my friend rachel, over at parton ponderings, is a teacher, too. her blog often inspires me and basically always amuses/interests me. so, today i'm copying her idea. (which apparently, she copied from someone else. but that's not important...)
ok, here goes. this week i wish:
- i would take the time to send a note to someone i love
- that my darling brother would get some job interviews in Philly
- to give joel my undivided attention when he talks to me
- for my classroom to be completely set up by thursday afternoon so i don't have to go in over my 4 day weekend!
- that my staff scavenger hunt would rock (and my team would win. though "bragging rights" are the only prize. darn. haha.)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
melted crayon art
oh muh goodness, please look at this:
wouldn't that look amazing in an art classroom? or a child's bedroom? if i didn't think it would take up wall space that i must reserve for educational posters, i'd totally make it with my students. but somehow, i don't think it meets PA standards. so I won't. but i'll look at it regularly. and i may make it someday.
(photos from here)
wouldn't that look amazing in an art classroom? or a child's bedroom? if i didn't think it would take up wall space that i must reserve for educational posters, i'd totally make it with my students. but somehow, i don't think it meets PA standards. so I won't. but i'll look at it regularly. and i may make it someday.
(photos from here)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
late August catch-up
where to begin? it seems ages since i last blogged about anything. i've been to NYC, started professional development at work, hosted joel's brother, and become a maid of honor all in the space of about 10 days. zoiks! how about i tackle life in the above order...
1. NYC: writing conference @ columbia university= amazing. anyone who teaches writing to kids in grades K-8 should go. don't walk. RUN to sign up. i still can't even process the millions of things i learned. to sum it up-- to teach writing well, you have to write, too; conferencing with kids during writing is imperative in order to instruct them how to grow as writers; teach the content explicitly without asking kids for feedback (just tell them what they need to know & have them go write!)...
2. also NYC: i finally got to visit high line park. oh muh goodness, it's lovely. here are a few pics:
3. my brother in law patrick came to visit right after i came home from NY. he's a good sport and such an easy house guest. fun times!
4. yesterday i started setting up/organizing my classroom. i had a few hours to work on it today and i'm thrilled with the progress. light years better than last year, ha.
5. my BFF got engaged(!!!!!!!). about a month ago, i was flattered to be asked by her then-boyfriend (also named Joel. hilarious!) to help him pick out an engagement ring. i was floored and so anxious as i awaited his proposal. in the past 2 weeks, they've done SO much to prepare for their january wedding. including dress shopping. and bridal party picking. (hooray, i'm a maid of honor!!)
1. NYC: writing conference @ columbia university= amazing. anyone who teaches writing to kids in grades K-8 should go. don't walk. RUN to sign up. i still can't even process the millions of things i learned. to sum it up-- to teach writing well, you have to write, too; conferencing with kids during writing is imperative in order to instruct them how to grow as writers; teach the content explicitly without asking kids for feedback (just tell them what they need to know & have them go write!)...
2. also NYC: i finally got to visit high line park. oh muh goodness, it's lovely. here are a few pics:
3. my brother in law patrick came to visit right after i came home from NY. he's a good sport and such an easy house guest. fun times!
4. yesterday i started setting up/organizing my classroom. i had a few hours to work on it today and i'm thrilled with the progress. light years better than last year, ha.
5. my BFF got engaged(!!!!!!!). about a month ago, i was flattered to be asked by her then-boyfriend (also named Joel. hilarious!) to help him pick out an engagement ring. i was floored and so anxious as i awaited his proposal. in the past 2 weeks, they've done SO much to prepare for their january wedding. including dress shopping. and bridal party picking. (hooray, i'm a maid of honor!!)
Sunday, August 14, 2011
summer 2011: washington style
we flew home from washington state and arrived at 5pm yesterday. we're leaving at 5:30 tonight so i can catch the train to NYC for five days. in that short time frame we've discovered a hole chewed through our bag of bread and part of about 3 slices chewed by a mouse. AND we've removed almost every item from our basement due to insane flooding. ohhhhhhhh the joys of home ownership.
our trip to seattle/the suburbs was beautiful! it was much colder than i expected (high of 75 and mostly about 63 the rest of the week!) but at the same time incredibly refreshing and crisp. basically no humidity. mountains everywhere. gracious/generous hosts. here are just a few photos...
the bridge at deception pass.
the dogs thought joel was so much fun. they're right, of course.
snow covered mountains! in august!
space needle in seattle
someone made this cool fort on the beach so joel tried it out...
we spent most of one day in this car. so we documented that. ha.
dutch windmill over a coffee shop.
joel tried to give caitlin a flower, but she didn't want it. so he wore it instead.
our trip to seattle/the suburbs was beautiful! it was much colder than i expected (high of 75 and mostly about 63 the rest of the week!) but at the same time incredibly refreshing and crisp. basically no humidity. mountains everywhere. gracious/generous hosts. here are just a few photos...
the bridge at deception pass.
the dogs thought joel was so much fun. they're right, of course.
snow covered mountains! in august!
space needle in seattle
someone made this cool fort on the beach so joel tried it out...
we spent most of one day in this car. so we documented that. ha.
dutch windmill over a coffee shop.
joel tried to give caitlin a flower, but she didn't want it. so he wore it instead.
Monday, August 8, 2011
we got a new couch!
last week we bought the first big piece of furniture we've owned as a married couple. we were beyond blessed to receive the majority of our (wicked nice!) furniture from friends & family. our basement has been looking a little sad, however, and we'd discussed the idea of putting a couch down there.
i've been obsessed with gray lately & found a sweet gray couch on overstock.com. we ordered it. it came in 2 huge boxes. i struggled miserably to put it together (alone) on friday while joel was outside. then i broke down & asked for help. amazingly, it was all put together and looking awesome just 20 minutes after i enlisted his assistance. haha. of course.
anyway, here's the couch in all it's glory:
that HUGE bookshelf was here when we moved in! i guess it was too cumbersome to move & we're sure glad they left it.
the next step in basement redecoration is to donate that big coffee table to the thrift store (or a worthy home) & replace it with a small side table & a (maybe mustard yellow?!) lamp. plus we need a little garbage can and a few more things on the wall behind the couch. ["free beer tomorrow" & joel's freshman track team picture aren't quite enough somehow...]
i've been obsessed with gray lately & found a sweet gray couch on overstock.com. we ordered it. it came in 2 huge boxes. i struggled miserably to put it together (alone) on friday while joel was outside. then i broke down & asked for help. amazingly, it was all put together and looking awesome just 20 minutes after i enlisted his assistance. haha. of course.
anyway, here's the couch in all it's glory:
that HUGE bookshelf was here when we moved in! i guess it was too cumbersome to move & we're sure glad they left it.
the next step in basement redecoration is to donate that big coffee table to the thrift store (or a worthy home) & replace it with a small side table & a (maybe mustard yellow?!) lamp. plus we need a little garbage can and a few more things on the wall behind the couch. ["free beer tomorrow" & joel's freshman track team picture aren't quite enough somehow...]
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
just a few things
here are a few things i'd like to share.
1. my friend rachel's blog is always funny and compelling. i just re-found this recipe for caramel corn & i'm most likely going to try it tonight. maybe right this second.
2. usually i prefer to keep my blog stalking secret (i'm a little embarrassed...) but today i was reading one and the author asked her readers to click the "follow" button. i might start doing that for all the blogs i read. because even though it's a little [a lot!] silly to admit, i do want the writers to know that people are reading their stuff (or, i'm reading it, at least)
3. since joel painted the bathroom, i'm on the hunt for a new shower curtain. the green paint is dark and our bathroom is miniscule, so it needs to be simple and light-colored. i like this one from target. should i order it? we still have a wedding gift card.
4. i've decided to start adding labels to my posts. simply because i'm a nut about wanting to find things i wrote about, in a timely fashion.
5. here's our new bathroom!
1. my friend rachel's blog is always funny and compelling. i just re-found this recipe for caramel corn & i'm most likely going to try it tonight. maybe right this second.
2. usually i prefer to keep my blog stalking secret (i'm a little embarrassed...) but today i was reading one and the author asked her readers to click the "follow" button. i might start doing that for all the blogs i read. because even though it's a little [a lot!] silly to admit, i do want the writers to know that people are reading their stuff (or, i'm reading it, at least)
3. since joel painted the bathroom, i'm on the hunt for a new shower curtain. the green paint is dark and our bathroom is miniscule, so it needs to be simple and light-colored. i like this one from target. should i order it? we still have a wedding gift card.
4. i've decided to start adding labels to my posts. simply because i'm a nut about wanting to find things i wrote about, in a timely fashion.
5. here's our new bathroom!
gettin' antsy
everyone thinks teachers are sooooooo lucky to have summers off. (and they're right. mostly.)
what most people don't know is that a.) teachers work their skinny butts off all year long (seriously, some nights the only chance Joel and I had to hang out was while eating dinner. after that we'd be grading or planning lessons till bed time!) and b.) sitting around all summer wouldn't actually be all that fun.
we've had an awesome summer so far! there have been lots of trips, a few special, in-town adventures, new meals, long chats, and peaceful evening walks. we've relaxed and talked. we've spent time with our family & our friends. but both my husband and i are getting antsy. it's actually kind of difficult to feel productive when you have so much free time. after multiple hours sitting at my computer, i feel a little useless. when i make a yummy dinner and we finish cleaning up, i think to myself, "welp, what now?" and sometimes i find myself getting irritated for no reason, other than that i don't have any direction to my days.
i'm trying very hard to make good use of my time, to relax, and to not complain. i know that most people would kill to have all the opportunities i have. and i know that after september 6th, i won't have many chances to breathe and rest.
what most people don't know is that a.) teachers work their skinny butts off all year long (seriously, some nights the only chance Joel and I had to hang out was while eating dinner. after that we'd be grading or planning lessons till bed time!) and b.) sitting around all summer wouldn't actually be all that fun.
we've had an awesome summer so far! there have been lots of trips, a few special, in-town adventures, new meals, long chats, and peaceful evening walks. we've relaxed and talked. we've spent time with our family & our friends. but both my husband and i are getting antsy. it's actually kind of difficult to feel productive when you have so much free time. after multiple hours sitting at my computer, i feel a little useless. when i make a yummy dinner and we finish cleaning up, i think to myself, "welp, what now?" and sometimes i find myself getting irritated for no reason, other than that i don't have any direction to my days.
i'm trying very hard to make good use of my time, to relax, and to not complain. i know that most people would kill to have all the opportunities i have. and i know that after september 6th, i won't have many chances to breathe and rest.
Monday, August 1, 2011
summer 2011: siblings style
my little bro came to visit us this weekend and we had SUCH a rad time. i'm always happy when people come here because it prompts me to find unique philly things to do/see.after picking him up at the airport, we parked downtown and went out to dinner. we'd planned to get burgers at a place i found online, but it closed at 7pm. so we went to ruby tuesdays. and i felt annoyed for about 20 minutes that he came all this way to go to a chain restaurant. BUT it turned out to be awesome. our burgers were delicious and the place was quiet enough that we could chat.
we also went to hear ernest stuart & family at a club. the music was great but it was really loud so we didn't stay too long.
on saturday we chilled at home, the guys lifted weights, and i took al to our thrift store. that night we had a picnic in manayunk and explored the neighborhood a little. BOTH friday and saturday nights included things i haven't ever seen/done. hooray!
we also had time on sunday to grill outside, take a walk in a park, and watch more episodes of "it's always sunny in philadelphia." thanks for coming, brother!
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