Tales from the trenches

(P and I at Mornings with Mom - my face always looks tired. Is there a make-up trick for that?)

Oh, how the mighty fall.  I'm always quite proud of the fact that I'm rarely sick.  Miss P (who has inherited my healthy genes) was sick once this winter, which was unusual, and E has been sick off and on for months.  Most of my class has been or is sick.  It hit me (unofficially) this weekend.  (I say unofficially as there is no temperature, the sign of bona fide illness, nor is there a constant hacking cough) just good 'ol fatigue and a sore throat.

I've spent a little time daydreaming...what if...
I was at a chill spa for the weekend (make it 3 days).  I'd take peaceful nature walks, soak in a spa tub, and do some restorative yoga.  My meals would all be made for me, and I'd pencil in a nap after thumbing through some crisp, glossy magazines.

or..

I was at a beach getaway.  I'd sit by the water and feel the sun on my face. I'd read my book.  After my pedicure, I'd climb atop my fluffy white bed, order room service and watch a movie.  Ahhhh...

instead...

Yesterday I found myself across town with Miss P helping her to hawk the last few boxes of girl scout cookies at 8:00 a.m.  A few hours later I was in the dirt outside searching on my hands and knees with P helping her to find snails and worms for her science fair project.  After the creatures were located (no easy feat), I helped set up conditions for them to 'race.'  I numbed my pain by watching you-tube videos of Harlem Shake for a bit, and then helped prep lined paper and headings for her board.

This morning started off with mommy guilt. Paige greeted us* (*me and a sleeping Ed) with a cheerful "Happy St. Patrick's Day!" Repeated over and over.  She wanted to head downstairs 'as a family,' for the celebration she was sure was waiting.  Gulp.  No shamrock pancakes, gold coins, or note this year.  Sorry, the leprechauns were a bit off their game. Have we done something every year? Is this a big deal? She's 8 - can I be honest?  Fortunately, Ed had left out a few quarters by P's makeshift leprechaun house.  Something. Go team!  Next on my agenda, was signing up P for swim team with all of its accompanying parent jobs. Swim team is serious business, people.  Got a phone call from a friend wanting to make sure I didn't forget to log on and and attach my name to the coveted jobs.  (One of my gigs will be serving donuts on a Monday night from 4:30 - 8:30, that's a coveted job, btw).  After Sunday School chauffeuring it was time for science fair write-up. Fortunately, P did this well on her own, so I had time to share work woes with Ed (bad) and search pinterest for some ideas for an upcoming class project (good).

The day ended nicely with an early dinner at Islands restaurant. May not have been the tropical getaway I was dreaming about.  But as I numbed my pain with rich food, I thought, 'not too bad!'

Twighlight

Ever since the time changed, Miss P and I have switched our thrice weekly runs to the evening.  For the first time, I am loving Daylight Savings!  Sure, I'm stiff and creaky at dark a.m.  But in the evening, when it is light until 7:00ish (doesn't hurt that it's been about 70 all week), it's party time!

You know who else appreciates the time change? Mr. Cooper, whose pudgy tush is getting more outside time. Go, Cooper, go!

 

playing with clothes

Source: thebudgetbabe.com via Jen on Pinterest

I love this look: boyfriend cardigan, tank top, fitted pants and boots

Source: clothapp.com via Jen on Pinterest

Watch out jeans, striped tee and ballet flats - there's a new sherrif in town!  Paige and I shopped for clothes this weekend and I got not one, not two, but 3 cardis (2 boyfriend, one with cropped sleeves).  Here's my first attempt today sporting my new look...




Still working on caputuring the 'essence,' of my look. :) Practice makes perfect! 

What I wore (wear?) wore?

Novice in the ha-ouse.  Looking at all the OOTD and other What I wore linkups, makes the arranging/posing/photographing look so easy.  Too borrow a circa 2000 phrase - not. 

Picture me, first doing my laundry so that my favorites are available, then trying to squeeze in time early in the a.m., and after dinner to change into these (and other outfits). See Paige standing on furniture so she can snap the photos at the right angles, while husband shakes head.

With that, I bring you my denim diva uniform.

jeans, neutral-y top, scarf, boots/flats  or

jeans, solid color top, statement necklace. 


Two more variations of the same formula.

Despite the effort. This was fun. I'll be trying it again. Fashion on, everyone. : )

Day in the life - March 1

Hi there! I love "Day in the Life" posts. I'm a big reader of memoirs and a fan of reality TV.  Real life is fascinating to me.  So when Kelly's Korner decided to do a DITL link-up, I was game to take part. (I wasn't prepared in advance so I kind of fudged it with pictures.) Here was our Friday!!



6:40 a.m. - Groan at the late hour and hurry out of bed.  I worked late last night and I've been fighting something. Throw on workout clothes and zip downstairs to free Cooper from his kennel. Meanwhile Ed wakes Paige up to meet me downstairs for the last of our thrice weekly  workouts.

6:45 - 7:15 - Walk Cooper and run with Miss P. P tries to fib on distance. : )

7:15 - 7:55 -  Quickly get ready. Paige and I put Cooper in his 'room,' grab our stuff and head to the car en route to school.  Work for me teaching kindergarten; third grade for P.

7:55 - 8:10 - Light traffic - yay!

8:10 - 11:40 - Greet my 30 students (actually only 26 today as we've had rotating illness in room 2.)  One parent tells me (after the bell has rung) that her child shouldn't eat lunch today as it will conflict with his afternoon dentist appointment (she asks that he eat earlier in the classroom)?  I'm lucky to have a parent helper today and she gets to work stapling various projects. Her adorable younger child joins my class. 27 kids now. :)  Fire drill at 8:40. Oops forgot about that - oh well, at least it was a 'genuine' experience.  Pull reading groups and feel less organized than I'd like. Too much to do lately!

After reading, walk kids to dance class and help teacher manage kids as she teaches them the "Hukilau." I believe this is the dance that 'Baby's' big sister was practicing for in 'Dirty Dancing.'  Anyway. From there walk the kids to recess and distribute snack.  Immediately one of my students "D" collides with a student from another class.  She is not seriously hurt but hysterical.  I help her to connect with other student and talk about it, and then assign kids to sit with her at recess while I run to the bathroom.

Have buddy time with third graders and then math after recess, D is still crying (loudly) an hour after playground collision, and my usual strategies aren't working, so I call her mom to problem solve. Mom clearly feels bad but is unable to help.  I end up holding D's hand or having her sit on my lap while trying to teach math, which has gotten a bit muddled.  Take kiddos to lunch.

11:40 - 12:25 - Lunchtime. Heat up chicken tortilla soup from last night's dinner. Receive report that D won't eat lunch and has been taken to the nurse. No temp or other signs of illness.  Call mom with update. Another student, 'T' has partially wet his pants because he doesn't like using the school bathrooms (despite our 'project clean' campaign) : )  We check his backpack for clean clothes. When none can be found, I call his mom and leave her a message. T says he doesn't mind his partially wet pants and cheerfully tells a classmate his predicament

12:25 - 1:55 - Finish math and then coordinate play center time. It's a minimum day so teachers can work on report cards. Pull a few kids for math testing. T's mom shows up with new clothes. Afternoon is uneventful! Line kids up for dismissal. Fill in day care guy about D's day.  Take student C to office as babysitter hasn't shown up. Babysitter sends friend to pick up C, so principal asks me to help track down actual babysitter before releasing C, which I do.  In the midst of all this, P is dismissed and goes home with her bestie for a playdate.

1:55 - 2:15  - Take brief break to run to Safeway and buy some chocolate and a magazine.

2:15 - 4:15 - Force myself to focus on work (nibbling on chocolate) as I'm tired after a loong week.. Plan and prep for next week.  Take brief break to talk to colleagues about student progress and testing.  Finally pack up stuff. Will need to work on report cards this weekend!!

4:15 - 5:00 - Pick up Paige and head home.  Discuss science fair project. Walk Cooper.  Plop down on couch. Did I say it's been a long week?


5:00 - 6:30 - read and nap on couch while Paige watches Disney Channel movie.  Every few minutes Cooper comes over and nudges me (he's probably hungry.) I finally awaken enough to remind P to feed him. We've promised her McDonald's tonight because she wants a hex bug (sp). I usually cook a good dinner.

6:30 -8:30 - Ed brings home McD's. It's a little cold, bummer. We eat on the couch and channel surf.  There is a lot of mutual teasing, of the 'while you're up,' variety.

8:30 - We kick P's behind off the couch and send her lovingly to bed.  Ed and I chat and hang out. We stay up late (due to my nap earlier) and eventually walk Cooper and put him to bed.

There you have it! The good, the bad, and the ugly. What's your average Friday like?

running buddy

I have a new fitness partner. She can run a mile in under 10 minutes, looks adorable in workout gear and entertains with plenty of chatter. yep - it's Miss P!  We have committed to running 3 times a week for lent, and I've snuck in a few solo runs.  We've also done some yoga and strength work.  Go us! Paige has been the beneficiary of my advice - 'starting the workout is the hardest part.'

Here are a few of my favorite running inspirations, a la pinterest:

   

Belated Valentine's

Happy President's Day! The fam is on a week break now so I'm hoping to catch up a bit on the blog. 

We had a nice, uneventful Valentine's Day.  My students spoiled me, and I have their cards displayed in the dining room. It is so cheery!  After my heavily choreographed party, with stations and coordinating headbands, I raced over to Miss P's big kid party. I just got these two pics before my camera died.  The third grade party required a lot less work than my Kinder party.  As a helper parent, I volunteered to get a big trash bag, and stopped a boy from kicking others in the behind. :)

I treated myself to this book for Valentine's. Very cute, light and a fast read.  You can find it here

We are off to get our taxes done now. Cross your fingers for me!!  I'll be back with recipes, staycation plans, and my new fitness regime.