Finishing up my 6th year doing SOL these thoughts came to me..

This month went by faster than any other SOL month.

I read so many cool formats that I’m looking forward to trying next year.

I once again loved reading about different people’s lives, especially my coworkers who I mostly see everyday (definitely every week) but never know what’s going on in their lives because we just don’t have the time.

I enjoyed all the comments and tried to comment on and read more and more each day.

I’m already ready for next year; although that’s easy to say now since it’s not until next year.. not tomorrow.

I’m glad that my coworker and friend agreed to “monitor” an additional group for our district so I was not only able to participate but receive credit from my district.

Like usual it will probably take me a few days to stop the constant daily search for a great slice of life idea..  but it is a great way to reflect on your day.

I can’t believe how many posts I’ve written over the 6 years..

Til next year..

 

Being from the Midwest there is not much to look at scenery wise. Yesterday I left flat Illinois and flew to see my niece at college in Lynchburg, Virginia.  What a scenery difference!  Mountains everywhere. The ones close look real and as you look further they start looking fake.
I’ve been plenty places where there are mountains so this is definitely not my first time but it really has been awhile. And it was a welcome refreshing change of scenery. Not only hiking in and around them but just driving through them makes me stop and think “Why do i live in Illinois when places like this are out there?”
Im just glad I have a few more days to enjoy them!

 

While I was thinking about my “month in review” post I do every year- which I LOVE, it made me wonder what I wrote about on March 29th the last 5 years (of 6) during the SOL.  SO I decided to take a peek..

3/29/16 “Your welcome”

The professed grammar queen got a slap back into reality when she realized she was using the word “your” in you’re welcome incorrectly forever..  I remembered that post

3/29/18 (must have taken a year off- glad I rejoined!) “Things to Come”

I was feeling sad that in 10 days my daughter was going to turn 7.  Although I was missing all the pre-7 girl things I did find some things to be excited about that were coming as she got older.  And now here I am 4 years later and she is 10 days from turning 11 and I totally was feeling that way again..  How the heck is she turning 11???

3/29/19 “Busted”

I guess one of my 2 NCAA brackets was still alive and kicking as we headed into the final games of the sweet 16.  Don’t really know what exactly happened but I do know that I have never won- or even came close to winning- so I am assuming losses in those last 2 sweet sixteen games.

3/29/20 “Flashback”

Right in the beginning of what became to be the never-ending CoVid debacle of shutdowns and lockdowns and remote learning and I’m getting nauseous just thinking about all that fun-YIKES!- I was looking back on what I was doing at the same time on 3/29/19 compared to 2020.  New York visit versed homebound..  airports and people versed home and whoever lived there with you..

3/29/21 “Just Me”

I guess I got a surprise night to myself as my husband went off to help his brother and my daughter spent another night at her dads.  I didn’t go into details about what I did that night but I can guarantee it involved puzzles and either Dateline or old gameshow marathons.  I’m sure it was perfect!

3/29/22 Today

Today I am getting ready to head to the airport with Reese and my sister.  We are heading to Virginia to see my niece at college for a few days to visit with her and get away..  Looking forward to some girl time…

We all became handwashing experts in the past few years.  Wash for at least 20 seconds.  Sing Happy Birthday if it helps you keep track of time.  At least I think it is Happy Birthday or maybe Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Nonetheless, all I know is that when I tell the kinders to wash for at least 20 seconds, they are either done in 5 and sent back to try it again or they are scrubbing up for surgery.

Usually in public bathrooms you will see the “Remember to wash your hands” or “Stop the spread, wash your hands” or some variation of a sign about handwashing.  Yesterday while my husband I were visiting breweries in Southwest Michigan I headed into the bathroom and when it was time to wash my hands, I like usual noticed a sign by the sink but it this time it was something different.

It was a typed out piece of paper titled “Songs with a 20-sec chorus to sing while you wash your hands”  This definitely got me reading.  It was a list of different choruses to 6 pretty well known songs you can sing as an “adult” alternate to Happy Birthday (or Twinkle Twinkle Little star).  How clever is that!

Maybe you are in a Beyonce mood.  Or maybe it’s a Pink Floyd kind of day..  Your choice! I found myself trying out all of them. Some you need to sing more than once and I am sure you need to rock it out like the main singer.  Which I totally did- in my head of course because I was not alone.  But bet me that I’ll be belting them out in the comfort of my own home!

Right before we were leaving I ran back into the bathroom to snap a pic and attached it below.  I hope you enjoy some alternative choruses to spice up your hand washing experiences!

It’s been awhile.
I haven’t been to a “traditional- reception hall” wedding in quite some time.
Much different then the years in my 20’s/early 30’s when there were SO many weddings!
And not that they all weren’t fun and different in their own way but there was A LOT!

Now I’m at the point where one only comes along every so often. So when they do it is a nice change of pace to get to attend one.  It’s good to see all the love and fun in the room. It’s good to see people pause their life for several hours and just enjoy other people, food, music, dancing and of course some adult beverages.

Last nights wedding definitely did not disappoint.

It was a second marriage for both and an older couple, although I cringe at calling them old as they only have me by about 15 years!
They are newer friends to us who we met through my brother in law, so we were surprised but happy to be invited.
Love was definitely in the air as you could just tell how truly happy they both were that they finally found the “right” one.  They hired an amazing band that plays all over that area and definitely didn’t disappoint. Everyone there just seemed to really be enjoying themselves and it seemed like “life’s troubles/stresses/heartache etc..”  were left at the door by everyone.

It definitely seemed good for the soul for everyone. I think that most times weddings just do that.

Today until Mid June we will have 6 new roommates. 4 human and two canine. That will put us at 7 people and 3 dogs.

My younger sister and her family moved in with us while they are waiting to close and move in to their new house which is scheduled to be around June 15.

We don’t have a big house; it’s a ranch.  But we do have a large unfinished basement and a guest room.

Although it will be different (and maybe difficult) having a full house I am actually looking forward to having them around.

My family is small, just me and my two sisters and their families and my dad. My younger sister is quiet, shy and more private so although I’m her closest sister We don’t spend a lot of time together.  So I’m looking forward to that!

Reese is an only child so having her cousins here will be great for her.   She just started softball last season and her cousins have been playing forever so that works out great.

My husband and brother in law haven’t really had a lot of time together so he is looking forward to getting to know him better. And since my sister is so quiet and shy I know he is looking forward to having someone to hang out with and have a few beers with.

The dogs already had a meet and greet and my “only  dog” dog did ok and she will get used to her new dog cousins living with her and will eventually probably love the dog company.

Hoping the next few months will be some good ones for all of us!

I have a wedding tomorrow. I’ve known about this wedding forever quite some time now- the usual time frame guests get. However Sunday night hits and I finally realized- “I need to figure out what I’m wearing!”

now I have a few usual wedding outfits but this one is a bit different. It’s different for a few reasons.
1. it is a very casual wedding at a bar.  The bride is wearing a casual dress and the groom is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and jeans. It is a second marriage. I
2. We are in the awkward weather stage where it’s Spring but not gonna be Spring weather on Saturday so what shoes do I wear?

I decided that I was going to wear a casual dress but I didn’t have one that I was crazy about that fit the season and occasion. No time to shop so Amazon it is.
I found 3 dresses that looked good online on the models so I ordered them. Not really having high hopes but what do I have to lose.

I was already thinking back up outfits when they arrived. To my surprise I actually liked 2 of them!  Did last minute, best guess on Amazon really come through?  I guess it did this time.

But what about shoes?  Sandals seem too summery for the 40 degree weather predicted for tomorrow and really didn’t go with the dress.  Boots looked cute but seemed too wintery for the spring.

I’m not a fashion expert, both thought that a low casual boot with an open toe could fo the trick. BUT..  I didn’t have much time to shop and they really aren’t in season.

Yesterday I had time after work so I decided to quickly run into the local shoe store. And I was right..  sandals everywhere.  Then I saw the Clearance section for “winter styles”  I never have luck there. I see a style I like and it ends up being wrong size. I go to my style and there’s nothing. But I decide I’d try.

I couldn’t believe it.  The shoe/boot thing I was thinking was sitting there. I walked up expecting a wrong size.  It was my USUAL size!  But still gotta try on. Heel was a bit higher than I usually get but I could work with it!

THEY FIT! and I liked them!

Did my last minute/ I have no idea what I’m going to wear plan actually work out?

I guess this time it did!

Every other year it’s time for our informal and formal observations of our teaching.  Every other year I dread that time.  This year I decided to feel a little differently about it.

I don’t mind having people in my room and am really totally used to it.  Over the years I’ve had the whole gambit of people in my room for various students and for various reasons.  And in Kindergarten an extra set of hands is always a welcome thing.

But there is something about an observation with the principal that was always unsettling.  I really had no reason to feel that way..  I do my job. I think I do a good job at it. I am always open to new ideas or suggestions to do even better. It’s not like our principal doesn’t pop in and visit the classroom when she can; she has seen me teach and interact with the kids plenty of time.  But this was the first time I have gotten formally observed since 2018 (thanks CoVid in 2020 :)) AND with a new principal.

So when I got the email 2 weeks ago to send out some times for her to visit reading or math for my informal and once the date was set for her to see my guided reading block I instantly became all nervous and worked up about it like usual.   It was going to be about a week and a half away.

I talked with my team..  What can I do to WOW her?  What should I do differently?  Should I do this?  Should I do that?  They gave me some ideas and some resources to look into.  I went back and forth with a bunch grand plans to spice things up like usual.  Like usual it was constantly on my mind and I kept going over changes in my head when finally I just stopped.  I wasn’t going to do the “dog and pony” show this time.  When I do that it is never natural and I am never super happy with the outcome of the lesson.  Instead I was going to reflect on my guided reading block and find places where I could definitely make some small changes for the better; make some tweaks if you will.  And of course bribe the kiddos with some fun on Friday if we “wowed” the principal with our awesome behavior and work!

Once I made that decision I felt much more relaxed.  Relaxed until this morning- the day of my observation.  I definitely went over my small groups plans a few more times than usual- definitely wasn’t going to wing it or be unorganized.  Definitely not relaxed when she walked in and pulled up a chair to JOIN my guided reading table; not sit a little ways back and observe but pulled up right there at the table.

But I just took a deep breath and did my thing  and did my best.  She stayed for the entire hour.  All three rotations.  And I really believe that this time was one of my best observations ever.  Was it perfect- no but it never is.  It was me and I was “real”.

I guess we will see when I have my post observation conference.  One down one to go..

This time of year one of my favorite candy treats hit the stores..  Cadbury Creme Eggs..

It seems like people are usually big fans or NOT at all.  I admit that when I first saw them, granted I was really young, I refused to try them because I thought that the stuff in the middle was the stuff from a real egg with just a chocolate shell- Yuck!!  But as I got older I realize that was not the case and finally tried it and the rest is history..

They are not here year round- or at least I have not found them at any other time.. So I am always making sure that I get my fill of them when they are.  I only have one at a time and not every day because they are so rich and sweet so a few a season will do just fine

About two weeks age I was at the grocery store and I see the Easter candy so I headed right over there and searched..  The spot where the Cadbury Creme Eggs were supposed to be, per the sign, was empty.  The Cadbury chocolate creme eggs were there, but that’s not what I wanted.  Failed Mission..

Last weekend I was at a different store with my husband and once again there was the Easter Candy. This time I was in luck..  I got a 4 pack of those delicious eggs..  When I showed my husband my find he warned me. “You better hide those this year, remember what happened last time?”

He was right.  Last year I bought the 12 pack of the smaller Cadbury Creme eggs.  I left them out on the counter.  They were fine the first day or two and I was able to have one or two.  Then I went away for the weekend.  I was a little hesitant to leave them out but they had been safe the last few days so I compromised and pushed them to the back of the counter, almost behind the bread box.  3 days later I come home to find the Cadbury Creme egg box EMPTY and just sitting right there, like a slap in the face..  They couldn’t of even left me one!  They couldn’t have even thrown away the evidence- I might have forgotten that I still had some left after my trip.  So he was right I needed to hide them..  especially from my sweet toothed daughter.

Got home, hid in a good spot without opening it up and went on with my day.  On Sunday night I really wanted a sweet treat so I rummaged through the pantry and settled on something not that exciting.  Later that night in bed I remembered my Cadbury Creme Eggs!  Too late now..  tomorrow..

Totally forgot about them until today, Wednesday!  I was at Target today and saw the easter candy and I remembered those eggs sitting in my hiding spot.   I told myself that I would not forget..  After dinner when I wanted something sweet I was going to have one.

FINALLY-I am enjoying my first Cadbury Creme Egg of the season!  I hope I remember the other 3..

This time of the year, for the last 5 years, brings back lots of happy, life changing memories for me.  It was 6 years ago around this time I reconnected with my now husband.  When I think about how it all came together and how I would have never guessed in a million years that I would be married to him today it makes me think..  what if..

What if..  Our friend did not have a big wedding.  (that is where we saw each other again)

What if.. One of us didn’t come to the wedding; it was all the way in Colorado, so definitely not local

What if..  I hadn’t recently made big life changing plans to end my marriage; I would have not been single

What if..  He hadn’t done the same.

What if ..  One of us didn’t hang out after the wedding at the after party; would we have talked as much

What if..  he didn’t send me a Happy Easter message two weeks later

What if..  I wasn’t brave enough to respond by asking him out for some drinks?

When I think about all these what ifs.. it makes me think of other what ifs in my life..

What if.. I didn’t stay for one more drink at the bar the night I met my first husband

What if.. I didn’t decide to finally try and have a baby; I was on the fence about being a mom for so long- I would have never had my daughter- the best thing I never thought I wanted or needed.

What if.. the first district I started my career in did a better job financially and I didn’t get RIF’d because of it; I would have never ended up at my current district which I LOVE

What if.. after my 2nd year teaching in the new district the principal chose me to stay at her school; I would have never found my current school and my co-0workers- which I LOVE

What if.. the kindergarten teacher 9 years ago didn’t decide to try a new grade before retiring; maybe I would have never been placed there and never would have found out how much I LOVE it as I would have never thought I would.

The list can go on and on..  I love thinking what ifs..  but only for the good things..