Trick or treating

The last 3 years, we've spent Halloween with friends from church trick or treating in their neighborhood. This year, our complex did trick or treating for the first time in at least 24 years- maybe ever! (The complex is about 32 years old but no one I talked to tonight has been here for longer than 24). As much as I really wanted to be with our friends tonight, it felt important to be a part of the community we live in. 

It was really cold and windy, so it was nice to be close to home (and have a small area to cover). This morning it was 65 degrees, tonight was 45. We saw about two dozen neighbors out with kids and about a dozen who put bowls out or handed out candy on the first floors of the building stairwells. 

We came home after about 40 minutes and had some hot cocoa. Much shorter than our usual Halloween festivities but a normal bedtime is definitely not a bad idea for us tonight. 

Oh, and Nate and Korra had matching costumes again- Spider Gwen and Spiderman. 

The Clown Statue

Today I scared the bejesus out of my students.  First I showed them a couple of scary short movies (Dewalt Horror on YouTube) and we talked about suspense and surprise.  Then we read The Clown Statue (a girl is babysitting for a family who has a lot of art.  She's creeped out by a clown statue so she calls the family to ask if she can cover it up.  The family says they don't have a clown statue- turns out it's a crazy murderer).  During the story, I had another teacher sneak into the darkened room wearing a clown costume.  Of course, they screamed.  It was awesome.  Teacher of the Year material, right here.

Book Character Day

Korra and I are Matilda and Ms Trunchbull!

Bus Accident Part 2

It turns out that when a school bus is in an accident, you have to do a lot. You have to wait for the bus driver's supervisor. And the principal. And the police. And the EMT (they have to check that everyone is ok). It ended up taking about an hour. I went with the principal back to the school to get sack lunches for all the kids because they were getting hangry. It was crazy to pull back up and see a police car, an ambulance, and a fire truck- all because a fit in a black sedan tried to squeeze into a turn lane early and scraped the side of the bus. At least the kids had a good story to share when we got back to school!  

Bus accident

On our way back to school from the field trip and a car scrapes alongside the bus- and then keeps going. Luckily, 2 teachers got pictures of the car's plates and no one was hurt. Unluckily, we have to sit on the stuffy bus (it's raining so no open windows) until the police arrive. Going on 20 minutes...

Family Worries and Field Trips

Today I'm on a field trip to the natural history museum but my mind is with my family. My brother's partner is back in the ICU. My sister-in-law's grandfather is missing. I wish I could carry part of their pain and worry. 

Parent Life

Yesterday it was Girl Scouts. Tonight it's soccer.  And Thursday is trick or treating.  We only have one kid. I can't imagine how other parents function. 

MY cat

For no reason I can understand, Mrs Renyolds has suddenly decided that she likes to lay on MY lap. She basically ignores me for 12 years and now I'm her favorite. 

Bleh Day

Today was not a great day. It wasn't bad. It was just frustrating.  The kids were easily distracted. I tried to get too much done. Nothing went quite like I wanted. Including when the principal, assistant principal, executive director, and an APS board member all walked in at the same time to observe my class. Bleh. Good thing I have a really fun lesson planned for later this week. 

This Weather

Perfect fall weather.  Church, lunch with friends (on a patio on the Beltline), a bike ride and playground visit with Korra, reading in the hammock... just wonderful.

Day 84

Today, like every day this week, I've practiced dancing through all of "Panini" three times in a row. I've got all the moves down. I don't get flustered and forget what goes next. Now I'm just working on adding a little extra bounce. Or facial expressions. Mostly I just try to reconcile myself to the fact that in a little over 2 weeks, I'll be doing this in front of my students. 

Soup and Biscuits

This dreary Saturday is perfect weather for broccoli potato soup and biscuits (and maybe like 3 episodes of Veronica Mars). 

Bye, bye Facebook

I've decided to delete my Facebook.  So for the first time in... no idea... I've given out the address for this blog to new people.  Which is kind of weird because it reminds me that people read about my life and maybe I should make sure that I'm being nice but also that I should try to be more interesting.  So of course now I can't think of a single interesting thing to say about my day.

Donburi Bowls

About a year ago we did Blue Apron for a while.  This recipe is the only one that I've made again (and again).  It's so good and easy and satisfying and inexpensive and healthy.  I made it tonight.  Even after going to TWO award assemblies AND having 2 parent conferences after school.  Because I'm basically a superhero.   Here's the recipe.

That's how it goes

My student teacher did another recorded lesson today. Her teaching was good but the kids were really off. Their behavior was all over the place. I was trying so hard not to intervene but she hasn't had to deal with them like that yet. It's really hard to know how to be helpful but not too helpful, especially since the kids were not their usual selves. The good thing about teaching is that they's always another day to try again. 

Zoom Coaching

I get to spend the next hour in an online video coaching call for being a mentor teacher.  Oh joy.

Alliance Theater

Today we took the kids on a field trip to see a play at the Alliance Theater. It was such a great play for middle school students and really well done. Once again, in super thankful to live and work right in the middle of the city where we have access to so many amazing things. 

Student teacher's turn

My student teacher is teaching twice this week. I'm looking forward to next semester when her teaching will make my day easier instead of harder. 

Last day of break

Today was filled with church, sushi lunch with friends, and a long walk. I don't feel at all ready to go back to school tomorrow but I'm not dreading it either. Only 5 weeks until I get another full week off!

Veronica Mars

Been binge watching Veronica Mars the last 48 hours. I sure do love Kristin Bell. 

Lazy, rainy, Saturday

Last night we had nachos and played D&D with some friends. It was fun but we got home LATE.  Korra and I slept in until 8.  Nate slept in until 1pm!  We watched a lot of TV in our PJs.  All of this was made possible by the rain, which caused Korra's soccer game to be cancelled.  

Later this afternoon, I suppose we need to do some things around the house and get ready for going back to school on Monday.  And we have to figure out what to do about this car...  maybe after a nap.

Well that sucks

Turns out that when you don't take your (12 year old) car in for regular maintenance (like for 3+ years), you get stuck with a $5000 bill. So now we have to decide if it's worth it to fix said car (which also has a home-repaired bullet holes in the roof and over 200,000 miles), if it's time to get a new one, or if it's possible to go back to having only one car (it's been 9 years). At least we have a little time to figure it out. 

Errand Day

Yesterday was spent driving home (Korra and I finished listening to another Reading Bowl book and enjoyed lunch at a Panera along the way) and then I did a bunch of laundry while Korra and Nate were at soccer practice. 

Today is a day full of errands: grocery shopping, a Target return, the UPS store, Korra's yearly checkup at the pediatrician, lunch with Nate, taking one of the cars to the shop.  Hoping to squeeze a Fall Break nap into there, too. 

Chris' birthday

For my brother-in-law's birthday today we had delicious Mediterranean bowls for lunch and then took the kiddos bowling (followed by a little bit of arcading). Tonight we'll have pot roast and funfetti cake!

Day at the Museum

We spent most of the day at the Museum of Life and Science. A good part of it is outside which was perfect since the weather was absolutely gorgeous. 

Uncle Todd

Todd's partner was doing so well today (moving off the ICU and able to start eating and drinking again!) that he was able to come visit his nieces, nephew, and sisters. The kits enjoyed playing at the park with Uncle Todd, painting pumpkins, and digging in the dirt. A relaxing day with family!

11 Years?!

I've been blogging nearly daily for 11 years.  Over 8,300 posts.  That averages out to about 2 posts per day.  I had to actually look at my blog to figure this out (something that I don't do very often).  I usually just send in posts via email.  I haven't changed the font or formatting in that whole time.  I noticed that my "Blogs I follow" list is made up of blogs that haven't been updated in years.  And I noticed that I have 31 followers.  But I had to wonder... who reads this?  Is there anyone who's been reading this for the whole 11 years (or close to it)?  If you do read this, will you either leave me a comment, email me, or text me?  I write this pretty much completely for myself, but I am curious.  Here's to 11+ years more of blogging!

Road Trip

Right after getting back from the parade (which was wet but wonderful), Korra and I hopped in the car for the 6 + hour drive up to my sister's. 

Pride Parade!

Great Wolf

GWL

On our way through Friday (holiday weekend) rush hour traffic to Great Wolf Lodge. Hoping we'll have a fun 20 or so hours with family at the GWL water park!

Conferences

On this teacher work day, I had 6 parent conferences in the afternoon. I feel like they went really well, which makes it feel like it was a really good use of my time. Also, it makes the week after break much easier since almost half my conferences are now done!

BBQ date

Korra is at Great Wolf Lodge with Nate's family. Nate and I both have to work tomorrow so tonight we're enjoying a date at Fox Brother's BBQ. Up next: eating dessert while watching Survivor at home. 

Pizza night (again)

Managed to avoid pizza for almost 2 weeks. But when company comes into town on a weeknight (and that company has a couple of picky-ish eaters in the family), it calls for pizza. And I might have purposely ordered more than we need so I can have pizza for lunch tomorrow. 

Weird Week (or two)

In addition to being on high alert from the transplant, this week is also weird because Friday begins a 10 day Fall Break for our students. And my sister-in-law (and her husband and 2 kids) are coming into town tomorrow.  They're spending the night and then leaving in the morning with Korra for a long weekend at Great Wolf Lodge (where they will meet the rest of Nate's family).  Nate and I will join them on Friday evening.  Then we'll head back home Saturday afternoon along with my other sister-in-law who's staying a night or two with us so she can go to a concert.  Then Sunday is the Pride Parade and immediately after, Korra and I are leaving for a few days in North Carolina to visit my sister and her family.  It's kind of insane (but in a good way).  But before (or in the middle of) all this, I need to finish grading a huge stack of papers because grades are due.  And I need to set up end-of-quarter parent conferences.  And I'm pretty sure there are a dozen other things I'm forgetting to do...  like grocery shopping.  I just made a 9:30 PM run to Dunkin Doughnuts to get a gift card for my student teacher because it's her birthday.  Oh, and I need to go practice my Panini dance before bed.  Which is right now.

In Awe

I am in awe.  The surgery was much shorter than expected and by this afternoon, she was off her ventilator, breathing on her own, writing to family, and was expected to get up and walk before the end of the day.  It's so amazing.  I'm so grateful. 

Distracted

I haven't been able to concentrate on anything since 7:30 this morning when I got the news that my brother's partner is getting her double lung and liver transplant today. Still another 18 hours or so to go in the surgery. 

2/10

While at the cabin I finished 2 of the 10 books I'm supposed to read as a coach of the Reading Bowl. They were both really good. 

I also baked cookies, scones, French bread, and soft pretzels. For me, that's like the perfect weekend. 

Sore Throat, Headache

I've had a bad sore throat arrive yesterday. I've had a bad headache all day. But it doesn't matter because we're going to the cabin this afternoon for a long weekend!

Letting Go

I'm sitting here watching my student teacher teach my classes today.  It's not easy.  It's taking all my self control not to jump in and fix the things she's doing wrong (or not quite the way I would do it).  I know this is what I agreed to. I know this is what's best for her.  But..... I am not good at letting go of control.  This is either going to make me grow or drive me crazy.  

People who need help

Korra has been very concerned about the people we see asking for help on the side of roads. (We're trying to use the term "people who need help" instead of homeless.) We decided to do some research on what people might need most, we went shopping for those items, I sewed some drawstring bags, and yesterday we went to give them out. While I was immediately overwhelmed by the need (there are so many more people than we have bags for, this bag will not fix systemic issues, etc), Korra reminded me to have "faith like a child" and see the good we can do. She's pumped to make more bags (96 more in fact). Her heart is so big.

Good place

I binged all 3 seasons of The Good Place in the last 2 weeks or so. It's a good show. Also, sometimes binge watching Netflix is good for the soul.