Monday, June 25, 2012

Ending an Era and Looking Forward

I packed up eight years worth of teaching today. I said farewell to two very close friends who have become like family to me. This happened pretty naturally considering that I see them more than my actual family from September to June. We hugged and shed a few tears and promised we would get together this summer. We commented over and over again about how this is the end of an era. It is. There's actually five of us all together, and I believe that we've had one of the best experiences as a teaching team that one can have. And now one is moving grade levels, one is moving rooms, and one is leaving the building.

We've laughed, cried, and been serious when necessary. ;) We've seen each other through joys and rough patches in personal and professional lives. Not seeing these people every day will leave a noticeable gap in my life. As excited (thrilled, overjoyed, ecstatic) as I am about being home with my girls, leaving my classroom today stung. It was a sign of major change; change that I'll get used to, but not before I grieve a bit for what was. I'll be back, of that I'm sure (or our bank account is sure...), but it won't be the same.

Watching my 3rd graders cheer their way out of the classroom door wasn't easy, either. However, unlike previous years, I will be able to teach them again as I (hopefully) sub in their 4th grade classes next year. What a different experience that will be!



All of this being said...SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeee!!! It may be bittersweet, but let's be honest -- there's nothing better than having summers off. I think I'll be just fine. ;)

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In other news, I ran my second half marathon on Saturday: the Seattle Rock and Roll. It was a great course, in my opinion, with a band at every mile and lots of action in between, and I beat my last time! I ran April's Hero's Half in two hours and 21 seconds, and finished this last one in one hour and 59 minutes (they finally posted my offical time). Okay, so it was by less than two minutes, but I'll take it. My next one is in Chelan on July 21st.

**I don't like disclaimers and I try to avoid them as much as possible. However, I feel inclined to give a reminder that these posts turn into memory books, and my run times are something I'll want to look back at. Carry on...

That disclaimer being made, I'm proud of myself for these accomplishments. I've worked hard and I feel great. I've always loved running, but have found an even deeper love for it more recently. It makes me feel strong and surprises me with how much I improve with committment. Commit to something and stick with it for a while to see positive change; it's an incredible feeling.


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Lastly, did I mention that IT'S SUMMER BREAK?? Some of what I'm looking forward to in pictures:

More outside time (you know, like every eight days, Seattle):


More snuggles:



More (easy) baking/cooking:



Soccer:





And just plain more time with these two:

Happy about summer and time with my girls, sad about ending eras, but overall very content.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Graduates and Winding Down {Up}

Five more wake-ups until I'm just a mommy for the next two months. I have to laugh when people mention that the school year is winding down...I assure you that it's doing nothing but winding up until the kids count down to that last bell and go sprinting out the door to freedom (with their teacher at their heels).

I know what people really mean, of course. Yes, we are in the home stretch, and that paper chain is actually getting to a respectable length. The kids are a bit more wound up than usual (although, I have to say that they are amazingly focused on our end-of-the-year project and you might not know it's June to walk in and see them working...I'm not taking this for granted) and I'm doing everything I can to manage my stress about getting everything done by the bell, but I love, love this time of year.

I was going to write a whole post about my year off next year, but I'm over it ;). The down and dirty facts are that I'm taking a year of child care leave next year, I'll be trying to sub twice a week as much as possible so that we can survive, and it was not an easy decision. I feel that I was meant to be a teacher; I don't wake up in the morning and dread going to work, and I'm thankful for that (if I'm being honest, though, I do get burnt out from waking up before dawn five days a week). So, this leave has nothing to do with getting away from my job and everything to do with being with my kids more.

I can't do it -- I can't just write a few sentences. ;) One last thing: I do not think that day care is a negative thing. The bottom line is that kids will be just fine whether they are at home with attentive and loving parents or at a quality day care, going home to said attentive and loving parents. I have heard the debate too many times of which is better, and I tend to think that we all just need to stick together a bit more. ;)

I actually cried when I told Little Tykes that the girls were leaving. Who cries when taking their kids OUT of day care?! They have made so many wonderful relationships there with adults and kids, and I do feel guilty for taking that away. Some combo of our parents will watch the girls while I'm subbing -- spoiled alert!

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Little Tykes has helped raise our girls since they were babies. Kaitlyn was 10 months old when she started there, and I believe that we brought Austen at 8 months. Grandma Linda and Papa love all of those kids like they are their own. We trust them (well, duh) and think the world of them for allowing us to work full time with light hearts knowing that our girls are not only cared for, but loved.



Ms. Tina has been their preschool teacher this year, and her kind, gentle personality has been so perfect for Kaitlyn (let's be honest, Austen could handle just about anything). As a mama, there are few things more calming than a caregiver who "gets" your kid. Kaitlyn is my more reserved little girl, and I find myself wanting to explain to everyone how wonderful she is because she's not going to go right up and let you know (ahem...Austen Jean). I believe that being at "school" has helped Kaitlyn to blossom in ways that she wouldn't have at home with me, and I'm grateful for that. I believe in my heart that both girls are better for this experience.

We went to preschool graduation a few weeks ago. Our girls were actually in the "moving up" ceremony, but still got to rock a cap and gown and receive a diploma. The day was impressive, and all of the little touches for the kids and parents were really special.

Here it is in pictures:
(In my top three favorite pictures to date)
"It's hard to be a cowboy..."
Austen kept finding us in the audience and giving us this smile :)
Been rubbin' her lip when she gets tired since she was a baby...
I could hear her from where I was standing: "That's my daddy, not your daddy." Austen is the quintessential two year old 
Watching big sister walk across the stage
Not a good picture of either of them, but the only one I got. Kaitlyn and her school bestie, Makya. Makya is the sweetest little girl.
My beautiful mom has been staying with my grandma in the hospital for over a month, 24/7. This is one of the rare occasions when I have been able to see her. Another story for another day.
Kaitlyn was so, so tired, and not a fan of being on the stage at this point. Austen? She don't care!
"C'mon Sis, it's okay"
 

What would a preschool graduation be without pony rides?



Little helpers:

It takes a village!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Best Playdough and Some News

I found this playdough recipe on Pinterest almost a year ago, and haven't looked back since. I've tried about five different recipes over the years, and this is my favorite. It lasts forever, is soft but not sticky, and best of all it's not store-bought. We have used plenty of the stuff from the store, and all I have against it is that it doesn't last nearly as long, is expensive and too stiff, and those stubborn little containers give me blisters. That's "all."

I'm by no means a stickler, but there are a few things I definitely prefer home-made. This is one of them and happens to work out well since it's so simple that even I can do it. ;)

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/4 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 Tbls. vegetable oil
food coloring (I use 5-8 drops to color)

Simply mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl and dump into a saucepan.




Turn on medium heat and stir continuously until it balls up:



Dump it onto a surface and let cool. Knead until soft.


Now for the fun part! Set out some fun food colors:



{See what I did there? Got all fancy with the editing -- life's simple pleasures}

Have your kids poke holes in the chunks and squirt desired color into said holes:









Yes, I let a 3 year old and her 2 year old sister use food coloring, and yes, they got overzealous and there was an inevitable mess by the end. The next owners of our house will enjoy (enjoy?) a tie-dyed cutting board.

Close up the hole and have them play with the dough and watch the color come through. They love to "make the color."



And play, of course:



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And some news...

Jeff and I recently decided that I will be staying home with the girls next school year. Ahhh!! You can bet I have some thoughts to share, but I need to tear myself away to get going on a little project for this weekend. Stay tuned...

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Just Livin'

Well, I've done it again. The more overwhelmed I get by increasing pictures, the more I put off a post. Get ready to be bombarded.

I don't remember the last time I was able to say, "We haven't really been busy lately," so I'm not going throw everyone off by starting now. As always, we've been filling days to the brim; sometimes by choice and sometimes not. I'm on the three week countdown until school is out, so I can handle a few more overflowing weeks.

Some unrevised Lisa rambling and a picture dump, since the girls are in bed and Mama's aiming to follow the trend by 9:00 at the latest.

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Kaitlyn continues her "I stay up till the wee hours if I nap, but I can't stay past 5:00p.m. if I don't nap" stage. We are just going with it. Accidental nap days make for challenging bed times. Think in-and-out-of-bed-50-times. She's got every excuse in the book down by now. "I need water." "I'm scared." "I just really, really want you to come back." "I need a kiss and a hug." "I need to go potty."

We have now concluded, with 100% certainty (you know, that whole "you know your own kid" thing), that each of these is a scam. I had a hard time with the last one for a while, since I don't want to deny her going to the potty when she needs to, but after a week of no results when we let her try, we added it to the list of scams. I have a hard time (and I know Jeff does, too, but we Mamas' heart strings tend to be more fragile sometimes) with this whole process because when my baby wants a hug and a kiss, I want to give it her dangit.

Did I mention she has a gate at her door so she can't come in and out eleventy-billion times? Believe me when I say that it's necessary. And she's okay. I know she is. And I know that us doing our bedtime routine and kissing her goodnight and telling her to have sweet dreams and that we love her so, so much and then showing some "tough love" by not giving in to every request is good for her. I did give in for a while, and it made bedtime longer and longer and Kaitlyn sadder and sadder when I had given her expectations that she could get me to come back. No matter how much I know she's okay, though, those fragile mommy heart strings threaten to snap every time we have a tough bedtime. It's painful. But it's getting better the last few nights because she is getting used to the idea that bedtime is bedtime, and it's starting to go more smoothly.

What is our whole bedtime routine, you ask? I'll oblige because this is something I'll want to remember in all its specicifity:

Brush teeth (Kaitlyn is now using "big girl toothpaste" because she finally started spitting it out - this is beyond exciting for her), say good night to Austen, pull-up and jammies, pick a book and "hop in bed," read book, "draw me about your day" (this started as "tell me about your day," then evolved into drawing about it on the magnadoodle), erase the day and "draw me a big, big heart," big hug and a kiss, lots of lovey words, crack the door and cross your fingers for everything to go smoothly from there. I love that this routine is a mixture of our orginal plan and Kaitlyn's modifications. :)

A 5:00 snooze after the car ride from school. She is impossible to wake up at this point. She actually falls asleep on her feet if you try to get her to walk:

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Kaitlyn loves to help me fold. As you can see, she does a stand-up job. She is our little perfectionist:





Ah, the Great Haircut of 2012. We keep our scissors out of reach, we really do (although, I won't pretend that it wasn't until after several things were destroyed -- luckily no body parts -- and we finally came to our slow senses). Jeff was working on a fishing pole project (I knew this fishing hobby was a bad idea ;)), and Kaitlyn got a hold of the forbidden shears and did this:

We call it the side mullet. Business on the side; party on the other side. This was a major, "What's done is done" moment. Kaitlyn's justification? "I wanted my hair short like Austen's."



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Magnadoodles have been the "It Toy" for over a year at our house. Who woulda thunk? Kaitlyn draws on this every single night at bedtime, and it's a treat to go in the next morning to see what artwork put her to sleep. "This is a sheep."
Evening napper and a little sister who bugs her like it's her job. (Some would argue, myself included, that this actually is her job as the little sister.)


Cutting food with forks is in right now.

It's 9:02 and I haven't even brushed my teeth. I coulda been brushed and reading my mindless novel by 8:50 if Blogger would figure out this whole "user-friendly" concept. Formatting pictures this evening was like slow torture. Hitting Publish now without editing.