Summer routine

Kicking off summer right with a long walk every morning and a nap after lunch. Being a teacher is the best. 

Another Sleepover

After only one night in her own bed, Korra was off to a sleepover with her BFF last night. I'm glad she's getting to do these fun things after such a hard and limiting year and also can't believe how much she's grown up. 

Pancakes to kick off summer!

Korra, my mom, and I made pancakes for breakfast and then I logged into zoom for my final faculty meeting of the year. Summer has officially begun!

New Dresses

My mommy took me shopping at my favorite discount clothing store and bought me 5 new dresses (for under $50). It's my favorite low-stress shopping experience (and extra fun since it's the first time I've gotten to try on clothes in a store in a long time).

Canton, NC

After working on the morning in the school building (there really wasn't much for me to do since I'm not moving rooms), I drove up to my parents' house to visit for 2 nights and to bring Korra back home. 

Summer Plans!

I just booked flights for Nate and I to go visit our friends in Connecticut while Korra stays with her grandparents! 

Last Day

Today is the last day of school for students. Yesterday was the last day in person with students. It doesn't feel real because there's no closure. No hugs. Plenty of students already stopped coming or logging in. I'm super thankful for summer break. The kids are over online learning and so am I.  Everyone needs a break, but it's a strange end to a strange year. 

Date Night

Last night Nate and I went out on a date. We walked about a mile and a half to a restaurant we haven't tried before. I had delicious empanadas and a Long Drink (grapefruit and gin!). The weather was warm and the outdoor patio was shady.  It was lovely. 

50 Emails

 Besides attending 2 awards presentations (over Zoom), my other task for today is to send an email to the parents of each student I teach.  Attached to each email is the student's scores from our recent testing and in the body of each email, I need to write a few sentences about the student's growth (or lack thereof).  This should not be a monumental task but it feels insurmountably boring.  I have 18 more to go.  Sweet Jesus, help me.

Bye, Korra

Drove to Clayton, GA today to meet me parents and give them Korra. She's going to stay with them for the week since our usual babysitter couldn't watch her on Tuesday and Thursday when I have to go in the building. She's excited about spending the last few days of online school from MoMo and Grandad's house. Nate and I are excited about several date nights!

LaGrange Visit

Yesterday we spent the day in LaGrange visiting friends who recently moved back there and some friends from Nate's high school. We had a cook-out, slip and slide, played games, and talked. It was so wonderful.  Definitely don't want to move back, but happy to visit with some people who we've really missed. 

Staff End of the Year Party

Last night there was a staff end of the year get together at a brewery. Even though it was outside and I'm vaccinated and almost everyone there was vaccinated (several of them showed off the laminated vaccination card they keep in their wallets!) it felt SO strange to talk to two dozen of my coworkers without a mask on. Plus, I haven't seen most of them in person in 15 months besides maybe passing in the hall once or twice with masks on. 

Afternoon at the pool

I finished all my work by lunch so Korra and I are spending the afternoon at the pool. I'm reading magazines in a lounge chair. She's swimming with a new friend. 

Drinking Buddies

Korra's class has been doing a water drinking challenge to encourage each other to stay hydrated. Today she was referring to her "drinking buddy"- the classmate she's partnered with to remind each other to drink water. 

Celebrated

This afternoon we had our final network staff meeting and I was honored with the "Scholarly Excellence" award for my teaching this year. It was nice to know so many students, parents, and staff members said wonderful things about me. 

Writing in the park

Today at school my students are writing alternative endings to the novel The Giver while we sit in Central Park. I love seeing them spread out with their clipboards and pencils, completely focused on writing. 

Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Camping this weekend with friends!

No Mask?

I went into a store today. There were no posted "masks required" signs and the CDC says I don't have to wear one anymore as a fully vaccinated person but I still put one on. Why?  I didn't want anyone to mistake me, an unmasked person, for an anti-masker. I guess I kind of got used to how "easy" it was to tell who was on my side (pro-science) at a glance. I know that separating everyone into "us" and "them" based mask wearing is not great, nor is wanting to make sure no one thinks I'm "one of them." I figured owning up to it in writing might help me get over it. 

Sad Korra

When the kittens left for their homes, Korra cried for over an hour and told us it was the saddest moment of her whole life. 

Kittens

A friend from LaGrange had a litter of kittens that needed homes and people here in Atlanta are always looking for some fun babies. 24 hours after posting on Nextdoor, we had 9 potential homes for 2 kittens. I met my friend halfway and brought the kittens back here to Atlanta today. Korra is obsessed. She's been looking forward to seeing the kittens for a week. She doesn't talk about anything else (not even Roblox!) One kitten is getting picked up tonight, the other, tomorrow morning. She's enjoying every minute of kittens she can get. 

I am, too. 

Ms B is the best

Yesterday I made an activity where the students had to answer questions to figure out a secret message.  Then they had to run up to me and tell me the secret message out loud to get a piece of candy.  The secret message was: Ms B is the best.  Yes, it's manipulative, but they also loved it.

Stacey Abrams just keeps getting better

I just learned that Stacey Abrams is also a published romance novelist!  Of course I plan to read them all!

Entirely too much testing

First the kids were taking the Milestones (state end of year standardized test). The next week, they had to take the iready diagnostic. This week, it's the NWEA (nationally normed test). They are exhausted and frustrated. I am exhausted and frustrated. This data is useless because of the pandemic and testing fatigue. Forcing them to focus and keep taking these tests feels like child abuse. 

Brunch

Nate ordered an amazing Mother's Day brunch to be delivered today. Unfortunately, when we called at 11am to check on delivery time, they said it could be any time before 6:00pm so Nate went up pick it up. Ham biscuits, spring vegetable frittata, chocolate croissants, an assortment of tea sandwiches, French onion croissants, and a strawberry rhubarb pie. Everything was absolutely delicious and we'll have leftovers for days. 

Mother's Day Texts

A perk of all my students having my cell phone number- I've gotten several "Happy Mother's Day" texts from my kids. 

Saturday, outdoors

Today I went for a 45 min walk by myself in the morning (and finished listening to Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows). This afternoon we walked around an outdoor festival in a nearby neighborhood. This evening we ate dinner outside in our friends' yard. The weather was gorgeous. The pollen count is finally down. All the adults we spent time with are fully vaccinated. It was lovely. 

Strawberry

Korra is so excited because she grew her first strawberry!

Another Thing I Like

I started watching Ginny and Georgia last night.  Highly recommend. 

Ohs

I impulse-bought a box of Ohs cereal. I had a giant bowl this morning. It was so good. It also ripped up the roof of my mouth, just like it always does. 

Slim & Husky

Ordered Slim & Husky Pizza for dinner. It's my new favorite. 

Dangly Earrings

Korra wore her first pair of dangling earrings today. 

Taquitos, Moxie, & Rock Band

A friend came over for dinner (homemade taquitos) and then we watched some of Moxie (if you haven't seen it, watch it now!) and then introduced her to Rock Band. It was a wonderful evening. 

14th birthday

Today is Mrs Reynolds' 14th birthday. We sure do love this ornery old girl. 

Teacher Appreciation

Doughnuts for breakfast. Wings and fries for lunch. A couple of gift cards from students. Happy Teacher Appreciation week to me!

Werewolf

The rain made a long recess after testing impossible so my students and I played Heads Up, Seven Up and Werewolf. Not a bad way to spend an hour. 

Tornado shelter

Korra and I are spending some time in Korra's closet. A tornado touched down in midtown Atlanta. Not sure how close to us (some accounts is less than a mile) but we're taking it seriously. 

Date at Full Commission

Korra is having a sleepover so we're on a date! We walked the 2 miles here and are enjoying cocktails on the patio.