And The Teacher Stayed Home
For the second September in a row I’m not bustling around getting my own classroom ready for students and rehashing summer escapades with co-workers. Instead, I’m getting to enjoy this last bit of sunshine and head out the door with our picnic lunch to meet up with some friends for the day. I need to remember this feeling, a relaxing September, because when I do head back to the classroom (when is that happening, again?) I’ll forget these days.
I stopped by my former classroom a couple weeks ago and discovered that it had all but moved on without me. New furniture arrangement, new projector, new teacher, new, new new. It felt a bit bittersweet, but life moves on and things change, so it wasn’t that difficult to see. Plus, I still feel very connected to the rest of the building and the people, so not having my room be mine anymore didn’t sting too bad.
Over Labor Day weekend we went to a family BBQ hosted by Barry’s grandparents. It was a day full of badminton, watermelon, family, new babies, engagements, and sunshine. I had asked Barry’s uncle if we could raid their apple tree, but by the time we rolled out of Greg and Linda’s driveway it was dark and Maggie was ready to fall asleep. Yesterday morning we woke up to a huge bag of apples on our porch that Barry’s dad had dropped of on his way to work and I couldn’t be more happy. I’ve got my work cut out for me: chopping, slicing, grating, boiling, mashing, mixing…..and whatever else I can find to do with these things before they go bad.
I’m not shaking hands at Meet the Teacher or making sure that all my students get on the right bus, but I know plenty of teachers that are doing those things and much, much more. I also know students that are starting their first day of school, making new friends, learning the ins and outs of a school day with a new teacher. It all takes such work and dedication. There is such freshness and newness in these first weeks that is both exhausting and exhilarating.
As I grate, peel, steam, mash and whatever else I’m doing with these apples, I know that I’ll be thinking of my fellow teacher friends and and students. I only hope that every teacher has a class full of students that makes coming to work a highlight, and that every student has a teacher that is happy to see their face every day. Bustle along, friends, and I hope this school year is as blessed as can be.
I’m off to see about some apples.
life , Uncategorized , work
Backyard Dog Park
Yesterday Sydney ‘adopted’ one of Maggie’s toys and we ended up outside playing fetch with it for quite a bit. Syd was in heaven and full of energy that by the time evening rolled around, she’d about had it with the day. You’d think we took the poor girl to the dog park or something, but instead her day included a boring walk and a game of wrestle/fetch in the backyard.
I love our yard and our garden, but lately it has started to overwhelm me because everything is so overgrown and daunting. I was in spired by my mom last time she was down and did some whacking back….I’ve vowed to fill up the wheelbarrow with yard waste daily in hopes of getting rid some of the extra foliage until I can’t stand it anymore. Today was day two and you can hardly tell where I worked, but I figure slowly but surely we’ll make a difference.
I say WE because Maggie was super helpful today, grunting right along next to me. Her newest phrase is uh-oh, but doesn’t quite have the correct usage down, so there were a ton of ‘uh-ohs’ between tugs on leaves.
Both Maggie and Barry have spent time recently working on the Birch tree that we’ve got in our yard. Barry sawed some extra branches off and Maggie’s newest hobby is to peel the bark off and deliver it to the nearest adult. I’m sure, like Sydney, the tree is happy to have someone pay attention to it rather than be left alone.
Funnily enough, we also got our fancy brush out and have been giving Syd pretty strong brushes because the girl sheds and who wants to live with dog hair up their nose? Not us. Maggie is equally excited to try to brush Syd as she is to peel the bark of the tree. I have no doubt that Syd would rather Maggie spend time helping the tree shed some extra layers than get near her rolls with the brush, so we brush Syd next to the Birch tree so we can kill two birds with one stone and we’re all happy because of it.
Carry on!
doing stuff , Maggie & Sydney: BFFs , Mags & Papa , MMM , work
Poolside No Longer
So, Vegas.
We went, we conquered and now we’re back home in the quiet of our own home. I’m pretty sure Maggie is wondering where all the slot machines went, or at least the noise and lights that entertained her.
Interestingly enough, we didn’t gamble one, red cent. It wasn’t on purpose, but it just happened that way. In fact, I even returned a dollar to my grandpa that he had sent with me to ‘play on 7.’
The day before we flew home we got word that it was snowing in Bellingham, upon hearing that news I think I might have stayed in my bathing suit for an extra chunk of time just to spite that bad weather report. Flying into Seattle we were welcomed by gloomy, gloomy rain and a cold, biting breeze. Ahhhh, home.
While in Vegas we did eventually spend time wandering through the huge hotels on The Strip, watching the water show at The Bellagio and soaking in all the different smells, accents and sights. Maggie was a trooper and content to peek her little head out and watch all the chaos unfold. I kept telling Barry how thankful I was that we didn’t bring the stroller, something I had obsessed over before we left. It would have been obnoxious to plow through the crowds.
One day Maggie and I went to the Shark Reef and looked at all the huge fish, after a bit Mags was more interested in cruising through the crowds and knocking on the glass or poking the other people in the knee caps. We left after a while and she got to run wild around the sparkling floor, shreiking at the passing nerds from Barry’s Nerd Camp.
Most days, when Barry would come home from aforementioned Nerd Camp, we’d strap on our suits and head to the pool. At home we occasionally take Maggie to Family Swim but it feels a bit like a production. The ease of walking out our door and winding up poolside a few short minutes later, with the option to gamble in between, is very attractive. So, we took advantage of the situation, making sure to soak up the sun and splash in the water often.
Now we’re no longer living poolside, but back in the nest of our own home. We’ve been up to our ears in projects, fighting off colds we picked up poolside, apparently, and catching up on household things that need to be tended to. A sense of normal has set in again, except we’re still missing The Tubby Torpedo. She comes home to us tomorrow, don’t worry.
So, Vegas.
With a baby and a husband at Nerd Camp.
I’d do it again….only if the hotel provides that fluffy robe again. I LOVED it.
Leave A Comment