Just like that...

Summer is over for another year!  We are back in school and getting used to alarms and schedules and going to bed at a reasonable hour.  The weather has even taken a bit of a dive and there is talk of frost tonight!  I'm just not ready for Autumn yet.  Sigh.

We survived the first week of school intact both physically and mentally.  The first week is hard for everyone.  Kids are not used to the routine and learning and sitting still and listening.  Parents are worried about what class their kids are in.  Teachers are running around trying to figure out what they are doing, who they are supposed to be teaching, playing the waiting game until classes and numbers are finalized... it's a very stressful 4 days.  It looks like Chris will have a 2/3 this year and I will be a 1/2 again.  Monday the changes will be made and I can finally start putting names on stuff.

 My birthday was this past weekend, and I enjoyed a quiet day.  I'd thought of having people over, but we are all tired.  Instead, I went for lunch, had a quick visit with my favourite 2 and 4 year olds (and their parents) and then had a nap.  Then I spent the rest of the evening in my scraproom finishing my Seattle project.

My word for the year is balance.  I picked this word as I was getting ready for the new school year.  I need to remember to balance all the things in my life and not get too caught up with work or the trivial day to day politics that occur in life.  Balance.  I start yoga tomorrow after a couple of months away from class.  I'm looking forward to it.

We made it!

Halloween is over for another year, and next year it will be on a Saturday!  Yay!

I can't really grumble too much though, as I was heavily sedated and in bed for most of the day.  I hope my TOC coped well.

Yesterday wrapped up my Mom's visit from the Island.  She was here for 2 and a half weeks and as usual, it snowed right after she got here.  The temperature stayed fairly mild most of the time.  She was so busy filling our freezer, that I don't think she noticed.

We have been busy at school and really since going back, I've hardly had time to think about much else.  Having our prolonged break (strike) this year, I was very ready to get back to the classroom.  I am loving my new school and staff and am adjusting to my new grade.  You'd think that going down a grade would be no big deal, but when it's the difference between reading and writing and not... it's a big deal.  The last 4 years I have started the year with kids that could read and write a little, this year I have many that are still confused about letters vs words.  Big difference.  I also have 5 that are reading at a grade 2 level.  Interesting times ahead.

On another note, I have a stack of books that I want to read that I just haven't had the time for.  I keep renewing them with hopes that I'll make some time for them.  I know that I have one I am supposed to read for my book club, but I haven't even found that one yet!  My book budget was curtailed after my shopping spree in GP. 

The pool has been under repair since the end of August, so no swimming for me in a while.  I heard rumors that the leaks had been fixed so hopefully by the end of the week I'll be able to go and dip my toes!

I have been sadly ignoring my friends and for that I do apologize.  Between school and Mom's visit, it seemed like there were just not enough hours in the day!  I will try to get back to correspondence and phoning people and maybe even meeting up in person!  Won't that be novel!

Well time to get to work!  Yes it's Sunday, but teachers hardly rest and there is always a lesson plan or something to get ready.  Besides report cards will be due in a couple of weeks....

Welcome back!

After a lengthy rest from blogging last year, I've decided to give it another go. 


The school year ended on a rather rushed and sour note, as we went on strike 2 weeks before school ended.  Not ideal. 

Chris and I have moved schools this year and are teaching new grades as well.  I wanted a change.  The strike carried on throughout the Summer and into September.  We started school on September the 22nd with only a day to get our classrooms ready!  Not a very organized start to my year and I spent a lot of time stressing out about things and consequently have my first cold of the year!  Thank goodness the government didn't take away our sick days during bargaining.

My classroom is almost decorated and I am thankful that no parents have really noticed, or at least haven't mentioned that it looks less than organized. 

I have 23 students, so far, and they are adorable!  I have a straight grade 1 class and after being a grade 2 teacher for 4 years in a row, it is a bit of an adjustment.  I have one EA this year which is a huge change for me after having 3 in my room last year.  My students are coming back after an extended Summer break and it shows.  This past week was about routines and remembering that they can't do what ever they want, when they want.  Overall, they seem like a balanced group and my EA is eager to work. 

After many late nights for the past 7 days, I am taking a day off and nursing myself back to health with lots of vitamin C and tea.  I will worry about planning and all the other necessary stuff tomorrow!

A Catch up post

Well the last month has gone by in a blur.  Work was finally started to slow down, but we have mid term reports due and IEP meetings starting now, so off we go again.
I have already been sick with sinus trouble, but it seems to be calming down.  Hopefully it just goes away without the usual trip to the walk in clinic for antibiotics.  We'll see I guess.

I have discovered how helpful a crock pot can be.  I have started using it during the week to help with dinners on nights we are going to be busy or late.  I have found some yummy recipes (thank you pinterest) and thankfully it cooks enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.  Yay lazy cooking.

The weather here has turned, but still no snow.  Hopefully, we have a long fall for once and mild winter.  Ha.

The house next door to us finally sold and we are waiting to see who moves in next.  The last tenants started off okay, but slowly turned into a train wreck.  They were only renters though and the owners kicked them out to sell the place.  Now whoever moves in we are stuck with.  I'm just hoping that there's only one dog.  In our neighbourhood 2 is the usual number.

Still no scrapbooking.  I just haven't found my mojo yet.  Whenever I sit down in my room, I remember 6 other things that I should be doing instead!  Hopefully this weekend.

How's life in your neck of the woods?

Scrapbooking? What's that?

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but I liked it.

This is the question that I seem to be asking myself lately, as I have had absolutely no energy to even think about my favourite hobby.  My Studio Calico kits keep coming and I open each one with great excitement, but to actually pull one out and use it seems too hard to do right now.  Maybe this weekend.  This week went by in a blur with work taking up the most of my waking hours.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I always forget how hard the first few weeks are.  This year, I have 23 little people, but I have two EA's and a straight grade 2.  It's going to be tough at times, but they are nice kids, and I know that we'll have some fun along the way. 

Meanwhile, my dishes are piling up, I haven't dusted anything (I just try not to move anything),  I the laundry bin is filling up fast.  We've been at work until almost 5 every night and I spent last weekend at work too.  This weekend is going to be my belated birthday celebration, so I'm not going out to work.  I will probably do work at home though.  What am I thinking?  Of course I will be doing work at home!

We have been very lucky with the weather though.  Since we've been back from Hawaii, the sun has been out and the temperatures warm.  Yesterday was hot @30 degrees!  I don't remember ever having such nice weather in the fall since we've moved up here. I hope this means we will have a mild winter. 
There will probably be more random pictures from Hawaii popping up here for the next little while.

Is that the bell?

Yes it most definitely is.  School has started.  2 months went by in a flash it seems.  When we were getting ready on Monday night, it really felt like a regular Sunday night and we'd just had the weekend.  Is this what happens when you get old?
Anyway...

I forgot what jet lag was.  Truly.  We got back from Hawaii on Sunday and went back to work on Tuesday.  I hadn't thought about the jet lag.  It's not bad, just annoying enough to make me a little short on the patience side.  Tomorrow will be better.  I hope.

We had a fabulous 3 weeks (or close enough to) in the US.  First San Francisco for a week and Hawaii for 2.  We saw so much on our trip(s) that it's going to take me the rest of the year to get it scrapbooked.  There are literally a couple thousand pictures for me to go through between all the shots my mom, Chris and I took.  It'll take time to get through them to decide which one will go into an album. 

As I walked into my classroom on Tuesday, I was flooded with all the plans I'd made for the space.  All the cleaning and purging that I wanted to get done, the organizing and the new programs and lessons that I want to try.  Then I sat down and checked my email.  I was too tired to think about any of those things,  when all I really wanted was a nap.  That was at 8:50am.  As soon as the little ones came down the hall, I perked up.  Their excitement carried me through the day.  At 3pm, I was done.  It was a Subway night, we were both too tired to cook.  As the week wears on, and we still don't have class assignments or solid numbers I am trying to find some excitement.  I think it will come on Friday when I finally get MY class for the year, and can begin planning.  At least I hope so.

I'll leave you with a few shots from our trip.

8 years

On the 24th we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.  It was a quiet occasion, spent at home.  Chris surprised me with a lovely breakfast from the local bakery and I cooked a rather involved Thai dinner.  We didn't go anywhere, there was no hoopla and it was perfect.  I think because we appreciate each other everyday and realize that it's a bit of a gift that we found each other in this wide world, that we don't need a big deal made.  When I left for Korea, I didn't think that it would result in a husband that's for sure.  Especially not a husband from Ontario of all places!  We have been together for 8 years, married for 4, but it seems like much longer than that.  In a good way.   In 8 years we have moved 4 times.  We've bought a car, a house and changed jobs.  We have visited New York, Las Vegas, various locations in BC and the Emergency room.  Through it all, we've managed to laugh, even when times were tough.  When I look back at the last 8 years, I think "WOW, we've had some adventures!"  I wonder what will come in the next 8 years?

Picture by Mckinnon Photography