Back to school ramblings

In case you hadn't figured it out, school started.  If you follow me over on Facebook, I'm sure you saw the first day pictures (sorry, none of me...just the kids).  No pictures for this edition--I'll fill you in quick and get back to The Pile (of papers to grade, IEPs to check, lesson plans to write, dishes to wash, clothes to fold....)

Since the Girl and I went back to school on August 10 and 7 respectively, The Boy spent almost 3 weeks Home Alone.  Yes, the capitals are intentional...you've all seen the movies, right?  I called him one day at about 3 and said something like "ok, I'm headed home and then we need to leave for x...have you had lunch yet?"  His answer?  (and there was evidence to support it)  "Well, I've only had two cans of soup, a box of crackers, three apples, and two individual servings of mac and cheese....what's for dinner?"

School is going well for all of us--I have two teamed classes (half students with an IEP, half without an IEP, two teachers), two foundations classes (all students have an IEP and struggle with reading and writing), a freshman orientation class, and an advisory class. Oh, and 28 ish kids on my caseload (seems to change daily, as they float in and out...Stand Still!  Eesh!)

The Girl loves her classes--all the usual (Algebra, English 9, Earth Science, World Geography, Spanish 1), plus Athletic Training and Theatre.  A boy from theatre class asked her to go to homecoming with him and she agreed to meet him there.  We're in uncharted territory here, folks.  Volleyball is all consuming--practices, study hall, and tomorrow their first real game (scrimmage last weekend went well).

The Boy seems to be adjusting to 5th grade.  I'm sure we'll hear more at back to school night next week, but there seems to have been a slight philosophical switch, 5th grade is even more like Middle School than it was when The Girl went through.  They switch for all their classes and get to participate in sports (hello, cross country...we have missed you?).  It seems to be a good switch (for us)--last night both kids sat in the dining room for several minutes without punching each other.

We are all looking forward to the long weekend--I see some housecleaning and napping in my future!

I also "owe" you'all a "What I read in August" post...although I'm not sure I finished anything...eek...I'll have to look later!

My day so far in pictures...

School Supplies

Still dark when I leave the house

Supplies for the day

College spirit day

Happy Wednesday!

What I did on my Christmas Vacation

I'm tempted to write "nothing", because that is essentially what I did....I (almost) caught up on the piles of laundry and dishes threatening to take over the house, so I kind of feel like this was enough...but there were a few other items:

1.  Cleaned and re-arranged the Girl's bedroom (photos to follow, maybe, technology dependent).  We hauled out an entire back end worth of donations as well as a box of hand me downs for a friend's daughter and several boxes of "storage" or "move somewhere else".  And 2 big bags of trash...egads...For several years, the dollhouse that my dad made for me for Christmas in 1975 has lived in The Girl's room--my folks brought it here in 2008 after we moved in this house and while The Girl spent a week with her grandparents, The Boy and I remodeled the dollhouse (that would be a fun post, I'll have to find those pictures).  For most of it's time at the Suburban Ranch, the dollhouse has lived under The Girl's loft

The room has undergone a couple changes since this photo was taken, but essentially was the same.
The dollhouse now is following it's natural progression--when  I was about the Girl's age I dragged the dollhouse into my closet, used shoe boxes to store the dolls and furniture and turned the house into shelves for sweaters and t-shirts.  Last week, that was our project--now she has two chairs and a stereo under the loft--she's waiting for her dad to hook up the stereo and then she'll be in business!

2. Sledding--sorry, no pictures...there were a couple before the camera died from the cold, but only a couple.

3.  Baking and cooking.  Grandude was here for about half the break so I had an excuse to make cookies and to cook every night.  We had tortilla soup and chicken and rice casserole--even had lobster bisque for Christmas Eve.

4.  Napped.  A lot.

5.  Brushed the snow off my outdoor blow up decorations.

6.  Read a couple books (more on that in my monthly book post)

7.  Inventoried our DVDs (gee, we have a lot)

8.  Sort of cleaned my closet.  Sort of.

9.  Played some games of Rumicube, Life, Indiana Jones Life....with the kids

10.  Watched about a bajillion movies, including the entire Harry Potter and Fast and Furious series in order.  A few years ago we started watching the Harry movies all in order during break, this year we've added F and F...we're thinking of having an F and F party in the spring, before 7 comes out, so as we watched we also created a list of foods and drinks consumed in each movie so we can have a theme party...ooh, ah...(Although I have to say that the Harry Potter foods are more fun and easier to identify than the Fast foods--I kept saying, "wait, wait...what's he eating?  corn nuts?" rather than just looking at the spread on the table in the great hall...)

I'm sure I've forgotten something important, but it was a good break, even if these are the only things we did!  Now it is back to school!  Have a great week everyone!

How I spent my Spring Break, 2014

So if you've ever wondered how teachers spend their spring break when their kids have a different week of break..here you go--I seem to have done a lot of dishes and laundry.  And didn't grade the things I should have. Oh, well.

Friday afternoon--leave school an hour early (after arriving an hour early for a meeting, teaching two classes, doing two sets of IEP paperwork and grading a stack of essays), stop at grocery store, get home before house guests arrive, do "one last load of laundry" and vacuum one last time.  Grade some papers, look over an IEP.  Greet houseguests, play with baby nephew, cook and serve dinner, run dishwasher, run clothes washer and dryer, giggle too much, send children to bed, go to bed...

Saturday--Supervise The Boy making pancakes.  The Boy grew tired after the first batch (or maybe he was hungry) and wandered off.  Run dishwasher, do laundry, let dogs out and in and out and in.  Feed pets. Vacuum while everyone else showers.  Google  activities to do with two tweens, four adults, and a baby...decide both zoos nearby are ridiculously expensive.  Remember free historical museum, convince family to go...wait for Mr. Ranch to get home from track practice. Play with baby.  Pack cooler.  Lunch at Jimmy Johns.  Afternoon at historical museum then dinner at Hibachi restaurant.  Home....more giggling...watch Despicable Me, bed for all!

Sunday--Church with entire family followed by donuts.  Home to do more laundry and dishes while visitors went to outlet mall and to the Uncle's house for awhile.  Vacuum, again. Dinner from the grill (hamburgers, yum!) and early bed for the Ranch children.  Snacks packed, clothes laid out, bags arranged in "usual" spot.  Watch Sunday night tv shows while doing nothing. (Ahhh).

Monday--Up with the children and the house guests.  House guests leave for an 8 am appointment with the passport people, children and Mr. Ranch leave for school and work.  I sit at the kitchen table with my coffee and ponder what I should do this week (other than grade papers and work on IEP's).  Phone rings, house guests are done at passport office...what can they do free inside in town?  Ummm..how about the mall?
Shower, meet a friend to see Divergent.  Between her movie passes and coupons we see the movie, have a gigantic popcorn, a large water, a ginormous soda, and two candies for less than $6---score!!!!  Movie was good...still mad about the ending of the 3rd book though...but I'll get over it, right?  Find a sunny spot with car near kids' school, read a novel for an hour.  Pick up kids. Take Girl home, put her to bed to fight icky sickness.  Take Boy to guitar lesson.  Come home to find Girl eating cereal and doing homework.  Warm up leftovers, let dogs in and out, feed pets, do laundry, do dishes, put children to bed, watch Monday night tv shows while folding laundry.  Read book, fall asleep.

Tuesday--Up with kids again, shower, take car to shop for service.  Call Enterprise, get rental car.  Stop at library to pick up book that is on hold. Go home, read book, pay bills, (wait for it) do laundry and dishes (seriously...who keeps using dishes and wearing clothes?).  Start a bunch of seeds for the garden.  Lay out a bunch of seed packages that can be planted in the garden as soon as I turn the soil.  Decide I don't feel like turning the soil today, go inside, read a book for a few minutes. Drop rental car, pick up my car, pick up kids, go home, cook dinner, give dogs heart worm meds.  Supervise homework, supervise lunch packing, supervise bedtime, read a book...fall asleep.

Wednesday--Up with kids, shower, take Liberty to vet for bordatella booster.  Find out they now charge for an office visit, even if you were just there and even if all you need is a vaccination booster.  Grrr... Think about looking for a new vet.  Take dog home, load coolers with ice into car.  One is empty for Costco run, one with dinner food in it for dinner/snacks.  Go to Costco...get dog food, dog bones, dog treats, trail mix, and some really yummy pea pod chips.  Stop at grocery store, get sandwich meat for dinner.  Have lunch (chips and drinks) with another friend. Realize I'm "late" for volunteering at kids' school.  Arrive at school, navigate new security features (seem to be less stringent than old security features, but whatever).  Sell some used uniforms...children arrive at shop.  Supervise their homework and snacks--send The Girl to change for volleyball.  Meet a new family from the Chicago area--talk about Chicago, school uniforms, and little girls.  Load children into car.  Listen to book on tape in car....sigh that we are NEVER going to get to the end of this crazy story! Find school where volleyball game is happening...ask random person outside if this is the right place for volleyball (it is? yay!).  Make sandwiches in the parking lot.  Eat.  Supervise The Boy who is playing Avengers in the Peace Garden (I know, I know) while I read "Thrift Store Saints".  Find my coat because it is suddenly very cold.  Round up The Boy, find the other parents in the gym, watch the girls win! Drive home without getting lost (excellent!).  Supervise snacks and lunch packing.  Supervise The Girl starting laundry.  Watch the end of Revolution...wonder what happened in the first 20 minutes that meant I was so lost during the last 40.  Watch some other Wednesday night tv, send children to bed, read in bed until I realize I'm asleep.

Thursday--Woke up when Mr. Ranch's alarm went off.  Told him I'm sleeping in because it is snowing.  Drag myself out of bed long enough to tell kids to have good day.  Go back to bed until 8:23!!!!  Get up, make coffee and breakfast.  Let dogs in and out.  Watch the snow fall.  And fall.  And fall...Deal with some family videos on youtube (uploading, sharing, etc.)  Write a couple blog posts (including starting this one). Answer several phone calls for "Stacey".  Wonder who is using our home phone number and why.  Remind self to put number on do not call list again...apparently the list is not working. Open dishwasher...discover "clean dishes" are not so much.  Start dishwasher.  Start laundry.  Drink coffee.  Chat on messenger with Mr Ranch about a possible piano and what we would do with this piano if my parents give us theirs someday.  Decide we will take this piano for now and give it away or sell it or give it back to its current owner if my folks give us their piano.  Call music school, get recommendations for piano mover and tuner.  Take video of Liberty playing in the snow.  Decide maybe it was a good thing I didn't plant those seeds after all.  Worry about fruit trees. Do laundry. Read a book for a few minutes. Pick up kids, take The Girl to the orthodontist for a retainer check then home to do homework.  Take The Boy to Cub Scouts.  Home.  Pack lunches, do homework, clean kitty litter, empty trash cans.  Read...sleep...

Friday--Sit at kitchen table with cup of coffee after sleeping in until 6:45 am.  At 7:30, receive phone call from The Girl that she forgot her homework for a class that only had 3 grades last quarter.  Take a quick shower, take Girl her binder.  Take an old TV to the recycling bin at Mr. Ranch's office, pick up his paycheck, to to the bank. Shop for bday gifts for parties in next few weeks, pick up kids, meet friends for a movie (Winter Soldier, which by the way was very good!).  Eat more popcorn and soda..yum!

Saturday--Do laundry again, take kids to library, Subway, then Girl's volleyball game (they won again!).   Go home, everyone change clothes, take kids to a pool (indoor) birthday party, have dinner with Mr. Ranch and a friend, pick up kids, fall into bed...And that is all for my spring break this year...How long until summer?

One of those days...

You know the day...where the sheer ree-dic-cou-lous-ness of crazy land makes you feel like you're either going to burst into tears in front of a bunch of 9th graders or cackle hysterically until the assistant principal and nurse come to take you away in a white coat?  When you think inside your head (and sometimes even say out loud)  "Did that kid really just do that?"  or the alternate, "Did that adult really just do that?"  That was my day to day...nothing bad, just a long, crazy day in the land of high school...followed by a (thankfully) slightly less crazy afternoon with those children who live with me.

There were highlights though...a sophomore on my caseload who had a HORRIBLE year last year and is a rock star this year (raising her GPA by a whole point already); the kid who had my class last year who shoved through the crowded hall just to say "hi" (kind of a "Stewie" from "Family Guy" moment), the Toy Story Halloween special on tv that is making me laugh and my kinds cringe...and finally, the message that Mr. Ranch's aunt, who had surgery to treat ovarian cancer last Friday, is home from the hospital, watching the Tigers game, AND reporting that buttery popcorn "would be good"....I think that is THE highlight of the day...I know that her miracle isn't here yet, that there is probably a long, hard road ahead for her...but tonight I'm thankful that Aunt M is home, in her own house, and resting up to fight more tomorrow.  

God is good...all the time!

A Day in My Life 3 pm until bedtime-ish

continued from 9/1...

continued from 9/1 (which was continued from 8/30)...

3:00...off I go to reverse my trip from this morning, sort of...I head for the kid's school and pick up The Boy from after school care where he is busily working with Legos.  He denies having any homework.  Hmm.   The Girl is at cross country practice, so we cool (or heat as the case may be) our heels in the parking lot for a little while--I work on my computer and he does interpretive dance/marital arts moves in the parking lot.  A friend of ours picking up his kids stops and we chat for a few minutes...and observe The Boy. Hours of entertainment this one provides... The Girl jogs back and appears at the car--we hop in an off we go...

4:15  We take the "long way" (non highway) to avoid the icky construction.  The benefit is that it gives us time to continue listening to The Witch of Blackbird Pond.  After listening to Harry Potter (the entire series) about 32 times we are trying to move on.  I loved this book as a kid and both kids kept turning it down in book version...the reading is pretty good, so we're enjoying in on CD.

5:00  Home...The kids scatter to change clothes, I cook them grilled cheese, check some homework, pack snacks for tomorrow.... and off I go--leaving The Girl complaining that she doesn't want to "babysit" and The Boy thrilled that he has freedom.

6:00 Back to School Night for The Boy.  I text Mr. Ranch, and as he is in the "back to school pep talk,", I decide to wait in the hall and catch up with some mommy friends.  Besides, the only entrance is right in front of the speaker.  Mr. Ranch joins me in the hall and we wander to The Boy's classroom.  After squeezing into 3rd grade size chairs,  we re-meet his teacher, hear all about 3rd grade, chat with some friends, find out which math group he is in...and read his very entertaining letter about "the things we will learn tonight", like he likes dogs and reading.  Um, ok...already knew that .  Nice letter anyway, Kid.

8:15 Home...again...decide to finish this series of blogs, check email and then it is off to bed to read a trashy book before I get up and do it all over again...but different, right?Tomorrow will include some work in the Used Uniform Sale room (at the Kids' school) and Back to School night for me as a teacher, so I better get rest now, that is a looonnggg day!

A Day in My Life 7am-3 pm

Continued from 8/30....

7am  I arrive at my Professional Learning Community.  Even though I am officially a special education teacher, I attend PLC with the social studies department, mostly because that is one of my other licenses and I'm the only person from our department who teams social studies.  Today our task is to create a PLC goal to go with our building goal.  We discuss literacy, ACT scores, what seems feasible, yet challenging, and create a goal.  One of my co-workers seems a little cranky…I find out later in the day he is having “the worst day ever”—probably broke his toe before school (perhaps trying to wander his house with the lights off so he didn’t wake his family up?)  …I said, “why didn’t you just tell us what was wrong?!”  I think sometimes we all try too hard to prove nothing is wrong, when if we just “said something” (not whining or complaining, just “saying something” we could all make each other’s lives easier….

7:50  Rush down the hall to my freshman orientation class and today's lesson--"How to use your planner" and "How do you spend your time".  Great class of kids, so far I'm really enjoying this class.  They had great things to say about how they manage their time already and were pleasant and cooperative...always nice early in the morning!

8:40ish  Stop by the main office, pick up some materials for Friday's freshman lesson, re-check mail box (more recycling).  Chat with my office mate in my office, try to make lunch plans...do some paperwork, return some phone calls, talk with a couple kids....

10:30  Advisory class--we only meet with our "Advisory kids" once a week.  There were many points last year when I thought that this was my worst and most painful class...I didn't know the kids, they didn't know me, we only saw each other once a week...this year they came in and sat in their "old" assigned seats, gave me hugs, told me about their summers.  Today they set goals for the semester and the year--when I read them later in the day I was happy with how excited they are for the new school year.

11:30 My new office mate and I decide that we don't have time to go out for lunch and decide to brave the cafeteria.  Good times.  Now, I have to say that our cafeteria does have decent food..but I was spoiled as a high schooler and young teacher, as the high school I attended and then taught at for a year had a full on, restaurant style salad bar that I've never found equaled at any other school.  We ended up choosing cheese pizza (office buddy) and Philly Cheese Steak with tater tots (me...mmm, tater tots).  We also had a nice visit with some of our students that we found in the cafeteria, but decided that the cafeteria was way too overstimulating for us and retreated to our office to eat in relative peace.

12:30  Back at my desk and I keep hearing a baby cry.  Hmm.  This is an interesting development.  Upon investigation I discover one of my co-workers having a meeting with a mom who had to bring her two young kids with her.  A few minutes later I have the youngest in his stroller and I'm walking the halls--he was a very happy child, as long as we kept moving...We wave to lots of people and talk to a few.  I miss waving to my friend, JB, who recently moved to Canada and blogs about her adventures!  We had a whole waving protocol when we saw each other in the hall...After several laps, we headed to my office again, where my new little friend was temporarily pacified by me rocking the stroller with my foot while doing some paperwork at my desk.  Reminded me of when The Girl was little and went to work with me for a few weeks. Our school social worker emerges from the meeting and says, "It takes a village doesn't it?"  Yep...it does...

1:30  Last class of the day!  My high school works on a block system, meaning we have 8 classes, but only 4 meet each day.  Today's 4th hour is English 10.  My co-teacher is on an overnight field trip (to the Telluride film festival...am I jealous?  Yes. ) and the sub is one of my favorite subs ever--in fact he and I have teamed for weeks when he covered maternity and other leaves for my team teachers.  Our class is reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.  We talk about self-fulfilling prophecies and how to choose goals that allow us to have positive self-fulfilling prophecies...good talk.

2:45  Hustle back to my office, finish up a couple things and head out the door for the rest of my day...the part I only half-jokingly refer to as "my other job".

to be continued....

A Day in my Life 4:30 am to 7 am…

When the kids were little the daycare used to give us sheets that said something like “what I did today”.  They were generally useless until the kids started talking and then generally hilarious, as they included things like “quotes of the day", which almost always included "Boyisms" that I wish I'd saved better..

Today the assigned lesson for my freshman orientation class was for them to identify how they spend their days—“How many hours a day do you spend watching tv?   Going to and from school?”, etc.  So while they were busy writing down their day I started thinking about my day…and then tonight decided to make it into a blog entry---bha-ha-ha-ha

4:23 am  I am suddenly awake for no good reason.  If it was Thursday, I’d blame the milkman (he quite often bumbles around on Thursday at about 4:30 am and makes just enough noise that I wake up).  I can’t identify anything wrong, no smoke alarm, no funny noises, no pets or children in the bed…so I roll over and try to go back to sleep.  My new strategy for “going back to sleep” is to think about my toughest class and start praying for each kid, for specific things if I know specific things or for patience for me at least…

4:28 am  The Boy arrives at my bedside and asks to climb in..

5:00 am My alarm goes off.  I actually turn it off on the first try, climb out of bed and shut my window.  If I don’t shut my window when I get up, it gets really hot in the bedroom during the day…Carefully, without turning on a light, so I don’t wake Mr. Ranch and The Boy and the two dogs and two cats in our room…I head for the bathroom.  Today I only stepped on one dog once.  Major progress…

5:01 am Have a conversation with Puff Tiggy about his water bowl, fill said water bowl, shower, get dressed, put on makeup…continue conversation about water bowl with the Tigster..avoiding his sharp little  claws as he tried to catch my feet, apparently in a misguided attempt to speed up my water bowl filling.

5:30 am  Stepped on Indy (again...ok, so I stepped on her twice...you'd think she'd just stay out of my way...).  Convince Tigger to come out of bedroom, convince Liberty to stay in.  Shut more windows, take sheets off The Boy’s bed.  Go downstairs…again, in the dark.  Open back door, turn on fan (geez, why is it so hot, still?  I mean, I’m not ready for snow, but geez….).  Feed Tigger (who is still talking), put sheets in washer, write note to kids (put sheets in dryer, finish packing lunches—Ramen noodles today…really?) .  Pour coffee into overly complicated mug.  I might have to give that mug its own post…it is leak proof…and challenging to open and close.  Heated up some quinoa and fruit for breakfast, checked email (school and home) and facebook…turned off fan, shut back door, pick up mail that needs to go to box, searched for (and found) shoes…headed outside.

6:00  Oops…running late…I usually try to leave the house by about 5:45, which translates to 5:50 or 5:55…moving even slower than usual today.  Mailed a couple things and started the drive.  It is 26 miles from my garage to the school parking lot.  Both of the highways I use to get to school have been under construction, so it takes a few minutes longer in the morning…but nothing compared to the afternoons…ey, yi,yi…We've resorted to taking the "back way" home the last week or so because the traffic on the highway just sits. The drive in takes me about 35 minutes, barring any long stop lights (there aren’t many, it is mostly highway) or construction/accident delays.  I like to listen to KLOVE on the way in—a couple more minutes to think about the upcoming day in a different light…My biggest annoyance is usually “the construction guys”—pickup trucks full of guys who look like they are in a big hurry to get to work and drive like loons…

6:30  A few minutes late to get my favorite front row parking spot, but not bad.  Gather up my 70 zillion bags, coffee mug, water bottle…no jacket today, way too hot…find my school keys, put my car keys in my purse.  (This is an important step, so I don’t lose my mind looking for them later).  Head into building, check mailbox in main office—pick up misc papers and debris…recycle most of it.  Walk to my office—it is open already because this year we have more earlier risers!  Turn on photo copier, computers, put away purse, misc bags…sit down at my desk.  After checking my email it is time to head out to PLC—Professional Learning Communities, which is both my favorite and least favorite part of the week...

To Be Continued…