Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone!!! I missed my family that wasn't there today :( but did have a great time with everyone else. Get-togethers with the family reminds me how much everyone needs their family. And how important and special my family is.

So... Fam.... I love you all VERY much and am very glad to have time to spend with you guys!!! And next time we need to take more pics together of everyone! I only have me and Val and Steph sticking her head in... NEXT TIME!!!!

Love you!!

Dear School Board and Mr. Superintendant,
You will get a real email from me, but since this is my family blog, I will write a personal note here that you will never read...
It is not your fault that I have received a pink slip ending my career (for the moment) as a teacher. You did vote for 25 to 1 in the classroom which resulted in my pink slip... but the district's lack of financial planning was the ultimate cause.
I am no longer 'mad' at you. I do hope that your words at the board meeting were true... "we care about the students" "we are about education" "we don't want the students' learning to be affected by our decision"... but I am confused at your unanimous vote to go to 25 to 1 and send out 160 pink slips.
Dr. Beeman that gave me my pink slip... I know you didn't "choose" me... you were given names and schools to give the bad news to. BUT... after the formal script you read, I did not appreciate the 'personal' part you added... "aside from the official part of this. I would like to take a moment to appreciate you and the work you have done for our district, the students and the parents. blah, blah blah"... this was where I cried because you didn't know my name without looking at my file folder. You didn't even know what grade I teach. Do you know that one of my students broke her arm, had surgery, and I went to her house to deliver letters and cards from my students and to spend my entire lunch break with her???? Do you know that last year I had a student that was born with Nunnan's Syndrome and did my best to help him, and this year while he is in first grade am still checking on him and his progress and checking in with his parents and teacher because I care about his future. Do you know that I wake up many nights trying to think of ways to reach the students that are 'not getting it' or have something happening at home that stops them from concentrating at school etc, etc, etc. Do you know that my sleep, my showers and my other waking moments are consumed with thoughts of my students and what I can do to help them educationally, emotionally, etc. Or that there are numerous parents coming to me every day telling me what a difference I made for their child? Or that at least 10 children, not in Kindergarten, come to me each morning for a hug? I might be the only positive part of their day so I make sure to tell them something positive (and different from the day before) to start their day. Parents laugh at me because I am bombarded at the door just trying to open it, but I remember each of their names, give a hug and think of something personal to say. (This morning a parent was trying to talk to me about my pink slip and we were interrupted by at least 10 students for hugs and good morning comments)

And this blog of course is not for Dr. Beeman either... I'm not even mad at him for delivering my pink slip. I'm not even mad at anyone.... I am just sad. And upset. I really and truly love my job and my school and my students and my parents. My real parents too :) (I also don't care about proper grammar in my blog because it's personal and I teach kindergarten so it's ok lol) I'm not mad at anyone, even though the district could budget better. I am upset that students will be affected by this. I am upset that next year these babies will have 25 children in their class. It's hard to give every single one of them the proper attention and care and education now. 5 more might not seem like a lot, but it is.

Then I regress and think... but this blog is about how I'm upset that I lost my job... or might be losing my job. I hope that pretty soon this will all blow over and I will be ok...

It's not about the paycheck... it's not about having a job... I truly love what I do and where I do it...

Also... I'm not used to rejection or things not going my way. My therapist tried to tell me over a year ago that I won't always get my way. Funny!! How'd she know I always get my way?!?!?! So... I am determined to get my job and my spot and my grade level back!!!


But.... as an almost 31-year old... I have come to realize that I might not. I will be ok. I will make it. I will continue to sub and try to get hired back. I will try to transfer back to my school. OR... I will expand to other districts and broaden my horizons and apply and sub. It's not up to me at this moment and I will do my best for the rest of the school year to teach and inspire all 21 of my babies until the last day of school... then something will happen for the positive :)

But... I can say that I will definitely stay in education and teaching! I feel that is where I belong and will continue to inspire the future!!! Let's just pray and hope and believe... because it is out of our hands :)


Sincerely,
Miss Elder
your daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, girlfriend, daddy's girlfriend, teacher, mentor, friend, Mary Kay friend, Mary Kay consultant, neighbor, employee, etc...

Cindy :)

Happy Valentine's Day

OOOPPPSSS!!! My blog was titled brains because I was going to talk about my brain workshop but then erased and went in a totally different direction. After I posted it I saw the title of it.... hahahahahahaha oops!

Brains!!!!!

Wow!! I haven't blogged in forever!! That's because now that the holidays are over, there's nothing new to write about. Work is busy!!!! And weekends are for sleep and relaxing.

and I confess.... I've been obsessed with something else! It's not as cute as a blog. I can't be as creative with it. But it is obsessive. It's called Facebook and most of you know about it... and you are even getting obsessed with it too!!!!

I have found so many of my old friends on there! That's so important to me because in my senior year of high school and the next 11 years I was pretty isolated from all of my friends. And when I got on facebook I saw some of their names but thought, "oh, why would they want to talk to me if they EVEN remember who I am..." Then I started getting invites from them to be their friends again. WOW!!! I felt loved and liked!! I really miss having friends! And every few days I find even more friends that I used to have. I never knew I had that many friends!!! And they want to know all about my life, not just me wanting to know about their lives.

And I can even keep in touch with family... I never see Kim, Tiff and Megan that often, but now I can send them messages!!

I felt like I was neglecting the blog and wanted some creativity... I promise to post more often... now Denise, it's your turn. You too Steph and Missy, you guys need to update us. Denise, I'm always talking about you at work, but don't have any updates from you. Is he kicking like crazy? Summer's boy was kicking like crazy during our meeting the other day... I'm living out your pregnancy through her belly :)

Ok... gotta go relax and watch tv.
Happy Valentine's Day!!!! (in case I don't blog before then)

Christmas Time

Wow! I can't believe it's almost Christmas! We have had sooo many Christmas parties to go to and then decided to hold one on the laaaassssttt weekend before Christmas. It has been great to spend so much time this month with family, friends and coworkers.

Megan took Thanksgiving to reflect on family and now I'm taking Christmas to reflect. I honestly feel this is already one of my favorite Christmases (and Christmas isn't even here yet). It went from a completely isolated holiday in the past to celebrating and smiling and spending time with people I care about every weekend. I can't wait for Christmas day to spend at Mom and Dad's with the family. One of my favorite memories of Christmas is always later that night when we are sitting around the table joking around and talking like we are all still kids again. I want to thank everyone in advance for spending Christmas Day with us. Brian and Mykenzie feel very welcome around the family. That was my first rule when I met Brian, I will NEVER miss another Christmas with my family.

Mom and Dad, and Pam, Rob and the kids.... Thank you for being there Saturday night. We appreciated you spending time with us.

Skip, Kim and the girls... We are doing it again next year and I will give you more notice so you can make sure you are there.

Denise, Eric and the boys... how about flying home next year for Christmas??????

Merry Christmas family! See you in 3 days :)

P.S. The camera didn't make its way out until later so I don't have any pictures of Mom and Dad or Pam, Rob and 3 of their kids. Maybe Christmas

Fires

This is looking out our bedroom window and 1 from the street. That hill never did burn on our side. The fire moved further west and never came over our hill.

THANK YOU!!!!

Thank you Dad, Mom and Robby!!! We moved this weekend and would never have done it without their help! We had a tight deadline and made it :) And the house is wonderful! I loved the apartment, but forgot how NICE it is to have a house. Missing my babies, but the yard isn't finished for Cosmo to come back, and the pool table guys have to come back 1 more time before Newman can come back.

Not sure how to repay Mom and Dad for their help. I should be helping them do stuff. It's a great feeling to know that Mom and Dad are always there for us. No matter what we need. Thank you Mom and Dad!!

And Robby, the look on his face was funny when I told him I was taking back (for the 2nd time, but not really) the TV that I gave him. Not sure if he was upset about losing his Xbox tv or having to move that thing again. But he did a LOT of moving for us. Thank you Robby!!

New House

We signed a lease tonight!!! We get our keys on the 1st. Cosmo finally gets a yard and Mykenzie gets 2 rooms! Brian has room for his pool table. Newman and I get lots of space and a big kitchen window by the sink :) But don't worry, we are keeping the key to the pool at the apartments. I'm hoping to do a Home & Garden party soon to get some decorations.

Poor Dodgers

So we made it to every Dodger home playoff game.... When they swept the Cubs was awesome!!!! The players came out and slapped our hands. It was awesome!! I felt like a little kid at the ball game. Unfortunately we didn't have too much luck against the Phillies. They won 1 of the 3. Maybe next year. I was really hoping to see the World Series live :(

ELDER

I went to social security on Friday and changed my name back to Elder. She didn't know if she could accept the papers I brought but I wasn't leaving there without her changing my name. The guard was going to have to drag me out of there if she didn't do it. So Thursday I go to the DMV to change it on my license. It's the last little piece of me to get back :)

Happy News!!!!

I just realized that I told Mom and Pam but didn't tell everyone else..... As of September 12th...... I'M DIVORCED!!!!!!!!! YAY!!! It's an odd thing for other people to celebrate, but not ME!!!!! It took over a year to happen, and happened almost 13 years too late, but it finally happened!! I'm going to social security in 2 days and the DMV on Oct. 6th. And then I will call every single company, credit card, and affiliation I know to tell them to NEVER print that name again.... Just call me Cindy ELDER... never thought I would be so happy to be called ELDER again!! Actually, I never thought it would be so hard to get back to ELDER. That's fun to type... ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER ELDER. It's such music to my ears everyday to hear Ms. Elder about 559 times. :)

P.S. Mom I looked back at my last court packet that was mailed to me and I have court stamped papers stating that it is over Sept. 12th and the judge granted me my name change.

Camping 2008

I finally went camping after 15 years.... Robby was 2 the last time I was camping. It was a lot of fun as you can tell by the pictures and the video of Brian. It was hotter than hot, but we had a lot of fun on the boat. Unfortunately I was too afraid to bring my new camera to the river because it was soooo funny! Rob slipped and ate it in the river and lost his sunglasses. Then Brian slipped right after... I really wish I had brought my camera for that part, but I'm sure it would have floated down the river like Rob's glasses, Pam's shoe and the Spiderman pole that Robby found. I do have to thank Pam, Rob and the kids for the tent. We could have slept in the back of our truck on our mattress, but Brian was afraid of the bugs. So Pam, Rob and the kids got to share 1 tent all to themselves.

The line for the shower was over and hour, but worth it after the lake and river. We had lots of entertainment while waiting though! And Rob's hobo dinner was GREAT, even at 11:00... the s'mores were even better later.

I don't want to wait so long to go camping again because it was a lot of fun. We missed the rest of the family being there so hopefully everyone can make the next one :)

Las Vegas

I realized in Vegas this week that I'm great at Blackjack!! I've got the blackjack fever now and can't get enough! Maybe it's the winning money... but it's fun! We were in Vegas only 1 night, but I had a blast!! And the Golden Nugget is pretty cool. I have never seen the "Old Strip" in Vegas. I can't wait to go try my Blackjack skills at the Indian casinos now.

I stole this from Jackie... it made me cry and think of me

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee


A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your doors, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes a long their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
To those who have touched my life in one way or another; to those who make me smile when I really need it; to those who make me see the brighter side of things when I am really down; to those whose friendships I appreciate; to those who are so meaningful to my life.
May we all be COFFEE!!!

Denise, where art thou??

Good Morning!! Just wondering if Denise and the boys are out there checking our blogs? We miss hearing from you and I'm wondering how your back is... Any relief yet? Have you started therapy? Are you still lying on the table??? Brian is in a lot of pain with his back still and can't get comfortable either. I think of you every time he says his hurts.

How's the little pink bundle treating you? Any morning sickness? When do you find out that she's a girl? Or twins? Or triplets?!?! Maybe that's why your back hurts so bad... there's actually 3 girls in there!!!!!!!!! :)~

Just checking in... hoping to hear from you and that you guys are all ok. Love you!!

After reading Kim's response to my last blog, I reread what I posted. It really didn't come out the way I meant it. I was joking about the girls and Kim dealing with Skip. I think it's funny... and I also think that Skip is a great dad/husband to them.
I was trying to involve everyone in my post and not just Pam's kids, it just didn't come out right. I know it's a learned game and the girls actually love the teasing with him. So please don't take offense or think I was putting Skip down. I wouldn't do that.
I realize that when you read something, you are actually putting your own tone of voice to it and not always what the writer meant. What I meant to say is that I think it's funny that he jokes with them and they joke back.

Thank you for the entertainment!

I figured I didn't have a picture from last night, so I might as well put one of myself up!! He just can't stop looking at me...

I just have to say, Thank you for the entertainment last night family!!! I laughed so hard at Val and Steph that I went home with a headache. Poor Robby still didn't get any attention and it was HIS birthday. Melissa is trying to get attention but all she did was punch Steph.

I also love seeing that Tiffany and Megan are not puting up with Skip's stuff either. I went through it growing up and now I feel bad for you girls. (If he's not making you laugh, you can always laugh AT him). I almost feel sorry for you Kim, but you actually chose him. Or he kept following you and you finally gave in. But you did marry him. Just kidding.

Mom and Dad finally made it and were tired... but I bet they got a good laugh. Mom's arm should be bruising from Pam's earthquake deathgrip. I couldn't believe Brian was out of the room before I even realized it might be an earthquake. And for the first time... Rob got me. I even though I felt the ground shaking under my feet!

Can't wait for more entertainment! Everyone's invited to celebrate Dad's birthday on Sunday the 10th at my pool. And Mom and Dad are going to go swimming this time. Yeah!!!!!! Think about food... what haven't we done yet this summer? Will Grandpa come?

And guys of the family.... I can't wait to see your private Male Blogs! Sounds like you guys have some great ideas of things to post and pics to take :)

Happy Anniversary

We had a very relaxing 2 days in San Diego. Who ever knew there was a little place in San Diego called Shelter Island?! The pictures of the resort online were WAY better than when we got there. But it was nice to relax and unwind. I had the best fish tacos for lunch!! Brian realized that he does NOT like Mediterranean food or calamatta olives!!!!! But we did sit and watch the giant private yachts. We think we have picked out which size we want. Definitely with a full staff to drive it and serve us. Don't worry family... you will all be invited to stay with us. Or at least be invited to come aboard for a day. :)~ We even got to walk along the shore on the sidewalk(there was no sand, just rocks) and we watched the sushi people fishing late at night.

We definitely needed the relaxation. Our backs and necks are still killing us from the accident. Everyone else seems fine, but we are both in a lot of pain. I even realized while doing dishes earlier that it hurts really bad to do the dishes. Darn! I guess I can't do dishes for a while. :) The problem is that nothing is comfortable to do except lounge on a noodle in the pool. Sitting, standing, and laying all hurt. Too bad I have to work this week because I think I should just sit around in the pool until it feels better.

Our exciting trip home from the beach

We were having a nice day at the beach. Brian's mom had a little reunion with her brothers and we were enjoying a nice drive home on the 91 Fastrak. And Brian's mom decides to tell us that anyone could jump into our Fastrak lane at any time and it's a little scary.... Not even 5 minutes later, Mr. Suspended License with no license plate jumps across the Fastrak poles and comes face to face with the Titan!! Titan won!! Luckily it's big and tall and the tires are sooo big. A trip to the emergency room that night for Brian's mom, a little TLC for Mykenzie's seatbelt-burned neck, and chiropractor appts for Brian and I tomorrow... and hopefully some rebuilding and fixing for the Titan. Luckily we are all fine now... except a little pain. Mom and Dad got to meet Brian's mom right after her VERY strong pain-killer shot (therapy is good if you have therapy cuz therapy is good for therapy) lol