From the Mouths of Babes in June

Eileen:  I don't care about getting dirty.  I care about living.

Me:  You are not wearing flip flops and socks.
Linus:  They're flocks.

Me:  You smell like bbq, dirt, and sweat.
Robin:  You smell like cigarettes!  (I most certainly did not!)


For field day, Eileen's school family was brown.  She rocked my Camp Hamilton beaver shirt.  Eileen was not excited for the school year to end.

Sleepy boys.  It is nice when they choose to sleep.

Leavenworth

One of my favorite things to get at auctions are getaways.  I live for the special getaway, the one you didn't plan and feels like you got a steal.  It gives you permission to take a little mini-vacation.  This year at the school auction we purchased a one night stay in Leavenworth.  I delayed opening the envelop that had all the details and was surprised to discover that our night away was at the end of June and it was already half way through June.  Whoops!

With some quick planning and hustling, Dave and I managed to sneak away.  With only one night, you can't do a whole lot in the surrounding area (by that I mean really take advantage of all the outdoor opportunities).  We stayed at the Blackbird Lodge (right across from the hospital and in the center of everything).  Dave and I walked along the waterfront while waiting for our room to be ready.  Once we checked into our room, Dave and I decided to taste our way through Leavenworth.

We didn't really have a plan.  We just start by our hotel and started walking.  There are so many wineries represented, a plethora of tasting rooms.  Our favorites (of the ones we visited) were Swakane Winery Tasting Room and Plains Cellars.  Swakane had the most amazing Glutwein (a mulled wine).  Both of these tasting rooms win points for ambiance, lovely staff, and friendly patrons.  We weren't the only moms and dads out away from the kids.  I would have liked to have visited a few more but time and a desire to drink responsibly got in the way.  We purchased two bottles on our trek.  Dave and I had a great time enjoying all the fun and food of Leavenworth.

Dave and I embarked on an adventure before heading back home.  We went white water rafting on the Wenatchee.  I have always wanted to do this but things like pregnancy, kids, and life seemed to get in the way.

We lucked out with our boat and guide.  We were with a really nice family with two teens boys and two of their teammates, visiting for a soccer tournament.  Our guide has been a river guide for 11 years.  When you are doing something considered at least mildly dangerous, you want to feel like you are in safe hands.  

Heading out and relatively dry.

We took on several class III rapids.

We got very wet and had an awesome time.

To my relief, I experienced zero motion sickness.  I found the whole experience exhilarating.   We used Osprey Rafting Company and I would definitely recommend them.  We saw a different rafting company lose a person and then another boat in our group went to rescue him.  The other rafting company seemed to have multiple issues along the way.  Our trip ended with a bbq and smores in a private area.

It might have only been a little over 24 hours, but it was so refreshing.  I love my husband.  Quick getaways like this are just small reminders of how much we truly enjoy each other's company.  I look forward to our next adventure, whatever it may be.

It's a Father's Day kind of day

Today we celebrated? acknowledged? honored? this guy.

What do you call doing a whole lot of nothing?  Really, we just gave the guy what he wanted.

Dave wanted the following:
1. sleep in?  Check.  Robin came into our room before 5 am. I dragged myself out of bed.
2. large iced chai and a Trader Joe's breakfast blend granola package?  Check.
3. Go for a run?  Check.
4. Work in his shop? Check.
5.  Time to just veg and relax?  Check.
6.  Pizza and beer?  Check.

I kept the kids away from Dave this morning until well past 8 am (this is a feat) before bringing him presents and his requested breakfast.  Linus made him a card decorated like one of the shirts Dave likes to wear.  Eileen had selected a set of Pokemon bowls for Dave.  I got him a smartphone projector (he was pleasantly surprised).  Dave is incredibly hard to shop for so I feel like this was a major win.

I took the kids to the Farmer's Market and window shopping at Third Place Books while Dave went for a run.   The weather was not awesome--muggy and cloudy.  This, combined with the fact that Robin started wearing underwear this week, made me feel less than adventurous.  The kids and I played, cleaned house, and read books.  After the mandatory rest period, I admit I let the kids have copious amounts of screen time.  The silence was glorious.  I read a book.  For dinner we went to MOD pizza. Apparently, they celebrate dads with a buy 1, get 1 free.  That was a fun surprise.  Linus was annoyed that I bought Dave a beer while all he got was water.

After dinner I let Dave just relax on the couch while I took kids to the park.  We played on the playground and rode bikes.  Then it was baths and beds.  All 3 were in bed by 8 pm.

Other than the pre-dawn wake up, this is the kind of Father's Day I could get behind.  Dave's an awesome dad and husband.  I don't have much to complain about.  The kids would agree -- best dad ever.  Linus even picked out a card that said so, so it must be true.

Aaaannnd Done.

Yesterday was the last day of school. The year went by quickly.  In some ways it ended as quickly and unexpectedly as it began.  The first thing I did upon coming home was feed the kids and then take a long nap.  Today I took Linus to a doctor appointment, got my favorite donut (nutty french toast at Mighty-O), paid $100 for three kid haircuts, read my book, and took a nap.  I'm exhausted.

The thing about teaching is that it's often about survival mode.  Your body and mind hold it together as long as they can before they sputter and give out completely.  Too bad Robin didn't get the memo and continues to wake before 6 am.

I've spent a lot of time reflecting about my return to the classroom.  I had a truly great group of kids, an awesome teaching partner, and a supportive administration. Teachers are a kindred spirit.  It feels so good to be back among my people.  I missed continual adult contact.  I missed feeling like I was something more than "mom."  I missed using that part of my brain.  My return to the classroom made me feel capable and competent (most of the time).  Dave enjoyed not carrying all the financial burden.  I also liked feeling like all the money I spent on a Masters degree was not going to waste.

The kids liked hanging out in my classroom before and after school.  Robin especially developed a bond with a couple of boys in my class.  The mornings were full of business with students coming in early for help or to just have a place to get stuff done.  It was often chaos.  By the end of the year, Robin knew exactly which classrooms to go to for candy.  He could be seen or heard running down the halls, often with open arms, ready for hugs.

I don't know if Dave truly appreciated how hard it was to actually get any work done with the kids underfoot.  A student one time marveled at my balancing act as I helped her with test corrections while corralling Robin on my lap.

The kids frequently captured our mornings and afternoons together on my phone.

Probably the most unexpected effect of going back to the classroom was the impact on my faith.  It's hard to not think about your beliefs when you are teaching religion every day.  It was eye opening to view the religion lessons through an adult lens.  Religion class gave me more opportunities to teach mindfulness and address the social emotional aspects of adolescence.  My biggest goal was to make students see the Catholic faith as something alive and bigger than themselves.  I wanted them to go beyond answering every question with "have faith, clean up the earth, and pray more."  I tried to help them see the connection between the Old Testament, the words of the prophets, and the reality of the world we live in today.  It was pretty big stuff sometimes.  I got a thank you letter from a student yesterday that mentioned how she liked that I brought real life into religion.  That made my day.

There were a lot of ups and downs this year.  It's not easy being both a teacher and parent in the same school.  Really it's just not easy being a teacher.  Luckily, this year the good outweighed the bad and you can't always say that about teaching.

In my office right now I have a pile of textbooks and lesson plans waiting to be turned into IB units.  Eileen is sitting next to me, calming down from a massive freak out after seeing a spider.  Toys are spread throughout the house.  Robin is in serious potty training (aka I'm running laundry 24-7).  Linus is in a precarious balancing act of being awesome and being amazingly frustrating.  I'm already missing my 6th graders a little bit.  Out the teaching frying pan and into the mom fire.

I'm excited for warm summer days, adventure, and lots of good books.  Curriculum planning can wait just a little bit.  Right now I'm excited for Dave to get home so I can relax with a good book and maybe binge a little Netflix.  It's June and I've got the whole summer ahead of me.

From the Mouths of Babes in May

Robin:  Woo woo woo.  Blood blood blood.  (what Robin says when ever he is truly upset)

Linus:  Did you bring our swimsuits?
Dave:  Only the one God gave me.
quiet confusion 
Me:  Daddy is saying he can go swimming naked.
Linus:  Would you let us?
Me:  Sure.
Eileen:  Ew.  I think that would be a little inappropriate.
Dave:  Eileen, the voice of reason.

Robin comes out wearing fleece pants, two shirts, and a sweatshirt.
Robin: Can it go back to being winter?

Robin: I can talk with my eyes open and closed at the same time.


Our kids love to hang out at Cromwell Park.

The Long Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend is coming to an end.  Sometimes it is amazing what can happen in only 4 short days.  Our school met our fundraising goal and was rewarded with Friday off from school instead of a half day.  We were further rewarded with some much needed sunny warm weather.

Friday
Dave did not get the day off from work.  I got to go to Nurturing Pathways with Robin for the first time all school year.  Robin always takes a while to warm up, even in familiar situations.  I knew I could not go in the room or he would just hang on me.  I sent Linus in instead.  Robin took his hand and became a newer, braver version of himself.

Down in Seattle we visited some old haunts and checked out a new one, the Cookie Counter on Phinney Ridge.  It's a vegan ice cream and cookie shop, with plenty of gluten free options as well.  Eileen was a happy camper.  She was equally delighted to discover MOD Pizza had vegan, gluten free options as well.

We finished the day with a picnic dinner down at Richmond Beach.  Our kids love the beach.  Dave and I pretty much laid back on our picnic blankets and had our own mini date while the kids played happily.  It was a perfect Pacific Northwest evening.

Saturday
We had another lovely Dimock gathering.  I snuggled the baby.  The kids played baseball and had water fights.  Robin wanted to compare heights.  I've still got a little on him.



Sunday
We loaded up the kids and headed to the Hood Canal and Olympic National Park.  Along the way we listened to the audio book of "Hatchet." Dave used Audible and then plugged it into the auxillary in the car.  I'm so grateful for him sometimes.  We finished the whole book over the course of the day.  Linus is excited to take an AR test and finally understood why we have been trying to get him to read it.

We drove just past Lake Cushman to Staircase.  It's a really family friendly/bad knees trail though I don't advise bringing a stroller. It's not THAT friendly.  We saw waterfalls, crossed a raging river, went over footbridges (some more robust than others), played in creeks, and even went inside a cave.

Robin did great, but needed some ergo time occasionally. He was so excited to run along the trail.  I think this is the best yet that either Eileen or Robin has done hiking.  The kids walked over 4 miles by the time we were done.

Lest you think that hiking with kids is easy or that kids never fight or complain, for your viewing pleasure.....

We finished the weekend with breakfast out, window shopping, groceries, and yard work.  How we squeezed so much into 4 days I have no idea.  I forgot how much I love the Olympics.  I first learned of their magic when I was 13 and on a summer backpacking trip.  That trip changed my life in so many ways.  So many smells this weekend brought visceral memories of my past -- Puget Sound beaches, the Olympics, charcoal grills, and beauty bark.  I hope my kids can use this weekend has a touchstone for their own childhood in the Pacific Northwest.

Mandatory Sick Day

I didn't sleep well last night.  I woke up at 4 AM with my left eye slightly glued shut and my right eye feeling off.  I was drowning in nastiness and had no voice.  I dragged myself to work, thinking I would hit the walk-in clinic after school.  My co-workers and principal thought otherwise.  They sent me home.  It's such a relief knowing I work with people who have my back and will cover for me, even if it is less than convenient.

I dropped Robin at daycare (if you're going to take a sick day, then no kids allowed) and headed straight into the walk-in clinic I went to last week.  I was seen pretty quickly.  The doctor was unsure of what exactly ailed me, but ordered me straight to bed.  We argued/negotiated over how long I had to stay there.   He also gave me new and improved eye drops and a prescription for antibiotics (only to be taken if I don't start to get better).

Back at home, I threw in a load of laundry, put on some jammies, filled up my water bottle, and hopped into bed.  The first hour was pretty good, I got caught up on Facebook, ordered a birthday present for my godson, and perused some sub plan ideas should I need to be out for longer than a day. After that it got a little boring.  Having been sick all weekend, I was already caught up on shows.  I settled for watching La La Land (meh, I couldn't get into it), took a nap, and then watched the HBO documentary about that mom in Wisconsin with Munchausen's by proxy who was murdered by her victim/daughter.  I started to watch the documentary, Casting Jon Benet, but it was so bad I just turned it off.  At that point I was on borrowed time until the kids came home from school.  I managed to read a little bit of my book.

One sick day is great, two is okay, after that sick days start to be a real drag.  Sick days are way more fun when you are a kid skipping school, especially when you faked sick by putting a thermometer to a light bulb ever so carefully so as to get just past the 100 degree mark or making vomiting noises while carefully pouring water into a toilet---not that I ever did anything like that.....

My eyes are in way better shape after the new meds.  I almost have my voice back.   I really feel pretty okay.  I hate to miss another day so I'm going to call it in the morning.  I have to go to school in the morning either way to take the kids to school and lay out what a sub/my super amazing awesome partner teacher might need.  In the meantime, it's fluids and Theraflu for me.  I'm going to try enjoy my doctor ordered rest.