please just be nice people!!

You will never hurt anyone being kind,

but you most definitely will hurt someone by being unkind.

a few reasons why elementary school keeps me occupied :)

1. I almost always eat lunch with students and one day with 2nd graders our conversation turned into a game of I-spy. One little girl said, "I spy something pretty..." and a little boy started pointing at me. She said, "Yup, you got it" and then it was his turn to spy--that was cute and nice to hear :)
2. The lunch tables are round with room for 8 students/table. One table was like 4 boys and 4 girls, and the boys were apparenty not very happy that they had to sit by the girls (this happened with 3rd graders). One young man got a brilliant idea--eat all beans and fart because they aren't happy about sitting by the girls. Another boy at the table came running up to me and told me what their plan was and how it was funny---and I did find it quite humorous. I watched the whole situation unfold, we will call the student with the beans "D." D comes back to the table with a round plate full of beans and everyone at the table is laughing, well...except the girls. Jamie's aunt works as a secretary at school and she helps out in the lunch room during lunch making sure that everyone gets their number typed into the computer correctly to pay for lunch. She was given the task of telling D to stop farting...so she walked over and with a smile she said, "Boys..." and then she turned into a tsk tsk face and just shook her head and said, "Stop farting...." and something like how it is not appropriate at school. I didn't know beans worked instantly...but it must have been enough that people had taken notice... :)
3. I wore my hair down and straight one day and one kindergarten class said I looked like a Rockstar!! :) The next week they kept reminding me that they liked when my hair was like that... 
4. The "specials" teachers are me (guidance), the librarian, the PE teacher, the music teacher, and sometimes the art teacher depending on the grade. I told a kindergartener that I was going to be at their kindergarten graduation in the spring and she was excited and then asked if "PE man" would be there. I thought that was cute :)

Char, can I tell everyone your BIG news????

Okay, so Monday night I worked at the pool (background info: Wagner has a full sized swimming pool in their school, they hire supervisors and lifeguards to work there, there is a swimming teacher who drives from 30 miles away to teach after school lessons and water aerobics, during PE the students learn to swim, it is open twice a week to the public for $1/time or a season pass) okay--so it's great! I am a supervisor so I get paid $9/hour to talk to the lifeguard (typically a high school girl) from 5:45-8:30 once every two weeks. The lifeguard happened to be the swimming teacher because I guess the scheduled lifeguard could not make it...so we are chatting, enjoying each others company, etc...and then she finds out that my lifeguarding and WSI (to teach swimming lessons) certifications are still current--which even I did not know. I lost my cards in the move and didn't really care because I don't really want to work at the pool in that way--I am fine just supervising. Well, the swimming teacher said she would check into it--and on Monday the woman at school who arranges all of this is gushing to me that I am certified after all and her and the swimming teacher are ECSTATIC and it is going to really help them out. I get back to my office and have the same information in a text message from the swimming instructor. Okay, well whatever...fast forward a few hours to water aerobics which is going very well. There are about 20-25 women signed up and I know most of them because they are school staff, some sort of relations, or just people I have met around...and one is Jamie's mom. While we were warming up I explained to this girl that we found out this news that I can teach/help with swimming lessons and lifeguard, but I don't really want to because there would probably be some role confusion with the students like...counselor/swimming teacher...weird. Well, the swimming instructor is standing outside the pool instructing us, and we are all moving and grooving and she says (loudly) to me, "Char, can I tell everyone your big news??" and I look over at the girl I had told about the situation like "Eee, I wish they weren't so excited about it.." when I realized that big news around here would mean something more like a bun in the oven. Jamie's mom sort of frantically looks at me and says quickly, "What's the big news?" The swimming instructor tells everyone I have been hiding my lifeguarding/swimming lesson talents...etc., and then everyone was like, "That's it?!" Oh man...I got embarrassed!! Luckily, we were in water and that sort of cooled me down, but my cheeks were burning red! That was probably a lot funnier if it had been caught on camera, but oh man...I laughed for hours :)

a WONDERFUL weekend :)

Friday was AWESOME---meeting up with TB at the Viborg exit, hanging out at GG's with the beautiful cabinets, and spending our last SD evening for awhile with Miss AL!!

The next night was my Dad's surprise 50th birthday party! He was surprised and it went awesome--I was a LITTLE tired from the night before though :) Um, notice the "bunny ears" on my dad and RC--I think I did RC's because RC was doing them to my dad...

P.S. The ice cream cake (see above) was from Coldstone Creamery and it was DELICIOUS!!

My speeding days r done!!

I sent the title as a text to my sister, CC, to inform her that my speeding days were over...you see, I have this problem (well first, a problem of getting out of bed in the morning), but also a problem I think could be called...down to the minute. It does not matter where I'm going, what time I get up or what's going on! I am always DOWN TO THE MINUTE!! I can get up at any time in the morning and I still would leave at 7:51 or 7:49 on a good day--note: my house is about a 7-9 minute drive to school depending on how fast you are going. People would always annoy me by pulling out in front of me or driving slow (aka the speed limit). It is a problem when you live on a highway because you can drive on it like the interstate--except faster, and you can easily pass people. I would fly to school at 80mph...but I always slow down at the same spot (where the police patrol). Well, apparently this police officer is now part-time sheriff and can leave city limits...so he was out a little farther than his usual range. He caught me at 66mph and thank the Lord it was not at 82mph! The other bad part is he caught me at 7:52 (I was actually having a somewhat early day)! The conversation went like this...
Officer: Are you in a hurry this morning?
Me: Not really...  (I wanted to say, "You know when you get some new music Sir...") Thank you--AL!!
Officer: I caught you going 66 and to me that's over driving the road conditions.
Me: I'm sorry... (I thought "Glad he didn't catch me sooner!" and felt like explaining that I should have never gotten a vehicle with a hemi---it just goes fast so easily!!)...

**At this point I started to frantically text Jamie and it went like this:
Me: I got pulled over and I'm in the ditch bc I pulled over too far bu kennys...
Jamie Soukup: What. Should I come

I got finished getting my ticket at 8:02 or 8:03, so I texted MJ also and she did my duty for me (THANK YOU) and nicely informed students I was in a meeting :)...well, I was! After I got handed my $80 ticket (I deserved it after 1 1/2 years of speeding) the officer said he would hold back traffic while I pull out...except I COULDN'T get out. I told him my husband could be here in a few minutes, but he didn't seem to care so he called in back up on his own and 15 minutes later, not to draw extra attention to myself...there were two vehicles with flashing lights and another pickup that pulled me out...I headed off to school and arrived at 8:19 or so...

So...then I knew I needed to tell my principal--so I told her and explained what happened and I did tell her I was only going 5 over BECAUSE that is what my ticket was for...I was expecting to have to use 30 minutes of personal time for being late, but she said, "I think you have been through enough this morning..." and I smiled and said thank you and skipped away...well, practically... :)
Follow Up: I have been leaving a few minutes earlier and setting my cruise control like a perfect angel :)

Warning: This vehicle is easy to drive fast!!

Kourtney and Kim vs. AL

Last night together before the big move (well maybe...), but anyway---fun night! I have been really excited for Kourtney and Kim Take New York, and it is wonderful that their show starts the same exact week that AL is moving to New York--EVERYONE TUNE IN :)

Okay, I stumbled across this website trying to double check my facts--I am almost certain the show starts Jan. 23, but anyway http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/2010/10/04/kourtney-kim-take-new-york-spin-off-show/ is interesting in more ways then one, but because of the girls who write comments--I think they actually think Kim cares what they say...hmmm...

I LOVE snow days!!

Bring them on! I will go to school until May 30th if necessary--snow days are SOO fun :) Other than the snow angels, fried food, and John Deere aprons that made me look cool and popular in my last post, this is how I spent the remainder of the snow days on Monday and Tuesday (January 10th and 11th)...

And he is a wonderful pillow pet!!

Fried Food Party

Sunday night turned out much differently than planned...

    I was ho-hum going through my day all the while knowing there would be a fun party that afternoon/evening--I just knew I had to go there around 4pm (it was about a 2 min. walk from my house through the snow). Usually you want to be your best, clean and looking good for a party...well this party is one you do NOT shower before attending. Jamie fried up all sorts of things...following is a list:
The good: mozzarella sticks and fried potato slices.
The bad: breaded mushrooms, deer chislic, other things I would not look at.
The UGLY: fried cow testicles. 
               **error: a cow is a female, bull testicles :)

Here is a picture of Jamie taking a break from cooking--notice the tools in the background...those were the decorations :)

Well...around 6pm people starting saying that school was cancelled!! There is NOT very good cell phone service in the shop, but a reliable source informed us and I believed it and started to enjoy the party a lot more :)

Anyway...after much talking, eating, and a few pitch games we were tired! MJ had the idea to make some snow angels in this beautiful and sparkly snow...I have no idea what time that was, but much later than I had planned when I left for the party!!

Snowy days offer fun opportunities...that is why WINTER is my favorite season :)

a wonderful week in the new year :)

I was VERY tired this week---but I think it's because I was having SO much fun!! First, Miss BG's wedding---well now she will be referred to as Mrs. W :)

I am so glad I MADE it to the wedding (through a terrible blizzard), and it was awesome spending such a special day with you. 1.1.11 is an awesome date and you are an awesome girl :) P.S. I am REALLY glad the reception was not cancelled by Thomas King (we don't recommend the Kings Inn in Pierre)...

Next, a (possible final) road trip (for awhile) with my travel buddy AL. I am so glad KS could join us, that we could SEE in real life SG, and that AO and TB could make it--if only we didn't have adult jobs and could have a 5 day slumber party...but it was a short and sweet trip!!

The next evening promised cheeseballs and fun with dinner at the Wagner VFW Club with my favorite Swagtown scraps...well, actually we didn't take a picture and this picture is not accurate of who was there...but oh well--these girls will always be my first memories in Wagner :)

Friday night we had dinner at a couple's house in Wagner, and it was really fun too! But, I didn't want to freak them out about my new blog so I did not take a picture. Then I went shopping as usual on Saturday, and then afterward my aunt AM and her family were visiting my family at our house. This is just the Cowan girls...but it works.

Okay, this sort of has to do with this week...but if you have a weak stomach or hate hunting DO NOT SCROLL DOWN!!!

Jamie picked up his ELK meat from the locker. So as a gift he filled up a bag full of jerky, sticks, and hot dogs for my dad---these are all made of elk. We even have ELK steaks in the freezer...hmm, at least people have told me they are MUCH better than deer. (I will try the elk, but I will not eat deer...I LOVED Bambi as a child).

So anyway, to round out my week I ate an Elk stick and it tasted fine...good, whatever. And pretty soon I will be going to a "customer appreciation party" at RK's shop. This consists of pitch (the card game), chit chat, AND fried food--I like the cheeseballs, potato slices, onion rings, but others come strictly for the Rocky Mountain Oysters (I think that is what they are called) and deer chislic. Anway, I really like this last picture I took of the elk and soon enough the elk's head will be hanging in Jamie's office...

a first...

Welcome to 2011--I NEVER thought I would blog!! But, it is an awesome idea :) It sort of started tousling around in my head a few weeks ago--maybe around Thanksgiving when I realized Nascar parties and me instructing Jamie to watch youtube videos to learn how to fishtail braid my hair were humorous. Then a very cute Kindergartener stuck her finger in my mouth on accident and that was the last straw--her reaction was funny, and I knew this had to begin...and I hope everyone else follows suit. Happy New Year!!