In a Funk

I started out this week in a funk. The kind of funk where I didn't want to go to work and I didn't want to teach. I was bored with what I was teaching, which means my students were definitely bored, which means we were all annoyed with each other. Thankfully, this amazing spring like weather and a half day on Friday has brought me out of my funk.

I have had my windows in my classroom opened everyday. I bribed my students in my third period class with outside time if they walked to and from lunch silently. Outside time can really whip some crazy, sugar filled kids into shape! And, I rode around yesterday with the windows down commenting often on how amazing the weather is! 80 degrees in February? I'll take it! I only thought I wanted another snow day. Bring on spring!!

Funny stories this week:
Sharing good things on Monday, a boy raises his head and proudly announces that his beard is growing in. Before I can comment, another student shares that it is one hair and that she has seen girls with more hair on their face than what he has. Well, now he had to prove himself. So, he comes to the front of the room to show me his "beard." Sure enough, under his chin is one (yes, only one) hair. And, he is very proud of that one hair. By Friday, he had three hairs and made sure to let everyone know. Who knows...he might be shaving by the end of next week. I'm sure he'll keep us updated.

I have this one student whom I have spoken of before. He is about 4 feet tall and his voice is higher than most of the girls in my class. He is full of energy and never fails to make me laugh at something. Anytime something is laying around that another student has left, this student feels the need to have it on his desk. Last week, it was a stuffed dog that someone got for Valentine's Day that needed to sleep under his jacket. This week it was a hat. I come into class and he has this hat on. This is one of those hats that has the ear covers attached and has fur lining. I was already laughing just at the sight of it. However, I composed myself before approaching him to get the hat back. He did not want me to have the hat. He told me he would leave it laying on the desk and not wear it if I would just let him hold it for class. I knew the student who owned it would be back shortly to get it and to avoid too much of a distraction, it could not stay on this boy's desk. So, I told him to lay it there, but not to wear it while planning to snatch it the second he lets go. Well, he was one step ahead of me with quicker reflexes and grabbed it up before I could take it. Then, he informed me that I couldn't just take it; I had to knock because it wasn't okay to just go in someone's space. He said, "Ms. Hemric, you have to knock (and he demonstrated how) and ask nicely before you can have the hat back." So, to humor him, I knocked and asked nicely to have the hat back. His response? "I'm sorry, Ms. Hemric, no one's home; you'll have to come back later for the hat." If I didn't like this kid, I would have been really annoyed at this point. But, instead I just laughed, got my serious face on and demanded the hat back. He eventually gave in, but not without working his charm first.

Wedding Progress:
Met with the florist
Decided on flowers
Ordered my shoes
Narrowed apartments down to two
We're going to register today
First pre-marriage counseling appointment scheduled for next Sunday
Started a marriage class last week at church
Visited the reception site
Decided on food for the reception
Finalized invitations
Finalized guest list
Had engagement pictures taken, which you can see here
Had engagement announced in paper
Arranged accommodations for out of town guests

We're getting down to the very detailed aspects of planning. As picky as I am about details and organization, there are some things I just don't care about and I am bad at making decision. I can't even pick a place to eat when we go out. So, some of these meetings have been a challenge. I just want to tell people the general things I want and then them decide on the best details. Luckily, Allyson has no trouble with voicing her opinion. So, I've been turning to her and going with what she says with some things. Mom keeps asking me who's wedding this is. :) But, we're having fun. Allyson always has been good at getting her way!