June

Looking over our calendar for June. We'll only be home for 11 days! Love summer vacation and traveling!

Lake Camping

Took Korra out in the kayak, read in the hammock, rode bikes to see the geese. 

Camping

Weekend camping with my friend Stephanie on the lake this weekend!  Already got to try kayaking for the first time and the weather has been perfect. 

Bathroom photo

Maybe you won't be impressed because you've probably never seen our "master" bathroom (and I failed to take a before photo), but I'm really happy with how it turned out. 

Baby Dylan

Korra and I took a little road trip to visit my long-time friend Lindsay, her son Luke (who is only 1 day older than Korra), and her adorable new baby Dylan. We had such a nice time catching up and watching our kids play. So thankful for her friendships like this one. 

Errands

Took the car for an oil change, got our our physicals done, got our passport photos and marriage certificate, and put up the medicine cabinet (photos of our updated bathroom to come).  Going to try for our first trip to the pool after nap. Productive first day of summer break. 

Beads

Korra loved playing with my stash of beads (from high school!)

Summer Projects

Still officially have one more day of work but I've already started on my summer projects. I cut and sewed a few pairs of Korra's jeans into shorts, started painting the bathroom (second color has to wait until next nap time), and I bought a used kitchen island I want to refinish. Many more yard and home to come in the next 10 weeks!

Back to Three

Danny left yesterday for his summer-long internship at a Christian ministry in Athens that works with refugees. He's really excited about the opportunity to improve his English and be around more people. Korra cried when he left. She'd just gotten used to the idea he was staying- asking her to understand he was leaving for 2 months was s little much. He's already sent us a few selfies (in his room, at the welcome sign) and Korra made a goodnight video that we texted him. 

Big Girl Day Update

Big Girl Day was a success in that we all have a much more positive attitude towards potty training. It was not as much of a success in that Korra still peed a little every time before she told me she had to go. I think tomorrow will be Big Girl Day, too. Say a little prayer for us. 

Big Girl Day

Tomorrow begins my latest attempt at potty training. We've taken a 4 week break and have been talking up "Big Girl Day."  This is the day when Korra becomes a big girl, gives away her diapers to a baby, gets her panties back, and has a generally fun celebratory day. Special food and prizes, fun crafts, whatever I can think of (including getting to use scissors for the first time).  Fingers crossed this works. I'm out of ideas. 

Laptops

I got put in charge of checking out (or storing) all the faculty's laptops for the summer.  This has turned out to be a monumental pain in the butt and is making me stress out on what should be the 2 most relaxing work days.  

Boring

It's only the first day of summer break and Danny already texted me, "I'm boring."  Good thing his summer internship begins on Sunday!

Too much food

Retirement party at school, last day of ESL class party, neighborhood block party. Party food overload!

Warby Parker

Nate and I got our trial glasses from Warburton Parker today. Good thing Korra looks so cute in glasses because with 2 blind parents she'll need them soon.

Pool Closed

Got the whole family suncreened-up, swim suits on, and in the car only to find out the pool is closed until the 26th. That information was not on the pool hours flyer they gave me or the website. So disappointng!  Thankfully, Korra was completely distracted by the neighbor's sprinkler and now we're headed our to dinner at Fabiano's with some friends. 

Worst Part

Calling phone number after phone number that has been disconnected or has a full voicemail box, only to have a parent hang up on me when I say their kid has overdue books.  

Going on 2 hours of calling parents...

Whole World

Korra's current favorite night time song is "The Whole World In His Hands."  She loves having me add in the names of all her friends and family. It's so sweet that I sing much longer than I usually would so we can do verses for everyone she wants. 

Ice Cream Party

On the day that I have an ice cream party for 100 students, my assistants are both pulled to cover other areas.  I'm sticky and tired, but I made it.

Imaginative or Weird

Korra was playing outside and from what I can tell, her pretend play involved a leaf named Cocoa who cried every time she went too far from it. 

Good Movie, Good Book

I watched a good movie this week: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0406158/

I also read a good book this week: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kid.  http://www.npr.org/2014/01/11/260192246/finding-flight-in-the-invention-of-wings

Babysitting Party

The 4 teenaged boys from our church are watching 6 kids and 2 babies in our house tonight while their 10 parents all go to a birthday party. Looking forward to a kid-free night with friends (while keeping my fingers crossed that my house is still standing when we get back!)

Brother

Korra said tonight, "Danny is my brother."  My heart melted. 

Cooking Together

Danny helped me make sushi for dinner and then asked if I would help him name cookies for a class party. The cookies completely failed to rise (old baking soda?), so we need up running to the grocery store but it was still nice to do some cooking together. 

Grrr Mad

When Korra is mad, she channels Daniel Tiger and says, "I'm grrr mad, really mad, mad, mad, mad!"

Right now I'm feeling pretty grrr mad about how many library books have left with withdrawn students.  Mad enough to vent an R rated rant, but still in the back of my mind is that damn Daniel Tiger song.

My Personal Trainer

While on a walk with Korra:

"Mommy, you can run if you want to... I like it when you run... Daddy runs..."

Porch Drinking

Enjoying a glass of wine on the neighbor's porch. Our baby monitor reaches across the street!

Big News

Today a 17 year old named Danny joins our family. We've known him through our church since January and we became aware he needed a legal guardians about 2 weeks ago. He's a great kid who loves soccer and action movies and is so good with Korra. So, happy Mother's Day to me!

Home Early

We realized that we weren't really needed at the hospitality house overnight, we decided to leave after dinner. I had a good visit with a detainee who had been there for over a year and has very few other visitors. Nate was able to cook 2 meals, take an inventory of the food, and make up beds. I'm glad we went, but I'm also glad we are home early. We've got a big day tomorrow!

El Refugio

Heading out early tomorrow for an overnight in Lumpkin, Georgia. We will be volunteering at a hospitality house that serves the visitors of Stewart Detention Center (for people waiting deportation hearings). I'll be honest and say that this has become just one more thing I feel like I have to do even though I volunteered for this. I know it will be a good experience if I can just change my attitude. Praying for just that. 

Early Mother's Day

Nate took Korra to the dollar store so she could pick out her own gift for me. This is what she chose:

Best of all, that's an anniversary card!

FitBit

I got a FitBit (for free!).  Yesterday I walked 13,500 steps and I didn't even take an afternoon walk with Korra.  I guess shelving books, walking the halls to repair computers, and inventory is pretty good exercise!

Just some pictures of Korra

10 more school days plus 2 teacher work days until I get to spend a whole summer with this girl. 

Raise!

Just signed my contract and I'm getting a 3% raise next year.  It's not much, but I'll take it!

Wait for me, margarita

My margarita will have to wait just a little longer... first a faculty meeting.

8 Years

We moved into our house 8 years ago today.  This is the longest either of us have ever lived in one house.  People in this town ask all the time where we're from.  I think we could live here until the day we die and never feel like we're "from" here.  But our house, our neighborhood, feels like home.  At least for now.

Stressful

Today has been an exceptionally stressful day.  I'm anxious and emotional and am resisting a strong urge to curl up in a ball on the floor and each chocolate while I cry.  

In related news, I have a system-wide media specialists' meeting after school and a Rising Sixth Grade Parent meeting this evening (which is at the exact same time as my first Friends of the Library Board meeting that I will be missing).

Southern Makers

Going to the Southern Makers festival in Montgomery today!  Nate's parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew will meet us there. Should be a beautiful, fun day!

Imagination

Korra is currently pretending her carrots are a family and is having some very imaginative conversations between them.

Date Night!

Korra's going to play with the neighbors while we go to dinner (Charlie Joseph's) and a movie (Avengers)!