With the kids in summer school and then staying with my parents for a week and then my mom watching them during the day while I went to new teacher trainings, I didn't take many pictures. Then add in how busy I was and I just realized it has been about a month since I posted pictures, so I figured I better go ahead and do so!
Ty bought a new to him bike.
Picture courtesy of my mom while she was watching the kids during all my trainings.
Picture courtesy of my mom while she was watching the kids during all my trainings.
Picture courtesy of my mom while she was watching the kids during all my trainings.
Evening walk/run/bike ride to the splash pad.
Birthday morning birthday buddy run!
The kids were all dressed and had their hair combed when I got home so they could impress me.
Snuggles with Skippy
Elise helping Ty with the back splash.
Sunset during an evening walk.
Skippy doing a virtual training with me.
Listening to the song my birthday card played.
Making unicorn slime.
Lil Cutie grew a tumor a while ago and passed away at the end of July so Elise picked out a new hamster.
Introducing Sweetie! She picked the one that looked the most like Katie.
The kids wanted to go on my run with me. Elise ran a half mile and then we dropped her back off, Carter went the whole way with me.
Black Wall Street History Center
Matching shorts!
Walking with my Junior Ranger to the library.
Tesla loves her Oma!
Elise saw me prepping birthday bags for my classroom and wanted to help so I let her decorate them.
Birthday cookie from the school!
Amazing ladies I get to teach with in my hallway!
2nd grade team in our building!
Katie and Sweetie meeting for the first time.
My traditional surprise first day of school book from Ty.
Ready to leave for my first day of school. Mom was the only one awake when I left so she took some pictures.
Ready to leave for my first day of school. Mom was the only one awake when I left so she took some pictures.
Home after the first day. It was so awesome to come home to the kids and mom already there!
I tutored Grant when he was in 2nd grade. He's now a sophomore in high school!
Helping to make waffles the night before her first day of school for their traditional first day of school treat breakfast, waffles with nutella.
There wasn't enough paper left from wrapping Elise's book, but Ty figured out how to make it work for Carter's.
It was almost like he was excited I had to go to bed so early. He was all set up on the futon to play on his phone and eat M&M's when I headed for bed.
Zoned out on their tablets after their 2 hour bus ride home from school on the first day.
This year was full of changes for us. I went back to work full time and the bell schedule for my school is really close to the kids' which I thought would be great, but my report times are enough off and my school is far enough from theirs that drop off and pick up wasn't possible. I have to be at work at 8:00am and they can't be dropped off until 8:10. The traffic at my school is so bad for the first days of school that I had to arrive by 7:15 so I wouldn't get stuck in the car line waiting to get to the intermediate school across the street. My contract hours end at 3:20 and the kids get out at 3:35 which potentially would work, but I wasn't finished with my after-school duties on the first days of school until 3:40. Before and after care was free this year and they intended for it to be open to everyone but couldn't find enough people to meet staffing requirements so it was a lottery system and we didn't get in. We were banking on that option when we decided I'd go back to work full time this year. We scrambled trying to figure out what to do when we got the notification that the kids didn't get into before and after care. We eventually decided to use the bus. That puts the kids getting on the bus at 7:33 for an 8:20 arrival at school. We are the first stop in the morning. Then they leave school at 3:40 and should arrive back to the bus stop at 4:29 since we are the last stop in the afternoon. More on that later.
The kids woke up bright and early and were super excited for school. We did our traditional waffles and Nutella. Ty pre-made the waffles the night before while I attempted to sew a patch on Carter's shirt. My mom ended up fixing it for me because it was tech fabric and I totally messed it up! She watched the kids for us while I was at work but the kids weren't in school yet and headed home the night before their first day. Carter was so excited to open his new book present. Elise was thrilled to get the newest Pig the Pug book and Carter got What If You Had T Rex Teeth? I helped the kids get dressed, monitored them brushing their teeth, and did their hair. After I watched them open their presents I needed to leave. Carter got upset that I hadn't taken their first day of school pictures yet and Ty told him he would do it. Carter said, "But mommy always does that." It made me sad but I knew if I didn't leave, I'd get stuck in traffic and be late to school so I headed out. Carter had a harder time with the change, but Elise didn't seem to mind at all. Ty dropped them off at the bus and took pictures for me. He said the kids were really excited and Carter kept listening for the bus and couldn't wait to get on.
I was a little nervous the bus would arrive early in the afternoon because it showed it would leave Zarrow at 3:40 and I knew the buses always left earlier than that from watching them load while I was waiting in car line. Although I didn't factor in the mess that always seems to be the first day of school. I left school at 4:00 and arrived at the bus stop a little before 4:15. I was super excited to see the kids and could hardly wait. I worked on my lesson plans for next week on Google Drive while I waited. 4:30 came and went and I didn't worry too much because I knew the first day of school is always crazy with busing. Then Ty showed up and told me the kids were the only ones who got on the bus at our stop and I started to freak out they didn't get on the bus or something because they were over 30 minutes late. I finally called the school and they said the bus was running 45 minutes late so we had another 15 minutes to wait, but it ended up not arriving until almost 5:30! I was close to tears by the time the bus arrived but seeing the kids' sweet little heads through the window, I was finally able to calm down! Carter said it was terrible and he hated the bus and had a headache from sitting in the hot bus for so long. Elise didn't really say anything. Then later she told me she used the time like night and Carter confirmed that she fell asleep. I had them pack books and boogie boards to entertain themselves on the bus but I think Carter was a little nervous so he didn't get anything out. Hopefully going forward the bus is much smoother and we all have a better experience. Other than that both the kids had a great day and were excited to tell me all about their day at school! Carter was thrilled that all of 3rd grade has recess together this year so he got to see his 2 best friends outside.
Finally off the bus!
Elise's 1st Day of 1st Grade Interview
My School Is: Zarrow!
My Teachers Are: Sra Camacaro, Sra. Bair, and Sra. Estes
My 1st Day of School Is: August 19, 2021
Height: 46.5 inches
Shoe Size: 1
Weight: 51 pounds
I Hope I Get to Learn About: Science!
When I Grow Up I Want to Be: A teacher!
I'm Really Good At: Running!
I Want to Get Better At: Spanish!
This Year I Want to Learn: How to read.
I'm Excited About 1st Grade Because: I'm in a different class!
My Favorite Thing About Myself Is: That I love coloring and I love to spend time with my family.
Carter's 1st Day of 3rd Grade Interview
My School Is: Zarrow
My Teachers Are: Sra. Contreras, Sra Aubert, and Sra. Gonzalez
My 1st Day of School: August 19, 2021
Height: 53 inches
Shoe Size: 3
Weight: 64 pounds
I Hope I Get to Learn About: Science
When I Grow Up I Want to Be: Science Teacher
I'm Really Good At: Science
I Want to Get Better At: Science
This Year I Want to Learn: Social Studies
I'm Excited About 3rd Grade Because: Lunch and Science
My Favorite Thing About Myself Is: I like Crocs and I'm good at soccer.
This month was a busy one! I got the key to my classroom in late June and spent most of my free time in July up in my classroom cleaning, setting up, and getting it ready for the first day of school in August. I still found time to read and got through some really good books this month. I also had a few flops, but that's how it goes.
Books:
Ya Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells- I was really excited when I came across this book at Goodwill because I loved The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood when I read it many, many years ago. As I started reading it, I remembered there was a 2nd book in the series that I read and didn't really like. I really struggled through this one and would almost say I hated it. I would have just scrapped it all together but it wasn't very long and I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't. I even kept nodding off in the car when I was trying to read it on the drive to my 50k. It was that bad.
A Map to the Next World: Poems and Tales by Joy Harjo- I almost hate to admit that I don't really like most poetry, but I absolutely love Harjo's work. I think she may be the only author whose poetry I like more than her books. I love that she weaves tales in with the poetry. This was a signed copy I bought from our independent book store in town which made it extra special!
Fish! A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Stephen C. Lundin- When I had my meeting with our superintendent, she recommended I read this book. I remember all those years ago when I met with the superintendent when I was first hired on in the district, he really pushed this book. At the time I was going through a move and preparing a classroom so I didn't have time to read it, but loved the philosophy and made a little notecard of the main points as a daily reminder I kept on my desk. Since I had more time this go around, I decided to read the book. It was such a great reminder to be present and to stop what I'm doing and give others my full attention. I am the worst about doing chores while the kids talk to me. I made a conscious effort to stop what I was doing and look at them as they spoke. Carter didn't seem to notice, but Elise really did. I noticed she was less demanding of my attention throughout the day when I stopped and gave her my full attention when she spoke to me. It was like she was just looking for my attention and if I didn't fully give it to her, she kept trying. Since I gave her my full attention, she was satisfied with fewer interactions. And I could tell it made her feel special that I took a break just to see or hear what she wanted to show or tell me.
Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev- I've loved all of her modern day re-tellings of Jane Austen novels. The way she used a large family so each character could have their own book was genius and I love getting to see where the past characters are when you read the next book. They go from a main character to a minor character. This was the 3rd book. She's done Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility so far. I'm sure she plans to keep going and am super excited to see which character she chooses to use for Emma.
eBooks:
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil- I absolutely loved this book. Each chapter was a little story about her connection to that animal, plant, or place through a story from her life. Some of the stories were magical and I loved the way she wrote. I loved this so much, I plan to buy it with some of my birthday money so I can re-read it.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins- Most of the series I've read lately, I like to read other books in between them to stretch them out and not get bored by them. The Hunger Games trilogy was so good, I had to read them back to back to back. I had multiple books come in on hold from the library at the same time and needed to read them because there was a long hold list behind me so I bought this as an ebook to read since the library didn't have an ebook version. I'm currently reading the 3rd book and I swear each book gets better than the last!
Audiobooks:
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness- This was book #2 in the All Souls Trilogy. After not really liking the first book I was excited for this one because I thought it would focus on her learning and practicing her skills as a witch. There was very little of that in the book and I, once again, didn't really care for this book. I don't plan to read or listen to the third book. It's set up for a war but I'm guessing that, like this one, the action will just be a small part and the rest will be boring.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga- This was a middle grade chapter book. Since I've listened to and read quite a few middle grade chapter books on Libby, it will recommend them to me sometimes. This one looked interesting and had a picture of a girl wearing a hijab on the cover. I will admit that in the past when I saw a woman wearing a hijab, my immediate thought was that she was marginalized and likely had few choices due to her sex. My mindset has changed as I've learned more about the Muslim faith. I liked that this book touched on that in a small but impactful way that would help children be more accepting of the religious and cultural differences in others.
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain- This book was phenomenal. There were so many different authors and each one wrote about a 5 year span of time, starting with the first African brought to America. So many of the stories were things I had never heard about. When you are hearing about each thing in succession with the others, it makes it so obvious how slavery and generational oppression led to where we are now with African Americans still suffering from the inequalities of the past as well as the racism of the present. There were multiple different narrators which made it even more powerful as an audiobook. I would highly recommend it as an audiobook if you are interested in reading it.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson- I picked this up from a Little Free Library when I was dropping off books I'd read and didn't want to keep. I knew it was about a pack horse librarian and was super excited to read it. I had a bunch of library books on hold that came in at the same time, but I really wanted to read this one so I decided to get it as an audiobook from the library. The book really surprised me and I loved it even more than I expected I would. I was shocked at the end of the book when I found that her blue skin was based on actual people who lived in Kentucky. At first I thought it was a sci/fi element and then when she brought in the medical terms, I thought it was made up. So when I got to the end of the book and it discussed the Fugate family, I was tingling with the excitement that comes from learning something new and unexpected. I loved this as an audiobook because the narrator's accent really added to the story.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston- I liked Red, White, and Royal Blue by McQuiston and one of the boxes on the summer library bingo was to read a book with an LGBTQ+ character so I put this one on hold. I really liked it and thought it was way better than her other book I read. It was fun trying to figure out what Jane's deal was in the beginning of the book.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg- I picked this book up at Goodwill and didn't think I had read it before. I was looking for a short audiobook to listen to while I waited on one I had on hold to come in so I decided to listen to it. Once I got a bit into the story, it all felt pretty familiar. I think I may have listened to it as a read aloud either with my mom or at school at some point. I was really excited to see what other stories came out of the mixed-up files and was bummed when I realized there was only one book.
