Still rockin'

Today I turned 36.  Last night, to remember we are still young and cool, we went with our good friends the Turners to the Poison/Def Leppard concert at Black Oak Amphitheatre in the backwoods town of Lampe, Missouri.  Wish we had gotten seats close enough the see the (also aged) faces of both bands, but it was a great show and I'm glad we lived a little and went out late on a school night.  I was spoiled rotten by my friends today, and I will have to share pics of all the loot I received.  I am now exactly twice the age of most of my students.  Also twice as smart.  Twice as comfortable in my own skin.  Maybe more.  This boy loves me either way, and I plan to grow even older with him.  My life with him (and our funny son) rocks.

Me-yow

School picture day today...my Amy and I coordinated our outfits accordingly...Almost 3 weeks in, it already feels like more than that.  Excited to celebrate my birthday later this week with a trip to Kansas City and a long weekend!

Still sweet @ 16

Our old Allie girl turned 16 today...she's a funny one.  She's taken to bursting into the bathroom like Kramer in the mornings when I'm up getting ready for school, catapulting all 8 pounds of herself against the door and sending it flying open.  I like having her there at my feet keeping me company in those early minutes of the day...can't imagine not having her around.  Happy Sweet 16, old kitty.

Wading in

We went back to school Wednesday...much earlier than years past so that we finish first semester before Christmas Break.  I mean Winter Break.  Macauley is thrilled to be in fourth grade with Ms. Craig, his favorite teacher from second grade.  He really, really wanted those black and yellow Nikes; I searched high and low to find them in his size.  He's carried that giant Trapper home empty each night so far for some reason. 

I had my usual anxiety about the start of classes--wondering what kind of mix of kids I would have, if we would hit it off, if I could get up in the dark at 6 a.m. after the lazy days of summer, if I really have what it takes to do all that is asked of me and then some.  So far, most of my worries have been quelled.  I think it's all going to be just fine.

We got a whopper storm this evening that finally filled the barren little creek behind our house to bursting.  Macauley and I put on our boots when the rain had passed and walked down for a look.

You might not think that teaching would make you physically bone tired, but that's how I've felt the last two nights.  I'll get my mojo back soon enough, but for now I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend at home to regroup before we head into week 2.

For the love of laundry

We branched out from our own little laundry facility (where these hang) this afternoon and took my giant comforter to the laundromat, much to Macauley's delight.  For as long as I can remember he has been fascinated by the laundry process.  Since he was little he has liked browsing through the appliance sections at big stores.  He kind of thinks he's the boss of our washer and dryer which is alternately endearing and annoying.  He took over at the laundromat, which was fine.  I sat and read on my Nook while he dashed back and forth with updates on how many minutes the dryer had left and so on.

Tomorrow is our last real summer day at home together.  Sad.  He'll leave for vacay with my parents on Saturday and when he comes back it will be time for school and I will be back at work.  I'll have a quiet few days to myself next week, but I will miss him and our slow and easy summer routine.  Laundry and all.

around the World Market

So many pretty things at Cost Plus World Market...We stopped by the store in Westport when we were in KC last weekend.  I bought the Guest Cottage sign on 50% off, the little rafiia-wrapped pitcher, a chicken wire basket, a headband and some treats for Ryan and Macauley from the gourmet foods section.  I can see how people could decorate a whole house using items from this store.