decided to print each teachers page and have them sign off that the names are spelled correctly and the face goes with the name. I can't wait to see how many repairs will need to be done!!!

Once I do return in January, the second semester of this school year, I teach Journalism. I will also spend these two weeks trying to come up with my plans for the class. I have never taught Journalism so I am having difficulty thinking of what to do with this class to make it educational for the students. I have 15 upper school student 5 days a week for 18 weeks...... I am completely open for any suggestions. HHHEEELLLPPP!

As for Doug. There is only one word that can describe him right now. STRESSED. Actually 2 words, COMPLETELY STRESSED. Money is going out and slowly coming back in. He has been spending a lot of time and money on advertising and stocking the store for the holiday season. I keep telling him that for only being open 6 months he is doing a hell of a job. Our bills are paid and most of the stores bill are being paid. Can't ask for much more than that. This Monday, he has decided to go to the bank and see about a business loan to help with the bills. Being in business for such a short time I do not know if they will give him the loan.

Well, I am having all of my family over at 1pm today (in 5 1/2 hours) and my house is in shambles and I haven't started Christmas shopping yet..... I guess I should get started.

I hope everyone has a happy Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas.

Love to all,
Kris

It Has Been Too Long!

I know it has been a while since I have updated my blog. This year has been "difficult". With Doug and I both being laid off in February, opening a new retail store, and me not finding employment until August, life has been crazy.

Well, the store is doing great. The economy is not the greatest right now, but Doug is holding his own. Bills are being paid. We are anxious because of the holiday season. We hope the sales will be enough so we can start paying back ourselves all the start up money and begin to get back to where we were in February. It will take a few long years to completely recover, but it will be worth it in the end.

I am now teaching at a private school. I teach computers to 1st - 5th grade, and Yearbook and Journalism to middle and upper school. I also tutor Algebra twice a week after school. So far it has been awesome! I absolutely love what I am doing. Sarah attends this school as well. This makes our schedules so much easier. I do not have to worry about how I am going to get her to school and pick her up at the end of the day. It is nice to be able to take her with me and her be at school with me when I need to stay late. I do have her in one of my classes on Mondays for an hour. At first it was difficult for her to adjust to me being her teacher but she has done very well. With Doug's new schedule of pretty much 24/7 and me teaching, Sarah doesn't have to live in daycare and camps during vacations times. I am looking forward to the two weeks off at Christmas. I am ready for a break.....

Daymond is doing well. He is attending Valencia Community College earning his AA degree and also working for Doug's parents with the roofing business. I have to say when he first started working for them I was mad and jealous. I loved my sales position with the roofing co. and to this day I still miss it... But I have grown to love teaching and would not change it for the world.

Now that everything is calming down, Doug and I are happier with our new lives. How one day in February can go from the worst day in your life and turn in into the same day that changed your life for the better is amazing. We are thankful that we survived and can begin to relax and move forward. Well, I can begin to relax. As for Doug, I can only say one word..... RETAIL! :)

I will post a new blog weekly. I have time to myself on Sunday mornings so check back then. I hope everyone is doing well.

Love to all,
Krista