A Lot of Ones and Water

When Libby was little(r) she used to insist that after I tucked her in I'd come back in to check on her in her bed.  I always did.  I still do.  She'd say, "A lot of ones and water!" which meant, "Check on me a lot and bring water."  It started as her wanting to know exactly how long I was going to wait before coming in to check on her. I'd tell her ten minutes.  She'd try negotiating down to five, and eventually she understood that one minute goes by way faster than either five or ten.  From there she didn't want me to come back in just one minute, but "a lot of ones and water", which essentially meant, "Come in here every minute 'till you go to bed yourself".

I think agreeing to it was easier for my tired-and-done-with-this-day self rather than explaining exactly what sort of madness she was asking for.  So I'd always reply.  "Yep.  Got it.  A lot of ones and water. For sure.  I'm on it."  Eventually Peyton (from her bed) would yell the same.

It's been a while. I don't know how long since they've asked for a lot of ones and water, but long enough that a once so familiar bedtime mantra wasn't so familiar anymore.  Tonight at bedtime Peyton said, "Mom, what did we used to ask for at bedtime? Watermelon wishes and water?"  I couldn't figure out what she meant.

Watermelon wishes and water?

A lot of ones and water. Yep. Got it. For sure. On it.

N.O.

"No.  No scissors while wearing your roller skates.  Absolutely not."

Add this to the long list of things that I thought was just understood....

Lucky?

I'd like to think that I've played a small role in helping the girls become smart consumers. But this morning I can't help think I'm just the world's biggest buzzkill.....

"There isn't actually magic in every charm."  -Libby 

Winter Cleaning

A word to the wise.... If you're going to clean your oven, thereby setting off every smoke detector in the house, thereby needing to open every door and window, summer is probably a better time to do it.  Also, it takes three hours. So be prepared for that. You can thank me later.

Literary Critics

Today was a bit of a mess.  The mess actually started yesterday morning when Peyton's socks didn't feel right and then it ruined our lives.  Today's meltdown was louder, longer and, from what I can gather, had something to do with her pants not fitting just so. My day seemed to draaaaaag on forever. Peyton's after-school-attitude wasn't much improved from the morning and when I went to by my lottery ticket to win $636,000,000, I missed the cutoff by "30 seconds" according to the clerk.  Right after he sold tickets to the people in front of me.  He then proceeded to tell me I should've come earlier.  Yeah.  I got that.

Grrrr....

Sigh.

Tonight, after laundry and laying down expectations with Peyton I was sorta done.  So, I asked Shane if he'd read the girls their bedtime story.  He agreed.  Shane and I consider different criteria when picking bedtime stories for our girls.  I look for stories with well developed characters; ones we might even be able to relate to, and interesting story lines with great voice.  A little over-their-head humor is a total bonus.  Shane looks for stories that are short. Tonight, his first comment after giving Peyton's book pick the once-over was "This looks really long."

The book was Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.  It's such a good book.

About half way through, though, I called him out for racing through the story and not reading any of the captions.  Then Libby added, "Yeah, and why are you, like.....YELLING?  Is it because you can't hear yourself?"  I mean, I think she might be onto something....

Snow Day(s)!

Since school is closed and who knows when it'll reopen, I've been all kinds of stalker-ing the facebook posts of people baking with their kids, decorating for the holidays and reading under a blanket in front of the fire.  It's all so full of nostalgia and appreciation.  We've done every one of them too.  Except for the baking part. Well, I did bake. And by bake I mean I cut up a roll of Pilsbury Cookie Dough and made cookies and promptly shared them with almost no one.  Also, we read books when I looked at the reading log on the fridge and I panicked because I can't be the teacher who doesn't read with her kids when snowed in.  So yesterday we had a marathon round of sit still while I read to you and please listen because if you don't do those two things I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to write it on your reading log.  Now, where were we?  Yes, Dinosaurs' Christmas. Now, let that resonate with you for just a moment.  Dinosaurs'. Christmas. Irony, right?  Anyway, I'm not going insane yet due to the fact that I have an enormous car with four wheel drive and snow tires.  I still equip my car every year like the Bend girl that I am, which means I'm not snowed in!  I'm on vacation! Really cold vacation where I have to think up lots to do so nobody gets hurt.

Then, tonight while lying on the couch thinking up our what-to-do-next I remembered something my dad gave Libby when she was born and I went searching to find this....

The effect for me is not unlike what it feels like to launch water balloons at my students on the last day of school.

Libby said she wanted to make it more challenging for me and they've just gone to put on their roller skates.  Please.  Oh, it'll be more challenging.  But not for me.

Happy Snow Days!  Here's to doing whatever it takes to stay warm safe sane....

Update:  On skates they didn't stand a chance.  I killed it.  However, we had one last round without skates and the littles dominated.  I ended on the verge of needing my rescue inhaler.  Peyton sustained a small injury.  It had less to do with the sling shot, and more to do with being the smallest of the three of us who dove over a chair to get at a puff.  She's fine.  They've asked to play again tomorrow.  First thing in the morning.  You got it, sisters.  Game. On.

Staging My Umpteenth Comeback.....

Flannery O'Connor said "I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say."  I'm maybe supposed to know who Flannery O'Connor is before I quote him.  Or her.  But I just loved the quote when I saw it on Pinterest because it's super-true about me.  And then I quit writing here.  Time has gotten away from me and my job is hard.  I mean hard. I know there is a population of people out there who just think teachers and nurses are whiners, because of the unions and all.  But the truth is, summer is so easy and then September comes and I don't have a minute to stop and think it all through. It's more or less 10 hours straight of thinking on my feet.  I have entertained the idea that maybe it's that way because I'm doing it wrong.  The thing is ,though, I'm pretty sure I'm also doing some things right.

Then, when I got home tonight one of my favorite online writers, Glennon Melton of Momastery, posted this on facebook....

I’m in a new life season over here. I’ve got all three kids in school and I’m working from home, so I’m taking my turn. I’m heading into the school to help the kids’ teachers when I can. For all of you parents who can’t make it in because you’re in a different life season- I’d like to offer you the OFFICIAL KINDERGARTEN REPORT:

THE KIDS ARE FINE.

The over-achievers are concentrating and the artists are doodling and the rascals are rascalling (why do the rascals always have the most hard-to-resist grins?) and the ones that struggle are with the teacher getting some extra love and smiles. They’re painting and sharing and getting band-aids for invisible paper cuts and singing math songs and talking over each other and telling twelve minute stories during circle time that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic being discussed. Teacher: Does anyone know why we celebrate Thanksgiving? Little One: Oh! OH! ME ME ME! Teacher: Yes. Sarah. Sarah: MY GRANDMA’S NAME IS ALICE AND SHE HAS A BLUE CAR AND ALSO NINE CATS!!!! (then twelve more minutes about each cat, obviously.)

LISTEN TO ME: They don’t miss us. I KNOW they swear they do and they cry before drop off and they make us feel fifty shades of crappy before 8 am and I’m not saying that they’re lying: but let’s just say THAT THEY ARE DRAMATICALLY MISREPRESENTING THEIR EXPERIENCE. I don’t know why they do this. I think that maybe after our babies are born and the nurse takes them away to have their “first bath” she actually takes them a workshop entitled: “THIS IS HOW TO LAY ON THE MOMMY GUILT HARD AND FAST. DO IT OFTEN AND EARLY- SHE’LL BUY YOU MORE CRAP.” Don’t buy them more crap. They’re happy. I watched them all really closely this morning- and they are being cared for. We have a-freaking-mazing teachers in this country and they are DOING THEIR WORK so that we can breathe and do ours. And all of them- the overachievers and the artists and the rascals and the story tellers and the strugglers – they will be okay. They have nets.

Breathe Deep and Carry On, Warriors.

Of all the things she has written that I love, and there are many, this post is probably one of my favorites.  I could totally relate to it.  Libby won't let me near her class, knowing she'll dissolve into a puddle of tears. She just does.  If I stay away she's fine. Which is tricky because my fourth grade students are buddies with her first grade classmates.  Luckily, Mrs. Kirk has lots of hugs, high expectations and a mop.  Peyton is happy to see me, so I help in her class twice a week when my students are in PE.  It's a world away from fourth grade and I love it.  When I leave, she's fine. Really. Even though they both beg to be picked up early. 

Anyway, maybe I'll start showing up here again.  Then I can get a grasp on what I think.

The Register Guard came to our Halloween parade.  Libby is the princess in yellow.

 

An overnight with Debra and Jodi

Last weekend in Waldport....

Looking for agates

Look who's reading!  To her sister, even.

 

Also, Flannery O'Connor is Mary Flannery O'Connor.  She's a girl.  I checked.

Blowing Off Steam

This is how the girls are blowing off steam after school today. Libby throws a Pepsi can at Peyton and tries to land it inside her bike basket. She's about 0/50 at this point. If Peyton's head were the target she'd be about 48/50. Wait. Peyton's head IS the target. Got it. I'm quick like that. We'll see if Peyton catches on....

I Really Love Summer

Three years ago I wrote this.  Tomorrow, I go back to my fourth year of teaching since I took a leave of absence when the girls were born.  Add that to the years of teaching I had under my belt before my babies and I'll be able to retire..... well, one day.  I gauge everything that way.  Everything is relative to when the girls were born.  The end of summer this year is bittersweet because we had the best summer.  Even today while shane and I sat on a park bench and watched the girls play I said, "Isn't it nice to sit here and not have to hover over them on the play structure?"  He agreed.  The girls are so capable right now and we totally soaked that up this summer.  Not that I haven't loved other summers, and I certainly don't wish time will go any faster, but this summer has been the best.  Here's how we spent our day together today....

Look.  Everyone pedaled their own bike. 

We played at the park and then met my dad and Margie at McMenamins North Bank for lunch on the river before riding back.  Not a bad way to end a great summer.

Breakfast of Champions

Because it's still summer, we eat cupcakes for breakfast. 

School is going to be a rude awakening for all of us on many levels.

Summer Sass

This teacher isn't usually in a hurry for school to start.  However, I just said to my kid, "Oh yeah?  I know you are, but what am I?", so I'm thinking school might be our saving grace this year.  Also, I might be 50% responsible for their ever evolving mouths....

Not So Dreamy

I was talking to my friend (another teacher) yesterday about how she'd had her first back to school dream already.  I hadn't, something I attributed to a very relaxed, fun-filled July.  My back to school dream usually has students swinging from the rafters while I try (unsuccessfully) to get their attention.  Sometimes though, I'm on the other side of the desk.  In this dream, I walk into a college auditorium full of people who have their blue books and pencils out ready to take a math test. I have no blue book. I can't find a pencil. Ugh. Always math. Always about being unprepared.

Anyway, a back to school dream signals the beginning of the end.  And last night.......it happened.  In my dream I reported back to the school cafeteria where breakfast was being served.  I had french toast, sausage and hash browns with an adult Ryan Fleming, my childhood friend who lived at the end of my street.  Make no mistake, food is a priority even when I'm sleeping.  In my dream, though, students showed up on the same day as teachers.  A friend and colleague showed up too, having been told she could teach my class this year.  Um........awkward.  After dropping the girls off with their teachers in the cafeteria it occurs to me that I am minutes away from having students show up to learn in my classroom.  A classroom I've not set foot in since June.  I walk calmly through the cafeteria doors and then sprint down the hall to my classroom, where everything is still stacked against one wall for summer cleaning.  frantically, I start positioning furniture (and broken carousel horses.....what?) as fast as I can, trying to make it look like I'd given thought to being a teacher before this moment when my students start showing up at the door.  And this is where I woke up.  Sigh.

Holy July!

We're home after a month of being on the go for, seemingly, every nanosecond. Disneyland, our latest adventure, was awesome. Some highlights were breakfast with the Princesses, The Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain. By the last day the girls had overcome their fear of the characters and even hugged Goofy, something Libby was adamant she WOULD NOT do. Donald was an elusive little bugger and the line to greet Mickey was a little long, but we did get visits with Minnie and Pluto. This'll be a hard summer to beat....

....and more.

....and more fun....

Summer Fun

My plan for August is to get back to blogging, but right now we're too busy with summer fun!

Happy 4th of July!

Father's Day Overkill....

I went a little overboard on the pictures maybe, but it's been so long since I've posted anything here and the walk down memory lane was really fun.  So, I included them all.  Happy Father's Day, Babe.  We love you....

And since every word of this post still rings true, I'll likely include it every year.