Family Reading Night

We had our Family Reading Night at school tonight. There were 7 stations with things like an author visit, read alouds, crafts, and of course, the book fair. It was a huge success. We had almost 100 families attend and I don't know yet how many books we sold but it was a lot. I'm glad everyone had a great time and also, I'm so glad it's over because I'm exhausted. 

Mush Brain

When I'm tired or been working hard, I sometimes find it hard to find the words I'm looking for. I was having one of those moments this morning while talking to a 1st grader. I told him "Sorry, buddy. I'm having trouble thinking clearly right and focusing right now because there's so much going on. My brain feels kind of mushy.  Have you ever felt like that?" 

He said, with complete seriousness, "you probably have a brain disorder."

Book Fair Day 2

Today was much quieter and all 3 of my volunteers showed up and were helpful   I think tomorrow is going to be slow during the school day (so much so that I'm worried the volunteers will be bored) but it's also going to be really long since it's Family Reading Night (my big literacy event) until 7:30.  The evening will probably be insanely busy but I hope ultimately very successful. 

Book Fair Day 1

Today was super busy but everything went smoothly. I am very tired though. 

Good thing I just discovered that all 6 seasons of Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman are on Amazon Prime. 

Easter Braves Game

Today we met up with Nate's sister and her family at the Braves game. 

Korra climbed up the wall in the kids' park. 

First Swim of the Season

We spent the majority of our day with the Kulinski family. Katie and I had book club together this morning, then Nate and Matt went to the Georgia Craft Beer Festival. Katie came over with the girls in the afternoon and we took them to the pool and after a chilly swim, we walked to Krog for ice cream before Nate and Matt met up with us for dinner. 

AOC BF

I had a dream last night that AOC and I were at a protest together and we were friends. It was a nice dream. 

Book Fair Tired

All that nervous energy ran its course and helped me power through 3+ hours of book fair set-up. Super duper exhausted now. 

Nervous Energy

I'm full of nervous energy for the book fair (set up starts this afternoon) and family reading night next week. I know it'll be ok (great, even) but I'm having trouble settling my body and mind. 

Terrible Night’s Sleep

I couldn't fall asleep. I kept waking up. My hip bursitis is acting up. I have a headache.  Hopefully everything will feel better once I'm up and coffee will fill in for the lack of sleep. 

Prep Week

I'm getting all the final preparations done for the Book Fair and Family Reading Night (my two biggest work events of the year).  Feeling a little nervous since it's my first time doing these at this school, but I'm getting lots of support. It'll be busy, but I think it will also be really good. 

Reading Too Late

I stayed up too late finishing a book (the newest Hunger Games- it was fantastic btw) and now I'm very sleepy. 

Farm Time

 Today we went to a nearby farm where our friends’ horse boards. The kids got to ride the horse; visit pigs, donkeys, and peacocks; and play extensively with baby goats. 

Nashville, for real

our friends live about 45 minutes outside of the city. We spent most of the day IN Nashville. We visited the Parthenon (where we ran into one of Korra’s friends from school!), went to the public library, ate lunch at a Taco Bell Cantina (with milkshakes for dessert), and then I took Korra and our friends’ oldest climbing.

Nashville

We left home this morning for a long weekend visit to Nate's friend John (and his family) in Nashville. They've generously offered to let us stay at their place and Korra is quickly becoming friends with their oldest daughter who is her age. 

Crisis Text Line- Level 2 Counselor

I've done 4 two-hour shifts with the Crisis Text Line and have been promoted to Level 2, meaning I can take more than one conversation at a time.  It can be frustrating at times and I still feel a little under qualified, but the two hours flies by, I feel like I actually help most of the people I chat with, and I'm learning more with every conversation.  

Japan Plan

Yesterday morning, Korra and I sat down to do a rough budget for her high school graduation trip.  Proving once again that she is my daughter, Korra immediately created a spreadsheet.  

She's decided that she would like to go to Japan, so we started researching and planning.  Once we had an idea of what the trip would look like and cost, we divided that cost over how long until her high school graduation so we can start saving.

While this was fun and exciting, it also caused me to spiral a bit...  First is the fact that my little girl will be graduating high school in 5 years.  Then there's the fact that the future of our world (and especially our country) feels so terrifyingly uncertain right now.  I'm not sure we'll be able to leave our country in 5 years, if we'll still have a democracy, if we'll have jobs, if we'll be in another great depression or world war... it feels terrifying to think about the future and ridiculous to make long-term plans.  And yet I made them.  And I don't let my kid know I'm freaking out.  And I just keep focusing on the short term and hoping with everything in me that things will be ok.

Beginning of Spring Break

Another rainy, chilly day, but I managed to get my container garden all planted and install the new bike rake for Korra's new (my old) bike.  We also swapped out winter/summer clothes (just in time for one more unexpected cold snap, naturally) and ran a handful of errands.  I'm also making excellent progress on my Spring Break puzzle and reading list.

Me Time

Yesterday, while Korra was at a 3 hour climbing team practice, I took myself on a thrift store date.  First I stopped at Craftlanta- the second hand craft store.  Then I went to both Goodwill AND Value Village.  It was a lovely way to spend a rainy day.

Brick Store

 Took Nate for a birthday dinner at Brick Store. 

Running Day

 2 of the teachers on my team were out today so they remaining 3 of us took all the classes in each grade level out to the field together for a whole-grade running day. Using a cool app and student specific QR codes, we tracked the distance each kid ran. It was a pretty hot, we were outside all sat in the pollen, AND it’s the day before spring break but it was actually a fun (though exhausting) day. During each day I challenged one kid to a one lap (about 100 meters) race. So 5 times that I sprinted at full speed to try to impress a bunch of children. Though right now I’m feeling it was totally worth it… I have a feeling I’m going to be sore tomorrow. 

Nate’s Birthday

I got up early this morning to get Nate a special breakfast treat. For dinner I made butter chicken and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cookies and then I took Nate (and a friend and my brother) to a concert. I think I helped make it the fun, special day he deserves. 

Pizza Delivery

The pizza delivery driver called to say he was here. Nate went outside to meet him but he was nowhere to be found and wouldn't answer when Nate tried to call him back. 10 minutes later we get a text that our pizza has been delivered- he left it in the pine straw outside our building. 

Platinum Rule

I can't believe I'm 41 years old and just now learning about the Platinum Rule: Treat others the way THEY want to be treated.  Not everyone is the same.  Not everyone wants, likes, needs the same things.  Get to know people.  

We discussed it at today's Morning Meeting. I love that these kids are growing up with this idea.

Korra's Bike

Korra's bike was stolen last night.  Someone cut the cable (and left it) from the first floor of our building- right outside 2 of our neighbor's doors.  While it really sucks, it was a bike someone gave us for free and I still have my old bike that I haven't been able to sell yet.  Now we just need to figure out a good lock system because it seems like this could definitely happen again.