The start of 2017

In an attempt to do a better job of posting our pictures on the blog, here are the few pictures I've taken over the past two weeks.

It is true what they say that "more is caught than taught," and our THREE kiddos are well on their way to becoming avid readers.  I came home from a solo walk the other day, and when I walked in this was my sight -- daddy reading a book to the big ones, and little Naamen flipping thru his own book.

We love having Emma all to ourselves during the holidays, and one of the fun things for everyone is of course the way her and her little partner in crime play together.  One day they decided to build a train in our TV room, and they must have played a total of five hours on that make-believe world of theirs.  

On that same day they decided to have a little parade outside, with a stick as a mic and an old box and maraca as a drum.  I'm not sure why we bother ever giving our kids toys for Christmas... they always just go back to the basics -- sticks and boxes.

And then another day they discovered some sand behind Memma and Poppa's house and decided that they would build "ant houses."  How kind of them...

In an attempt to live a little more frugally and below are means, I've been trying to incorporate more meatless meals into our diet.  With avocados being 50 cents at Aldi, this beans and rice dish is hardly a sacrifice to consume.

We've been taking a lot of walks lately up our 3/4 mile driveway, and on this slightly cold day, this handsome little "bear" was so cute I couldn't resist not taking a pictures of him.

One of my latest projects has been figuring out a family sourdough bread recipe.  This was my second attempt at it, and compared to my very first attempt (a complete failure), I'd say this one went much better.  I still need to work out some details, but I'd say all in all we are well on our way to making this a family favorite.

Family fires have been a favorite thing of ours to indulge in.  On a cold Sunday night, after the kids are in bed, you may find Byron and I having a little picnic date together near it, sipping hot chocolate after dinner is cleaned up.

And back to our kiddos playing together.  Here you have "Miss Morris" teaching Byron his lesson for the day.

This picture is sideways, but if you are able to read it you'll see that Emma is quite the perfectionist... just like her daddy.  We love having our Emma Girl with us during the holidays, but we also love watching her thrive in school both socially and academically. 

WHY-Wednesday: Why I completed my Masters degree.

For most of you who know me personally, you know that a little over a year ago I completed my Masters degree in Education.  You probably also know that unless something tragic or unexpected ever happens to us, I do not plan on ever returning to the classroom. 

A little background--

I am a Math teacher by trade.  I left the classroom after four years of teaching to become a full-time stay-at-home mom.  Though teaching wasn't always perfect, I do often times miss my career and the empowerment attached to being good at it.  

But the Lord had different plans, and early in my working career He made it very clear to me that I was to give up my paycheck in order to pretend to know what I was doing by caring for my family at home.

So teaching-year number four rolls around and the time to (ahem...) try to get pregnant rolls around as well.  

If you know anything about how a teacher's salary works, you know that your salary can just about double depending on your years of experience and your level of education.  So since we didn't know whether we'd get pregnant right away or not, I began to work towards my Masters degree "just in case."

Lo and behold, we get pregnant with Emma just in time to wrap up my fourth year of teaching and with half of my Masters degree required credits completed.  

What's a girl to do?  

I know I'll never return to the classroom.

But, OH! how I hate to see those credits wasted...

Emma turns one, and thanks to my husband's kindness, the helping hands of family members, and some savings, I decide to go back and complete it.

It's now or never! -- I said. 

So back to the original question...

WHY?

You see, I'm one to believe that an education opens doors, not closes them.

Let me explain--

I meet many people who feel that because they have a career, because they've done the whole school-thing, that they must do what they were trained to do.  That it would be a waste of time and resources to do otherwise.

I don't know about you, but that doesn't make much sense to me.

My higher education provides me with the opportunity to go back to work if I want to, but does not force me into that option.

(Note:  If you are in debt because of your training - or have any kind of debt, for that matter-, and this career will provide you with the fastest way to pay it off, then well... I guess you really don't have an option after all).

My point is-- 

Given the option, never choose your career simply because you feel you have to.

Master of Education

 Last week I concluded my graduate level studies.  I began taking classes in the Fall of 2010 while still working full-time at LBC Middle.  I took a year off when Emma was born after having completed half of my required hours, and in the Summer of 2012 I realized I had two options:  (1)  Go ahead and finish it now, or (2)  to close that door and never look back (ie -- never finish my Masters).  With the encouragement of my husband and with funds available, we decided I should go ahead and finish it.

I would have never been able to do it without the help of Memma, Nana and Byron who helped keep Emma for me while I went to class or met with a professor during the day.

I was not planning on attending any of the graduation ceremonies, but my loving husband went ahead and RSVP for the hooding ceremony saying:  "I've put too much time and money into this -- you are going to your ceremony!"  (I love that man :) ).  So here are a few pictures of my hooding ceremony:

The "placing of the hood."

After the ceremony, with my little family.

With my man <3 br="">

Saturday (the next day) I put on my robe again and had Byron take some pictures of me outside.

This is what a 25 week pregnant woman looks like with a graduating robe on.

Afterwards, as a way to say thank-you, we took some family and friends out to dinner.  We had originally planned on going to a Japanese Steak House, but being graduating weekend combined with mother's day weekend, the earliest we could get a reservation for was 9:30 pm.  So we changed locations to Bucca Di Beppo.

Anna and me :)

Aunt Alison, Emma Girl and her Kodak smile, and Mommy.

The full table.

Family picture with Aunt Alison and Uncle Rob.

My teaching days...

Today was the last day i walked into a school as a paid teacher. It's weird to think that four years have gone by since i graduated from college and began to teach. Even though these past four years have met me with more challenges than i would care to number (or share), i still think that there is no other profession i'd rather do than to teach math.

So the question of the hour is -- will you ever go back to teaching? And the answer to that is "yes." Starting January 2012 i will begin doing private tutoring, maybe between 5 - 10 hours a week. Once all of our children are school age i would like to go back into the classroom. I would like to be at a high school or college, teaching upper level math.

Also, part of staying at home to be a mom means that i'll be a teacher to our little girl. I don't want anyone else to raise her. I want to make sure she learns her numbers and colors from me, i want to make sure she learns both English and Spanish, i want to make sure she is read to, and i know that no daycare can do that for me.

Byron claims to have known all of his times tables by the time he started kindergarten. It only makes sense that the daughter of a math teacher mom and a genius dad starts school already knowing her numbers and times tables :p

LBC Middle School baby shower

The faculty and staff at LBC Middle School threw me a baby shower today after school.

Words cannot describe how touched and moved i was by their generosity. They are all a hard working bunch who always come together in times of both joy and sorrow.

Thank you LBC family for the love and kindness you showed me today.

Gift table

Two of my teacher friends Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Giffin

Check out the diaper cake the 6th grade team gave me :)

At home looking over the gifts more carefully.

A middle school moment

I am wearing a (slightly tight) green maternity, long sleeved, blouse at school today.

In the middle of my lesson, a student politely raises his had.

Me: "Yes, student?"

Student: "Mrs. Morris, i don't mean to be rude, but that shirt makes you look like Kermit the Frog."

Me: *sigh*

Mrs. Morris

A student of mine felt compelled to draw a picture of myself and give it to me today. He has in the past given me drawings of a turkey for thanksgiving day, or a "Merry Christmas" sign for Christmas, etc. But today he drew me. Hmmm... what do you think of it?


I must say that this was his second drawing. The first time around he only made my top go half way through my body, which meant that my stomach and belly button literally were sticking out. I told him he had to redo it and this is what he came up with.

Please notice my long earrings, my prego belly and my Spanish :)