The End Has Come!

You cannot see me (which is probably good) but I am doing the dance of joy! My very difficult year (probably the worst of my teaching career) has ended. Our last day of school was yesterday. The kids only came from 8 to 10:15, but they lived large during that time. They were absolutely WILD. We signed autograph books, watched the end of JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (the kiddies actually remembered their Earth Science I taught earlier in the year - when Brandon Frasier said they'd landed on Muscovite, my kids shouted - "They're toast! That's like paper!" They also remembered the workings of volcanoes, so they actually got more out of the movie than one would expect. That was definitely the up side to the day. Most of the children brought cameras to take photos of their buddies. Most brought cameras their teacher wished SHE could afford. The topper was when my biggest trial swaggered in with a $600 digital camera/recorder (then bragged that it was all his, but not as good as his mom and dad's cameras). My poor throat suffered horribly trying to talk over my hyped up kids, but 10:15 finally came and they were out the door. I was sad to see some of them go, while others I almost wanted to kick out the door. I've always said that MAY is why I do not teach 6th grade. The hormones and attitudes ... WHEW! It is just too much. So - now we are on to next year. New principal, a new fifth grade teacher on our team, and new kids. A fresh start, which is really the best thing about teaching school.

Yesterday was also Bailee's last day of school. She had a wonderful time, spending the afternoon with a group of her buddies for a "School's Out" party. We also took her out to dinner at Olive Garden (her favorite place in the world) to celebrate her promotion to 6th grade (gasp!) and straight As on her report card. She ordered her usual appetizer of Lasagna Frittatas and the Tour of Italy. She snarfed down the appetizer and a good deal of her meal. There's some left over for today - which is another favorite of hers - LEFTOVERS! She's already planning next year - she wants to be the Arabian Princess in NUTCRACKER, and she is planning on running for president of the student council. Next week she will start Summer Ballet Intensive at Bridusa-Moore Ballet Academy in Pocatello. I'll be driving 5 giggly ballerinas down everyday for three weeks. It should be .... fun.

Our weather continues to be - bizarre. Pouring rain today. Cold. Spring has just not come to Idaho this year. Bailee and I are eager to get the garden in, but we haven't even been able to get it tilled yet - too wet. This is very frustrating. I am determined that it WILL happen this week - despite the fact that they have predicted SNOW for today. Yes. Snow. I may have to shovel off the garden in order to plant! Good grief!

Despite the foul weather, we are going to the Farmer's Market today. Aunt Dalene is going to be set up at the one closest to us and we need some of her fabulous Shea Butter lotion. Be sure to check out her Whatever Floats Your Goat site on Etsy. They make great stuff.

Patience is a Virtue - and nigh unto impossible!

Bailee the Beautiful

Caribou - the cute

I do not like being sick. I do not do sick well. I have no patience for it. I don't enjoy it. I resent it. It is exceedingly unpleasant for my family to have me be sick. So ... I am now entering month #2 of my "sickness." In desperation, I went in to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. He confirmed that I am "a mess." I have a deviated septum, which (while not severe) complicates things. My allergies have added their complications as well. I also have a bacterial infection that has taken root in my sinuses, throat, and upper respiratory system. Ick. He has me on some new meds, and also had some blood tests done. I go back in the second week of June.

On the up side, I am feeling a little better. On the down side, my voice sounds like a long stretch of gravel road. That's complicated by school. I need to be able to shut up and let things heal. I'm also finding that side effects can have their own special cache. Ick. Also, as a result of my cough-a-thons, I have severely pulled one of my ribs. I do alright most of the time, but when I try to go to bed - OW!

Grandma must have been feeling left out, because she went out and had a car accident on Monday (while Diana and I were both at the doctor). We are thankful that Bailee and Gram were not seriously hurt. Grandma is pretty badly bruised, but otherwise fine. Physically, I should say. She is pretty upset over the whole thing. Her Explorer wasn't badly damaged, but the Sienna she hit had to be towed away (Explorers are the Bighorn Sheep of the vehicular world). She was also cited for following too close. The lady in front of her hit her brakes and Gram couldn't stop in time. This was her first citation EVER, so she was devastated. Like I said, so long as everyone was unhurt ... that's all that really matters.

Happy news in Idaho. The levy in Diana's school district failed to get the needed supermajority. It failed by 72 votes. Frustrating. This levy was the one they run every ten years to maintain the school buildings for the coming ten years. I guess some folks just want to let the building go to heck.

This Is May - Isn't It?

Today we woke up to - snow. Yes. Snow. Snow on the ground. Snow falling horizontally from the sky. Snow. It's May. Idaho is a confusing place.

I am still coughing, coughing, and coughing. I am SO sick of this! My allergies have fired up, which has set my recovery process back. Working is proving to be extremely hard. I am SO tired by the end of the day. I hope that I never get this sick again.

I'm still having trouble downloading photos to the blog. I'm sorry. This is very frustrating, but there's no time to get to the bottom of the problem just now. The end of the school year is looming ahead like a runaway 18 wheeler. Oh my! So much to do and so little time. It may sound strange, but when you're a teacher this is how life is --- the weeks go quickly, but the days are SO long! I know that makes no sense, but it still a great truth. My 28 trunky fifth-graders make life SO interesting.

Bailee had her GATE performance of WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY last night. She was a cute Oompa Loompa. Tonight she has DARE graduation. Tomorrow she will be performing in PETER AND THE WOLF at several different area schools. She is one busy little girl!