Camping Club

Today for camping club I brought a bunch of our camping gear and let the kids check it out- we even set up the tent!  

Fabric Purchases

I've been looking for a new quilt for our bed for about a year and just haven't found anything I like enough, so I decided to try my hand at quilting again.  I've picked a simple pattern and color scheme and then I just ordered $100 in fabric.  Quilting, here I come!

Perks of wearing a mask

I had basil stuck in my teeth since lunch but no one noticed. 

Girl Scouts' Songs

Today I took the folder of my mom's Girl Scouts songs to Korra's troop and we sang some of the songs together. Singing those silly songs made my night. 

Pretty Bread

Yesterday I made the most attractive loaf of bread I've ever baked.

When we ate it with dinner I realized I forgot to add salt to the dough. Baking Fail. 

Ocean Slushies

Korra found a recipe for Ocean Slushies in her Animal Tales magazine and has been begging to make it. Today we did!

Junior

Korra had her Girl Scouts bridging ceremony this evening. Moving up from a Brownie to a Junior!

COVID home tests

Yesterday a coworker told me that you could order free at-home COVID tests from our county. Nate and I both did it and today...

We each got EIGHT tests!  Guess we're prepared!

Negative test

Got my negative COVID test so I'm ready to go back to school tomorrow. Fingers crossed most of the kids are back, too because we only have a few days left before the end of the quarter and I really need to get some of them caught up. 

Soccer Practice

I recruited an 8th grader to give Korra soccer lessons for half an hour twice a week. It allows me to get some work done, it gives Korra a physical outlet for her energy, and it gives the 8th grader some cash towards the phone he's saving up for. Win-win-win. 

PTO Friday

I took PTO yesterday because I knew Korra and I would both be tired from Hamilton. I slept until 7:15 while Korra was snoozing until 9! 

I actually spent a good part of the day working (lesson plans and parent communication that I didn't get done earlier this week) but it was much less stressful than if I also had to teach and go to meetings. That 2 hour nap I took after lunch was pretty great, too. 

Hamilton!

Nate's Grandpa Earl, who ushered at the local theater for years, passed away in December. Tonight we're seeing Hamilton in his honor. 

And...... I'm back at home

Less than a week after coming back into the building and I'm home for another week of quarantine (along with most but not all of my grade). Korra wasn't exposed this time so she'll still go to school unless I have symptoms or test positive. 

I knew the year would probably go like this and I thought knowing meant I was mentally/emotionally prepared but judging by my reaction (I threw a little fit in the hallway and then cried when I got home), I guess I wasn't really.  I'm just not a go-with-the-flow person and that's ok. I'll still be ok, it'll just take me a minute to have my feelings and get back on balance. 

11 hours

Today was long. I worked from 7am until 6pm without a break. I'm so tired. 

More weird days

The kids were weird today.  The other 20+ kids who hadn't returned to school because of not having negative COVID tests finally returned so everyone was squirrely. 

Today was extra busy/weird because we started the after school program which I volunteered to teach once a week and even though Mondays aren't my day, I stayed to help. Then Korra had her piano lesson followed by Girl Scouts (did I mention I agreed to be the co-leader while one of our leaders is on maternity leave?).  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, which is a weird feeling since I haven't been busy like this is a long time (one of the few perks of COVID times). 

Braves Game

Decided to buy tickets to a Braves baseball game. Our first in the 5 years we've lived in Atlanta (and first at the new stadium). 

Being social

Last night Korra went to play with her best friend and Nate and I went out to dinner at Bold Monk and then to meet a few friends for a birthday get together at a brewery. It was really nice to hang out with friends. When we got home, we sat on the balcony and FaceTimed with our friends from Connecticut. It was a lovely evening. 

21/48

Today was our first day back at school after quarantine. In order to come back after 7 days, you needed a negative COVID test. If you don't get tested, you have to stay out for 10 days. Only 21 of our 48 students came back today. It was really strange and tomorrow will probably be the same. Hopefully we'll see everyone back on Monday. 

32/48

In the last week, I've hand drawn 32 cards for my students (with corny jokes) and then written personalized messages for each. I still have 16 to go. I really enjoy doing this but dang does it make my hand cramp. 

Back to school

We got our negative test results this morning so Korra and I are headed back into the building tomorrow. Korra and I both have mixed feelings about it but we're trying to roll with the punches and think focus on the good in whatever situation comes our way. 

So tomorrow we're looking forward to seeing our classmates/students. And I'm looking forward to not sitting all day. It's really hard on my hips!

COVID tests

Korra and I both got COVID tests at the CVS this afternoon. If we don't get results back by tomorrow at 9:30 AM, we have to go to the school and get another test done (we didn't know that was an option when I scheduled today's test).  Assuming they're negative, we can go back to school on Thursday.  

Cabin Weekend

At the cabin with Nate's parents for the long weekend. Hopefully I'll feel refreshed when we head home on Monday. Or at least less angry, hurt, and depressed. 

A Way Out

Things are really hard at school right now.  Not the kids, the adults and the "institution."  I know it's probably just a rough patch, but I spent about 30 minutes this morning searching for and bookmarking new teaching jobs.  I don't know if I'll actually apply, but just knowing I have other options makes me feel so much better. 

Quarantine

Today was our weekly COVID testing and even though Korra and I both have negative tests, we're in quarantine for the next 7 days because we both had a positive test in our classes (siblings)- all of my grade and just Korra's class are. 

At 11ish, I was told to start contacting all my homeroom's students' parents to come pick them up immediately. 

Nate had the day off so he was already planning to surprise Korra and pick her up at lunch. He didn't expect to be one of many parents. I joined them at home by 1. I had some logistics to work out to be ready for online learning tomorrow but overall the switch was much easier than last time. 

Honestly, Korra and I are looking at it as a mini break. We get to sleep in, eat a home cooked lunch, wear pajamas, and pee whenever we want. We don't want to do it forever but for a week... we'll take it. 

She's Nine

Nate's parents are here to celebrate. Korra asked for sushi for her birthday dinner so we tried O-Ku's rooftop!