Vacation, baby

It's finally here, summer vacation. The last time I wrote I was sharing my send-off message to my homeroom and now there are all gone, tossed to the wind in all directions on vacations, some moving, some staying home and (gasp) actually missing school.

I am missing the routine and my work friends but I am loving sleeping in and I'm doing a rather spectacular job of it, if I say so myself. Last night I logged about twelve hours and then I still squeezed in a few more naps.

So what is on my agenda? I did go to a card making extravaganza on Monday and got my hair cut and coiffed today. I am thinking about maybe getting a pedicure tomorrow and I have an hour massage scheduled for Thursday. Not bad for the first week off, huh?

I have made a dent in the kitchen cleaning needs area but there is still much more to be done there and everywhere else in my place. I also need to get my flex plan stuff all set to be mailed in. I have a few copies yet to be made and then I will have a little more summer money in my pocket. Extra money is always good...

One thing I need to do more of is check my glucose levels and get serious about my diabetes. My MS seems to be well under control but I just checked my glucose level and it was 364! That is way too high for anyone, let alone a diabetic.

I also need to do some more writing (and lots of reading for complete pleasure). Ah vacation is a wondrous time, filled with endless possibilities and time for cleaning my humble abode.

A message to my students: 2011

Many years I take the time to write something and then read it to my students at the end of the year. It is my way of saying goodbye and good luck. Believe it or not, there is something inside of each one of you that I like. It is what makes you, you.

I like it when you support one another and work together as a team. I like it when you do your work well and turn it in on time. I like it when you laugh at my jokes or carry my chair in from outside or you tell me something funny, that is school appropriate, of course. I like to see your smiles and hear your laughter.

There are many things that changed throughout this past year. First of all, I am going to tell you a big secret. Listen closely as I say this: I was scared to come and teach sixth grade. It was something new to me after having taught fifth grade for so long and knowing exactly what I was supposed to do and working with people who were my close friends. I was very comfortable doing what I had been doing for several years.

I was so angry when I learned that I had to make a change to come teach sixth grade. But, and this is big, I learned and adapted and eventually thrived.

You did, too.

I made new friends and so did some of you.

I learned new things and so did you.

I learned that some times the thing that scares you the most turns out to be one of the best experiences of your life. It's when you are forced to stretch past your regular boundaries that you find out how far you can really go.

I am going to miss you, yes all of you, even those of you that I yell at a lot. I yell because I care. After you leave on Thursday I will come back to my room and it will seem empty because all of you will be gone. There will be no more basketball or bouncy balls. There will just be silence and all the things left out that I need to pack away.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for summer vacation. I just hope that when you return next year that you will sometimes say hello or smile at me in the hallway. Teachers like that sort of thing. It makes them feel special.

Teachers care about their students, no matter how old or big they get. I remember when I student taught in sixth grade at this very school. Mr. Burridge was a student in that sixth grade class. Now he is all grown up, reeeeeally grown up, and we are colleagues and friends.

It's unusual how life works. You plan to do one thing and sometimes something entirely different happens.

My advice to you is this:

1.) Be kind to one another, even when you don't want to be. You never know how much your smile or kind word or deed will affect someone else.

2.) Take advantage of your time in school to join sports or band and learn new things to the best of your ability. Life is so much easier with a good educational background.

3.) When you leave today try and think of one good time you had with me this year, whether it was watching a movie, reading a novel, practicing and practicing for the state math test, playing Scattegories or another math game, or something else; because, listen closely again, I will be thinking of each one of you and how lucky I was to be your teacher.

The half days are a-coming....

I did it! I put on my big girl panties and went to work and stood outside in the sun and cheered my little championship homeroom kickball team on. I climbed (rather awkwardly) through the fire window to get inside like all the other adults, except that I am much shorter, much wider, and much less physically capable.

I did it, though.

I have a sunburn on my cheeks and my nose but I made it through the day.

I even stopped and picked up a sweet tea from McDonald's after work.

All in all, it wasn't so bad.

Two half days left with kiddos...

And then there were four...

Four more days until two months of freedom. Four more days, people.

Tomorrow is the last full day with kiddos and we will be outside all day in the hot sun. I am so NOT looking forward to that. In the summer I enjoy the sun early in the morning waking me up, but I am not a sun worshipper. I am more of a close the drapes and turn up the fan kind of girl. Yessiree, that is me to a T!

I have a hat packed and sunscreen and water and a chair to sit outside in so I can watch the little urchins play the hearts out at kickball.

I do NOT want to sit outside all day tomorrow; did I mention that already?

It is going to be hot and there is no shade.

We are going to be out there all day.

I even have to eat lunch with them and I just want that time so I can sit at a table inside, away from the sun. Away from the sun!!!!

I will, however, suck it up and do it. Why? Because I am the teacher and that is what I do.

One week left...

I have one more week of school and then it is vacation time. I look forward to sleeping in, taking walks in the morning, and cleaning my apartment up in a big way. I have lots of fifth grade stuff hanging around that I don't need anymore so it just needs to go.

Then I can focus on my Stampin' Up! business for a little bit.

And, maybe some more writing.

As far as the limbo situation I mentioned in my last post, it still exists and I don't see any answers coming in the forseeable future. For now, I have decided to just not worry about it. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. I am allowing whatever will happen to happen just as it is going to be.

I am really looking forward to summer vacation!

Tough times...?

It's almost the end of the school year and I am hoping for a big change for myself for the upcoming year. Well, maybe not a BIG change but a change nonetheless. I'm not sure if things will go the way I am hoping and I'm not even sure when I may find this all out but I am trying to send vibes out there into the universe in my favor.

I know one shouldn't be selfish but sometimes you want something and you know that you can do well at it if you're just given the opportunity. So Mr. Opportunity, I am knocking at your door and hoping for some good news.

Last year around this time I was given a huge curve ball; I was forced to change grades after I was pretty darned certain that I was staying at the same grade level to teach Social Studies. I felt like I had been kicked in the teeth because they brought in two new people from the other building to teach at the grade level I was leaving. It still stings to this day but I dealt with it and moved on.

Two weeks of school left and then it's vacation. I may not have an answer for a while yet or perhaps I'll get one tomorrow. Either way I am hoping for some end to this limbo.

Happy June, folks.