Good Morning...It has already been a long morning starting at 4am for me to do a cake. The cake was not so bad, I was decorating using whipped icing which is my least favorite to use...Turned out cute though I think for being asked last minute to do a cake.

Last night we had our PSO meeting. We have been trying to save up for playground equipment but at the same time help out teachers with getting things for the school, Music Program (things to be kept and used year to year), True Blue Friday Awards (Spirit Day) and Reading/Math Awards. The kids work so hard to earn this stuff and so much goes into getting the awards and stuff. So we have been helping and these are the things we usually help out with. We wanted to purchase an X Wave2 for the playground (Will post picture and hope it shows, have never done that before on here) anyway the cost of that with shipping would have emptied the PSO acct and we would not have been able to A) Help with anything else this year including Math/Reding Awards and Music Program Stuff and B) Would leave nothing to start with next year and we always try to leave funds to roll over. So we chose to help out other places. We keep being told by parents that more Play Equipment is needed. They complain but they don't come to meetings, they don't send any info. They get reminders of the meetings, they have an email in the newsletters for me if they want to send info or thoughts for the meetings and signs are posted at the school on the day of the meeting yet we only have around 10 who come but when we help out at class parties we are the first for them to complain to that we aren't doing enough. Well funds are limitted. We have to do what we can with what we have and the Help/Support we get. Without that not as much can be done.

We opted to help out these other programs so I am sure we will start hearing more complaints but when you don't bring in enough from the fund raisers, parents don't wanna work to sale anything and with times the way they are it is hard to come up with extra donations, so things are as they are!

If anyone feels like they want to help out NWH to get new play equipment, call NWH and ask how to donate to the PSO or if you know of any organizations who would be willing to help with the cost of new playground equipment let us know or talk to them. All help is appreciated. We had talked about next year maybe trying to help with the Special Needs Play area, they are currently not ready for anything but next year should be and will be looking for things so we had wanted to try and get things or at least 1 piece for that area but again, Budget is an issue, Support from other Parents, is an issue.

Sorry off on my PSO bender again, That is something I am very involved in though and I can't be quiet about it!!!

Hello everyone, I know it has been a while since my last post but I had so much fun this weekend. We had our Woodmen of the World State Convention this weekend. I have been a state officer for the last 4 years and have loved it. For those who don't know what Woodmen is...It is an Insurance Company with a Fraternal Organization. We do lots of stuff to help in communities and to educate people about what the flag means and what it means to be patriotic. We donate playground equipment and do service including National projects including, Join Hands Day, Make a Difference Day, Flags across America Day and 9/11 remembrance. It is a really good group. Locally we have lodges that do all kinds of projects. We have picnics and game nights and all kind fun and business meetings. For more information www.woodmen.com on a state level we also give college scholarships to members who are in good standing...I served on the committee that approved those for 2 years, then a Trustee and got to audit the books for the last 2 years and now I am secretary. Hopefully I won't be too weighed down but I am so excited.

Over the weekend, we checked into the Hotel on Friday afternoon, that evening we had the Youth from our lodge come and do a presentation. Our theme for the weekend was Red Neck Weekend. The youth took this and did a presentation about the flag. We had a grandma rocking in a rocking chair, speaking as red neck as possible and her grandson came in and also spoke redneck and he had a report to do for school on 10 flags...So we grandma told him of 10 American Flags and we had the flags brought in as she told of each, at the end of this they told the meaning of the pledge http://www.poofcat.com/july.html Then they acted out a poem as read... http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_348.htm this was also read http://www.usflag.org/poetry.html#IAM
after the youth there was a memorial service for each of the members who had passed away during the 2007-2008 years since our last convention, the I had made a special Memorial video in memory of a man who passed away in our lodge who was also a Past State President. It was very good.

Oh to back up on Saturday we had several members that went to the dedication of where new play equipment is to be put that we are getting for a park (My husband was helping with registration as I took a nap from not sleeping the night before with my bronchitis)

Saturday we started our meetings and we had a special address from someone welcoming us to the city. This year it was a lady from the office of OKC tourism and she brought info about the City and coupons. We also had special guests, The President of Woodmen and Dr. James Shaver a National Director. They addressed us as well and it was a really good time. We heard that during this tough time, WOW is still going strong and not loosing money. During this time with other Financial institutions droppingin ratings we are still an A+ Company which is the 2nd Highest ranking. Woodmen offers Life and medical insurance, Annuities, Cancer Benefits, Newborn benefits, Rx discounts for members, fraternalism and this includes Camps for children 8 and older and Senior camps for the older people who also would like to go. With all their programs, we have no stock holders, no playing the market with your money, they are still coming out on top. and it is looking brighter each day.

Saturday afternoon was free to enjoy OKC, Ryan and I used this time to do Easter shopping, easter dresses for the girls and something to go in each on. then that evening we had our Redneck banquet where everone could come dressed up as a Redneck, they served Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Taters, Green Beans and cobber...The table decorations were cups with WOW written on them and tobacco cans on a stick beef jerky, Peanuts, sunflower seeds and RC Cola and a Moonpie at every plate. after this we had a Red Neck Variety show, singing, jokes, skits...I may try to post pics or videos at some other point when I figure that out on here.

Then Sunday morning we finished up meetings, Reports from the commitees who had met to discuss certain things including the nominating committee who nominated Wilma Wright (from my lodge) as State President, John Moy (OKC Lodge) as VP, Me as secretary and Connie Worley (OKC Lodge) as Treasurer. There are also so many more positions, escort, greeter, musician, sgt at arms, trustees, scholarship committee...I have missed on, i can't think. but all positions were filled. Not sure the date of the next Officer meeting but it will be to begin planning for the State Picnic. Ever Even year we have a State Picnic this is just a fun weekend to enjoy with your family. we have games, events, food, bingo, socialization, silent auction, country store, cake walk...a whole weekend of fun on the Odd years we have our State Convention were the State Officers attend as well as delegates from each of the lodges, the # of delegates depends on the # of people who are in your lodge (this does not mean active members but of all that have WOW insurance or other product are considered members).
We try to make the Conventions enjoyable and at the same time do things that will benefit the area we are having the convention, as playground equipment at a park, In the past it has been benches and other things, I usually don't get to go to the dedications for one reason or another so i can't remember what all they have been .

Anyway that was my weekend. It was so much fun.

Ok - So Econonmy in Trouble and they want to waste our money...

What is this about. We are all struggling right now. Some can't find a job, others are having hours cut and stuff and our Government in OK wants to up our taxes so they can Italicize the word Oklahoma and add and exclamation point!!!

Our flag has been the same since 1941. It ain't broke - Don't fix it. Our economy is slowly breaking, Falling apart. More and more are going on welfare and other government assistant programs. More and more are filing applications and hoping to get a call (I know I see many of them OVER, and OVER and OVER again!) It is so hard to find a job in these times and you just want us to pay for changing a flag that is PERFECT the way it is?

We are paying Politicians to sit up in the House and talk about non-sense. We really need someone to talk about this issues and what to do to try and help not make worse!

If anyone interested in what I am talking about here is the news story as posted on our local station KXII!

http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/40752272.html

It's hard when your kids are sick!

Ashley is just fine in every aspect except for her eyes. She has so much energy and does not want to be still. No fever or anything...Just her eyes.

Monday I got an email from the school nurse. They noticed as Ashley was in the line to get on the bus that her left eye was red and swollen and might have some puss green color coming out...So Ryan calls and schedules an appointment...Yep it is pink eye...They give us drops to put in her eyes and do you know how hard it is to hold down an 4 yr old and put something in her eyes! So daddy doctored them after they got home with her prescription then I get home and we make dinner...We notice her Right eye is starting to swell and get red so we doctor both eyes. She woke up this morning and had the Right eye swollen shut, left eye is not so red or swollen but the right is...So hold down put drops in and decide to bring her to work for just a couple of hours...She has so much energy and just wants to do everything and if only Pink eye was not contagious...I could take her to school and have a normal day instead she has not where to put all that energy! Hopefully both eyes are clear tomorrow, if they are then the dr said she is ok to go to school so we shall see!

Did I break a mirror? or a Black Cat walk in front of me?...

I have never been one to be superstitious but, my word, what all can one person take!!!

First Ryan's radiator gives out
Then Ryan's hours get cut in half
that was a week ago...things go OK, then Friday 2/27 Ryan is changing out his radiator...all goes well, no problems. While he is doing that I make Mac and cheese, Ashley goes to the bathroom. I run in to use the toilet and don't look and sit and the toilet is at the brim! Plunger is not working...Ryan grabs a snake for the toilet and that doesn't work...We tell the kids not to use the toilet, I give the girls mac and cheese in the kitchen While I hold a light for Ryan to put Radiator fluid in his car...I come in The girls are done eating and have decided to wash their hands. Ashley flips over the side of the chair and lands on her face...Her cheek swelled a little and put ice and it was ok...I left to go to Wal-mart to get something to put in toilet and to get a GOOD plunger and find what I need, Hope to run into someone from work so I could get Scotty's number, he is our plumber and he was going to buy a rotor rooter so I was going to get his # incase we ended up needing one. Don't run into anyone (which is entirely unusual as I see EVERYONE at Walmart and never miss someone from work!) until I am leaving. I saw our purchasing Mgr and he did not have it nor did the site superindendent (he does the job sites doesn't work much with Scotty) out of 70 guys in the plant and 4 in the office and abou 80% of those call the Group Leaders (Scotty is one) when they are not oging to be there and I get the 2 who don't call him! Get home, get that fixed...get Ameera ready for bed and she fell off the bed. Ameera coughed all night long and even until she threw up. I took her to after hours care at her dr office on Sat and was told her lungs sound Juicy...so they call in med for that, she sounds better...we get home and start getting ready for Conference. Need to grab some church clothes for Saturday session. Ashley calls to daddy "Hide I am counting" He tries to slide into the side of the closet and grabbed the bar holding the clothes and it fell out of the wall and now had to be replaced. we have our clothes piled on the bed until we get this fixed...Ryan plans to do this tomorrow. We go to conference and all was well. Sunday we were getting ready...Plan was to leave at 8:30, Watch the Stake Conference which is being broadcast from SLC. So we were going to watch in McKinney. Well we got a late start...Headed out at 8:50 we get on at Washington Street and before we get to the McDonald's Exit in Durant (less than a mile) we had a flat...by the time we got the changed and the spare did not look that good, we decided to run home and switch into my uncle's van which we were borrowing since Ryan's car had the Radiator problem and we were going to return it to day...so we take it to Dallas but since we are running so late (it is 9:45 by now and conference starts at 10) we decide to watch here and leave when the Closing song starts. We set down...they are having technical difficulties...we catch bits and pieces...My Sis and her dh decided to go to Sherman to watch they could at least watch the last half...we decided to follow since that is the direction we are going. We get there in time for the last talk which was the last hour. It was really good. I called my mom afterwards to see if they ever got conference...they did not get picture but they got audio in time for the last hour so they didn't hear anymore than we saw...so we head out...(almost forgot we had to get our GPS back from my sister who had borrowed our when they left in in the car that in the shop). They loaned one to the elders and were pretty sure it was ours so they got it from them prior to going to Sherman...We head out and get the GPS out and search our fav locations for Dean's address we have saved...It is not there...In fact, we have Christa's GPS. So we call Christa...it takes 3 calls to get an answer. Finally get her and get the address out of Our GPS. So we got down there and all was fun. This morning we get up and I go to take the van..>Drive to mom's to drop off Ashley and it seems to be dragging. my spare is going flat...so we air it up...I go to work, have PSO lunch meeting in which only 5 showed up. then back to work. Pick up the girls and Ryan. Have my cell under my right knee. We get back into town before 6 and go to get my tire changed. Ryan walks across the stree to O'Riely's with the girls and I go in to pay, leaving my driver window down and my phone either in my seat or in the cup holder. I pay with my back turned about 3 mintues. come out my tire is changed I pull out to go across the street and go to pull out my phone to tell Ryan I am there and can't find my phone...thinking it just fell down We leave, I drop Ryan and the girls at Wal-mart while I run to pay car payment and Lowes and home to see if I can find my phone...I have tore apart the van and still have not found it...went thru my purse and computer bag and could not find it, went thru Ryan's stuff and still nothing. My phone was not dead but had just got to the last bar and had not had time to actually die...never beeped I tried to call it numerous times and it goes straight to Vm...It is not in my car...So either my brain does not work and I took it in with me to the tire place and left it, or it fell out as I got out of my car or someone took it out of my car and since there were only 2 guys out there and they were working ont he front Driver tire by the open window...they could have easily taken it. Come home, go to suspend it until I find it and see my phone does not have insurance which I know I signed up for when I set up the acct but that is a whole other story with the phones...I have the paperwork showing where I signed up for both phones to have insurance...They got my # fixed (i was keeping current # under my dad's plan on mine and that was after talking to 3 different people and being told YES you can do that if he releases it...) well after they got it straightened out and put that # on my acct they deleted the insurance I did not know that till tonight. So I call they got the set up and I will be charged $5 per month for the last 5 months to have the insurance but it is worth it...I had the suspend my phone and will call the insurance tomorrow after I have had time to check to make sure it is not sitting on casteel's service desk...

I kept thinking all day if I have happy thoughts and be happy and cheerful and don't let everything that happened this weekend get me down then stuff would get better then my phone dissappeared...Not to mention the email I got as school got out that Ashley's eye is red, puffy and oozing so possible pink eye...She has an appt tomorrow at 9:15 to see if it is...So one more thing...

So Black cat, Broken Mirror, Walk under a ladder, What? I have no idea...Ready for it all to get better though!

It's Official My 4 year old Daughter is BOY CRAZY

She comes home talking boys, boys, boys...she wants to hang out with boys...Wants to go play with my sisters foster Son David who tried to kiss her the other day...Jacoby at school did kiss her once and they both got in trouble and I think he kissed her on the cheek when I picked her up the other day.

Well this morning I could not get her moving...So as a joke I finally said if she didn't get up I was going to take here in her t-shirt she slept in and her night time diaper (pull up) and Jacoby would see it...I don't think I have ever seen her run so fast to get ready in the morning! So would you call that boy crazy?!

Yesterday was fun!

Yesterday we went to Fort Washita for a WWII reenactment they were doing. They had some old vehicles and stuff and it was really fun...the paper had said a battle would happen between 1 and 3, we got there at 1:10 and were told it would start at 2, well the actual battle didn't start until 3 but it was lots of fun. they were using smoke bombs and stuff for grenades and the kids were loving it. Until about 25 min into one of the smoke bomb or other firecrackers caught the grass on fire. all of a sudden they had the American's and Germans all out there fighting a fire...it was heading north luckily they got it stopped. After that they were going to start the fight back up but the fire took too much out of them and they had to stop. We got some pics and stuff which maybe I will get posted eventually but it was lots of fun.

Last night we went to Sherman and I did lots of Window shopping. Ryan kept up with the kids. I did really good and didn't spend much other than dinner and dollar tree, and panty hose at walmart plus gas. Ryan got a couple things at TJ Max but we did good. There were a couple things I was looking for and didn't find but did have a lot of fun.

That was our Sat. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Why do we get ICE and no Snow?!

Well it is getting icy outside...Why did they not cancel school the high for the day was around 6 am when it was 33 or 34...Now it is dropping. They warn not to drive in this if possible. I always here about wreck after wreck on the ice and I myself have slid but not wrecked on the ice...Today though I came in to work at 8 so I was late...Slid thru Evergreen on 12th cuz hit some ice...Finally made it to work. My cousin who works here had to leave to go pick up his wife and kids who were in a wreck on the ice...she spun out to the side and I guess was hit. Don't know the whole story...He took them home then turned around and took them to ER...Then we had a guy who ignored the No Soliciting sign and came in to sell us office supplies (That all has to go to Main office anyway) He warned me the steps were getting slippery...He left, down the grass to avoid the ice, One of our vendors came in to ask us to open the gate so he could refill our Propane tanks for our heat...I told David he was here and told Mike next time he went out that he should be careful because of the ice...Came back here with David and the guy stepped out and slid down the steps and think broke his leg...So we called 911. So this has been an even filled day...We were told school may let out early too so I am trying to stay on top of the news to know...Fun, Fun, Fun...What is to come next?!

2009 not our year (so far)

How come things just keep going wrong? Did I not eat enough black eyed peas or what?

Starting with the 17th of Jan, we met my FIL & his wife for lunch which was so much fun then took my kids and they had brought our nieces, so we all went to Jump 'n' Land at the mall. Well that night Ryan started limping then Sunday he could not put any pressure on his foot. So we went to the ER and his foot is sprained (possible fracture but too swollen to tell). They would not let him come to school without A) Crutches or B) Wheel Chair...well B is out since it is only a sprained ankle ins does not cover it as medically necessary, and I tried calling everywhere and could not find anyone who had crutches for 3'10" so he had to be out all week. New x-rays done this morning, just have to wait for reading...Follow up is at 9:15 tomorrow...Hopefully it will be well enough to walk on

Fast Forward to Saturday the 24th. We slept in which was great, then I caught my pinky toe on the door of the bathroom and have broken it. Then we went to Garland, MIL kept the kids while we did some running around. We stopped at the Race Track Gas station right around the corner from her house and went in to get soda's came out got in the car and some idiot decided to back in next too us--REALLY CLOSE. the lady could not get out of the passenger door. there was more room toward the front of our car so Ryan tried to get out and he hit that guys car (mercede's) the guy pulled out then came over and got all in Ryan's face. We pulled out...no damage to either car and he started following us til we got to Bucking Ham, we turned Right and he turned left but I just knew he was going to run us off the road or something!

K now for Sunday. I went to a meeting at church, Ryan was trying to get kids ready and had given them a bath. The Heater in the ceiling of the bathroom has quit so I had Ryan light the bathroom furnace...He gave the kids their baths and got them out of the bathroom. While Dressing Ashley, Ameera decided to go back into the bathroom where she slipped and hit the furnace...it had been off for 5 minutes but she has 2nd degree burns on her left arm and it took off skin. We have been doctoring it but at least I have ryan talked in to having it checked by the dr but she could not get in til 11:30 tomorrow so we will see what they say.

Bad things happen in 3's right? So that means it can only get better, right?...

Life is BUSY

I just keep adding more and more to my plate! I am still very active in PSO and wanting to do whatever possible to make more people interested and want to participate. One of the big projects we really wanted to do just to get the word out, and this was discusses last year with not issues about having one, was a PSO website for NWH. Originally they wanted the NWH Web master do to this but she let me know she does not have the time and if we wanted to make one ourselves and send her the link she would update it. This way we could post when our meetings are, our contacts and projects we are currently working on as well as post pictures of past projects. Well since she was not able to do this, we picked 2 people to be our web masters and design and keep up to date the info, however we have since been informed the most we can do is send our Names and contact info as well as 1 picture of a previous project and the dates of our meetings, other than that not much...Maybe a Line or 2 of what PSO is. The reason being that whoever makes the web page HAS to be a faculty or staff member of NWH and none of them have time to do this, so it is crazy. So far we are having a fairly good turn out First meeting had about 30 parents (of course they each wanted to help their child's class earn a pizza party). The next meeting we had about 15. So I hope it does not keep dwindling. I don't know how to get info out there. We can't do a site and link to it from the school site in any way shape or form. I just don't know how to get more of a word out there. Any way I guess that is my rant.

Now on to life is busy. Ryan Jr is in Karate and loving it, Ashley has started playing soccer with her first game coming up this Saturday. Ameera, is just Ameera and enjoying life. Ryan Sr has been traveling some with work and is out of town in Dallas several times but this week he left this morning for Mississippi. he will return Sat but not in time for Ashley's soccer game. With him gone it makes it really difficult to get my hours and still take care of the kids. We have the girls enrolled in Daycare towards where he works, A) they had the space and B) It is a REALLY nice facility. Ashley is in Pre-K until 3 then goes there, Ameera is there all day. They open at 6 and close at 6 and since that is 20 min from Durant and I work 10 min the other side of Durant this makes a really long morning. When Ryan is out of town I get up at 4:30 to get stuff together and shower. Dress Ameera for Daycare and just carry Ashley out as is. Drive to Daycare, Drop off Ameera, Drive back to town to my mom's Wake up Ashley and dress her then to work. I am suppose to work 7:30 to 4:30 but I am good to make it by 7:45 or 8. I usually try to stay until 5:30 to make up my time then run to get the girls getting there just before 6, however Tues and Thurs can't do this...karate at 5 and Soccer at 6. My mom usually takes my son to Karate but sometimes they have to go somewhere for meetings so I am just trying to find time to breath. On top of these things this week, I am also making Bday cake(s) for Saturday. We are having a Triple Bday Party for Ameera and 2 of her cousins Sat in the Dallas area. So I have to make the cakes and find a way to balance them down to Dallas since Daddy will probably be meeting us at the party...So...can the week get any busier...Oh I forgot I have to make Snacks for Ashley's Class and we have Friendly Friday on Friday night (Pine Car Derby) grandpa is helping Ryan Jr with a car, I thought about going to Sherman and just buying a couple of pre-cut cars and give the girls markers to color them but I don't have the time to run there. I have invited some friends to come so that should be fun. Also we are getting ready for Super Saturday next Sat the 27th, another full day for me. 8 am is Ashley Soccer game, 9-2 is Super Sat activities which I am the 1st counselor and teaching some of the classes, Oma (Cindy) and my friend Lisa are planning on coming. After the activities, Oma and Papa Dean are gonna do something with Ameera for her birthday, then 5 I am suppose to have a Woodman of the World Planning meeting (which I found out about after all my other plans were made) and then back to the church at 7pm for a RS broadcast...Wow another day of not taking a breath! and I am sure other things will pop up between to make it that more hectic. I know they were already talking about changing the time of Super Sat to 12-6 that way more will stay for the broadcast and not have to come back but I would not be able to do the classes I am doing so I don't know...Just too crazy!

VOTE "YES"

April 1st election is coming up for the City of Durant. If you don't live inside Durant please pass the word along as to how important it is for this issue to pass.

The issue is a New High School to be built on Gerlach. This will be a large project $41m to be exact. The land is already owned it will be the cost to build the school. Which if we keep waiting will be a whole lot more even waiting one more year as the price of steel and other manufacturing needs keep going up in cost.

This will involve a 5/8cent increase in what we currently pay on sales tax bringing the City of Durant's sales tax to 9.25% tax when places like Idabel are already at 9.5% so we are still doing well.

When we have businesses looking to bring a company into the area they look at the education that will be provided to their employees families. They go on tours of the schools and ask questions. Currenlty Durant is one of the Highest testing schools in OK. We have had many graduate with High honors.

We offer many programs for the kids. We try to make sure our kids get the best education. In building the new school for the High School they will be sending the Middle School kids to the High School The Middle school currently holds 2 grade levels and has out grown the Middle school. The High School holds 4 grades and is out growing or has out grown most of the school. They will be able to do what they need to to make the HS up to date for the Middle School Students to be able to use it with the 21 century technology. The Middle School was built in 1919 and they are not able to modify it enough to bring it up to the tech standards of today. The grade schools are able to incorporate more technology then the middle school. The middle school would become a good assest to the city. It is close to down town and the courthouse, library, etc. This would make a great place for many things including maybe a YMCA, Don't know what it will become but that is an idea.

The issue is not the whereabouts of where the school will be built...that has already been decided. The land at Gerlach was purchased in 2006. It has enough room for the school to be built with room also for extra curicular activities.

The land is also in a good central location for students. Not directly on the HWY as it would be if we were by the Sports Complex. Better roads for our teenagers to be on. Won't be as congested for Gerlach as 78. The growth of the city is going NW not E or SE. There as not been any new housing devolpements in that area and will not be as the land around has been bought for industrial use so it will probably get worse for them to drive in that area. Also the roads are 2 lane only and RR they would have to cross. It just would not be a good environment for the school the land they have is a good area and is the best situated.

Also the land offered by the sports complex is not enough due to : "According to Oklahoma State Department of Education guidelines as well as architectural recommendations, building sites for high schools should span 30 acres plus 1 additional acre per 100 students. Based on current enrollment, Durant High School would need a minimum of 42 acres to meet the guidelines for building space not including the consideration for future growth or outdoor practice fields and facilities. Of the 40+ acres available at the Multi-Sport Complex, approximately 10 acres have yet to be purchased. " This is not enough land and we would be spending more to buy or fix up the land for use and then the money to pay for the building of it which is the $41m so you are looking at even more money to build there.

I believe that if we build the better school that we will have the technology available to better educate our children, grandchildren, neices, nephews and friends. Just because you do not directly have family in the school system in Durant does not mean that you don't have church family who could use the better opportunities also what if one day you had family decide to move into the area. Don't you want the best education available? We as a community have to make this happen. We need to better the education so we can better our community. Building a better school will bring in more opportunities to the area. Our Property values will increase, as increases happen so will the money we are paid if there are jobs.

Please VOTE YES on April 1st.

If you want more info including information on the company that would be building school please go to www.durantisd.org

Please tell your family and friends in the Durant City Limit that this is a very important issue and they need to get out and vote...If you or them are not registered to vote in City issues then please go to your child's school and pick up and application or register there. You must be registered by March 7 in order to vote!

Again............................VOTE YES......................Your children need this opportunity for better education

I don't like tax increases but...

I do believe in education of our kids and the better the education the better the kids turn out. If we want our kids to succeed then we need to give them to tools to succeed. When they are in a HS that is over crowded and ther intermediate school is also over crowded and so forth it is time for change. Our current HS was built over 100 years ago and when I graduated 10 years ago (yes it doesn't seem that long ago but...back to my blog) it was pretty crowded and also much of it is out of date. They don't have room to build on without taking out the Durant Dixon Park (also better known as Northside Park or Rocket Park). They need a new place that they can improve and have updated stuff. With the improvements our kids can get a better education.

Currently they are proposing to build a new HS which will cost a total of $41 mil and though it looks like a lot of money and is a lot of money I believe it is actually a good price. The school will be bigger they are planning on puttin state of the art equipment and labs. and with the cost of everything rising this is a very good price. Yes that does mean a tax increase to pay for it and we all HATE tax increases but look at it as putting your child first. If you teach your child and make sure they are getting the benefits they need to succeed then they are more like to succeed than anything else. It is not like they are asking you to pay for this new school in 5 years they are proposing a 1% sales tax increase over a 25 year period to pay off the HS.

By building the new HS they can give the kids more room. They can upate the HS if needed to move the intermediate school or the JR High into once it is fixed up as needed so that they can get out of the over crowding they are in.

When this story was on our local news station KXII earlier this week, people are given a chance to comment and some of those comments is what has set me off.

When comments are made that we should spend the money on our jail (which yes need improvements but...) the comment said that, that is where a lot of the kids will end up anyway. It is not the education that sends them there but the choices they make. If we teach them better they are going to make better choices!

Also why not send them to Votech for Lab but ok that is 10 min away and a bus trip extra and did you know that in grade school for the kids to go on ANY field trip they have to pay for the bus ride. They are not free except to and from school. and do you really want that much more time outside of school on a bus when they could be learning and increasing their knowledge? Don't you want to make something out of our future leaders...May not be the leaders of our country but who knows...they could lead Durant, Tucson, where ever they live. If they have the education they need to succeed then they will bring where ever they live to succeed as well. If you cut off and limit what they can do then their leadership will only be minimal. I want my child to succeed and other children I know to succeed. I don't want to take that chance away from them i want to help provide them with everything they need so they can be better than I am!

Why don't parents want involved in their child's education anymore?!

What has happened with parents being involved in their children's education. In the old days the parents were fully responsible for their up bringing and making sure they got an education. Now parents send their kids to school and want the schools to do it all.
They all want to have a say and tell you when teachers are not doing something they approve of but when they have the chance to participate in programs that will give them a voice in their child's education and to help improve the quality and things that they offer they don't want to participate.
Many schools have gone from having PTA (Parent Teacher Associations) to PSO (Parent Support Organizations) to none at all. Without parents involvement there are many things that can become negleted. What happened that made parents not want to get involved. I understand some parents work and it gets hard but for those who can spare one night a month to come and discuss issues that can better the school for THEIR children, I think they should WANT to participate. Without the PSO there would be many things that may not be addressed. The PSO has gone as far as to put Pea gravel in the play area at the school, provide shaded areas for hot days, provide a way for teachers to display work done by their students (tack strips in hall that are coming for all grade levels). We should be here to support our children and their teachers. Without support, things will not work as well. Being that this is a Support Organization we also need to have some of the teachers or representatives from the grades to attend so that we know we are addressing issues they have.
When your child goes to a school and there are over 300 students you know that there are more parents than 6. We currently meet monthly and make decisions for our school. We have a meeting of officers as they are the only ones in attendence along with the Principle. The parents put their trust in 6 people but what if our thoughts are different than yours. What if you think there is something that should be done that is not being addressed. Another thing that we do as a PSO is bring things to the attention of the school board that needs to be handled. Making areas safer for our kids.
I do not want to see the PSO at our school do as some of those in the area and become non-existant. It is our responsibility as a parent to make sure our children are getting the best education possible but if you are not involved in any aspect how will you know. Those who work during the day can't go help with class parties or field trips, those who work at night can't go to the one monthly meeting for PSO but you can help in your own ways. Take the time you do have day or night to go and help at the school Help your child's class, Help with field trips, volunteer your time when we have events at the school that require volunteers to help you, If you can PLEASE come to PSO and show support there and help us make the decisions neccessary to make our school better! Make your voices heard so that you can create a better education for your children and not complain that another school is better as they may have better parent involvement. The school does not always determine how well the kids are taught but how much the parents care.

My son goes to NWH (Northwest Heights) and I am as involved as I can be. I have 3 kids and a full time job. My husband works 2 jobs but my kids are important enough that I want to make sure they are getting the best they can. Don't you want that for your kids to? Then why not get involved with your schools PSO, PTA or what ever they have, if they don't have one, get one started! They need it!

6 July 2007

I am still not great at Blogging or journaling but I am gonna try and get better!

Things have been really crazy here. I went to a Job Fair for Durant a couple of weeks ago and filled out applications for several jobs. I have heard from 2 of them. One was Enterprise rent-a-car and they called me for my first phone interview then sent me a letter telling me thank you for my interest but they decided to go with other candidates. The other place I recieved a phone call from was ICON Construction! I had an interview last Wednesday with them in McKinney Texas and was hired to start the 16th of July so now I am trying to find daycare. I will be an Office Administrative Assistant. The office is out on Big Lots Parkway in Durant and I will be making more, so hopefully we can get some bills paid off and Ryan wants to go back to school!

I will still be working at the Funeral home 2 nights a week as needed and 2 weekends a month but this may only go on for a month or 2 to help out with day care. They had origionally offered me to go days taking Latisha's job because she will be starting nursing school and wanted to know how much i would need to be pd...well I have 3 kids that would need daycare in summer and 2 in the fall when school starts back so i would have to make enough to cover that...I told them how much after I called around and checked daycare prices and told them how much i would need. They started blowing me off when I would ask them about it. So when I went in Last Sunday I told them I would be starting another position and would have to cut my hours and they had NO problem with that...I then found out on the 4th of July that they had hired someone else last week and they have been training him for taking Latisha's job...So why couldn't they just tell me that and give me the raise they promised regardless 2 months ago!

Things have been really crazy because cars have given us problems and we have had to pay lots to fix those and on top of that I had my Aunt and Uncles 50th Wedding Anniversary cake to do in June then June 29th my sister's baby shower and now getting ready for the 14th of July forAshley's birthday party. We are gonna go to Chuck E. Cheese in Garland.

Christa now has a foster child. Lydia, 11, she is a member of the church and has had lots of problems so had been staying with my sister for the last 3 weeks. She helped me a lot taking care of the kids and planning my sister's baby shower. She helped plan, get decorations together and everything that goes along with it the week of. She and I even made a diaper cake with some diapers she had bought for Christa and I got some different things for her to stick in it. She then had to meet with DHS last Thursday and she got back to the house about 5pm. We were trying to load everything up to go decorate and we got a call saying they were coming back to get her for us not to leave until they had picked her up. She was SOOO disappointed she had been counting down the time. They put her in foster care but we did get permission for her to go to the baby shower on Friday night. Monday Christa, Mom and Dad, and I went to see what we needed to do to get her back, we also took some other members for her older brother and sister, they were going to try and get KINSHIP of them. Christa had to go have Ammon sign stuff and they rushed the background check and Christa was able to get her on Monday night! Wednesday we had a "Welcome Home Party" for Lydia and gave her some presents and I made a cake! She still has 2 baby sisters (3 1/2 and 2 I think) who are in foster care. I don't think I could handle 2 more of those ages right now!

Tuesday 3 July 2007 we had a full day. I went for my drug test for my new job, drove by and picked up applications to some daycares and then drove to Sherman, going by the Denison Dam as the Spillway is about to go over for the 3rd time in 50 years (when it was built it was only suppose to go over once every 100 years!) we looked out at the spillway but did not get out then. Ameera had her 9mnth check up where every thing was good. Then we drove to Garland to Ryan's mom's house. We had dinner with the missionaries and talked for a while. His mom had to take some medicine to his sister's work so we went over to the mall to walk around for a bit then we went back to her house and swam for an hour or so. We came home and got home just about midnight...dead tired! Bub was up at 7am wanting to go to Mema's so Ryan took him over there, then I made Lydia's cake and took to mom's.

Wednesday I took Lydia and the kids to get some fireworks and to the spilway to look out. Then fireworks and cook out later that night with my family.

Thursday we took a quick trip to Sherman to take footage from the 1990 flood in the area, water going over the spillway. Mom went with us then we came back by way of the spillway, lydia went with us and wanted to see it! she is really excited about it...They are predicting it to go over between 4 and 6pm today! so I guess we will see!

Today I am gonna work on the house and getting stuff together for daycare applications and see if i can get them turned in!

The kids are doing pretty good. Ameera is 9mnths and has 6 teeth and bites EVERYTHING. Ashley is not wanting to potty train. We have been trying for MONTHS and she REFUSES! Bub is in speech therapy every Monday right now and is getting better but still has some problems but we are working on it. When I put them in Daycare my sister and Lydia are going to keep him on Mondays so they can take him to Speech Therapy and Lydia is going to work with him on his sounds and address and phone #. He will play with her and try to say stuff that he won't for us so hopefully that will help a lot before he start Kindergarten.

Well that is an update...If I can get myself writing more regular, then this won't be SOOOO long!

Ange

January 8, 2007

Well today has been crazy, or i should say the whole weekend!! My daughter has been sick with this stomach virus, my son's asthma is acting up and just all in all crazy. my dh and my dad had to fix a broken hot water pipe under the house, raked leaves off the roof, and leaves out of the yard of the house we are putting up for rent. Finally we went to Frisco, leaving after 5, get to the mall(going to get pictures made of the kids, i go nurse my youngest while daddy takes the other 2 to play. we got some awesome pics from kiddie kandids! left the mall around 10pm drove to garland where we were staying in a hotel. Sunday we went to church in Mesquite with my SIL & BIL , they blessed their daughter. Ashley got really upset when daddy went up to help with the blessing so i held her and she passed out...they she started feeling really hot, i know she had fever just couldn't take her temp. Daddy went out and sat on the couch with her asleep on his lap, she slept for like 2 - 2 1/2 hours then woke up and threw up on daddy!! Great especially since we were going to my FIL to spend belated Christmas since he was out of town and we live out of town! so she went home with MIL (they are divorced) and slept while we went to see FIL. Had dinner from Johny Carino's and opened presents. It was really good. by the time we go to MIL Ashley was acting as if nothing was wrong. My mom also called and told me my sis was put into the hospital...she is 4 1/2 - 5 weeks preg. she has not been able to keep food or liquids down for a week and lost 6lbs so they put her in the hospital yesterday when she called her OBGYN at home (he is our cousin!) She is still in the hospital today. She and her Dh are going to rent our rent house though. When we got home last night Ashley had fever again 101.5 yeah...up till around 2 then up by 7 fun! today she acts like she feels better until we were out running errands and just as we stopped to drop something off for my sister at the hospital, Ashley threw up in the car...so guess she is still not feeling that much better! tonight I have Woodman of the World meeting and PSO, since i have to choose, this month I am going to WOW since I am an officer and they are installing us tonight! Tomorrow is my 27th birthday and Thurs I have to go back to Dallas for a meeting with Church. So it is going to continue to be busy...I guess we will see what else comes into factor as the week goes!!