Great Lakes Brewing Company

Enjoyed a delicious dinner at GLBC in Cleveland with one of Nate's friends from seminary and his girlfriend. 

Grandpa Earl

We had lunch today with Nate's grandpa, Earl, and his girlfriend, Joanne. After lunch we went to a park on Lake Eerie. Korra loves running around the beach and climbing on rocks. 

Grandpa Bob

Last night we enjoyed dinner with Nate's grandpa, Bob. We spent the night and this morning Korraand Grandpa Bob watched birds (and a fat squirrel) at the bird feeder. They used Bob's Audubon field guide to identify and read about the birds they saw. 

Tennessee Road Names

Today we passed Racoon Valley Rd and  Stinking Creek Rd. Pretty much the highlights of I-75 through Tennessee. 

Roadside Clean-up

Korra already threw up all over her seat and clothes.

On Our Way to Ohio!

Sort of. Slow start. Atlanta traffic. 

Can't Sleep

I've checked my packing list (which is tri-fold and two sided, broken down by category) multiple times. Most of our said is organizing, packed, and already in the car. The house is clean, refrigerator is empty, and the keys and instructions for taking care of the cat have been given to the neighbor. Excited, nervous, and apparently sleep-less about our adventure that begins tomorrow morning. 

Handmaid's Tale

Finished watching the Handmaid's Tale. Really hoping there will be a second season because I enjoyed it a lot.  Excellent acting and character development. It deviates from the book quite a bit but since I read the book about a decade ago, I didn't mind at all. 

Trip Itinerary

I can't tell you how many hours I've spent pouring over our trip itinerary since I began planning in December.  Just spent another 2 hours this morning, writing down addresses for each place we plan to visit in a little notebook, just in case my electronic version is unavailable.  And while I was at it, I looked up a few more optional places to visit in Utah.  And then I double checked the times between a couple of destinations.  I've loved nearly every minute of planning it.  Here's hoping I enjoy the trip just as much!

Late to Bed, Still Early to Rise

I went to bed at midnight (marshmallow roasting at a neighbor's house and then watched Get Out with Nate) but still woke up at 6am (terrible thunder storm plus 180 school days of waking up at that time). I am going to need a nap today. 

Yoga instructors

In Wednesday, my yoga instructor has a broken leg. Today's yoga instructor was 7 months pregnant. Her headstand was impressive. 

Work Day (sort of)

I was late coming in for today's work day (due to a dentist appointment) and then was told I could leave as soon as my work was done. The result was that I only worked for about 2 hours. Not a bad end to the school year 

Guest Reader

Korra came to school with me today and read a book to my students. 

Last Day of PreK

Korra and Nate's last day going to school together. 

Rain, Rain

It's been rainy all week.  We were supposed to take some end of the school year hikes, but instead, we've been watching movies and cleaning out our lockers.  This morning's movie: Disney's Let It Shine.

Graduation

The while idea of a cap-and-gown graduation ceremony for preschool seems so excessive. Like completing preschool is a big accomplishment and that we are setting the bar pretty low for our kids. But then you see this cutie in her tiny purple cap and gown and... 

Day 8

Today is my 8th day in a row of work thanks to our field trip. I never realize quite how much I need to rest and recharge over the weekend until I pulled into the parking lot this morning. I don't have any reserves to pull from, so when a student was really defiant and disrespectful, I had to walk away so I wouldn't tell and then I burst into tears. And I still have 3 more days. 

Field Trip- day 2

Yesterday we went to the museum of natural history and then the art museum. My group of girls really impressed me with their thoughtful questions and answers at both museums. After learning my standardized test scores on Friday, I was feeling really frustrated and disappointed but seeing them at the museums, I realized those tests don't know my kids. I know my kids and what they've learned.  F*** the tests. 

After the museums, we played at a park for a bit and I enjoyed talking with one of the parent chaperones. Then we took them to FunWorks for roller skating, mini golf, and go carts. I learned that skating is a lot harder on my ankles than I remembered but had a good time. Most of the kids were exhausted when we got back to the hotel but I ended up staying up later than I would have liked due to some curfew breakers. Had a hard time getting them up and checked out of the hotel this morning but we are finally on the bus and headed to our final two activities- the nature conservatory and a tour of Florida State- before we will head home. 

Starbucks

Our first stop is s tour of Valdosta State University. There is a Starbucks in the campus bookstore. We now have 41 highly caffeinated middle schoolers and another 2 hour bus ride ahead of us. 

Field Trip

On a charter bus with 41 middle schoolers headed to Florida for a 3 day field trip. Pray for me. 

Illegal Foods

Tried a new restaurant tonight. Amazing burger, fries with French Onion dip, and deep fried brussel sprouts. 

New Tires

Just added $700 to our expenses for our road trip- new tires, alignment, oil change, plus checking all belts, filters, etc.  Leaving in 11 days!

Whistle

My new whistle is getting a lot of use today. 

Field Day

Tomorrow is my students' favorite day of the year. It is also my last favorite day of the year. I hate field day. Also the high is supposed to be in the mid 90s. 

Glasses #2

Job Application

I love my job and school. I really do, but it had some major faults that I do my best not to focus on (for the sake of my happiness).  Today those faults, plus my growing feelings of being stretched too thin by commuting lead me to apply for a position at a charter school near our church (which is also Nate's work). I don't know if anything will come of it, but I'm praying for peace and wisdom and trying to just let go. 

Korra and the Worm

From school last week.

Practice Pack

This morning we did a practice run for packing the car for our 28 day to as d trip... and everything fits!  Leaving in 2 weeks! 

Wedding Pictures

Mom Look?

What am I wearing/saying/doing that makes it obvious to the employees at Piggly Wiggly that I am a mom?  Just got wished "Happy Mother's Day" but I don't have any kids with me. 

Wedding

Going to LaGrange for a wedding. Not only is the groom a friend and former neighbor, but he's also a former student- I taught him 8th grade math 11 years ago. 

Drama and Attitudes

Lord, help me not to scream at any 13 year old girls in the next 2 weeks... I might totally lose it if I have to hear one more huff or see one more eye roll.

Teacher Appreciation

Doughnuts and coffee and this amazing gift!

Sushi!

A friend took us out for sushi (Korra's favorite food). The chefs sent over an adorable bird made from an orange fort Korra that she absolutely loved. 

Outdoor Cooking, Lesson 2

On Tuesday, I taught my class the 3 methods for making a campfire (lean-to, log cabin, and teepee). Today we built a fire and e bread dough

which we wrapped around sticks and roasted over the fire. Predictably, most students ended up with burnt on the outside, raw on the inside bread, which they happily ate and swore was delicious. 

Last and First

This morning I am teaching my last sex ed class of the year and this afternoon I'm teaching my first Maymester class. I'm teaching Outdoor Cooking to 19 4th-7th graders. Today's lesson: campfire safety. 

Art Extravaganza

In the past week I've taught several students how to safely use box cutters to cut shapes out of cardboard and then we used over a dozen roles of duct tape to cover those cardboard geometric shapes. I then attached them all to wooden stakes and today I hammered them into the school yard to create a big installation for tonight's Art Extravaganza. Ta-da!

Face Painting

I volunteered to paint faces at the children's area (run by our school's PTO) at Serenbe's May Day festival. I brought Korra and asked one of my 6th graders to take her around to all the children's activities. There was already a line of 10+ kids and it was clear that almost all of them wanted full-faced animal paint, which I cannot do. Thankfully the other volunteer was the art teacher. I specialized in soccer balls, butterflies, Batman logos, suns, and flowers. My line was much shorter. But I did get us a lot of tips by playing up the fact that we are teacher volunteers (one guy gave me $10!)  After this weekend, I'm all spring festivaled out. 

Faithful Families

Only 3 pages into this book and I'm already so inspired!  It feels extra special to read it in the weeks leading up to Korra's baptism (first Sunday in July) and the official transfer of membership to our new church. Also, New Church is unveiling our new name this morning!  Spoiler: it's Neighborhood Church! 

Spring Festival

Today was the spring festival for Nate and Korra's school. Face painting, bounce houses, and a silent auction where Nate won a $100 tattoo gift certificate. 

10 years

10 years ago today we moved into our house in LaGrange. Now we are trying to figure out what to do with it next. 

Super Stressful Day

2 of the 4 middle school teachers are out today, but they only got one substitute.  And we're testing (computer-based standardized test for our charter).  And it's rainy and cold.  Working out the schedule has made me want to lay face-down on the floor.  

Add to that my irrational anxiety over some new friends coming over to our house for dinner tonight (they have 2 rambunctious boys, it's still supposed to be rainy and cold when we had planned to eat outside, we only have 6 chairs, their house is much bigger and nicer than ours) and I have essentially become a ticking time bomb of tears and eye-twitches and compulsive chocolate eating.  

But maybe today will surprise me.  Maybe my students will be amazing and it won't rain as much as predicted and my schedule will actually work and dinner tonight will be fun and restful.  Trying to remain positive but wishing I had taken a double dose of Zoloft....

Art Day

Today is our campus-wide art day.  We've been working on drafts of our "masterpieces" all year and today we are painting them onto canvases for our big art extravaganza.  We're also working on our grade-level art installation, which are large cardboard geometric shapes that we are wrapping in colorful duct tape, attaching to wooden stakes, and placing throughout the "yard" in front of our building.  Oh, and it's a rainy day so we are watching Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark during lunch.  There are only 15 more school days (maybe I should make that 17 since I'm going on a weekend overnight field trip).  So close.

Glasses!

First pair came in!

Hospitality

Tonight we are having dinner with a 21 year old UGA student who will be interning at the nonprofit that is active in our neighborhood this summer... to see if she wants to live in our house while we are gone. We give her free housing, we get a free house and pet sitter. Win-win. Except for the 2 weeks when we'll all be here. 3 adults and 1 child in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath 900 sq ft house. Oh, and also the fact that she's rightfully a little unsure about living alone across the street from a drug house. So this should be interesting!

Flexibility

Flexibility is practically our school motto.  Schedules, classes, plans, everything can change at any moment.  I feel like I've rolled with it pretty well all year, but I am about at breaking point.  If you need me, I'll be stress eating chocolate and crying under my desk.