The last three weekends, I have found myself driving across our beautiful state to visit friends for the weekend. Each time I get all three suitcases packed and loaded in the van, get Ainsley and Brogan's travel bags ready with snacks, water bottles, toys and DVDs to keep them entertained on the 3-5 hour road trips, run through the ATM, and fill up with gas before pulling on interstate to head east. After traveling so many times in my married life - ALONE - I have learned to pack minimally. Now, my husband won't believe this because as soon as he comes home, I revert back to my normal heavy-duty packing, but when I have to carry all the luggage myself, I learn to pack very light.
On the way home last weekend, I looked over at my passenger seat that was filled with a bag of Tootsie Pops, The Wizard of Oz & Pippi Longstocking DVDs, my purse and a few toys that had come sailing my way when Brogan was tired of his car seat. I instantly wanted to be sitting in the passenger's seat. I yearned to have Brian driving the van while I entertain Ainsley and Brogan in the backseat. I'm ready to not only move into the passenger seat on a road trip, but I'm ready to move out of the driver's seat in our family. I'm ready for Brian to "drive" this family and all their decision making. I'm ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the view from the passenger seat and glancing over to catch a sweet smile and wink from my driver! Those are the moments I long for, those are the moments that will be here next fall. And, until then, I will drive.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A Few Days Away to Get Re-Energized!!
I've been very fortunate, not just during deployment, but always in the fact that Nana and Papa take Ainsley and Brogan frequently for sleepovers or afternoons away. It's nothing for the kids, at the last minute, to convince Nana and Papa to let them stay the night - especially if it's not a school night. . . . my kids have also been known to call Nana or Papa without my knowledge and asked them to come get them so they don't have to clean their bedroom or pick-up toys.
But this week, was extra special. I got to leave town for 4 days and hang out with my old Kindergarten team and learn some great technology for educators!! It was fabulous!! I had been excited about going, but didn't realize how bad I actually needed the mini-vacation until I got into Manhattan. My friend, Christy called to see where I was at and all of a sudden I couldn't get there fast enough!! I met Christy and her husband, Ron, at their church for supper and then got to listen to Christy and the rest of the bell choir practice for their upcoming performance. They did a wonderful job!
Afterwards, Christy took me up to Central, where I taught Kindergarten for two years, to see all the changes/additions/remodel!! OMG!! I'm so JEALOUS!! The new expansion is BEAUTIFUL!! After touring the building, Christy showed me the new toy that each classroom received with the bond issue - a promethean board. We played for 2 hours with it and I left with envy!! I really, really, really want a promethean board in my room!!
Thursday morning I headed to the campus for the annual MACE conference! This was my first time attending the conference and I was super excited about all the new, cool stuff I was going to learn. It is a conference for educators about technology in the classroom. The presenters are other Kansas educators sharing their expertise in using technology in the classroom. I met Leslie, a first grade teacher that started teaching at Central the year after I left. Leslie and I took summer graduate classes together and became "cyber" friends, so it was nice to finally meet. I ran into a couple of other Wamego teachers and of course the group of Colby MS teachers that were in attendance. MACE was awesome!! I left with so many great ideas to implement in my classroom!! I can't wait to start using them and sharing them with my kinders.
Thursday evening was just like old times!! Christy, Susan, Roxie, Marilyn, Joanne, Shannon and I all went to Olive Garden for supper. Drinks were ordered and enjoyed by all!! It was so nice to share stories, laugh, and laugh so hard we almost cried!! I miss those monthly dinner and drinks! I hadn't really had a night out, without children, with friends since Brian has left. . . . . and it felt so wonderful and well-deserved!
Friday morning I headed back to the MACE conference for another 4 hours of technology play!! After MACE and before heading back to Wamego I had to stop at McAllister's for lunch and a large sweet tea!! (I hope your jealous honey!!) I don't know how they do it, but their sweet tea is just pure sweetness!
On my way to Wamego, I called to check on Brogan - who was talking to Daddy on Skype - so, since I hadn't been able to video Skype Brian, my mom put me on speaker phone and I talked to Brian through speaker phone over Skype . . .follow that?!?! Isn't technology AMAZING!!
I was excited to go back to Central and say "Hello" to everyone! Christy's class of Kindergarteners were kind enough to let me play with the Promethean board with them. It was so FUN. When school was out, I even got to see a couple of my former students that had rode the bus over from West. I can't believe they are in third and fourth grade!! My, how time flies.
Ron, Christy's husband, cooked a wonderful meal for us Friday evening. They had invited Bill and Joanne over for supper and we enjoyed lots of laughs. We then played Farkle and had even more laughs with that!
Saturday's activities began with a stop at Friendship house for homemade peanut butter cinnamon rolls with Christy and 2 dozen fudgie cookies to bring back for everyone at Colby Grade School and of course, Ainsley and Brogan. We then headed over to Manhattan to do some quick shopping before taking Grandma Joyce out for lunch at IHOP. After lunch, I headed back to reality at least I had a four-hour drive to get back there!!
It was so nice to get away from my present reality and have a little fun while visiting with new and old friends. But, it was also nice to get back to reality with Ainsley and Brogan and back to school with my new friends!!
But this week, was extra special. I got to leave town for 4 days and hang out with my old Kindergarten team and learn some great technology for educators!! It was fabulous!! I had been excited about going, but didn't realize how bad I actually needed the mini-vacation until I got into Manhattan. My friend, Christy called to see where I was at and all of a sudden I couldn't get there fast enough!! I met Christy and her husband, Ron, at their church for supper and then got to listen to Christy and the rest of the bell choir practice for their upcoming performance. They did a wonderful job!
Afterwards, Christy took me up to Central, where I taught Kindergarten for two years, to see all the changes/additions/remodel!! OMG!! I'm so JEALOUS!! The new expansion is BEAUTIFUL!! After touring the building, Christy showed me the new toy that each classroom received with the bond issue - a promethean board. We played for 2 hours with it and I left with envy!! I really, really, really want a promethean board in my room!!
Thursday morning I headed to the campus for the annual MACE conference! This was my first time attending the conference and I was super excited about all the new, cool stuff I was going to learn. It is a conference for educators about technology in the classroom. The presenters are other Kansas educators sharing their expertise in using technology in the classroom. I met Leslie, a first grade teacher that started teaching at Central the year after I left. Leslie and I took summer graduate classes together and became "cyber" friends, so it was nice to finally meet. I ran into a couple of other Wamego teachers and of course the group of Colby MS teachers that were in attendance. MACE was awesome!! I left with so many great ideas to implement in my classroom!! I can't wait to start using them and sharing them with my kinders.
Thursday evening was just like old times!! Christy, Susan, Roxie, Marilyn, Joanne, Shannon and I all went to Olive Garden for supper. Drinks were ordered and enjoyed by all!! It was so nice to share stories, laugh, and laugh so hard we almost cried!! I miss those monthly dinner and drinks! I hadn't really had a night out, without children, with friends since Brian has left. . . . . and it felt so wonderful and well-deserved!
Friday morning I headed back to the MACE conference for another 4 hours of technology play!! After MACE and before heading back to Wamego I had to stop at McAllister's for lunch and a large sweet tea!! (I hope your jealous honey!!) I don't know how they do it, but their sweet tea is just pure sweetness!
On my way to Wamego, I called to check on Brogan - who was talking to Daddy on Skype - so, since I hadn't been able to video Skype Brian, my mom put me on speaker phone and I talked to Brian through speaker phone over Skype . . .follow that?!?! Isn't technology AMAZING!!
I was excited to go back to Central and say "Hello" to everyone! Christy's class of Kindergarteners were kind enough to let me play with the Promethean board with them. It was so FUN. When school was out, I even got to see a couple of my former students that had rode the bus over from West. I can't believe they are in third and fourth grade!! My, how time flies.
Ron, Christy's husband, cooked a wonderful meal for us Friday evening. They had invited Bill and Joanne over for supper and we enjoyed lots of laughs. We then played Farkle and had even more laughs with that!
Saturday's activities began with a stop at Friendship house for homemade peanut butter cinnamon rolls with Christy and 2 dozen fudgie cookies to bring back for everyone at Colby Grade School and of course, Ainsley and Brogan. We then headed over to Manhattan to do some quick shopping before taking Grandma Joyce out for lunch at IHOP. After lunch, I headed back to reality at least I had a four-hour drive to get back there!!
It was so nice to get away from my present reality and have a little fun while visiting with new and old friends. But, it was also nice to get back to reality with Ainsley and Brogan and back to school with my new friends!!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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