I Smile When...

1. my spouse comes home from the hairdresser and has to tell me all the details...
2. JK recites from memory Cat the Cat, Who is That? by Mo Willems (especially when he gets to the "hey, dude" and "blarggie, blarggie" parts)...
3. I overhear the interesting and often humourous conversations in the library by two of my esteemed colleagues (I'm not eavesdropping, honest!)...
4. FK tells me for the hundredth time that she wants to be a scientist like Da Vinci, no, wait, Pasteur, no wait, ...
5. I find a favourite author's newest book on the shelf in the library...
6. the librarians know our schedule so well they know something is up when we show up on a different day...
7. the Sprouts use the local dialect in expressing themselves...
8. my students try to guess my age (and make me younger!)...
9. we sing at the dinner table and none of us start on the right pitch...
10. little old ladies tell me how "cute, handsome, beautiful and adorable" my Sprouts are...

Peace

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9, TNIV

Thumbs Up

Three.Weeks.To.Go.

Well, at least for students. The last day for teachers is June 21st. But still, three weeks! This morning, I wasn't sure I was going to make it. I feel exhausted, worn out and peopled out (when you are an introvert, being in a classroom full of preteens isn't exactly a haven of rest!). The family has been sick on and off for the past few months, daycare was closed this week and my students are now writing in their journals about how they can't wait until summer vacation (and I heartily agree with them).

Where was I going with this? Oh, yes. I received a literal thumbs up from a parent of one of my students this afternoon. You don't get those very often, so when you do, it's a pleasant surprise, and not only that, it's a kick in the pants. This thing called "education" isn't just about me, it's also about the students, the parents, and the greater community. So, moi, stop wallowing in self-pity. As a runner, you should know by now that this is about completing the race, and finishing strong. JUST DO IT (sorry, Nike!).

Them's Fartin' Words...

Trying to get the sprouts to sit together (or stand, jump, hold hands and so on) for a photo op is next to impossible. And then, try to make them smile for the camera...sigh...

Today, they decided to cooperate as taking a picture was part of their playtime (some kind of pretend birthday party, complete with sand cakes and other outdoor paraphernelia that comes with these activities). I gladly participated in the hopes of capturing a photo with both sprouts in it. Anyway, after a few practice pics, the first of two good pics ended up with a more serious tone.

Then, out of the blue I blurted, "This time, don't fart!" Well, little boys and farting words go hand in hand, and JK's expression changed (as did FK's, though she tried hard not to laugh).

An "Ah hah!" moment for any photographer trying to capture pics of kids.

Fast Food for Bears

For the past few weeks a bear has come to our neighbourhood to feast on dandelions and any delicacies it can find in the garbage bin. Each time it shows up, a repeated cry of "The bear, the bear!" from JK rings through the house. Little sprout noses are pressed against window panes in an attempt to watch the bear's antics as it tries to open the bin and take out food. Sometimes we even dare to go outside (though little people are reminded often to stay on the front porch as this is not a petting zoo!).

JK: "I see it, I see the bear!"

And big sister (as big sisters do) turns around and says "Shhh!"

Little Surprises

This might be a regular part of my blog!

This week's surprises: an hour of Saturday morning quiet with a cup (or two) of coffee listening to classical music from CBC Radio (streamed even!), the sight of a migrating swan on Garden Lake, JK singing along with Alison Krause's Down to the River to Pray on the way to town, finding a great language arts lesson plan idea with a science connection in a Globe and Mail article, and finding a five dollar bill in my spring jacket that I forgot about last fall.

A Tent With Stars

On our walk back to the school from daycare, JK held on to my finger and told me all about his day (with no prompting!), which included a walk down the road to the school and a visit to a "tent with stars" that had "dragons, bears and a big bird". I knew what he was talking about, as the little ones from the daycare and the students at the school were given a great experience today: a visit by a mobile planetarium. It was amazing to climb into a large, dome-like tent placed in the gym, sit in a circle with your students and look up at the myriad of stars, planets, constellations (which included dragons, bears and a big bird), nebulas and galaxies. The vastness of space is astounding, overwhelming and dizzying. Stories and legends of native cultures were regaled (it amazes me how many creation stories there are), discoveries of distant planets and galaxies were shared, and the wonder of the Hubble telescope marvelled. I am glad that both my children and my students were able to get a glimpse of the marvelous handiwork of our Creator.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Into the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19: 1-6, NIV

I Still Do (After 14 Years)

It's in the way you move me
The way you look right through me
Still brings me down to my knees
Every time you smile
And after all this time love
It's still hard to get enough
From the very first time I thought you were the one
Who'd make all of my dreams come true

I still do
I'm still amazed every time that we kiss
I still do
I'm never gonna stop feeling like this
Like the first time that I fell for you
I still do

They all might say we're crazy
Sometimes I think we may be
When I think about the way we
Live like life's a dare
I'd lay my life down for you
I'd do anything to prove it's true
I'd lay my life down for you

I'd do anything to prove it's true

Paul Brandt, from the album "This Time Around"

Family Quote of the Week

Papa to FK: "Please don't lick the door!"

Little Surprises

This week brought some little surprises: a cup of Tim Horton's coffee brought by a "townie", a school classroom laptop, a water dispenser for our house (just before we bought one, too!) and a nasty cold for me (sigh - just when I thought I was going to escape the family malady).

Manic May

I know I'm dating myself here, but this week I felt like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. It was Monday when I walked into my classroom and Friday when I stepped out. Time is flying by so fast. This month has so much going on: Science Fair, a soccer tournament, two field days, a visit by a mobile planetarium, student testing, and a school-wide bike ride (and other things I am sure to have forgotten about and have to look up on my school calendar, which I won't because it's 6 AM and I'm sipping my first coffee of the morning). Report card "stuff" is going around in my head (especially year-end comments). There are also deadlines for classroom orders for next year, student achievement awards, and after yesterday, a deadline for accepting an invitation to come back and teach for another year. It has been difficult to keep it all straight, and it has only been the first week of May. Have to admit it, though - it might be busy, but I love it (though I don't love the new gray hairs that keep showing up as a result - anyone have a DeLorean I can borrow?)!