Thursday, December 23, 2010

Only in the Chamberlain house

As I was cleaning up today I stacked some books on the table where the TV sits....I decided it was worth documenting.Just in case you can't see them....here are the titles in order form top to bottom

Peanuts Guide To Life by Charles Schultz
Box set of Hogwarts Books, Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages
The Unoffical Harry Potter Cookbook
Decision Points by George Bush

Like I said only in the Chamberlain house!

Happy Christmas All!

Falling Objects....

You are all familiar with my friend Alex bow now...if not read some of my previous posts!

Our interaction the other day in the hall

Alex: Mrs. Chamberlain do you have a helmet I could borrow?

Me: Um no Alex I don't have a helmet....what do you need it for?

Alex: To protect myself from falling objects

Me: What kind of falling objects?

Alex: Well I have already discovered one in this school

Me: Well what is it?

Alex: Basketballs

Me: Sorry Alex I don't keep a helmet at school....

Oh the hazards of PE in elementary school!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Joys of Kindergarten

Scenario #1

The following description of a certain object was described as follows by a Kindergarten student at my building...

It's kind of a piece of paper that you put in a book and it helps you keep your place.

I'm sure you can all guess what this child was describing right?

I bet you were thinking a bookmark?

Well you are sadly mistaken this was the response I was given when I asked one of my kinder classes if anyone knew what a tadpole was... :)

My response? Um not quite, I think you're describing a bookmark, but good guess!


Scenario #2

One of our stand out of a crowd Kinder friends was working on writing work today and the task was to answer the following question.

If you could your family anything in the world what would it be?

Among the things this child wrote about?

I would get my dad.............Ghost Rider Bad Ass #2

Monday, October 25, 2010

Thanks....thanks a lot!

So Mondays and Friday are generally crazy days in any elementary school, especially mine.

I was running around like crazy today, which makes the day go fast, but boy am I exhausted by the end of it.

At the end of the day I have a duty that I do where I stand outside on this main sidewalk and make sure that all students are getting off school grounds safely. One of my students who has Aspergers always has something to say as he passes by. This is the conversation that ensued today....

Student: See ya tomorrow!

Me: Yep see ya!

Student: (Stops walking and turns around) I know what I am going to do when I get home. First I am going to do my homework and then play Pokemon Emerald.

Me: Oh well that sounds like a good plan

Student: Yeah I'm in a pretty good spot

Me: Yeah you're pretty lucky, I have to go to class tonight. I come to school all day for work and then I go to school at night.

Student: Wow, when you do get any sleep?

Me: Well I guess I don't get a whole lot of sleep

Student: (Gets pretty close to my face) Hmm...that must be why you have bags under your eyes!

Me: Yeah I guess so.....now go home please!

Great way to end a crazy Monday.....thanks.....thanks a lot!

Note to self: Pick up cucumber to make cucumber slices on next grocery store trip

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Todd's TV....two different versions


So I just got this book in my library and interestingly enough it's called Todd's TV by James Proimos. I was talking with my library secretary about how funny this book is and how I should give it to Todd for Christmas. Read the summary and if you know Todd it will make sense.

Here is the summary & check out the link to Amazon where you can "look inside" and see the hilarious illustrations.

Todd’s parents love him very much, but they are very busy
and have lots of grownup things to do. So they often set him in front of the TV. One day, when his parents realize neither one can make it to his parent-teacher conference, the TV
offers to take their place. They
agree, and from that point on the TV takes on more and mor
e parenting duties -- even driving Todd to school and taking him on vacation. His parents are grateful … until the TV proposes adopting Todd.
Alarmed, they try all sorts of
tricks to wrest their son away from the TV. But it’s Todd who
proposes a simple, effective solution: Turn it off.


Later that night Todd and I were just hanging out at home when Todd disappeared, which means he is working on some sort of creation....

Eventually he comes back upstairs and says "I just built a TV!" Turns out his PS3 wouldn't work with his regular monitor so he had to make one and this is his creation....



He was so proud, so I guess I was too :) My little nerd

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Less Calories (?)

So......I sat on a cupcake yesterday

I would like to think that this makes it have less calories, especially since this was cupcake numero tres (I'm hoping a lot of people don't speak Spanish so they don't know what I just wrote there) plus I did have to sit through a class that night. This entails me going to Highland High School and sitting in a room by myself for three hours.....I need ALL the help I can get!
Needless to say, my peanut butter cupcakes topped with chocolate glaze, peanut butter chips and toffee were amazing and due to the consistency of the glaze, no frosting was left on my rear and was not forced to change pants before heading to class :)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Joys of Life in a subdivision.....

It's times like these that I wish I had a tape recorder because my retelling of this story is not going to do it justice....

So it may come as a surprise to some of you....but I am a sucker for kids who are selling things. A few week ago a couple girls came by selling these discount cards for Highland athletics...I bought one and then had to hear about it from Todd.

Tonight Todd and I are hanging out, I'm watching tv when the door bell rings. The door bell rarely rings at our house so we are always saying who in the heck is here?

I go to the door in only my spandex and a t shirt to find a lady and little boy that I do not know. The mother asks me if I have had a chance to support Riverside Elementary and I said that no I had not....then the little boys starts talking..................

As the mom starts to show me the cookie dough booklet and explain what they are selling, he starts talking 20 miles a minute......

Boy: There's present stuff too and ribbon and why do you have this spider web on the wall by your front door?

Me: Oh I don't know I guess I haven't taken it down yet

Mother: Hey it will be really great for Halloween

Me: Yeah I guess so

Boy: I am going to come here for Halloween

Me: Ok I'll take some of the white chocolate macadamia nut

Boy: Why are you getting that you should the play-dough cookie dough, its like play-dough and it makes really good cookies (He then takes off down the drive way)

Mother: He is really excited and likes people a lot and he is obviously not shy...sorry

Me: It's ok (the boy comes back) so what grade are you in

Boy: I'm seven in first grade can I play in your house? I'm going to play in your house for 100 hours

Me: Oh it really isn't that fun at my house, there isn't much to do

So the mother says thank you and the boy takes off running towards the car, plowing through the bushes as he went, and I go in to give Todd back his check book

Me: I'm sorry but I just bought some cookie dough

Todd: It's ok I would have bought something from that kid too....

I'm sure the word is getting out....the lady at 3045 is a sucker go ask her to buy things :)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The Clever Stick

So I was reading a book today called The Clever Stick by John Lechner to a group of second grade students. The premise of this book is that a very clever stick is sad because it does not have a voice. It soon discovers that it can communicate through drawing and create a magnificent drawing creation in the sand upon showing the kiddos what is probably the "coolest" page in the book a little girl said.....

"That is SO cool! I want to be a stick too!"

Needless to say the teacher, along with two six grade girls at the computers behind start giggling and I chuckled a little but soon was in a laughing fit that took me a little too long to get under control :)

Here is a book trailer for that particular book!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Pictures done tomorrow!

In celebration of our wedding pictures being done I included a few more that were posted on Facebook by Linda Drish of Drish Photography!

My FAVORITE picture!



Monday, September 13, 2010

Wedding Day + 1 Month & Several Days (The Name Changing Period)


Happy 1 Month and several days to Todd and Me!

I can't believe it has already been a month since our wedding, and while it was by far the happiest day of my life, I am glad it is over and that we can finally "settle in" to marred life.

During our first month of being married, the question always comes "So how's married life?"

My general reply is it's great! Fact is, as of now it's a lot like before being married except I am now a Mrs., I am now a Chamberlain, I am now a wife, I can refer to Todd as my husband and I have had to change my name on fifty million things, which is definitely worse than the entire wedding planning process!

I don't think you realize how many things your name is on until you have to change them all! Men have got it WAAAAY too easy! :) My favorite part of the name changing process was getting a new license....or should I say mug shot......

The new Iowa license stipulations are that you can't smile and also that they have to be way too close to your face, NO ONE looks close when a photogra
phy is zoomed way in on their face. I am even brave enough to include the oh so lovely picture from my new license....sorry its a little blurry, my photo booth doesn't take the best pictures!














Outside of the picture stipulations, the new design also includes those lovely windmills that has splattered the state and they must be doing an all around "green" initative because I'm pretty sure they took a plastic straw, melted it down and then pressed it into the new license. I don't know about you, but I don't put a lot of emphasis on being green, especially if it means my new license is going to break in a week and I am going to have to pay to get a new one.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Post Wedding Update

Well it has obviously been about 5o days now since my last post, but since then I am now very happily married to my best friend and soul mate Todd and you can now officially call me Mrs. Chamberlain. I am hoping to be more frequent in my posting and as school is starting as well as my newly married life I hope to have some fun stories to share!

I've included pictures from my magnificent photographer Linda and Amanda Drish of Drish photography! They have obviously done a fantastic job and I can't wait to see what the rest look like!

Some of you may be happy to know that Todd has just put a wedding ring not only on his hand but the hand of his XBOX lives avatar....gotta make sure all those other nerd girls out there know that my man is taken! :)




Wednesday, June 30, 2010

44 days!

Well time is offically flying! Summer will be almost over and the wedding will be here before I know it! Progress is still pretty steady, we are making some good headway. RSVPs are coming in, which is so much fun! (I might go into a mild depression after the wedding because I won't be getting as much "fun" mail)

I have had to two wonderful showers, a Pampered Chef shower, where we got SO MUCH STUFF and a shower in Harlan where we got some really great stuff from our registry as well. It is so great to have such supportive friends and family as we prepare for this very special day!

I had my final dress fitting and Lisa, my seamstree, is a magical human being. She does such a wonderful job and the dress looks beautiful and IT FITS!!!

Outside of wedding planning I have been really busy writing curriculum, which we finished on Monday, woo hoo! I am currently sitting in class which started at noon and goes till 5PM...long day! Lots of reading and posting!

On top of all that we are leaving for Vegas tomorrow for Jonathan and Crystal's wedding and for the Fourth of July! The WHOLE family gets to go and it is going to be so much fun! Mark "Attend Vegas Wedding" off my bucket list...which I still need to make!

Lots more to do and I should probably pay attention in class! :)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

58 days and counting!

Obviously wedding planning is underway and I would like to say we are on the downhill! Invitations will go out this week, which is a HUGE relief!

Let's go down the checklist thus far...

Location...check
Dress...check
Church...check
Priest...check
Sponsor couple...check
Registry...check
Photographer...check
Tuxes...almost check (once everyone gets their measurements in)
Bridesmaids dresses...check
Invitations...almost check
Decorations...making great progress
Flowers...check (oh buddy get ready for these!)

and much much more!

Mom and I have been stalking our printer to get the invitations to look like I want them to and they look fabulous! They will go out tonight or tomorrow at the latest! YAY!

Stay tuned at the countdown continues!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

New items to add to my "hate" list



So I have never actually made a hate list before. I was on a hate list once upon a time in junior high, but I assure you this is not that kind of list....

IF I were to have a hate list, and maybe this is the start of one these are a couple things that would be on it....

1. Swings or rather children on swings at recess time: I never knew that a fun plaything like a swing could cause so many mean and hateful comments

2. Tire swings or rather children on the tire swings at recess time: if I have to hear one more time that someone won't get off the tire swing I don't know what I'll do! Add tire swing police to my list of professional experiences

3. Recess duty in general: rather listing everything separately maybe this is the way to go. Recess duty is the bane of my existance! Talk about feeling like the big B everyday! GRRR

The upside to recess is that I do have a lot of HILARIOUS stories to share that do come from that lovely time called recess...

EXAMPLES
Big foot has left footprints in the snow on my playground, possibly killed someone and knawed on a few branches

Certain kids that like to throw fits give me a good chuckle most of the time--SWINGING is a HUGE deal, take away swinging time and you have got yourself a super MELT DOWN! It's great (is that normal that I feel that way....guess you have to entertain yourself somehow)

I did have a kid once who pooped his pants while playing on the playground and after being told by a friend (not him) that this had happened, he proceded to tell me that I was a recess waster..........sorry that you crapped your pants buddy!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Endagered species....who cares...

So my favorite little friend at school Drew, the topic of many of my posts had yet another good one today!

So our school is just down the road from the river and bald eagles tend to land on the water and you can see them from the bridge, which is actually really cool.

Well Drew is picked up by the same lady every day, a mother of another child, and shet old him they were going to go look at the bald eagles....

Drew: can we shoot 'em?

Lady: no Drew we are just going to look at them (as she looks at me with a face that is saying Oh this child....what will we do with him!)

To which I replied, endangered species maybe?

Oh the joys of small children...this kid just may be the topic of my children's book some day! :)

Stay tuned, Todd and I are in the process of buying a house and we will be posting our progress either here or somewhere!

YAY!