glad to be home.

THIS is how I feel today.

it was one of those days.

I'm just glad I'm home and it's all over.

Glad my husband's hugs make me feel better.

I gotta learn not to take my work annoyances home with me. I'm still learning how to deal with kids with attitudes. bad attitudes. and sassiness.

maybe i should learn how to be sassy back. haha, just kidding.

it's just nice to be home with a plate of veggies, soy milk, and the peace of my cozy home with my husband.

going organic

Ryan and I decided we are going to try organic foods for the time we are in Storm Lake. I never thought I would consider all natural and organic food, but some recent happenings made us consider the option of organic food.

We're both working on being healthier, working out, and eating well, and organic and all natural food is our next step to healthiness. Not to mention all the things we're hearing about Storm Lake (our town) being a HOTSPOT for all sorts of cancer, because of the chemicals used on the farms surrounding us and that has gotten into the water, animals, and vegetables and fruits growing in Iowa. For some reason, Storm Lake is one of the ten top places of cancer victims, and i guess there have been studies about it becoming common in this area. So while we're in Storm Lake, IA we'll be eating organic meats and veggies and fruit. and drinking purified water:) healthier eating here we come:)

smiley faces and a hug

one of my first graders came up to me with this card that he made.

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earlier in the day I had sent him inside during recess because of the way he had acted towards one of the elderly teachers outside. I told him to go back to his classroom to think about what he had said and done.

he put up a fight, claiming he hadn't done anything, but after ten minutes of protesting and arguing, almost to the point of tears, he went inside.

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after an hour, i was teaching Kindergarten reading, when he found me and handed me this card:

turns out on his way inside, instead of his classroom, he found his way to the principal's office-and told her "that he was rotten to Ms. BB (Brandenberger) and had kicked her." (he hadn't kicked me, although he told the principal he had.) So strangely enough, he wrote me this note and folded it into a card.

He came up to me, with his face looking sad and worried, and said, "Ms. BB, I made this for you." I asked him to read it to me-and all the while my heart was just smiling-and he ended the note with, "i'm sorry ms. BB." His eyes were big as he looked at me and i looked into his big brown eyes and told him I was proud of him for apologizing.

He gave me a huge hug and held on to me and then went back to his classroom.

this seven year old's card and huge bear hug made my day:).

i do miss it...

one of my favorite street corners.

beautiful chicago.

lots of memories.

all my favorite things.

and so many of my dear friends and family are here.

i was dumb this weekend, and didn't whip out my camera like usual, so i don't have as many pictures.

cute packaging-and even better contents:)

here's the BEAUTIFUL ring Ryan bought me-from ilene's etsy site! You should check it out-lots of great and beautiful things on that site-and all made with love! Muchlove illy