We Made It!!!! Half way through the school year...

Holy moly! This fall was full of new experiences. Fiona is absolutely loving college. She loves her classes, the people and most of all city life. I love that she is a strong, smart, independant woman who is wise enough to maintain her grades while navigating all the fun new opportunities college has to offer. Ethan is getting through his final few months of high school. He decided to give winter track a spin. We will see how that goes. He also got his OFFICIAL early acceptance letter to Wentworth. His good friend from Maine will be attending as well! Scott's job continues to be challenging. He is a master at managing people and maintaining calm in some pretty hairy situations. I could say the same about myself. Being a second grade teacher in an inner-city school is incredibly challenging. My kids come from a huge variety of backgrounds and have just as big a variety of needs. No day is the same. I never know what to expect hour to hour. Such is life with twenty 7 and 8 year olds. I got licked on Friday, clobbered with hugs, consoled a weeping child for 10 minutes leaving tear stains on my shirt, helped clean milk off my white board that had been thrown from across the room, held a door shut against a wild child that was struggling to get INTO my room, managed a popcorn/pizza party, taught some writing and math, froze my butt off at recess duty, saved a girl from loosing her front teeth in a fall on the pavement by catching her mid-air, stood at parent pick-up with 5 kids smooshed under my umbrella to keep from the cold rain...and inhaled their farts that were trapped under my umbrella. Just another day in the life... This week we celebrate Christmas with our family and their significant others. Ethan is bringing Emma to my parents and Ellie is taking Ryan. Fiona is home until the end of January. We will get to meet some of her new friends that will visit over break. Time is moving faster and faster. Pictures include...but are not limited to: My birthday party, my students, Gammy and Ellie's combined brithday party, Ethan's first day of school picture, shot from when scott and I rode our bikes in Boston and stopped into Fiona's dorm for a brief visit,Homecoming dance pictures of Ethan and Emma, sneak peek at my new tattoo, picture of me with my two co-teachers in second grade, image of classroom when combined (we often bring both second grade classes into the same room...40 kids...to teach with three adults...this helps with behaviors), Ethan's boys weekend where 6 of his best friends came down from Maine for the weekend, Fiona casting her first vote in a presidential election, a visit from Lil and her daughters all the way from New Zealand, Merrimac car parade day, tree selection, my class singing/screaming "Silent Night", the scarves I made for each of my students, a group shot with my kids in their new scarves...