Okay.. so this week was fabulous.  I worked full time in the early preschool classroom with the exception of a few small stints I did with the infants/toddlers, and then the after school program.  Anyway, I got serious props from the lead teacher, and a primary teacher.  I was really proud considering I had only been in the room a few days.  And the kids are absolutely adorable!

Anyway, on Friday, I found out that I get to assume the role of a primary teacher in the infant/toddler room this week!!  I'm hoping the promotion is semi-permanent.  I get to spend time with my babies and *crosses fingers* hopefully get primary teacher pay.  I get an off day on Wednesday, so that's probably when I'll update this again.

Other than that, life is still wonderful.  Joel and I spent mass time together yesterday watching Dr. Who and talking about all kinds of things.  I really like our random conversations that we seem to have pretty regularly.  I also got to give him PeptoBismol yesterday.. which was epic to say the least.  He is so adorable.  <3  

As far as critter updates go, I have a few:

Rose- She is actually getting bigger!  She's still Ms. Micro Kitty, but at least she is less skeletal.  She also puts up a fight for food.. especially of the canned variety.  The little bugger just about took my finger off last Monday.  I was pissed and proud of her at the same time.

Doc- Eh.. Doc is still Doc.  He sleeps like a dead hamster, is possessive over food, and demands snuggle time.  The only difference is he's a little bigger and doesn't throw up anymore.  Both good things.

Lain- She's been coughing and that bother me.  She might have to go to the vet this week, but she's finally filling out.  She got her stitches out... Thursday I think.  In any case, she's wonderful.  

Zephyr-  Massive as always.  I brushed him today and he actually seemed to partially enjoy it.  I was proud of him.  

Gulliver- He's becoming more and more "civilized".  He snuggled with me while Joel and I watched Dr. Who and actually fell asleep.. and snored.  It was adorable.  He's a bit obsessed with food, but he's doing a lot better about listening, which I think is in part because I am a lot more direct with him since I've been teaching.  I don't let the kids get away with things, so I'm definitely not going to let him do it.

Art Update:

I have a drawing in the works!  It's a bit of a tribute to Magritte. Hopefully it turns out nicely.  It's going to be entirely in pencil because I haven't done something like that in a long time... I think... the more I think about it the more i want to do it in pastel.  We'll see.

Anyhow.. that's life right now.

Oi... kids are special.  I'll just say that first.

Today, I spent around 3 and a half hours at Madison Premier, and loved every minute.  I met a great staff, and little buggers that were absolutely precious.. even the squirrely ones.  I basically spent an hour and a half in each division (2 year olds, and 3-4 year olds).  First, I spent time with the 3-4 year olds through two classrooms.  First, I met Miss Wallace and Miss Hinton.  I talked with Miss Hinton more than Miss W, but both were really nice and also seemed to love the kids.  I got to watch them do show and tell, snack time, and recess.  One of the little boys showed me his plastic frog and said it was pretty.  I agreed with him, and a lot of the other ones in that class smiled.. and ... oh dear.. what was her name.. Caroline I think.. but she didn't like graham crackers. 

Anyway, then I went to the next room where I met Miss Watson and Miss Phillips.  These ladies are stellar!  They have so much patience and are just absolutely sweet.  The kids are priceless too.  This little guy named Michael pushed Megan, and Megan cried and told Miss Phillips and her friends.. and then one of her friends, Aniston, said she didn't want to play with Michael anymore.  Seriously.. I didn't know kids held grudges at that age, but apparently they do.  For the rest of the time, Megan, Aniston, and their other friend just did their own thing.  I met a little boy named Habi, and other named Cosi.  Habi said his big wheel was a motorcycle, and I told him it was a very nice motorcycle.  Then Jenna said she had a motorcycle too, and I told her the same.  On a more serious note, this one boy in the class named Emerson might have autism.  It was rather heartbreaking to watch him during recess because he played by himself most of the time and just acts like he doesn't really hear what people are telling him, but at the same time he's really affectionate and gives hugs.  I felt bad that there wasn't anything I could do for him. 

During recess, I had to leave to visit the really little kids (who are around 2 years old).  This was tripping!  The ladies over there were Miss Toney, Miss Parkyll, and Miss Laudevin (I probably mispelled her name).  Again, great ladies with lots of diversity in personality.  I really liked observing them because they seemed to have their own style of talking with the kids, disciplining them, etc.  The kids were very talkative!  The first one I "bonded" with was Emma.  Emma is around 1 and a half and really liked playing peek-a-boo.  She also smiled and waved a lot.  The next one to communicate with me was Presley who gave me a bandaid that she found on the ground and told me it was a boo-boo.  Then, this little boy with cataracts on his eyes named Michael gave me a hug... he likes to go up and lick people... but when he does that you have to tell him, "No, sir!"  Yeah, I am so hooked on this job it isn't funny.  When they were having their lunch (they got fruit, broccoli, and hamburger helper), I sat with them, and Sawyer was pointing out pictures on the wall and then found his picture and said, "It's me!"  He also told me he didn't like broccoli, and tried to give me some.  I said no thank you and that I didn't like broccoli either.  Then, someone informed me they liked carrots, and Presley said she liked cheese.  Carter (Presley's twin) showed me the strawberries on the wall and said they were apples, and I explained to him they were strawberries and he said, "strawbabies."  My heart melted!  At some point during lunch, Sawyer spilled his milk.  Carter gasped and Presley got a concerned look on her face.  Sawyer looked at me and said, "I made a mess!" I said, "Yes, you did!  You spilled your milk."  He then told me that he was going to clean it up, and told me to watch... sure enough, he cleaned it up with a towel.   I told him he did a good job and he had the biggest smile on his face.

Basically, if I don't get this job.. I'm going to cry... I love those kids already... I should hear back about it sometime this afternoon or tomorrow morning.  I know at least Miss Hinton, Miss Phillips, and Miss Parkyll are cheering for me, so we'll see.  *crosses fingers*

Regardless, Joel has been more than supportive and even picked me up during his lunch break.  Being loved is awesome.

The Weekend:

This weekend simply was.  It had a life all its own.  We stayed at Joel's parents' house on Friday night, and it was really nice to talk with them, see Gulliver spend time with Gillead (their collie/sheltie mix), and analyze some things.  First, the way Joel's parents behave is... disturbingly similar to the way the two of us behave when we're together.  Joel is very much like his dad, and I'm pretty similar to his mom.  It's nice and weird at the same time, but comforting.  Gulliver got in plenty of walks, played with toys that were too big for him, and engulfed Gilly's food.  I was quite proud when Joel's parents gave me a small list of things to remind Joel of.  It feels nice to be dependable.  Joel's mom showed me how to continue the chain I crocheted, so hopefully I'll have a finished blanket pretty soon.  She also gave me a knife for painting, and some medium for my oils.  I was like woot!! 

Then, we went to spend the night with Joel's friend Adam on Saturday.  Adam is pretty awesome, but the day was pretty much an emotional trainwreck for me, and I was absolutely elated to head home Sunday morning.  I think I can leave the description of the day like that.... with the exception that Joel might be watching Tombstone pretty soon because Adam agrees that it is a killer flick... go figure.. I can pick out a decent movie after all...

Total number of bug bites: 21 (all on my legs... so much for wearing skirts)
Snuggle count:  on life support
Scenic views:  lots... Tennessee is pretty even in the boonies.. go figure..
Result: Sunday was spent with aloe vera ointment for sunburn to reduce itchies...snuggle debt was reduced immensely.... kinda lonely today... i wants my snuggles dang it!

In Other News:

I filled out 3 applications last week.. had an interview for a job.. and no word as to whether or not that went through.  I'm mildly discouraged, but trying desperately to keep my head up.  Still doing well in classes, and will make my first observation this week.  It should be fun.  3 papers to write over the next few weeks and wishing terribly I had a computer of my own.

Joel's bday is coming up and I'm really happy that I got my refund check yesterday because now I can afford to get him a small present.  Don't know what it will be yet, but hopefully it will be something he'll like very much.  I'm being crafty with the other portion of his gifts, so those should turn out fine.