The Leichty Life

My nieces stayed the night at our house while Conrad and Vicki were on a 24-hour retreat.  We made pizza, had a picnic in our living room and enjoyed some wonderful conversation.  Here’s a sample:

Lydia:  “Aunt Kimmie, if you could be any wild animal, what would you be?”

Me: “Hmmm…that’s a good question.  Let me think a minute…”

Bryn: “I know what I’d be!  I’d be a lion – a male lion.  Male lions don’t do as much as the females…”

Lydia:  “Yeah!  The male lions lay around all day while the female lions go hunting.”

I said I’d be a monkey so I can swing from trees all day, but somehow that couldn’t quite top what they had said.  You’re doing well,Vicki.  Very well.

Ellie:  “Hey Aunt Kimmie!  I pooped!  Wanna see it?”  I think I’m going to give Conrad the credit for that one.

Okay, so there are many things about life that I don’t understand, but today I would like to focus on the things about middle school that I don’t understand.  (Can you tell that I’m subbing for a 6th grade science teacher today?  I’m typing this during my “planning period.”)

1.)Why is every Latino child named either Juan or Maria in spelling bee sentences?

2.) Why do science teachers think it is important to have guinea pigs in their classroom?  I have one known allergy in this world and it happens to be to guinea pigs.  I’m high on Sudafed as we speak.

3.) What is it about really sweet and kind 6th graders that gets me all weepy?

4.)  Why can’t kids understand the importance of personal hygiene before starting 6th grade?

5.) What’s with all of the really cute boots?

6.) Why is randomness so funny?  “Hey Mrs. Leichty – I can breakdance!”  Awesome.  I didn’t ask, but I was very curious…

7.)  Can someone please explain “Homeroom” to me?  Every school I’ve been to (including the one I graduated from) has a different idea of what  Homeroom is.  I just don’t understand and that has led to MUCH confusion and MANY looks from students who are doubting my intelligence.

On the flip side, I think I can now explain the difference between a chemical reaction and a physical reaction.  I think.  Don’t quiz me.

It’s been approximately 343 years since my last post (or close to a month) and since so many things have happened in the last month, I shall resort to bullet points.

• I subbed for a junior high health and physical education teacher a few days after my last post.  For those of you who know me well, you can understand how that could have been a little intimidating for me.  Fortunately, my only gym time was during lunch and I simply had to keep kids from killing each other with basketballs.  Everyone survived.
• Conner is running around the house like an Olympian these days. He swings his arms like a cartoon character to get started, but once he’s moving, he’s a flash of lightening.
• His vocabulary now includes “what’s this?, dog, duck, ball, off” (which actually sounds like ots since his top teeth aren’t in yet), “on, mama, daddy, Nana” (which also works for banana), “moo, hee-haw and bow wow” (this is what a cow, donkey and dog sound like in case there was any confusion).  Oh, and he’s beginning to tell me “stop!”  Not too sure how I feel about that.
• We had a great Christmas with my dad in Frankenmuth, MI at Splash Village.  Conner was terrified of the screaming and waterfalls, but he survived without too much emotional trauma.  We had a wonderful time and I was once again reminded of how thankful I am that I married a big kid at heart…he took my nieces and nephews down the big water slides time after time.  They all knew to ask him and not me.
• A few days before Christmas our dear friend, Matt, came to visit.  He and Conner bonded immediately and we were so happy to have him here.  We took him to Jake and Grace’s one evening and we walked to our local chocolate shop one afternoon, but other than that we stayed home an enjoyed one another’s company.  Conner, Jon and I were all very sad to see him go, but we look forward to visiting with him again some time soon.  Matt is someone we will never lose touch with.
• We enjoyed Christmas Day/Weekend with the Leichty and Neer sides.  It was nice not to travel over the Christmas weekend.  This was the first time in a long time that we were able to join the Neer get-together and it was fun to reconnect with Jon’s aunts, uncles and cousins.  And the food was ridiculous.  I ate more in that weekend than in the previous two weeks.  And I loved every bite.
• We were in Goshen last weekend for our Christmas with my mom.  Once again, it was a great time with good food and hilarious family members.  I have a crazy family, but we laugh a lot…mostly at my brother, Chad.
• While in Goshen, we shopped for a new bedroom set.  I think we found one we like and it’s possible that my mom and her friend, Bill, will bring it out to us if we purchase it.  I would love to paint our bedroom and actually have furniture that matches.  Anyone want to come paint?
• I have tried a few new recipes over the last few days that I’ve been really happy about. I think I FINALLY found a granola recipe that I can stick with.  It’s delicious, easy and halfway healthy.  I also made Peppercorn Cheese bread, a cinnamon roll wreath and baked fish with wilted spinach (tasted much better than it sounds).
• We all remained fairly healthy through the month of December.  We are officially “immune” to H1N1 thanks to the vaccine and I’m thankful to report that there were no major side effects in spite of my  personal anxiety.  We’re still walking and talking normally.
• Today we’re getting a “huge storm”…probably up to 8 inches of snow.  Seems to me that Ohioans get a little worked up about their snow just like Virginians do.  I’m supposed to sub at a junior high tomorrow, but it looks like I may get to experience a snow day.  It’ll still be just as thrilling for me tomorrow as it was when I was still in school.
• I would just like to announce that I haven’t left my house for more than a mail run since Monday morning.  Does that make me lazy, crazy or just a homebody?  It’s not clear from where I stand.

So, that’s the word on the Leichty street.  We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season and that you all are looking ahead to an exciting 2010!

I was the substitute teacher for a 6th grade social studies class today.  I have never worked with junior high students before, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect this morning when the tardy bell rang at 7:20 (is that not brutally early?).  I am pleased to say that the day went smoothly and I will gladly fill in for a junior high teacher again some time.  There were only a few challenging students, but they responded better to to my looks of warning than I expected and I didn’t have to warn anyone more than once.

I found myself thoroughly enjoying observing the kids throughout my day.  Here is a brief glimpse into some of the conversations I overheard today (keep in mind that these were a bunch of random lines I heard – they weren’t all part of the same conversation).

Student 1: “Let’s have a heart drawing contest!”  Student 2: “Seriously?”

“So what?  If he’s gay, he’s gay.”

“If you touch my stomach one more time, I will seriously kick you under the table.”

“Jacob, stop!  You do not have an accent.”

“We were stressed, she was stressed, but then we talked until, like, 5:00 in the morning working it out and then we had to get up early for basketball practice.”

“Why are you guys talking about church?  I don’t go to church.”

“Mrs. Leichty, he’s touching my hand!”

“Oh. My. God.”

Student 1: “No really – the name Jacob is better because it’s in the Bible.” Student 2: “How do you know?” Student 1: “Because I’ve read the Bible.”

“My bad, dude.”

“What does that say? Chicago?”  (as he was looking at a giant map of Asia…)

Ah, junior high.  It was good to be back.

Don’t panic…I just found my social security card.

It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?  I’m sure you all were refreshing your Leichty Life pages hourly to check for an update.  It’s finally here!  I really have no excuse for not writing other than sheer laziness.  That, and we just got a new television.  We’ve moved into the HD galaxy and it’s nice to be here.

I finally took the plunge into substitute teaching last week.  I had submitted my sub license and paperwork in early September, but I didn’t get my first call until last Monday.  I saw “Schools” on the caller ID on Monday morning and knew that my week was shaping up to be a little different from the usual routine.  I was asked to sub for a high school English teacher for Thursday.  I was thrilled that A) it was high school and B) that it wasn’t a math or physical education class.   I agreed to sub and then called my sister to make sure she could watch Conner.  She was available and acted like she was actually excited, so it was the perfect opportunity to jump into the substitute teaching world.

On Wednesday evening, I decided I needed to get my life organized since I’d be leaving the house a little after 7am.  I packed lunches for Jon, Conner and myself, made sure there were enough bottles, snacks, diapers, etc for Conner and then I finally fell into bed where I dreamed all night long that I woke up late, couldn’t find the school, had to fight traffic all the way and arrived a good two hours late.  Fortunately, it was only a dream.  I woke up on time and I arrived at the school with my lunch, reading material and enough hand sanitizer to keep me healthy for the year.

It was interesting to be in a new high school – I was nervous about things that probably aren’t typical for most new subs.  For instance, I had no idea where my classroom was, I didn’t know anything about the school’s policies, I didn’t know how long classes were and I had no idea what all of their bells meant.  I was wishing for some good old Laker High familiarity, but was confronted with a labyrinth of hallways and three-toned bells.

Fortunately, the first three classes were a total breeze, thanks to a planning period and a 10th grade career test taking place in the cafetorium (isn’t that a great word?), so I only had an average of 4 kids in those classes.  The students were all very respectful and kind, not to mention patient as I tried to figure out the classroom technology.  I couldn’t find the DVD player anywhere and neither could the teachers in the surrounding classrooms.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to show Act I of Our Town without the DVD player.  Finally, by the grace of God, I found it underneath the telephone.  It looked like an answering machine. Weird, but nice if you’re concerned about desk space.  Anyway, it all worked out and I am now very familiar with Act I of Our Town, since I had to show it three times.  Next time I sub, I’ll know to take a better novel so I don’t have to watch the movies three times in one day.

All in all, the subbing experience was very positive and as soon as I find my social security card, I’ll get paid for it.  Anyone seen the card?  I can’t find it anywhere…

Other news:

• Conner is officially walking.  He still has to hold his hands in the air for balance, but he is finally seeing the benefit of walking as opposed to crawling everywhere.
• I can’t wait to eat a lot of pumpkin pie on Thursday when we go to the Leichty house for Thanksgiving dinner.  It’s sure to be a delicious meal.
• I’m in charge of finding Advent readers at church.  Totally stresses me out.  Any volunteers?
• I’m baking cookies today for the Thanksgiving parade in our town.  I think I’ll try oatmeal raisin since I’ve always wanted to try making them and Jon won’t be eating any (he hates raisins in cookies).
• Jon recently moved offices so he is now in the main IT department.  I think he’s enjoying being closer to the main office.  I need to figure out where it is.  I get lost in that hospital.
• Jon is just as thrilled as I am with the new television and HD service.  He’s been driving me a little nuts trying to figure out what all of the buttons on the remote do.  Sometimes I just want to watch TV, I don’t necessarily need to know how it works.

I think that sums up the happenings in the lives of these Leichtys.  I’ll try better to stay in touch…