I spend a lot of time of Facebook. More than I should actually. However I have found a game in which I don't have to find lost objects, build fictitious farms, or serve fictitious customers. Actually it allows me to play with my kids & hubby on a turn by turn basis. I can do this between classes, while waiting for an appt. (that is if I have my puter & wi-fi access), or even here at the house like I am tonight.
What is this miraculous game you ask? Words with friends. Nothing spectacular really, it's essentially a scrabble game. The nice thing about this is that you can play multiple people at once, at your own pace, with a dictionary if needed (you know who you are!).
Tonight Kyle, Harlee, and I have been playing. I get a kick out of Harlee sitting over at the computer desk spitting and growling over a word that she can't spell because the letters on the board are in the wrong place. Kyle sits over on the couch with his laptop scratching his head over the letters he has, trying to come up with something. I sit in my chair with my laptop (surveying my kingdom lol) and we have dueling words going between the three of us.
Now some of you might ask why we don't just pull the scrabble game out? Well this way we don't have to wait till I get home and we don't have to worry about missing scrabble tiles ;)
So if you're on Facebook & would like to stretch your brain and get your family to do the same, check it out. You never know what you'll learn next!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
It's Music Season!
Here are some pics from the Community meet and greet Thursday night where they performed the show for the community. I'm also posting a link to a local newspaper article: Macon County Times Article
 |
| Harlee on the far left |
 |
| Harlee on the far left in front of the trumpet player |
 |
| Finally a pic of Harlee that doesn't have her face hidden by the Trombone lol |
 |
| Woodwinds & Brass Marching |
 |
| Field Commander, Drumline, Guard, and Brass |
 |
| Tanith & Kasmin |
 |
| Tanith |
 |
| Pit |
 |
| Drumline, Brass, & Woodwinds |
 |
| Brass |
 |
| New equipment truck courtesy of the county...isn't it Da Bomb! |
Friday, September 23, 2011
Frustration
Ok, I am at my wits end. My 7 yo has been kicked off of the school bus. I love my child I really do, but I am at a loss on how to teach him self-control (he has ADHD, but that is no excuse). Apparently he has been having issues in transitional periods at school (such as the lunch room) and on the bus. He was observed in class last week and his medication seems to be working for that, but we are getting some really nasty behavior when he's outside of class. He's disrespectful to everyone, regardless of how you phrase the question/statement, flies off the handle over very insignificant things, and is having difficulty keeping his hands & feet to himself. I don't know what to do.
I do know that somewhere in there is a very sweet child who is loving and curious, but for the life of me I don't know how to reach him. He reminds me of that nursery rhyme: "There was a little girl with a curl in the middle of her forhead, when she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad she was HORRID!" That sums up my son. I really hope we can get this straightened out. He's a smart kid, but if he can't/won't control himself we are going to have some pretty severe issues.
Mrs. Martin
I do know that somewhere in there is a very sweet child who is loving and curious, but for the life of me I don't know how to reach him. He reminds me of that nursery rhyme: "There was a little girl with a curl in the middle of her forhead, when she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad she was HORRID!" That sums up my son. I really hope we can get this straightened out. He's a smart kid, but if he can't/won't control himself we are going to have some pretty severe issues.
Mrs. Martin
Monday, September 12, 2011
Easy to please
Human beings are a demanding lot. We want it all; food, shelter, clothes, gadgets, perfect politicians & government, the perfect spouse, perfect kid(s), so on and so forth. Some of us like surprises, some don't (for the most part I fall into the latter category since I'm a bit of a control freak lol). Contemplating on what makes us happy, can in fact make us very unhappy in the long run. Most of the time I try to focus on the now and not what has been or might be. Someday's I actually succeed.
In the past 2 weeks Kyle has had to make a trip to Texas and a trip to Louisiana without me. Both times I asked him to bring me something, both times he did. Other than telling him I wanted Brownies from Braum's, (if you love cherry limades, great ice cream, and great burgers you should check them out!), I didn't specify what I wanted him to bring home. He brought home fudge cake, brownies, their 9 grain bread, and milk. From his trip to Louisiana he brought me a fleece jacket & a really soft hoodie.
I gotta admit, I love my guy. He didn't have to bring me anything, but what he brought me was great. I love the food from Braum's. His reasoning for the fleece jacket was great. He has one that has camo on the shoulders that I have pretty much taken over, so he bought me my own. The hoodie is great for fall days & will make a welcome addition to my wardrobe for the cooler weather.
Was it the moon? No. Was it something spectacular? Yes and no. It may not have been a gazillion dollar diamond ring (which I probably wouldn't wear because I am notoriously hard on rings), but it was something that I wanted/needed, that he recognized and proceeded to do something about.
The best things in life are free (so true), but the next best things are the simple things. Appreciating what you get, whether it be a jacket or the moon, goes a long way in making me easy to please.
Mrs. Martin
In the past 2 weeks Kyle has had to make a trip to Texas and a trip to Louisiana without me. Both times I asked him to bring me something, both times he did. Other than telling him I wanted Brownies from Braum's, (if you love cherry limades, great ice cream, and great burgers you should check them out!), I didn't specify what I wanted him to bring home. He brought home fudge cake, brownies, their 9 grain bread, and milk. From his trip to Louisiana he brought me a fleece jacket & a really soft hoodie.
I gotta admit, I love my guy. He didn't have to bring me anything, but what he brought me was great. I love the food from Braum's. His reasoning for the fleece jacket was great. He has one that has camo on the shoulders that I have pretty much taken over, so he bought me my own. The hoodie is great for fall days & will make a welcome addition to my wardrobe for the cooler weather.
Was it the moon? No. Was it something spectacular? Yes and no. It may not have been a gazillion dollar diamond ring (which I probably wouldn't wear because I am notoriously hard on rings), but it was something that I wanted/needed, that he recognized and proceeded to do something about.
The best things in life are free (so true), but the next best things are the simple things. Appreciating what you get, whether it be a jacket or the moon, goes a long way in making me easy to please.
Mrs. Martin
Friday, August 19, 2011
How time flies!
16 years ago today I married my best friend, I just didn't know it at the time. I'm not sure what demon possessed Kyle to ask me to marry him on that day, but I'm glad he did. Like any couple we have had our ups and downs. We've been through a cross country move from Texas to Tennessee with 2 children under the age of 3 and only the things we could fit into his El Camino and my little Honda. We survived my subsequent culture shock related to moving from the big city to a LITTLE BITTY town. 8 years of him driving a truck over the road and most recently the last 4 years which have included me being a full time student, him getting laid off and finding a different career, 2 teenagers and a 7 year old that makes the older 2 look like child's play.
Through it all we've managed to not kill each other (or the kids for that matter!) and have actually managed to grow as individuals, a couple, and as parents. Growing up neither of us had a template to show us what a marriage should be, so we made up the rules as we went. We knew what we didn't want to happen and built off of that.
All of this is amazing to me as I look back over the last 16 yrs. I couldn't ask for a better partner in my life. We balance each other out. He's quiet, I talk. He's introverted, I know no strangers. He is himself, I am me. Some how, some way we make it work.
So here's to you dear =) Happy Anniversary, I hope we celebrate many more!
Here are a few pictures of the wedding many years ago :)
Through it all we've managed to not kill each other (or the kids for that matter!) and have actually managed to grow as individuals, a couple, and as parents. Growing up neither of us had a template to show us what a marriage should be, so we made up the rules as we went. We knew what we didn't want to happen and built off of that.
All of this is amazing to me as I look back over the last 16 yrs. I couldn't ask for a better partner in my life. We balance each other out. He's quiet, I talk. He's introverted, I know no strangers. He is himself, I am me. Some how, some way we make it work.
So here's to you dear =) Happy Anniversary, I hope we celebrate many more!
Here are a few pictures of the wedding many years ago :)
 |
| The happy couple! |
 |
| He was 18 & I was 19 in this picture at the reception |
 |
| My beautiful mom & I |
 |
| From this day forward...I love James Avery Jewelry, can you tell? |
 |
| Isn't he handsome ;) |
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
It takes all kinds...
This morning while watching the news (or at least what passes for news), Texas Governor Rick Perry has come out swinging in his bid for the Presidential election. Calling into question President Obama's and Fed Chairman Bernanke's patriotism because they never served in the military. While I realize that serving your country is a huge part of the American identity, I think Perry is missing something very important.
Military men don't necessarily make great leaders. Granted they have been trained to be many things, one of which is a leader, but, that doesn't mean that they will be the right leader for the situation.
Leadership is not always a skill set that can be taught. Sometimes it relies on something akin to intuition. It's not black and white. There are shades of context and meaning in everything. A good leader is one that is willing to learn from situations and people, regardless of rank, that can admit fault graciously without excuses and moves to fix it without whining or BS. These are not leadership skills that have been taught...they are character traits. Aside from this, when you participate in any type of verbal attack on someone, you show your character much more than you show the person's you are attacking.
I don't know who I will vote for in the 2012 election, but I assure you that I will ponder the behavior of all candidates seriously. They say it's not how you treat your peers that is telling of your character, it's how you treat those who have less than that does.
Mrs. Martin
Military men don't necessarily make great leaders. Granted they have been trained to be many things, one of which is a leader, but, that doesn't mean that they will be the right leader for the situation.
Leadership is not always a skill set that can be taught. Sometimes it relies on something akin to intuition. It's not black and white. There are shades of context and meaning in everything. A good leader is one that is willing to learn from situations and people, regardless of rank, that can admit fault graciously without excuses and moves to fix it without whining or BS. These are not leadership skills that have been taught...they are character traits. Aside from this, when you participate in any type of verbal attack on someone, you show your character much more than you show the person's you are attacking.
I don't know who I will vote for in the 2012 election, but I assure you that I will ponder the behavior of all candidates seriously. They say it's not how you treat your peers that is telling of your character, it's how you treat those who have less than that does.
Mrs. Martin
Monday, August 15, 2011
Football and other things
Saturday heralded the beginning of football season in our house with the 1st Titans pre-season game against the Vikings. Harlee did the disgusted eye-roll as soon as I started yelling at the television screen. Having been raised in Texas, where you attended the Church of the NFL with your favorite team as your denomination, it's not surprising that I tend to be somewhat of a fanatic. It also explains the quickness to which I took to supporting the Titans....they are a former Texas team (Houston Oiler's for those of you who are not football fans) after all & they keep me from being homesick for my over the top state.
I enjoy football, though I'm not a fan of watching it live unless I'm high enough to see the entire field. I remember going to games with my mother at WTAMU (now WTA&M) in Canyon, Tx as a child and then later on attending Jr. High football games to support friends. None of my children have the football enjoyment gene and quickly exit the room every time we turn the TV on to watch a game and can only be bribed to come out of their rooms with copious offerings of Queso and 7 layer dip.
Football on a local level is much harder for me to get into, despite having 3 children in the county school system. A large part of that is the fact that both my girls are in marching band. Both activities have their merits, but as long as my girls are marching, my focus locally will be on the band program and what I can do to promote community support for them. Though our marching band numbers are small (50 or so), they are good at what they do and they have a fantastic director who cares not only about the music itself, but also cares for the kids too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This past Wednesday we took a day off from the real world and spent the day at the lake. We rented a pontoon boat along with my sister in-law and her family, borrowed a jet-ski from a friend and proceeded to have fun. We found a little cove, dropped anchor and spent 7 hours or so swimming, tubing, and playing around on the jet-ski. Tanith, who is now 16, finally had the opportunity to "drive" the jet-ski and did an admiral job of following the rules while still exploring a new skill set. Harlee was disappointed that she's not yet old enough to operate it, but still had fun riding. A.J. on the other hand rode, with Kyle once and was done. Though he really enjoys riding the motorcycle with dad, he wasn't quite comfortable with the water. All in all it was a great day and I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the family before things get insanely busy with my school, the kids school, internship, band competitions, and football games.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I spotted an article yesterday on Msnbc.com that validated what myself and other parents have known for years: Cutting recess out of school affects how well kids learn. Imagine that! This is especially evident in the lower grades when children don't have the ability to sit still and focus for long periods of time. I have a difficult time staying focused during a 5 hour lecture even with a lunch break and 2 other breaks. I can just imagine how difficult it would be for a youngster to accomplish anything close!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of school, the kids are finally in their first full week of school. Which means I have 2 weeks of relative peace and quiet in which to prepare myself for my next to last semester of Nursing school. Time flies when you are least wanting it to.
The line up for this semester is Critical Care and Pediatrics. I will have clinical rotations for them both as well as my internship, which I am going to do my level best to continue with until I graduate in May. I also participate in the MTSU Older Wiser Learners (OWLs) Peer mentor program. This program is in place to help non traditional students like myself navigate the college world and provide peer support. While I never formally had a peer mentor, I had several key people that served as sounding boards for ideas, helped edit papers, answered endless questions, and kept me sane (still do). I feel that it's only fair that I give back to this great program, especially in light of all the adult students returning to the college path.
Well I think I have written my self out at the moment. I hope all of you have a spectacular week!
I enjoy football, though I'm not a fan of watching it live unless I'm high enough to see the entire field. I remember going to games with my mother at WTAMU (now WTA&M) in Canyon, Tx as a child and then later on attending Jr. High football games to support friends. None of my children have the football enjoyment gene and quickly exit the room every time we turn the TV on to watch a game and can only be bribed to come out of their rooms with copious offerings of Queso and 7 layer dip.
Football on a local level is much harder for me to get into, despite having 3 children in the county school system. A large part of that is the fact that both my girls are in marching band. Both activities have their merits, but as long as my girls are marching, my focus locally will be on the band program and what I can do to promote community support for them. Though our marching band numbers are small (50 or so), they are good at what they do and they have a fantastic director who cares not only about the music itself, but also cares for the kids too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This past Wednesday we took a day off from the real world and spent the day at the lake. We rented a pontoon boat along with my sister in-law and her family, borrowed a jet-ski from a friend and proceeded to have fun. We found a little cove, dropped anchor and spent 7 hours or so swimming, tubing, and playing around on the jet-ski. Tanith, who is now 16, finally had the opportunity to "drive" the jet-ski and did an admiral job of following the rules while still exploring a new skill set. Harlee was disappointed that she's not yet old enough to operate it, but still had fun riding. A.J. on the other hand rode, with Kyle once and was done. Though he really enjoys riding the motorcycle with dad, he wasn't quite comfortable with the water. All in all it was a great day and I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the family before things get insanely busy with my school, the kids school, internship, band competitions, and football games.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I spotted an article yesterday on Msnbc.com that validated what myself and other parents have known for years: Cutting recess out of school affects how well kids learn. Imagine that! This is especially evident in the lower grades when children don't have the ability to sit still and focus for long periods of time. I have a difficult time staying focused during a 5 hour lecture even with a lunch break and 2 other breaks. I can just imagine how difficult it would be for a youngster to accomplish anything close!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of school, the kids are finally in their first full week of school. Which means I have 2 weeks of relative peace and quiet in which to prepare myself for my next to last semester of Nursing school. Time flies when you are least wanting it to.
The line up for this semester is Critical Care and Pediatrics. I will have clinical rotations for them both as well as my internship, which I am going to do my level best to continue with until I graduate in May. I also participate in the MTSU Older Wiser Learners (OWLs) Peer mentor program. This program is in place to help non traditional students like myself navigate the college world and provide peer support. While I never formally had a peer mentor, I had several key people that served as sounding boards for ideas, helped edit papers, answered endless questions, and kept me sane (still do). I feel that it's only fair that I give back to this great program, especially in light of all the adult students returning to the college path.
Well I think I have written my self out at the moment. I hope all of you have a spectacular week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)