Restful

It is the first Saturday in over 2 months that I am not at work or doing something that has been scheduled for months. Kyle and I have my parent's poodle with us as they are on vacation so it was a calm and sleepy morning with two furry friends in the bed. The clouds and wind are pushing the crazy hot air away to make room for fall.
We sat outside last night looking for the blue moon with grandma and my aunt until after eleven and it was so lovely to just sit and talk until we got too tired.
Mornings like this are so rare for means so appreciated as ways to rejuvenate from what can often be way too busy and stressful.
Happy, sleepy, slow morning to the world!

First week quotes and stories

When asked when we might use a singing voice a little girl told me "when Mommy is sad you can sing to her."

Also, a colleague told a story of when a student got their head stuck in their chair on the first day. One more reason to say "bottoms on the chair not in the air"

Back to School

Today is the last day of my summer. True there are two days of the weekend, but that doesn't count. Back to work on Monday and then kids come back Wednesday. I have been back quite a few times over the last week to get my room set up.
Time to return to routine, back to more stress (not always bad), back to what I love the most. Teaching children.
I can't wait to see them coming in on the first few days. The students who I know and the brand new first graders who have only been to half day school until this year.
Such anticipation.

Wanting and having

It can be so easy to fall into the trap of wanting and forgetting what you have. Right now, for me it is a DSLR camera. Specifically the Canon T3i. It is so far out of my budget. But I want it so badly that I forget all of the wonderful things I have. Many of those things that people have given me because they knew I could not afford it, including the beautiful computer that I am typing on.

How do we avoid wanting things we do not need? What has happened to my mindset that has made me want this unnecessary piece of equipment so badly?


In other news, I do have a classroom to get decorated and organized. It is such a task. I will later take pictures with my current camera (a pocket sized point and shoot that I was given as a college graduation gift). It will be lovely once I obsess over the details a little more.

Olympics

I love the Olympics.
To a point of obsession. If I am home, the tv is on and whatever sport is being broadcast has my attention.
Winter or Summer, I love them.
The problem is that I love them just so much that I think it might be affecting my blood pressure.
If I have children ever, they may not be able to compete in anything because the veins in my forehead will explode.

I am standing in my back yard being as quiet and still as I can while birds play on my soaker hoses. They are standing on them as the hoses weep water and sticking their wings where it sprays. Such a peaceful and beautiful moment. I wish I could have grabbed my camera but it would have caused them all to fly away.

A Birthday

So, I have a birthday coming up in about a month. I read an article today about a man who gave out $5 to people on the street and carried a sign about how he had  things and was willing to buy you a cup of coffee. It was all part of his 6th birthday and he was doing 65 random acts of kindness that day/week. I saw a similar blog that had a woman turning 38 do the same thing. Because it will be my 27th birthday. I think I should do 27 random acts of kindness. All ideas are welcome. Please comment on your idea on what kind of act you think I should do. There are few better feelings than the feeling you get from giving.