Tuesday Thoughts

I don't have much in particular to share on this Tuesday evening, but felt like posting. My computer's battery just informed me that it's low, so this won't be a long post.

I have decided to buy a new laptop this weekend! I went to Best Buy last week to just check prices and brands and found the one I was interested in. I am not in need of a fancy laptop. I just want it for the basics; uploading photos, e-mail, blogging, word processing and Facebook. The salesman was very kind and helpful in what I was looking for. The good news is that I looked at the sale ad for this week and the laptop I was looking at is $100 cheaper than last week! So...this is the time to buy it!

In other news...I'm really tired this week. It's only Tuesday! But it's 11:00 and you see what I'm doing. I'm just a night owl by nature and abhor waking up early, but I still haven't begun to make myself go to bed early. That's what I need to do. No doubt that having my own children someday will cure this problem of being a night owl. ;)

Tomorrow is my friend, Jessica's birthday! We're heading out early (as in 4:00 early) after work to go celebrate with her at the Cheesecake Factory! It'll be a fun group of about 8 girls who I love spending time with! It's also Early Release Day so we get rid of dismiss our students one hour early! More time to get stuff done is looking good! :)

It is officially 11:00. I really am going to bed...now!

Happy Easter!

He is risen! Jesus Christ, the man that was sentenced to death for our every sin, the man that died an excruciating death on a cross after being flogged, spit on, and whipped, the man that was nailed to a cross and said before he breathed his last, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"....that man, HAS RISEN! He did not last in the tomb! Three days later, he rose again!



Today was so powerful for me. I sing in the choir at the church I go to, and worship this morning was just absolutely amazing!! How true are the words "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain; Holy, Holy is He!" I couldn't help but raise my hands in worship and praise of the God who sent His only Son so that I could live eternally with him. I am just filled with thanksgiving and praise.

I attended a Living Crucifixion last night at my church. It was outside and the drama department had put it on but they did such an incredible job giving us a small glimpse of what that day at Calvary truly looked like and felt like. As soon as I walked up to the presentation, I got teary-eyed immediately. I've seen The Passion of The Christ, but to see it being acted out live in front of me was powerful. Oh, the way they treated Jesus. And oh, the way He so humbly accepted it. This man named Jesus truly is the greatest teacher.



I hosted Easter dinner at my apartment. Lakeland (where I live) is a central location between Sarasota where my parents live and Orlando where my aunt, uncle and cousins live, so we all agreed to meet here. I, of course, loved having everyone over! My aunt brought the ham, my mom brought some potatoes, fresh green beans and deviled eggs, and I made a macaroni dish along with a cheesecake! Everything tasted great!



Everyone came except for my brother and my cousin.


My friend, Kelly, asked me to take pictures of her family for Easter right after service. We both sing in the choir together. So I took a few pictures of them and wanted to be sure to get one of us! Isn't her son, Gavin, adorable in his suit??


Well, that sums up my Easter day! I have truly enjoyed this 3-day weekend!

Pre-Easter Celebration

Tonight, my friend Audra and her family hosted a Pre-Easter celebration at her grandma's house, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt for our twenty-something selves! :)

We began with a BBQ when we first got there. The food was great! Audra's family was very hospitable and kind! Her grandma was sweet to open up her home and property to us to enjoy this nice April evening! Her grandma also has a very green thumb and her flowers and gardens were gorgeous!

After we ate, we enjoyed each other's company and caught up on the latest news. We're all teachers so there's always a funny story to be shared. I know I've said it before, but I love these girls so much! I have been so blessed by these friendships since moving to Lakeland last July! Anyway...Audra's grandma had a very comfortably cushioned outside swing and it was really relaxing to slowly sway and talk with great friends!

We headed inside so that Audra's parents could hide the Easter eggs. Dayna was hilarious the entire time. She brought tennis shoes to change into for the egg hunt. She was acting like an excited 7-year-old serious about this. It had been years (as to be expected considering our ages) since any of us had been the participants in an egg hunt! Here we are ready to go with our bags! I guess at this age you don't need a basket-a bag works just as well!
(I haven't edited any of these photos, so the red-eye has not been taken out!)

We all ran like crazy to find as many eggs as we could. I thought I was doing pretty well until I heard that Dayna already had 15!! I meant what I said when I said that she was serious! She found the most out of anyone! I think I came in 4th place with 10 eggs. Poor Michelle only got 1!

Dayna and Audra were the lucky finders of eggs that had $5 bills inside!! Dayna asked if this will become an annual event. She is serious about that, too. Ha! I wouldn't mind if it did become annual-it was a great time!




I have to post this picture from tonight, too. While we were sitting outside eating, we heard an ice cream truck. A real ice cream truck, with music playing. Less than 5 minutes later, we heard a bell-ringing sound. We thought it was a loud telephone ringing inside someone's house.....until we saw......this......

WHAT??? We all said, "Only in Polk County would someone see this!" This man was pushing an ice-cream freezer, like the kind that are inside of gas stations. It had a bell that the man was ringing as he pushed it. Kids came running. Maybe it's just me, but who would let their child buy ice cream from this type of ice cream wagon/stroller/whatever it is?? Sketchy, don't ya think??
(No offense to anyone reading this where this is typical...I've just never seen this before! I've seen it in big cities...but this was a residential neighborhood!)

Ten on Tuesday

With FCAT testing being this week, I've been leaving shortly after the bell rings in the afternoons and not bringing anything home at night to work on. So...I'm blogging more. :) Fair trade, right? I really can't wait to get a new laptop so that it's easier for me to upload pictures and make my blog posts a little more exciting.

Ten on Tuesday Questions:

1. How did your parents decide on your name?
I want to say that my mom told me "Kaitlin" was a character in one of her favorite books at the time. Or maybe it was a movie, I don't know. She liked it a lot, but it had to grow on my dad apparently. Many, many people assume my name is spelled "Kaitlyn" but I always have to correct them. My mom is a 1st grade teacher, and being so primary-minded, she didn't like the way the "Y" dips below the line. She likes how "Kaitlin" sits straight on a line. I swear I'm not making this up-this is what she told me-ha!

2. Do your initials (first, middle, last) spell out anything funny?Not really. My initials are KEK. Nothing too exciting, although some people ask (when they know my first and last name begin with the same letter of K) if my middle name also begins with a K. Um, no, my parents aren't unaware.

#3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?)
I like my last name a lot. I don't know anyone (that isn't family) with this last name. I would like to keep it. But, bringing back up the 3 K's thing...if I marry a guy whose last name begins with the letter K, I will keep my middle name with an initial of E. I plan on taking my husband's name.....someday, you know, when that happens. :)

#4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)
Well, my siblings and I all have first names that begin with the same letter of K. I think it's cool. I will probably do the same (not necessarily with a K) because I like alliteration and just the general idea of the same first letter. I think it looks good on Christmas cards, etc., and just like how it sounds when the names are all said together!

#5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
Yes, I am one of those girls that has had a running list, in my mind, of names I like for future children. Only a few have stayed (until now) that I still like and would consider-Alexis and Evan. I don't have children yet so I can't say that I've "stuck to anything." Ha!

#6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?
None that I know of!

#7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
I look at just the name itself and whether or not I like the way it sounds. I think it's fun to look up the meaning of names-but I will not name a future child solely based on the meaning of a name.

#8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?
I don't have any pets to name!

#9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
Yes, there are plenty of names I dislike or don't prefer. I am not a big fan of super common names or super crazy names. I like them to be somewhere in the middle. It amazes me what some celebrities are naming their children these days! You have to wonder the true reason for the weird unique names-just for shock value or a true affection to the name? Also, this question takes on a whole new meaning when you're a teacher! In using my better judgment, these names shall remain nameless on the blog. Ha!

#10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
I have lots of names that I like right now or have liked for a while. There's always the "unknown" though-who knows who my husband will be (besides God) and what names he really likes or doesn't like...because obviously that will have weight in the decision! Anyway, names that I like for boys are: Abbott, Emmett, Beckett, Evan, Hudson, Luke, Lachlan, and for girls: Arienne, Sienna, Ellie, Kenna, and Laina. This is just an idea-it all could change by the time I'm really given the opportunity to name babies! :) Can't wait (but I really can!)

Miscellany Monday!

I'm linking up with Carissa today here for Miscellany Monday!

#1. FCAT Testing began today! It's hard to believe that test-time is already here! Time has really flown since August! All I keep thinking is, "I hope I taught them everything they need to know!" My students seemed to handle the day pretty well, but we have 5 more days of testing which will for sure wear them out come next week. Because I teach 5th grade, we test in Reading, Math and Science. I'm sure hoping my students work really hard so that they may experience the highest level of success possible!


#2. My friend, Jessica, and I went to Olive Garden after school for an early dinner. Tonight was the worst experience I've ever had at Olive Garden, and here's why. In the section beside us, there was a boy that was throwing up EVERYTHING in his entire stomach. He was hurling SO LOUDLY. I can't even describe to you how awful it sounded. I am one of those people that simply can NOT stand to hear someone get sick. This boy hurled loudly like 5 times in a row, meanwhile I'm sitting at the table with my fingers gluing my ears shut as tightly as possible. I looked at Jessica and asked her if he was ok and if anyone was cleaning it up and she said yes. So, I took my fingers off my ears and tried to continue eating. About 15 minutes goes by, and the SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. I was SO disturbed. I also could not, for the life of me, understand WHY this family had not left the restaurant! Who stays at a restaurant to finish eating when their teenage son is sick as a dog??? I mean, this wasn't McDonald's...it was Olive Garden, have some consideration, right? Gross! I completely understand people not being able to help getting sick-but this boy had Down Syndrome and it was just sad his family insisted on staying in the restaurant while he was so sick. The whole thing was just impolite by his parents!


{I realize I went off on a tangent here and used lots of capital letter phrases, but this really disturbed me tonight! Sorry if it was TMI!}

#3. Tomorrow, Krispy Kreme opens in Lakeland! My friends and I are planning to go right after school. We're not really feeling staying to work late after school this week-FCAT testing drains everyone involved! A delicious donut from this place should be a good way to end the day! :)



#4. I have been in a super productive cleaning mode since yesterday. I think after being so sick these past 2 weeks, I just had the urge to deep-clean everything I touch! I Lysol'ed all the doorknobs, faucets, light switches...everything! I am done with this sickness stuff! I am so thankful to have a good doctor who has called in medicine for me which is making me feel SO much better! Today at dismissal, I always stand at my classroom door, and one of my students said to me, "Get some more white blood cells, Ms. Kaliher!" I'm workin' on it!

Sick Again

Two posts back, I wrote about how sick I had been last week, including being out of work for 2.5 days. By last weekend, I was feeling better and ready for work this week and to attack it head-on with FCAT review for my students, as testing begins this coming week.

My body had different plans...for sickness again!

Wednesday afternoon while I was teaching Math, my voice and throat cracked a few times. I silently thought, "oh no..please don't be coming down with something else." That afternoon, I tutored some students and also stayed late because report cards were due. With each passing minute, I felt my throat getting more and more sore. I knew I had officially "caught" whatever this was. On my way home from work, I picked up a Frosty at Wendy's as that was all I could even think about putting down my sore throat. I went to bed hoping a good night's rest would help heal whatever had started.

Oh no. I got up that morning, got ready and dressed for work and headed there. I knew I wouldn't be staying long, just enough to get some plans in my place for whoever would be covering my class that day. That morning, I ran into my principal and right away, she kindly asked if I was okay. I think she could tell by looking at me that I was not. I immediately just broke down and said, "I can't be here today. I'm sick...AGAIN." I just felt so bad telling her I needed to leave, again, after being absent 2.5 days last week. She was very understanding and told me to go.

I headed straight to the walk-in clinic near my apartment. I tested negative for strept throat which is a good thing, but it means that I've got a viral sore throat which can't be treated since it's not bacteria. I won't be surprised if they call me back within 48 hours and tell me bacteria started growth considering I still feel awful. The doctor said she keeps strept cultures on watch for 48 hours because at the time I was tested, it could have been too soon to detect. We'll see.

I went to work today only for the fact that my classroom needed to be prepped for FCAT testing which takes place this coming week and next. All boards needed to be erased and cleared and desks in straight single rows, 3 feet apart. It hurt to talk because of how sore my throat is but I made it through the day. I've felt worse since I got home this afternoon. Ugh!

I am especially disappointed because tonight I was supposed to be part of the ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) walk in Orlando with my family and cousins who I haven't seen in a long time! It's been on my calendar since January and I hate that I had to miss it. But clearly, my immune system is down and I can't afford to push it. My grandma died from Lou Gehrig's disease 5 years ago. I miss her so much and will walk again in her honor next year!

I just can't believe how sick I've been these past 2 weeks! I'm typically someone who is always so healthy! I am doing everything I can to help myself get better. I need my mommy! :(

Colorado Spring Break Trip

I've only been back for 3 weeks, so I might as well get around to posting about my trip, huh? (Not to mention I still have not finished my Christmas 2010 post. I've always excelled at procrastination.)

Anyway...

For Spring Break this year, me and 3 of my friends traveled for the first time to Keystone, Colorado to go skiing, snowtubing, and snowmobiling. We also went on a sleigh ride which took us to a cabin for a nice steak dinner! It was the BEST trip I have ever taken!! I was beyond thrilled that it snowed, too!!! I would check the forecast about 5 times a day from my cell phone just to make sure that snow was in the forecast somewhere in the 5 days that we were there. There was plenty of snow covering the ground pretty much everywhere-but I wanted to see the snow actually fall. It did...for a good 3 or 4 hours one evening and the coolest part was watching the snow clouds move in. Being from Florida, I am just still amazed by the whole snow concept!

I'm going to let the pictures do the talking. I have a ton more pictures than the ones I'll be posting in this particular post, but they're not all on this computer. As soon as I get my tax return...I'll be purchasing a new laptop and will be free to upload pictures as often as I want again! Can't wait for that!!

And here they are...

Dayna and I on our snowmobile (it was much cheaper to ride together and we were going for what was affordable!)


All 4 of us!



The night that it snowed, we made a snowman! We made him look like a graduate snowman and Dayna found an icicle to use as a tassle!

Audra and I SO happy to be in SNOW! (Audra had never seen snow before, in any form, before the trip!


The 4 of us with Bert and Ernie, the horses that led our sleigh!

Dayna and I at the top of the slope we "attempted" to ski down! Beautiful scenery!!






Audra drinking her hot chocolate that they made for us as part of the sleigh ride dinner!

Audra and Bethany on their snowmobile!


I have a lot more pictures which I'll post another time. This trip was just so incredible! I cannot say enough good things about the state of CO and how beautiful it is! The mountains are just amazing! I definitely plan on going back to CO within the year to participate in some more fun winter activities! The condo we rented was very spacious and had a breathtaking view of a snow-capped mountain. I could SO deal with seeing that everyday! :)

Being able to travel and see more of God's creation is one of my favorite things about this stage of life!

A Week of Sickness

I am SO glad this past week is now over with!! It was a long week that began last Saturday morning when I woke up with extreme back pain. I called my doctor (in Sarasota) and he advised me to go to the ER and get it checked out. So, that's what I did. They told me I had a Urinary Tract Infection, prescribed some meds, and I was out of there.


But the pain continued. I went to work Monday, but left at lunchtime. I went home, took a nap and it got worse from there. I felt awful. My back pain was still there. I rested for the remainder of the evening but still felt crummy. I woke up Tuesday morning, attempted to get ready for work and realized I could barely stand and there was no way I was going to make it through the entire day with my students. I called in to the school secretary, and went back to bed. I slept from 7:30 til 2 without waking up once. I woke up sweating and had broken a fever, but I was still experiencing the back pain. This was Day 3 of antibiotics for the UTI, but they didn't appear to be helping at all. So, I called my doctor and explained the situation.

I was signed up for a workshop on Tuesday evening, and was the only one from my grade level that would be representing our school. Since the workshop was only an hour and a half long, I decided to get myself dressed and ready so that I could go. I was uncomfortable through the whole thing but I made it. I had spoken to my doctor and he told me I really needed to be seen by someone again. I went to work on Wednesday-not feeling 100%, but I wanted to make the attempt. I began experiencing some discomfort and found some bumps/cyst-like things and that put a whole new dimension on things. When I told my doctor, he told me again that I really needed to see someone. So, I took Thursday off and drove to Sarasota (in horrible weather, I might add!) to see my doctor. He thinks I could have shingles or a fixed-drug eruption from the antibiotic I was taking for the UTI. He ruled out the UTI and told me to stop taking those meds and he put me on some others. I am still waiting on bloodwork results, but I am feeling 10x better!

The past week was a blur. On top of all of it, I have had a bad cough and lots of nasal congestion. I'm usually a pretty healthy person, but not knowing for a few days about what exactly was going on in my body was worrysome. When you work a full-time job and have to worry about a sub and who will be watching your class of 20 students, you usually think twice about being out because it's not easy preparing for a sub. What I learned this week though is when you're sick-you're sick. Thankfully, we are given sick days to take and I'm fortunate enough to work with a supportive team and for an understanding principal.

I'm glad to be feeling more like myself. This week is our last week before we begin our state FCAT testing next week. Ahhh, I can't believe we're this close! This year has certainly flown by, just like all the rest of 'em!