Going Back to School

So I recently was admitted into IUPUI's Master in Elementary Education with a Focus on Technology Program (I need an acronym, but the actual one isn't very fun). I applied along with Emily, a fellow 2nd grade teacher at CGE. We decided that if we did it together it would be more bearable. We had originally decided to apply to the El Ed Masters Program, but I wrote about technology in my personal statement, so they automatically decided that I wanted a different program. After some investigating, we found out that the program I was accepted into was all online, which is huge plus. We were looking for some online classes here or there, but this whole program is online. That means no late nights at IUPUI, no parking passes, and no lectures!

Another plus to the program is that we will be completed after the fall 2011 semester; two full years instead of three. The bad part of that is that we have to take 2 classes every session. We are a little anxious about having 2 classes during the school year but with both of us working together it might not be that bad (we hope!). The other bad thing about 2 classes at a time is that it is 2 times the cost initially. I knew I would take multiple classes at different points, but right off the bat we had decided that we only wanted to do 1. So now I have to prepare to start spending $2000 every few months for the next two years! Yikes!

I am excited to finally start working towards some higher education because 3 out 4 immediate family members now have more education than me! Including my little genius sister! Don't worry though...she's only 1 semester ahead of me now! Soon, I can say that I have more smarts than dad! And of all people to be on the bottom of the totem pole, I never would have guessed it to be my dad! He is still the Jeopardy King though!

Rental House

Some people may know that at the end of July of this year we bought, with another couple, a rental house in Marshill. This house was only $5500 and the boys thought that it would need minor fix-ups....well that was not true. Just take a look...3 1/2 months later.


It sits at the back of the lot.

He looks like a lost puppy.

They had to dig a completely new water main line...75 feet long and 3 feet deep. Fun.



This is the kitchen after they tore down 2 walls and everything else that was the kitchen.

Well...they have all the inside walls painted, the cabinets are installed and I started painting them Monday. They have installed the bathtub and tonight are working on the bathroom again; hopefully it will be done soon. Then the flooring begins!

Their 45th deadline is to be done before Thanksgiving. I will truly have something to be thankful for if that happens!
Meet Owen, our class tortoise!



Tortoise Update

I guess I should have waited a few more hours to post about the Tortoise project because I could have said that it was fully funded before 9pm last night! I am so pumped about how DonorsChoose.org has worked! Every project I have written has been funded within a week. I never would have thought that my tortoise project would only take hours! Thanks to everyone who donated or passed on the link!

I told my kiddos about it today and they were so excited! I told them that we would decide on a name as a class and one of my girls shouts out "Michael Jackson!" She has been obsessed about MJ since school started this year. I was cracking up...but told her no. :)

I also received an email this afternoon that I can go purchase my pet and it's habitat today! I am hoping to do it tonight. As soon as I do, pictures will follow!

The Life of a Tortoise

I finally got my Tortoise proposal on DonorsChoose: The Life of a Tortoise. The original price was $520...after the Wayne Township Education Fund gave half, about $260 was needed to fund this project. After only 6 hours all but $75 has been donated!! That is so awesome!

I cannot wait to get this tortoise! I think I am going to have the class help me name the little pet...I may have to modify some names, but we'll see!