It Might Be Time

October 2013 brought a bad case of summer blues for me. I couldn't wait for summer break. I didn't have a good reason. It was a mystery as to why May 16th couldn't come any faster.

Packing up my room at the end of the year was the hardest for me yet. Maybe it was the news just hours before that my dear OMM was now sitting at the feet of Jesus, but all I could do was think about next year. I kept thinking about how I was going to do things in the fall and wandering around the room. I wanted to forgo the deep clean that my classroom gets each summer and not shove everything in every open space. I had to finally get stern with myself and focus on the task at hand: finish this year first. Once I finally convinced myself to shove thoughts of next year away, I fully dove into summer. I didn't want to think about or see a student for a few days.

Now here we are, almost July and I think it might be time. It might be time to walk into a clean classroom full of potential and new beginnings. I am intimidated by all the work that has to be done, but excited at the same time. Right now, at this very moment, I am the most excited about my new classroom phone!

I think I will wait until it is officially July before I go in. A few hours here and there will satisfy my itch.

What is it time for in your life?

Book Meet

Today, the Book Meet Club was born!

When school ended, I knew that one thing I was going to miss was talking books with my students. When I finished reading my first children's book this summer, it made me miss them because I wanted to talk to someone about it. Today I got my chance.

Shortly after school ended a parent approached me and told me that her son wanted to do a summer book club with me. Since I too had the same thought but wasn't ready to act upon it, I figured it was fate. So I picked the three kids from my class that I was friends with their parents on Facebook and sent a message. A date was picked and a plan was made!

We met at a local restaurant armed and ready with book conversations. Since the  students are told what to read all school year, I figured I wasn't going to assign them a certain book to read and also we wouldn't have the drama of finding a copy of a book for each child. We were just going to come to the book meet and talk about what we had or were reading. You can read here about how I did something similar during the school year, but this time we weren't going to do any projects to go with the books.

For the first meeting we had two fourth graders, a seventh grader and me. I am going to share what each of us read and reported on.

Abby

Reread Holes by Louis Sacher since she didn't remember it when she read it in fourth grade and is currently reading Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Laura

The Missing Golden Ticket and Other Splendiferous Secrets by Roald Dahl and is currently reading Pickle by Kim Baker.

Dalen

Dalen needs to go to the library or a book store. He claims he has read all of the books he owns at least three times! He reread Dead City by James Ponti but hopes to find some new reading material soon. 

Ms. Wilson

I read Doll Bones by Holly Black and I Funny by James Patterson. I hope to start some of the Winnie-the-Pooh books here soon.

The Book Meet was a great success and a date for the second one has been set. So if you are in the Wiggins area on the 16th of July, stop on by and have a book chat with us!

Naps Are Boring

"So....are you going to take a nap today?" I ask the four year old sitting across the table from me.
"Nope. Naps are boring," he answers grabbing another chicken nugget off of his plate. I look at him dumbfounded. If he only knew how delectable naps really were.
"I would have to disagree with you on that one bud."
"I am not going to take a nap!" he lets me know the discussion is now closed.
 I shake my head and finish my burrito. I was hoping that he would take a nap so I could get a little cat nap in. Wasn't looking promising. Four year old 1, Sarah 0

Fast forward about thirty minutes later.

"I will help you sweep your garage," he exclaims grabbing the snow shovel. I look at him confused, but let him do his thing. Oh yes, the snow shovel is now a dust pan! I sweep up small piles of months worth of sand and then into the waiting "dust pan." I decided that I will try again on the nap issue.
"You still standing strong on not taking a nap?"
"I am not taking a nap," he nonchalantly answers as he walks out of the garage to dump the dirt. I sigh and continue to sweep. Four year old 2, Sarah 0

Fast forward another thirty minutes later and a cleaner garage.

"What would you like to watch?" I ask as we sit down on the couch.
"Looney Tunes!"
I flip through hundreds of channels looking for one kid friendly channel. Of course I am going too slow for his taste. "Why are you taking so long?" he snaps.
"Don't you be sassy with me, or I will turn on music and we will take a nap!"
"I am not going to take a nap, naps are boring." Four year old 3, Sarah still 0.
"There, not Looney Tunes, but still fun."
"I am going to cuddle with you!" he grumps at me flopping down next to me. He squawks at me because my legs are in the wrong place for him to fit comfortably into. He gets settled and leans his head on my shoulder. I have little interest in whatever children's show I found, so I open my current book.

Fast forward about fifteen minutes.

Four year old 3, Sarah Nap Success!

Guest *Heart Flutters*

I don't know why I don't think of doing guest *heart flutters* more often! I mean it gives me material for my blog, and it gives others the chance to practice their writing and share their hearts.

Dawnelle is a new friend in my life, but has become a fast friend. We work together at the school and she has been a huge help to me in many areas of my life. From grading papers for me, helping me with my house and feeding me more than she should. I have enjoyed her friendship and was very excited when she sent me a text this morning saying she had a *heart flutter*

Without further ado here is Dawnelle's *heart flutter*

Oh, what a beautiful Tuesday morning; I had been awoken by my darling 4 year old son saying good morning mommy and greeted by the laughter of my two young nephews. We made our usual routine of breakfast, dressing, my cup of coffee, gathering our school bag and brushing our teeth, said our goodbyes to the boys and Aunt Sydney and made our way to preschool. I dropped Keason off and was greeted with many other smiles and good mornings from the lively group of summer preschool goers. As I headed home, I received a text from a dear friend that no longer lives in the area asking if we could have lunch, which meant her car was being serviced at the local Toyota Dealership and she could use some company; which I was more than excited except I had already planned on going to Greeley to run some last minute errands before our busy week and family vacation. I was bummed at first, but after a few minutes of back and forth messaging I found she was on her way and would be in town shortly, and would like to go to Greeley to run my errands with me.
Overjoyed, I quickly gathered what I needed and headed for the door, I was going to meet her in Fort Morgan and needed to gas the car. As I inserted the pump into my car, a gentleman walked over to my car with the windshield washer doo-dad and said “Let me clean your windshield for you real quick, ma'am.” I was very taken by this man and his generosity and kindness in wanting to clean my windshield. I even stumbled over my words at first, saying “oh, please don’t, you don’t have to” he paused and looked at me with confusion but continues. I then picked up with my gratitude and got my tongue straight to say, “Thank you that is very kind of you to do that.” He smiled and returned, “Well call it my good deed for the day”. We of course made a bit more small chat before saying our goodbyes and both making our way on with our day. To say this gentleman’s kindness gave me *Heart Flutters* is a slight understatement. His kindness forced me to realize how wonderful our world still is, and that there are truly wonderful people out there. My cup ran over today with joy, kindness, gratitude and pure happiness.

Thank you Dawnelle. It truly is all about the small things in life.

Celebrating Past Birthdays

I am pretty sure that I haven't participated in Slice of Life since March  February. I thought about it several times, does that count? Hop on over to Two Writing Teachers to check it out.

Recently I started the third book of the Wings of Glory series by Sarah Sundin. You can read more about that here. They are WWII historical romance books and I have enjoyed all three thus far. If I stay up until five A.M reading again it won't be long until I finish it!

At the beginning of each chapter there is a date and the location of the character. In about the middle of the second book I found this date.

This particular date was my grandmother's 31st birthday. She would be about the same age as the characters in the book. It got me to thinking what was she doing during this time? How did she celebrate her birthday that year. Probably not with a cake, unless everyone saved their sugar rations and brought them together to make her one. I picture her now often while finishing the series and as if she was going through some of the same things herself.

I really don't know anything about her during this time. I think she was married about this time and assuming living in the North Fork Valley area. Was she working? What was she doing to help the war effort? Were any of her friends and family fighting in the war?

Why don't I know any of this? *sigh* Either I wasn't listening when I was told, or I never asked. Guess the plan now is to find someone who does know her story. My heart tugs that I am not able to ask her these questions. Thankfully I will see my dad this weekend and if he doesn't know the answers, maybe it is time for a coffee date with my aunt!

Sweet Summer Fling Break-Up

Dear Sweet Summer Fling,
I really did want this to work. I was very excited about you until about two weeks ago. Maybe it is due to the fact that I fell behind and am afraid that I am not going to make it until the end. Or maybe it is me just giving up too early.

source

I am so torn. I want to make this work, but I also want to make book club work. I want to offer suggestions to my students in the fall. I hope that you can see where I am coming from. I am not giving up on you totally, I just am not giving it my whole heart. We'll see where we end up, but Goodreads  has the upper hand on you.

Please forgive me.

                              Love Always,

                 Sarah

*Heart Flutter*

This last weekend I had the pleasure of escorting the Girl Scouts to the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. The girls worked hard this spring selling cookies to pay for this trip. We only took five girls, which meant that we needed to take two cars. I only had one rider, Morgan.

My McGillicuddy 

I have known Morgan for eight years now. She was in my first grade class my second year of teaching and I then got the adventure of teaching her again in fourth grade.

We have always had a special relationship and her mother often tells me that I need to take her home with me! Needless to say, I was pretty excited about the time with her.

Really the whole weekend ended up being Morgan and I with the other five sprinkled in. We went to the library at the YMCA and each got a book. I love sitting and reading with friends. Each of us reading our own book.

We also met a new friend together. His name was Jonah and he had to be the cutest kid ever. We were at the playground and he just waltzed up to us and asked if we wanted some ice cream. For the next twenty minutes we played ice cream shop with Jonah and his dad. It made my *heart flutter* to see her play along with him. It wasn't that long ago that I had played such games with Morgan herself! She was his age when I met her.

We went to a cute little coffee shop and sat next to the river. We were even daring enough to try a Chicken Fried Latte! Mind blowing!

She was even the one to discover that we had a visitor outside our bedroom window. I did not believe her at first since she had played a similar joke earlier in the weekend.

This is the second closest my car and myself have been to a bear.
You can read THAT story here.

Saturday night we all went down into town to walk around and do a little shopping. While doing so I was in the market for a new lanyard for school. I was unsuccessful in my search.

Tonight I get a text from her mom asking if I was home and could they drop something by for me. In walks Morgan with a new lanyard for me! It was such a thoughtful gift that she knew I needed.

Again, I am so thankful for the fact that friends come in all ages. I have several friends that are a good 15 to 20 years younger than I am. I never imagined that as a teacher I would make life long friends.

Do you have any friends that are a significant age difference?