Relaxing Thanksgiving

I did my best to make my physical therapist proud by doing absolutely no exercise for all of Thanksgiving break. Reading, naps, puzzles, board games, cross stitching, movies, delicious food, and lots of time with family. We spent today getting ready for the week- grocery shopping, meal prep, and laundry. I still found time for some sewing and crocheting, but I'm on a creativity kick and am rather annoyed that work tomorrow will interrupt my crafting. Thankfully, it's only 15 days of work before Christmas break!

Thanksgiving Break

A full 9 days off of work is finally here!  We've already spent time with several friends (dinner and board games on Friday, lunch with my best friend from high school and a birthday dinner celebration yesterday, and we're attending a baptism this morning)- all before heading to the cabin this afternoon for a week of relaxation and family time. 

Chicken Pox

There is a confirmed case of chicken pox at my school and it makes me so very angry that people can be so selfish about vaccinations.  We have pregnant teachers who are worried about their unborn babies.  Honestly, I guess I should be thankful it's not measles, but it feels like that could come along, too. 

99th percentile

My kid is so smart. She just got her PSAT results and her scores are in the 99th percentile nationally. 

Book Fair is OVER

The book fair is packed up.  The library is mostly back to normal.  The cash (including all the damp, crumpled dollars) has been given to the book keeper.  I'm almost ready to finish the financial forms (we did REALLY well).  It was exhausting and I'm so glad it's over... and I'll probably do it again next year.

Blanket and Chair

There's a teacher at my school who, during her lunch break every day, comes to the library with a book, a huge blanket, and her own CHAIR.

GS Camping

 On Saturday afternoon Korra and I picked up our friends (mother and daughter) to meet her Girl Scout troop at Stone Mountain. We set up the tent and then they all went hiking up the mountain (I stayed behind and read in the hammock thanks to my hip issues). 

The weather was absolutely gorgeous. We had dinner and s'mores. The girls played games and talked. We were in bed by 9:00, which I was very thankful for. It was our friends' first camping trip (and we might have accidentally tricked them into coming) but everyone survived and even if they aren't convinced to go camping often, they had a pretty good time. 

Bookmarks

I finished cross stitching some bookmarks!

The Book Fair is like...

-working a retail job where all the customers are 6 years old. 

-childbirth. It's pretty much the worst thing ever while it's happening but afterwards you're like, "totally worth it."

Craft Club

I took Korra to climbing tonight (Nate went to a concert) and then went over to the brewery next door to the gym just because they have comfy couches I could sit on while waiting and the staff knows us well enough to not care that I didn't order anything. The couches were nearly full and I was bummed until I realized all the women on the couches were all crocheting and knitting! I ended up inadvertently joining a crafting club (because of course I had my cross stitching with me). One of the ladies is a teacher and another grew up just a few miles from where I was born in Wisconsin. They were so nice and it was so fun to talk with them about different projects we've made. They even invited me to join them next time too!

For the second time today, it was exactly what I needed, even when I didn't know I needed it.

Moody

I've been feeling really emotional lately. I'm blaming hormones (or maybe the fall of our democracy?). It feels an awful lot like when I was pregnant. Sad and teary for no particular reason. 

This morning a really kind parent came to check on me, offered me some help (she worked in visual marketing for years and gave me excellent tips on staging the fair for Family Night) and offered to bring me dinner on Thursday when I'm working late. It was exactly what I needed, exactly when I need it and I am extremely grateful. 

Bouldering Competition

Korra had another bouldering competition on Saturday.

Book Fair, Day 1

My volunteers all showed up and were helpful.  The kids were VERY impressed by the Scholastic set-up and selection.  The parents are feeling nostalgic.  

As is my usual book fair habit, I didn't put out any of the toys.  Don't get me wrong, there are still books that include toys (think: a book about sharks that includes a shark tooth necklace), but most of the junk... I just keep it in the boxes. The big change this year is that I'm going to put out ALL of the toys PLUS the young adult titles I requested at our "Family Event" on Thursday.  I'll let the parents buy all the posters of sports cars and calculators that smell/look like chocolate bars they want.

Cooking Korra

Korra made dinner tonight (quesadillas and corn) and cookie bars for dessert. She's also committed to making dinner on Wednesday. I love that her interest in cooking is coinciding with a really busy week for me as Nate and I could use the help. 

No-Show

My book fair set-up volunteer didn't show up yesterday afternoon so I spent 2 hours setting up alone and still didn't finish. So much for taking it easy on my hip. 

Circles Around You

I've been on hold with the oral surgeon for over 20 minutes.  This is at least the fourth time since September that I've called them and been put on hold while trying to talk to their billing department about Korra's tooth extraction.  Every time I'm placed on hold, I have to listen to the same country song on loop, which adds insult to injury.  Circles Around You by Cody Robbins.  3 minutes and 10 seconds that gets worse every time you listen to it.  It's like they're trying to wear down my will to fight for the $600 I overpaid for Korra's procedure.... and it's working.

Book Fair Delivery

The book fair was supposed to be delivered yesterday afternoon.  When the truck showed up, the handle broke off the back so the driver couldn't open it and give us our cases.  The delivery was rescheduled for this morning and thankfully arrived 15 minutes before my first class- giving me time to get the cases inside and pushed up against the wall before the kids came in!

Physical Therapy

I went to my physical therapy appointment today. It was hard to realize just how long I've been in pain. The doctor said that I need to stop biking to school and walk as little as possible in order to allow my hips to heal and "calm down." I'm happy to be on the road to feeling better, but really sad to lose out on the daily exercise that helps me feel good physically and emotionally. she's hopeful that my pain will be reduced within a few weeks, but isn't sure when I'll be able to resume my normal exercise.

Things thrown in the library this week by temper-tantrum-throwing kindergartners

A box of Legos

An Elephant and Piggy book

A box of crayons

A shoe

Parent Volunteers

For the book fair next week, I've asked for some parent volunteers- specifically, one volunteer per 2 hour shift. Not only is there really only enough work for one volunteer at a time but more to the point- if there's more than one parent volunteer, they often end up talking to each other instead of actually helping me. 

Two BFF parents came up to me at dismissal today to ask if they could sign up for the same shift. I started by explaining I don't really need more than one helper at a time but then ended with, "You can only work with a partner if you'll get your work done" in my best teacher-talking-to-students voice. They laughed and now all I can do is hope their joint volunteer shift goes smoothly. 

Cat in the Cabinet

The entire time I was on my only meeting today, Alex repeatedly opened and then slammed closed the kitchen cabinets.  He didn't even want to get in them.  He just wanted to paw them open and then close them again.  

Election Day

As today is an election day and many schools in our area are used as polling locations, Korra and I have a "remote learning day."  Besides going to vote (done!) I've got one meeting and a few things to get done for next week's book fair.  Then I've got some housework (like mopping) and adulting (like making a physical therapy appointment and calling our dental insurance about a claim) to get done with the hopes that I also have enough time to do something creative (sewing or cross stitching).  It's a nice change of pace to be at home and be able to multitask. 

Thrift Store Find

I saw this hat. I have so many questions. 

I didn't buy it. Maybe I should have?

Halloween

We went to our friends' Parents' neighborhood and Korra had a whole group of kids to trick-or-treat with. 

We had pizza before going out and then we wandered around checking out the insane decorations and themed family costumes on the closed off streets. Halloween has become so much bigger than when I was a kid. Korra hasn't had to knock on a door in years- most people are out on their porches or driveways.