As summer fades
The parent-teacher store is to teachers as toy stores are to children. And to parents.
Just as a child walks into a toy store and covets everything, a teacher walks into the parent-teacher store with the same desire: to own everything on the shelves. And just as a parent walks into a toy store praying to walk out spending very little money, the teacher also desires to do the same.
The unfortunate part of this story is that the very meager amount of money we usually get from the state is no longer available due to budget cuts and this rotten economy. Even more unfortunate is that regardless of the money available, I will still have 20 six-year olds prancing into my room in less than 4 weeks expecting to learn and grow and play. So on top of what I usually spend my own money on for my class, I end up spending more this year because, well, I have to. Unless I want to go about making my own construction paper and in that case, time is money, people.
Work starts back for me in exactly 2 1/2 weeks. Holy moly! I think the summers go by more quickly each year. I confess, I have already been back to my classroom. I have stapled fabric and border to bulletin boards, rearranged clutter in cabinets, and sorted through files. I know that trip was just the first of many to occur in the next 2 1/2 weeks, so I'm trying to pace myself.
Craig and I went to the beach last week for a wonderful, unexpected vacation. The beach is absolutely my most favorite place on earth. Doesn't really matter what beach, I just love the smell, the feel, everything about the coast! We also came home with some hermit crabs to be my class pets this year since the gerbils have passed. I'm not a huge hermit crab fan, but I think class pets play a very important role in going to school, so I am excited about them.
Julius usually barks or whimpers in his sleep while he is dreaming. Lately he's started wagging his tail while he dreams and I think it's the cutest thing ever. Both Juls and Caesar were away while we were on vacation and we were so excited to get back to them. I think they were excited to see us too :) We really have the best puppy and kitty in the world.
We are in the process of refinishing our kitchen chairs. I've been taking pictures of the process, so hopefully I can share them soon. I can't say it enough how lucky I am to have a husband who is so handy and so precise! He won't let me touch the sander or the paintbrush! I can't imagine why....
We're on the lookout for a solid wood coffee table to refinish and put in the living room. It can be square or round, but I'm leaning towards round. I've also started on a new quilt with red, black, and white fabrics. I've got the squares all cut and pieced together, just got to get started on the sewing!