Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk - October 10, 2009 - Tacoma, WA

A group of teachers from my school formed a team to walk in this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in Tacoma. We had a lot of funny names in mind, but decided to just go with our school mascot (Firebirds) so that we could wear our shirts to school! The students had a team, too (how about that?) and they went with Pink Fire. I was impressed at the number of students and parents that showed up to support the event. We had a blast and the walk took us through a beautiful section of town - huge, old homes and a walk by the waterfront. And no rain! I found a home for sale that I loved and would move into tomorrow, but it was selling for $999, 900. A teensy bit out of our price range.

The most touching part of the walk was the survivors - each survivor wears a pink sash, so they are easy to identify. Here are two of our survivors - a high school English teacher who joined our team (her daughter is a student at our school and walked with team Pink Fire) and one of our office professionals (both of our OPs are survivors - amazing). We laughed and talked and they told me their stories...sobering and uplifting at the same time. A great day.

It's beginning to look a lot like...FALL! I finally got the garage cleaned up while Will was out of town. With all of my decorations accessible, I just had to sort through what I wanted to use. I don't have a lot of fall decor, but I found some adorable, real mini pumpkins and gourds to use to liven it up!

My favorite use of this pedestal yet!

A little bit of fall in the downstairs bath!

On the table in the entryway. That mini-pumpkin in the middle is real and is a perfect replica of a regular jack-o-lantern pumpkin...I love it. My Yankee pumpkin spice candles help to set the mood, too. Fall smells are my favorite.

Air Force Ball - 62nd Birthday (and Will's birthday, too) - September 26, 2009

Several weekends ago we went to the fair. I love the fair (I think Will could take it or leave it...which is funny because my sister just told me the other day that Chris loves the fair, but she could take it or leave it - ha). The major draw on this particular day for me was the fact that James Taylor was playing that night! We found some tickets on Craig's List that morning, and headed out to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine.

Another big draw for me was the Charley Harper exhibit. They had 20 or so originals on display, and I just loved getting to see them up close. Of course, I wanted to take a few of them home, but we just couldn't afford the $18,000 price tag...maybe someday? I have always thought about doing our nursery (one day) in Charley Harper - there is an ABC book with his work, and I think it would be precious to frame the pages with the letters spelling the baby's name. Will's Nana had a Charley Harper print of foxes (right, Mom D?) that is vivid and bright and fun. Will enjoyed the exhibit, too, and we found some favorites.

It was such a perfect day.

Just look at that sunshine!

We tried the scones - a bit hit at the fair up here - but we weren't impressed. Really it's just a biscuit with butter and raspberry jam...don't understand all the fuss (or the 20 minute line).

It was SO COLD that night at the concert. We huddled together and tried to stay warm. The seats were so close together, so when the rest of our row showed up there was a little relief from the cold as we were smashed in.

One of my favorites was a song I didn't know - Shed a Little Light. It was so moving the way they performed this song, too. The concert was packed, but JT is the kind of performer that makes big venues seem intimate. He had conversations with the audience and totally interacted with us. Just amazing.

I just love a man who plays the harmonica.

I love my job. I have always loved teaching - the planning, the implementation, the constant monitoring and changing - it's dynamic and interesting and purposeful. My first three years were a mix of treading water, surviving trauma, and balancing the extreme lows with the extreme highs. There was such a steep learning curve. I had no idea what I was getting into...and I never would have made it without the amazing, life-changing folks who showed up there everyday to fight the good fight. Those years were so influential, absolutely molding the teacher I am today.

The last two years, working at an elementary school, were challenging in their own right. I definitely grew in my understanding of how kids change from the early years of school to the middle grades. I laughed every day and I loved seeing the itty-bitty ones whose backpacks swallowed them up at the end of the day, wound so tight from being in class that they literally burst out of the doors. The energy was contagious and I loved being there. But, I always felt like a witness, a bystander - never really fitting into the equation...like I just worked there.

Now that I am back in middle school, my heart is happy and I feel settled. I know this age makes some people cringe, but I l-o-v-e it. It's hard to put into words the crazy/funny/awkward/absolutely-full-of-life world I experience everyday. Fantastic. Invigorating. Exhausting. But everyday if feels worth it (sometimes it's just a little glimmer of purpose, but it's there).

And just yesterday I had one of those moments where, as a teacher, you raise your hands to the heavens and say, "Hallelujah! They GOT it!" Six of my students from last year attend my new school. They all have the same teacher for seventh grade language arts, and yesterday I was at a training with their teacher. We were talking about instructional strategies and such, and she turned to me and asked, "What is 'The Whole Enchilada?' The kids keep saying this when I'm talking about summary." YES, YES, YES! They listened and remembered! I explained that when we're sorting out the difference between main idea and summary, we use hand motions and catch phrases...for main idea, we draw a little heart in the air with our hands and call it the heart of the story, or what it's mostly about. For summary, we spread our arms wide and call it the whole enchilada, beginning, middle and end. (It's important to note that these ideas came from my amazing mentor back in my first years of teaching...Sara B., you're the best!) The joy I felt when hearing that my students are using these terms and movements was almost embarrassing! When it works, it works. And it feels so good!

Just needed to share/document...for posterity and pick-me-ups!