Ethan, the Caterpillar Whispererer just now

They ate all my parsley!  But he was thrilled to discover them.

First Day of Kindergarten and 3rd Grade....

...and I didn't even cry!

Both boys had a great time.  The classes I taught were fun, as well.

Here's to a great school year!

A little anxiety.... 2015-2016 Students Start Tomorrow!

Students start tomorrow! Two of them, AT MY SCHOOL, will be Andrew (3rd) and Ethan (Kindergarten).


This has been kind of a rough start to the school year, but I know all will be well:

• I am happy/sad that my baby is in Kindergarten.  Mostly sad. Time. {sigh}
• My best friend was just diagnosed yesterday with breast cancer and is facing a bilateral mastectomy and probably chemo.  
• My classroom is not where it should be yet and I still need to spend the next few days making it so.

But everything will work out.  In the end, we are all lucky people!

The steel pans were delivered this afternoon.  It is a good problem to have.
There is no chance of having them unpacked before the students come in tomorrow morning,
so I moved them to the walls shortly after this photo was taken.

Our school wide theme is Pete the Cat.  I love him.  So, I made this bulletin board.  The only thing that needs fixing is his floating pan.  No one plays a pan that floats in the air.

Here's to getting over the back-to-school jitters that I get every year (even #17).  Everything is going to be great!

As my best friend who is facing the biggest challenge of her life always says, "Just float."
And I will.
Like Pete's pan.

I'm Back to School!

It was back to school for me today. Kids start in a week. I love my school and my administration. I also really love my related arts team members, some of whom are pictured here, cutting up during this morning's inservice. Really looking forward to this year!

Summer Pattern

Tomorrow, I embark upon full-time elementary music teaching, year 17. SEVENTEEN.  Where does the time go?

And my summers have fallen into a pattern over the past few years....

Early June: List-making and exercise plans and imaginings of phone calls to long, lost friends and family.

Mid June: I'll do all of that tomorrow.  I'm on summer break!  I am hungry.  I want something cheesy and fattening and delicious.

Early July: Vacation time!  I will run tomorrow, I promise.  For now, I will sit on the beach.

Mid July: OMG scale!  This can't be happening.  I think the thing is broken.  Now what's on HBO?

Early August: I must have shrunken my school pants when I washed them back in late May.  I need to be more careful about that.  Now, to have that ice cream as I make my latest school to-do list....

So, the scale is in a really ugly place and I will spend a few months this fall getting it into a more reasonable spot.  I do have fitness goals this semester.  Major ones: Ray Tanner 12K October 24 and Lexington Half November 14.  Already registered.  No turning back.  Plan to clean up the eating and actually take care of myself this fall.  I want to become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers by the end of 2015, which means there is major work to be done.  Training plan is in place and I have been limping my way through a few August miles already.  I will NOT miss a day of training.  It is all in ink on the planner.

Professionally, I am excited, as well.  This year will be interesting and challenging and exciting: new steel band at our school, possible arts grant recipients, honor band trip to Hawaii in March, and this Friday I am presenting about Orff, my LOVE, to the district elementary teachers.

To accomplish everything I have in my swirling head, I must get, and STAY, organized.  I know this and laying it all out here for all 5 of my blog readers to see will hold me accountable.

In the meantime, I will spend today running a couple of errands, but mostly reflecting on the amazing summer our family has had.  There were many, many special moments:

Summer of 2015, you will be missed!