I've had a great year and gotten really close to the 8th graders this year. I love the new staff who now seem like they've been there forever. And we are rapidly approaching saying goodbye to more staff including Greg. The end of the school year is always super intense with the kids acting out and tons of transition meetings, and tons to do. I always feel like I'm neglecting my kids and just put out fires the last few weeks. This year has been no different. We've had drugs and knives, depressed kids, kids in the hospital, lots of bullying.
This week we also showed the movie Bully to all our kids. It was super hard work to prepare for and really emotionally intense. I've had to deal with a lot of criticism for showing it at people assumed I was the one who decided to do it. It wasn't against it, just thought it was horrible timing. And Greg has been so crazy busy getting ready to transition to the high school that much of the work ( and the negative comments) fell to me and to Angela. Kinds of needed things on a sour note. I have to let that go and focus on the kids. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to many. And to Greg. I am so tired. But I have tomorrow off to go to Newton so that gives me a three day weekend to get tested up for next week. Three and a half more days!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Hannah was home!
We just don't see Hannah enough! And I barely got to talk to her this winter! We went six whole weeks without talking and barely even texted! Meanwhile, Hannah was getting her parent fixes by having almost every day afternoon talks. So it was about time she came home! I thought I would do the ugly cry when I first saw her, however, she was due in on a Friday night late and I that shed wake us up. She didn't. We got up and hung around and I looked by the door for her shoes and...nothing. I went upstairs and peeked in the guest room and, no Hannah! I came downstairs and told Scott I thought she ,ust have not gotten home yet and he asked if I'd looked in the other guest room. So I went back upstairs and started to open the door just as she came out very sleepy to use the bathroom. We startled each other and a few expletives cme out! So no ugly cry!
It was so very good to have her home. We had some good meals and good laughs and good talks. One evening her friends came over and we all sat on the deck. Scott and hannah took a cpoule of road trips to see grandparents. On The last Saturday Hannah and i went to see Leah and spent the day. I think we giggled most of the day. There is never a dull moment when Hannah is home.
Tuesday morning Hannah went to school with me to say hello to people and I cried when she left. She drove back to Laramie by herself in her new car!
I miss you, sweetie.
It was so very good to have her home. We had some good meals and good laughs and good talks. One evening her friends came over and we all sat on the deck. Scott and hannah took a cpoule of road trips to see grandparents. On The last Saturday Hannah and i went to see Leah and spent the day. I think we giggled most of the day. There is never a dull moment when Hannah is home.
Tuesday morning Hannah went to school with me to say hello to people and I cried when she left. She drove back to Laramie by herself in her new car!
I miss you, sweetie.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Prom
It is a beautiful Sunday morning and I am up sitting on the outside patio. I used to be able to sleep in late but now I wake up at 8:30 or earlier no matter what. I usually sleep 8'hours during the week and 9 or 10 on the weekends. Friday night I got to bed at 1:00 because we went to see the movie 42. Last night I went to bed at 11:00 but got up from 1:30 to 2:30 to take Adelle home from prom.
I had so much fun helping get Adelle ready for prom. Adelle decided she wanted to go and didn't want her mom involved. So I emailed all week with her teachers to coordinate. They arranged for paras to meet her there. I had found a dress to borrow but it was too long and too low cut. Gigi, the high school social,worker had Adelle try some donated ones on, wore her out apparently, and dropped one off at the house.
I called Adelle's mom yesterday afternoon and she said Adelle had been in bed all day with the covers over her head and hadn't eaten so we weren't sure she was going to handle this. Then when I called before picking her up, Adelle answered.
I brought Adelle to the house and let her do her usual Facebook and YouTube music videos on the iPad. We ordered her favorite food, pizza and I told her we'd get ready little by little with breaks in between.
First I had her take her shoes and socks off and try on the shoes her paras had lent her. I was surprised they were heels, short, but yikes. She put them on an awkwardly walked around the house and said they'd be fine. Then I painted her toenails and fingernails one hand at a time. I didn't do any cuticles or anything else, just painted them pink, because she chews her nails.
Next I had her put her swimsuit on for privacy and get in the soaker tub. I'd gotten the water a bit warmer then she likes it so that was touchy. Then I showed her how to shave her legs because she'd never done it before! She couldn't do it so I did it. Wow. Lots of hair! Took forever! Then she out her arms in the air for me to shave her pits! Apparently her mom does up that for her in the summers. I have ever shaved anyone's armpits for them.
Then I washed her hair and rinsed it and conditioned it. That was really stressful for her. She kept making little stressed out sounds but she handled it. She doesn't like water on her face at all and wouldn't wash her face.
She got out of the tub and put on one of my robes and we combed out her hair which went easily because we'd conditioned it and she took a break and ate her pizza.
Next came blow drying. I had her sit in the tall kitchen chair in the bathroom and took my large round brush and blow dried her hair. It was unbelievably full and luxurious and hung just right. She handled that well but with trepidation, also. Another break then we curled her hair and swooped the front back with a fancy baret. In between steps, I kept presenting her to Scott who could tell I was having way more fun than Adelle was.
Then makeup. That went fine but she couldn't figure out where to look while I put on the mascara so I had to mostly skip the lower lashes. She looked fabulous.
Another break while she put on the headphones and sang at the top of her lungs, good stress relief.
Time to put on the dress and the shoes and the jewelry then another short break before pictures. Then time to go!
We met Adelle's para at the start of the line to the promenade and waited for the boys. Earlier in the week, her teacher had gone to the Interpersonal skills class to ask if there were any boys who would volunteer to walk Adelle through the promenade. They all raised their hands! They agreed to walk another gal from the class through, then walk Adelle, then go back for their dates. It was so awesome. Adelle was super nervous. She sat rocking while we were waiting. When it was her turn, she clung onto the arms of the two boys and they announced, "Miss Adelle Sloan, a junior, and her male entourage!" She walked with the two boys with another five or six boys behind her with people clapping and taking photos along the way.
I picked Adelle up at the after prom party where she was bowling and she said shed had a wonderful time.
I had so much fun helping get Adelle ready for prom. Adelle decided she wanted to go and didn't want her mom involved. So I emailed all week with her teachers to coordinate. They arranged for paras to meet her there. I had found a dress to borrow but it was too long and too low cut. Gigi, the high school social,worker had Adelle try some donated ones on, wore her out apparently, and dropped one off at the house.
I called Adelle's mom yesterday afternoon and she said Adelle had been in bed all day with the covers over her head and hadn't eaten so we weren't sure she was going to handle this. Then when I called before picking her up, Adelle answered.
I brought Adelle to the house and let her do her usual Facebook and YouTube music videos on the iPad. We ordered her favorite food, pizza and I told her we'd get ready little by little with breaks in between.
First I had her take her shoes and socks off and try on the shoes her paras had lent her. I was surprised they were heels, short, but yikes. She put them on an awkwardly walked around the house and said they'd be fine. Then I painted her toenails and fingernails one hand at a time. I didn't do any cuticles or anything else, just painted them pink, because she chews her nails.
Next I had her put her swimsuit on for privacy and get in the soaker tub. I'd gotten the water a bit warmer then she likes it so that was touchy. Then I showed her how to shave her legs because she'd never done it before! She couldn't do it so I did it. Wow. Lots of hair! Took forever! Then she out her arms in the air for me to shave her pits! Apparently her mom does up that for her in the summers. I have ever shaved anyone's armpits for them.
Then I washed her hair and rinsed it and conditioned it. That was really stressful for her. She kept making little stressed out sounds but she handled it. She doesn't like water on her face at all and wouldn't wash her face.
She got out of the tub and put on one of my robes and we combed out her hair which went easily because we'd conditioned it and she took a break and ate her pizza.
Next came blow drying. I had her sit in the tall kitchen chair in the bathroom and took my large round brush and blow dried her hair. It was unbelievably full and luxurious and hung just right. She handled that well but with trepidation, also. Another break then we curled her hair and swooped the front back with a fancy baret. In between steps, I kept presenting her to Scott who could tell I was having way more fun than Adelle was.
Then makeup. That went fine but she couldn't figure out where to look while I put on the mascara so I had to mostly skip the lower lashes. She looked fabulous.
Another break while she put on the headphones and sang at the top of her lungs, good stress relief.
Time to put on the dress and the shoes and the jewelry then another short break before pictures. Then time to go!
We met Adelle's para at the start of the line to the promenade and waited for the boys. Earlier in the week, her teacher had gone to the Interpersonal skills class to ask if there were any boys who would volunteer to walk Adelle through the promenade. They all raised their hands! They agreed to walk another gal from the class through, then walk Adelle, then go back for their dates. It was so awesome. Adelle was super nervous. She sat rocking while we were waiting. When it was her turn, she clung onto the arms of the two boys and they announced, "Miss Adelle Sloan, a junior, and her male entourage!" She walked with the two boys with another five or six boys behind her with people clapping and taking photos along the way.
I picked Adelle up at the after prom party where she was bowling and she said shed had a wonderful time.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Weather
This has been the craziest spring! It just can't get warm! I potted a bunch of plants for the front steps and back patio including a washtub with pansies spilling out. It's amazing that they have survived. We've brought them in the house many nights, in, out, in, out. I couldn't believe Tuesday morning when I got up to snow. This picture doesn't capture how bad it was and only the people who were outside from 7:00 to 7:45 know howtruly snowy it was. It was snowing Hard and by the time I got to Tuttle Creek Blvd, the roads were terrible. I couldn't get going at all so I slowed way down to turn right to get off the highway and my car slid about 30 feet! Thank God the car waiting didn't go or I would have hit him. I just has to turn my blinker off and keep going. I should have driven the Rav4. Next winter Scott may have to suck it up and drive my little car. Can't wait for it to stop raining and snowing and get warm! Yesterday it was warm enough to sit on the deck with a jacket and blanket. I will live out there when it warms up.
Leah
Monday I took the Fternoon off and Scott and I drove to Newton to see Leah. We met her at the art building where she was loading her first kiln. She has had her art fired in kilns before and took turns watching the kiln, but her Professor wanted her to do this one on her own, with his help. She loaded it and then Tuesday was to spend the whole day, all eight hours, sitting with it, loading wood every five to seven minutes and checking the temperature regularly. It was fascinating to hear about and watch.
We had a cup of coffee at Mojos where Leah works, then We then went out to eat at La Fiesta, a change for us, since we almost always eat at Chongs. Then we watched Leah's last official Bethel orchestra concert. We sat right in the front row about ten feet from Leah and joked that we were going to move out chairs up even closer. Scott asked if we had to have instruments to sit by her, ha ha. Leah told David to sit with us, I don't think he was planning on the front row! We are so proud of our Leah and so happy for the amazing experiences she's had at Bethel.
We had a cup of coffee at Mojos where Leah works, then We then went out to eat at La Fiesta, a change for us, since we almost always eat at Chongs. Then we watched Leah's last official Bethel orchestra concert. We sat right in the front row about ten feet from Leah and joked that we were going to move out chairs up even closer. Scott asked if we had to have instruments to sit by her, ha ha. Leah told David to sit with us, I don't think he was planning on the front row! We are so proud of our Leah and so happy for the amazing experiences she's had at Bethel.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Vacation
I can't even begin to explain how stressful the couple of weeks leading up to this vacation were, at work, the car wreck.... This relaxation was sooooo needed.
We arrived in Mexico late in the afternoon on Monday. We were so tired and overwhelmed with how gigantic this place is, that we just sort of hung out in the rooms for while. Then we cleaned up and went for a wonderful meal in what turns out to be our favorite restaurant here. We are treated like kings and queens in all the restaurants, chairs pulled out, napkins placed on laps, greeted as if we are best friends, waters filled ata moment notice, a dirty plate removed almost immediately. The restaurant we like best is called Mo Mo Hana or something like that, it is Japanese. I had sweet and sour pork while Mom and Scott has salmon. Then we all had fried ice cream.
Breakfast is in a beautiful open air restaurant with a big, tall grass roof. I am partaking of lots of delicious no no's like pastries.
Days are filled with laying in the sun, looking at the waves, reading books, or relaxing in the hammock on the balcony, napping in the air conditioning.
Yesterday we went to the spa and had hydrotherapy which is a series of sauna, steam, jacuzzi, etc. Mom and I then had manis and pedis and Scott had a deep tissue massage. Ask him about it. He was amazed to put it mildly. I had forgotten it was his first massage ever. It was whole body. Only missed a few places:) ha ha. We all went back for relaxing massages last night. One hour twenty minutes. Pretty much all over but not certain places. I was so relaxed I was concentrating on not drooling onto the floor.
I went for a short run in an obstacle course yesterday morning and last night Scott and I went for a long walk including through a 2 k labyrinth of bushes. We walked along the beachway. There isn't a traditional beach here but there are beautiful man made lagoons and walkways. You can see and hear the waves just beyond. They are really strong, especially in the late afternoon. I love how they hit and spray up twenty feet or so.
It is warm here, of course. There is a nice breeze most of the time so if you get in the shade it feels wonderful. We are all sunburned so we will sit under a hut with our legs sticking out until they burn, too.
One more day and i think we will do more of the same. Why not?
We arrived in Mexico late in the afternoon on Monday. We were so tired and overwhelmed with how gigantic this place is, that we just sort of hung out in the rooms for while. Then we cleaned up and went for a wonderful meal in what turns out to be our favorite restaurant here. We are treated like kings and queens in all the restaurants, chairs pulled out, napkins placed on laps, greeted as if we are best friends, waters filled ata moment notice, a dirty plate removed almost immediately. The restaurant we like best is called Mo Mo Hana or something like that, it is Japanese. I had sweet and sour pork while Mom and Scott has salmon. Then we all had fried ice cream.
Breakfast is in a beautiful open air restaurant with a big, tall grass roof. I am partaking of lots of delicious no no's like pastries.
Days are filled with laying in the sun, looking at the waves, reading books, or relaxing in the hammock on the balcony, napping in the air conditioning.
Yesterday we went to the spa and had hydrotherapy which is a series of sauna, steam, jacuzzi, etc. Mom and I then had manis and pedis and Scott had a deep tissue massage. Ask him about it. He was amazed to put it mildly. I had forgotten it was his first massage ever. It was whole body. Only missed a few places:) ha ha. We all went back for relaxing massages last night. One hour twenty minutes. Pretty much all over but not certain places. I was so relaxed I was concentrating on not drooling onto the floor.
I went for a short run in an obstacle course yesterday morning and last night Scott and I went for a long walk including through a 2 k labyrinth of bushes. We walked along the beachway. There isn't a traditional beach here but there are beautiful man made lagoons and walkways. You can see and hear the waves just beyond. They are really strong, especially in the late afternoon. I love how they hit and spray up twenty feet or so.
It is warm here, of course. There is a nice breeze most of the time so if you get in the shade it feels wonderful. We are all sunburned so we will sit under a hut with our legs sticking out until they burn, too.
One more day and i think we will do more of the same. Why not?
Friday and Today
Yesterday Scott spent the entire day driving to Wichita to get me a new car. It's awesome. I really like it. It's tiny and super bright and 5 speed, fun to drive. A mazda2. It plays Pandora radio through my phone or my iPod. The trunk held all my groceries. Two times I needed to turn around in a tight space and giggled because it turns in such a tiny circle! It fits in almost any space! I figure even though its tiny, it's safe because you can't miss it coming! Scott and I joked that if it got hit, it would fly and bounce and roll but there are so many airbags in it, it would be like follow around in a marshmallow!
This morning I got up and had ,y quiet time and cleaned then Greg came over to bring Adelle a prom dress from his daughter to try on. He liked my new car and I gave him a tour of the house. Greg is my Principal. He's leaving to go to the High School next year and we will really miss him. He's gonna do some great things up there.
Then I ran over to Angela's to show her my car and she loved it, too. Angela is the new counselor this year and she's becoming,ing a really good friend.
Then I picked up Cecilia, my International Buddy, and we drove out to the Konza and hiked the 2.5 mile trail. The weather was perfect, 67degrees, breezy. We also drove by Eisenhower and then out to the lake. It's funny when she stops and takes pictures of things she thinks are cool...Tuttle Creek Lake is cool? We are getting comfortable with each other and today we laughed quite a bit. She practices her English and lately I've been practicing my Spanish, too. Whew, I am really rusty!
Here are some pics os the Konza and the new car.
This morning I got up and had ,y quiet time and cleaned then Greg came over to bring Adelle a prom dress from his daughter to try on. He liked my new car and I gave him a tour of the house. Greg is my Principal. He's leaving to go to the High School next year and we will really miss him. He's gonna do some great things up there.
Then I ran over to Angela's to show her my car and she loved it, too. Angela is the new counselor this year and she's becoming,ing a really good friend.
Then I picked up Cecilia, my International Buddy, and we drove out to the Konza and hiked the 2.5 mile trail. The weather was perfect, 67degrees, breezy. We also drove by Eisenhower and then out to the lake. It's funny when she stops and takes pictures of things she thinks are cool...Tuttle Creek Lake is cool? We are getting comfortable with each other and today we laughed quite a bit. She practices her English and lately I've been practicing my Spanish, too. Whew, I am really rusty!
Here are some pics os the Konza and the new car.
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