Ian's 4th Birthday Party

Having family in town means we get to attend family celebrations. Last Saturday Ian had a Michael Jackson Thriller party to celebrate his fourth birthday and we were in atendance.

 It just took some grey eye shadow and red lipstick to turn the two of us into zombies.

 Vanessa used the sign boards she got for Christmas to add to the birthday decor.

 Aunt Lisa was there.

 Dad (Curt.)

 Mom (Vanessa.)

 We played "Pin the Sequined Glove on Michael."

Aunt Lisa and Ian do their best zombie impressions.

 The winners of the pinning game!

 Mila was a Disney princess zombie (who liked Ian's bubbles.)

 The cake.

Happy Birthday, Ian! We love you!

Student Teacher's Last Day

I haven't had a student teacher since I left Urbana in 2006. Block students? Yes; they only come once a week for two hours over the course of nine weeks. But having a full time student teacher is not something I felt I wanted to have until last spring. I was feeling tired and unwell, and had concerns about keeping up with all my teaching and classroom duties. A student teacher would require work on my part, but would also be helpful as well.

And so I took the plunge last spring and interviewed Caitlin Schley. Like me, she was an older student. She had had a career as a radiology technician for several years before realizing that she wanted to do something more meaningful.

I think she found not just her career, but her calling as well. She is a fantastic teacher!

Since she is a devout Christian, I gave her one of my favorite prints of a woman in the "full armor of God." It has symbolism for her as a teacher, as a woman, as a mother and wife, and as a daughter of God. She loved it.

 She also gave me a painting - an original watercolor by an artist who lives in Delphi.

 Caitlin was so excited about it that she had me open it before the kids arrived! Then we rewrapped it and I opened it in front of the students later that morning.

 Caitlin has been a blessing to me and to our students. She has also become a dear friend. I will miss her as she moves on.

Eagle Court of Honor

Last Sunday I was invited to attend a former student's Eagle Court of Honor.

Noah has stayed in touch since he left my classroom and was a member of Harrison's State Champion Quiz Bowl team. (Go here to read about that.)

 His parents joined him as he gave them small gifts to thank them for their help.

And State Representative Sheila Klinker came and gave Noah a certificate from the state General Assembly as well as a flag that had flown over the state capitol building.

It is always an honor to be included in former students' lives, and this event was no exception. Well done, Noah!

Flying High with Mrs. I

My students surprised me with this thank you video yesterday. I started crying from the get go!

Kyle - Serving

When a disaster strikes anywhere in the world, the Church activates Mormon Helping Hands, using members who live close by (or those who are bused in) to come help with clean up. It is a free service and offered to anyone in need.

After Hurricane Irma, Kyle (who had remained behind and ridden out the hurricane at home) served every weekend for nearly a month with Mormon Helping Hands in Florida. And not just St. Augustine where he lives, but around the state.

Sure hope there are no snakes or alligators in that murky, muddy water!

 And, that he doesn't fall off the roof! (It's obvious I'm his mama, isn't it?!)

Kyle is in the back row, middle, with the white hat.

I am proud of him for his service, even though I worry just a smidge!

Funny Kiddos

My kids send me photos of their own children, and sometimes I burst out laughing at what I see. Here are a couple of recent favorites.

 This is Kate playing hide and seek. I guess if her head is hidden, then you can't see her, right?

And here are Curt's two grease monkeys - they came out of the house to help him fix a flat tire before he headed off to work the other morning. Why the goggles? I have no idea!

Lilli Visits Me!

I love it when former students come back to see me and I get a chance to catch up with them. But, sometimes they have grown up so much that I do not recognize them at first.

That was the case with Lilli Tordil - she was so grown up and beautiful that I did not know it was her when she first popped her head around my door!

 Lilli spent most of the day with me and ended up helping us hang our 1,000 plus cranes.

And, my current students made her some, and she ended up stringing them so that she could hang them at home.

Kate's Quiet Book

Kate's quiet book is done! I began in early January and have been working on it every Saturday. I am so pleased with how it turned out.

I could not find the matryoshka fabric I'd bought for her book even though I looked everywhere in my sewing things, so I went with some mischievous monkeys instead.

This page is a family favorite. My mom had the idea to add the dashed lines to show the bees' path so a part of her is in this book.

 The barn applique is new and adds a lot, I think.

 I put this page in Mila's book and Emily asked for it in Kate's (I saw the idea online and recreated it.)

 A page from one of our favorite childhood books.

 Next time I am going to find some bird appliques or clouds to add to this one.

 I drew the cattails; the dragonfly applique is new.

 This page takes FOREVER to make, but is worth the time.

 Those are earrings that Kate can wear.

 Cole requested this page - a connection to the family apple orchard.

 The rainbow is a new addition to this page.

Something else new that I tried was to color the velcro so that it wasn't just stark white patches on the pages. I think it blends in much better.

 As I was making the cover, I noticed that I was running short on thread.

 And sure enough, I ran out!

But I had another spool that was a very, very close shade, and it worked to finish the cover and make the pillow.

I can't wait to give this to Kate when she comes at the end of May!

Folding 1,000 Origami Cranes

One of my favorite projects that I have ever done with students is when we fold and string 1,000 origami cranes.

 Emma P. holds one of her strands of bitty birds.

 Hannah S. and Emilie F. work together on stringing their birds.

 Josh M. with his brother's strands. (His brother was ill.) Seth V. in the back.

Today my student teacher will help me hang them all - the classroom will be so beautiful!

A Visit to Millie's Home

Last Saturday, Craig and I took Molly to Lisa and Millie's home for a visit. We would like Molly to be familiar with it because Lisa will be caring for her when we travel after I retire.

Since she already knew Lisa and Millie, she had enough confidence to explore a place full of their scents.

While she was in a place that was new to her, she did well despite that. (Look at her tail - it is not tucked under but relaxed and loose. That's an indication that she is not scared.)

Lisa has a fenced in back yard with locked gates, so we were able to let Molly run free outside - a first since we had gotten her.

Again, there was far less skittishness than I thought there would be.

She freely explored the yard, although she kept a good eye on me - I seem to be her security, and it was not the first time that Molly has sought me out when she has been unsure of her situation.

She looks happy, doesn't she?

She was even brave enough to check out the narrow space on the west side of Lisa's home.

Molly freely approached Craig, too, although she would not get closer than this. This was huge progress - we think she was hurt by her former male owner and so she is very skittish around men. Craig is so kind to her, but still she keeps her distance.

Our visit went very well, and I am hoping to take Molly over again this weekend for another visit and chance to roam freely outdoors.