Kaylin

My sweet Kaylin won 1st prize for all 3rd graders at her school, and GRAND PRIZE for all kids in the Jesse James Art contest for her white horse painting, pictured below. She was beyond ecstatic, and so happy. This child doesn't win much, so it was so neat to see her win something. Macy, of course, was insanely jealous.

Kaylin also performed a few weeks ago at the Kearney football game. She did a twirler's class where they practiced for a few nights with the high school twirlers, then performed before the game started. She had a great time, and was so excited to keep the real baton!

Kaylin has been diagnosed with scoliosis.  We don't know much yet, but she is seeing tomorrow (Tuesday) her hip doctor. She's seen Dr. Sinclair since she was 1, and he knows her and her condition. I'm obviously not an orthopedic surgeon, but it's pretty obvious now that she's favoring that hip, and making her spine curve in the other direction. I am anxious to see what he has to say.

Split Allegiences

I'm starting to feel torn.

I've been teaching for Liberty for 12 years, at North for the last two. And I love my job--love the students, the facilities, the program I built from scratch, my principal, my co-workers, the laptop I'm able to use. I feel comfortable and at home. It's a peaceful feeling. We've lived in Kearney for 8 years, and the girls are starting to be involved with things through the school district. This is where the difficulty lies.

Then days like today happen. All day long, in my pigtails with yellow hair ribbons, I am asked over and over again "Hey, are you going to the game tonight?" One of things I pride myself on is making connections with my students, building relationships with them. And they were horrified to find out that not only was I not going to the tailgate and the game, but that I was going to the RIVAL (gasp!) school's football game.

So I came home, washed the LN off my face, changed my hair ribbons, changed my shirt and headed to the Kearney game. Then the guilt started from the other side. "Why don't we go to more Kearney games? Why don't you teach for Kearney?" And then I start thinking about what it would be like to teach at Kearney, where I would know first-hand my daughter's teachers, where I would be in the building if they needed me, where I don't feel torn between two schools. I would teach with several people we currently go to church with; how fun would that be?

In less than two years, this decision will come up. The man whose job I would want at Kearney is retiring in no more than two years. Do I leave North, where it's comfortable and familiar and feels like home, to take a chance on the unknown? It would be beyond words difficult to leave North, to leave students and co-workers and family behind, but it would be beyond words amazing to go to a football game where the players/cheerleaders/band members are not only my students, but my daughter's friends. 

There are pro's and con's, of course. A pretty significant one would be the pay cut I would have to take. But at some point, the intangible's can outweigh the material aspects. And there's a million variables--the most important one is that I might not even get an interview or be offered the job. Then all this thinking and contemplating is for naught.

No doubt this is not a decision I am going to make lightly. No doubt this is a decision that will be weighing on me until the moment it comes.

Instagram Fun

Just some random pictures I have taken lately, and ran through an Instagram filter.

Pumpkin patch in our front yard. The blooms are HUGE in the mornings. we hopefully will have a few pumpkins in a couple weeks. 

Macy stole her dad's tie at the wedding on Saturday night.

These little girls are as thick as thieves. Every day after school, they are either at our house or one of the other girls' houses all the way until bedtime. The mom's do the modern day version of yelling out the front door: we text each other to send our kid home.

Us at the wedding on Saturday night. There was a photobooth, and we may have gone in there 6 or 7 times.

My dad and his youngest granddaughters on his 73rd birthday last weekend

Macy has stolen my bike. Granted, I didn't use it much. But she's riding around on my super expensive mountain bike.

Just some slices of life around here!

Grumpy

It's Tuesday and I'm grumpy. I'm going to complain for a minute, then pull myself out of my funk and have a great day.

I'm tired. Last night was Open House. So happy our principal keeps scheduling it for Monday night, of the first full week of school (insert sarcasm). Makes for a long night and a longer week.

My alarm is set for 6:15. But the last few weeks, I keep waking up about 5, and dozing until 6:15. It's driving me crazy. My body either needs to stop doing this, or I need to get up at 5 and do something productive. Neither is probably going to happen.

Ok, that is all. Grumpies out of the way and I'm ready for a Terrific Tuesday. :)

1st Day of School!

School started back on Thursday for the girls. I was able to work my schedule again to be able to take them. I'm so thankful I haven't missed one first day of school.

Kaylin started 3rd grade.

She wanted little braids on either side of her head like this. It looked cute!

Macy started 5th grade. She and her good friend Kaylee both wore their concert shirts from the Big Time Rush concert.

At school. This is the last year I get to to take Macy to school, and it made me sad. I didn't cry though.

Kaylin and her teacher, Mrs. Q. Macy had Mrs. Q in 3rd grade also. We really like the way she is firm but nice, and really works with the kids on organization. Kaylin really needs that.

Macy and her teacher, Mrs. Ritter. I don't know much about her, but she seems nice.

They have had a great first couple days. I love that they love school and are good students. Looking forward to a good year!

First day of 2nd and 4th here:
First day of 1st and 3rd here
First day of Kindergarten and 2nd here
First day of preschool here and 1st here
First day of preschool here  Kindergarten here

Wow...that was a trip down memory lane.

Saturday thoughts

Whew. It's been a heck of a week, and I am tired. I'm sitting in the living room, enjoying the peace and quiet that I can until the girls wake up. I'm also enjoying the fact that it's 9:45 and they are both still sleeping--they had a heck of a week too, and clearly they are tired as well.

Two inservice days this past week,and I still feel like I have so much to do to get ready for the first day of school on Wednesday.

Today we need to do back to school shopping because, just like Christmas shopping, I wait until the last minute.

Please pray for Kaylin--she needs some tests done and I'll leave it at that for now.

Happy Saturday!

Wordless Wednesday

Been blessed this week to spend time at church camp with this pretty girl. We come home Wednesday night. I predict we both will be asleep by 7 pm. Kaylin will have to fend for herself.