All Growing Up.

It was with a tinge (well okay a great big giant gulp) of sadness that I swallowed my protective mother side and tried to be a supportive objective mum.

Josh came home today and asked for a 'private' conversation in his room. After he shut the door, I thought "oh God, we are going to have the penis-is-changing-pubic-hair talk". Instead
I got a "I got asked out by a girl today and I don't know what to say" problem.

Do you know what his response was? "I will get back to you tomorrow, after I check with mum" That a boy! After a discussion about what he wants to do and not do, and the no kissing or hand holding (hey, he is only 11) speal from me, he came to a well thought out decision and response. One that as mum I am very proud of and as a girl I think is a great answer.

Catch Up

Yes, yes, yes, I know I have neglected the blog for sometime. Yet again, my computer is visiting Harvey Norman to be repaired (gggrrrr...). So I have managed to ascond a Tony's computer to update bits and pieces.

Firstly I love my new job and my new school. Despite being hugely busy I am having a great time being busy. So far I have taught year 3 and 4. I was petrified this morning as I now have a year 3 class three times a week and oh my gosh they are so small and jittery. Give me a room full of teenagers any day!!!! I did enjoy myself at the end of it however, my behaviour management does need reviewing.

Jillian has settled in like a dream, informing me that I don't need to walk her to her room any more. She has a wonderful teacher. Her favourite part of the day? "Lunch time where I chase the boys, but don't worry mum, it's only tiggy". (OMG!!!!!) Jillian's vocab has changed somewhat. She has discovered words like 'wonderful', 'gorgeous', 'fabulous'. So for the past week we have been hearing, "Today is going to be a wonderful day". "Mum, you look fabulous", "That top is just gorgeous". How wonderful to have such optimism.

Josh has had a little rougher beginning to the year. Always harder when you are a bit older. He has made some friends and is enjoying school thoroughly. As per Jilly, he has a great teacher who has certainly helped in classroom and playground ethics.

Haven't been doing anywhere near as much scrapping as I would like. The page above is another Aussie Dare challenge. I lifted it from an Elsie sketch that is on her blog.

Had a photo shoot with Rachey Richter (see links on right) on the weekend. I know she will work magic on our photos, despite the lack of cooperation from Jillian and Joshua. Tony said next time we have a family shoot, the kids can stay with mum and him and I will just go. Kind of defeats the purpose honey....

Inspired by Aussie Dares

Journalling Reads...

The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there - and on such short notice. Even if I wanted to go my schedule wouldn't allow it. Four o'clock, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:30, jazzercize. 6:30, dinner with me. I can't cancel that again. 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing; I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9 I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear?

Practical Magic

I LOVED this challenge (dare #14) set out by aussie dares. So much so that I am going to create a mini book on the challenge. So many great quotes from so many great movies.

Awesomeness

Today was a completely awesome day. Just wanted to share that.

Also want to say a huge thank you to those people who have taken the time to comment on the Em cards. It is has given me a 'kick' reading the comments.

Do you 52?

Love this challenge set by the divine Emily A deck of cards, a few thought provoking comments, a whole 12 months and you got yourself a ready made year in review.

Week 1's challenge was Something you are proud of. I selected 'I am proud of the direction my life is taking'. Things are good. I have a new job which is just so very exciting, I adore my husband, and my kids add an element of humaness to our lives.

Week 2's challenge was What is Powerful to you. Answered this one fairly easily... My job. Not a day goes by when I am working that I am aware of the importance of my role as a teacher. I have the ability to determine what these children's educational lives will be like and what perceptions they may hold about the world and themselves. This is, indeed a very powerful role to me.

Week 3's challenge related to I am. Found this one a little tougher as I wanted it to be pertinant to the recent events of my life. I also did not want it to be a card of affirmation. You know the standard (yet not to be diminished) me, happy, loved.... So I chose the statement, 'I am learning to say no'. This holds particular significance to me. I am learning to say "no" to things I do not really want to do. I am learning to say "no" so I do not stretch myself again. I am learning to say "no" so I can say "yes" to my family and myself more. More importantly, I am learning to say "no" and not feel guilty.

Thanks Emily for sharing this great idea.

Been a While

Yes, it has been a while and the blog has been neglected, actually, I have been intending to post but the whole 'couldn't be bothered' mentality has been rather prominent in my mind of late.

There is too much to do in just being lazy around the house. Who would of thought that being lazy actually requires more effort than being busy?

Photos are of a bit of what has been happening around here. Josh is with his dad camping for two weeks, the cats are hot and grumpy, jilly has been doing chalk drawings and 'camping' out the front. She even was rubbing sticks together to 'make fire' hhhmmmmmmm..... Went for a crop at Scrapbook Princess and had a fab time. Did the compulsory Christmas LO, a family one using the paper that Rach Richter gave me for my birthday (so delicious) and the one of Josh above.

Officially back to school next week and it certainly will be one that is full of new beginnings for all of us. New year level for Tony, new job and new school for me and new school for kids. How wonderfully exciting.

Changes

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

2006, was by far the most challenging year I have had so far. I am glad to say, that although I have learnt depths about myself and my family, I am not sorry to see it gone.

Change was the common theme of 2006, and alot of it. Always big, significant, challenging changes too. We ended renting and bought a house, I found new firm friends and lost a couple along the way. My relationship with Joshua's father became more accepting and less conflict loaded, I turned 30 and was happy with what I had accomplished with my life so far, I set some goals that are selfish and I don't care. I ended at one school and am beginning at another, I am not classroom teaching but beginning a new defining and exciting stage of my career. I went from long hair to short. Found the source of my 8 year struggle with calf injuries. My computer crashed, twice, and neither time I had backed up. I sorted true friends from true associates, understood and learnt to love my children in a different way, reached a different level of companionship and friendship with my husband, took alot of personal criticism and comfortably worked towards minimising these 'flaws', found new facets of me, and above all, through these challenges and blocks I came out on top with a satisfied mind.

Bright side of the road

I love this photos of the kids. The page, I know it is very loud, I wanted to do something different. Scraplifted it from Kristina Contes. Man I love her work. It is a real cross between Ali and Elsie. I'm thinking that maybe she has become a new favourite! (Did you grab your chair Kath?).

What's your happy-bright-side-of-the-road page?

Goodnight 2006

Tried to get a cheesy family shot, the last for 2006. Got some absolute crackers. Hope you all had a wonderful night, whatever it is you may be doing. Here's to a great year filled with lots of love, luck and happiness.

Love Briohny xxx

Today

Have been feeling quite off for the past few days. Over tired, very sore, just generally feeling pretty ordinary. So this morning after waking up feeling like I was trapped between two cement pillars, Tony suggested getting some fresh air into my lungs.

So off we headed to Wellington Point. Took a leisurely stroll across to King Island, collected some 'shells' on the way. I feel somewhat better.

Came home, had a lovely salad roll and made a shell mobile with Jillian. But do you know what was really nice??? I cooked a nice dinner and we sat at the table, as a family, and ate and chatted and enjoyed a simple thing.

I like it when days like today happen.

Art Folder

I did this cover for my art folder. Well it's not actually an art folder as such. It's going to contain bits and pieces of inspiration, LO's I like, photographs, sketches and well all things that inspire me. Currently I either have everything ripped out of mags and shoved somewhere or glued into sketch pads. I'm hoping that I can get everything in here.

Can't wait to start using it.

Grinchmas part 3

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~ Dr. Seuss

Grinchmas part 2

Apparently, as we don't have a chimney Santa has to have a special 'Santa Key'. It is not sufficient enough to inform a 5 year old that Santa has magical powers and can open our door with his special key. Noooo, we've had to make a special Santa Key just for our door! Sigh...

Me Right Now

Right now I am...

• Still very happy about ending one journey to begin another.
• Still liking a doodling canvas I did some time ago. It hangs on my journey wall.
• Loving my favourite LO
• Happy that I pass a tree every morning and afternoon where the brightness of the red mesmerises me.
• Happy with my new hair.
• Loving having my candles lit each night. Such a calming light.

Grinchmas

Ok, Ok, Ok, We, that would be my DH and me, are the first to readily admit that we are not really, actually, not at all Christmas people! Yes, yes I know, I have heard all the "but's..." before.

In fact, one of our all time favourite movies is the Grinch. We didn't even have a Christmas tree, until last night. No tinsel in this house, pretty coloured lights, snow flakes (please we are in QLD and it is summer), Wreaths on the door or any other Christmas thingymajigs that encompass the commercial christmas.

BUT!!!! Last night we relented. We purchased a small christmas tree, one set of lights and a star to adorn the top branches. AND.... I even started a little tradition. Just a little one and it will be only one... I purchased each of us a christmas ornament for the tree. So with our lights and our small tree there are 4 lovely little ornaments. And you know what? It brought a little smile to my face...

Who knows maybe next year, we may even get that wreath for the front door. BUT there will be NO christmas carols!

Love and Happiness to you all

Briohny xxx

Remember the days of the old school yard...

Today was the last day for me at Wynnum SHS and I will remember...

I will remember the wonderful children who took the time each morning to come to my staff room door and give me a cheery good morning or who would do anything to help make your day just that little bit easier.

I will remember those students who provide me with such motivation to be the best teacher and role model I can be for them.

I will remember the teachers who have become life long friends.

I will remember the dirty, grotty, dusty feeling of the chalk dust left on my hands after teaching a lesson in G 13.

I will remember the lessons I have taught students and the lessons I have learnt.

I will remember the days in the old school yard, we use to laugh alot...

Meanderings of the Yellow Wall

Yes, the yellow wall is still continuing its journey. The photo above is an update of the how the wall is travelling. All I can say is it is content on its path of inspiration and happy vibes.

Just a Tinge...

We're leaving together, But still it's farewell....It's the final countdown.

On Monday night, the year 10s had their Dinner Dance (semi-formal). This was the first group of year 8s that I was a year 8 coordinator for. So, it was with some sadness that I sat and watched them dance, laugh, talk and have a great time and think that I won't be able to share this with them any more. That I am trading the young adult conversations for a different group of children... *sigh* :(

It is nights like this that I have tinges of sadness for leaving.

In the words of Dr Seuss...

So... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

You're off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting

So...get on your way!

You are all beautiful... Thank you for reinforcing the fact that girls (and guys) like you are the reason for me loving my job as a teacher.

Happy Days

Three weeks of school left! YAY! Actually it is 10 teaching days and 5 alternative educational program days. I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

Now for my news...

I was successful in my application for the Head of Curriculum positions that are being introduced into primary schools. Yes, you read right. I am hanging up my secondary teaching chalk board and heading to the littlies in primary. Am I scared? uummm.... no, no way. Having 28, 13 year old boys in a classroom after big lunch is scary. It is actually something that I am very keen to do. I will miss the older kids terribly. I received such a lovely gift on Friday from some of my year 11 girls that tugged the heart strings a bit. Buuttt.... as I said to them, I need to do what is important for me and they will be making these kind of decisions soon too. It might not be on such a grand scale as a employment change, but things like subject selections, formal dresses and where to stay at schoolies are all very, very, very important decisions for a 16 year old. So I will be spending the last week of school packing my things into the back of the wagon and waving farewell to the gates of my school for the last time. I am really, really, really, really excited and so desperately keen to start my new job. Thank you to all of you who gave me well wishes. Special thanks to my hubby who put up with endless "what if's". Extra special thanks to my lovely lady Miss D for all her patience and guidance.

On a different note, Tony is teaching year 4 next year. He is looking foward to it and hopefully this will be the last room change for him for sometime. It means new units, new resources, new room, but he did year 4 on his final prac so I know (and so does he) that he will be fine.

Jillian has had chicken pox all week (see photo) so the lovely little thing has been cooped up inside staring longlingly at the park across the road. We let her out on Friday and she ran, and ran, and ran... Then she just sat in the sun "because she could".

Josh is doing what boys do, sleeping, eating, arguing, loving their mums, eating some more, hanging out on the couch, riding his bike...

We are all very happy...

xxx

Good Food, Good Friends, Good Time

Had my 30th get together on the weekend. Had an absolutely wonderful time. The weather was perfect, the kids were all well behaved, the location divine. Got some gorgeous presents. Loved every single one of them Special thanks to all who helped me celebrate. The day would not have been so joyous if your company was not there. Special, special thanks goes to those wonderful souls who helped in the clean up. A noteable loving mention must also go to Rachel Richter (see link on right hand side) for being so wonderful with the kids and for taking some photos of us.

Did it all again on Sunday for my Nana's 75th birthday. Again, another delightful day with everyone.

WHAT A WEEKEND!!!!

On the countdown with school. Year 11s have one more week of classes, 12s are gone at the end of this week, 2 more weeks for the 10s (sorry Kay, that's 2 of yours at home with you) and 5 weeks for the rest of the darlings.

and then.... BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS Wooo Hooo.

Love B xxx