Procrastinating on my report cards...

Okay, since I really don't want to start the monumental task of report cards, here are some things that make me happy...

This tree! It has the prettiest white blossoms on it right now. Its my favorite thing about this tree.

I love looking out my door, seeing the blue wreath with the white blossoms in the background. Hoping for green grass soon!
My tulips have started to bloom!

And this little boy is the best!
How could you say no to this face?

He really wanted to get outside...

Toby was fresh from a bath and he wasn't allowed to go outside...


But I guess he found a way to break the rules!

Waiting...

A few months ago

I worked in the dirt
digging holes and
planting bulbs
pulling weeds and watering.

Then I waited.
I walked by the flowerbed
everyday
as I got home from work
to see if the bulbs had sprouted.

Week after week
nothing.
Just mulch and maybe some weeds.

Then
One day
A green sprout
I rejoiced!
The next day,
even more.

And now...

My grandma warns me
"They may not bloom this year"
But I can wait
Because I know
they will come at the right time

I promise I DO teach grammar...

Friday was my grandpa's birthday, and since my grandparents come on Friday to volunteer in my classroom, we made a card.

I had all the kids sign it. See if you can read this note...

"You ant old! you young!"And this one that was added later: "you not young you old"

Well, if they don't have grammar skills at least they have a sense of humor!!

Weather questions

Today I invited a meteorologist to my classroom to culminate our weather unit. At the end of his presentation, he asked the class if they had any questions. I cringed inwardly because my students aren't always the best at asking questions. When I ask them if they have any questions, once in a while I will get an actual question. But most of the time I get these kinds of responses:

1. "Um, um, um..." (long pause) "I forgot."
   
   Or (here's my favorite)
   
   
2. "One time, when I was visiting my grandma we saw snow and then we put on our jackets except for Austin who couldn't go outside because he was in trouble and then we made snow angels and played in the snow and we tried to make snow balls but the snow melted and then we went inside and made a fort from my grandma's sheets and we hid from my mom but she found us!"
   

So you can understand why I cringed. But, my kids did a pretty good job asking actual questions (we practiced before he got there!)

But the best was when one little boy asked, "Why does the weather change?"

And without skipping a beat, another little boy turned around and said, "Jesus, boy!!"

Shoulda been a nurse

My mom's a nurse, and I think she secretly wishes that at least one of her daughters will follow in her footsteps. Now they are great footsteps, don't get me wrong. I have no doubt that my mom is the best nurse to her patients and I definitely call her with any of my aches or pains. She always has the answer.

However...I am the biggest wimp when it comes to medical stuff. I can't talk about IV's or veins and honestly just typing those two words makes me uncomfortable. And blood. Forget it. Needles. Yuck. I can't even walk into a hospital without feeling nauseous. I was invited to a party in my mom's honor at the hospital. They were EATING FOOD in the hospital. Mere yards away from VEINS and IV'S. Needless to say I couldn't eat a bite. I had trouble swallowing my diet coke.

Well all this rambling does have a point. I should have gotten over my phobia and been a nurse, because I feel like one at school.

I'm a softy, and the kids know it. Last year, the school nurse told me that my class had the most nurse visits! So this year, I decided to toughen up. My kids were going to have to be seriously sick or bleeding profusely in order to have to go. Even so, I have constant complaints all day long. "My stomach hurts." "I have a headache." "My throat hurts." "I have a paper cut." "I think I sprained my ankle." "I bumped my head on my cubby." I'm telling you, its NEVER - ENDING!

Most of the time, I try to muster up a sympathetic smile and say, "I'm sorry. You'll be ok." Sometimes I give some medical advice. "Try going to the bathroom." "Get some water." "Did you eat breakfast?"

But then the kids have the nerve to actually be SICK sometimes! Last Thursday, a boy looked queasy and didn't even ask to go to the nurse. He wanted to stay in class. Finally, I sent him to the nurse and he had a temperature of 104.7!

So, I'm at a loss. Do I act tough and basically tell the kids to get over it, or do I send them to the clinic? If only I had a bit of my mom's medical knowledge.

Treasures

There are certain memories that you want to store up in your heart and never forget, like precious treasures. Today I had one of those moments.

During my pastor's sermon, he was talking about Paul's journey to Jerusalem and how the people around him tried to discourage him from going. They knew - accurately - that Paul would face suffering in Jerusalem.

Then pastor referred to my trip to Thailand, and how important it is not to discourage me but to encourage me. He said, "We need to be saying, Katie, we are proud of you. We are behind you. We support you, and we will be praying for you." Oh and the best part of the moment was the church saying, "Amen!"

That is a moment I will be sure to remember this summer when I feel a little homesick and missing my friends and family.