Happy Halloween!

Went on our second friend date with the family we had dinner with on Friday. Ate Halloween themed dinner together and then went trick-or-treating (in their much nicer/wealthier/less drug-selling neighborhood) and then sat on their front porch eating candy until the kids had a sugar-enduced melt-down. Another fantastic night!

Soup Weather

It's almost November. Is it too much to ask for soup weather?  These mid-80 degree days need to stop. 

Ticket

My enjoyable evening made me temporarily forget that I got a speeding ticket on the way home. 75 in a 55. I won't get to find out the cost for 2 weeks. Bleh. 

New Friends

We had some new friends over for dinner tonight. Korra had a blast with their kids and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. Looking forward to hanging out again soon. 

Outside All Day

Due to some last minute testing, I have been outside with various and ever-changing groups of kids since 10:40. We hiked, played eagle eye, picnicked, and played basketball. Not very academic in the traditional sense but I'm just going to roll with it. 

Fanny Pack

My favorite part of Tacky Day is wearing a fanny pack. It's just so useful!  Trying to figure out if I can just start wearing one all the time. 

Twin Day

Today is Twin Day. The teacher across the hall wanted to be twins. I was very uncreative and unhelpful but she eventually landed on great idea where she loaned me almost every part of the costume. She is a bee keeper and I (Mrs B) am a bee. Tomorrow is Tacky Day. My wardrobe is much more conducive to that particular dress-up day. 

I'm With Her

I voted today!  And I also was almost asked to leave for campaigning. I was talking with Korra about how this election was special because we could vote for a woman for president. Korra in turn told the polling worker, "This is special because a woman's going to be president!"

Wheelers

Really enjoyed our relaxing weekend at the cabin with our friends. 

Girl Drama

My whole day is being consumed by girl drama. So ready for a weekend at the cabin.  

Budget Blues

Just did our budget.  Living in a big city is a lot more expensive than living in a small town.  What's the point of being around all these great restaurants if you can't afford to eat out?

Guilt Free

Every time I've had to call in sick in the past 4 years my administrator has made me feel extremely guilty, as if I was lying or had gotten sick just to annoy her. I often went to work sick just to avoid calling her. Today I called in sick at my new school. My admin was sympathetic, asked how she could help, and told me to feel better.  So now I'm watching Jane the Virgin and resting and not feeling guilty. 

Hurting

My whole body hurts. I don't know what this illness is but it is awful. 

Imagination

Korra found a big acorn on the playground today. She calls it her "boo-k." When she squeezes it, the boo-k gives her "super-speed."

Parent Conference?

I had a parent ask me to sit down and have a conference with her at Learnapalooza yesterday. On a Saturday. At the equivalent of a festival. While I was holding my tired daughter. And she actually looked offended when I said no. 

Learnapalooza

Teaching a class on crocheting at my school's Learnapalooza today!

Snugglebug

Nate look left last night for a guys' weekend at the cabin so Korra and I got in our PJs and read new library books in bed and then snuggled. We were both sound asleep before 9. She woke up a few times during the night to put my arm back around her. 

Waldo

Korra has discovered (and nearly mastered) my old Where's Waldo book. 

Midnight Puking

We were awoken at midnight to the sound of Korra crying and barfing outside our bedroom door. She had (for the first time in her life) vomited all in her bed. She was very upset by it in top of feeling yucky. 45 minutes later, she was bathed and back in her bed (with fresh sheets and pillows). And now it's 6am and I'm exhausted but I have a 7:15 faculty meeting. Oh how I wish I was able to take a sick day today. 

Speed Conferences

From 8 am until 4 pm, we have a parent conference every 10 minutes.  Every 10 minutes exactly.  I'm tired.

Beltline Biking

After some difficulties (namely that I might have sold our socket wrench set at a yard sale and we were missing an essential part of the bike trailer hitch), we enjoyed biking the eastern part of the Beltline. 

Picnic Puking

Less than 2 minutes into our picnic lunch, Korra gags on her first bite of food and throws up all over herself, me, and the picnic blanket. Needless to say, we did not stay to explore the new park or play on the playground. She felt totally fine after (and still managed to eat plenty of Nate's sushi) but we were too far from the car to change/get cleaned up and still stay. Disappointing outing, to say the least. 

3am Visitor

We woke up at 3am to the sound of our doorbell. Over and over. I called through the door, "Hello?" and I hear a young woman's voice, "Help me, please!" I cautiously open the door to find a crying teenage girl. She tells us someone is chasing her as we bring her into the living room. Through tears, she tells us how she's locked out of her house and her phone died so she was just waiting outside the house when a man started harassing her. We sat and talked with her for about 45 minutes while she charged her phone and called friends and family members. Finally we were able to arrange to meet her boyfriend at the fire station down the road. While I really wish we could have had a full night's sleep (especially since Korra ended up in our bed for the rest of the night), I'm glad that somehow people know our house is a safe place where they will find help and hospitality. 

Planning Day

I got a good amount of planning and all my grading and parent-contacting done during my planning today despite chatty colleagues and no quiet place to work. Feeling like I'll be able to enjoy this long weekend so much  more without all that work hanging over my head!

When She Grows Up

Korra told me tonight she wants to be an author a d an illustrator and a librarian and a mommy when she grows up. I love it!

Reading Buddies

Took my 7th graders to read with their Kindergarten reading buddies today. Totally melted my heart. They all loved it so much. 

8pm bedtime

I don't know if there has been a single weeknight since August when I haven't been yearning for bed by 8pm.  When will I stop being so tired?

Planning Day!

Out of the blue my principal offered a planning day to several teachers. Now I have all day Friday to plan and grade!

Bikes and Drums

We bought a bike off Craigslist today and since it was near my brother, we met up for dinner, and of course, some car repairs. While Todd, his roommate, and Nate took apart the driver's side door, Korra rode her bike around the empty parking lot and played the drum set that's in the middle of Todd's kitchen.

Pink Wine

Drinking sparkling rose Moscato (purchase from Aldi) in large glass over ice. Paired with left-over sloppy joes. So classy I can hardly stand it. 

Welcome Home

We handed off the keys and our renters moved into our LaGrange house today. Felt really weird to leave other people in our house. 

Welcome, home to them. Goodbye for us. 

Piggie and Elephant

Korra has really enjoyed reading the Piggie and Elephant books by Mo Willems lately. She's been taking them to school and reading them to her class!