Bajillion Degrees and strippers

Today was hot, very hot. 101 heat index hot. My students melted into the floor while we attempted learning.

I had one student tell me to "have a nice weekend" as they left my class. Yup. It is only Tuesday. They must not want to come back until it cools off

I also overheard two third grade boys asking each other if they knew what a stripper was. I am guessing and hoping it is because someone at home was discussing the recent Miley Cyrus performance on the VMAs. 

A car!

I bought a new car today. So now DH and I each have our own again. We trie just one for almost a whole year and it worked well. We live in the downtown area of our community and he took the train every day. I commute about 30 miles each way so we had to have one. Then DH lost his job, so he used grandma's the. We sold grandma's has guzzler.
It is hat to get a job without a car in our suburban area. Thus the need for being back to two cars. I am pretty pleased with our purchase. Bought for less than we were planning and I think it is just the right car for us.

Thanks, Gram

Grandma was always smiling.
 Her whole life was loving us, her children and grandchildren. Plus a few more who got lumped into that group regardless who genetics.
Generous and kind. Not a afraid to speak her thoughts.
You always felt loved in her presence.
Are you getting good grades in school? Yes? Here are a few dollars. No? I will hire a tutor.
What do you want? It magically appears.
There are no wants when Grandma is around, she already got them for you.
When Grandma needs your help, you get a squeeze, a kiss, and "Thanks, Love"
Being around her is enough of a reward.
"Have you thought about this option?"
She has an opinion about everything. She knows what she likes. She knows how to make it happen.
We talk about my life, my dreams, my wants.
She smiles and tells me how she would do things.
I am the one with red hair like hers. This gives me and my sister something special with her.
I am perpetually trying to make her proud. She doesn't always tell me but I know, she is.
I have a lot to look up to. A lot to live up to.
Thanks, Love
Katie

Grandma, Me, My Dad -Summer on the Patio 2012

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

What a great photo challenge to start with as I try to post more regularly again.

I recently was in Arizona. Specifically Sedona for the majority of my week there. In Sedona, it feels like no matter how much I change, it stays the same. The rocks are still red and beautiful. The growth is so slow you don't notice much in the plants from year to year. It continues to be my respite from being a young adult in a busy world.

Catch all

It has been a busy few weeks. An emotional few weeks as well. As I type, I am sitting on a cross country train with Kyle coming home from a week away.

We had this trip planned in January and thank goodness for it. We needed a week in Sedona with my grandpa to relax and recharge.

What did we need to get away from?
Work, life stress, the house.

Kyle and I live upstairs from my grandma and she passed close to three weeks ago. With everything we are used to having her in it, life felt unstable and uneasy.
We moved in about a year ago because it is what she needed. To be not alone and to have us there for everyday tasks. I might have grumbled here and there about the things she asked of us but, I truly loved my grandma. She was there nearly every step of my growing up. I felt a responsibility to care for her as she did for me.
So now the house is empty. We are still upstairs. The family who came for her services and to remember the amazing lady we knew have all gone home.
So, Kyle and I went in our vacation. We got away before keeping on with our lives, minus grandma.

Sedona
There is always Sedona to get you back to peaceful. I am truly lucky to have my grandfather living there. You come into the beautiful red rocks and into his lovely home. You are surrounded by love, scenery, and food.
Every morning I would sit with him in the library and talk while we watched the sunrise. During the day you see beautiful things and nature. At night we cooked and ate special dinners.

rent-a-first grader

One of my first grade classes has decided that a house without children is not a home. I brought DH's viola to work to show them a string instrument and they asked who it belonged to. It then turned into a whole class long aside about me not having children. One small girl told me I should go to the orphanage to go get some kids. Later, they volunteered classmates to come home with me nightly. By the end of class they had worked it all out and which of them would take turns coming home with me and that they would take care of playing with Charlotte. It was darling. I love their enthusiasm for making me happy and whole.

hall talk

Today in the hallway between two second grade boys:
"If I had to take on a bear, I'd just kick him in the junk!"

um, I'm pretty sure that is a bad idea.