A different type of summer

So I spent the last week of summer in a grumpy mood, because the summer of 2016 was not like some of the recent past ones, and I had trouble reconciling it in my head, and realizing that this is probably where we are headed in the phase of 2 elementary schoolers.  Don't get me wrong, it was a great summer, just different.  And felt like it went by more quickly, because things were chunked by weeks, instead of days.

David showing off an invention

June was filled with professional development for me, then a week of Camp Invention for David and VBS at her preschool church for Sara.  Then we were off to Amelia Island with the Duncan clan, and after that right back to VBS at our church.  There were 2 weeks of down time after that, but I guess I didn't process that they were the only unplanned weeks left of summer.

Feeding the turtles at Amelia Island Plantation

July brought another year of me teaching at Encore camp, then we were off to Daytona Beach, for a wonderful bonus week in Florida, thanks to the administrator that put together my TOTY gift basket last fall.  After that the kids had a week of MAD camp at a nearby church - and then we're back to pre-planning!

My angel and chicken from "What do you do on a rainy day in the Ark?"

It was just different in that we didn't do as many day trips, which I have enjoyed in previous years, or really have the chance to do any spur-of-the-moment out of town trips like Huntsville last year, which was one of my highlights of the year.  We went to the newly renovated Children's Museum downtown, and had a Suwanee playdate with friends, but Fernbank didn't have anything new, and INK doesn't really change, so  I don't really feel like we missed out on a lot, just that my kids's interests are changing, and they really enjoyed their weeks of camp.

Guess it's time to get used to a new normal; Sara started Kindergarten this week, and loves it so far!  David is excited about his teachers for 3rd grade, if not starting over socially, he told me today he misses his old school :(.  I'm excited for year 3 at BCMS, it's especially fun to have 8th graders that I will have taught all 3 years!

Top 10

So I want to preserve today for posterity, as it was definitely one of my top 10 days of all time.  Sara has been obsessed with the Wicked soundtrack for about a month - asks for it all the time in the car.  Looked it up, and the show was touring in Birmingham, AL, about 3 hours away. I'd checked tickets several times in the last couple weeks, even asked David earlier in the week and he was like "No, that's too far to drive!" - we agreed we would wait until it came back to Atlanta, plus they are apparently making a movie of it to be released in 2019.  Well, last night Sara and I were watching clips of it online, and I asked her "Want to drive 3 hours tomorrow and go see it in person?"  Of course I was met with an enthusiastic "YES!"We purchased tickets last night, and woke up this morning, and off we went!  

It was not a bad drive, especially with the soundtrack and lots of Disney tunes to keep us occupied.  Arrived in plenty of time (freaked out about the time zone change and left early!), so we got to check out the whole venue, buy t-shirts, the whole 9 yards.  They had cute little stations where you could take "Elphies" and an usher outside even gave her Emerald City green tinted sunglasses, just because she was so excited to see the show.  We sat in the balcony, which was actually great for Sara to be able to see without having to sit in my lap the whole time.  I was a little worried that it might be too scary - I'd never actually seen the musical myself - it was my first time too!


I need not have worried, my sweet daughter was fascinated by the whole thing.  She either sat with her chin in her hands watching intently, or hugging one of my arms.  Every time I looked over at her she had this huge grin on her face.  She did start to sing out loud once at "The Wizard and I" but remembered quickly to let the people around us enjoy the show.  We did mouth the duet portion of "Defying Gravity"to each other, and it was such a sweet moment I just want to lock it in my heart!

The drive home was quiet - tired girl slept for the first hour.  We stopped at Wendy's once we got back into GA and shared fries and a Frosty.  She told me this was "the best day in the world!" and when I asked why she said "because of all the time I got to spend with you, Mommy!"  Adorable.  I know we will clash as she gets older, but I hope we can still have special days like this, or that I can keep those sweet small details in my mind.


I have a date night planned with my little man later this week - he was out with Corey when I purchased the tickets and was a little bummed when he got home that he was not included in the plans - but some of that was just him being tired from being out late with Corey - so they had a nice quiet guys day of building Legos and playing video games :)

My matching men

Sometimes it's enough

I sat in bed last night, frustrated with myself for not having a more productive Saturday.  The same thing had happened the previous Saturday - the list of things I could have done seems a mile long - the house is a mess, there are more crafts I want to do than hours in the day to complete them;, productive errands I could run, and yet we've had a lazy couple of Saturdays.  But I can't continue to beat myself up about all the things I didn't do, it makes me feel bad about the time I spend just enjoying my family.

Yesterday I went shopping with Sara, took her to a birthday party, then came home and baked Resurrection rolls and dyed Easter eggs with both kids. We had a blast combining food coloring in different ways to make the different colored eggs.

I've been watching Harry Potter movies and reading the books with David in the evenings, and coloring with Sara, or playing tea party or vacation house with her many babies.  They both love to call "4 person wrestle!" and jump on the bed with Corey and me, and I posted on Facebook about how sweet is is that David sets his alarm each night so that he can wake up early enough to snuggle with me.  And I smile every time I hear Sara saying "loosually" instead of "usually."

Han Foldo and Fortune Wookie

While I already miss the baby and toddler stages of their lives, I know that this sweet stage of childhood won't last forever either.  Soon they won't be looking to me for approval of their art, or play, much less setting an alarm to spend more time with me! Sara's in a stage of "I want to spend all day all the time with you!" which of course makes me feel guilty as I go off to work or to rehearsal for a gig.  I think we're all counting down the days until Spring Break, and I'm looking forward to that block of time with both of them.

Yes I could, and should, spend less time on screens and more time reading or sewing, doing something that I enjoy and actually feels productive.  While we're at it, I should be taking better care of my body too, something I'm going to try to work on starting this week.  But I'm not the perfect wife/mom/housekeeper/or teacher (I've found myself getting more impatient with my students too, and am trying to nip that urge to raise my voice first), and I have to forgive myself and move on, because regretting what I could have done isn't helping.

Sometimes you have a lazy Saturday and enjoy quality time with your kids.  Sometimes just getting through the lesson is enough, and every class doesn't have to end with an engaging, high-energy activity.  Sometimes the clutter is going to build up, and that's okay too, because we have clean bodies, clothes, and dishes.  I have a list of things about a mile long to get done over the break, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't get to every one of them. Because spending time with these sweet faces is going to be at the top of that list.

Mountain top moment

(Written 9/20/2015)
So the last Friday of August was a high point in my career for sure. I was named Teacher of the Year at Bay Creek, the school I started teaching at last year. The whole thing was so surreal, I just wish I could lock it in my brain forever.

I was nominated the first week of school, and filled out the application that weekend. When 3 administrators came in my room that Thursday, I thought I was in for a doozy of an observation or that one of my students was in major trouble, but it was to announce that I was a finalist! My teaching was taped on the following Monday, then 2 days to vote, and the announcement came at Friday's faculty meeting.

The other two candidates were awesome 8th grade teachers, and I would not have had hurt feelings if either of them won. We were all called up front and I was announced - and got a standing ovation! I just want to freeze the smile on my principal's face in my mind. All sorts of pictures followed, then I was announced to the kids on the morning news show - and they were so sweet all day long! High fives and congratulations from kids I didn't even know, hugs from teacher friends, I even had a tiara to wear - I felt like royalty all day!

 This is me and my tiara, along with just a tiny bit of the amazing gift baskets that were put together by one of my APs - it was seriously untoppable, gift cards and certificates to tons of places - and even a week at a beach condo!

David and Sara were super sweet about it when I got home, having heard the news from Facebook through my dad.  Huge hugs and they have been telling people "My mommy is teacher of the year!" ever since.  Corey offered to take me out to eat when he got home, but going out to eat on a Friday is often more exhausting than relaxing for me, so he went out and picked up Mellow Mushroom, one of my favorites.
I've made it to the semi-finals of county teacher of the year - which meant another 2 rounds of applications, and even a photo shoot! It would be really cool to make it to the top 6, but then I would also feel a lot of pressure to make top 3 or even GCPS TOTY!  I think I would enjoy making it more for my school and admin than I would for myself.  Either way, it's been a very cool ride and an amazing start to the new school year!