Bringin' Hats Back

Bringin' Sexy Hats Back

Maybe you've heard of this song-

well this morning at church we brought HATs Backkkkk!  Today we wore hats and scarves to celebrate our sister Donna.  Donna has cancer but it doesn't have her.  She is such a fun woman- the only woman I know who can relate to 6, 16, 36, and 60 year olds alike.  She loves the Lord and life, and she has a great sense of humor ( a shared quality).

Many people today really criticize churches.  It is easy to do when you see churches create private club type memberships/mentalities, protest in streets with words of hate, and observing members who choose to live the words of God for only an hour on Sunday.  A small percentage can really damage the rest.  God calls us to come together in worship and love.  Today was an example of how women came together to support another sister, to encourage, to raise, to laugh, to cry, to have an hour of joy together.  As a church we support each other, we make meals, we fix houses, we watch kids, we clean, and we lift those who have stumbled...its the way the world should work and it feels good.

You must check out these beautiful women and hats (I've cut out faces because believe it or not everyone may not want to star on my public blog).  But you know me, I love a good fashion statement! (and don't worry I actually listened to the sermon, even with all those pretty hats around me.)

Donna you have successfully brought HATS back!

                    

[Verse 1] Rewritten from Sexy Back-

Donnas bringing hats backkkkkkkkkk
Them other girls don't know how to acccctttttt
I think it's special we’re a packkkkkkkk  
So turn around and show the backkkkkk
Take em' to the bridge

[Bridge]
Awsome Sista’
You see those ribbons
Sista watch them sway

I’ll let you wear mine and we will prayyyyyy
No other hat makes me feel this wayyyyy

Take em' to the chorus

[Chorus] Wear that hat girl
Go ahead, be gone with it
Wear it to the front
Go ahead, be gone with it
VIP
Go ahead, be gone with it
Dinner on me
Go ahead, be gone with it
Let me see what you're working with
Go ahead, be gone with it
Don’t let your hat slip
Go ahead, be gone with it
You make me smile
Go ahead, be gone with it
Go ahead child
Go ahead, be gone with it
And get your hat on
Go ahead, be gone with it ................................

Roughing It

Third day at work complete.  I thought with it being the end of year and all I could coast through the two weeks.  That’s the thing with being a teacher...there are no coast through days.  I've been re-baptized by the public school waters...a field trip, observation, IEP meeting, report cards, workshop training, re-organization of classroom, assessment...all awaiting me.  The good news is I have no time to worry about not being home.

There were so many times when I would rock my precious Carlee in the rocking chair during the day and try to think of all the creative jobs that I could work from home so that I wouldn't have to leave my baby.  For example I could-

-Write for Harlequin Romance- how difficult can it be to write about ‘heaving bosoms' and 'throbbing members'?
-Walk/Groom Dogs- I could hook them up to the treadmill (that I never use) and Carlee has a ton of hairbows!
-Web Show- I read about a couple who made thousands of dollars a month by videotaping their private actions online and charging ...that is completely out of the question.... but I can do a mean electric slide in a full coverage glitter costume and I could probably rake in as much money...right!?
-Telemarketer...Can I interest you in a 30 day plan that gets you out of debt with only 56% interest?
-Start my Own School- YES your child can learn the fine art of cooking, cleaning, and raising children at Sechrist's House of Chores


Of course as soon as I returned to school, I realized why I do what I do, and it 'ain’t the big bucks'.  Kids are 100% awesome, even when they are driving you a bit bananas.  Yesterday we went on our favorite field trip to our local Boy Scout Camp- one of the Nations top Scout camps.  Students have to work very hard to raise money in order to participate.  Every year we sell cookies and lemonade to teachers in order to raise the money.  This year I returned just in time take our kinders, first graders, and second graders with Mrs. E..... to Rough It for a day!

Fav. Quotes of the Day from K-2 Students:

-Mrs. Sechrist, I can count to 287…1.2.3.4.5…..

-Well you’re a big pile of ‘shhh…shugar’ plums

-I’m never speaking to you again until the day I die or until we get to school.

-Shouldn’t you be counting all of us right now?

-44…45…46…47…48…

-Let’s play Paper, Rock, Scissors, Volcano

-Mrs. Sechrist went to the Special Olympics School when she was a kid.

-There is duck poop everywhere.

-Does your mom spank you with a wooden spoon?

-Here is a Starburst Candy for you.  You can take it with your asthma inhaler if you want to.

-Tlaquepaque (Mexican restaurant) is where my Chef is...it’s where I eat.

-Don’t crunch your popcorn up like that.  Tell him to stop crunching his popcorn like that.  Don't crunch your popcorn like that.

-She won’t let me scratch her finger nail polish off.
 - 177…178…179…180….181….

-Chef D, I like pizza with meatballs.

-Smoke is like onions, it burns your eyes.

-Is your baby here?  Why do you have milk in that bottle?

-What sound does an ostrich make?

-211…212…213..214…215…I’m tired of counting now.

Fav. Quotes of the Day from Teachers:

-Epson salts cure everything.

-This is the field trip; we are on our field trip right now.

-Put that boulder down, trust me you don't want to carry that one.

-Did you guys forget Mrs. Sechrist’s name?

-That is the High School I graduated from.  Yes, the Special Olympics High School.

-You have a corn field beside your High School?

-Next year we are going mall shopping on our field trip.

-Sweat is good for you it releases toxins.

-Don’t make me get my new hair wet fishing you out of the lake.

-You know this bus driver is going to go 75 in a 35 to get us back to school quickly.

-Geese... not ducks.  No, Geese… not ducks.  Geese… not ducks.

First on our trip we created amazing and imaginative and creative creations with our clay. 

Another clay snake anyone?

Next, Chef D. led us in cooking over hot coals- Pizza, Mac n’ Cheese, and Peach Cobbler.  I felt kinda' bad because my food doesn’t taste that good with a working oven and a microwave. 

 

 Where is the button to push start?


Then we went on to the favorite- Archery! 
Now that my students know how to aim and shoot, I won’t be putting anyone in timeout.

Last, we went on a beautiful nature hike, otherwise known as the demise of my breathing.  Is that my heart or the beating of the Tom-Tom drum? 

We gave them all a little cloth bag to collect any treasures they may find along the way.  We were thinking along the lines of flowers, acorns, feathers, pine needles..........

They were thinking along the lines of a bunch of gray rocks.  Yep. Plain, gray, heavy, rocks.  Those kids were carrying around twenty five pounds of rocks on that hike.  And guess what teacher they asked to ‘hold my bagggggg!’??  I told them there might be a few rocks missing if I was the one holding the baggggg.

Of course with the recent monsoon over the weekend, the class got a tiny bit dirty. 
We just hope they weren’t wearing Dry Clean Only. 

Even I (gasp) got dirty.  Quick!  Somebody get me some rose scented lotion and high heels! STAT!
                               



Overall it was a beautiful and entertaining day.  You could see God's paintbrush outside the camp and inside these children.  Fun was had by all (and little Carlee was waiting happily for me when I got home).

-(Bus driver, as he is buckling kids):  Your beating the heck out of me with that bag, what’s in that thing?

From the Mind of Connor

MY Connor….he is certainly my child, always transporting me back to the days when I was six.  We are a lot alike.  He challenges me every minute.  From the moment he was born he had his own way of doing things and he is as stubborn as a mule.  I call his mind The Rolodex because he is constantly talking and switches topics in mid-sentence.   When he is telling a story or stories he refuses to listen, answer questions, or to be corrected.  It can be very frustrating.  One thing about this boy is that he has something most children don’t have today…an extremely vivid imagination.  Despite the fact, that his parents (like most) purchase him WAY too many toys, he prefers to play with recyclables.  I have to be careful or he will literally fish things out of the trash for a new invention or idea.  I also have to be careful because he has been known to sneak in my jewelry box to create a crown for GI Joe or raid my makeup to create a mask for himself.  He has also been known to use an entire container of baby powder to create smoke for his race cars.   Just this morning he was up and at em’ at 6:30am and this is what greeted me at the steps:

Solo Cups for Fireworks as he enters the "ring".

He fished a breast shield (unused) out of the trash (obviously not knowing what it is) for an "invisible shield tree protectant" from the killer octopus...  The birds should be safe.

Sadly, Spike his lizard passed away when dad left the cage outside.  But, he has decided to use the top of the aquarium for a chain fence for these men to break down.

Although, Connor has one of these......

he prefers to use his own homemade "Intercontinental Championship Belt" made from a paper plate and my scarf (the scarf doubles as a Ric Flair costume).



A bag chord allows the Macho Man to make a "flying"  grand entrance.



Carlee's old diaper box is used for a cell match.

Scuba diving in the living room.  His nose piece is from the dentist a year ago when he had to be gassed.

Solo cups.. now a city.  (I don't guess we are drinking out of these today.)

An old Advertisement Connor created for the upcoming Wrestling Matches.

I am truly praying that he will always harness his creativity into good and not bad (after all those red solo cups can be used for other things).

My Role as Mommy

¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

My Role as Mommy:

Changing diapers and soothing tears when I really, really, really want a relaxing bath…

Listening to My Dog Buddy, 124 times, painstakingly slow, while pretending the last read was just as exciting…

Spending my last few dollars from the budget on an ice cream cone because you had a bad day….

Pretending I like to talk like I have helium voice just to get you to smile….

Giving you ANOTHER chance to correct your behavior, when all I want to do is put you in a headlock…

Holding a real snake so you would know I was cool too……

Being the best nurse when you are sick...

Rewinding the “fart” in the movie because you laugh hysterically…..

Battling homework, even though you are being sassy and I have a massive headache, but knowing its important you learn to work hard….

Being patient with you when I step on that toy (that I asked you to get up four times) in the middle of the night….

Having to watch the WWE Championship when I would rather watch paint dry….but cheering all the way….

Fixing your favorite meal, even if I’m sick of it or just sick…..

Hurting when you are disappointed or embarrassed… but knowing you are learning life lessons…..

Doing another load of laundry, cooking another meal, picking up another toy without hearing thanks….

Trying not to cry when you decide you don’t need me to walk you to your classroom anymore……

Trying not to cry when you spit up on my new black sweater…..

Every once in a while, allowing you to eat dessert before dinner because life is short and sometimes you have to start with dessert…..

Experiencing the excitement and loss of sleep before Christmas morning because you can’t wait……

Being exhausted but rocking you a few minutes longer to marvel at what a perfect angel you are….

Sneaking into your room at night to kiss your forehead, knowing you would push me away if you were awake because Mom is not cool…..

It's the only job I have where I work overtime, don't get a paycheck, don't get praise, and really not sure what I'm doing, but one where I wouldn't want to work anywhere else....

 

The definition of sacrifice is ‘forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim’.   I am not sure how many people understand the definition of sacrifice today.  Most often people don’t seem to understand that sometimes you have to sacrifice that vacation because you lost your job, sometimes you have to sacrifice that new outfit because you have to pay a medical bill, and sometimes you have to sacrifice that job promotion because it isn’t in the best interest of your family.   Mothers know all about sacrifice because mothers view their children as highest value.

If you had a mother that made many sacrifices, don’t forget to give her a BIG hug or honor her BIG memory this Mother’s Day.  If you didn’t have a mother like that (and sadly some do not) consider that you will get the opportunity to sacrifice for someone(s) you love and enjoy all the Blessings from it.

Happy Mother's Day

Girls' Day Out

Carlee and I have been enjoying our day together.  I return to work in a few days...Monday to be exact. weep.  Last night Carlee slept in her big girl crib and her own room.  double weep. 

I couldn't part with Connor as a baby. He stayed in our room for his first year.  Big mistake.  He never wanted to leave us.  He is taller than me now and still trying to get in bed with us.  This time we put Carlee in her great big crib in her own room.  Even though her room is right beside us, I felt like I was sending her to China (and it feels like you are walking that far just to replace a pacifier at 12, 1, 2 am).  She is already growing so fast. 

Last night she was quite fussy, so we started our morning sleeping late.  Next on the agenda- coffee and the Today Show, an insurance meeting at school, talked to Big Brother Connor who was caught NOT behaving (triple weep), ate lunch with our pal Mrs. E and Pod 200 teachers,  and then we hit the beauty shop where I begged Ms. T. to take me back as a client (see hair repair issues here and here).  She lectured me on using a cheap coupon, and then she worked her magic to give me a little style while we had great conversation.  (Basically at the end of this journey in order to save money and get a cute bob....I lost about five inches of hair and thirty bucks.)
Later Carlee and I got ourselves an old fashioned Cola Float and went for a drive. It is a beautiful day.  When we got home we checked Facebook and was surprised to learn that Carlee's brand new friend, little A., was born today!!!  Carlee is certainly excited about that.  Overall, we had a fun day and I'm enjoying the girl time.



 Before- School Marm Hair

    

After- Sassy Short

Carlee gives my hair two Coos and a Smile. 

Darren, my husband, gives my hair two 'shut the heck up about it already'.

NOT Loving My Hair

Not that I am one to OBSESS or anything...but I have narrowed my NEW hair down to five looks.

The MICHAEL DOUGLAS (Greed era).  Hey, I might can pull this slick look off with a 500.00 suit, a gallon of hair gel, and a fancy diamond money clip (and some foundation, close up alert- YIKES).

                

The TANGLED   (after she cuts her hair with shard glass).   

                         

The JOSH GROBAN.  What can I say...I'm in trouble if it rains.

                              

The JUSTIN BIEBER except I'll sing 'I just had a baby, baby, baby...ooooooooooo.'

                     

Looking at the bright side- I can atleast pull off the 'hairband with big flower' look. 

I know what your thinking, 'it's time for you to really get back to work now'.  I swear...I'm putting the camera down now and walking away...I'll be over my hair soon...I promise. (But I am NEVER using a hair coupon again.)