Burned Out!

I guess it's just "that time of the year". I think I'm officially burned out. We have five weeks left of school and the kids have "checked out" so to speak. They are physically there, but not mentally. We have our state exams next week and I know that after that discipline will go up and averages will go down. There is just not much that I can do about that. It's frustrating because we are expected to fail only so many students, but like I have said in the past, I refuse to pass a student who doesn't deserve to pass. With all this being said, if anyone has any ideas on how to motivate seventh and eighth graders the last month of school give me a shout!

I've got the lake itch really bad. I'm ready to go! Natalie is walking now, which will make my summer a lot easier for the most part. Tonight we played in the backyard and I didn't have to carry her anywhere! She played all by herself. Awesomeness. She's only taking one bottle, at night. I love giving it to her and it's me that's not letting go. We are not going to have anymore children so I'm holding to the last parts of her being a baby. She has a beauty pageant coming up this Sunday that I'm really excited about, so wish us luck with that!

Noah is also doing well. He's been fully potty trained now for a little over a month. He loves school so I'm going to let him keep going this summer. He's gotten so easy and it really makes me look forward to the future. Last summer was just really hard for us.

Well, I think I need to fold some laundry or do something productive...

Easter!

We had a great Easter! It was Natalie's first. She was actually kind of fussy so you'll see some paci action in some of these pictures. Natalie was walking some on Sunday, but today she really took off! Noah also started walking on April 14th two years ago. Weird huh? You can also tell her hair is really thickening up...I'm out of energy to write a good blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

My Mom, Noah, and I

Natalie's First Letter

Princess Natalie,

It was just a few days away from Thanksgiving. Your father and I sat in the waiting room anxiously waiting to be called back. We were finally going to find out if we were going to have a boy or a girl.
I didn’t have to ask myself whether or not I would love you. It didn’t matter what you were, I knew that I would love you without doubts, questions, or expectations. The sonogram technician rolled over my stomach several times before she finally asked “Do you want to know what you are having?”
I said “Well, of course!”
When she said we were having a girl I could immediately feel myself holding back tears, tears of joy. I’m not much to cry in front of others. Well, try as I might it wasn’t happening, tears seemed to spring from my eyes. I was already so full of love for your brother, but at that very moment my heart expanded.
Five months later, you were finally placed in my arms. Your perfection was literally breath-taking. You were, and still are, an amazing baby, always so content.
Within a few months your dark eyes shifted into the clearest, purest, blue that I have ever seen. I immediately became infatuated with them, and they still have me hypnotized today. To me your beauty is indescribable.
Of course another perk to having you is the shopping. I’ve actually gotten in a lot of trouble over the money that I’ve spent on you. Every beautiful dress, crazy bow, cute shoes, and adorable outfit just has to belong to you! We have many of those days to come, just don’t tell your father!
If you ask the people I work with, they will tell you that I cannot wait to get home from work and see you. My heart aches when I’m not with you. Natalie, I love you so much and I’m so VERY proud to be your mother. You have changed my life for the better and I thank God for you everyday. I’m looking forward to the year to come. I’m so excited that I get to be a part of your life. Happy first birthday my princess.

Love,

Mom