#sol14-What Really Goes On During Spring Break.

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Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

I have a 2 page "to-do" list for this week.  It's day 5 of my break, if you count the weekend.  Please ask me what I've accomplished off this list.  

Two.  Two items.  

This morning, as I contemplate what to do next, I want to curse the "to-do" list and ditch it all.  

I wouldn't classify the list as unrealistic for a spring break.  It involves a vacuum, dusting, organizing, planning for school, etc.  Some items didn't even make the spring break list, because I worked on them in January when my husband was working crazy long hours.  (Hooray!)  

However, this break, I'm relishing in the quiet.  Here's what my break list really should look like:

1.  Talk to my husband.  Eat dinner with him in public.  Twice.  :)

2.  Read.  Read.  Read.

3.  Take care of neighbor's puppy as a reminder of why we aren't ready to get another dog quite yet.

4.  Take boys to "The Lego Movie."  Enjoy watching their faces almost as watching the movie.

5.  Eat breakfast and lunch with friends.  Have long, uninterrupted conversations.  

6.  See my family.  

7.  Cook lunch.  A healthy one.  Sit down at the counter and take 30 minutes to eat it.  

8.  Watch my sons play this morning, turning off the TV on their own.

9.  Sleep until 7.  (That is like the middle of the day for us usually.)

10.  Read your amazing blogs.  Attempt to write a few myself.  

Now, as I reflect on the time I've had to refresh, I know that I'm ready to tackle that to do list.  I'm not always great at to-lists, but as I've taken time to reflect, I know that I'm pretty good at prioritizing what really matters.  Now, if you'll excuse me, there is some orange cleaner and a kitchen full of cabinets waiting for me.  

If you are on spring break, how are you taking time to refresh?  

--Kendra

#sol14 Saturday

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Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

I woke up early.  Too early.  The first thing I did was ask myself, "Don't you know it's Saturday?  And the boys are gone?!?!?  Go back to sleep!"  But I couldn't.  

I throw on a sweater.  I love March.  I'm mindful that I'm not freezing or thinking about oppressive wind chills.  It's also still crisp enough in the morning to need a sweater.  I toss that on, and stumble down stairs.

Coffee?  Yes please.  I sip and peek at social media and turn on the news.  It hums in the background and I ponder what to do first.  

I consider what books I'm going to read this weekend.  (Why not?  There are always books!)

I looked at my graduate class.  It's dragging on forever.  It's time to be done.  Really done.  A plan to finish this within a week--complete.  

I read some of your blogs.  I am loving hearing your stories as we work through #sol14.

I keep waiting to hear the thump of the feet telling me my kidlets are up.  That won't come today as they are with family.  

Not an ordinary Saturday.  I'm continuing to savor the quiet.  

Happy Saturday.  

--Kendra

#sol14 The First 24 Hours of Spring Break

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Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

1.  A pizza party with family.  My favorite part?  When "Angelina Ballerina"--my niece--came barreling down the stairs dressed as Captain America. She's so funny.  The cousins are now enjoying a sleepover.  

2.  Drinks and Cheese Balls with my husband to watch a basketball game at a local sports bar.  Who leaves their house at 8 PM on a Thursday night to go somewhere fun?  We did.  :)

3.  Breakfast with "my ladies."  My favorite quote to one of us?  "Why are you dressed?"  Translation:  "You are showered and wearing matching clothes."  (She was going to buy a car after eating breakfast with us.)  To teachers on spring break, this just brought uproarious laughter.  Which I love.  

4.  Breakfast ran right into lunch with another friend who I hadn't seen a couple of weeks.  

5.  Shopping for a few hours sans kids.  Some new additions for my classroom from the teacher store, and a new pair of jeans for me!

6.  A nap, followed by quiet time.  

7.  Texting with my sister-in-law who works at a book store about Flora and Ulysses.  I love books.  I'm getting ready to start A Snicker of Magic.  

8.  Local tacos and a trip to the bookstore?  (I may have a problem. )  Yes please!  

I hope that you are finding ways to stay renewed and refreshed.  Happy Spring!  

--Kendra

#sol14 What Firsties Talk About in the Morning.

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Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

Here are the first three things that were said to me as the first grade friends entered the classroom:

1.  "My birthstone is an amethyst.  It's beautiful."  

2.  "My shirt glows in the dark.  And Old Navy has more if you like it."

3.  "Do you have a goblin shark?"

#2 and #3 were said by the same student, as if it was one sentence.  

This is just a tiny slice of why I love my first graders.   

--Kendra

#sol14 Day 11--How Are You Feeling?

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Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

So I have a moment tonight where I'm catching up on blogs and writing on our own.  It's a treat these days.  

When I meandered over to Two Writing Teachers, the opening sentence asked about feelings.  Well, it's close to spring break, my filter is slightly off. Why not share with you how I'm feeling today?  ;)  Here we go:

Exhausted.  I really cannot handle another 'thing' that requires any kind of emotion right now.  Without airing all the laundry: dogs, long lost friends, and budgets have about done me in.  Some of that is my own fault.  I carry things I can't control.  It's resulted in less than stellar choices in taking care of me.  (Not enough sleep, more cookies, etc.)  I need to reset myself, and get back into making some good choices.  

Fulfilled.  In the face of exhaustion, I would wrestle you to let you know that I work in a building with the best teachers anywhere. :)   And my students have come so far this year.  One day, this Slice of Life Blog will contain a little piece of their writing.  Even in exhaustion, good things are happening, especially at school. 

Ready.  I'm ready to do some binge reading.  I'm ready to sleep until 6:30 AM.  I'm ready to run outside.  (Do not mistake that for me running inside.  Where is that bandwagon, I'm so far off it?!?!)  I'm ready to cook some meals.  I'm ready to see the Lego Movie.  I'm ready to listen to music.  I'm ready to write and blog and participate in Twitter chats.  

Enough.  I know that my identity isn't wrapped up in any of this.  My Faith tells me that.  For that I am Thankful.  

How are you feeling these days?  

--Kendra  

#Sol14--Day 9. Rest Easy Jackson

Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

Yes.  A blog about my dog.  Again.  

When Jackson started to show his age, my husband and I agreed that we would keep him with us, until we knew that it "was time."  Last night it "was time."  After approximately 14 years, we said good-bye to our crazy sweet puppy. 

When we began our #sol14 blogging challenge I wrote a bit about him here.  It was a late night last night, but when my husband shared about Jackson on Facebook, he asked for people to share stories that they remember.  Because with Jackson, there was always a story.  He was like your 'epic' friend in college who always took you on an adventure and gave you a story.  Wise or not.   

So today's post is a few more of those stories.  Stories that make us laugh and smile and shake our heads.  

So, a mentor of mine reminded me of the time that we first brought him home.  It was our first house, and Jackson spent his days in the basement.  I was worried that he didn't have a comfy place to rest, so I went out and acquired a used piece of furniture for him to sit and rest on.  He ate it.  

Another friend remembered how high he could jump.  He mainly used that skill to help himself to tasty treats that weren't really for him.  

When we first brought him home, I used to let him 'roam free' in the car.  Until the day I was driving him to the vet, and clearly I wasn't giving him enough attention while I was driving the car.  So he sat down in front of me.  On the accelerator.  Thankfully, I was at a stop light, so I had my other foot on the break, and just looked like a 20-something girl who wanted to burn rubber during rush hour.  No cars or people or dogs were harmed in this incident.  And he rode in his kennel after that.  

He used to howl every time my youngest son would sing.  Loudly.  

When he would chase animals, he always ran in the wrong direction.  He desperately wanted to catch squirrels and rabbits in our backyard.  If they ran right, he went left.  If he went right, they went left.  

These stories could go on and on.  But what I remember most is how it felt when it was time to 'nest' for the night, and he would find us and curl up at our feet.  If we stayed up to late, he was our reminder to sit down and rest.  

When we arrived home last night after our trip to the Veterinarian ER, we immediately began to talk about how Jackson was with us when we had no idea how to be grown ups.  We still might not know how to be grown ups, but we are so thankful that he was with us as we tried to figure it out.  

A refined, well-trained dog?  Definitely not.  An Awesome dog?  Forever.  

Rest easy Sweet Puppy.  

#sol14--I Missed A Few Days

Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

It's conference week.  As a first grade teacher, I adore spring conferences.  The amount of learning and growth that takes place on all levels is amazing.  

The past 3 days have been about 12-13 hours long at school.  I'm exhausted and now coming out of "conference mode" and looking around today for the first time in a few days.  

I'm not sure how I'm feeling this morning, except for I know that I adore first graders and the amount of growth they make!

As the cursor blinks in front of me, it hits me.  Fulfilled.  

There is a lot that is still with me:  

Several spaces in my life need cleaning up.  (Where's the vacuum!?)

I haven't written for a few days. 

I haven't read for leisure during these days.  

One of my own kids asked if I was even sleeping at home.  (I am.  Bedtime is early around here.)  :)

Exercise?  I'm sorry self.  I promise I'll take care of you next week.

I used these words with my husband in an email yesterday, "I miss you.  Let's chat tonight."  (An indicator that I'm using up all my words before I get home.)  

And a few other things that are weighing a bit on me this morning.  (We don't want the list to get too long!)  

However, I have some first graders that have done amazing things this year.  I'm so proud of them.  And I'm so thankful that their families trusted me with these kiddos.  I'm so thankful to be their teacher.  

Exhausted?  Sure.  Fulfilled.  Definitely.