Afternoon! Whew. The morning began with lessons and meetings and is continuing with a webinar for music ed- specifically band. It is bright and sunny and we are getting things done!

Yesterday was interesting. The computer cut out in the middle of a meeting with my students. Then when I got it back up, the mouse ran out of batteries. Then the picture frame fell off the wall right into the plug where the whole computer apparatus is hooked into. Start over. Then… John Michael pooped his pants after a very long time of being potty trained. So into the tub he went. Got the puter up and running again and on we went. Oh it was a great day. I know, I know. Small world problems. On the flip, after work I got the bathroom organized and cleaned for a change! Win.

Made a little video for the middle school announcements today…

Part 1

Part 2. Poor Remi. She knew we were gonna go on a walk so she was hovering.

Beautiful day. Have a good one!

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John Michael’s school sends him activities to do. He listened to his circle time (stretches and story) and did a train memory card game. Finished up with a little painting. That red paint then ended up on the top of his car. Later on, I found it on the leg of the table in the sun room. Good times.

Frittata for dinner last night again. MMM. Breakfast for dinner is the best once in a while. Joe made the potatoes on the grill.

Did my HIT sprints outside again like a cool person. While the people mow their lawns and look at me. It is a really nice day. I hear it’s supposed to cool down and maybe snow. Not a fan of that.

It is staff appreciation week. I work with some great students and teachers! Hats off to them. The students created clips I put into a video. 🙂 The kids are the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b31bZ_jTJ98&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1mBleUWc94BmWQ_QHSkWQ1oLmz0R4UWuzSI3hEUrAwqWCVuBGAeX_cevE

 

Got some more work to do. Hope everyone has a nice day!

Sponsored by Corona. I do think these are funny.

Anyway, late on the post today. Busy Monday yesterday and morning today. Lots of things accomplished which is good. The treadmill broke so I had to exercise outside. Don’t get me wrong, I like being outside doing walks, hikes, things of this nature. But usually don’t like to really go all out exercising. I like to do that by myself in my basement with no one watching. Oh well. Forced to. It was ok and I survived. The tulips are very pretty!

While I was outside exercising, I saw these signs for Ashwaubenon teachers. Really nice!

John Michael and I saw a mama duck and her babies on our walk!

Made some Hello Fresh pulled pork burrito bowls last night. Pretty good. 🙂

As I worked this morning, John Michael was “driving” his bus. I overheard him saying “settle down kids!”

We are off for our walk and gotta get some more things done today. Productive morning so far.

Happy Tuesday- Cinco De Mayo!

Beautiful weekend here in the Wisc. We got a lot of outside stuff in. John Michael played in the water a ton. Water is my biggest pet peeve inside because he spills it EVERYWHERE. But outside? No cares. He had a grand old time. Joe got some yard work done too. I mostly enjoyed it. However, I did do some cleaning, cooking, and laundry. Don’t worry, I wasn’t off the hook. 🙂 Remi and I enjoyed a nice walk outside too.

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Made a Hello Fresh meal last night. It was lobster stuffed ravioli with shrimp. Really good!

John Michael helped me make banana bread yesterday too!

We FaceTimed with Papa D (it was his birthday yesterday!) and Nana Lynn. I forgot to take a screenshot of that. He wasn’t a very good conversationalist because he was obsessed with his pool. But here is a photo of Papa D and JM 🙂

We also FaceTimed Grandma Carole and Grandpa Lew. They were excited to see JM.

I was just in the basement the other day with a notebook, TV, and computer for a virtual conference. My conference ended in this virtual dance party. Joe and John came down for the dance party/happy hour thing. JM lost his mind for Baby Shark. Come on dude. So many other good songs were on… but you like Baby Shark… 🙂

This seems a bit dramatic for the TV…

Colder again today. Trying to get back into the zone of motivation. Well, back to lessons.

Have a good day!

 

The basement is clean and I’m excited to “go” to this conference by one of my favorite speakers, Rachel Hollis. I am looking forward to some time to myself and time to reflect, write, listen, think, dance, all the things.

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JM had a good day looking for Easter Eggs on Amy’s land yesterday! Lots of fun toys there.

Pretty sure these two would just like to live there with all the vehicles and mud :).

Finally put up my license plates and wedding sign from Oompah! And who remembers the sand art from Mrs. Ksionzek’s craft shows??? Love it.

Have a good Saturday you all!!!

Remember that song that was just called, “Friday”? hahahah. Anyway, it’s GORGEOUS outside. Can’t wait to take a drive. Also busted out my sandals which is good stuff too.

Lessons today for a bit, meetings. Then a drive up to drop off some things on the porch of music colleagues that we got when we cleaned up the high school band room. Then will come back and work on the home front. Want to finish my basement before my virtual conference tomorrow!

Really messed up my back somehow in the last two days. Must have moved or lifted something wrong. Going to try to loosen it up before I exercise later. I normally do that in the morning but just couldn’t. But thinking after I move  and stretch for a bit it will feel better.

Well I am off! Have a great weekend!

“Tomorrow is Saturday, and Sunday comes afterwards.”

 

John Michael is such a blessing and was a sweet boy yesterday (most of the time- he is 4 after all and he has his moments). He sure seems happy. I hope so.

He got my weights and decided to be “strong.”

Did I mention he set off the emergency alarm at the high school the other day? I was putting some clarinets back into the inventory and all of a sudden the phone rings. (Someone on administration always calls when the emergency button is pushed in case someone needs help). So I rush in and he was just picking up the receiver like he was going to take the call. Hilarious.What a nut. So funny.

He does that at my grandfather’s house too. They have this button he can push if there’s an emergency and John Michael just presses it all the time when we are there too.

He likes to sit by the fire and get his back warm. Then he runs to me so I can “feel his back.” I tell him it is, “toasty warm!” And he smiles and laughs, “so toasty!!!”

You are a good little boy, John Michael. You make me happy! Hope you stay happy too. 🙂

Came suddenly. I love that lyric. How fast things have changed and are not the same anymore. I know the song is about a breakup but in some ways I think we’ve broken up with what was. This little video I made of cleaning up the band rooms about sums up the feelings. Sad because the year is ending. Grateful for my little helper. Wish the rooms were not empty yet. Yesterday.

I don’t know. My mind is frankly all over the place. Yesterday I went up and closed out the high school band room for the year. Today I closed the middle school one. It feels good that they are clean but it doesn’t feel good that that’s how the academic year ended. Kids have their “things.” Art, shop, sports, cheerleading, dance, clubs, music, band, choir, theater, the list can go on and on. As a teacher of one of those many subjects, I know there are kids that desperately need band right now and it was cut off for them suddenly. Their whole world was upended too. Whatever class that was for them, and band is one of them, there are so many kids that I can’t help but be thinking about. The class that they went to school for. The class they felt safe in. Lots of kids are ok. I think many are struggling. 

But, I did it. I cleaned it up and wished the whole time that we could have another rehearsal. Found notes and papers, and even CHEETOS wrappers (jsdlkdjsfdisofjdskl percussion!) on the floor that made me wish I could have them back. The schools are lonely and cold. Designed to be filled with chaos and kids, they seem without their normal life. And it doesn’t hum with the anticipation of summer or excitement of the end of the year.

I had myself a helper. He is 4 and a handful but he did help (at times). He ran around and around mostly, but he did help me carry some instruments and he did try to lift a stand or two. He even wore a mask for a bit and did as good as he could do. We did our best. I was grateful he was there with me. When he was there, he helped me stay focused because I knew I had such a limited time. Tears are burning a little in my eyes as things catch up with me now, however.

It’s a hard day but it will get brighter I know. The weather is SO dreary. Tomorrow things start to look up and warm up. I’m grateful for that! I know the kids will be too. Getting outside and back into the routine will be good. The school district is doing a car parade (where you stay in your car- my Jeep will be participating!) which will be fun I think. I plan to surprise a few people and students with things. There are fun projects ahead. Life will press on. We are grateful and we will be strong.

Cooking is good! Gas for my whole tank is under $18. Haven’t seen something like that since high school. By far my least expensive fill-up after the commute. Wow. Scarfs from the alma mater that double as good masks are good. Naps for the kid are good. Self care is good. Did my exercises and put some eye patches on. John Michael asked me why I put “sunscreen on those eyes.” haha! The weather is supposed to pick up. I think we will make a fire tonight until then.

His shiner is not good- he rain into the easel yesterday… woops. Poor fellow. Running around while not paying attention is probably not good…

The garden is growing! And we will too.

 

This is something John Michael says sometimes. I am relating to this thought right now. Today should have been concert festival with middle school bands and choirs. Instead, I’m going up to close up classroom 1 of 2 (the high school band room first) right after I finish some virtual lessons with students. Weird that I will be going to a place that normally I’d see their faces but it’s the opposite. I know I’ll have more thoughts for the journal later.

Yesterday was jam packed with lots of things to get ready for online learning today so not much to say other than it’s been busy. Which is a good thing I suppose. I will try to keep grounded today and have grace.

Hope you all have a great day. 🙂

I did not want to leave my bed this morning. Remi was all cuddled up next to me and it was so very cozy. It’s gloomy and rainy. Didn’t feel much like persevering through the perpetual Groundhog Day feeling today. All the days run together. Alas, I did get up (albeit a bit later than I should have). Exercised and did the morning’s lessons. Here we are. Will record some lessons for middle school later on today and prep my mind for closing up 2 classrooms this week. Going to try to de-stress as much as possible.

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The weekend was lovely. Beautiful sun. Lots of being outside and organizing the house. Did some thinking and planning on some photography projects. FaceTimed with the family on both sides for a bit. Cooked really good foods- a low carb chicken/spinach panini! Also, pork nachos, a frittata, and salmon. The pork nachos were a stand-out. Out of this world. Will be doing that again.

The weather was gorgeous. Joe got quite of bit of work done outside!

Cleaned out some closets. MUCH better. Since we are here 24/7, it feels nice to have the pantry and linen closet cleaned up a bit. Made major progress on the basement. Will need to keep “cleaning” it since most of my work was putting things away and throwing things away we didn’t need anymore (or getting it ready to donate when that opens again). Still need to wipe everything down and actually clean the surfaces.

 

Found some gems in the basement. Remember these punching balloons? I think someone got bored in one of my classes by doing crayon impressions of the music stand. It’s kinda cool though! And Melissa and Rob’s wedding cross. Joe’s old book! Hah.”A Man. A Can. A Plan.” Wow.

Found some old band pictures too. WOW. You know that clarinet kid? I got me one of those style pictures too. haha. I feel you, clarinet boy.

Oh and we watched “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. Was so good!

So today, John Michael is going on vacation. To school. 🙂 (Just pretending)

Just one more cute photo of John Michael and Remi. 🙂 Makes me smile.

Hope you all have a great week! Gotta get back to work!