Day Seventy-Three

Happy Halloween!

These are my fun toe socks... a relaxing way to celebrate!

Shown here, Maya and I in 1989. My costume is a "nerd"... Todd says I didn't need a costume... but I sure liked wearing a beanie, and I didn't wear one of those everyday.

Day Seventy-One

Another fun day on the river.


I am fighting off a cold or other various bug in my body, but it felt good to get out and work my muscles tired. Its been a long week and today was a beautiful day. Crisp air. Cool air. Colder water.

Day Sixty-Nine

Sheer exhaustion.
I want to break down and cry. Not out of sadness. But out of sheer exhaution.
Conference day is the hardest day of the year for a teacher. You have 9 non-stop hours of you: you-talking, you- listening to you own voice, you- answering questions, you- smiling... the smiling is the worst. My whole face feel as if its going to crack open and fall off. I am writing this entry with my mouth open as wide as possible... stretching. I imagine I look a bit like a fish. Open. Shut. Open. Shut. Wiggle. Open. Wiggle. Shut.
My brain is ready to turn off.
I think I will let it.

Day Sixty-Eight

Snow does not go with fall foliage.
That is all I can say.

On a brighter note, if you would like to see some of my favorite photos, I have shared them online at:
http://kindergartenerinme.shutterfly.com

Day Sixty-Five

River Mascot


Today was a beautiful day on the river. Just active enough that we didn't get the camera out, but I felt good and it was my first clean run on the New Boston section of the Farmington River. The links show some of the rapids we ran today.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/?photoid=2742

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/?photoid=2771

I hit a combat roll early in the run, which gave me confidence. (The last time I ran this section of river I walked off frustrated half way down the run.) A bit later Todd got stuck in a side surf and I crashed right into him. Then he had a chance to even our combat roll score. That was the last of the excitement and I felt proud to successfully run the river I considered my nemesis. Now I feel like I have run a marathon. Mom left a gift of Girl Scout Cookies (hot chocolate and Baileys) which is my only salvation to sooth my aching bones.

Todd is jacked up for more tomorrow now that it is raining.
Let's pray to the rain gods.

Day Sixty-Three

A few photos from play-dough making.


What fun being a teacher. This is my homework now.

In all reality, its a bit of a pain in the butt. Mixing. Cooking. Mixing. Cooking more. Hot, hot dough that you can't touch to find out when its ready. Todd saved the day running out to buy salt. I had one cup, but needed two. Now Todd knows why my kids eat it... MMMMmmmmm... salty.

Evening Sixty-Two

Dinner photos

Day Sixty-Two

Thank you all for thinking of me.
Today I am feeling much better.
A 24 hour bug crept into my tummy but has since passed.

The best feeling was listening to my kids in the hall this morning talking to each other:
A: "Emily is back today."
J: "Yesssss...."
Then they came in and told me that they missed me.

That is Kindergarten love.

Day Sixty-One

The downside to teaching

The downside to teaching is that you get sick. wretching sick. sick like-you are-a-little-kid-and-all-you-want-is-your-mommy sick. puking 'til you choke for air. Adults shouldn't puke unless highly intoxicated... or unless they are a teacher.
thank heavens for nice husbands and substitue teachers.

Day Fifty-Nine, evening

Week-end Blessings:

• Slumber parties with my mom, watching movies, reading books, eating french toast for breakfast, drinking coffee.
• Sleep, glorious, relaxed sleep. Sleep in a cool bedroom with heavy weight of cozy quilts piled on top of me. The cool of my pillowcase against my cheek. The smell reminiscent of my childhood blanket.
• Yummy comfort foods made by mom... no cooking, only reheating.
• Open house at my school. Fall festival for the families. Compliments and praise from everyone we met.
• Shopping at Joann Fabrics, buying many unneccesary clearance items, and finally getting my sewing machine cleaned properly.
• Finishing a good book, starting a new one.
• A completed to do list.
• A fridge full of groceries.
• Fun "Bizarre Bazaar" shopping for crafty goodness, buying gifts for family and getting project ideas for me.
• Scrapbooking all day, creating beautiful pages to show off all the wonderful people in my life and the fun times I had over the summer.
• Seeing Todd after a week-end apart, happy greetings and cuddles.
• Wonderful souvenirs brought back by Todd... new boating gear to keep me warm in the cooler weather: gloves, fleece, pants, and socks. All good bargains.

I am truly blessed.