The Nichols

2012-02-11T16:23:00.002-07:00

This is a poem that Jake found. I thought it appropriate what with the coming Valentine's Day.

Why I Love You
Udiah

You give to me hope
And help me to cope
When life pulls me down
You bring me around

You teach me to care
And help me to share
You make me honest
With kindness the best

From you I learned love
With grace from above
It's for you I live
And I want to give

You are the reason
That fills each season
When I hear love I think of you
You are my world and best friend too

I love you because you are so kind, thoughtful and caring
I love you because you are so pleasant, lovely and sharing

You made me the man I am
Thank you

2011-09-08T17:50:00.000-06:00

It has been a little over two weeks, almost three, since school started. I am happy to report that my student and I, for the most part, don't want to tear at each others throats.
However, this is not what I want to talk about, though it is amazing news! His teacher is a new teacher. I don't mean just new to the school, but freshly graduated, as wet and green as you can get. This is not intended to be a mean, but more my observations and frustrations. I don't want to get up on a soapbox and preach that I always know better or more than she does. What I want to do is more vent. Ms. X as I will call her to protect her identity, is generally a great teacher. She keeps command of the class for the most part, they are a bunch of 4th graders (enough said), and has a okay grasp on the curriculum and what is expected of her.
For those who know me know that I don't like to be idle for too long I start to go crazy. When I am at work and my student is doing well I would like something else to do. I have made it clear to Ms. X that I am willing to correct, record scores, and do any other odd job that need to be done. I am also more than willing to read to the class after lunch recess to give her time to do her things and relax for a few more minutes. I am a little befuddled as to why she wouldn't take advantage of that the other, more seasoned, teachers leapt at the chance to catch up on things. Ms. X does not only further leading to her own tardiness in grading and so forth. This goes especially for teacher reading after lunch. I don't mean to toot my own horn and say I am the best, but she does not read aloud very well. I find, and I think the kids agree, it can be fairly flat and lifeless. This leads the kids to fiddling and whispering. However, in the past when I have read they tend to be a bit quieter and more attentive to the story. At the moment it isn't the most engaging story for the boys. I also try make sure that I am saying the correct words and bring them to life. I'm sorry but ogre (ˈō-gər) is NOT said orge (or-g). Orge is a river in France not a scary mythical creature to be feared by all who meet it.
Being the type of person I am I love to learn new information. They are learning about the earth in history class. Now, I understand that words will just fall out of your brain at times and you can't remember them for the life of ya. It happens to everyone, even me. Believe it or not! Now if that word is supplied you wouldn't take offense. Ms. X has. I am instructed not to correct her on pronunciation or information. This is to be done after the class is gone. Wha..?! If wrong information or words are being taught is it not the responsibility of those listening (and know the proper info) to fix it at the time of instruction so the wrong can be righted and said incorrect info is not ingrained. It is always harder to correct something if it is left to sit and take root. I don't want to imply that I think she isn't a smart individual, but why hamper freely given or accessed knowledge? The other teachers I have worked with always welcomed my two cents as it were. They would even ask for it during lectures. It is not as though I am talking down to her or being rude about it, only piping up when needed.
Then again those other teachers were much more experienced and confident in themselves. In so being, were comfortable to be told when they were doing something not quite right and correct it then. I guess the moral of this story is, keep my mouth shut and nose in a book to keep said mouth shut. Ms. X will need to learn for herself since she doesn't want to hear it from me.
I guess I need to get off my soapbox even if I didn't intend to jump on it in the first place.

Back to School

2011-08-20T10:31:00.000-06:00

Like all good things they must eventually come to an end. Yes Moms and Dads it is back to school time. For some it is a time of celebration, the kids will be out of the house for most of the day and you don't have to hear the dreaded words, "I'm bored", or "(S)He's touching me!", or just screaming in general. However there is always a twinge of remorse (or so I have heard from some parents) that they can't just be with their kids and go out on adventures or play at the park all day.
I for one am happy that another summer is ending! It means I get to go back to work at a school where your darling little dears get to harass me all day. Sarcasm aside, I do love my job. Just like kids I need the mental stimulation that comes with book-learning or teaching as the case maybe. While I don't enjoy the paper grading, indoor recesses, smelly/sweaty kids, and clamor that is lunch, I do enjoy watching their little minds grow, make connections, and listen/watch them interact and have to remember I was once like that.
With this new school year it will be one of change. My student (now in 4th grade) will be moving half way through the school year to a new country(!). I am not excited about the potential anxieties and emotional turmoil that will come as it gets closer. It did not go well when he first found out.
It will have its challenges since the class as a whole will be starting into the mutant stages of being a preteen. They will be treated more like adults and not little kids. This will mean more personal responsibility for work and the condition it is turned in as, having to deal (more) with their own problems and finding an acceptable solution to them. Oh growing pains. So glad that I have gotten passed -most- of them.

On to completely different though slightly connected tangent! With the start of this new school year it also marks the beginning of the end for my dear sweetheart and his school career. Jake will only have two semesters left and then he graduates with a double bachelors in Accounting and Finance! I am so excited to see he walk this spring. It will be nice not to have to buy books or pay for tuition for awhile, at least until he decides he wants to get a Masters. By then hopefully he will have started a "real" job and the company can help foot the bill. We only need to get through the next nine months. I am hoping we will have more wonderful news to spread as the months pass.

"I'm old enough to know what I like!"

2011-08-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

First and for most I am going to state that I'm really not that old. With that said I feel like an old lady. The reason behind this statement is that I am turning into one of those people that is slowly hardening my resolve to like the current trends, mostly in music. When I am in the car or listening to Pandora I find myself shuffling through my stations until I find a song that doesn't sound like...well noise. I can't tell you how often I have been listening and all the sudden I don't hear music anymore, but noise and it makes my teeth go on edge.

I was talking to Jake about this and he just laughed, agreed and then said "'I'm old enough to know what I like.'"

This came from one of the best shows I've come across in awhile Modern Family. To give some context to this quote I'll briefly (or try to) the episode or segment(s) that this comes from.

Gloria is trying to get Manny to eat scrabbled eggs. Manny is saying he doesn't like it. Jay walks in and tells him to try it. Manny says he doesn't like it. Jay asks if he has tried it before. Manny hangs his had and says that he hasn't and concedes to try them. Fast Forward. Jay, Gloria, and Manny are going to a concert. Jay sees that it is for a classical concert and not a rock band. He stops and says he wont go in. Manny asks if he has ever tried it. Jay promptly says no. Manny then pulls the same tactic of trying new things. Jay simply and firmly says, "I'm old enough to know what I like!" This is when Jay storms off.

I am by no means trying to say that I am completely set in my ways, just in certain things (like my music). I just watch those who are older (grandparents, parents, aunt, uncles..etc) than me and find it funny how set in there way they are. This doesn't mean that it is a bad thing, just interesting how they perceive the ever changing world around them. I know that I'll be (am) set into certain patterns of thought and actions eventually. I am just a little taken aback that it has happened so early. Oh well.

I guess what it all comes down to is comfort in familiarity.

Here's to 3 years!

2011-07-25T10:16:00.000-06:00

Today Jake and I celebrate our 3rd anniversary. It has been a glorious 3 years!

I couldn't have created a more perfect companion to spend eternity with and be the eventual father to my children. As the days, weeks, months, and years pass I have fallen deeper and deeper in love with him.

I love how you let me snuggle up on you when you are playing a game or reading. You are attentive to my needs, from just needing a hug after a long day at work or allowing me to cry on you shoulder after a personal trauma. I love how you allow me to laugh till it hurts when you do something silly or allow me to be a complete freak and love me for it.

You are such a hard worker and are always striving to find a way to make things work. I find myself longing to see you at the end of a long day. I look forward to here the slap slap of your feet on the stairs as you bound down the stairs and fling the door open so I can greet you with a smile and a hug.

I appreciate how you suffered through my first year of cooking of not enjoying it and pushed me to find new things to eat. You are also honest to tell me when you don't like something and express helpful ways to improve it or simply reject it and say we should try again with something different.

Even though I might not understand or make silly comments, you still want to share all the knowledge you have been learning at school.

It makes me overjoyed that you will wait for me to finish getting for bed so we can sleep together. I am always grateful how you allow me to steal the blankets when it gets really cold (when isn't it! >_<) and wake you up in the middle of the night if I've had a nightmare or can't sleep and comfort me and let me cuddle on your chest.

I love our inside jokes that makes us laugh and smirk. Your huge smile can always pull out of one of my funks.

You truly are my best friend. I pray daily and express how grateful I am that we were able to make our relationship work over such a long distance and span of time. Thank you for asking me to marry you with a Scrabble board. Thank you for always being such a great example to me and to our future children. I am truly blessed to be your wife.

Rawr!

Things I have a healthy respect or fear of

2011-07-23T13:05:00.000-06:00

Things I have a healthy respect or fear of and the reason behind it.

Semi-trucks (was involved as passenger in a car accident; emphasis on tankers)
Erroneous road debris (once again another car accident except I was driving alone)
Seatbelts (saved from above incidents with only minor bumps and bruises)
Snakes (This includes all snakes lethal and non-lethal; tormented with by my brother and told it ate my bunny when it ran away)
Worms (once again tormented with only difference it was my neighbor)
Stairs (fallen down or tripped going up; especially steep ones)
Undercooked/Ill-stored food (food poisoning is never fun)
Spiders/or bug that bite in general and cause me to swell (explanation needed? I think not)
Papercuts of all kinds (you never know it will happen and they are very painful)
Medications (Make you feel better, but always needs caution due to their inherent nature)
Fire (explanation needed?)

There are many other things that I could probably think of, but I don't want to sit here and think to long and hard about it because then I'll realize what a phobic person I am.

Clothes

2011-07-07T13:06:00.000-06:00

I was mowing the lawn last week and this came on my Ipod. To be honest I hadn't really listened to the lyrics before I was more interested in the good beat and sound of the music. It wasn't until I actually listened to it that I realized what a great song it is. It speaks truth, especially for us girls. I just can't imagine being comfortable in next to nothing knowing people (men) are looking at your "assets". Makes me cringe.Even covered I have that problem with being as "well endowed" as I am. Ick!

Barlowgirl "Clothes"

Silent Clues

2011-06-17T11:16:00.000-06:00

I have been with my husband for 8 years. This is to say from when we first started dating to being married. In those eight years we (more me then him) have developed subtle clues and habits to indicate moods and desires. I find it interesting that couples and just people who you are around a lot create these slight nudges or "quirks" to express some kind of communication that needs to be only between you and the desired recipient. It can be a quiet and unnoticeable nudge or squeeze/twitch of the hand, slight tightening of the eyes or blink, or even an exhale of breath. The list could go on and on depending on the couple and the meanings could have any number of subtle or deep connection.
It is just amazing to me that when you are around a person enough that these small acts can speak volumes about what the other wants and no one else aware (or at least appears to notice). It makes me wonder how many other "silent clues" will be created as Jake and I change, evolve, and grow as a family. Body language is an amazing language to study. The slight idiosyncrasies are what make those squeezes, twitches, and breathes all the more meaningful. It makes you wonder what messages you are sending, on purpose or otherwise, to those round you and how they are being interpreted.