The Big Day

Tomorrow is the big day. Back to school. The students won't actually start until August 19, but teachers have to be there bright and early tomorrow morning. We are having a breakfast and going through the school handbook. What fun! Hopefully, the food will at least be good. I went to the school again this morning to do some more work and get some more points. I was able to get a good bit of stuff laminated, but I can't hang it up until Monday because of the new paint. I have made a list of things I need to buy and will probably do my shopping over the weekend. I guess I can say goodbye to my afternoon naps and lounging around in my pajamas. I am excited about the new year, but I really wish I had been able to enjoy my summer more.
I found out today from another teacher how maternity leave works. I will not receive pay while I am out, and my pay for the rest of the school year will be pro-rated. Wow. That is a total bummer. We will have to take that into account while working the cost of daycare into the budget. Looks like Baby Roberts will only be getting the basic essentials. I also found out that the time I am off will be docked from my teaching certificate. For example, if you have worked three years but were out two months for maternity leave, then your certificate will say you have worked 2 years and 10 months. I think the school system is being a little unfair. I was expecting not to get paid while I'm out, but I think the other stipulations are a little ridiculous. They should really let you know all of this stuff when you first start teaching. That way, you can start saving for all of the money you will be losing while you're out. Oh well. I guess I will know next time. It may be quite a while before we have another baby. I don't know if our bank account can handle it.

Getting Ready

I managed to get myself out of bed this morning and head to the school. I am changing classrooms this year, and I had to start moving my stuff. I was the only teacher on the eighth grade hall who was there today. I am sure more people will be there tomorrow because we get points for the hours we work on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and will not be able to put in as many hours as I would like. I knew I needed to get a jump start. The school was very quiet and hot. I was sweating before I left. Fred and I met at Fatz for lunch because he had early afternoon meetings and would be too rushed to go all the way home. After lunch, I went to the School Spot and Target to buy some school supplies. I then came home and made calendars for August through December. I am hoping to get my bulletin boards done tomorrow and put up my welcome sign. I don't want to do too much before I go to the doctor because I will get too hot. I really want the room to look bright and inviting to the students. While I was at the school, I noticed that a few of the other teachers had also been moved into different classrooms. I will have two new neighbors this year. I am going to try to get up early tomorrow so that I can get two hours of work in before I go to the doctor. I don't want to procrastinate. It makes me feel good to be productive.

Jump-Start

Well, I was actually trying to get ahead of the game. Teachers return to school on August 13, and I was planning on going to the school and working in my classroom today. I got up early this morning and got ready to head out. Right before I walked out the door, I checked my school email. There was an email from the secretary saying that teachers could not go to the school until Wednesday. Oh fiddle sticks! I really wanted to be prepared. Then I got another email saying that we cannot hang posters on the wall until Monday, August 17, which is 8th grade orientation. I'm sure I will be in a frenzy that morning trying to get the room looking good before students and parents arrive. So much for getting a jump-start on the year!
Since I was already dressed, I decided to go browsing around. I went to Kohls and found some more maternity clothes and a cute pair of shoes. I also went to T.J. Maxx, Ross, and Belk looking for shoes but had no luck. I am trying to be really prepared before school and not wait until the weekend before it starts to go shopping. This coming weekend will be tax free weekend, and the stores will be packed. I have discovered that you really don't save anything on tax free weekend. While it is true that you don't have to pay taxes on what you buy, the stores usually are not having good sales. I have saved more money paying taxes when the good sales are going on.
Fred and I went to Roger and Sam's house last night for dinner. Sam's parents are in town, and they are into grilling. We had chicken, ribs, new potatoes, potato salad, macaroni salad, and a tossed salad. I took a strawberry pretzel salad for dessert. We also had cake. The food was very good, and we had a good time. I keep telling Fred to invite everyone to our house for dinner one weekend, but he had been yet to do so. I would really like to have everyone over before school starts and baby arrives. Of course, I will want them to come over when baby does get here so that we can show him/her off. I plan on being one of those parents that takes every opportunity to show off my beautiful baby.
I'm not sure what I will be doing tomorrow other than going to the grocery store. I will be heading to the school Wednesday morning in an attempt to get a lot accomplished. I'm sure I still need to do a little cleaning before my parents arrive. Looks like I am going to be busy until next summer.

Being Domestic

I have been super busy today. I have done three loads of laundry, put clean sheets on two beds, folded towels, swept the dining room and kitchen, swiffered the kitchen, cleaned the countertops, polished the stainless steel, refilled the soap dispensers, put away the baby clothes, went grocery shopping, put the groceries away, and the list goes on. I am a little tired now, but I am proud of myself for getting so much done. It has been a while since I have been able to do this much in one day. I had gotten to where doing one task would wear me out. Maybe this is my so called "burst of energy" I'm supposed to get during the second trimester.
My plan for Monday is to go to the school and start moving my classroom stuff. At the end of the last school year, I was told that I would be changing classrooms so that I would have a promethean board for teaching math. I am hoping some custodians will be at the school to help me move the heavy things. It is also important that I get my stuff out of my old classroom so that the teacher moving in my old room can move her things as well. Also, since my parents are coming to visit next week, I want to get my school chores done early in the week. I am trying not to be a procrastinator.
I received the maternity clothes my mom ordered me from JCPenney yesterday, and everything fit. Today I received a skirt I ordered from ebay. The skirt was the exact style I was looking for. However, it was a little big. I'm sure it will fit within a few weeks.
Well, I'm going to put away Fred's clothes. He is out helping a friend move. Maybe I get more done when he's not here. Anway, it's been a good day. :)