It Worked!

Joy and happiness have returned.  The sun has taken its place of honor high up in the sky for two days in a row.  I spent most of Friday morning sitting in a sunny spot in my classroom playing games with my kindergartners.  I really can't ask for a better way to spend a day at work.

And now, everyone is happy.  I have the sun back and you no longer have to hear me complain about its absence.  It's a win-win situation.

Plan B

You guessed it.  No sun again.  To make matters worse, it was rainy most of the day preventing the kids and I from going outside. 

Time for Plan B.

I now have many little suns made by my own little sunshines decorating the walls of my classroom. 

And if this doesn't work, I have Plan C waiting in the wings.  Anyone else familiar with the poem "Sunflakes?"

It Ain't Gonna Shine No More, No More!

We are on day eight of no sun here in my part of the country.  Eight days of cloudy, gray, overcast skies.  It's getting pretty old.

If any of you have a few extra rays you can send this way, I would certainly appreciate it.  Otherwise, I will be forced to resort to Plan B which involves kindergartners and a lot of yellow paint.

A Couple of Things I Find Baffling

Spring Break on the Hill continues.  The lack of funds has given me a great deal of time to think.  Despite all the things I could be thinking about, this is the best I've got.

On Monday, I went to the home improvement store to actually buy dirt for my garden.  Today, I spent hours trying to get dirt out of my house.  Anyone else find this to be a strange irony?

I have spent the past couple of days cooking yummy meals.  I now have a fridge full of food.  Apparently, actually cooking food causes me to lose my appetite.  It makes no sense!  Perhaps it will be the latest diet crazy to hit the nation and I will earn big bucks to pay for all the food that doesn't get eaten.

There are other thoughts, but I think I've given you enough to ponder for now.

Library Books

I spent some time at school today in an attempt to get things organized for next week.  The kids and I will be taking a trip around the world next week through books as we continue to explore character and setting.  I have copies of many of the books on my bookshelf at home, but I opted to use copies from the school library.

Growing up, I loved library books.  I loved walking into the children's section and smelling that in describable smell.  All those spines standing upright were adventures waiting for me to discover.  Sure, I had books at home, but I had already read them all.  I would revisit them, but at the library had so many new stories waiting for me.

The kids in my class love stories just as much as I did, but I have found that the library doesn't hold quite the same magic that it did for me.  They are accustom to the brightly colored covers they see in the book stores, not the dull imitation they find on the cover of the books.  In a world where everyone is looking for the latest new thing, they associate library books things that are old.

But I am working to change this.  It started with the book Tacky the Penguin.  My copy is an old library book that was discarded.  When it was put on the shelf initially, no one bothered to pick it up.  But once I read it (complete with "the voices"), it became one of the most popular books.  They love the story and make me read it constantly.  A book that was already in rather sad shape looks pretty beat up on the shelf next to the brightly colored paperback, but it is one of the most loved books.

So next week, we will only be using books from the school library.  Some of the stories will be older.  Some will be newer.  But they will all be books the kids will have access to every Tuesday when they travel upstairs to the room full of books.  Maybe by introducing them to more of the stories in the dull covered books they will see that the true magic is not on the outside, but waiting on the pages within.

How I Spent My Spring Break--Day 2

I know you have been waiting in eager anticipation to see what Day 2 had in store.  Today was the day I tackled Mount Laundry!

Living alone with an extra bedroom is a very dangerous thing.  I have found that the guest room doubles as a laundry holding tank.  The clothes seem to go straight from the dryer to the daybed where it remains behind a closed door until
 a.) I need to wear the item
 b.) company comes over
 c.) I just can't take it anymore!

Today was Option C.  I relocated the mountain from the guest room to the dining room table where it could no longer be denied. 

Now, bear in mind that these were only the items that had been neglected for previous days/weeks.  As I was folding, I was also doing three more loads.  Each time I would get everything folded, more clothes came to take their place.

It was a daunting task, but I kept at it.  At last, it was all folded.  Then came the next challenge--putting it all away.  The temptation to take the folded items back to the guest room was strong, but I held my ground.  I would find the proper place for each and every item.  No shortcuts today.  I even rearranged some closets and drawers as I went.

Finally, I was left with an empty dining room table and an empty guest room.  Ahhhh...another successful day. 

Happy Birthday

Thirteen years ago, this little beauty entered our world.

She showed up with those big blue eyes and that wispy blonde hair and immediately stole our hearts.

She was first.  She was the first daughter, grandchild, great-grandchild and niece.  She had our full and undivided attention.  We were in awe of this incredible little being.  Every experience was new and exciting.  Every milestone a celebration. 

Now, she's thirteen.  She has grown into this unbelievable person.  She's a smart, gracious, creative, athletic, caring, beautiful person.  Other children have joined the family, but she is still first.  We are still in awe of her as we watch from the sidelines as she continues to change and grow.

So on this special birthday, I have three wishes for my niece.  May she always find joy and happiness in each and every day.  May she have the wisdom and courage to handle the challenges of life.  May she always know who she is and how much she is loved.

So Happy Birthday, my favorite blue eyed person!  No one loves you like I do!