For Them

It's exactly 11:16pm on a Monday night. The last thing I should be doing right now is blogging. But, the fact is, I don't have a free moment between the hours of 6:00am and 10:00pm these days. It's always like this in the Fall. Only, this year, it feels like it's ten times worse.  Between teaching, coaching, sponsoring the Journalism class, being in charge of all the pep rallies, managing the TV's around school, planning the school trip, being a mom to a toddler pretty much on my own most of the time, and being extremely perfectionistic in everything I do, my plate is full. Like, running over the edges and spilling out everywhere full.  I am one of those people who lives by the motto of "Go Big Or Go Home." Literally. If I don't think I can accomplish a task perfect and to the biggest vision possible, I simply don't do it.  That's why there's so many tasks unconquered around my house. Or, at least, that's what I tell myself.  Point being, I can't just do an "okay" job at any of these tasks, so I am burning both ends of the clock these days, insisting on outdoing myself in whatever task is in front of me.  At this point, I am just counting down the days until I leave for Rome. In exactly 2 weeks, 4 days, I will be jet setting off to Rome for five days child, husband, and student free.  Bliss. That's what I call it. Pure, uninterrupted bliss.

Tomorrow I have a presentation at 8:30am. I might have forgotten about it until about 9:30 this evening.  Not because I'm unorganized. I'm so far from that. Rather, because I worked until 7pm tonight, came home, fed my little, bathed her, read her a book, and began working on this...

If ever asked what I dislike most about my job, this would be it.  Honestly, it's really the only part of my job that I even slightly dislike. I love teaching. I love my students. I adore my cheerleaders. I love my summers and holidays off. In the end, I even enjoy the challenge of taking on more tasks than one person can sanely handle. But grading essays, I. DO. NOT. LOVE. GRADING. ESSAYS.  This should be the work of prison inmates and not the ones in for petty crimes. Reading upwards of 100 mediocre middle school personal narratives should be the work of the hard core lifers.  The ones who will never see the light of day again.  Torture, I tell you. Pure torture.

I would be long done by now with all my work if I had a child that slept. Laying in my bed right now, she looks so peaceful. Little would anyone know what it took to get there. Let me condense it for you into a short, bullet pointed list:

• Two meltdowns
• One visit to her room to think about her actions
• One book
• One sippy cup of chocolate milk
• One baby doll, a monkey, and a bear
• One blankie belonging to Chloe and mommy's blanket
• One couch
• One fall to the ground from the couch
• Half an hour of wailing post fall to the couch. HALF. AN. HOUR. PEOPLE.
• Daddy's spot in the bed
• One wake up from daddy's spot in the bed once again wailing
• Finally, ah....peace. Silence....at 10:35pm...

And, on that note, I'll say this. Tomorrow, I'll be tired. Remember that stack of papers a few paragraphs up? Yeah, I will be attacking those in a few minutes.  I have a game tomorrow night, so we won't get home before 8:00pm at the earliest...another late night to add to the books. Be kind to me...

I do want to leave you on a positive note. I'm not one to whine and complain or even really be negative, so I don't want to close out all cry babyish.  This video makes me smile every time I watch it. We had a great group of students dance with my cheerleaders at Friday's pep rally and this little boy is just the bees knees. I adore him. He stole my heart two years ago, and he's just the best.  All my kids out there reading this: this is the owner of Fred and friends! ;)  He just has the best spirit and dance moves to boot! #lovehim

Truth be told, my students are my world. Aside from my family, of course. It's videos like these that remind me of my place in the world, why I do what I do, and why I'm still up (it's now 12:06am) on a Monday night. I simply adore them. I miss them when we have extended breaks. I enjoy their presence and those "teenagery" talks we have. I love building life long relationships with them. Doing things like this with them is why I'm a teacher. It's not about teaching them Language Arts. Although, I'd be lying if I didn't proclaim my English nerd factor, but I'm also not ignorant enough to think that at the end of the year they're going to walk away from my class remembering how fabulous that lesson on vivid verbs was...nor am I. We both walk away with fond memories of times like these spent together, bonding, being silly, having fun, and building relationships. And, that, my friends, is why I'm uploading videos of my loves at 12:10am on a Monday night...for them.

Till next time,

Lori

Mom Bags And A Case of the Blues

This week goes down in history as not the greatest, definitely not the worst, but not one I wish to relive again either.  On Tuesday, I can sadly say that I officially had my first student pass away. It's hard to believe, considering I've been teaching a while now and Northwest has lost so many students recently, but I had somehow seemed to escape having taught any of those sweet babies. So it goes, all good things must come to an end.  Sweet, funny Thomas, who could always make me laugh until I had tears in my eyes, was smarter than I could ever hope to be, and could spout out random bits of knowledge and quotes off the top of his head at any given moment, lost his life mere yards from my house.  Thomas was one of those students that I could always count on for 3 things:

1. He would always ALWAYS ALWAYS know the right answer.
2. He would never NEVER NEVER have his homework.
3. He would always ALWAYS ALWAYS ace the test with the highest grade in the class.

Thomas had the personality that stuck in your mind long after he was gone. Last month I saw him at Sonny Bryan's when I took Chloe in to eat. It was so good to see him, that I went back the next week to see him again. We didn't talk for long, but it's always fun to see how good my sweet babies are doing after they leave me for high school.  I'm so sad for his family. :( He would have done great things, I just know it.  Tonight I'm going to the candlelight vigil at the crash site. Anyone want to join me???

On Thursday, I had my first official weigh in and measurement since I began my diet 10 days ago. I. LOST. NOTHING. To say I was bummed is the understatement of the century. You can only deny this foodaholic yumminess for so long with no results.  I'm not giving up though.  Here's hoping to a more successful upcoming 10 days!

Now, onto the fun stuff.  The other day, over at Mix and Match Family, Shay did a post about what she carries in her mom bag.  You know, there's reasons it's no longer called a purse once you have kiddos. Seriously, the things you find in my purse are crazy.  My purse is even more crazy than normal right now because I feel like my life is going by in fast forward. There's not even time to shave my legs on most days much less organize my mom bag.  I thought it might be fun, and let's be honest, motivational, to empty out the ole bag, and photograph what exactly is in my mom bag today for you guys to see.  Seriously, people, the things we carry!!!

1. Frog bib
2. 16 Dance recital tickets
3. 2 combs
4. 2 pens
5. Lotion
6. Hand sanitizer
7. 5, yes 5 pacis in an assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors ;)
8. 5 lip glosses
9. 3 Chapstick tubes
10. Toddler hair ties for that kid who finds it funny to pull her hair down while mommy is driving.
11. Mom hair tie
12. Mom hair band
13. Taser
14. Goggles
15. Wallet
16. 5 day old pretzels
17. Sunglasses

Honestly, this is actually pretty mild. No phone today, no change of clothes, no baby doll....seriously, mild!

I'll leave you with this...it has come to my attention just how well my students really know me. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Check out my gifts.  Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, and more Diet Dr. Pepper. That's eleven Diet Dr. Peppers, people! If I have taught them nothing else, they have absolutely without a doubt, learned the pathway to my heart. :) #lovethem

 

Till next time,

Lori

Ladies and gentlemen, let the coundown begin!

It's SPRING! Last week we talked about how, for Chloe, spring means a brand new wardrobe.  Oh to be so lucky.... For teachers, though, spring brings on a whole new meaning. Spring is when the abundance of countdowns begin.

I'm pretty sure you could ask any teacher on my campus and they could tell you exactly how many instructional days we have left in the year. Did I say any teacher? ANY teacher! And, in case you're wondering...

There are 50 day, or 1 month and 20 days, or what sounds even better, 37 actual SCHOOL DAYS left until school lets out for summer.

That's not the only countdown going on right now in the Thompson house, though.  Summer is a busy time of year for us.

There are:
 

5 instructional days left until my students attempt take get tortured by rock the STAAR test.

62 days left until my baby girl turns 3. 

Check out her birthday dress I just got in the mail! Thank you Jordan K Clothing! :)

61 days left until my baby girl says 'bye bye paci.' TBH, this totally scares the crap out of me.

This, in a nutshell, is my kiddo. Bow, "sundasses," and a paci. Every girl's must have accessories.         

 

I took this picture back in January, the first time we tried to say "bye bye paci." I found her climbing on the counter to get to where I keep the treasured pacis. As you can see, it didn't end well. :/

78 days left until the husband finally catches up with me in age. PTL!

81 days until I am laying on the beach in Cabo San Lucas.

Here is where we are staying! I know, we'll be roughing it. ;)

I can't wait to kayak to this little piece of paradise!

And, finally, sigh...131 days left until school begins...again. :/

Not that I'm counting or anything...

Till next time,

Lori

An Unexpected Visitor

What a great day! Really, what a great week. Today was special though. This morning I woke up especially tired and was truly dragging. As I was preparing my class for the kids, someone walked in. When I turned around, it was one of my sweet boys that I taught 7 YEARS AGO! I seriously haven't seen him in years. He was probably a freshman or sophomore in high school the last time I ran into him. Caleb was a special kid. If I was to have a favorite, which of course a teacher NEVER would, Caleb would have topped my list that year. ;) 

This kid had personality for miles. He kept me on my toes but had me laughing the whole way. Needless to say I was surprised and SO thrilled to see him. He didn't think I would recognize him. Caleb was a little guy when I taught him. Not anymore. He's pushing 6'3ish. I recognized him instantly though. We talked for quite a while. Classroom preparations could wait. He said he was dropping his little brother off at school because he missed the bus and decided to come in and see me. 

My heart was officially full. This is why I do what I do. For a student, especially a boy, who I haven't had in my classroom for 7 years, to take the time out of his day to come say hi to me just because...it made my day. 

To all my teacher friends, don't think you're not making life long connections! We matter more than we know to these kids. Caleb and I sat there and talked as if only a few days had passed since he was one of my sweet babies. It was only after he left that I said, "DANGIT! I should have gotten a picture with him! This would be a great blog post!" Ho hum. :/ He promised to come by again when he's playing chauffeur for his brother. I'll be sure to get a picture then.

Tomorrow is #picadayfriday!  

Till then,

Lori

The First Day Of School

The eyes should say it all. It. Was. A. Long. Day. A good day, but a LONG one too. I'm beyond exhausted. The good news: for the first time in 3 years, I didn't have a single crying child! Usually I scare at least one. :/ The bad news: Today was easy. Tomorrow we start learning! That is why even though the hubs passed out at seven and my sweet, cranky, emotional Chloe took some Benadryl for her allergies and was out by 8, I am still up, still in my work clothes, planning away for tomorrow's lesson in a kitchen that smells like soured bulldog fart. Thank you, Spanky. My evening would not have been complete without your presence.

Oh, and, I didn't blog yesterday about my ESL test because I was frustrated with it. I guess I'm a high maintenance test taker, but I wasn't too thrilled with the testing environment I took my test in yesterday and was afraid I may not pass because I couldn't focus. I got my results today at lunch though and I PASSED! Praise you sweet baby Jesus! I really didn't want to have to take it again. Yay for small miracles! 

After work today I was greeted by the sweetest baby girl who wanted to be held. It was exactly what I needed after a long day. I missed her something fierce today! When we got home, she practiced the art of "selfies." I leave you tonight with the most beautiful, almost doll like selfie ever. Look at those eyes and that porcelain skin!

Nighty night, y'all!

Lori