Afflicted with Indecision

"...I simply couldn't make up my mind to do it. I never can make up my mind about anything myself--I'm always afflicted with indecision. Just as soon as I decide to do something I feel in my bones that another course would be the correct one. It's a dreadful misfortune, but I was born that way, and there is no use in blaming me for it, as some people do."

Philippa Gordon in Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomary

I read this in my book a couple weeks ago and thought of myself immediately! I feel quite often the dreadful misfortune of being afflicted with indecision, as anyone who knows me well can attest to. Luckily my husband has not even a hint of this terrible flaw, which has helped me to overcome it at times (or at least try!).

On another note I think I fixed my blog so that anyone can leave a comment. Comment away people (if you can make up your mind what to say!).

Baylor, Brittany, and Babbs

We had an exciting weekend at the Ridenour Ranch. Actually, we were not at the Ranch but in Lawrence, KS, Conception, MO, and Council Bluffs, IA. We went to the Baylor volleyball game in Kansas and Katie, Russ, and Ashtyn joined John, Carolyn, Grandpa Gilbert, Gil, Jude and I there. We got to see Gil's sister Brittany for the first time since the beginning of July. And she finally got to see her nephew again! Then we stayed at Grandpa Gilbert's house and finally headed home on Sunday. But before reaching Maryville we picked up the cutest little Beagle puppy ever! We decided that Barry (our male Beagle) needed a partner, so on a whim we bought a 6 week-old female from some people Gil knows. I got her a blingin' pink collar, and today I officially (on paperwork) named her Babbette Sweetie Sunday (after both of her parents, "Babbs" for short). I have been playing with her ever since. She cries at night (even more than Jude!), but she is getting acclimated to her new home I think. Jude loves to "pet" her as the pictures show. Here are some fun pics and a video of our weekend and the newest addition to the Ridenour Ranch. There is also one of our new swing set we hauled away from Sioux City for free thanks to a fellow MOPs mom who hooked me up, one of the bean field across from our house being harvested a couple weeks ago (finally!), and one of Jude and Bailey when we went to Bob's bar with Ang and Justin Schuiteman. So all is well here. Gil head's out to Georgia on Thursday with a Briar Cliff trip and I'm going to Omaha/Ridenour Thanksgiving. Then the next week it is down to San Antonio, TX to see the Herrick's for Thanksgiving:) Fun Times...I'd better get packing again!

Bob's Bar in Martinsburg with the Schuiteman's...biggest hamburgers EVER!
My "Feed the Five Thousand" basket I made for MOPs. 5 loaves and 2 "fish" coupons to Long John Silver's!
Combining!
Swing Set:)
Barry meets Babbs....so far no sparks are flying!

Jude meets Babbs

How precious!

Babb's meets Michael Jordan

playing outside

Babbs meets my car

Me and my other new baby!
Jude and Ashtyn at Baylor game
Our "happy" family (could Jude look more excited to be there?!)
Brittany and Jude
The whole gang!

giggles

Here is a video of Gil making Jude giggle while he is in the jumperoo! I love his giggle and he is starting to do a lot more of it. Jude is now up to eating five vegetables: carrots, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and peas. He is doing wonderful with them but insists on not enjoying carrots too much (which stinks since my freezer is full of them!). Tonight we are going to give avocado a try, then it will be onto fruit finally:)

Flesh and Blood

I subbed in a high school science classroom today. I think because I am "young" kids sometimes think I'm not a "real" teacher. A sophomore asked me today when I will get my own classroom, haha! I told her that I did have my own classroom for 5 years and that now I am subbing because I get to stay home with my baby on most days. I find other adults thinking along the same lines. I get, "You must be looking for another teaching job" a lot. While I do see myself in the classroom full-time again someday in the future (and who knows how soon or far away that might be), I am beyond glad to be spending my days with a baby boy who smiles and cries and poops and giggles and whines and needs fed and naps and needs a bath and who I love completely.

A song by Caedmons Call that I love has this line:

Our vows, they started breathing and they took on flesh and blood
And we held them in our arms and tasted God was good...

What a miracle children are!

The First Grade

I subbed in a first grade classroom on Tuesday and got way more of an education than I gave!

Those little 7-year-olds are FULL of energy.  Here is some of what they taught me:

1.  It doesn't matter if you have to ask the teacher her name several times in one day and are never able to say it correctly, pulling on her sleeve or saying any name starting with an R will do.

2.  If you aren't any good at staying in the lines when coloring you just need to keep practicing and you will get better.  Don't give up!

3.  If a big wave comes when you are surfing you'd better watch out for the under toe.

4.  Chairs and desks are just suggestions for where to sit in the classroom and they don't have to stay where they were when you arrived in the morning.

5.  Hippos are used to add and subtract.

6.  Stereotypes don't really exist, so everyone is on a much evener playing field.

7.  1st grade boys can be in love with two girls simultaneously, no need to choose just one!

8.  If your sub does something "wrong" feel free to tell her how Mrs. Such and Such does it.

9.  One of the greatest things in life is being the line leader or the paper-passer-outer.

10.  One of the best things to do at recess is to go turkey hunting.

11.  My printing has too much cursive in it for 1st graders.

12.  When estimating always go high (i.e. if you have a choice between being likely to fit 5 or 50 blocks in one hand go with 50!).

13.  If I sub in a first grade classroom I will smile a lot throughout the day, I will inevitably do everything "wrong", not a lot of teaching will get done,  I will learn to love them all by the end, and unfortunately I will leave with a splitting headache!

Hope I get to see those rascals again!

Cousin Ashtyn

I have been feeling bad about not having any pictures of Katie and Russ's little girl Ashtyn on here and then Katie sent me these today!  Soooo adorable!!!  Here she is at nearly 15 months I think she is now.  What a cute Nebraska cheerleader, Minnie Mouse, and leaf girl:)