13 Years of Teaching

On Friday I concluded my 13th year of teaching!  I can't believe how quickly it has gone.  I think it's only fitting to recap year 1, as it was one I will never forget.  

Let's start back at Indiana University, where I first learned about this teaching gig.  

This is my senior composite picture, taken in the fall of 2000.  I was 21.

This was taken on graduation day, in May of 2001.

I had accepted a 1st grade teaching position in Durham, North Carolina, and I was eager to begin my professional career.  

Check out that naive face.

I was jazzed about visions of collaborative learning groups.

Little did I know I would soon be hoping I survived the day without getting kicked in the shins by one of these darlings.  

I present my first class.  

Oh, they look sweet.

They were not.

They were the most ill-behaved group of children I have ever encountered in my life.  To this day, I have not met a rougher crew.  

The woman on the left was my trusty assistant.  By trusty, I mean not trustworthy.  She would say, "Betsy, I'm going to get a Pepsi."  Mind you, the Pepsi machine was located about 30 feet down the hallway.  She would then be gone for roughly 45-170 minutes, smoking behind the building and/or visiting friends somewhere.  

It was a nightmare.  Despite having read Harry Wong's "First Days of School" book, my behavior management skills were no match for this classroom of hellions.  

I would listen to Carole King's Tapestry everyday on my drive to school, cry and call my dad.  He would encourage me by telling me that this was not worth all of the misery and  I could quit.  I was determined not to.  

I I felt like Morgan Freeman in Lean On Me, but instead of radioing to "Get those chains off the doors" I wanted them on to keep my class out.  

I know this may sound dramatic, but I did not know that such young children could act like that.  I'm talking 6 year olds who cursed, threw things and spit at me.

There is no happy ending where I transformed the truly naughty ones.  

 I just finished the year and moved on.  

Every time I have a bad day now, I ask myself if it's as bad as year 1.  Somehow, it never is:)

The Zoo

Cousin Caroline visited us for an overnight adventure on Monday. She was quite helpful.

She read to Genevieve.

She ate all of the skin off of G's apple slices before feeding them to her.

She was like a mama bird.

The girls played on the porch.

Then the entire family engaged in a playful round of musical beds.  It was the worst night for my daughter since she was like 3 months old.  She was up from 11-3 and was inconsolable with her crying.  I thought she was sick, but now I think she just wanted to hang out with YaYa and Caroline.

During the night I slept in my bed, the twin bed in G's room, back in my bed, then on the couch.  It was lovely.

Caroline slept through it all.  

Despite the madness, the terrorist toddler awoke bright eyed and bushy tailed!  

On Tuesday morning, my dad joined the ladies for a trip to the zoo to the new orangutan exhibit.

I went to work.  

I assure you this top is full length.  No belly shirts for my baby.

This professional shot is hilarious.

The cousins wore matching pants, because that's how we roll.

Thanks to Bob and YaYa for a fun morning.

Memorial Day Weekend 2014

Our Memorial Day weekend turned out to be a lot different from the one we planned.  We were scheduled to leave on Friday morning to spend the weekend with Trinity's grandmother, Wellie, and his aunt and uncle.  

I woke up around 5a.m. that morning yakking my guts up.  It was a lovely scene.  I still have no idea what was wrong with me, but there was no way I could get in a car/minivan and ride 8 1/2 hours to Pennsylvania.

My two loves left me crying and yakking.  I'm so glad that I decided to stay home, though.  I didn't feel normal until Saturday afternoon.

Lady Genevieve traveled like a champ with her father, her Abby and her Papi.  Abby and Genevieve relaxed with some coffee on Saturday morning.  

I love this picture because they have the same coiffure.  

Wellie and Aunt Rose had created an egg tree with candy and toys for Genevieve.  It was a late Easter celebration.  

Wellie was in full force with her cooking.  Everyone was pleasantly surprised that our toddler was a fan of Cuban cuisine.  

On bedtime on Saturday, hugs were given.

The family went to a little amusement park that was in Wellie's town.  

They had a wonderful visit and I was so sad that I missed it.

Thank you to Wellie, Aunt Rose and Uncle Paul for taking care of my two true loves!

Back at the ranch, I spent all of Friday and Saturday morning in bed.  I attended Quinn and Mack's 3rd birthday party.  I finally met Hadley, my friend Melissa's baby.  

She was all smiles.

 The Wonder twins were in full effect.  

I was jazzed to get some cake after 24 hours of keeping nothing down.  

I also got a massage on Saturday, went to hot yoga and a BBQ on Sunday, took naps both days, and still squeezed in time for a selfie with Kashmir.  

This beaut was taken on Saturday morning.  5 lbs lighter and white as a ghost.  

It was nice to have the house all to myself!

Tubing, but not in a Lake

My little family has been boring lately.  Last week we had a little cold snap, and I dressed Genevieve in one of my all time favorite outfits that belonged to my niece, Caroline.

Velour in May?

My mother always taught me to dress according to the weather, not the season.  So there.

There was even a fleece vest involved.

This is my favorite view every morning.  Trinity straps in G and I hop in and start the Sesame Street CD.  

She spent last weekend with my parents.  I was able to attend yoga at the IMA.  

The scenery was beautiful!

I sat a lot on the couch with these two.  

On Sunday we went to Broad Ripple and had lunch with our best pals.  Then we grabbed popsicles.

Sweet Liam was quite pensive in front of the freezer.  

When Genevieve came home, she was back to marching in the laundry room.  

She also got a hold of some of my lip gloss/stick that she refused to relinquish control of.  It became blush for cheeks and chin.  Shiny and ever so easy to wash off.  

On Tuesday we took a family field trip to the otolaryngologist, which may be my favorite word.

My daughter terrorized the office.  I was able to showcase my stellar parenting skills for all of the people in the waiting room.  She tried to stick her finger in a light socket and ate some random pretzels that she found under a chair.

Then the examination proved to a very highly educated individual, her otolaryngologist,  that we are incapable of keeping her from once again sticking her finger in a light socket or from pulling the electrical cord out of the X-ray film light view thingamabob.

Grumpy Cat was there the whole time with his disapproving glare.

We departed with her minor outpatient procedure scheduled to have ear tubes inserted.  

I departed with a red face and sweaty armpits.  No joke.

Fun with my Favorite Peeps

My lady love and I continue to take loads of selfies, usually in the laundry room before school.  That was a great pun, in case you missed it.  Loads in the laundry room.  

We busted out the spring attire for our 84 degree day on Thursday. YaYa picked up Genevieve from school on Friday, and they frolicked in the neighbor's flowers.  

My dear mother snapped this shot of beautiful Kashmir.  We are celebrating her Quinceanera all week, mostly because I'm too lazy to look up her actual birthdate on her American Association of Purebred Felines or Fancy A** cats or whatever.  

I just know she's 15 years old this week or next.  

Yes, that is a kitty-sized tiara.  

On Saturday we had big plans for the zoo, but were sidetracked by another liquid lunch for momma at the Bakersfield Taco Company on Mass Ave.  My own dear Madre was driving.  I only had to steer the toddler.  My parents and Robby and Meghan joined us.  

We made our usual pit stop at the toy store.  Those be-khakied legs belong to Bob, purchasing yet another toy for Miss Sassafras. 

Genevieve was beyond excited about this Grumpy Cat bust that we discovered.  

She couldn't stop staring at it.  

  

Then we headed home for roller coastering.  This was G's big Easter present, and I had "forgotten" it at my parents' house.  

Our yard now has all of the plastic finery of a ghetto daycare.  Speaking of such, our fence is being sealed and painted very soon.  

On Mother's Day we enjoyed our very first family nap in our bed.  I think this is where G discovered her crib is bunk and our bed is amazing.  

Round 2 of grandparents rolled in this afternoon.  Abby shared the spotlight with Elmo, as usual.  

G's new whip is another piece of plastic.  

She engaged Papi in some serious conversation, all while remaining perfectly balanced on her quadricycle.  

And scene!

Time to remove a shirt.  

We had such a wonderful weekend surrounded by both sides of the family.