Teacher of the Year!

I am going to break my norm and write a blog about myself, not my boys. On Tuesday, I was able to check a very important item off my bucket list. I was named Mableton E.S.'s Teacher of the Year! This honor was one I thought I might earn half way through my career, not just five years after I began.

The day didn't begin too well. I woke up with an upset tummy and really was not feeling well enough to go to work. However, I knew that I needed to go in because the T.O.T.Y. was being named at that afternoon's staff meeting. By midmorning, I was shaking and couldn't stop. I felt dreadful, so I stopped by the nurse's clinic after I dropped my kids off at lunch. The nurse took my temperature, which turned out to be 100.7. I knew that I was sick! I called the school secretary and begged her to ok my leaving early. After putting me on hold to confer with adminsitration, she gave me the green light to leave.

I came home, threw on my pajamas, and crawled into bed where I promptly passed out. After three hours, I woke up and began to veg out with my DVR. About 3:15 the doorbell rang, and I stumbled down the hall to open the front door. Much to my amazement, my fellow teammates and most of Mableton's staff was on my front lawn to let me know that I had been chosen Teacher of the Year. I just love my co-workers. :)

Never did I visualize myself winning this award standing on my front porch in my pajamas and Hello Kitty bathrobe. Nevertheless, I am one happy teacher and can't wait to see what else I can check off my bucket list!

Springish Things

Our family has been pretty busy this spring. McLain started his second season of soccer and is loving every minute of it. We've given up sleeping in and being lazy on the weekends for cheering on the sidelines and watching McLain run furiously up and down the field. Keaton loves to watch McLain play this year (very much unlike last season), but he isn't quite convinced that he shouldn't be on the field with his big brother.

McLain turned nine at the beginning of April, which was also the start of our Spring Break. Instead of a typical party, he invited his two best friends over. They chowed down at McDonald's, saw How To Train a Dragon at the movies, and spent the night camped out in our living room. We followed the sleepover with a family night at Howard's where McLain ate his favorite wings and opened presents from all the grandparents.

For the first time since I became a teacher, I actually went somewhere for Spring Break! I packed up my boys and we traveled for five and half hours to Jekyll Island. We went with McLain's third grade teacher (one of my b.f.f.s), her mother, and her two year old daughter McKenna. We spent three glorious days watching our babies alternately play in the sand, ocean, and pool. As expected, Keaton was completely fearless of the ocean. From the moment we first stepped on the beach, he took off running for the water and crashed in the waves with nothing but laughter. Both my boys would be content if we moved to Jekyll Island permanently. :)

Keaton had his first of what I'm sure will be many trips to the E.R. last weekend. He dislocated his elbow at McLain's soccer game when my Dad pulled him up from a sitting position. He tried to get Keaton to move quickly from behind the big kid's soccer goal, but it didn't work out quite as planned. I think my Dad was way more traumatized by the event than Keaton who was up and happily running around two minutes after the doctor set his elbow back in place. Glad to know he is resilient!

I can't believe that the school year is coming to a close. Just 19 days left! McLain and I are already plotting our days at White Water. We can practically smell the sunscreen and chlorine. Hurry up summer! :)