More pizza and naps

Today we had pizza for lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday (it is my new favorite pizza place and it's also biking distance from the house). Then we came home and I took a nap. So far this spring break is amazing. 

35

Had breakfast with a friend at a restaurant I've been wanted to try for years. Took an after lunch nap. Watched a chick flick. Rode bikes to eat pizza and ice cream. Pretty much a perfect day. 

New kicks

One of my co-workers painted these for me!

Cupcakes for breakfast?

Is 9:30am too early to eat a cupcake?

For context, it is the last day before spring break. 

Early birthday surprise

One of my coworkers had balloons, a banner, a gift, cupcakes, and a crown on my desk when I arrived this morning!

Alumni Selfie

Yesterday was College Day. Here's my selfie sporting my new LaGrange College t-shirt. 

Thank you

I got a thank you note from a student today. It made my week. 

Twin Day

Today was Twin Day and Korra wanted to be twins with one of her teachers. So adorable!

Camping Cancelled

Had to cancel next week's camping reservations for Tybee Island due to plenty of rain in the forecast.  Decided instead to book 2 nights in a hotel in downtown Savannah so we can have a little bit of a get-away.  Looking forward to taking my little Girl Scout to Juliette Gordon Low's house and taking my foodie husband to a couple of great restaurants!  Hoping to reschedule camping at Tybee for right after school gets out.  

When she grows up

Korra brought this home today

German Festival

Walked around the German Festival this afternoon. Korra colorer a crown and wand. I have no idea how 99% of the festival had anything to do with Germany. 

First D&D

Korra played D&D for the first time today. (Her character is a dragon-born druid name Lilly Penny).  Nate was so proud. 

Skating

The school sponsored another skate night so Korra was excited to practice her roller skating skills again. I was once again impressed by how many times she fell down and got right back up. 

Spinning Plates

For the past few days, I've been introducing new assignments each day, but not letting students move in until they have mastered each skill. The result is that I have students working semi-independently on about 8 different assignments at the same time. It's cool (especially some if the videos they are making on FlipGrid!) but it's a bit overwhelming. Tomorrow I'm adding another plate to the mix and hoping I can keep them all spinning. 

I'm totally unrelated news, I'm so ready for spring break. 

Perfect timing

Wonderful friends from college happened to be in town tonight so we walked to our favorite place (Torched Hop) for Wing Wednesday. It was so so nice to catch up. It was exactly what I needed after a rough day (or couple of weeks). Now we just need to convince them to move here. 

Proud Girl

Korra flipped over the bar (on her belly) all by herself and also got her toes up on the high bar at tumbling today. She was soooooo proud of herself. I'm so proud of the strength and confidence she's building. 

Sunday Bike ride

Went for a bike ride today to the bike shop and to get ice cream. Korra has mastered starting and stopping, locking and unlocking her bike, and even riding in the bike lane (as opposed to on the sidewalk). I'm so proud of her. Today I ordered her a bike basket and a kickstand. Looking forward to many more rides together!

Tigey and Mrs

Korra's favorite stuffed animal on top of the cat. 

Brunch Playdate

Enjoyed brunch and time catching up with a friend from middle/high school and her 2 sweet boys (the oldest is only one day older than Korra). We all had such a nice time!

Week from Hell

End of quarter testing all week plus no outdoor recess all week (a punishment handed down from admin to all teachers and students) plus not getting the promotion plus PMS. 

I need this week to be over. 

Feeling better

Had a chance to talk through my feelings and I'm feeling better. Still disappointed and frustrated but not disheartened or hopeless. 

Trying to function

I'm having a hard time continuing to do what I need to do at school while processing what I'm feeling and what your feelings mean to me going forward in this school and in this profession. When the kids are in the room, I can rely on years of practice to do what I should but when it's time to plan for next week or grade papers... We still have 3 weeks until spring break and 10 weeks until the end of the school year. I've got to figure out how to move forward. 

Nope

I thought I would feel better in the morning. I don't. 

I didn't get the raise

And I don't want to talk about it yet. Not do I want to go to school tomorrow.

7th place

I got 7th place in my age group. 

5K #3

A little more than a minute faster than my best time. 

Waiting, waiting

I know they decided who gets Teacher of Distinction this afternoon. I don't know when they will tell us or why they haven't done it already. If it's bad news, I'd rather know now so I can recover over the weekend. 

Super Diaper Baby

Korra is in love with the Super Diaper Baby books. The potty humor is at level 10. 

Sick kid

Korra threw up in her bed twice last night. She mostly made it into the bucket we'd given her (she said her tummy hurt at bedtime) but we still had to clean her off and change the sheets (and scrub the wall) twice. So we're home today and she seems perfectly fine. I'm getting a lot of school work and cleaning done (so much laundry and disinfecting!) She's doing a lot of drawing and reading. 

Obvious Dreams

I had a dream last night that I didn't get the raise/promotion (the one that in really life I should hear about any day now) and so I quit and went back to my old school (you know the one where I was miserable). Then I was miserable and it was a long commute and I realized I'd made a huge mistake. Most of the dream was crying and yelling. I don't think I have to spend much time interpreting that one. 

Into the Spiderverse

We bought Into the Spiderverse on Saturday night. We've watched it 4 times since then. It's a really good movie!

Mardi Gras

We had a church brunch potluck tonight. The food was amazing. Being with friends was fun. I am full and happy and ready for bed. 

Kitty

Today was dress like an animal day. 

Whoops

Today I said to a 6th grader (about horseplaying), "that's the kind of shit that will lose you your recess." Whoops. 

Homophobia

The last week or so I've been using texts by/about LGBTQ people to teach our regular ELA standards. I'm trying to cultivate empathy, eliminate homophobia and so far, it seems to be working. I'm seeing growth. Kinder conversations. Misconceptions and prejudices dispelled. I think I'm going to do this in the first quarter next year. 

Church

Church was really emotional today.  The Church has caused so much pain to so many people and all those wounds were wide open. But at the same time, the room felt so full of love and hope. I am so thankful to be at this church and in this city. I would be so lonely and full of despair if we were in LaGrange. And while I'm happy for that, I'm also so so sad for LGBTQ people in small towns like that who feel like the church isn't a safe, welcoming place for them. As Daniel Tiger says, "sometimes you feel two feelings at the same time, and that's ok." But it's hard. 

Nearly perfect Saturday

Ran 3 miles this morning (in 35 min). Baked banana bread. Got to see some friends I haven't seen in a while. Ate a delicious lunch. Korra sold her 400th box of Girl Scout cookies. Took a nap. Biked to the library and RedBox with Korra. Watched Into the Spiderverse. 

Half

Korra is 6 and a half years old. She's 3 and a half feet tall. She weighs 35 and a half pounds. 

Half birthday

Korra woke up so excited yesterday because March 1st is her half birthday. We celebrated with a movie night (popcorn and Ralph Breaks the Internet).