Teachers Collaborate!

For a while now, I have been a Pinterest fan and it has brought to my attention SO MANY BLOGS. While at times the blog roll can be overwhelming, I love that we teachers can collaborate, share, learn, and laugh together as if we really were one big happy family! With the election coming up, I have been wanting to find resources that are 6YO friendly while still relevant. And I think this teacher is about to make my life easier: http://flyingintofirst.blogspot.com/2012/10/election-units-giveaway-starts-at.html A wonderful resource for a truly important event! Can't wait to really dig in!

Just breathe.

I've had a bit of a whirlwind lately. End of baseball season, for which I planned the coaches' gifts. 5th Grade Promotion, for which I made the slideshow that would forever preserve ~100 students' elementary memories, including those of my own son. High School Graduation, to which I sent my family (and missed them TERRIBLY). End of school hoopla, with which came academic rigor plus "fun" events to keep it all together. Funeral for my friend's husband who died quite unexpectedly, causing great confusion and anger. Retirement party for a dear, dear friend, for which I organized the invitations and party favors. Both kiddos up and down with sickness from either end, sometimes both. Fever of 102 for me. Both Gorgeous and I out of town on separate errands while leaving kiddos behind. Parent having surgery. I was joking that all I needed was a baby and a wedding and all life events would be covered when I found out that 2 of my friends are pregnant.

So the merriment marie-ment?

So pleased with the teamwork and good sportsmanship Rascal's team showed all season long. So pleased with the friends we made and grew.

So proud of the Elder for his academic excellence, his musical skill, his artistic ability, his way with grown-ups and kids alike.

So amazed at the journey our niece has taken from a "surprise" for young parents to a poised, beautiful, ready for the world young woman.

So joyful at the class with which I got to spend the last year; so excited to watch them grow and achieve.

So blessed to hear the stories and see the pictures of a man's life, rejoiced as we honored his death and his family.

So tickled that a career worthy of accolades was celebrated just as she would have wanted.

SO grateful that my children are rarely, rarely sick and that we have the friends and support system that we do to help us when we just couldn't reschedule life.

So hopeful that my mom will finally have relief from her pain and so thankful that there is the procedure that will help her.

VERY happy that I am not knocked up! :)

So I am taking a moment... just a moment!... to breathe. Life is just so good.

Today is a GREAT day.

It's my birthday! It's my birthday! It's my birthday!

It's Mother's Day! It's Mother's Day! It's Mother's Day! It's a beautiful day! It's a wonderful day! It's yet another day in which I love my husband, my sons, my dogs, myself, my everything... It's not just today-- that's every day. And how was YOUR day?

75% Done

In less than a week, our school will be starting the final quarter (nine weeks). Happy/sad!

Sad because:
~my class this year absolutely rocks. I am not having a "Snow White" year (where the woodland creatures follow us happily down the halls as we sing merrily) but they are responsible, respectful, and hard-working kiddos that I genuinely like.
~the kindergarten classes are way over-crowded, so our usually magic-making kinder teachers have not been able to help shape the group into first graders as much as play "whack-a-mole" at just about every opportunity
~a few of my students are not progressing academically as I would have hoped, and the time to make decisions that forcefully impact their school careers is quickly approaching (and what if I decide wrong?)
~my own kiddos will be either out of 1st grade (and thus, from MY grade) or out of elementary entirely. I am going to miss seeing them both every day like CRAZY.

Happy because:
~Duh! SUMMER.
~this job provides a do-over EVERY YEAR. Something didn't work? It might with a different group. Something could work better? Opportunity to tweak and refine.
~my teammate and friend will NOT be out on maternity leave next year like she is this year (I miss her!)
~super fun stuff (like butterflies and Ocean Week and Beach Towel Fridays) are coming up

"Yesterday was history; tomorrow is a mystery--> today is a GIFT. That's why it's called the PRESENT." --Alice Morse Earle

So even though our year is 75% over, I am going to enjoy my gift of today. Hope you do, too!

Teaching Blogs and Target: 2 of my Favorite Things!

http://lessonswithlaughter.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-and-erin-bradley-surprise.html#more

How I wish I had time to be an awesome blogger like this!

Put me in, Coach!

Today the Rascal will try out for machine-pitch baseball. Trying out isn't really about anything except being able to balance the teams as much as possible, but I'm still a little anxious on his behalf.

I am also feeling nostalgic for tee ball. Yes, I know! Every kid gets to bat every inning; there are no "outs" or strikes; everyone scores and everyone wins and kumbayah! It's not REAL baseball! But I'm going to miss that a bit.

I'm going to miss the no-stakes dirt digging. I'm going to miss the free-wheeling monkeyshines of the four shortstops. I'm going to miss the sheepish grins that follow the 17 swings-and-misses, followed by the beam of pride when the bat FINALLY connects... "I'm AWESOME!"

Still, the kiddo has some true athletic ability (when he's not hitting himself in the head) and I am looking forward to watching him in a slightly more competitive arena. Many of his friends are also signing up, and I will enjoy cheering them all on no matter what team gets them. I am hopeful and confident that, with some practice, he will feel that beam of pride as his bat connects firmly with the ball that is NOT on a tee. He IS awesome! I can't wait!

Marie Christmas!

I’m going to start this post by complaining.



This year, my outside lights are sparse and intermittent. We've got to replace a post on our porch (a repair we can't currently afford) so hanging the wreaths from the 2nd story windows is unsafe. I used the strings that would normally wrap our banks of trees to line to top of our metal fence and it is—well, underwhelming..

Our attempt to have a live tree led to a cypress that can’t hold heavy (or really, anything but paper light) ornaments. Because we usually have a pre-lit tree, the only lights we have are the garden dragonfly lights, and they cover about 1/3 of the entire tree. So barren of bright lights and shiny ornaments, plus a noticeable lilt to one side, our tree looks more Charlie Brown than Griswold.

Our decision to make this year more about quality and quantity has also backfired, at least when you look at the pitiful few gifts wrapped under the crooked tree. And while I hope my kiddos appreciate how lucky they truly are, the idea that they might have that disappointed feeling of not getting the one thing they truly wanted is weighing heavily on me.

And the topper? Not 100% sure the Eldest truly “believes” anymore. And I am 100% sure I’m not ready for that.



But… and you knew I would have a big but :) … Rascal woke up this morning at 6AM, bounded into our room and exclaimed with sheer glee, “Merry Christmas!” Even when we explained it was merely Christmas Eve and not quite yet the big day, his only response was to be even more excited because he had additional anticipation time. Da Boyz are both looking forward to spending time with their grandparents and are delighted with the various baubles and trinkets of holiday cheer sprinkled around our home. And the other day, the Eldest gave me a big hug and said, “Mom, no matter what, it’s going to be a great Christmas.” He’s right.

Family, friends, love- what it’s all about. I hope you all have a “Marie Christmas”!

Love some giveaways!

http://gradeonederful.blogspot.com/2011/11/25-giveaway.html

$25 to Amazon or Starbucks? What's not to like?

the conundrum of being a teacher

While my Mister and I enjoy many aspects of our life, having a lot of disposable income is not something we know anything about. We are both teachers, and that means our total household monies are in the 5 figure range. Think about that for a minute. We, TOGETHER, make less than many "businessmen" make alone. By about a third (or more). (MUCH more.) (SO MUCH MORE.) Why am I not complaining?

Mostly because there are days when I realize, "They PAY me to do this!" And I don't mean weekends, summers, and holidays off (anyone who knows a teacher knows-- there really ain't no such thing as "off" time to a teacher!)-- I mean that the joy I get on a daily basis from my job is so great that it can be hard to remember it's not a volunteer activity.

Sure, there are days when I realize, "They don't pay me ENOUGH for this." And there are days when I realize, "They paid me, but that plus more was spent on things for my classroom." There are days when I feel like I must apologize to my own kids because they came second to my students when the decisions about where the "extra" money would go that month. Days when I hope my teacher husband doesn't tally how much I spent on my room; days when I resent how much he spent on his.

But today? And most days? They PAY me for this. You may not have any idea how that feels. Your salary may be aMAZing, but I know how it feels to realize that they PAY me... for THIS. It's fantastic.

It's quiet... TOO quiet...

I just realized that I am home by myself. Mister went to get some plants from a teacher colleague and since it's Rascal's former kinder teacher, he went along too. Thankfully not "pants optional"*. And, although I didn't hear the exchange, Elder jumped in the car, too. So here I am, in my Home Alone.

Assuming Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern don't come crashing through the back door, I am going to enjoy these few precious moments of solitude and quiet... but not too much. Turns out that I like having my family around me! I can't count how many times we reach out for each other; for hugs, pats, just little brushes of togetherness. How my heart squeezes when I see Da Boyz look at each other, really LOOK eye to eye, and smile for what seems to be no reason at all. The freely spoken "I love you"s that weave in the air around us All. The. Time.

They will all be back soon. There will be bickering over Wii strategies, debates over whose turn it is to feed the pooches, complaints about the dish pile and dog fur tumbleweeds... the usual. And I can't wait.


*"pants optional"= summer clothing mode. Don't ask. :)

Hot enough for ya?

"I was going to complain about how hot it is... then I realized that at least: 1.) it isn't 115 degrees; 2.) I'm not 5,700 miles from home; 3.) I'm not dressed in a full BDU uniform and helmet and carrying 70+ lbs.; and 4.) there is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today! Thanks to all who serve in our fine military! God Bless y'all. Re-Post if you agree!"

This has been the FB status of many folks I know lately. It always surprises me how quickly such things spread, and in circles of mine that have absolutely no common factor (other than...well, me). What else do we have in common? It's HOT. Other than my sisters in the NW of our country [lucky!] we are all sweltering in our respective ovens. Chocolate chip cookies smell AWESOME as they bake; people? Not so much.

And while viral status updates are generally annoying (and I am firmly in the "99% who don't have the guts to repost!") this one struck a chord with me. I do not have any super-close-to-me folks in the active military right now-- dads of former students, yes, but there are several degrees of separation there-- yet the sentiment of this rings true with a lot of my core beliefs:

A: you are blessed, and so am I
B: complaining has its place but it is less helpful that accepting; less beneficial than trying to solve the problem
C: I am so very grateful that there are men and women in this world who will wage war for me/fight fires for me/stop crime for me. I don't have the moxy for such jobs; I am supremely appreciative that someone does.

Repost if you agree! :)

Put me in, Coach.

6... 5... 4...

We are gearing up for the end of another school year. It is such a strange time of year; there's SO much paperwork and EOY testing, SO many special activities that absolutely kaboom the regular schedule, SO much heat (this is Texas, y'all!)... and as I look around at the amazing kiddos with whom I've gotten to spend so much time, I can't help but imagine what kind of grown-ups they are going to be. We've read together, solved together, graphed, diagrammed, cycled together, and now we are ready to go to 2nd grade.

Well, the kiddos are! I get to stay right where I am. :)

Now I get the opportunity to reflect on what was fabulous and what was... not so much... and I'll get a whole new crew of former kindergarteners with whom I get to collaborate and grow. Seriously. I have the best job in the world!

Easter 2011

Easter 2011
{Click to view the video... "so nice".}

Sproinged Again!

Forgot to “spring forward” last night… well, maybe not FORGOT exactly. More like “didn’t bother”. Most of our clocks self-spring, for one, but mainly because…

IT’S SPRING BREAK!

I don’t really need to know WHAT time it is, and only need to vaguely know what DAY it is (mostly so I don’t get pinched for not wearing green on Thursday). There are some productive to-dos on our family’s list, and the very first one was:

TURN THE ALARMS OFF.

[Of course, we’ve been waking up at 5:00 anyway (4:00, 3:00, 2:00..) ‘cause we’re stoopid like that. But it’s a bunch easier having an early wake-up call knowing that you could take a nap later in the day if you fell asleep on the couch if you wanted to.

[Also if course, we don’t stop being teachers just because we have no students. I’ve already created several PowerPoints, Flipcharts, and Back-to-School forms. Yes, I said “back to school”. It pays to be prepared!]

If you are not currently enjoying a break from your every day schedule, still take a moment to breathe in all the joys that are currently surrounding you. And if you, like we, are on Spring Break… YEEHAW! See ya at the LAKE!

Spring, Sprang, Sproing!

Well, it has been a while, huh?



Life’s been good, life’s been great, been having life on a plate (and all that), but realizing that there’s been no blah-g since Christmas?

Oops.

Though the time between posts is frightful, the weather outside is delightful. This is one of the times of year when living in Texas is so absolutely fabulous. Yes, it’s a challenge to dress for 37 degrees in the morning knowing that it will be 77 degrees in the afternoon, but the clouds are so fluffy, the sky so blue, the air so fresh and sweet that a little chill in the morning seems a small price to pay for what is essentially perfect day after perfect day. Guess ol’ Punxsutawney Phil got it right this year!

Merry Everything!

Tis the season!

We've been sitting by the fireplace, sipping a mimosa (or two) and watching holiday movies both serious and silly, but the best part of all is spending the day with my family.

♪ ♫ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪
♫ We wish you a Merry Christmas
♪ ♫ We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! ♪ ♫



Today and EVERY day, hope you and yours are merry!

Straight from the North Pole!

Message for Eli

Message for Evan

Oh, Santa. You really do rock. :)

Thankful Things

I was reminded of the November "thankful things" status challenge. I am thankful for 1: Ty; 2: Evan, 3: Eli. 'Nuff said :).

Day 4 of "Thankful Things": my parents. Funny, loving, hard working, and just plain nice. I couldn't have asked for 2 better people to show me how the world works and how I could navigate it with humor and kindness; couldn't have imagined how lucky my kiddos would be to have them as grandparents.

Day 5 of "Thankful Things": They laugh with you, listen to you, accept your flaws and celebrate your strengths. 'Cheers' to you and here's to you-- I am thankful for my FRIENDS.

Day 6 of "Thankful Things": my dogs. Companionship for a walk? Check. Wet, snuffly kisses when we come home? Check. An ear to listen without the mouth to judge; a happy tail wagging just because; a pillow for Da Boyz as they watch TV? Check, check, check. And puppy softness of the fur on their cheeks is just about the nicest feeling in the world.

Day 7 of "Thankful Things": How great is it that somewhere along the line, someone decided that putting words on paper was a good idea, and now we have BOOKS. Silly books, scary books, fantastic books, funny books... I couldn't go a day without reading. Look at that-- you're reading right now. :)

Day 8 of "Thankful Things":
It's like a magic trick;
with one little click
it's suddenly seeming
like I do my best dreaming.
...Hooray for the SNOOZE BUTTON!

Day 9: This year's football season. My Longhorns have been plagued with slippery hands and inaccurate passing; the Cowboys simply seem to be cursed . But it's seasons like this that remind you win or lose, what's important is the GAME. You stick with your team(s), no matter what! And if you're wondering about our local... high school team... well, they are 10 and 0! Thank you, LV Vikings! And to everyone-- GOOD GAME. :)

Day 10: so thankful to have a house in which I love to spend time. Scattered toys, dog fur tumbleweeds, random piles of paper and stacks of books everywhere-- there truly is no place like HOME. And at night, when I tuck myself in to my cozy bed with my best friend (after we've bedtime storied and happy dream wished Da Boyz), I know that I am blessed.

Day 11: THANK YOU to all of the brave men and women who have served in the military and protect our freedom. Our flag will be flying and we'll take a moment at 11:11 to send you our respect and gratitude.

Day 12: No better way to say it-- TGIF! I am thankful for Fridays, but not for exactly the same reasons as most folks. Fridays are perfectly balanced days; I get to spend time with my students at a job I absolutely love, all the while knowing that I am about to get extra time to spend with my family (about whom I'm a little smitten). There's just no such thing as a bad Friday!

Day 13: Oh, coffee. You warm my hands and cheer my soul. As the clouds of cream billow swirlingly through your dark depths of aromatic glow, I can sense that soon all will be right with the world. Mmmmmmm...

Day 14: I am thankful for BRAIN CANDY. The Twilight series, Adam Sandler movies... there's nothing quite like the belly laugh or little spine chill that comes from something you just enjoy with no perceived importance or consequence. Sure, I can hang with "Citizen Kane" or To Kill a Mockingbird, but I jes' loves me some Jack Black and VH1 CelebReality, too. Don't you?

Day 15: I am thankful for the community in which I live. Yes, there's gossip and drama occasionally, but there's also meals during illnesses and new babies, prayers in times of trouble and rejoicing, and no matter what, you can always find someone to join you for a beverage and a grill down by the lake. Livin' la vida LAGO!

Day 16: You can mock me if you want to, but I am thankful for Facebook. I love getting reconnected with folks I knew long ago; I love getting more deeply connected with friends past and present with whom I don't get enough real face time. And the pictures! Can't get enough of your pictures. So "POKE"! Glad to see you here!

Day 17: very thankful for my friend, Dane Ciarlo. Dane, you make me laugh. You are loyal to your friends. You've even helped me become more effective as a teacher. I am so very grateful to have the chance to know you, and I hope you have a very happy birthday!

Day 18: Hooray for medical science! For all the traditional and alternative methods of care we have to keep our beings well. And feeling very grateful today for the final round of chemo that's helping my HS buddy Tom Hogan kick cancer's a$$!

Day 19: The world is even more wonderful because of my SISTERS. Smart, funny, insightful, beautiful. Thankful that we know we don't always have to agree to love each other; thankful that they'll always laugh at my jokes just because. Only wish we didn't live so far apart.

Day 20: feeling very thankful for this lazy, pajama'd and kid shows Saturday. I will unfurl from my UT snuggie eventually, but sure am enjoying the soft sweetness of the day so far.

Day 21: We have a pet snake. Her name is Charlotte. Evan feeds her, holds her, fills her water and cleans her habitat. Thankful for his opportunity to learn responsibility; also thankful that he is empathetic enough to keep Charlotte away from his mom. :)

Day 22: My sons are immaculately mannered and perfectly postured at all times. They read & understand the complete works of Shakespeare and concoct egg white omelets with remoulade sauces. Well, at least they are when they are not dropping socks and boxers in the living room, covered with undetermined stickiness & laughing hysterically at "pull my finger". Oh, so thankful for being the mother of BOYS!

Day 23: Watching the sunset last night-- so many shades of orange and pink and violet-- I felt the presence of benevolence and acceptance. And whatever your religion/creed/spiritual belief, I hope that all of you know the solace and love of some sort of faith. Personally, I am thankful for GOD.

Day 24: I have never been a big concert goer. When folks are trying to come up with the name of a band, I am no help. There is no mental discography of any artist, genre, regional tradition, etc. But still, I am thankful for MUSIC. Listening, singing, dancing... it sets a mood and is an integral part of almost every memory. What would be on the soundtrack of your life?

Day 25: It's Thanksgiving Day! Gobble till you wobble! Our plan is to try the Ross Geller "Super Soaker" turkey sandwich later... :)

Hope you all get to enjoy your favorite traditions with your favorite people today.

Day 26: When you tend to wake up at 3:30 (2:30, 1:30, 12:30...) many mornings as I do, you come to appreciate those mornings when you wake up realizing you did not wake up all night. So thankful for a good night's SLEEP. Zzzzzzzz... :)

Day 27: As we drove through our town last night, many folks had already started decorating their homes. Tiny white candles flickering in the windows, trees wrapped from roots up with strings of lights, Griswold inspired monstrosities of inflatable Santas and chasing roof rainbows, multicolored lights like a mischievous elf had sprinkled glowing candies on every shrub. Thankful for HOLIDAY SPIRIT. Ooh, ahh!

Day 28: Go, Vikings! Thankful for a football team that's doing well; love seeing the pride and support throughout the town. LV#1! [Thanks for keeping us updated, y'all! And thanks Mike Hartnagel for the audio link! Worked great!]

Day 29: Been thinking back to Thanksgivings past, and I realized how thankful I am for my extended FAMILY. Even though we don't see each other as frequently as we used to, I have such great memories of playing with my cousins, breaking bread with my aunts and uncles, and just laughing almost all the time. My family is funny!

Day 30 of “Thankful Things”: I am so very thankful for you. Yes, YOU. You are my favorite—don’t tell the others :).

Thankful.

I kinda heart Facebook. And every year for the month of November, you can accept the challenge of writing something different each day for which you are thankful.

I like this challenge. Perfectly fits my "glass overflowing" philosophy. When this month is over, I will list those things here. I never want to forget all things, great and small, for which I am grateful.