Week 33- Busy Bees

I made it through my first full week of school for the new school year. My classroom looks great, and my students are pretty much settled in. I'm proud of how good my room looks right now. I know it won't be long until it looks and feels like organized chaos in there, so let me just breathe in this loveliness now while I can.

Earlier this week, we took Nora to Neyland Stadium for the first time for the High School Football Jamboree. Unfortunately, things were running late, and the Roadrunners were among the last teams to play, so we had to leave before we got to see them. Still, Nora had fun being in the stadium and cheering when other people cheered.

Nora's Saturday morning social calendar was jam-packed. After her class at The Little Gym, we headed over to a local park to celebrate Madeleine's 3rd birthday. While there, the kids had a grand time playing on the playground equipment...

... and eating cake.

Madeleine is one of her church friends. She only sees her once a week, but randomly during the week, she will remind me that we need to go to church so she can play with Madeleine and learn about Baby Jesus. Nora likes to specify "Baby" Jesus because she has a book by that same name.

The party was from 10-12, so we left just in time to get Nora lunch and get her down for a nap. Here she is at home, eating her sandwich and playing with one of her letter/number toys before sleepy time.

You can't beat that smile.

Tonight, we'll head back over to the church for a potluck dinner as we celebrate "back to school". It's been a really busy week, but I know things are just getting started.

Week 32- New Beginnings

This week, I got my classroom ready for the new school year ahead. I am going to take pictures tomorrow, but I snapped one today of my AVID wall. I will teach the AVID elective class for freshmen students for the first time. I'm both excited and nervous about taking on this new "project".

AVID stands for "Advancement Via Individual Determination", and it is the mission of the program to prepare students for college. It is part of our job as AVID teachers to create a culture that promotes higher education. Freshman Orientation was held on Friday, and all students will return tomorrow morning for a half-day.

On Saturday morning, Nora attended her final class of the summer season at The Little Gym. While instructing a class of 2 year olds looks a lot like herding cats to me, Nora really has grown over the past 10 weeks. She has become a better listener and she has gained confidence as she explores the gym equipment.

Though sometimes she still has a mind of her own when it comes to how the equipment should be used.

We went ahead and signed her up for the entire school year. I'm excited to see how she continues to grow in confidence and skill.

After Nora's class wrapped up on Saturday, I co-hosted a baby shower for Elisabeth. Baby Naomi is due in about 9 weeks. I know I speak for Brad as well when I say that we are so excited to meet her when that time comes!

Week 31- Miss Personality

Every parent I've talked to agrees that age 2, while sometimes difficult, is SO MUCH FUN. Nora's personality emerges more each day. Funny, silly, strong-willed, particular, dramatic, decisive, smart, focused, thoughtful, sweet, and loving are some of the words I would use to describe her right now.

I love when snapshots of her little personality shines through in pictures.

Focused on the task at hand

Loving on her Copper dog

That smile kills me every time.

Shhhhing mommy

Trying out the "big kid swing" for the first time

Quality time with her Daddy

Brad and I like to joke about who she takes after more (usually when she is throwing one of her epic tantrums), but not surprisingly, I think it's safe to say that we see glimmers of both of us in our sweet and silly little girl.

Week 30- Our Good Times Start and End

Our vacation just got started last week, and just like that, it's come to an end. We did our best to enjoy the second and final week of our staycation.

Early in the week, Nora had fun checking out my new car.

She got to sit in the front seat, play with the lock, and jam to a little NKOTB. Of course, the car never left the driveway, but she had fun being a big girl "riding" shot gun for a few minutes.

Mid-week, something huge happened. Brad and I left Nora with friends overnight for the first time in almost 2.5 years. In the past, Brad has had to go away overnight, and I have had to go away over night, but we've not been away overnight together. So, Nora stayed with Jessica, Jason, and the kiddos while Brad and I went to Nashville to see the Monkees play at the Ryman.

The last time Brad saw them was in '86 shortly after MTV decided to re-play all of their old episodes in hopes of  "reigniting Monkeemania". The first time he saw them, Michael Nesmith was not with them. Sadly, this time, Davy Jones was not. However, the show was great and included a lovely tribute to Davy. I teased Brad a lot leading up to the concert, but the whole trip, concert included, was a lot of fun. And as for Nora? She handled her time away from Mom and Dad like a pro, and had a grand time playing with Kaitlyn.

The rest of our week was low-key. I hit the gym a couple of times (ow!) and Nora hit the Little Gym, where we have signed up her for the regular season, which lasts from mid-August through May.

Nora kicked back, stealing her Daddy's milkshake (check out the mean mug she was giving me!) and taking super-long afternoon naps.

Something else we've been doing a lot of lately...

Nora LOVES blowing and chasing bubbles. She also loves singing. Here, we're groovin' to Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Alas, it all ends now. Nora has been asleep for hours, and Brad and I are headed that way ourselves. In the morning, we are back to work. Nora is back to Ms. Tracy. (Thank God for Ms. Tracy!) I can not believe it is that time already.

Week 29- Staycation

This week, both Brad and I have finally had some time off, and we have done absolutely nothing but stay close to home, which was exactly what we needed.

On Friday, we took Nora down to Market Square where she insisted upon running through the fountains. Thankfully I had a swimsuit and swim diaper with me because I'm pretty sure she would have caused a scene if we had told her no. Afterwards, we had lunch at Tomato Head where Nora devoured a slice of ham and pineapple pizza. Then, for an extra treat, we stopped by Rita's for some frozen custard.

Is my child the only weirdo who tries to eat a custard cone with a spoon?

Yesterday, we decided to try to give Nora another break from the heat by bringing her back to Dede and Grandpa's swimming pool. She talks big game about getting in the water with Daddy, but once she's actually faced with it, she is a little hesitant.

Brad does a great job of easing her in and talking her up, but she still won't stay in the water with him for more than a minute or 2. So, Brad ended up doing a lot of swimming by himself while Nora and I just dipped our toes.

It's worth noting that at 86 degrees, the pool water was more like bath water. It *almost* made me want to get in.

Something else that Nora has been doing recently is asking to sit on the potty after bath time. Now, only twice has she actually done anything IN the potty, but considering that she used to treat it like a torture device, I guess actually sitting on it is a pretty good first step!

In other big news? I said good bye to my first car. I imagine Nora will find it strange and funny that I didn't get my drivers license until I was 32, and when I did, we were gifted a 1992 Honda Accord by Brad's parents. (They bought it from Brad's aunt and uncle Penny and Bill.) It has served me well over the past 4 years, but this week, I traded it in for a not-nearly-as-old 2004 Honda Accord. Yes, the same car. Why mess with a good thing?

Once I get used to the really good brakes, I think I'm going to love this car.

Weeks 27 and 28- Home Sweet Home

Over the past 2 weeks, I had to be away for work for about half the time. My first trip was to Orlando for the AVID summer conference. It rained the entire time I was there. The conference was terrible. The food was mediocre and way too expensive. I came down with a cold the last day we were there. Our flight was delayed on the way home, and we missed our connection. We ended up renting a car and driving home from Atlanta. Needless to say, when I got home, I did NOT want to leave for my next conference just a few days later. Thankfully, the 2nd trip was much better. The TAP summer institute in Indianapolis was a big hit. Almost our entire leadership team from Austin-East attended, and we spent lots of quality time together both in and out of conference hours.

My flights were once again delayed on the way home, but I was in good company, and I knew that once I got home, I was home to stay.

Thankfully, while I was gone, Nora and her Daddy had lots of quality time, and he was so good to take pictures and send them to me while I was missing them so much. They spent a lot of time at Dede and Grandpa's house where I'm sure Nora was spoiled with crackers and cookies until her little heart was content.

Also...

Nora helped her Daddy take care of the dogs.

They took a trip to the Fort Loudon dam where Nora enjoyed looking at the water.

Something we got to do together as a family over the past 2 weeks was attend the Pratt 4th of July at the Gentry farm. Here is Nora playing with her cousin Amelia.

Finally, this weekend, Nora and I went to a 1st birthday party. This was the biggest 1st birthday party I have ever seen (not that I have been to many.) It was for one of her day care friends and Ms. Tracy's grandson, Joseph III aka 3J.  Nora was unhappy because I woke her from a nap, but once she warmed up, she had fun playing in one of the THREE bounce houses with her friends Jackson and Garrett.

I am very much looking forward to this week ahead as it is officially the first one of MY summer vacation. School starts back (for teachers) on July 29. The time is short, so I am determined to make the most of my time off.

Week 26- Just a Girl

A girl and her dog.

A girl watching her Grampy on Youtube.

A messy barbeque faced girl visiting her Dede and Grandpa's house.