Recess!

Student 1: Mrs. Arroyo, can I do math during recess outside?
Me: Sure.
Student 2: Me too?
Me: Ok.
Student 3 & 4: Me too?
Me: Yes, are you sure?
All: Yes!!
...a couple minutes later...
Me: Why are you back inside?
Student 5: I want to do math outside for recess too.

Hahaha, gotta love 'em! Turning recess into math time...go play people!! Felt good though!

Student 1: God doesn't make mistakes
Student 2: God is perfect
Student 1: Yeah, like when he draws a child he doesn't make any mistakes.
Student 2: Yeah, he does everything perfect, and one day he made me.

Carry on kids, carry on...

Students: Mrs. Arroyo, where were you yesterday? 
Students: She was sick.
Me: No, I had Jury Duty
Student 1: ewww
Student 2: What's that?
Student 3: I know what it is...it means she had Diarrhea!

(needless to say, a quick mini lesson on the judicial system immediately followed!)

We are sitting in the car and I ask Adriana (12): What are the Names of the States?
Adriana starts: Idaho, Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Hampshire, Maine...
Anelisse: Wait! Wait! I know it...Maine, April, June, March, Massachusetts, Maine...ummm

Cookie Monster

Me: Anelisse!!!! You ate my cookie dough?!?!
Anelisse: Yes. Sorry. =)
Me: No, not sorry, you can't eat my cookie dough. We have to bake it first!
Anelisse: *Crying loudly*
Me: Why are you crying?
Anelisse: 'cause...(crying louder) I"M A COOOOOKIE MOOOONNNSTER!!!
What do ya say to that...I've got nothing, just laughter!

Girls...

I think about them all the time...am I doing it right? What else could I be doing? I'm preparing them to be the people I think the world needs but am I preparing them for the world?

Adriana calls me every night.

-Mami where are you?
 My answer is usually: In a meeting, or on my way to a meeting.
(This is because I'm trying to make a positive change/impact in their world)

-Are you coming home late?

My answer is usually: Yes.

-Ok, be careful, I love you!

My question: Did you do your homework?

-Yes, ummm, I have some left.

I proceed to check in with the others,

Elsa, always active: Hi Mami! I did my homework! School was good! Bye! I Love you!

Anelisse: Mami? You coming home now? Why not? That's too long, See you later!

Growing up I hated this very thing...not having my parents around...choices.

On the weekends, Girl power, Girls night out, Mami and me day

Quality, not quantity is what I'm working on right now...

I guess the fact that every once in a while they stop doing what they are doing and check in with me and say..

I love you, Mami...

and go about their business could mean I'm doing something right.

Work in progress but so far so good.

Girls!

Vacation is over

Today wraps up February vacation. I spent it pretty low key. I was with my daughters all week. That was wonderful. Can't really ask for a better bunch of girls. They are sweet and thoughtful.

Unfortunately, I did A LOT of sleeping. I also did a few things around the house...and handled a couple of play dates, oh and hosted two family dinners. I guess I did more than I thought.

I always seem to underestimate what I do. Do you do that? It's almost as if I feel like I never do enough and yet I'm always doing something. Maybe more organization on my part? Who knows.

So on Tuesday I was at a meeting and here are two things I want to share:

1-My eldest daughter ended up becoming the babysitter and getting paid for it. She was so excited about the money. This is the second time she gets a monetary compensation for a service she has given. Both times her response was "They didn't have to, I had fun." How many adults can say that about their work?

Anyways, then I ask her: "What are you going to do with the money?" The says to me without batting an eyelash "I'm putting it away for college." and after a short pause she says "Maybe I should give it to the people who really need it and don't have anything."

Ummmm, awwww!

2-I was asked what I was going to work on for next week. I said, "Get home early and leave when my work day is done rather than stay a few extra hours." I got laughed at.

Then at church the Pastor talked about giving things up for Lent and again I though...giving up the extra time I spend at work. Then tonight I got an e-mail with a strange story that ended with the following message: work to live and don't give your life to work. Hmmm, I think there is a message in there somewhere directed towards me.

So moral of the story, give me a second to come up with one.....


.... ok, I got it!

ummmm... Enjoy who and what you've got and what you do, validate what you are able to accomplish, know when enough is enough and that too much isn't necessary and don't let your work consume your life. How's that?

How much time have YOU taken from your family/yourself?