Got Milk?

Me: A., do you want milk today?
A.: Chocolate, please.
Me: H., do you want milk today?
H.: Chocolate, please.
Me: K., do you want milk today?
K.: White, please.
Me: M., do you want milk today.
M.: I'm staying for lunch.
Me: I know.
M.: My mom packed me a juice. I think it's apple. That's my favorite.
Me: So do you want milk, too?
M: No, I don't think I want milk today. Wait, maybe I do...No, I don't.
Me: *sigh*

Tees

We ordered school t-shirts today. I let the boys choose two each since they have completely outgrown the ones they had two years ago. The shirts have a Christian message on the front and the school name on the back. The kids can wear them on Fridays with jeans. (The rest of the week they wear a uniform.)

Here are Josh's choices.

God Is My Hero (like Guitar Hero)

Bass Your Life On Christ (as in bass guitar)

And here are Adam's choices.

Three nail cross

Mount Up (on wings like eagles)

Could my boys be any more different? Not much.

And here is my choice. (I only get one since I, thankfully, have not outgrown my old ones.)

The light (like Twilight) I couldn't resist.

Oh.My.Goodness.

Last night I had an unbelievably fun night. I took Josh to the Jason Mraz concert in Spokane for his birthday, which is coming up in a few weeks. He is a big fan and I thought it would be something he would always remember from his golden birthday (turning 10 on the 10th). The show was at the Lilac Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. We wanted to get there early to get in line since it was general admission, but didn't get there until 5:00 and the gates opened at 5:30. There was a looong line and I was afraid that we wouldn't get good seats. But once we finally got through, we saw the concert area. The stage is set right by the river and seating is on a hill facing it. I let Josh pick where we sat. He chose a spot on the right side of the stage about a third of the way up the hill. It was a great place to sit and we were both so excited. We still had a while before the show, so we went to the vendor booths and bought noodles and teriyaki chicken for dinner. We sat and ate and watched people and talked. And then at 6:30, Bushwalla took the stage. I had never heard of him until earlier this week when I read about him writing songs with Jason Mraz. He was the host for the night and was so entertaining. Funny and talented. He was actually singing near the entrance when we came in and if I would have known who it was, I would have taken a picture of Josh with him. After a little warm up, he introduced the opening act, G Love and Special Sauce. My sister had told me a little about them, but I had never heard their music. It was great and definitely "dance in your chair" inducing. After about 45 minutes, they left the stage and the crew began transforming the stage for the main event. Josh and I sat and watched with great anticipation. He commented on the bongos and the background. He asked me what time it was. We talked about the lighting and sound crew. He leaned over and hugged me and said, "thank you." He finally asked for his sweatshirt but then said, "Maybe I'm not really cold. Maybe I'm just excited." So was I.

Then the lights changed and Bushwalla came back on stage. The band began to come on stage and Bushwalla said, "Now here's my good friend, Jason Mraz!" As expected, the crowd exploded and everyone all over the hill stood up and began to move. Josh was yelling and clapping. I was watching him more than the stage. I couldn't help but smile. He was loving it! His face was beaming and he was dancing. So was I. So were a few thousand other people all around us. It would have been impossible not to. The music was amazing. The atmosphere was electric. The setting was perfect. We loved every single minute. Josh was most looking forward to "I'm Yours," his favorite song. After just a few notes, he recognized it and turned around and looked at me with a huge smile. He sang along to the whole thing.

I'm not sure who loved it more--Josh or me. I loved the music. I loved Jason. I loved how he got the whole crowd involved and even got me to dance. I loved sitting outside under the stars and fall moon and experiencing it all. I loved sharing it with my almost double digit aged son.

I couldn't help but think, after the show...

Concert tickets...$80

Dinner at the show...$16

Souvenir hat...$20

Sharing my son's first concert with him...Priceless

(I didn't take my camera because the park website said they weren't allowed, but they were. The one of Josh was taken with my phone. I was disappointed but the lady sitting next to us got my email address and said she would send me some of her pictures. She even took a few of Josh for me. I'll share some when they come.)

10 Things Thursday

10 things I thought about today...

1. tomorrow's field trip
2. books
3. music
4. money
5. naps
6. Grey's Anatomy
7. a friend I haven't seen for a while
8. a friend I saw yesterday
9. humility
10. plans for the weekend

Wordless Wednesday

This post has nothing to do with a picture with no words. It has to do with 15 minutes of actual wordlessness. On the way to school this morning, I didn't turn on the radio. The boys were reading. Julianna was looking out the window at her world. And it was quiet. Wonderfully, refreshingly quiet. This does not happen often in our car. Someone is always talking or singing or making sound effects of one kind or another. And the radio is usually on since we (especially Josh and I) love music and singing along. I even reached for the power button this morning, but realized just in time that it was quiet and didn't push the button. Instead I took advantage of these few minutes of peace and prayed. I prayed for all the things I pray for everyday--my family and friends, protection, guidance. I had a quiet conversation with my Father and enjoyed the wordlessness...because I know from experience that it won't happen again for a long, long time.

Blessed Sunday

Yesterday I told my husband that I had a free movie ticket that was about to expire and that I was thinking about going to use it. He said that I should. He knows how much I love to go to the movies by myself. He knows that every once in a while I just need to take a break. So he told me to go. He would take care of the kids and feed them dinner. I ran a few errands on the way into town and called on my way to the theater to make sure everyone was okay. I told him that I was feeling a little guilty. He told me I shouldn't. It helped a little. I had a nice time watching The Traveler's Wife. I laughed out loud at the previews. I drank my Diet Coke all by myself. I cried at the movie and didn't worry about who saw. I enjoyed it so much. Then on the way home, I thought about my dear husband and how well he knows me. And how much he loves me. And what a blessing he is to me every single day of my life.

The Return of Show and Tell Friday

Today was our first official show and tell day. Here's what came to school.

• Great grandpa's compass that is "very old" (Upon further inspection, it was, in fact, very old. It had US engraved on the front which made me think that its original owner got in while in the military. D. didn't know any more about it, but I would imagine it has quite a history. Pretty cool show and tell.)
• a stuffed cat named...Cat
• two tiny little dolls with a tiny little horse that "came from my birthday"
• stuffed doggy named Meadow like I's other dog (A real one, I assume.)
• a pink camera. "It's real."
• a green stuffed bear named Bobear that apparently sleeps in a cage with all M's other stuffed animals but was allowed to come out especially for school today
• a(nother)tiny little doll that came from a treasure box and is "very special"
• a dog named Murphy (a real dog, not stuffed) who was very patient with 7 very friendly kindergartners (The 8th kindergartner was friendly too, but from afar since he is allergic to dogs.)

10 Things Thursday

10 random things...

1. Julianna has an ear infection. She had a temperature of 103.5 when I took her to the doctor this afternoon. Yikes.

2. I ate a banana for breakfast, a turkey sandwich and some Sun Chips for lunch, and two of Kathy's yummy coconut chocolate chip cookies for dinner.

3. I have 8 students in my class. 5 girls and 3 boys.

4. All 8 of my students brought their parents to open house at school tonight. That's 100%! I think it's a record.

5. My desk is perfectly clean at the moment. If you go to my classroom right now you can see it. If you go at 8:31 in the morning, it will be covered with kindergarten. Yes, things can be covered with kindergarten. Believe me.

6. I am drinking a Diet Coke as I type this. I like it on ice in a plastic cup.

7. There are 4 families at school whose mom's I knew in high school.

8. My new favorite website is Education World. It has tons of great teacher stuff.

9. The lady working the drive through at McDonald's this morning paid for the boys' sausage biscuits. She's super sweet and always calls me sweetie or honey. (We really don't go there very often anymore. She must remember me from when I was pregnant with Jules and went there every couple of days. Okay, pretty much every day.)

10. I really wish I had a piece of coconut cream pie right now. Must have been the coconut in the cookies.

Kathy, Read This!

A while back I got an email from my sister that asked me if we were in a fight since I hadn't been commenting on her blog for a few days. I replied that we weren't in a fight, I'd stopped by but had been too busy to take the time to comment. So today, after the obviously adorable pictures of Julianna, who I know Kathy loves like her own, and she still didn't comment on the cuteness, I had to wonder if we're in a fight. I don't think we are because she and I were in each other's classrooms numerous times today and she talked to me and there was some kind of a conversation yelled down the hall about how to spell aardvark (what's that about, anyway) and all seemed normal.

So, Kathy, where are you? Are we in a fight? Are you too busy with your Facebook friends to comment on my remarkable and entertaining posts?

Wait. I know a surefire way to get her to comment.

Kathy, I DARE you to comment on this post!

Two for Tuesday

Julianna at the beach in September 2008.

And at the beach in September 2009.

What a difference a year makes.

Blessed Sunday

It's Sunday. Which means that tomorrow is Monday. Which means that I start a new work week. Which means that I will drop my super sweet baby girl off with my super sweet little sister. Which reminds me that Ada is a huge blessing in my life. Not just because she takes care of my daughter so well and loves her almost as much as me. Not just because she changes Julianna's diapers and feeds her snacks and carries her around and hugs her when I'm not around to do it. But Ada is a blessing because she is, and has been since I was almost 6 years old, my sister and my friend. I don't remember much about when my parents brought her home. I don't think I was jealous. I'm smiling in all the pictures of us. When I was 10 and she was 4, I began babysitting her while mom and dad were at work. I remember that she wouldn't take a nap and 10 year old me tried to force her to. I learned quickly that you don't force Ada to do anything she doesn't want to do. I remember those summers when it was just she and I and we rode our bikes to the beach and I laid in the sun and she did tricks in the water. I would score her like it was the Olympics. I always scored high. I remember taking her with me and my friends when we went to the movies or skating. She was always good company and it didn't bother me that she was so much younger. I remember driving her to school when she "missed" the bus and now wish I would have driven her everyday so that she didn't have to worry about the bus. I remember all the times she's made me laugh. More than anyone else in my life. I remember the day her first baby was born and how proud I was of her. And I remember the day her second baby was born and how I prayed every minute. And how proud I was again. I remember the day she married her husband and how happy I was that she was happy. And how much I knew that she deserved that happiness. I remember last week when I went to pick up Jules and there she was standing in the kitchen with Ada as happy as can be. And for the millionth time since I've had a sister, I counted her as a blessing.

10 Things Thursday

10 things that happened at school today...

1. I thought of a new chapel rule that I've not had before. Do not play with your ponytails, shoelaces, or tongues in chapel. Yes, I said tongues.

2. A little boy in my class asked me what the urinal was (by calling me into the boy's restroom and pointing) and was very excited when I told him what he could do in it.

3. I remembered, for the fourth time, that when I tell my students to color the "I's" I have to say "the letter I's" or kindergartners will color the eyes.

4. When I was reading a book sideways at story time, the word "Rubi" looked like "Rabbi." And only after saying "Rabbi" did I realize that it couldn't possibly be. Um, there is no Rabbi in The Abominable Snow Teacher.

5. One of my students asked me if I'd buy her a puppy. When I told her no, she asked why. Then a little later she asked me if I'd buy her a chicken. Still no.

6. My afternoon students actually rested at rest time. It was very restful for me, too.

7. When Caleb was praying this morning in chapel, he said, "Dear God, thank you for this day. It's the best day of my life!!" It made me smile.

8. At afternoon recess I had to tell two of the older boys to stop aggravating the bees. Who in their right mind aggravates bees? Oh, right, they're 7th graders. They aren't in their right mind.

9. A student in my class sneezed and I really, really, REALLY wish he would have had a Kleenex.

10. Kathy and I had the occasion to quote Seinfeld. But I can't talk about it because it's in the vault.

2 down, 178 to go

Well, I made it through the first two days of school. I am teaching kindergarten in the mornings (with a few 4 year olds who overflowed from the preschool class) and staying in the afternoons with 5 or 6 preschool and kindergarten students who stay all day. The class is small, only 8 students. But they have the energy of my normal 12 students. There's still the boy who can't sit still. And the girl who can't stop talking. And the girl who wants to be the teacher. And the one who has to be watched every second. But I've taught long enough to know that was all coming. Here are a few reflections from the last two days.

I missed teaching. I am a teacher at heart and it feels good to be back in the classroom. It's like riding a bike. It comes right back to you.

I miss Julianna. I leave her with my wonderful sister and super sweet niece from 7:45-12:15 and miss her every minute we're apart.

I am blessed to be able to have Jules with me in the afternoons. Since all our curriculum is done in the mornings, she gets to be there for rest time, story time, play time, and art. She seems to like it and the students love her.

My job is an answer to prayers. I was hoping to teach all day to help out the family financially and it worked out just the way I'd hoped.

My students are super cute. They are funny and energetic and ready to learn. I love them already. But I also know that there are 3, maybe 4, who are going to need "special attention." (Which in teacher speak means that they are trouble.)

Their parents seem really great so far. They are nice and helpful and want what's best for their kids.

Being a working mom is hard. Start at 5:45am and stop at 10:30pm. Non-stop. (By the way, being a stay at home mom is hard, too.)

Life is a roller coaster. I never know which way it will twist and turn. But it's all a path to my ultimate destination. I just have to hold on and scream every now and then.

Blessed Sunday

Today as I sit behind my desk to write this short post, I am feeling blessed to have a job. I wish that I didn't have to work yet and could stay home with the kids a while longer, but since for economic reasons I do, I'm glad I have this job. This job teaching 4 and 5 year olds how to read and write and add and learn. This job where I get to read picture books everyday and play with playdoh and paint. This job where I can be close to the boys and only have to leave Julianna for half a day and can bring her with me the second half. This job where I work with people who are my friends. This job, this exhausting, challenging, rewarding job, is a blessing.

10 Things Thursday

10 Things about my mom...

1. She is good. She's just good. Whenever I have been in a class studying the fruits of the spirit and they ask what "goodness" is, I always think of her. Heart, soul, and mind. She is good.

2. She is industrious. She does more before breakfast than most people, including me, does all day.

3. She has a green thumb. She can keep plants alive indoors, which is something I can't do. And she grows an amazing garden every summer. You should see it. It's beautiful. And she shares all the things she grows--corn, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and more.

4. She is funny. She's a normally pretty quiet person, but sometimes she says or does things that are completely unexpected and hilarious. And she just keeps getting funnier.

5. She is domestic. She cans and sews and crochets and refinishes furniture and cooks from scratch. And she does it all well.

6. She loves antiques. I always know if she finds something interesting, because she turns it over to see what's written on the bottom. She reads antique books and watches Antique Roadshow for fun.

7. She is the world's best grandma. She loves her grandkids so very much and they all know it. She has fun with them, teaches them things, lets them be themselves, and makes them feel at home in her home. I'm pretty sure at least one of mine would move in with her if I'd let him.

8. She is a rock. She is the reason that our family is what it is. She has held us together through ups and downs and continues to be our strength.

9. She is my friend. She and I have a unique relationship for a mother and daughter, I think. We have never had a fight or argument. Not in all my 37 years. She had never said an unkind word to me, and I've never even had a reason to say an unkind word to her. I can talk to her and she understands. I can count on her no matter what.

10. Today is her birthday. Happy birthday, mom. You are amazing. I love you.

At school...

...no time to post.

Have a great day!

Blessed Sunday

I am blessed to have 4 of the best friends ever. We laugh together and cry together and have more fun than a bunch of 30 and 40 somethings should. I count each one of them as such a blessing in my life.

Kim. Kim makes me laugh. She knows everything there is to know about what's going on at church. She is amazing because of what she's lived through and the way she's grown through it all. She knows what she wore the first day of kindergarten and probably still has the outfit in a box somewhere. She loves Donny Osmond, which I totally don't get, but love her for it anyway.

Marci. Marci is one of my favorite storytellers. She has a story for everything which I love. She is also our encyclopedia for all things nature. She can tell us what flowers and trees we are taking pictures of and would be our tracker if we ever got lost in the woods. She is also the queen of birthday celebrations and started a great tradition of doing something other than dinner and a movie on our special days. And she has the best tea parties.

Katrina. Katrina is amazingly sweet and strong. She is smart and funny and kind. She knows all about books and movies and history and politics. She starts the conversations that make us all feel a little smarter. She recommends the best books and can tell us all about them including the story, setting, and characters--and who we would each be if we were Jane Austin characters. She sometimes uses big words that I don't understand. She is one of my favorite people.

Kathy. Kathy makes me happy. I love her phone calls and emails because they always hold something unexpected and entertaining. We have been friends for a long time and have shared many, many laughs and several quarts of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. We have gone through school years, pregnancies, babies, and book fairs together. We know that things are always more fun if we do them together. She is fiercely loyal and can always be counted on to be there for me. She is a true friend.

I am truly blessed to not only know these amazing women, but to call them friends...and sisters.

I love you, girls.

10 Things Thursday

10 things I will do today...

1. Take a shower. Always a good start.
2. Change diapers. This one's a given.
3. Feed children. Also guaranteed.
4. Go to a work day at school to clean up the playground and pull weeds. One of the perks of working at a private school. You get to be a part of everything.
5. Chase Julianna all over the playground. She is a mover, I tell ya.
6. Go to the fair. We are taking the kids to motocross which the boys love.
7. Go look at the quilts with Jules while the boys watch more motorcycles.
8. Eat junk food. Isn't that part of the fair experience?
9. Take pictures. I love taking pictures at the fair. There is so much to see and it will especially be fun this year with Julianna being old enough to enjoy it.
10. Laugh. How can I not? Think about who I spend my days with!

Also, today Julianna is 1 year, 2 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days old.

Toro! Toro!

Adam and I were driving home the other day when we passed a tattoo parlor. He read the sign and asked me if that was where they did real tattoos or just rub on ones like he has had before. I told him that they did real tattoos. Now, we have had the conversation before where I told the boys how they do tattoos. They both agreed that they did not ever want a tattoo because of the whole needle thing. So I was surprised when a few minutes later, Adam said, "Mom, maybe I want to be a tattoo artist when I grow up." "Really," I said, "Will you give me my tattoos for free*." "Sure," he answered. "You know," I said, "Most tattoo artists have lots of tattoos of their own." I thought that would put an end to the conversation and send him right back onto the entomologist path. But much to my surprise, he said, "Well, I could get a snake on one arm...and a tarantula on the other arm............and a BULL on my CHEST!" I laughed so hard that I almost had to pull off the road! Oh, that kid cracks me up!

*In case you're wondering, I do not have any tattoos. But if I could get them for free, you never know.

Revelation

I was called in to school today to meet with the administrator. And I got all nervous. Which is really weird because he's a really good friend and I can talk to him about pretty much anything. And I even already knew what he was going to say--that I will have a combined classroom this year. Kindergarten with a few 4 year olds thrown in for good measure. I was ready, so when he told me that that's what needed to be done, I smiled and told him that I would do whatever he needed. Now, what I thought Wednesday night during Bible class when I read his mind without him knowing it, was, "NOOOOO!" But I've decided to be a non-complainer. At least at school. You want me to have a combined class. Okay. You want me to have 14 students when I only have room for 12. Okay. You want me to teach them to play the accordion. Bring it on. I'll do it. I might not like it. But I'll do it. And not complain.

So, this whole business has made me start to think about school starting in...I'll not say how many days for fear of causing any teachers out there to hyperventilate. But it's soon and so I've started to think. About curriculum. And discipline. And my classroom. And scheduling. But mostly about students. My students. The little ones who will walk into my classroom on September 8th with wide eyes and open minds. The ones who will soak up my words like sponges. The ones who will challenge me and teach me more than I teach them. The ones whose parents love them as much as I love my own children.

And that line of thought is where today's revelation came from. The revelation that I need to treat these kids, love these kids, the way their parents would want them to be treated and loved. The way I want others to treat and love my own children. So this year I will spend more time on my students and less time worrying about all the other stuff. I only get a few short months to plant seeds that will not be planted by anyone else. A few short months to make a difference.

Okay, now that I've said all that, I'm going out to play. It's still summer you know.