Enjoying the weather

I'm still here we have been taking advantage of the nice days that we've been given and spending some time outside. Before I know it the day is over and I'm exhausted and ready for bed. I know I've been neglecting my blogging friend. But I hope you all know I still love you :) I promise I'll try to be better about checking in with you all. I do miss you.

My girls have rediscovered our little sandbox and thinks it the best thing ever. Although I'm not sure that Alyssa was quite aware of it at all last summer. They are so cute playing in it together...which I love too. Alyssa did try eating some sand but as you can see by her face she won't be doing that again.

Another of my favorite thing about it being nice out is eating outside. There's just something about it makes everything taste better. Okay, maybe it's just me but I love it.

Alyssa also has been a little more adventurous when it comes to food. She decided to try pickles again. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love pickles. I can eat a whole jar in one sitting. I very rarely buy them anymore because I literally have no self control and the salt content is no good for me.

I guess pickles are not a favorite but she didn't hate them either. I of course ate the other two that were left on her plate. See what I mean no self control!

Silly poems to share

So I was searching the internet for a new poem to share with my class and found this great website filled with silly poems which are my students favorite kind and of course mine too. It's called Giggle Poetry and you really should go check it out too. I really smiled and laughed as I looked through and loved the pictures too. Here's my favorite which I will not share with my class but is so true. I can't wait for the last day of school and I am probably more excited then my students :) I am counting down!

The Teachers Jumped Out of the Windows
by Kenn Nesbitt

(Sing to the tune of "My Bonnie")

The teachers jumped out of the windows.
The principal ran for the door.
The nurse and librarian bolted.
They’re not coming back anymore.
The counselor, hollering madly,
escaped out the door of the gym.
The coach and custodian shouted
and ran out the door after him.

Chorus
Oh my! Goodbye!
They’re not coming back anymore, no more.
How fun! They’ve run!
They’re not coming back anymore.

The lunch ladies threw up their ladles,
then fled from the kitchen in haste,
and all of the students looked puzzled
as staff members scurried and raced.
We’d never seen anything like it.
But still, it was pretty darned cool
to see all the staff so excited
to leave on the last day of school.
Chorus again

My Brother and Bears

So I've missed all my blogging friends but I'd been in a little funk and I tried blogging but just everything I was typing was so negative and I didn't want to feed my funk. So I'm back and in a better mood...well at least today. How cute...right? Well my brother has joined the Maine DEP Black Bear Trapping crew and will be following, tagging, measuring, and monitoring the Black Bears. Here's a little background, my brother and I are 12 years apart. I remember vividly when my mom told me that she was pregnant thinking...I'm sorry what did you just say. I helped a lot in caring for him and I still look out for him know even though he towers over me. We have grown very close now and I really think he is an amazing person. I know I am the one he calls when he needs someone to listen or for advice. He just finshed his junior year in college and can now legally drink. It just seems crazy to me and he'll always be my baby brother.A huge difference between my brother and I is that he loves the outdoors. I enjoy being outside

just not for extended periods of time. Before he left for Maine he took Gillian fishing and she just thought that was the coolest and so was he uncle. I love that they have that relationship and he is so great with her. As you can see in the picture his relationship with Alyssa still needs a little work. Really she's just in that mama, mama, mama phase and I'm all she wants. I'm so glad he got this opportunity but I'm miss him until he comes back in July. I did ask he what they do to stay safe and he assured me that Black Bears do not usually attack people. But I was not assured...so he said that they also have shot guns.

Missing mom

Today I went and planted some flowers for my mother by her grave. It was quiet and peaceful and I thought of all the wonderful memories that I have and how blessed I was to have her in my life. How lucky I was that she was my mom. I know that I am the person that I am because of her. I hope I'm still making her proud as I raise my own family. I know she watches as my girls grow and she will be their guardian angel and mine as we face challenges (big and small) of life. I feel her love everyday and keep her close to my heart.

I just wish I could have more time with her. I want to hear that last bit advice or that comment that used to annoy me so much when she would have an opinion on absolutely everything. I feel like her time was cut short and that it's unfair that she never really got to know her granddaughters. I try hard not to cry when I think of her and all I've lost. Instead I try to remember all the things I gained and learned by having her in my life. I will pass all those things on to my girls and that is how they will know her.

Happy Mother's Mom! I miss you and love you with all my heart!

A thoughtful gift

It's teacher appreciation week and my principal gave each of the staff members at my school an pencil organizer with a poem on it below. I know it's was such a simple thing but it really touched my heart. I love the sentiments behind this poem and would love to think it's true about my teaching.

THE STARFISH POEM
Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean
to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking
on the beach
before he began his work.
One day he was walking along
the shore.
As he looked down the beach,
he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would
dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster
to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw
that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing,
but instead he was reaching
down to the shore,
picking up something
and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out,
"Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused,
looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one."

Happy Teacher Appreciation week to all you other teachers out there making a difference one student at a time.

A change of scenery

I like trying new things but when it comes to my girls I tend to stick with the same old stuff. I'm finding that sometimes a change of scenery can be inspiring for them. So we are going to be exploring parks that we don't usually go to and venturing out to the neighboring cities and towns. This was actually inspired by a recent visit to a park that I had only gone to once before and never with Alyssa. They had such a blast we have gone back twice. I find myself tempted to walk to the park up the street but I'm going to resist temptation and visit some new ones. This was a little of our fun from our first visit at the "new" park. Gillian discovered that she loved the rock wall and I found out that she can climb it quite well.

Alyssa laughs hysterically when you peek at her through this hole in the tunnel. When she laughs like that it brightens even my crabbiest moods. So my new goal is to try out one new park a week. Who knows it could become our new favorite hangout.