Another day, another day.

There is a new custodian at the school I work at.

I learned today that he is creepy.

Firstly, you should know that I was by myself in the classroom today as one coworker was at meetings and the other was at home sick.  Moving on...

He came in the room around 10:30am and wanted to visit.  I was polite and we visited for a bit.  He wanted to take his break in the room, but I was on my way out for my lunch break because of our conversation.  He is about 25-30 years old.  Claims to have a BA and a Master's in Education (not implausible).  Today he also claimed to be a former cop and took a bullet to his shoulder.  He also claimed to be an EMT.  This was after he was asking me how to write a resume and asking if he could talk to my husband about being an Air Traffic Controller.  WEIRD.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!

I went to lunch, and then came back.  He popped in again once I was back and asked me if I'd like any of his extra food he'd gotten while at lunch.  He told me he was asking everyone.  Ok, this food hadn't been touched at all.  The mashed potatoes and gravy were still perfectly scooped in the ToGo box.  (I asked around, and he didn't ask anyone else).
He came in again later on to ask if he could take his break in my classroom.  I told him I was heading out to help a coworker with something (LIE).
He came in AGAIN later on and asked if he could break in there.  I told him I was about to head out.  At this point, I'm not being super friendly (but not mean) because I'm tired of him just randomly coming in to visit (doesn't he have custodial work to do?  He's the only one on that campus!).  I was watching Dawn of the Dead (original), and he left after about 5 minutes.  Phew.

Luckily, my coworker will be back tomorrow and it won't just be me in there.  On top of all that, I started off not feeling quite right this morning...something was just off...so my day was weird anyway.

Ok, on to the better stuff.

6.5 months along TODAY!  Huzzah!

I got my walkin' clothes on.  Gotta stay active!

I worked on a sketch today.  I'm going to paint it soon, hopefully.

WICKED

The sandwich effect.

6 months today!

I didn't end up getting the job.  

My name was put in for the teaching position, but at the last minute the district decided to shut down another classroom at another school and just transfer a teacher over instead of hiring someone new.  

Cram more kids into a classroom so that the district can save money.

Because that'll help our AYP (annual yearly progress), right?  (That's how schools get funding each year)  More students with less teachers.

There are positions at the district office being done by 3-4 people that should be done by 1 or 2.  That's where our money is going...instead of into the schools to help our kids and teachers.  Have the people who run the district really been out of the classroom long enough to not remember how things actually work?  

This system is really messed up, and I'm not just saying that because it's IMPOSSIBLE to get a job out here. One principal told me that 45 people applied for ONE position.  That is how awful it is out here right now.  

I honestly can't wait to get orders out of here.  A teaching job would have made me hate this place less.  I've been positive for over 3 years, and I'm just done with this place.  The majority of the people out here suck, it's dirty, the restaurants/stores in town don't even try because there's no where else to go, it's ugly, and you have to drive 2 hours to get any kind of break from this place.  

Sorry for the negativity, but there aren't a lot of upsides to this town.  I'm just thankful that Ben is here with me.  You can surely bet that when/if he gets deployed, I'm fleeing from this town back to Missouri.  My mom and dad talked this morning, and if I came back while Ben was deployed, I wouldn't have to pay for rent/utilities/groceries and they'd fence in the backyard for my dogs.  

Yeah, my parents rule.  

Goodnight!

Baby Shower!

5 1/2 months!

Nerds at the baby shower

The Dangler Siblings

It was actually kind of intimidating to open these in front of everyone...

My awesome diaper cake made by Mary Dangler!

Guess the baby food.

Sam Sachs knows her baby food!

What candy bar is melted in this diaper?

I love my mommy.

I also love giraffes.

My mom is the BEST blanket maker.

Ben, Jack, Alex, Me, and Mom

Ward family

This is me, today.  5 months tomorrow!

I had a hard time falling asleep last night.  The baby was up and moving around and it was so awesome feeling it.  A couple times she punched/kicked/head butted me really hard, and one of those times, I had my hand on my belly and I felt it inside and out!

Phew.  I've been so busy today getting ready for our trip and what not.  So far, I have:

1. Talked to Mom about the shower.

2. Talked to Mary about the shower.

3. Confirmed my attendance at a showing of HP7 in MO.

4. Paid bills that are not automatically debited. 

5. Emailed the person in charge of the graduate school at ENMU.

6. Done 3 loads of laundry.

7. Ate lunch.

8. Cleaned the kitchen.

9. Wrote a note to the person watching our house.

10. Had an interview for a position at a school.

11. Continued the list of things to NOT forget to bring.

12. Let our friend's dogs out while they are not in town.

And I still have stuff to do:

1. Give dogs baths.

2. Vacuum house.

3. Dust house.

4. Mop house.

5. Clean bathroom.

6. Finish laundry.

7. Pack.

See?  What did I tell you?  I'm a busy girl!

Things to do in MO:

1. Shop for a crib/dresser at Nebraska Furniture Mart.
2. Get my wedding ring cleaned.
3. Have baby showers.
4. Get some dang maternity pants/shorts/skirts. (My hips are much wider than my waist, and Baby Ward is quite comfortable laying low...which makes buttoning my pants hard!)
5. Hang out with all of my friends (duh.)

That's all I can think of right now.  I've got a million thoughts running through my head.

Here's the most recent picture of the belly:

Huzzah!