Lately...

1. School is keeping me super busy. This nine weeks grading period is full of counting, matching, measurement, and language skills that have to be mastered and assessed. I am working on making sure all my little ones have been progressing in knowing their letters and sounds along with these other skills. We are working nonstop!! It's fun and challenging, for sure.

2. Sam and I are liking our new budgeting system, though it may be teetering on the edge of obsessive. It goes like this
*balance the checkbooks to the penny every two days
*plan in advance (about a week or so) the budget for the next pay period, including bills and
expenses for gas, dates, and groceries; input this info into the "money book"
*as the checkbook is balanced, write and record each expense in the appropriate
column/section of the money book, making sure we stay within our budget
I am happy to say we put an extra $400 in savings last month due to this new system. Yippeeee!

3. As Sam and I are talking about working on making a baby, I have been attempting to chart my cycle online on Fertility Friend in preparation for figuring out when/if I ovulate. (HAH!) So far my account on Fertility Friend has such encouraging statements as "No ovulation pattern can be detected". Well, that's good to know. Yep, if I sound frustrated, it's because I am. I can finish school, get a degree, teach children (very successfully), be appointed a schoolwide mentor, be a good wife, have a comfortable home, and have my life together pretty decently. But can my reproductive system do something as normal as release a little egg in a timely manner on a regular basis? Nope. Next month will mark two years since I have been off the pill. Maybe I should begin to get more concerned.

4. 26 is sounding really old.

5. Grizzlies basketball is getting better. Marc Gasol is earning himself a permanent place on my good list. OJ Mayo is heading straight for the list, too. I love my Grizz!

6. We pulled up the carpet in the living room, dining room, and hall in our house. We painted the concrete chocolate brown and sealed it. It looks good, and the house feels much more fresh and new.