School Suprises

Today was the kind of day that reminds me why I enjoy teaching.

I actually started the day OUT of school. A co-worker and I went with the principal to an award breakfast hosted by a local community organization. This summer we applied for a grant for our Penny Harvest group. We were awarded $1,200 to cover entry fees, t-shirts for the student leaders, and to allow the student leaders to create a plastic recycling program at the school.

As they presented us with our check, they asked me to remain standing. It seems they also funded the OTHER grant I'd applied for with a different co-worker. Last year this same group funded our worm composting/gardening project. We'd applied this year for an addition $1,300 to expand the project to cover all 3rd and 4th grade classes. Somehow we missed the notification that they decided to fund the expansion project. Talk about a pleasant surprise!

Both of these projects are things I really enjoy working on. We won national recognitions last year for our efforts. It is fantastic to have the funding needed to make them work. I am also thrilled to have found a partner for each project who I know will be able to keep it going when I am on my maternity leave.

Yesterday in extreme frustration I accidentally found the magic trick to getting one of my students to complete assignments. We went from getting less than half the school work done to about 90% of the work done in one day. I don't want to jinx it, but we had a repeat today. It is a story that may be worth its own post!

To top it all off I had two parent conferences this afternoon. (Not usually listed as a good thing mind you...) Both went well, but during the second I got one of the best compliments I've gotten in a while. I was discussing a student with the parents when one of them stopped me. She said she could not get over how I talked about her son. She said I was talking about him as if I'd known him for YEARS and not just three weeks. She was so kind and sincere. It make my day!

After all my frustration last week it was the kind of day I needed. It was the kind you want to bottle up and save for later!

I've made it to water aerobics twice this week and I feel good. Add to that a little (almost) TGIF...I can go to bed happy tonight!

Early Birthday Surprise

As few weeks ago, the Irishman and I got a letter from our Homeowner's Association regarding black marks on the verandas. (Side note...this is what the Irishman refers to it as and I cannot for the life of me think of the other word...we have two patios accessible from the second story sliding glass doors.) Morgan tried to scrub off the gunk, but there was some slight spray paint marks on the concrete from the last time the railings were repainted...almost two years ago. This morning Uncle Ken came by to drop off his pressure washer for us to borrow.

He also came with an early birthday surprise! (Have you noticed Rafa manages to get himself into just about every picture I take?) I have just over a week left of my 20s, but my uncle is heading out of town and thought I could use an early treat. Can I tell you how much this made my day! Thank you Ken!!!


It is going to be a nice weekend. I was at school for a combined 24 hours on Thursday and Friday, but I think things are falling into place now in my classroom. We had a nice third grade planning session and my student teacher will start taking over a subject a week now. By October she will be teaching 100%.

I asked for help with the childcare issue...and I asked the right person. My friend Lyndsay had done a fair bit of research before she went back to work after having her twins. She is going to share what she found and offered to visit places with me. Better yet, she said she is still getting e-mails from places she'd visited and she thinks with the economy the way it is we should have no problem finding a good place. She seemed to think I had plenty of time and that really put my mind at ease.

So it is a nice LONG weekend. The Irishman is playing in a golf tournament...the university where he works is holding their own "Ryder Cup" of sorts and he is playing for Europe. I have had a quiet lazy morning. The clothes are hanging on the line. The baby is kicking. I have beautiful birthday flowers on the table. The to do list is manageable and we are taking it a little bit at a time. All is good!

Overwhelmed

Looking back, summer was easy.

I didn't realize how much so until now. Now I am so overwhelmed.

I dreaded going back to work. I love my job, I just wasn't sure how I was going to be able to do it all. I used to get to work each day by 7:30 7:40 and then not leave until 5 or 6 each night. The Irishman and I carpooled.

Now that work day is too long for me. I am trying my best to leave as close to 4 as I can. The problem is that I am trying to fit in the same amount of work I did before. Between losing two planning periods and leaving early, there is a difference of about 6 hours. It isn't possible.

It should get better...for a while at least. My student teacher will start taking on more responsibilities beginning next week. For now though I want to model as much as I can the "right" ways to do things to make the transition smoother when she takes over...and instead I feel like I am treading water just trying to keep my head above. I know it will soon be less work, and I love working with developing educator, but for now it is still just more work when I don't feel like I am doing that great a job to start with.

Then there is the house. The Irishman has had to work late for the last three weeks. One night last week he called as he was leaving work at 8pm. We have a to do list that is getting the best of us. There is no way we can get to the garden before the baby comes. We just have so much to do...and so much of it I don't feel like I am able to do...the boxes in the closet...the floor in our bathroom. We are both overwhelmed. I can't keep up with things at work or at school and it is really getting to me.

Today will be a 13 hour work day. We have Open House. The parents in my class are most concerned (and understandably so) about what will happen to THEIR kids when I go on my maternity leave. I HATE those conversations. It burst into tears at the thought of having to go back in February. The most important thing on my to do list is to sort out child care for when I go back to work...and it is the one thing I keep putting off. It breaks my heart to think about it. I know I have to do it...but I am just so overwhelmed. I don't need reminders from well-meaning parents that I am not going to want to leave that baby to go back to work. I know that already. That is the problem.

I know it will all work out. I just have to let go and know that things will work out. On my tearful drive home from work last night I heard "Unanswered Prayers" and "Jesus Take the Wheel." I know I just need to take a deep breath and know that my best is all I can do.

I am sorry for the down post. I am just overwhelmed...and overly hormonal. (And running late this morning...go figure!)

What's in a Name?

Morgan and I began debating baby names almost as soon as we found out we were expecting. When it came to girls names we had a short list of three almost immediately. For the boys, there were days of discussion. (And there may have been a campaign or two launched by a certain Irishman to promote a name or two that I wasn't fond of...)

We really wanted to find a name with some Irish connection. (Bring on the Irish baby names book!) I had a few family names I was interested in keeping in there somewhere.

After we found out that our little shamrock was a girl, we stopped for gelato to celebrate. As we talked about it, we decided on the name then and there. At first we said we wouldn't tell anyone. Text messages went out to family and close friends about 3 minutes later.

Did I mention we are not very good at keeping secrets?

For some reason though we had not mentioned the name officially online. Until now...

We are going to name our little girl:

Caitlin Josephine

My mother-in-law's name is Kathleen, so Caitlin was close enough to that to make the Irishman happy. Josephine is after my Grandma Jo, who died about a year and a half ago. We looked at initials and nicknames and decided we were happy with it.

(Side note: If you find some awful nickname please keep it to yourself! We don't want to know at this point!!! )

I came home one day this summer and the Irishman had made this our desktop background:

I'd say he is a bit excited! (If you can't tell, those are customized Liverpool jerseys...we told him we'd get him one with the number one on it that says Dad!)

So there you have it. In other news, I am at 30 weeks today and feeling rather large. The teacher next door to me got in trouble this week for picking up her class late from lunch. I was late as well, but the cafeteria monitor took one look at me waddling down the hall as fast as I could and she just shook her head and laughed. I made it through the week but was in my PJs by 6:20 on Friday night. At least we have a long weekend coming up!

Retirement in Green

The Irishman and I have signed up for a Breastfeeding Class tonight. (Yep, you can bet he is excited about this one...oh the jokes that have been made...and not by the Irishman!) It is from 7:30-9:30. I have been ASLEEP by 9:30 most nights this week. I've heard great things about the teacher though and I have been assured that you remain fully clothed throughout the class so it can't be that bad.

I thought about writing up the post about the baby's name...but I don't have time for that tonight. So here are some pictures from Sue's retirement party a couple of weeks ago. You might have noticed a slight theme...

You were not allowed to the party unless you had on green. I was relieved when someone gave me a green dress. (But not a real green dress - that's cruel...couldn't resist the song reference) Plunkett was flown in from across the pond to play Irish music for her. The Irishman and I both had parts in a skit mocking some of Sue's more interesting practices as a boss. It was a great party...and after party. Good times!

Updated Nursery Pictures

I had plans to post pictures from last weekend tonight, but time got the best of me and these were quicker to get together...there are not as many of them!

Tomorrow is my first day with the class of 2019. I met most of them on Friday at "Meet the Teacher" and it seemed to be a good group. Tonight I made our lunches and ironed a week's worth of clothes. I have set the timer on the bread maker and there is homemade yogurt in the fridge. I have morning duty for the first week of school and am determined to start the year by getting to school on time for once.

So...I leave you tonight with updated nursery pictures.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but the visiting Irishmen have left the country, so the transformation from guest room to nursery continued this weekend. (I could write a whole post about how bachelors are different from other house guests, but I'll save that for another time...)

The resident Irishman yet again resumed his swearing came out of DIY retirement and put the changing table back together. We have already rearranged the furniture since I took the pictures this morning. The round thing in the picture is a laundry basket given to us by one of Morgan's co-workers. It has a giraffe and elephant on it, but I think with a little decoupage, I should be able to make it work!

We still need the mattress, bedding, and wall hangings, but they are all in progress. It is coming together!

P.S. I plan to officially announce the baby's name later this week. Many of you know already because the Irishman and I cannot keep a secret, but we haven't said it online yet. = )

Getting There

Going back to school I have had the same questions over and over again...I am just about ready to wear a sign with the phrases I have been repeating over and over again.

I'm due Nov. 7th.

It's a girl.

Yes, we are excited.

The nursery is getting there.

I can't complain. I'm feeling okay.

(I know people are being nice...but I am back to getting up at 5:45 for work and am tired and cranky!) My least favorite question is the "How are you feeling?" How do you answer that? My feet are swollen, a pinched nerve in my left foot causes it to flop when I walk, and I am so tired I could take a nap here and now. I can't complain. I'm doing okay.

The best was the coworker who saw me for the first time today and just found out I am pregnant. Even better yet? I parked right next to her car yesterday walking into the building.

My classroom is slowly coming together. I have a student teacher assigned to work with me this semester, so I have really enjoyed having an extra pair of hands to help. The school day is proving to be LONG...and that is without kids yet. Not to mention the fact that we've gone from eight planning periods a week to six. Still not sure how they snuck that one in on us!

I have some pictures to post from Sue's retirement party this weekend. I'll get to it at some point. Morgan's brother heads back across the pond tomorrow so he is treating us to dinner tonight. There was debate over where to go, so I picked up cheesecake for desert on my way home from work so it looks like we will be having Italian.

I am missing morning water aerobics. It was stormy on Monday night so that class was canceled too. Thankfully the weather seems to be okay so I am off to the Y for class. We'll see how that goes after a day at work...

Summer Lovin'

Happened so fast! As I sit here at the end of my summer vacation...I wonder where it has all gone to! I have really enjoyed the last couple of weeks. Here are the highlights:

The camp director at the summer camp where I met the Irishman is retiring this year after 19 years. We are considered "old timers" and we went back for the last night of camp to join in the tribute to Sue. Being Sue though, the festivities are just beginning! (For those of you who may have been at our wedding, Sue was the one who "sang" so memorably. )

Our friend Plunkett has flown in from Ireland and is staying with us for the week. We have our kelly green outfits ready to wear for this weekend! (Sue loves all things Irish and the invites to her retirement party request everyone to wear green...)

Morgan's brother, Robert is also in town. I have used the fact that there are three Irishmen at the house to my advantage. Last night we went to GB's house to pick up the painted nursery furniture. (I'd have pictures but one of the Irishmen is still asleep in that room...)

I've also had people to cook for! I have been in a baking mood, and they have been all too willing to eat my carrot cake cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies!

Other Good News:

• As I was typing this I had a slight panic. When I took my glucose test on Monday the doctor said no news was good news, and if there was a problem they would call me at the end of the week. My phone just rang and it was the doctor's office...telling me my results were normal. Thank goodness!
• My mom is coming to visit! She had already booked a flight for November after the baby is born, but called this week to say she is also coming in September! I am SUPER excited about this!
• The baby got the hiccups this morning. I guess that isn't quite as exciting as my mom coming, but it is still something! (She is kicking now to confirm that...)
• I originally had plans for the last couple of days, but computer problems at the testing center canceled my ESOL test and my meeting for today got canceled. So I have been enjoying water aerobics and being lazy. (A bit like the picture of Rafa here...Moses doesn't like to pose for pictures...but Rafa follows me around the house like a dog...)

I am meeting my husband for lunch today...because I can. All in all it has been a great summer! (And it will seem even better next week when I am reporting to school at 7:30am!)

P.S. Please ignore both the spacing on the bottom portion of this post. It is driving me crazy, but I am giving up on it!

P.P.S. While we are at it, please ignore the fact that my stairs need to be vacuumed. I broke the vacuum last week and am waiting for my big birthday in September when I certain Irishman has promised me the gift I really want...which sadly will help me vacuum my stairs!