Cutting back and regrouping

Time for a family make over and a cut back on spending.
We never have had a lot to spend but we always seem to spend more than we should.
I spend way to much money on Groceries each month and even more by running back to the store for things that we want and not so much need. On average we spend $700-$800 a month on groceries and trips to the store. And the more I think about all the things we could be doing with that money the madder I was getting about how we waste so much.
My family never eats left overs. They just hate the thought of eating something more than once. So I have decided now they just don't have a choice. I will make things that can freeze and be pulled out for another day and it will be like having it new all over again.
I have started making a dinner menu again and master shopping list so that I know exactly what I need to buy and where the money is going.
I have even started making sure that if I am making a soup or a sauce I make a double batch so that I can save some for another purpose. So far so good.

Well shopping on Thursday I took with me $600.00 for the month and this time around, I spent $580.00. Now that still seems like a lot and I do want to cut back even more. I did stock up on a few items that I buy all the time and I did buy extra of things for holiday baking. In reality I spent $80.00 on the extra stuff and $500.00 on groceries. I real goal is to get the $500.00 a month down to $300.00-$350.00. I know it can be done and I am going to make it happen.

Cooked out..

I think I have reached a time where I am just all cooked out. I don't want to anymore at all. I hate the idea of making dinner every night and I hate even more trying to decided what to make.

Here it is Grocery shopping time again and I don't have a clue of what to buy or what we will eat for the month. I shop by the month to cut down on trips to the store. I normally would have my menu done and ready to post on the fridge but I just can't get in the mood to do it.

I feel like all we do is eat the same things over and over again. The many reason is because everyone here is so picky. Rob won't eat baked meat or boil meat. He hates the taste of it and would rather have it sauteed or pan seared or fried or cooked in olive oil. Jordan won't touch fruit and a few veggies. Logan hates tomatoes, so that rules out a lot of foods that are easy to make. Serenity she eats very little, she won't touch ground meat of any kind. I will eat just about anything, cooked any way. But then again I was brought up to eat what was in front of me or starve. So not how I brought my kids up. (Maybe I should have and I wouldn't be sick of cooking)

It's also hot here now and that makes the whole idea of standing in the kitchen for an hour cooking a meal that we may or may not eat not so appealing. My kids tend to eat a lot less during the summer and would much rather be allowed to snack all day long.

I am just so over it.. I need a chief for a month to come and make my family happy.

They are done..

School is over as of today at 1:30pm. They are home and already they are bored out of their mind. I on the other hand have had to straighten out a few things with my daughters school. I knew this year went a little to easy and something had to happen.
Jordan has always had issues with her sinuses this year it has been really bad. She has missed school due to these issues and I am forever sending in notes to them to let them know why she is out and I have even gone to the school to pick up things and drop things off. Not once has anyone said "hey your daughter is in danger of attendance problems." Or have they ever said she has to may unexcused absences. Nope No one has said a word to me.
Today we get her report card with 3 different notes telling me we have to contact a person over her unexcused absent abuse problem. Then we get a note saying she need chronic disease management through the school nurse. Then a form I need to take to the doctor to get filled out to explain her disease problems.
Needless to say they all got nice emails to fill their boxes in the AM. And if that is not enough for them I am going to make sure to be there to have a chat with them next week before they close before summer school starts. I am HOT HOT HOT!! I send notes in and they don't do what they are suppose to do with them and now it's my problem.. I do not think so. UGHH why can't we just end on a positive note for once.. I am so sick of having to do this kind of things..
Here I was running around like crazy to get forms signed so she can stay at that school and with this she may still have to change schools. UGHH

PLEASE LET SUMMER GO GOOD!!!!

Open Letters

Dear Wal-mart

While I enjoy shopping at your store,I find it annoying that the shopping carts made for families with more then one child are kept in the hot sun. I can't place my children in them as the hot plastic actually might cook their little legs. Just a thought to the person who put the shopping carts away. Make a space for the large family carts so that more people can use them.
Also please stop bragging about every day low prices. Your prices are low there is no doubt about it. But when you are always over charging people a few cents here a dollar there it makes it hard for us as customers to enjoy your every day low prices. Then when we as customers go and say something about being over charged, it would be nice if the person in the Customer Service area wouldn't be hateful and rude to us. Maybe instead of telling your employees to get on state assistance during their training, maybe you could replace that class with a manners class. Just a thought.


Dear Sheriff Department,

Thank you for protecting and serving all our fine citizens. You do your job well. NOT!!
Word of advice when running radar outside of your vehicle on a two lane road, it is not wise to step out in front of a SUV that is traveling faster then said speed limit and expect them to stop with out almost hitting you or another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Just a thought here, Why not have one officer run the radar and another in official vehicle pull the cars over. It could save a life and a lot of paper work if an accident should happen.
Also just because you don't wish to sit at a red light does not mean that turning your lights and sirens on behind 20 cars in 4 lanes of traffic will get them to all part ways so you can get through said intersection. It does take some time to clear that many cars out of the way and Honking your horn and playing with your siren is not going to make it happen any faster. SHH I won't tell them all that I was behind you when you were clear the intersection and turned all of that off and pulled into Burger King. That croissant you ordered and coffee just couldn't wait for you. Yes that is right I was the lady behind you smiling half way and mumbling under my breath that your badge and gun doesn't make you any better then me when it comes to red lights. I am sure you heard me because I wasn't trying to be quiet about it. But no worries dear officer your secret is safe with me and the many that read my blog every day.

I am

I am angry.
I am mad.
I am confused.
I am stressed.
I am mentally tired.
I am physically drained.
I am emotionally run down.
I am really wondering what is causing all of this.
I am torn between taking on my dream job or putting on the back burner until I can get my kids health under control.
I am afraid that if I make the wrong decision about to take or not to take the job I may lose out on a friend and the dream job later.
I am afraid if I don't take the job that it could mean we don't have the extra money we are going to need to take care of our youngest needs.

The past few weeks have been rough and while I would love to be up beat and full of life. I just don't have it in me.

Belly Hurts= No Dairy and now .....

we maybe head towards no Gluten. It's amazing how quickly things have changed since Serenity has stop nursing. She has had a lot of trouble with her stomach and after one round of testing we found she has an allergy to dairy. We fixed that with a simple switch to soy. Easy as can be you would think.
I never realized how much Dairy we consume, until now. We eat cheese at almost every meal. If it's not cheese it's milk in something. I have learned to make two different sides one with soy and one with milk. It makes life easy and she is a happy camper.
While the switch to soy has helped it didn't fix all that we needed it to fix. She is still having a ton of stomach trouble and crying after almost every meal and some days it's all I can do to get her to eat.
After much talk with the Pediatrician, we have decided to have her tested for gluten allergy and whatever else there could be. If we get any new hits on any of the testing we have to go see a GI and dietitian and a nutrition specialist.

This is so hard to wrap my brain around for some reason. I was ok with the Dairy allergy and knew that it was just a change of milk and cheese and yogurt. But this Gluten free life style is not a cheap one and isn't one I know much about. I have done some research and I have gone to the store and priced things and found as many items as I can that would take the place of what she would normally eat. And sadly there just isn't much out there for her. I am hoping I can get her to adjust easily to the new foods. Of course all of this depends on a blood test and it's results.

So if you are reading this and you are spiritual person if you would say a little prayer for her I would be grateful.

What's been going on..

Well the last past 2 months have been super busy for us. Everyone has had some kind of sickness and we have been running like crazy..

February was lots of fun. We moved after 8 years of being in the same place. We moved in the same town. The very first day of our move was crazy. Logan woke up and couldn't not bare any weight on his leg. He looked like a flamingo. So I thought maybe he had some kind of serve leg cramp that need a good day of rest and a good day of rubbing and he would be good as new. Well that night he was just in pain and crying. We were carrying him every where. So I decided the next day he was going to the children's hospital to find out what was going on. They put him through the mill that day and I was there for 10 hours to only be sent back home and told that I need to see an orthopedic specialist that they had found a pocket of fluid on his hip. Not a good feeling to leave the ER and not know what all that meant or what was going on. So we waited on the Doctor to set the appointment up for us. Well after waiting for a little over a week and carrying my son around. I called to find out what was going on. The Doctor still had no clue why we hadn't been contacted by the ortho's office and he said he would check into it. (you are the mercy of all these doctor's who claim to know what they are doing.) Well Rob had started to notice that Logan was trying to use his leg some and had him try to walk on it. He got up and walked with a limp for about 3 days and by the time we got the word to meet the Ortho doctor at the ER he could walk and run on his own. He was released from medical care and able to go back to school. And we were told it was viral and it attacked his joints and now he is better. The very next day after one whole day of school he broke out into a rash. Which turned out to be just the virus leaving his body completely.

Now on to Serenity.. (these two together are trouble I tell you!!) During the move we were eating when we could and eating fast food a lot. (something we don't do, I don't like it and I cook as much as I can so I know what's going into my kids) Day 2 of the move I ran to the store to get some milk for the kids so they could eat some cereal the next day for breakfast. While I was there my husband calls and says Serenity had a poopy diaper. Ok I know what you are thinking, what the heck change it and why do I need to know this. Well I thought the same thing and said the same things to him. He then tells me it had blood in it.. I was like get her cleaned up and ready to leave when I get there. Well in the time it took me to get from the store to my house (which is less then 1/2 a mile) she had two more bowel movements. All of them had blood in them. Off to the ER we went,got asked tons of questions and had to explain that she hadn't had good meals for the last 2 days and that we were moving. They checked her over and realized she was dehydrated. So they gave her fluids and sent us home. Told us that it may take a couple of days but she should be fine and to keep pouring fluid into her and if she got worse to take her to the ped's office. Well we all got the stomach bug shortly after that and things got better.

Fast forward to the last week in 2 weeks in March. Once again we changed her diaper and she had blood in it again. I was able to take the diaper and her to the ped's office and they did samples to test for any bacteria that they could think of. Those test came back a week later negative. Then they sent us to lab to get blood work and test for allergies and anything else they may have missed. Once again we waited and listen to our sweet baby complain of her belly hurting and not knowing what was going on. Well I go the results back yesterday afternoon and it turns out the little stinker is ALLERGIC to MILK.. So we changed her to Soy last night add some chocolate to it and she loves it and tells everyone that it's her special milk.

Jordan has had some exciting stuff as well but nothing like the other two.. She made Junior National Honor Society this year and we are so VERY PROUD of her.. She works her butt of at school and makes great grades with out much effort. She is in all honor classes this year and loves being involved in everything. She is doing volunteer work now and seems to enjoy that. She is getting ready to turn 13 and boy have we noticed that she is almost a teenager.. UGHH the attitude, but all in all she is just a good girl...

Rob and I celebrated our anniversary in March and we were both sick with the some kind of stomach bug. So we didn't do much other then watch TV and sleep. It was perfect.

Rob and Serenity are getting ready for their birthday's this month. He is on the 14th and he will be 38 and Serenity's is on the 17th and she will be 2. He wants a big bowl of banana pudding and Serenity wants either a princess cake or elmo. So we will see what I can pull out of my hat for that one. Maybe do princess crown with little elmo faces as the jewels. Who knows..

That is our update.. Sorry it's a book..

IEP and what's next

I woke up knowing on the 18th of March we had the IEP conference for Logan. I was excited because we would know what the OT found and if he qualified for in school OT or if we were going to have to find him one in town.

The meeting went well and like always for a paperless system there was a ton of things to sign and a ton of needless paper work to make the county happy. The informed me that Logan did qualify and that he would receive OT once a week and be tested at the end of the school year to see if he would needed for next year. The also let us know that they were in contact with the school he is zoned for and they do know all of his needs and where he is at in his education. We were also told they were doing testing for placement but they were waiting on us to sign off on it to start. Being the protective mother hen that I am, I got mad that they were wasting time by waiting.
So going into mom mode I had to explain to them if they would just send the papers home with Logan when they need to be signed they would have them back the very next day and they could go ahead and start the testing and then at the next IEP we could be ready to discuss all that needs to happen with him. Of course the school guidance counselor has to say well we have to do it by the book and by the way the county wants it. I let her know there are times where I can't just drop things and run to the school every time they need have a meeting for me to sign a paper. And what a even bigger waste of time for them to call all of these people away from their jobs to sit in here to watch me sign 3 pieces of paper when I can do it at home and return them just as quickly. They agreed with me finally so I am hoping that they won't waste time anymore. I was also informed by Logan's teacher that depending on the testing we will know where he will be placed. The goal for the year was to mainstream him next year. But seeing how he is having issues retaining information and not where they thought he would be he may be held back in Pre-K for another year.
Now that isn't an issue for me. But for whatever reason the school and the county is having issues with it. As of right now Logan is 2 heads taller then every kids in his class and is the oldest kid in the class.He turned 5 in February and the other kids are still only 4. If they hold him back he will be 5.5 turning 6 when school starts back and that will make him 2 yrs older then the kids and of course even bigger then he is now. Which has some parents worried.

Also they are worried now with a new studies that have come out that kids that are held back in early education have a higher drop out rate. And with having a learning disability the number is even higher. I had to tell his teacher that "look I don't hold anyone here at this school responsible for what decisions my son makes when he is 15-18yrs old. That it is my job as his mom to make sure that the school is acting in Logan's best interest and that if holding him back will help him in the long run then we are going to do just that. I am not going to let him fall through the cracks just because of some study that only applies to parents of kids who never were involved from day one." Some how they seem to forget when doing these studies that it's not the kids fault or the schools fault that the kid dropped out. It is the PARENTS FAULT!! As parents we took on the job of the kids, the kids need guidance and they need us to instruct them on what to do and when to do it. And if all just throw our hands up and not get involved when the kids are at school then no one is holding each other responsible for what is going on in the school system. As parents we are our kids first advocate, we are the only voice that will ever be heard by any other adult involved in their lives. Whether it be with a failing school system or a failing government system.
Now I am working on keeping Logan at his present school for the rest of elementary. I have been given the heads up by the county to go ahead and register him the first day of early registration for Kindergarten at the new school but to quickly go to the principal and ask for the special pupil form so that I can run it to the school he attends now. With that form I will have to talk with his principal and see if I can get her to sign off on him staying at his school. But I promise you if she doesn't sign off on it I will be going to her boss. As I informed his teacher everyone has a boss and I will be keeping Logan at Rideout. And she smiled and said she knew with out a doubt that I was the kind of mom that would always be involved from day one. I love his teachers and all the hard work they do from the kids.

Stay tuned as this keeps going....I am sure there will be many more post on this as I don't think it will be an easy task to keep him at Rideout with all the budget cuts.

WOW what is she thinking

I know every one wants to cry "battered women syndrome" But enough already. How much more of a beating do you need before you have had enough? How much more of a eye opener do you need before you realize he isn't sorry and he will do it again?

I am writing this tonight because I have just read the whole article on the R&B singer and her Rapper boyfriend who did her harm. They have released they police reports and it is truly amazing that she walked away from it alive. Here is the report .

I think he should be in Jail right now. If you or I was charged with 2 felonies they would lock us up. It's just mind boggling that her family isn't doing more to keep the two apart. They are so we weren't there, we don't know the whole story. Does the whole story really matter when it comes to your daughter almost dying due to some one not being able to handle themselves? His age has no barring on this in my mind at all. Although a lot of people are using his age as an excuse for his actions. Sorry I am not buying that one. He knows right from wrong no matter what. And he knows he should not have touched her no matter how mad he was.

UGHH I can not understand these type of people. If he beat your ass once he will do it again. ABUSE is a ABUSE no matter how many I'm sorry's he says and no matter How much you love them you can not CAN NOT make them change. She needs to get help for her self and understand that he will not change and she can't love him into change.

FRUSTRATION

TODAY IS THE DAY

Today is the day we have been waiting on.
Today is the day we lay aside the old ways of government and embrace the new.
Today is the day that a nation of many spoke up for.
Today is the day that we accept the change that has been need for many years.
Today is the day that we embrace a new way of doing things.
Today is the day accept responsibility for our actions as a nation.
Today is the day that we embrace our new Vice President and his wonderful wife.
Today is the day that we help them help us.
Today is the day that we WELCOME with open arms our number 44th President of the United States of America.
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT BARRACK H. OBAMA BECAME THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!

What a huge moment for him and his beautiful family. And what an even greater moment for our nation.


CHANGE IS COMING!!! AND IT HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Changing who we are as a nation?

At some point in my high school years I had a teacher clue me into the world around me. Although he wasn't my favorite teacher at the time I respected he thoughts and his views on the world we lived it. He never really used a text book to teach, he preferred a News week magazine. He said it would give us and update view of how one person could change the nation or the world we live in.

Here is it some 14 years later I hear those words ring in my ears yet again.
I do believe we have come a long way in 14 years but I don't know that our nation has been changed. Or that our nation is ready for the change that needs to happen. Yet our Newly elected President is asking us to work side by side with him and make the change and expect the things that need to be done and the hard work and the hard times that it will take to make the change. I for one believe that everything in life takes hard work and lots of time and lots of effort on many. I can't say that every American believes that same way.

Looking back I see that we are still a nation that has not accepted that not every American has or can afford health care and many die because they don't receive the care they need. Health care reform has been preached to us in every election as far back as Regan. Yet we sit with the same system and the same issues. Teddy Kennedy worked very hard to investigate a National health care system that we could put into place with in 2 years and it still sits in the bottom of the pile waiting to be investigated further.
Education is another problem we face every day as parents. How can I afford to send my child to college? How can I afford what the public school systems are asking me to keep sending in just so my kid and have all the supplies he/she needs for school that year? When will they pay teachers what they deserve to be paid? And every year it's the same song and dance "we are working on it, we are going to fix the problem." There has to be a system in place soon, or more and more children will not attend college and big business will not have the employs they need with the right education background.
And last but not least, the Jobs of America will be secure or unemployment will be a top priority. Well I know for a fact that it has been the case at all. I speak from experience when I say BIG COMPANIES got tax breaks from the government when sending jobs overseas to other countries. And where did that leave the American's that once filled those jobs. UMMMMM one GUESS ...
UNEMPLOYED!! How does that solve the issue? When do we see the promised change?

Now don't get me wrong I voted very proudly for Obama and Biden. And I still to this day believe that he is the right man for the job at the time in our Nation. But (and you knew there was one) I see already that is in for the fight of his life and he hasn't taken office yet. Congress is not going to budge on some of the things they need to budge on, his stimulus package is already taking heat and his plan for taking the tax break away from the rich is already under fire. I pray that Obama and Biden have what it takes to take on Congress and all the neigh sayers.

Tomorrow is a day of change and a day of History. And for my teacher in 11th grade that took us all to see President Clinton and Vice President Gore (who should have been the president a few years back), Thank you for opening my eyes to politics and thank you for opening my mind to the views of both parties. You played such a bigger role in my views of the world then I thought. You helped me realize how I felt about all the issues and on what side of the line I stood on. I hope that my children will have some great teacher like yourself inspire them the way you did your students.

I am ready to help with the Change and the service to our nation.. LEAD THE WAY PRESIDENT OBAMA and my family will for sure follow..

Finding that middle ground between being a mom and being me

Here lately I am struggling with being a good mom and a good wife.
I want so badly to be back at work doing things away from the home.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade being a mom or a wife for anything in the world. I love my job as both.
But I have been craving something more. I want to be back out there around other adults. I have tried going out with the girls and just Rob and I going out. But it always seems that we turn to talking about our kids or talking about what bills we have to pay or what we are making for the school projects.
I need something more. Something other than dirty diapers and piles of clothes that need washing and dishes that need to be cleaned.
When Rob and I had our first we agreed that I would stay at home and be the primary care giver. And I have done that for 12 years. It has worked out nicely. For the short year I did work at a day care center I took Jordan with me. She loved it because she got more time with her friends from school. While that job was fun it just wasn't for me. After having kids of your own, hang out with more kids that aren't yours just isn't all that fun.
I have started sewing more for other people and that is good and it does bring in extra money for me to spend on what I want to. I also have started baking more and that is fine as well. It's just not away from the home. It's still trapping me in the home. I know most working mom's would probably tell me to stop complaining and be happy I can stay at home and do what I do. And they are probably right. I do sound a bit whinny and ungrateful for what I am able to do for my children.
I guess I need to find that middle ground and do something more for me and not so much for others. Maybe that would solve some of the issues I am having.

This dress is going to be the death of me

Sewing is something I love to do. It's right up there with baking. I don't know that I am great at either one of them but I enjoy it.

I am making a dress for a lady I use to work with. The dress is made with 2 different fabrics so that it has contrasting areas. Well I have never made a dress like this. IT IS REALLY FREAKING ME OUT!! I can't figure out how to put the darn thing together or where to being. I have had this thing cut out for over a month and still it sits in pieces. Ready for me to get going on it.

UGHHHH!!

I need to pray to the dress making gods that they will help me put this thing together and let me earn my monies for it.

Bloger I am not...

I am not blogging much. I try to get here and read every night and write something if I can. But most days things just get out of hand and by the time I have a moment for me I am so wore out that I can't even being to think about the computer.
I have taken on making dresses for a teacher at Logan's school. I have made 2 so far and well I have another one just waiting on me to find a spare moment. (that is where I should be right now but I am sick of looking at fabric and my sewing machine.) My eyes are bothering me again. I wear glasses but I don't think they are strong enough anymore. (gosh getting old stinks) Made an appointment already to get my eyes tested again. Hope this time I can get contacts as well as glasses.. (PLEASE GOD let that happen)
So here is a small glimpse of what has been going on..
Logan started school and then we got told he needed testing for speech. Fine we will run with that. Then at the pre-testing for child find they found a few other things they thought need to be checked into. So sure whatever lets do it. So now after he has already made friends at one school, he may have to change to another school to get all the things he needs to help him be ready for Kindergarten next fall. So that means he has to adjust again to a new school and longer days.. UGHHH adjusting and transition is something he is not good at but I am sure we will survive..
Logan 5 week of school they talked about the letter C and I made a nice Chocolate chip cookie cake for him, complete with blue "cookie Monster" frosting that said "C is for COOKIE!!" The kids loved it and the teacher has now asked for a few other cakes from me for other letters. (I think I took pictures of the Cookie cake but I don't remember.)
Jordan, JR HIGH Is going great. Straight A's the first nine weeks. Tried out for Soccer and didn't make it but loved every minute of being there. Has had a number of boyfriends and is loving all the new faces at school. Her attitude and mouth are still getting the best of her. She has learned from the best, her dad.. UGHH. She is working on her science fair project, and a Geography project and a English project all due before Christmas break. I am hoping that she gets them all done and makes A's on all of them..
Serenity, is a MONSTER 18 month old. She is growing up way to fast. She weighs 23lbs and is 32 inches tall at her check up. She talks some but would rather throw fits to get her way. Time out is our new best friend right now. If she has a fit we just tell her to go to her chair and off she goes scream at us NO NO NO. Very cute but she comes out of time out a whole new girl. She is still our little blonde beauty. Both of the older ones already had brown hair by now. But not her she is blonde hair, blue eyes and tan skin.. I am being to wonder how long that will last. She has everyone in the house wrapped around her little finger. Logan and her are two peas in a pod. They love each other so much. Whatever he does she is right behind him doing the same thing. And if she needs help he runs to save her.
Rob and I are doing well. He works to much and is always so tried. But that is what happens when you have to take care a family. He is looking for another job. He is hoping to have 2 of them by the new year. So that maybe one will pay better and he just work once in a while at the one he has now.
As for me I am just trying to keep up with it all. Working hard on keeping everyone on schedule and going in all the right directions. I have had to put a lot of things on the back burner to keep up with my day to day life for now. I am hoping that after Jan 1 things will slow down again and I can get back to blogging and being on line more.
Well that is our little update...

10 things you didn't know about me

I haven't blogged much lately because nothing has been going on here. So I decided to do a 10 things list.

1. I have never travel outside of the US.
2. I have never step foot on an airplane.
3. I have always wanted to get a tattoo.
4. I have been a mom since I was 19.
5. I have only been in love twice. My husband is one of them and the other guy was my first time ever.
6. I never wanted to have children or a husband.
7. I use to smoke and drink a lot when I was younger.
8. If I could live anywhere in the world it would be on a private Island.
9. Summer and Fall are my favorite time of the years.
10. Last but not least, I would love to spend more time learning how to become a better baker.

Texas school will allow teachers to carry guns.. What' s next?

Texas district will let teachers carry guns

HARROLD, Texas (AP) -- A tiny Texas school district will allow teachers and staff members to carry concealed firearms to protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting employees follow certain requirements.

The small community of Harrold in north Texas is a 30-minute drive from the Wilbarger County Sheriff's Office, leaving students and teachers without protection, said David Thweatt, superintendent of the Harrold Independent School District. The lone campus of the 110-student district sits near a heavily traveled highway, which could make it a target, he argued.

"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog," Thweatt said in a story published Friday on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Web site.

Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization did not know of another district with such a policy. Ken Trump, a Cleveland, Ohio-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, said Harrold is the first district with such a policy.

Trustees approved the policy change last year, and it takes effect when classes begin this month. For employees to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun, must be authorized to carry by the district, must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations and must use ammunition designed to minimize the risk of ricocheting bullets.

Officials researched the policy and considered other options for about a year before approving the policy change, Thweatt said. The district also has other measures in place to prevent a school shooting, he said.

"The naysayers think [a shooting] won't happen here. If something were to happen here, I'd much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them," Thweatt said.

Texas law outlaws firearms at schools unless specific institutions allow them.

It isn't clear how many of the 50 or so teachers and staff members will be armed this fall, because Thweatt did not disclose that information, to keep it from students or potential attackers.


I can not even believe that something like this would be necessary for such a small area. Are the kids there that bad that the teachers feel the need to protect themselves with a weapon. Just because something could happen doesn't mean it will. Carrying a weapon because something could happen is how innocent people get hurt to being with..

You need it so it cost more

I am so wore out with going to get FUEL and it costing more and more each time I go to the pump. I mean how hard it is to solve this issue. HELL WE ARE OVER IN IRAQ with our GUN BOATS POINTED AT THE OIL FIELDS DARNING THEM TO GO NEAR THEM!! LIKE IT'S OURS TO PROTECT OR SOMETHING, We even allow them to shoot at us and tell our ARMED forces not to shoot back but, to get on the loud speaker and ask them to go away.. We can send tons of AID to every country under the sun and we can pay for our politicians to go on vacations and fly all over the world. FOR THE LIFE OF US WE CAN NOT WORK OUT SOMETHING TO GET THE PRICES OF FUEL TO GO DOWN! Today it reached a new record high per barrel,and the government is doing nothing. They are sitting there with their thumbs up their butts waiting for someone else to do it for them. Why elect these people who care nothing about working for us? Why Do I have to decided between taking my kids to the park and worrying about us having gas for the week just encase of there is an emergency and we need the car. I MEAN COME ON, this is not how we should have to live.
I went today to get gas, I paid $4.11 a gallon and I got 7.28 gallons for $30.00 bucks. I wasn't all the way on Empty so at a 1/4th of a tank that got me to a 1/2 of a tank.. That will last me 2 days and I will be back where I started from. I use to get 3/4 of a tank for 30.00 on EMPTY!!
People are having decided between Gas and FOOD or Gas and Going to work. We are all going broke buying fuel. It's not like I can cram my family of 5 in a Honda Accord, not when 2 of the kids are still in car seats and My daughter is 5'4" and my Husband is 6'3" tall. WE JUST WON'T FIT!! I have to have a large car and now due to our size we are being punished by our lovely government for needing fuel. I would love to have a car that ran on something other then FUEL but they cost almost as much as my house.
It's just frustrating to know that nothing is being done to help The AMERICAN POPULATION with this problem. I guess that is what our Stimulus checks were for, to pay for FUEL!!!

WHAT A LOVELY COUNTRY WE LIVE IN!!!