This is Halloween

I love Halloween.  It's one of my favorite holidays--spooky, creepy, but not scary.  I used to really make the month of October extra special for the kids.  Uh yeah.  Not so much anymore.  Poor Robin, he doesn't get to have the same Halloween Fun Mama the other two did.  I didn't even dress up this year.  The upside?  I have a really good costume ready to wear for next year.

The house is decorated up right, but I never had the time to really make it feel just a little bit extra cozy and fun.  I bowed out of the Halloween Carnival (thanks Dave). Tonight I handed out candy while working on logistics for taking my students to earth ed in less than two weeks.  Maybe everyone else is feeling it too? I almost forgot to carve pumpkins! (thanks Dave) We only got maybe 15 trick or treaters.  There weren't as many Halloween specials on tv.

After a day spent with overly excited students, I was ready to call it a night pretty early.  I made a healthy dinner to balance the sugar flowing through our veins.  Luckily, the kids' enthusiasm made up for my deficit.  The kids chose really easy Halloween costumes this year.

I think I shocked Linus by how easily I agreed to let him be Kylo Ren.  Dave took the kids trick or treating (thanks Dave).  One house they went to was shocked to get trick or treaters as they hadn't had any in years.  Linus hedged his bets and cut trick or treating short, rationalizing that if he had slightly less candy I might be more likely to not take it all away.  Well played young Jedi.  Well played.

Robin charmed everyone with his cuteness and nonstop chattering.  Back home, he transformed into his superhero alter ego.

Thank goodness for kids.  They can make even the grumpiest of adults smile through the holidays.  I may be exhausted, but the absolute joy radiating from Eileen puts everything in perspective.

The Mr. Potato Head pumpkin decorations didn't make an appearance this year.  However, I received many compliments on our pumpkins.  Of course I gave credit where credit was due.  Thanks Dave.

Happy Halloween!

8 is great

8 years ago a certain someone was evacuated from my body.  Every child's birthday brings back visceral memories of their introduction to the world.  So many feelings and emotions--the miserable pregnancy, intense delivery, spicy overcooked baby smells (he was 11 days late), coming home to discover our living room ceiling had collapsed in our absence.

From the get go Linus has made me work a little harder and that's okay.

Linus age 8.

           Newborn baby Linus
 Oh, my heart.  Those little hands.

Linus woke up excited today.  I had terminated his ipad/electronic gaming privileges for several weeks with restoration promised on his birthday.  Linus indulged me and went to mass wearing his school uniform to help me talk to people about the IB program during coffee and donuts.  He spent most of the afternoon having tons of screen time, play board games, and playing outside.

Eileen had a soccer game and scored her very first goal!

In the evening, my family came over to celebrate.  It was very very fancy -- macaroni and cheese with honey crisp apples on the side.  It always feels weird to invite people over to eat kid food. Eileen of course can't eat macaroni and cheese.  I had to mix and match some boxes to make it work for her.

C'mon Annie's!  Lets see you go vegan AND gluten-free.  It was actually pretty good.  The sauce uses pumpkin so it had a nice fall flavor.  Once you get over it not tasting like cheese, it's pretty tasty in its own right.

Dessert also proved tricky.  Linus wanted Graveyard Dirt.   He was very specific.  I just like that he remembers some of the fun stuff I have done in the past.

Eileen of course can't have milk chocolate, oreos, milano cookies, or pudding.  Yesterday, I altered our old family cookie recipe and made gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free cookies.  It was definitely harder to roll out, but the taste while different, was really good.

Eileen loved helping me.  She did an amazing job of helping me.  Eileen helped me mix food coloring and frosted half the cookies with no help from me.  It was a good reminder that I need to let go a little bit more and let the kids try.


Linus's favorite birthday present was a "practice knife," a pocket knife that stays with an adult.  He of course used it to open every present.  We also got him an Extraordinaire Design Studio set and smaller buildings design set.  I may have to borrow it for my students.....

                                             Wry smile, a little mischievous, and very happy.

Happy Birthday Linus!

From the Mouths of Babes in October

Me:  We need to move the couch.
Robin:  The Bofa on the Sofa acts as if he doesn't care.

Eileen:  (sees lots of traffic on freeway)  Is it the evening communion?

Robin:  Grandma you have hair on your head.
Grandma: So do you.
Robin:  No.  I have curls.

Playing "Walking Dead" and talking on their "cell phones"

School pictures

2nd grade

Kindergarten

6th grade

Embody the IB Learner

My school is embarking on becoming an IB school -- International Baccalaureate.  I've been on the parent end of things for the past few years.  My basic reaction initially was, "Huh. Well that will be different."  And of course I was even skeptical.  Anyone who has spent time in education knows that people always have great, big ideas that quickly fade away as soon as the initial impetus is gone.  Even more common, an administration will say they are going to implement a program, but it's really just in name only.  I frequently read school mission  statements to try to suss out the true meaning versus all the happy education buzz words.  I wanna know.  Is the school going to walk the talk?

So to recap, my parent reaction was, "Hmmm. Lets see how it plays out," with a side of "The upside so far is a really cool garden, more resources, and in theory, a high quality of education."

At the end of August, I found myself on the teacher end of things.  My reaction (which needs to be viewed in the fact that I was hired as the school year started) was "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!  O.M.G.  So much work.  Help!  This is hard.  What does global context even mean? I am so overwhelmed.  ATL?  Isn't that the airport code for Atlanta?  I have to do what!?!"

Once I got over the initial shock of working full time, I started to understand things a little bit better. The school hired a consultant who was able to start removing the mystery and make it feel more like the process it is versus some immediate mandate.  I began to learn how I was going to change the way I approach teaching.

I'm fortunate enough to have a principal who is a go big or go home kind of guy.  He is making everyone jump in with both feet.  Luckily, this means he is paying for us to go get trained.  This weekend I flew with two other middle school teachers to LA to attend a content specific workshop.  We arrived late on Friday (We took the new light rail from UW to the airport.  It was so awesome.) and were at the conference ready to start at 7 am.  The days were long, the food was good.

Usually, conferences can get a little boring at times.  Not this one.  I was working hard and engaged all day long, all weekend long.  I learned soooooooo much.  I had my a-ha moment Monday morning as we talked about changing the way we approach assessment and grading.  I felt like I was having an out of body experience.  It was like my brain removed itself from my head, rose above me, and reoriented itself.

I started taking furious notes.  I had disliked part of how my grading was turning out this year. Suddenly, I saw the answer.  I needed to change the way I grade.  There were posters to make, templates to create.  Answers to so many questions were flying at me.  It was exhilarating.

I finally understood.  Teaching in the IB way means less busy work, less emphasis on tests, more focus on demonstration of skills.  Teaching students that the skills they are learning--percents, ratios, electricity--have a real place in the world outside this moment in the classroom.  The global context.  And that global context affects them now, not once they become adults. The content has a place in their communities, their country, and the world.  Woah.

Teaching IB means I not only teach the skills, the content, but help the students take that knowledge and apply to an unfamiliar situation.  Those higher learning skills are a part of everyone's education, not just extra credit for the smart kids.

An added bonus to my weekend was creating a full unit plan.  IB unit plans are no joke.  They encompass every good teaching practice and require the teacher to align everything to what they are assessing.  If one unit plan took over 12 hours to write (and still has some tweaking to go), I know I have a busy summer of unit planning ahead of me.

Despite being in conference all day long, we got to kick back and relax a little bit in the evening.  I couldn't convince Paula and Anton, my coworkers, to go to Disneyland.  Instead we went to Manhattan Beach one night and Santa Monica the other.  After a long day, watching the sunset on the beach isn't half bad.  Paula and Anton were good sports as I dragged them around looking for restaurants that had brussel sprouts.

First morning of the conference.  Nervous and excited.

Manhattan Beach

Principle, Balanced, Risk-taker, Caring.  I embody the IB learner profile.

Sandpipers.  Just like in Finding Dory.

Letting the water renew us.  (Our school theme this year)

Sunset at Manhattan Beach.

Contemplating the end of Route 66.

Rock n Roll Jesus

Sunset at the Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier

The trip was a whirlwind.  I had so much fun bonding with my co-workers.  So many inside jokes now exist between us.  I ate adult food and talked to adults all day long.  I only had to get myself ready in the morning.  When it was time to leave, I simply walked out the door.  Given how hard I was working, my stress level was so incredibly low once 3 kids were taken out of the equation.

The kids had a good time, but missed me.  I've never been away from them for that long before. Daddy bought a drone and that is something way more fun than anything Mama would do.   It was so wonderful to come to the door last night and hear the kids scream my name with glee.  This morning Robin crawled into bed with me for lots of copious snuggling.

I'm such a wash of thoughts and feelings.  I'm exhausted.  I'm excited.  There's so much to do. Change is never easy, but it's the thought that my children are going to get the best education available drives me.  I've already thinking about my next IB conference.

To Charlotte on her 37th Birthday

Oof.  How in the world did I get to the age where this could be a title for me?  37.  When I was five I thought my mom was 37.  I proceeded to think she was 37 for several years until she in fact finally did turn 37.  It seemed like an appropriate mom-age.  Moms are "old," but not too old.  Young enough to start their age with a 30 but finish with a number edging toward the next decade.

In true middle age mom form, I wasn't entirely sure how old I was turning.  My younger self would be shocked that I could somehow not know my exact age.  I didn't remember it was going to be my birthday until around 5 pm the night before.

In between working full time, coordinating the birthdays of my 3 children (including one actual birthday part with all her friends), readying myself to take my students to environmental science school, minor details like birthdays get forgotten.

I am leaving tomorrow for a 4 day trip to LA for an International Baccalaureate conference.  I've never been away from my kids for that long.  It's going to be a lot of work condensed into a few short days, but I know I will learn so much. The more I understand IB, the more I appreciate the direction it is taking our school.  Meanwhile, there's packing, kid logistics, meal plans, laundry, and sub plans to figure out, and general parenting things like snuggles, listening to my kids read to me, play the piano, and help them with their math.

So yes, somewhere in there yesterday I had my 37th birthday.  I woke to hugs and kisses from little bodies.  Dave made me coffee, Linus toasted me waffles and decorate a smiley face on it using whipped cream.  My phone vibrated regularly with Facebook notices of birthday wishes.  I didn't say too much at school about it. I'm one of those people who isn't sure how to react when being sung to.  Despite my nonchalance, I got many birthday wishes and hugs from students.  It was Unity Day so we all got to wear orange shirts.  I used the opportunity to get an extra wear out of my skeleton scarf.

After school my kids let me work so I could leave school empty-handed.  Dave brought me flowers (he also packed a cute note in my lunch).  I got to talk to my older sister (we are both too busy to talk anymore), and went out to dinner at Mama Stortini's.  The kids were extremely well behaved.  Linus pronounced it to be his new favorite restaurant, second only to the Cheesecake Factory.  High praise.

Dave put the kids to bed and my brother, Tim, came over with wine and brotherly love.   We stayed up late talking.

I went to bed tired, with a belly full of gluten and dairy, feeling loved.  My goal for tomorrow is to cash in on my Starbucks birthday reward.  Dave and I have plans to get away in a couple of weeks in honor of both our birthdays.  In the end, my birthday was sort of random break from a crazy couple of weeks.  Maybe that's how it should be.

Practicing Mindfulness

Today did not go quite as anticipated.  I spent my lunch hour on the phone dealing with the continued fallout from having my identity stolen at the end of August.  I then helped fellow colleagues with the online math curriculum. After our staff meeting, I stayed later to help a few others with the online curriculum.  At this point it was almost 6 pm.

I rushed home, threw all the kids in the car, and drove my mom home.  Then I fed the kids, straightened up the house, loaded the washing machine, put kids in jammies, helped Eileen practice piano, and listened to Eileen read to me.  Dave was working late if you're wondering where he was during all this.

Knowing I still needed to shower, fold laundry, grade math tests, and figure out bulletin boards tomorrow, I could feel the stress rising in me.  I needed to put Robin to bed.  He was exhausted. Robin has not been a fan of my working full time.  He misses me and just wants some time to be close to me.

Suddenly I just stopped.  I've been preparing to introduce mindfulness to my students, to help them quiet their minds, breathe, and just be in the present moment.  One of  bulletin board I need to put together is on mindfulness.  I found myself chanting the poster I was creating today,

                                       "Breathe in, breathe out, just breathe."

I felt calm.  I picked up Robin and rocked him.  There was a lot to do, but instead I sang to him, rocked him, and he fell asleep in my arms.  I listened to the rain.  I rocked.  I felt his little hand caress my collar bone.

Now that he is a big three year old, we are in the process of getting rid of the binky.  Earlier today Robin tried to tell me he wasn't three yet, so he could still have a binky.  As I transferred him to his bed, he protested and wanted a binky.  I offered to lie down next to him if he went without.  I just laid there, watching and listening.

                                       "Breathe in, breathe out, just breathe."

Robin was back asleep in moments.  My body was calmer.  The work still needed to be done, but I was no longer rushing, no longer anxious.  I put Eileen to bed.  I put Linus to bed.  I showered and turned on the fireplace to feel a little cozy.

I'm new at this mindfulness thing.  I'm interested to see how it fleshes out with my 6th graders.  I may try it with my own kids.  With the whirlwind that our lives are becoming, finding time to be present, be in the moment, and breathe might be what we all need.

Rule of 3

"The rule of three or power of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things." 

                                                                                                     --Wikipedia 

Not only a communication skill, but the rule of 3 is also a religious tenet of Wicca that believes whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, it will be returned to that person three times (also courtesy of Wikipedia--God bless Wikipedia).

Whichever version you choose to follow, the rule of 3 was in full effect today in our house.

1.  Russell Wilson, number 3 on the the Seattle Seahawks, overcame a knee injury to lead the team in victory over the New York Jets.

2.  Someone, who also happened to be wearing a number 3 Seattle Seahawks jersey, celebrated his 3rd birthday.

Ack! I know, right?  How is the baby bird possibly 3!?!  He was just born like maybe a year ago.

Robin was so excited to turn three.  I was surprised to learn he even knew his birthdate.  We had a very chill day full of snuggles.

We baked his birthday cake (gluten free funfetti with blue frosting and blue sprinkles). Then Robin and I made a trip to Third Place Commons for some special book buying (he chose Pom Pom Panda Gets the Grumps) and a side trip to buy a blue mylar balloon.

Robin napped while his siblings ran in a cross country meet.  On their way home, they stopped to buy him some small presents.  Linus selected a dinosaur I have never heard of.  He, Dave, and Eileen then spent the rest of the afternoon constructing a habitat for it.

In the evening, Sally and Gino, Tim, and my parents came over.  We feasted on wine, grapes, and Little Ceasars.  Robin opened presents like a pro.  Dave and I gave him Tegu blocks (magnetic and super cool), but I think he liked Grandma's present best of all, his own little picnic set.  One of Robin's favorite activities right now is to play picnic with Grandma.

Cakey Goodness.

Happy birthday Robin!......Wait a minute.  If you only counted 2, you are correct.  A rule of 3 requires 3.

3.  I love my brother, Tim.  I will do whatever I can to support him.  At his birthday, we started plotting how he was going to "ruin" Robin's birthday.  You see, my little brother is gay.  It was something he struggled with for a long time. He has been out to the rest of the world, but not our parents.  Knowing there would be strength in numbers, I gave him permission to come out at Robin's birthday celebration.

     In preparation I bought party horn blowers.  That way as soon as he announced he was gay, we could all just start blowing horns and cheering.  It totally worked.  I think the horn blowing covered any awkward silences that might have otherwise happened.  Our parents surprised us.  My mom told Tim she would always love him and just wanted him to be happy.  My dad sort of half smiled/half laughed, and said that he had had the thought a few years ago that Tim might be gay.  I saw Tim choke back a few tears.  I was so proud of him.

    And then, that was that.  We ate cake.  Laughed.  Played with the kids.  There was loud boisterous political discussions.  It was a celebration of family.

The rule of 3.