Why I love teaching

Some of you may know that I am working at a tiny, alternative, private high school/tutoring center right now.  Let me tell you what that really means--a place for extremely wealthy, extremely messed up kids.

While most of my kids are actually pretty good, I have one that makes me want to pull my hair out.  Literally.  He is a suicidal, manic depressive eighth grader with straight F's who has already been suspended three times this year for fighting and coming to school high.  Oh, he also hates his parents vehemently, lies continually, and cheats flagrantly.  He's a real peach.

So you might be thinking that this post should be entitled "Why I hate teaching" . . . Not so.  Working with him every afternoon has given me the rare opportunity to get a glimpse of the sweet, funny, real Quinn underneath all of the "issues."  This is certainly the exception and not the norm, but I love when it happens.

He came in on Thursday determined to be a butt head.  He hadn't done any of the make-up work he was supposed to, got kicked out of his dad's house, and was suspended for the third time.  I braced myself for a torturous hour of forcing him to do history worksheets one problem at a time.  Then, while perusing his lengthy list of missing assignments, I came upon an assignment to write a love sonnet.  I couldn't resist.  Even though he looked at me like, "You can't be serious," I persisted.  By the end of the hour, we were cracking up and having a genuinely great time together.

Want to see the finished result?  It may not have ten syllables per line or keep the same tense throughout, but I am proud of him.  I think it is pretty darn clever!

My Love Sonnet

My true love has hair like silk,

I love to see it blow in the breeze.

It's black as night and white as milk,

I love to see you play among the trees.

I love how you have so much energy,

You can always make me smile.

The sight of you fills my soul with glee,

I can't stand not to see you for awhile.

You are a shining star.

Just to see you makes me weep.

Without you I would probably be stuck at some bar.

I love it when you chase sheep . . . 

Of all the things that are precious to me,

I could never survive w/o* my border collie.   

*Yes, his final draft said w/o :)

And that is why I love being a teacher!  Days like that make all the crappy days worth it.

You gotta love sisters

Rachel came and visited me a few weeks ago and just so happened to witness (actually be a critical part of) one of the more embarrassing moments in my life.  And, in typical sister fashion, decided to write about it on her blog!  Gosh . . . how nice of her. 

Anyway, now that the embarrassment has past and I am able to laugh at myself, I thought I would share the joy with you.  Anyone in need of a good laugh?  Want one at my expense?  Go ahead--I give you permission.  Check out Rachie's post (she is a writer and tells it much better than I could).  Enjoy! 

A very overdue post

Our last visitors (at the end of January) were Sary and Cal.  But, when he heard they were coming, my dad couldn't resist coming too!  It seems silly to post about something over two months late, but we had a blast, and I want the record for my sake.  So bear with me.

We spent the week . . . 

Playing at the beach

 Eating delicious frozen yogurt

Can you believe that look on his face?  "Um, why is no one feeding me that yogurt?"

Chowing down on Mexican food

Cal went nuts over the re-fried beans and rice.  He couldn't get enough of them!

Exploring Seaport Village

Meow!  That's my very own sexy sailor giving me a smooch.

Taking a harbor cruise

Sam was in heaven to be out on a boat . . . Callum was not!

Enjoying scenic Balboa Park

Gawking at exotic animals in the zoo

And snuggling!  

 Sarah will probably not be pleased with me for putting up this picture, but Cal looked so sweet that I couldn't resist!

This one's for you, Amy!

I have been way out of the blogging loop for awhile.  Amy keeps reminding me to post things for her "sew-and-tell," so I figured it was about time I got my act together.  Here you go, Amy . . . a conglomerate of sewing projects from the past month or so.

First, my nephew turned one!  I decided to make him a birthday onesie (but couldn't resist sending along a little propaganda while I was at it).

Want to see it in action?  Pretty darn cute if you ask me!

I also made this apron for my cousin's birthday.  She is a baker extraordinaire, so I thought she needed another sassy apron for her collection.

She is a good sport and let me take pictures, even though she hates them.  Doesn't she look cute?  Too bad her shirt was the same color as the tie . . . makes it kind of hard to see.  But you get the gist.

A true chocoholic

It's official.  I am a chocoholic.

It has certainly never been a secret that I love sweets, but I am finally beginning to understand the depth of my addiction thanks to these bad boys.  I LOVE Cadbury mini-eggs.  More than anything else (even chocolate covered almonds), I can't stop eating them once I start.  In fact, I am given bags by friends every year who see them and "think of me."  That tells you how often I talk about them. :) So you can imagine my glee when my sister-in-law, Christine, sent me the link for those cookies last Saturday.  I made them Sunday . . . they were gone by Tuesday.

They say the sign of an alcoholic is drinking before noon.  What does it make me if literally one of the first things I think about when I wake up in the morning is where to find my first treat?  I start WAYYYYY before noon, I assure you.

Two birthdays!

I was going to title this post "Our birthday bashes," but neither of us really had much of a "bash" this year.  Both of our birthdays were pretty laid back.

 Sam turned 27!

 Sam is lucky because he had a little cutie to celebrate with this year (and doesn't the little guy look just thrilled?)

 

My birthday was marked by a momentous occasion--Sam made a cake!  All by himself. :)  And I have to admit, it was DANG good.  I am sucker for funfetti.

I live here

I have these moments when I look around and think, "Oh my gosh.  I live here!  People pay tons of money to come visit for a week, and I get to live here!"

To celebrate Valentines this year, Sam blindfolded me and drove me out to Coronado.  We went on a fun bike ride, walked along the beach, and had breakfast at an adorable French cafe.  It was 75 degrees on February 15th!  Isn't this gorgeous?

 

All of the houses on Coronado are adorable.  I want to live there someday. 

 I will never get sick of living near the beach.

 

Overlooking downtown from the island (the lighting isn't great, but you get the idea)

That's right . . . I live here. :)

Secret Cupid

One of my favorite family traditions growing up was "Secret Cupids."  A week before Valentine's Day, my mom would set up a store in her bedroom, and we would each draw a family member's name out of a hat.  Throughout the week, we would leave that person little surprises.  Then we would all try to guess who our secret cupid was on Valentine's Day (and be just shocked at the results).

Although it is pretty obvious who Secret Cupid is now, Sam and I still have fun celebrating this way every year.  This year though, a different S.C. sent me something in the mail and stole the show . . .

 Talk about the cutest cupid of all!!!  Sorry Sam, but how could you compete with that?!?

Ode to the World's Cutest Grandparents

Our second set of visitors was my precious grandparents.  I feel so lucky to have such loving and spunky grandparents that I get to see so often (but not often enough)!!!

We didn't take many pictures during their trip because it raised every single day they were here.  Total stink!  But I did want to include some of my favorite pictures of them from Christmas.

One night Granny and Grampy came over all dressed up, but Granny wanted to get comfy before we played games so she borrowed some of our clothes.  Doesn't she look tough in Sam's Navy OCS t-shirt?  They are pretty hard core.  And I just can't get over her in my gray and pink sneakers. Pretty hip, eh?

And I think Gramps is pretty handsome in Rachel's girly apron.

We did, however, get one stellar video while they were in town.  This is Josh (my cousin's hubby), Granny, and I doing the "shuffle off to Buffalo."  Not bad for an 80 year old lady!!

Grand Central Station at the Webb's

We have had a TON of visitors over the past month.  Just listen to this . . . Nick, Amy, and their cute kids came first.  Then my grandparents.  Then more Nick and Amy.  And then Sary, Cal, and my dad.  Last Wednesday was the first day I have had totally to myself since December 22nd.  Phew!  It was quite the whirlwind month, and now I am sad that all my visitors are gone.  (Oh yeah.  And that's why I am pretending Christmas and New Years never happened as far as blogging goes.  No time to blog this month and now I am just past caring.)

One trip at a time though.  Amy first.

With Amy and the Snoogs, we . . . 

Played on the Coronado beach

 Hit up the local taco stand (YUM)

 

Went to visit Shamu

Rode some silly kid rides at Sea World (good thing Aunt Laura isn't prego and could go with them!)

 

 

And explored the tide pools at La Jolla cove.

All in January!!!  Oh, I just love it here. Who else wants to come visit now?

My "reveal"

I was supposed to reveal all of the Christmas gifts I made this year for my sister-in-law's Sew and Tell celebration last week, but, shocker, I didn't get around to it in time.  Better one week late than never, right?

My brother-in-law, Logan, is an AMAZING chef (more on that to come . . . ) and a med student, so he always cooks in a shirt and tie.  I decided he needed an apron for Christmas.  So I hatched a plan to make him a "manly" apron (as manly as they come at least, which is not very), a "sassy" apron for Sarah, and a matching bib for Cal.  But when I couldn't find any patterns girly enough for Sarah, I decided to create my own.

What do you think?

 

I think she likes it!

I also made this for myself, but it isn't nearly as exciting. :) 

But it IS reversible.  So fun! 

What do you think?

Should I take the beginning belly dance class I saw advertised through San Diego Community College Continuing Ed program?  I couldn't believe how cheap it is (and yes, I realize that may be a reflection on the quality).  It would be a lot more fun with a friend . . . anyone interested? :)

MEOW!!!