Happy National Scrapbook Day!

A whole day devoted to scrapbooking, that's my kind of day!  I am currently in my room, trying to decide where to start first.  I am also following an event on Big Picture Classes and looking through posts about today.  So much going on in the online world. 
Yesterday (well really the whole week) was a trying day in the classroom.  After dealing with tantrums, trying to get to the root of the problems with 2 of my superstars, I had a frustrating conversation with one of the parents at the end of the day.  Apparently her superstar is terrible at home too, and she has no answers only concerns.  I made an appointment to meet with her next week so that we can work together to get her child through this year.  I usually use the parents as a jumping off point when I'm looking for ways to help the kids, but when the parent has nothing to offer, it starts getting really difficult.  We'll see what comes out of the meeting.  I already have a few ideas about classroom rearranging and incorporating even more positives into his school day.  Today, though is about scrapbooking.
One of the bright spots of my week though, and what helped me get through yesterday, was the birth of Lily.  She was born on May 5th and I got to meet her yesterday at the hospital.  The parents are so proud, looking a little tired, but so happy.  I'm so happy for them.  Yes, I actually held her for quite some time AND she didn't cry!  Here's the proof:

The happy family

There are some of you out there that are wondering if I want a baby now.  The answer is still no.  I enjoy holding my friends babies, but it does not create a deep longing for me to have one of my own.  Especially when I hear about 40 hour labours and other horrors of the delivery process.  Yes, yes, I hear the argument "it's all worth it in the end, and it's different when it's your own" etc but I just don't buy it.  I want to hear from the women that don't think it's worth it, that don't look upon the pregnancy and delivery as a "joy that only women can have".  I know those women are out there, they just can't speak up because society wouldn't take kindly to that kind of honesty.  ANYWAY....
Welcome to Lily, I can't wait to watch you grow up!  I am often so far away from my friends' babies, but at least I'll have a little time with her.  At least until Mike and Heather move back East. 
Well off to scrap for a long time!  Have a great day.

Spring is finally here.

Spring has finally come to the North.  We only have a little snow left in our backyard, although we seem to have a series of ponds back there now.  The days are getting longer with it not getting dark until about 9:30 or so.  It's nice, although sometimes I lose track of time. 
The kids have been all over the place this week.  Some have been testing their wings with some new attitude borrowed from older siblings.  My special 4-pack have been in fine form this week.  2 have made trips to see the principal, one cannot stop talking and the other is doing everything he can not to work.  It's been SOOO fun this week.  Enough to make me want to drink.  I didn't.  Yet.   Friday is here tomorrow.  Thank goodness.
I have been listening to books while I scrap which is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.  I listened to Ken Robinson's The Element.  I really liked it.  I'm pretty excited to be able to go to DC to see him this month. 
I also just finished listening to A Cup of Friendship last night.  A very good look at expat life in Kabul.  I found it very interesting, and the characters were believable, which I also liked.  I have a few books on the table this weekend, although I will be scrapping on Saturday so I'm not sure if I'll be able to fit them both in.  I am reading The Book Thief for our book club, I am not liking it so far, but we'll see.  I also have The Postmistress lined up.  I have found that making a list at Goodreads as helped me keep track of what I want to read and also it gives me lots of great ideas of what to read next.  I like easy. 
Around the house, we have been picking away at little things.  Mostly cleaning up inside and out.  I picked up two rose bushes last weekend and can't wait to plant them.  I am waiting though because the temperatures are so unpredictable.  I don't want to kill them right away.  We'll see.

Signs of life in my garden, my Bee Balm is coming back.

This is across the street.  The snow finally went away and these were underneath!  They were spinning and everything.

I spoke too soon

I was reading over my last post (was it really 10 days ago?) and laughed.  The very next day, we had a huge dump of snow and it snowed for most of the next weekend.  We are finally back to what we were 10 days ago and I can see my lawn again today.  The sun came out in the evening, after the big snow flurry that past over.  It looked like it should be December.  We passed a woman that said "Merry Christmas" and I laughed and said "Isn't it beautiful?"  She mumbled something thinking that I was being sarcastic, but I wasn't.  Oh well.
Work has been the same really.  The kids crack me up, although I do notice a difference with some of them around the full moon.  I used to think that was an Old Wives tale, but I don't know.  I was pretty impressed with both of our classes and how they managed to raise quite a bit of change for Japan.  The intermediates did a No-Speak-a-thon at our school.  My class decided that there are some in our group that wouldn't be able to make it for any period of time without talking, so instead we opted for collecting spare change.  Between Chris' class and mine, we filled a big pickle jar and a bit more.  When I took it to the teacher in charge of the fund raiser, I did offer to roll the coins, but she said it was okay.  She told me today that she didn't like me very much and that she was still rolling money.  The school managed to raise $2200 to send to efforts in Japan!  I was proud of the Tadpoles for sure.
I had to laugh when I came across this list for Spring pictures.   I'll be lucky if I can get some of these by the end of Summer.  We are supposed to have some temps near 10 by Friday, so maybe we'll get rid of the snow a little faster.

The Time of Water is here

I didn't really think about what all that snow would become when Spring finally came.  Maybe it was because after the 5th month of winter, I just never thought we would see another season.  The temperatures have been above 0 this week and it's causing all my beautiful snow to melt.  I have to say that I'm ready now to see something different.  Don't get me wrong, if it snowed tomorrow I'd still have a big grin on my face, but it's time.  I have watched a little t.v. this week and have noticed in other parts of the country they actually have green things growing and flowers coming out.  Even my mother was bragging about being out in her garden.  I can actually see mine now, but getting to it is still a little bit difficult. 
The first week back went by quickly.  I thought I would feel sad to be going back, after my nice 2 week holiday, but I wasn't.  It was nice to be back in the classroom, planning and getting things done.  I was very impressed with my little Tadpoles, they are picking up double digit addition and subtraction quite nicely.  I was also very happy to find out that the new student that showed up two days before Spring Break is pretty much at grade-level.  I love nice surprises like that. 
My observations are over, and while not very stressful, another thing to think about.  My boss is pretty awesome so it was a pretty painless exercise.  After being in Atlanta and being observed all the time, this was an okay process. 
We went to the Trade Show last night.  It's a pretty big deal here and people start talking about it weeks in advance.  I'd never been before this year.  It's exactly what it sounds like.  Businesses have booths with information and try to get you to buy their wares.  I also realized as we walked around it's a pretty social affair.  I heard one woman comment about how she goes just to see people she hasn't seen all year.  We even bumped into people that we knew (which is still a little new to us) and thought about what it'd be like in 5 years when we knew even more people.  All in all, it was something to do on a Friday night and hey, I got a couple of free pens and a tree!

I was thinking about these for the living room.

10 things for this week

1.  It was nice to see the kids again and hear about their adventures over Spring Break.

2. My observations are finally done.

3. I have found about 10 new books I want to read.

4. Chris is sick.

 5. The sun has been out almost everyday this week and the snow is melting.

6. We went to the trade show. 

7. I have decided that I don't like cooking during the week.

8. I have no April allowance left.

9. There are no leaves on the trees yet.

10. There is a huge pond in the school yard, and while I think it's fun to watch the kids play in it, other staff do not find it so amusing. 

Hope you all had a great week!

It's almost over

Ahhh the last day of holidays.  The sounds of Spring are coming through my open window... that's right OPEN window.  It is sunny, a little warm and I am starting to see some grass poking through all the snow that is still around.  Now there aren't any leaves yet or signs of life in my garden, but at least I can see it now.  It's funny to look around the neighborhood and see Christmas decorations slowly coming out of the snow.  The life in the North.
I am looking forward to tomorrow, seeing the kids and listening to their stories about their break.  I can see that News time will be long tomorrow.  I really hope the weather holds out, it'll make that first day back even nicer to see the kids playing in the sunshine. 
So what have I done with this glorious day?  Nothing.  I managed to get the dishes done, but other than that I have been reading about the plight of education in our "modern" system.  Some of the articles and posts I've read have been depressing, some enlightening and some even a little heartening.  I love that conversation is happening.  I am worried that some teachers are being reprimanded for their thoughts.  Being a teacher is a special career, but we are people first.  We have our opinions and thoughts and I feel when they are expressed in a thoughtful and professional manner, we should have the right to voice them.  Coming into a bargaining year, I am worried.  The powers that be have very complicated agendas, and I am concerned that teachers' voices and concerns will be downplayed into whispers.  We are worried as teachers if we talk about what we want (ie: higher pay, more resources for our classrooms),  that we will come under scrutiny and criticism for wanting these things.  Nobody likes to be criticized Other jobs, other careers get raises, get resources to do their jobs but there is some public opinion that teachers should be in it for the kids.  We should be in it for the good we can do. We already get 2 months off in the Summer and other holidays etc... I love teaching, but I am also a person.  With bills.
Anyway enough of that for now.  I am off to make some kind of mess... maybe paint today.  Hmmm the options are endless.  Have a great Sunday.

10 things for this week

1. The snow is starting to melt.
2. My insomnia seems to be back.
3. I saw "Sucker Punched", it was terrible.
4. I finally figured out what was wrong with my Ipod and fixed it myself.
5. I am almost looking forward to going back to school.
6. I am starting to plan for the next 3 months of school.
7. I am going to cook Thai for dinner tonight.
8. I am making plans for Spring and Summer that include little DIY projects around the house.  Chris is less excited about this than I am.
9. My brother called and said that he and his wife are planning to drive up here at the end of June.  In their SMART car.  It's bright yellow and it makes me smile.
10.  I realized that I follow about 70 blogs.  That's a lot.

Have a happy Friday!


PS Happy birthday to Fab!